After several missions like cleaning riverbeds, harvesting crops, and finding lost pets, Kiba and Akamaru performed surprisingly well in this regard, finding them with ease.
Through these missions, Kurenai Yuhi observed the characteristics of the three.
Inuzuka Kiba had plenty of drive, but his Chakra control and tactical thinking clearly needed strengthening.
Although Shino Aburame was calm, his Taijutsu and basic Ninjutsu application were relatively weak.
As for Hyuga Hinata... Kurenai looked at the young girl who seemed to handle every mission with ease and maintain a steady breath, feeling that these missions might have very little effect on her.
She could only temporarily judge her as having a solid Foundation and excellent Heart-Nature.
One day, Kurenai took Team 8 to a secluded forest on the edge of the Village.
"We aren't doing missions today; we're doing basic training."
"As a Ninja, Chakra control is the root. First, we have Chakra Tree Climbing."
She demonstrated it once, concentrating Chakra on the soles of her feet and easily walking vertically up the tree trunk as if on level ground.
"Wow! So cool!"
Kiba exclaimed in awe and immediately began to try, only to end up falling on his butt.
Shino pushed up his sunglasses and calmly analyzed the stability of the Chakra output. He tried a few times, and although he could take a few steps, he was still far from the top of the tree, and the Chakra consumption was quite high.
It was Hinata's turn.
She didn't even look twice; she just walked calmly to the tree, lifted her foot, and step by step, as if walking up ordinary stairs, she steadily reached the top. She stood on a small branch, her form as steady as a rock, without even a leaf shaking violently.
The entire process was smooth and natural, as if she were born knowing how to do it.
Below the tree, Kiba's mouth hung open.
"No... way... so fast?"
Shino's sunglasses reflected the light, masking his expression, and he remained silent.
Kurenai had expected this, speculating that the Hyuga Clan might have given her extra lessons, but learning these things too early could lead to an unstable Foundation, which carried risks.
But looking at Hinata now, she didn't see any problems for the time being.
"Next is Water Walking."
Kurenai led everyone to a small stream.
The same scene played out again.
Kiba splashed around a lot, while Shino could barely stand on the water's surface, wobbling precariously.
Hinata, however, stood on the water as if she were weightless, even walking slowly with only the slightest ripples appearing on the surface.
Hinata's heart was untroubled; she even felt a bit bored. She was mostly observing the techniques Kurenai-sensei taught, comparing and verifying them with the effects she achieved using Spiritual Energy.
Looking at Hinata, Kurenai fully confirmed that conventional basic training was of little significance to her, so she decided to teach according to her aptitude.
"Kiba."
Kurenai turned to Kiba, who was still struggling with the water surface.
"The advantage of you and Akamaru lies in speed and coordination, but your attack style is too straightforward. Next, focus on practicing tactical cooperation with Akamaru during high-speed movement. Try to develop more flexible combined attacks rather than just charging in a straight line. At the same time, strengthen your control over Chakra explosive power."
"Yes! Kurenai-sensei!"
Kiba answered loudly and took Akamaru to a nearby clearing to start practicing.
"Shino."
Kurenai then looked at Shino, who had just barely managed to stand steady on the water.
"Your Insect Secret Techniques are powerful, but you rely too much on the bugs. You need to strengthen your Taijutsu and basic Ninjutsu abilities to ensure you can protect yourself and fight in environments where the insects are countered or unusable. Also, try to develop more diverse uses for the insects beyond just attacking and scouting."
"Understood."
Shino was concise.
Finally, Kurenai turned her gaze toward Hinata, who stood quietly on the water as if merging with the surroundings.
"Hinata."
Kurenai walked up to her, her red eyes filled with seriousness and inquiry.
"Your Foundation... is already very solid. Conventional training has limited benefits for you, so I've decided on a different approach."
Hinata leapt lightly from the water and landed in front of Kurenai, tilting her head slightly in confusion.
"Actual combat is the best teacher."
Kurenai assumed a combat stance, her gaze turning sharp.
"Come, Hinata. Use your full strength to spar with me. Let me see where your limits are, and let yourself adapt to fighting a stronger opponent."
[I've been waiting for you to say that, though I wouldn't dare use my full strength.]
Hinata's heart stirred. This was exactly what she wanted—fighting a Jonin-level opponent to test her own strength.
"Yes, Kurenai-sensei."
Hinata replied calmly, a flicker of serious light finally igniting in her pure white eyes.
"Watch out!"
Kurenai gave a low shout, and her figure vanished instantly. The next moment, she appeared at Hinata's side, a sharp hand-blade slicing toward her neck with the sound of breaking air at extreme speed.
However, under the insight of Hinata's powerful Divine Sense, the trajectory of Kurenai's movements was crystal clear.
She didn't even move much; she just leaned her upper body back slightly. Simultaneously, her right hand rose as if with foresight, index and middle fingers pressed together, precisely pointing at the acupoint on Kurenai's wrist.
Kurenai was startled and immediately changed her move, retreating.
A Kunai flew from her hand.
Hinata caught it steadily and then threw it back at Kurenai Yuhi.
Kurenai retreated again, her hands quickly forming seals.
"Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique!"
Hinata was suddenly bound tightly by a tree. Just as Kurenai Yuhi emerged from the tree, intending to place the Kunai against Hinata's neck to declare the end...
Hinata suddenly looked up with a faint smile on her lips. She then turned and kicked toward Kurenai Yuhi, completely unaffected by the Genjutsu.
Kurenai Yuhi blocked with her arm, her body forced backward.
"My Genjutsu was actually broken by her so quickly?!"
Kurenai was horrified.
In the instant Kurenai hesitated due to shock.
Hinata's speed suddenly exploded, more than twice as fast as before. She instantly closed in on Kurenai, delivering what looked like a simple punch.
Before the fist even arrived, the sharp wind from the punch had already reached her.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
Kurenai was quick-witted, and a wall of earth instantly rose between them.
"Boom!!"
Hinata's fist slammed heavily into the Earth-Style Wall! Without using any fancy techniques, it was pure strength.
Centering on the point of impact, the solid Earth-Style Wall was instantly covered in spiderweb-like cracks and then exploded! Rubble flew everywhere!
From the dust, Kurenai leapt backward, her mind constantly analyzing.
This strength, this speed, and this terrifying resistance to Genjutsu had already surpassed a Chunin.
Is this really a Genin who just graduated?
Kurenai Yuhi looked at Hinata as if she were looking at a monster wearing the skin of a Genin.
"Stop!"
Kurenai raised her hand to signal, no longer continuing the fight.
She couldn't probe her depths any further; she was afraid that if she continued, her own depths would be exposed instead.
Hinata immediately withdrew her stance and returned to her calm appearance, as if the person with the fierce offensive and terrifying power just now wasn't her.
"Kurenai-sensei."
Kurenai looked at her with a complex expression.
"It seems that ordinary sparring no longer holds much meaning for you."
She pondered for a moment and said.
"For future basic training, you can make your own arrangements. As for actual combat sparring... I will find a more suitable method, or I will spar with you whenever you need it."
"Yes, thank you, Kurenai-sensei."
Hinata was very satisfied with the result of this sparring session. Having freedom was good; under the eyes of a Jonin, she really couldn't go all out.
She wasn't completely unaffected by the Genjutsu just now; after all, Kurenai-sensei's Genjutsu was very strong. She had used some Spiritual Energy to break it.
It's a pity Kurenai-sensei's upper limit is bound by her Bloodline, unlike those Red-eyed freaks.
In the distance, Kiba and Shino had long since stopped their training, watching the scene with slack-jawed amazement.
Especially Kiba; looking at the shattered Earth-Style Wall, he swallowed hard. She was even stronger than last time; last time it took many punches to break it, but this time she wiped it out with just one.
And the opponent was Kurenai-sensei, who was a Jonin.
This once again solidified his belief that he "absolutely must not provoke Hinata."
Kurenai Yuhi looked at Hinata, who had begun to meditate on her own, and thought to herself.
"It seems I need to report more details to the Third Hokage. Hyuga Hinata... her future achievements will likely be limitless... or rather, she is already an existence that the Village needs to treat with caution."