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As Shin and Mikoto chatted, Hinata finished her training.
“Shin-nii, how was my Gentle Fist practice just now?” Hinata ran over, looking expectantly at Shin.
“Um, Hinata, your Gentle Fist is excellent. You’ve mastered the Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms. I think you’re ready to start learning the Gentle Fist Art: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms.” Shin praised Hinata, seeing her hopeful gaze. He wouldn’t discourage her.
Nearby, Mikoto covered her mouth, trying to stifle a laugh. He hadn’t even been watching Hinata’s training; he had been too busy chatting with her.
However, She didn’t say anything. Revealing the truth would only upset Hinata. For Hinata’s sake, Mikoto didn’t expose Shin.
“Really?” Hinata blushed, this time from excitement. Her hard work hadn’t been in vain; she had earned Shin’s approval.
“Actually, Shin, you could teach Hinata other Ninjutsu too. Can’t Hyūga Clan members learn other techniques?” Mikoto couldn’t help but ask Shin, hearing him plan to continue teaching Hinata Gentle Fist.
“Who said they can’t? Hyūga can learn other Ninjutsu. But their forte is still the Gentle Fist. That’s the Hyūga Clan’s advantage.”
Hinata could certainly learn other Ninjutsu, but not yet. For now, Shin wanted her to focus on mastering the Gentle Fist. It was best learned from a young age.
Young children were more flexible, making it the optimal time to train in Gentle Fist. However, training at a young age also carried a higher risk of injury. Close supervision was necessary, as a child’s body was fragile. Fortunately, Hinata possessed the Perfect Sage Body.
Originally, Hinata definitely didn’t have the Perfect Sage Body, not even an ordinary one.
But Shin had used the Life Contract on Hinata. Under the contract’s influence, influenced by Shin’s power, her body had gradually transformed into a Perfect Sage Body.
Furthermore, her life was now linked with Shin’s. Hinata had already achieved the dream of immortality that Orochimaru pursued his entire life.
Karin was the same. Shin had also used the Life Contract on her, granting her the Perfect Sage Body.
“I’m heading back now. You continue teaching Hinata. Remember to come back for dinner later.” Mikoto stood up and said to Shin. She was going back to prepare food.
Nowadays, cooking duties mostly fell to Mikoto and Konan. Mikoto was the main chef, while Konan assisted. In terms of culinary skills, Konan was good, but still lacked Mikoto’s finesse.
As for the others—Kushina, Tsunade, Mei Terumī—they were useless in the kitchen.
Shin knew how to cook, but given his lazy nature, he’d rather starve than cook. Anyway, he couldn’t starve to death.
Shin continued training Hinata for a while longer, then took her hand and returned home. It was time for dinner.
———
After dinner, Karin furtively approached Shin and whispered, “Shin-sama, I think… I’d rather train with you.”
“Why is that?”
“Shin-sama, please lower your voice! Don’t let Kushina-neechan hear!” Karin quickly covered Shin’s mouth and made a hushing gesture.
“Alright, I’ll keep it down,” Shin nodded, deliberately lowering his voice.
“Um, I think Kushina-neechan is a bit… unreliable. And besides, I prefer training with Shin-sama,” Karin whispered.
“Unreliable? Hmm, in a way, Kushina is a bit unreliable.” Hearing Karin say this, Shin started to doubt Kushina’s teaching abilities.
Kushina had no prior teaching experience. And he hadn’t actually seen how Kushina instructed Karin. He felt a bit skeptical now.
“Alright then.” Shin patted Karin’s small head with a smile.
Being patted on the head by Shin, Karin blushed slightly, whimpered like a small animal, and rubbed against Shin’s hand affectionately.
Then, Karin skipped off happily to find Kushina. However, not long after, the previously cheerful Karin returned looking like a wilted eggplant.
“Sob… Kushina-neechan won’t let me go.”
Karin had just discussed training with Shin instead, but Kushina had immediately refused.
“Shin! Are you trying to steal my student?” Kushina rushed out angrily, confronting Shin.
“Uh, well, considering you don’t have any teaching experience, I thought it might be better for Karin to learn from me,” Shin said, avoiding the word “unreliable.”
Kushina stroked her chin thoughtfully. It was true; she sometimes struggled to explain things to Karin.
Some things she knew how to do and found simple, but explaining them to others proved difficult.
“How about this? Kushina, you train Karin alongside me?” Shin suggested.
“Fine.”
Kushina and Shin had a tacit understanding. She knew Shin meant she could learn how to teach by observing him.
Later, while jointly training Karin, Shin finally understood why Karin called Kushina unreliable. When explaining theoretical knowledge—Kushina’s explanations were chaotic.
To be precise, her verbal expression skills were poor.
Furthermore, she skipped the foundational sealing techniques and jumped straight to advanced ones.
In some ways, Kushina truly wasn’t suited for teaching.
Yet, Kushina loved being a teacher. There was nothing Shin could do but let Kushina learn alongside him.
Kushina was quite serious this time, even taking notes.
———
As evening approached, they headed back. Just as they returned to the cabin, a fragrant aroma wafted out.
“Smells so good! My mouth is watering!” Kushina couldn’t help but exclaim.
“No need to state the obvious, Kushina. Your drool is already dripping.” Shin said, looking at her with amusement.
Kushina awkwardly wiped her mouth, then pounced on Shin and bit him.
“Can you please mind your image? You’re being too unruly,” Shin said with a helpless expression.
“I’m so envious…” Karin muttered, looking at Kushina.
Hinata, standing nearby, heard Karin and looked up at her, then touched her own hair, unsure what Karin was envious about.
Kushina, letting go of Shin, suddenly remembered her role as a teacher. She had to maintain a certain image, at least in front of Karin.
Seeing Kushina suddenly become composed and dignified, Shin felt a bit strange.
Did the sun rise from the west?
“What are you looking at?” Kushina asked, slightly annoyed by Shin’s strange gaze.
“I think I preferred the previous you better. This feels a bit—fake,” Shin commented to Kushina.
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