~ Support & Read 38 Advanced Chapters on Patreon
❁❁❁❁
Under Shin’s instruction, Hanabi assumed the stance and continued practicing the Gentle Fist.
“Just so we’re clear—I don’t want you to teach me. You’re the one who insisted,” Hanabi said, her voice dripping with a tsundere’s trademark haughty disdain.
Thwack!
Shin tapped Hanabi’s small head.
“Don’t be so tsundere at such a young age. Haven’t you heard? Tsundere ruins everything.” Nowadays, tsundere wasn’t in vogue anymore. Tsundere characters usually ended up as the losing party, mostly due to their own actions.
“I-I’m not tsundere!” Hanabi glared angrily at Shin, only to receive another tap on her head. She immediately became obedient.
Outwardly compliant, inwardly aggrieved. Damn it! Always bullying little girls! YOU BIG MEANIE!
‘When I master the Gentle Fist; I’ll turn you into a punching bag!’
“What are you smirking about? Get into proper stance, will you?” Shin poked Hanabi’s cheek with his finger, snapping her back to reality.
Hanabi had been lost in a mental image of herself, a master of the Gentle Fist, decimating Shin. The thought had unconsciously brought a silly grin to her face.
Honestly, that goofy smile looked quite embarrassing—Even Hanabi herself felt a flush of shame.
“I’ve already mastered the Gentle Fist Art: Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms! Why do I have to keep practicing?” Hanabi whined, her expression glum.
“Mastered? You’re not even proficient yet. And ‘proficient’ isn’t ‘mastered’.” Shin poked her cheek again.
“Big Sis! Did you see that?! He keeps touching me! He’s taking advantage of me!” Hanabi yelled angrily towards Hinata.
Before Hinata could speak, Karin couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
“Taking advantage of a flat-chested little girl? Really? Don’t be ridiculous.”
Karin even deliberately flaunted her own figure at Hanabi, making Hanabi so angry she almost coughed up blood. So annoying!
“Hmph! I’m still growing! I’ll be bigger than you someday! Just you wait!” Hanabi declared proudly. However, deep down, Hanabi wasn’t very confident.
“Enough of that. Focus on your training,” Shin told Hanabi, urging her to concentrate.
Hanabi had indeed grasped the Gentle Fist Art: Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms, but she wasn’t proficient yet. Shin was currently guiding her to achieve greater mastery.
Then there was the issue of chakra.
Although the Gentle Fist was a Taijutsu style, it didn’t mean it didn’t require chakra. The reason the Gentle Fist could strike pressure points was because the chakra imbued in the palms sealed the opponent’s Tenketsu (Chakra Points).
“Don’t be so mean, or I’ll hate you!” Hanabi pouted but obediently resumed her training.
She still harbored plans of defeating Shin, so naturally, she had to put in the effort. Unfortunately, some goals couldn’t be achieved through effort alone. Hanabi was still young and didn’t understand Shin’s true strength, which was why she held onto this ambition.
Having this goal was good, though. It motivated Hanabi to work hard. Only through effort could one achieve results.
Hanabi’s inherent talent was also quite good. Teaching her wasn’t particularly difficult for Shin.
“Not bad, little girl. You’re training quite hard. I thought you’d be complaining about the difficulty by now.”
After two hours of training, Shin saw Hanabi still diligently practicing, a surprised expression on his face.
She truly was working hard. Shin appreciated that. If one wasn’t hardworking, even immense talent wouldn’t lead to great achievements.
“This is nothing,” Hanabi said, her tsundere expression returning.
“I told you before, tsundere ruins everything. Stop being tsundere in the future. Since you performed so well today, I’ll give you a reward.” Shin said, patting Hanabi’s small head.
Hanabi enjoyed Shin’s head-pats, but she was more curious about the reward Shin intended to give her.
“Shin-nii, what reward are you going to give me?” Hanabi’s expression was full of undisguised anticipation.
“What kind of reward do you want?” Shin didn’t specify, instead asking Hanabi.
“I don’t know.” Hanabi placed a finger on her chin and began to think. It seemed she didn’t particularly need anything.
“Since that’s the case, then I’ll reward you with a feast.”
“That feels underwhelming.” Hanabi rolled her eyes. Did he think she was easy to please? They ate feasts all the time.
“It’s decided then.” Shin ignored Hanabi’s words, let her rest for a bit, then took Hinata, Karin, and Hanabi back home.
Shin had timed their return perfectly. Just as they arrived, Mikoto had finished cooking.
“Mikoto’s cooking is the best! I miss it if I don’t eat it for a day!”
“Is that so?” Mikoto asked, her tone questioning.
“Of course! I would never lie to you, Mikoto. In terms of culinary skills, Mikoto is number one in the world!”
“If you missed it so much, why did you stay away for so long? It seems my cooking isn’t attractive enough for you. My skills still aren’t up to par.” Mikoto glanced at Shin and said.
Shin felt a bit awkward.
Saying anything now wouldn’t be good. So, he decided to just lower his head and eat.
——
“By the way, Hanabi, when are you planning to go back?” Shin asked Hanabi after dinner, who was stuffed.
Hanabi rubbed her round belly, then her face instantly filled with grievance.
“Are you… trying to get rid of me?” Hanabi looked pitifully at Shin, as if Shin had done something outrageous.
“Shin, I think Hanabi’s happy here,” Kushina said to Shin. She was very fond of Hanabi and naturally didn’t want her to leave.
Not just Kushina, but the other women felt similarly. They couldn’t bear to let Hanabi leave.
Shin was quite speechless. ‘Don’t any of you consider Hiashi Hyūga’s feelings?’
“Then Hanabi, do you want to go back?” Shin asked Hanabi. If Hanabi said she didn’t want to go back, Shin wouldn’t force her.
Actually, Shin quite liked this little girl Hanabi too. And with Hanabi around, the place was more lively.
“I don’t want to go back!” Hanabi said without hesitation, absolutely no reluctance.
Thinking about facing her father’s strict training upon returning made Hanabi shiver.
Although Hanabi also trained hard with Shin—it was a completely different feeling from being forced to train.
No one liked being forced, especially a little girl like Hanabi.
“Since you don’t want to go back, I won’t take you back. As for whether Hiashi Hyūga will come looking for you, that’s none of my business,” Shin said with a shrug.
Hanabi was relieved by this.
Her father definitely wouldn’t come looking for her. He was so busy he barely had time to go home—he certainly wouldn’t have time to come here and take her back.
❁❁❁❁
~ 38 Advanced Chapters Available on my Patreon
p-atreon.com/dragonnx
(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)