Chapter 61: The Hyuga Don't Work Like This
Morning sunlight filtered through gaps in the courtyard trees. In the Hyuga estate's training hall, Hyuga Hiashi had been waiting for some time.
Deliberate, heavy footsteps approached from the distance. Hyuga Hiashi couldn't help frowning.
The paper door slid open with a sharp sound. He looked up to find today's Hyuga Hinata seemed somehow different. Usually, she kept her head lowered with a timid demeanor. Today, she carried something sharp and indescribable.
What's gotten into this child today?
The thought flashed through Hiashi's mind, but he quickly suppressed it. Regardless of whatever changes Hinata underwent, as long as the impact wasn't significant, the established training plan couldn't be altered. He nodded slightly, signaling Hinata to stand opposite him.
"Hinata, are you ready?" Hiashi's voice remained as cold and stern as always.
Hinata raised her hand, assuming the Gentle Fist opening stance. Her body's coordination appeared completely natural, no longer showing any of that deliberate stiffness from pursuing perfect form. Just this single motion caused undisguisable surprise and... delight to surface in Hiashi's eyes.
"Come, Father."
Though the girl's voice remained calm, Hiashi detected something unusual within it.
"Then, begin."
The moment those words fell, a white figure shot forward like an arrow leaving its bow.
It was Hinata!
Hiashi's pupils constricted sharply. Usually, Hinata waited for him to attack first—defense was the main theme of their sparring. Though she'd improved somewhat this past month, such fierce offensive pressure was unprecedented.
This sudden transformation completely exceeded his expectations, causing him to freeze briefly and expose a momentary opening. Hinata's right hand already stabbed toward his left ribs.
Gentle Fist attacks targeted enemy pressure points. The technique emphasized precision. This strike's angle and timing were both flawless.
A tearing sound.
At the critical moment, he barely dodged. Hinata's fingertips grazed dangerously across his clothing. Immediately after, Hiashi's left hand swept toward Hinata's shoulder, intending to push her away and regain control of the battle's rhythm.
However, just as Hiashi thought this attack would end there, Hinata made a move that caught him completely off guard.
She borrowed the forward momentum to leap into the air, completely abandoning defense as she closed in, swinging her other hand from the side directly at his neck.
"What?!"
No time to think further. Hiashi's instinct made his toes twist against the floor unconsciously, preparing to activate Gentle Fist: Rotation.
But just as chakra was about to burst from all his pressure points, Hiashi forcibly suppressed that impulse. Right now, he faced not an enemy but his daughter. With Hinata's defensive posture completely abandoned to clash with Rotation, the consequences would be unthinkable!
Slap!
A crisp, dull sound rang especially loud in the training hall. Hinata's left hand struck hard against the pressure point on Hiashi's neck. A surge of unfamiliar chakra instantly pierced into his meridians.
"This is?!"
Hiashi whipped his head around, disbelieving gaze immediately falling on his daughter so close before him.
What entered his vision was no longer the usually docile, timid Hinata, but a gaze as sharp and fierce as an arrow. Around her pale eyes, network-like veins clearly bulged.
She awakened her Byakugan?!
"Eight Trigrams: Sixty-Four Palms!"
After landing, Hinata showed no pause, calling out softly as she launched another attack.
Once the Byakugan activated, pressure point locations became clearly visible. The nature of this sparring fundamentally changed from this moment—no longer simple technique practice, but true combat belonging to the Hyuga clan.
She constantly moved around Hiashi, attempting attacks from various angles. Every move displayed her sharpness.
What on earth happened to this child?!
"Eight Trigrams: Sixty-Four Palms."
Hiashi responded with a low call, meeting her with the same technique.
Pop pop pop pop!!!
The air erupted with a dense series of crisp sounds like popping beans. Though Hiashi resolved each of Hinata's attacks, simultaneously, she continuously forced Hiashi backward. The situation had reversed.
However, as combat continued, Hiashi finally sensed something wrong.
Hinata's attacks carried... a certain resentment she was venting.
She's angry at me?
The slow-to-realize Hiashi finally discovered the truth, but this only deepened his confusion. Though strict with his daughter, he'd done nothing to wrong her.
Could it be because I'm usually too harsh with her?
No... it shouldn't be that... If it were really because of this, she should have shown dissatisfaction long ago... Why specifically today?
Hiashi couldn't figure it out. But regardless of the reason, Hinata's progress was undeniably real.
Slap! Slap!
Hiashi's palm struck Hinata's shoulder.
Hinata's palm also struck Hiashi's abdomen.
"Ungh!"
"Cough!"
Two suppressed grunts sounded simultaneously. Even giving her all, age difference remained a fatal handicap.
When both exchanged blows, only Hinata couldn't stabilize her form. She staggered backward several steps before falling to the ground.
Hinata gasped violently, each breath carrying rough rasping sounds like a bellows being worked. Sweat had long since soaked through her clothing, hair plastered tightly to her cheeks. But those eyes burned more defiant than ever.
Just as she climbed up from the ground, preparing to launch another reckless attack, Hiashi raised his hand and shouted.
"Enough!"
Hiashi carefully examined the daughter before him—both familiar and utterly strange.
"Hinata, your fighting style is too aggressive, purely trading blow for blow. This isn't how Gentle Fist should be performed. It's not your usual style either."
"I... know."
Hinata's chest still heaved violently. Even speaking proved difficult, yet she still forced her head up to meet his gaze.
After a moment, Hiashi softened his look somewhat.
"Also," he paused, seemingly choosing his words carefully, "do you have something on your mind today?"
"No." Hinata immediately shook her head in denial.
Hiashi fell silent, ultimately only slowly releasing a single word: "...Alright."
"Father, I'll take my leave now."
After speaking, Hinata bowed and turned to leave the training hall.
Hiashi stood in place, unable to take a step for a long while, heart full of confusion.
Wait, why did you suddenly awaken your Byakugan?
The Hyuga clan doesn't work like this!
You're supposed to practice strikes against wooden posts before dawn, enduring the torture of aching muscles and bones, training diligently day after day, accumulating sufficient groundwork, then one ordinary morning naturally, smoothly awaken your Byakugan!
How did you just get emotional, fight me once, and awaken it like some Uchiha?
The Hyuga clan absolutely doesn't work like this!
I don't accept this!!!