Returning to the training ground, Chōji was very "happy" to follow along with Shikamaru and Ino's routine.
As for Hikari's warning about leaving them unable to stand from exhaustion—that scenario wasn't likely.
A shinobi's physique far surpassed that of ordinary people. Unless they used some sort of extreme method, there was no way such regular training would make them collapse in just an hour. If they couldn't hold out even that long, they might as well go home and take a vacation.
"Hikari-senpai?" Noticing Hikari's gaze, Hinata instinctively took a step back.
She looked just like a startled little rabbit.
"It's nothing. I'm just curious — Hinata, after eating so much food, do you feel anything different in your body?"
Hinata was not Naruto or Sasuke. If Hikari went straight up and examined her, the Hyūga clan would probably lose their minds.
Just imagining a group of Byakugan users staring him down... Hikari decided to play it safe.
Hinata thought carefully, then raised her small fist.
"I... feel a bit stronger than before!"
Stronger, huh.
"By how much? A sudden increase or just a gradual improvement?"
Perhaps his question was too urgent, because Hinata still looked confused.
"Alright, then. Hit me with all your strength!"
To test her power, Hikari decided to take the risk.
With his current abilities, he shouldn't get killed by a punch from Hinata, right?
Quietly reinforcing his body with Yang Release, Hikari ignored Hinata's pitiful, pleading eyes and gave the order.
"Come on, give me a punch."
"If your strength satisfies me, then tomorrow you can continue training with Naruto and keep eating full meals. Otherwise, you'll have to go train with Kiba and Shino."
Those two were good companions too, but compared to Naruto... in Hinata's heart, they weren't even close.
"Hikari-senpai, here I come!"
Hinata warned him softly, then punched his palm.
The force of the punch was indeed impressive — Hikari's hand tingled slightly from the impact.
"Was that your full strength?" Hikari decided to press her.
In his experience, someone with Hinata's temperament would never show their full strength unless cornered.
And it wasn't as if Hikari was her enemy.
Hinata nodded timidly.
"I see. Then you can leave," Hikari said coldly. "Your strength is far too weak. I can sense you have power, so why hide it? Were you afraid you'd kill me?"
With Yang Release protecting his body, Hikari feared nothing.
Hinata was no One Punch Man. Hikari believed his Yang Release could handle far worse.
"I..." Hinata's eyes welled up. She didn't want to be separated from Naruto.
"All right, all right. I'll give you another chance. If you don't use your full pow—"
Before Hikari could even finish speaking, a massive force slammed into his palm.
In an instant, he was sent flying backward like a fired cannonball.
"So strong!"
Even while airborne, Hikari had the presence of mind to register the intense pain shooting through both of his hands.
It felt as though his bones were being crushed and his muscles torn apart.
"Hikari-senpai, are you okay!?"
Could she have just killed him!?
Hinata looked toward the spot where he had landed, her face full of worry.
If she had actually killed Hikari-senpai, she'd have to endure endless lectures from her father again.
"No problem! Your strength is impressive!"
Hikari stared at her like a prized specimen—eyes gleaming with scientific greed.
He really wanted to strap her to an examination table and study her. Her potential was even greater than he imagined.
Eating a lot indicated that Hinata's internal organs were exceptional.
Just one full meal had boosted her power several times over. If she kept eating properly, she could surpass ordinary Hyūga levels, perhaps becoming another Hyūga Tenjin — or even surpassing him.
Hinata secretly rolled her eyes.
'Your strength is impressive' was hardly something you said as a compliment to a girl!
"To be honest, Hinata, you really surprised me."
Hinata looked up at him in mild confusion.
"Have you really never eaten to fullness since you were little?" Hikari asked with concern.
Hinata didn't understand where this was going, but since it wasn't something private, she had no reason to hide it.
"That's right... But what does that have to do with my future training?"
Hinata didn't want to bring up the part about being sent away—she was hoping if she didn't mention it, Hikari might forget and let her stay.
Of course, Hikari had only said that to push her harder. There was no way he was actually going to make her leave.
She was someone he had personally chosen, after all.
"Then I'll give you a special assignment outside of regular training. From now on, every meal, eat until you're sixty or seventy percent full. Can you do that?"
Truthfully, Hinata was tempted.
But...
If she did that, the Hyūga household would need to prepare portions for ten people. That would be...
"If you want to fight side-by-side with Naruto, training alone isn't enough. Your potential hasn't been unlocked yet. First and foremost, you need to eat properly so your body can meet the minimum requirements for real training," Hikari casually bullshitted.
Hinata didn't understand anyway, so Hikari felt no guilt.
"Then... I'll tell my family when I get home!" For the sake of staying by Naruto's side, Hinata decided it was worth being a little bolder.
"You don't just 'tell' them. If I find out tomorrow that you didn't eat a full dinner tonight... you know what'll happen." Hikari finished speaking, then casually pointed toward Naruto. "Go on. Train taijutsu with Naruto—and don't hold back."
Hinata was now a mix of joy and apprehension, not knowing what to say.
The next moment, she dashed straight toward Naruto.
Training with Naruto-kun came first. As for Hikari-senpai... he was just being weird again.
Watching Hinata happily sparring with Naruto, Hikari turned his attention to the Ino-Shika-Cho trio training off to the side.
Seeing the three of them working hard, he felt that as their senpai, it was his duty to give them some proper guidance.
After all, they were the first team he had ever led. If they ended up far weaker than everyone else, that would be humiliating.
"Shikamaru... I feel like Hikari-senpai is coming over," Ino whispered.
Girls' intuition was sharp. Sensing Hikari's gaze, Ino immediately warned Shikamaru.
"It should be fine. It's just training, right? No problem."
Shikamaru said, then cautiously turned to look behind him — only to whip his head back around instantly, as if he'd seen a demon.
You couldn't blame him — Hikari was smiling far too cheerfully.
A sense of doom washed over them.
"You three, come here. It's been a while. Let's have a real spar — I want to see how far your training has progressed."
Shikamaru and Ino's faces dropped instantly.
To them, what Hikari had just said clearly meant one thing:
"Come here so I can beat the crap out of you!"