Hyūga Hinata's timid gaze flickered the moment she met Moyu's eyes. Her cheeks flushed, voice trembling softly. "I didn't expect Sensei to be so skilled in ninjutsu."
Moyu studied her quietly. If she were a few years older, he might've suspected she was trying to flatter him. But seeing that innocent, unguarded face, he said nothing. What concerned him wasn't her shyness, but how to break through the weaknesses of his students. All three had strong natural talent only Hinata's spirit was still too soft. She had potential, but no edge.
Unlike other instructors who were easily swayed by family gifts or favors, Moyu remained detached. Whether the Hyūga patriarch offered him money or not, his principle was absolute students were students. Training was training. He treated them all the same.
As the three began their morning drills, Moyu stood with his arms folded, observing every stance, every slip in rhythm, every imbalance of spiritual flow. It didn't take long for him to pinpoint their flaws. Once he saw enough, his tone deepened.
"You each have weaknesses. I'll point them out, and you'll engrave them into your hearts. Fix them, or you'll never progress."
The three nodded obediently, eyes sharp, postures tense. They already knew this tone meant Moyu had shifted from teacher to captain.
He turned to Hinata first. "Your task will be to handle low-level Summoning Beasts ninja dogs, to start. They're weak but fast, ideal for improving your perception and adaptability."
Hinata hesitated but nodded quickly, understanding that refusal wasn't an option.
Then Moyu faced the other two. "Uchiha Sasuke. Uzumaki Naruto. Each of you will receive your own assignments. What I teach you now if you endure will grant you a skill no one else in this village possesses."
The moment those words fell, both boys' eyes lit up. The competitive fire between them flared instantly. They didn't need to speak; Moyu could already read their thoughts through that shared gaze Teach us, now.
Watching their burning spirit, a rare sense of pride stirred within him. Perhaps this was what it meant to be a true instructor one who forges steel out of raw ore.
Training continued until dusk. Under Moyu's strict guidance, they improved rapidly. He not only corrected their combat forms but ensured their meals, rest, and focus were perfect. Discipline, strength, and even the rhythm of their breathing began to align under his control.
Hyūga Hinata, however, required more than just training. Within the Hyūga clan, she had always lived under pressure overshadowed, belittled, ignored. Her every step was measured by comparison, her confidence stripped before it could form.
But Moyu's method was different. He gave her no room to doubt, no space to retreat. His voice, firm and unwavering, struck deeper than her father's criticism ever had.
"You won't find strength waiting for approval," he had told her. "You'll find it when you stop fearing your own power."
And under that relentless guidance, the timid girl who once trembled before others began, at last, to raise her eyes.
For the first time, Hyūga Hinata felt what confidence truly meant.