Hyuga Hiashi took this heavy blow, his Byakugan widened, and he spat out blood with a "wah" sound, his back arching like a shrimp.
"Eight Trigrams—"
Hinata was about to deliver the final blow of Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Palm when she suddenly noticed that the Chakra flames enveloping her palm had completely turned crimson, vaguely forming the shape of a ferocious beast head.
The beast head was neither lion nor tiger, but even more mighty and malevolent!
It actually added a few points of killing intent and power to the Gentle Fist!
She quickly forced herself to stop the move.
Because Hinata had a premonition that if this palm landed, Hyuga Hiashi would be severely injured even if he didn't die.
Releasing Hyuga Hiashi's wrist, Hyuga Hiashi staggered back a few steps, then suddenly half-knelt on the ground, coughing up several mouthfuls of blood.
The blood splattered on the tatami mat, still steaming.
"Father, are you... are you alright?"
Hinata suddenly panicked a little.
How could her father, who was the strongest in her impression, suffer such severe injuries?!
She quickly stepped forward, helping Hyuga Hiashi sit properly on the tatami mat.
"I, I'll go find a doctor!"
Hinata was so anxious that tears welled up in her eyes, feeling both scared and regretful.
She only wanted to go all out and make Hyuga Hiashi see her in a new light.
Unexpectedly, she almost severely injured her own father.
"It's fine, no need."
Hyuga Hiashi stopped Hinata, exhaled a turbid and hot breath, and began to use the healing ability of Gentle Fist to treat his own injuries.
The spot where Hinata's Eight Trigrams Seventh Palm had struck showed a burnt-through kimono with a scorched brown palm print.
His back was also the same; not only were large areas of fabric burned to ashes, but there was also a large circle of scorched marks.
Hyuga Hiashi healed his injuries while suppressing the urge to laugh loudly.
He looked at Hinata, not blaming his daughter for injuring him, but instead a hint of approval flashed in his eyes, becoming even more satisfied with Hinata's performance just now.
"Good, good."
"Hinata's current strength, not to mention comparable to a Chunin, basically few Genin are her match."
"The most important thing is her transformation; she's become more determined and confident than before."
Hyuga Hiashi thought to himself, but the expression on his face remained stern, even a little serious.
"The Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Palm just now was overly forceful, completely abandoning the effect of striking pressure points and instead focusing on destroying the internal organs."
"Were these... all taught to you by Uzumaki Naruto?"
Hinata nodded, then shook her head.
She came behind Hyuga Hiashi, her palms enveloped in a slightly greenish Chakra aura, covering the shocking burns, doing her best to treat her father.
"Adding the Fire Release Chakra nature transformation to Eight Trigrams Palm, that's a good idea. You only trained with Uzumaki Naruto for a few days, and you've already mastered a Chakra nature transformation?"
"What shocks me even more is the tremendous improvement in your physical quality."
"Strength, speed, reaction, constitution... everything has gotten stronger, and not just by a little; it's a complete qualitative leap."
Hyuga Hiashi lowered his head, looking at his wrist that Hinata had gripped.
There... clearly remained several purplish-black grip marks.
Hyuga Hiashi was very certain that his wrist bone had fractured.
"Just by finger grip strength, she crushed my wrist bone..."
Hyuga Hiashi's voice became serious.
"Hinata, tell me honestly, what did Uzumaki Naruto do to you?"
Hinata was startled but not flustered, and she repeated the answer according to the lines Naruto had told her beforehand.
In reality, if Naruto hadn't allowed it, Hinata wouldn't have revealed even a bit of Naruto's secrets even if it killed her!
"A secret medicine left behind by Uzumaki Naruto's parents?!"
Hyuga Hiashi's heart trembled.
Hinata didn't know much about Naruto's parents, but as the head of the Hyuga Clan and one of Konoha Village's important figures, how could he not know?
"It's actually the Fourth Hokage's Relics."
"No, I think it's more likely a secret medicine Uzumaki Kushina brought from her clan. The Whirlpool Clan's physique has always been special, with strong vitality and abundant Chakra. I wonder if it's related to the secret medicine."
"Hinata's physique has greatly improved, and her vitality is bursting, which somewhat matches the Whirlpool Clan's physique."
"The value of such a secret medicine is probably unimaginable!"
Hyuga Hiashi, deep in thought, imagined many things.
"Hmm... Naruto, that kid, is quite sincere."
"According to him, he even gave you the last bottle of Whirlpool secret medicine. It seems he treats you very well."
Hyuga Hiashi slowly said to Hinata.
"So, Father doesn't object to me interacting with Naruto-kun anymore?"
Hearing that her father seemed to approve of Naruto, Hinata felt sweet inside, her eyes lit up, and she cheered joyfully, without any shyness or reserve.
Hyuga Hiashi saw Hinata's overjoyed appearance and only thought that his daughter was too eager to leave home.
At the same time, Hinata's transformation also secretly surprised the old father.
"You can interact, but remember to keep your distance and not lose your status as the Hyuga Clan's young lady."
"Hinata, when you go out, you represent not only yourself but also the entire Hyuga Clan," Hyuga Hiashi warned with a stern face.
"Thank you, Father!" Hinata said happily.
"You... sigh..."
Hyuga Hiashi saw that Hinata hadn't listened at all and couldn't help but shake his head.
Looking at his daughter, he couldn't help but recall his deceased wife.
At the same time...
There was also another daughter—Hyuga Hanabi.
This year, Hyuga Hinata was twelve years old, and Hyuga Hanabi was seven.
Logically speaking,
His branch should have already decided who would be the Main Family and who would be the Branch Family.
But neither Hinata getting the Hyuga Branch Family Curse Mark nor Hanabi getting the curse mark was the outcome Hyuga Hiashi wanted to see.
So he had been delaying it.
Seeking a way to break the deadlock!
Now, Hyuga Hinata had shown performance worthy of being the Main Family, and the clan elders would probably urge to brand Hyuga Hanabi with the Hyuga Branch Family Curse Mark.
"Naruto, I've seen your sincerity."
"But wanting to marry my daughter is far from enough."
"At least... you need to let the old folks in the Village know that you are no longer a ticking time bomb."
Hyuga Hiashi's gaze became deep and distant.
One of the methods he currently thought of was to marry Hyuga Hinata out and have Hyuga Hanabi inherit the position of Main Family head.
This way, he could maneuver among the elders and be confident in avoiding branding his daughter with the Hyuga Branch Family Curse Mark.
As for the long-standing problem of the Main Family and Branch Family, using this as an opportunity, perhaps it could be changed little by little.
Noble ninja clans rarely marry their daughters outside, let alone the Hyuga Clan, who possess the Byakugan.
Commoners shouldn't even think about it; even becoming a Jonin wouldn't qualify one to marry the Hyuga Clan's eldest legitimate daughter.
One must either possess absolute strength, becoming a Kage-level or even stronger existence.
Or possess a profound background, with a distinguished family behind them.
In the Ninja World, having strong backing and family heritage is even more important than talent.
Fortunately, Naruto's background was also extraordinary.
"It seems I need to add some fuel to the fire."
"And also test Naruto's true capabilities."
Hyuga Hiashi thought silently.
He looked back at Hinata, who was healing him, and frowned slightly.
There was still one more doubt.
Although Hyuga Hinata's Fire Release Chakra nature transformation and physical enhancement were recent events, the cultivation of Gentle Fist was by no means an overnight achievement.
Hyuga Hiashi would never believe that a few pointers from Naruto could make Hinata's Gentle Fist attainments advance by leaps and bounds.
The only explanation was... Hyuga Hinata's Gentle Fist was not bad to begin with!
Her Gentle Fist had also reached a high level, her Byakugan purity was high, and with a five-year age difference, how could Hinata possibly lose to Hanabi?
One must know that the difference between twenty-five and twenty years old, and the difference between ten and five years old, are completely different concepts!
Hyuga Hiashi asked in a deep voice, "Hinata, tell me truthfully, why did you deliberately lose to Hanabi?!"