[Konoha]
Back at the village, Yugao has been keeping the girls on track. Hinata's taijutsu training has increased to sparring with Rock Lee, focusing on palm strikes and reflexes. The bushy brow student's optimism is very concerning, but his strength makes up for his bizarre nature.
Ino's control over her clan's kekkei genkai is reaching the level of possessing two bodies at once, though it drains a lot of her chakra. To counter this, Yugao has placed her under Tsunade's medic nin training alongside Sakura. The request was easy due to Lord 5th's relationship with their Anbu captain –a story for another time.
Tenten is the most interesting case; her place in the team gives Guy an advantage over her peers as her sensei specialises in non-ninjutsu combat, but her strength is not even shy of Hinata's level. Yugao is most harshest on her when it comes to training, mandatory sword duel until one spills blood, and body conditioning recommended by her sensei–no excuses, and the one thing that Tenten hates the most about Yugao is summoning practice, one mistake meant she would have to do it 3 times again with no mistake.
"I've been doing this for 3 hours!" Tenten complained, fingertips covered in dry ink, scrolls around her, weapons littered her radius.
Yugao was behind her, arms crossed, eyes stern," Again. "
"But Yugao sensei –"
"I said, again. "
"..." Tenten continued performing the sealing equation, jaw tight, she ignored the stinging of her eyes, fighting back tears of frustration.
"Do you know why I'm hard on you?"
Tenten ignored her, focused on nailing this summoning.
"Kunoichi have always been seen as just support for male shinobi, Tsunade took full advantage of that and made her own name. Many young Kunoichi look up to her but few can reach her level, so for you, Ino and Hinata, none of you would've reached half her accolades. Her student, Sakura, would be beyond the combined powers of either of you three. " Yugao stated.
Tenten stiffened at her words, tears freely flowing.
"I only say these hurtful words so you know the truth of your previous reality–now you have the chance to prove me wrong by using me to reach your fullest potential, Taiju was brought up by Danzo to contain the Kyubi's host but his just going to be a pain in the elder's spine." Yugao softly chuckled.
"You really think I can be like Tsunade?" Tenten whispered out, not confident in her question.
"Tenten. You accomplish whatever you want, you just need to be ready to sacrifice what's needed to achieve it." Yugao placed her hand on her student's shoulder, giving it a firm squeeze.
"Oww!" Tenten pouted.
"Sorry~" Yugao teased, a rare mood for her.
"I'm ready to commence. " Tenten nodded, eyes burning with determination.
Yugao smirked at this, "Let's continue then."
[Hyuga Compound]
In the Hyuga territory, located in the main branch family's dojo, Neji and Hinata were sparring, not the pity spars where he goes easy on her due to his duty to the main family but this time around she's matching him, Neji was perplexed at her sudden growth, before their difference in strength was comedic but now it's Neji who finds himself on defence.
A palm strike came fast to his right shoulder; he deflected it by redirecting her wrist, but she moved with a consecutive strike just below his rib.
"Ouff–" Neji felt the oxygen in his lungs forcefully released. Trying to create space, he moved to her side to counter but she was tracking him from his first step. Like a lion hunting prey, Hinata was strategic and precise. Seeing Neji try to move to her left guard, she moved her body mostly with hip movement to maintain momentum. The training with Rock Lee has forced her body to be quicker, using that new speed, she pounced on him before he could move.
"Haa" She roared.
Chop to her cousin's hip bone, buckling his body, followed up with an elbow to his gut.
Neji spat out saliva at thee combos, his pain far from over as Hinata gathered her hands to land an open palm strike to his exposed side, sending the Hyuga slamming out the Dojo wall.
Bang.
Neji's body landed harshly, slumped like a sack of onions he lost to Hinata.
"Nee-chan!" Hanabi yelled, running over to her sister with stars in her eyes." That was amazing, how did you get so fast–teach me those moves Nee-chan!" The pre-teen assaulted her sister with a barrage of questions.
Hinata scratched her cheek at the sudden attention.
"H-Hanabi...one question at a time." She shyly said.
Their father was in awe at his usually timid and weak daughter's performance. He was aware of her training with that notorious squaf, but he thought she would give up in a week tops. To his surprise, she's gotten stronger and altered their clan's fighting style to suit herself.
'That Taiju boy will pay for this.' Hisashi promised himself.
[Konoha clinic]
The building was busy as usual, people coming in and out with wounds, illnesses, and other injuries that ranged from life-threatening to just be careful. Sakura was used to this unpredictable environment ever since becoming Tsunade's student, but she has a new rival, not a student-sibling but a kunoichi who's challenging her place as Tsunade's successor, Ino Yamanaka, her blond friend now a medical student, growing at an alarming rate, she even resurrected the fish in half a day. Sakura was happy for Ino taking in medical ninjutsu to her arsenal, but at this rate of her growth, she'll have to admit that the Yamanaka isn't just a pompous girl.
"Ino! We have a patient rapidly losing blood !" A nurse called out.
"On it!" The blonde responded, making her way to the patient's room, in medical scrubs stained by blood and other secretions but this was her normal now.
"She's coming to her own," Sakura admitted.
Taiju's maggots are thriving in his absence, no need for Yugao to excessively monitor them.
[ End of chapter]
Author's notes:
5 chapters due today, thank you for your patience.