"Alright then, we'll stop here for today…"
After ending the training Akira treated Hinata briefly.
Glancing at the time he saw it was almost time for his appointment with Tenten and Ino.
So he said goodbye to Hinata.
"You're leaving already, Akira big brother…?"
Seeing him about to go—
Hinata couldn't help feeling a little disappointed.
But she quickly recovered and bowed deeply to him:
"Thank you so much for your help. I'm truly grateful!"
Even now Hinata still felt like she was dreaming.
Less than two hours of training—
Had achieved results—
That normally would've taken her months—
Or even something she couldn't reach no matter how hard she tried before.
Just before Akira ended the session...
She had already managed,
To perform up to Thirty-Two Palms consecutively.
Before this, she could barely complete eight.
"No need to be so polite…"
Akira patted her head and smiled:
"Remember—no matter what, you must be more confident!"
"I… I understand, Akira big brother…"
Hinata blushed, Her fingers fidgeting slightly.
Her pale eyes looked at his handsome figure—
As she couldn't help but ask softly:
"Then… Akira big brother… will I be able to see you again?"
She truly wanted to see him again.
She had heard—
That he had left the village with Lady Tsunade for training.
Maybe he was only back for a few days.
"I'll probably stay in the village for about ten days or so. I should be fairly free during that time…"
Akira raised his right hand.
Under Hinata's astonished gaze—
A large green leaf appeared in his palm.
Then—
At a visible speed—
It folded itself—
Into a green paper crane.
"Flap…"
The leaf crane—
Seemed to come alive—
Fluttering to Hinata—
Landing in her palm.
Smiling, he said:
"If you want to find me, just send a bit of chakra into it. Within the Leaf Village, I'll generally be able to sense it!"
"Remember—this is our little secret…"
Akira leaned down slightly—
Gently touching his forehead to hers—
Looking directly into her beautiful pale eyes:
"Don't tell anyone, alright?"
Thump… thump…
Such an intimate gesture—
Made Hinata freeze completely.
Her wide, watery eyes—
Stared at his face so close to hers.
Her heart raced wildly.
Her delicate face turned completely red—
As if steam might rise from it.
"Mm…"
Her head nearly sank into her chest—
Her voice soft as a mosquito.
Seeing this—
Akira didn't dare tease her further.
He chuckled and left:
"Heh, I'll get going then!"
"G-goodbye… Akira big brother…"
Watching his departing figure—
Hinata waved—
Reluctant to see him go.
"Oh, right…"
As if remembering something—
Akira turned back.
With a smile in his eyes, he said lightly:
"Girls look better with long hair!"
Then he left.
"Eh?"
Hinata froze.
Looking at his disappearing figure—
Then at the delicate green leaf crane in her hand—
She touched her short hair.
A determined look—
Appeared in her eyes.
...
"Akira—"
"Akira big brother, you're late again!"
Outside the village—
At a training ground not far from the Hokage Rock—
As soon as Akira arrived—
He saw Tenten and Ino already waiting, waving excitedly.
Ino even rushed over—
Pouting in dissatisfaction.
"Alright, alright, I got held up a bit!"
Akira laughed apologetically.
The three of them joked around for a bit—
Then—
Akira specifically checked their progress over the past two years.
"Whirr… whirr…"
A humanoid puppet—
Connected by nearly invisible chakra threads—
Moved rapidly under Tenten's control.
Its arms—
Extended into sharp blades—
Spinning violently as it attacked.
Continuously chasing Akira's wood clone.
"Whoosh… whoosh…"
Akira's wood clone—
Maintaining only an average chunin level—
Dodged continuously—
Occasionally counterattacking.
It flicked out several shuriken—
Bypassing the puppet—
Shooting precisely toward Tenten herself.
But Tenten didn't panic—
Reacting in time—
Either narrowly dodging—
Or controlling the puppet to block for her.
At the same time—
Using the puppet as cover—
"Click—"
The puppet's mouth opened—
And instantly—
A barrage of senbon needles shot out.
Cold flashes filled the air—
Dense and numerous—
At least hundreds—
Enough to make one's scalp tingle.
"Bang… bang…"
After a brief test—
Having roughly assessed Tenten's level—
Akira didn't continue the mock battle.
After all—
This little rich girl hated retrieving her thrown weapons.
A prolonged fight would be too wasteful.
It had to be said—
Both Tenten and Ino—
Had improved significantly.
Tenten—
Controlling the puppet "Akira No.1"—
Already displayed strength comparable to an elite genin.
If combined with her "money power"—
Equipping all those weapons—
With explosive tags and the like—
Even a regular chunin—
Would have a hard time dealing with her.
Ino was no worse.
She had already mastered—
The Yamanaka clan's secret techniques quite proficiently.
Akira even personally experienced—
The Mind Transfer Technique.
Though it had no effect on him—
Against opponents of similar or slightly higher level—
It was extremely difficult to guard against.
Especially with teammates cooperating—
And proper tactics—
Even experienced elite ninja could fall for it.
No wonder—
The Ino–Shika–Cho formation—
Was so renowned in the ninja world.
Moreover—
Ino had also learned the basic medical ninjutsu Akira taught earlier—
And was doing quite well.
Next—
Akira began giving them targeted guidance.
Time passed quickly—
Soon it was evening.
After parting reluctantly—
He escorted the two girls back.
...
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