Although Hinata's shuriken deflection didn't strike the bullseye every time—
Her performance was already outstanding.
—
Just outside the training field, a small group had gathered to watch.
Inuzuka Kiba, Aburame Shino, Uzumaki Naruto, and Haruno Sakura were all standing off to the side.
This was their first time witnessing Yoruha and the girls train up close.
And truth be told?
They were completely stunned.
"…So this is how they train every day?" Shino murmured as he pushed his glasses up, beads of sweat sliding down his temple. "That's insane…"
"Yeah…" Kiba nodded, defeated. "If it were me, I'd have been taken out by Ino's shuriken in the first ten seconds."
"…Yoruha-kun… is just so cool… Uwuuu~" Sakura whimpered softly, heart eyes in full effect.
Clearly, her takeaway had nothing to do with strength or skill.
For her?
Looks were everything.
Naruto puffed up his chest. "See that? That's the man who recognized me! The one and only—Yoruha of the Yamanaka Clan!"
Meanwhile, off to the side, Akimichi Choji was casually munching on potato chips like this was just another Tuesday.
"Shikamaru," he said between bites, "what do you think?"
Shikamaru lay on the grass, arms behind his head, expression bored.
"What do I think?" he muttered. "I think Night Breeze's got too much time on his hands."
The only reason he even showed up was because Yoruha had promised to treat everyone to food after training.
If not?
No way he'd come all the way out here just to watch someone flex on the rest of the class.
—
Back on the field—
Yoruha stepped up to Hinata, gently patting her head with a look of genuine pride in his eyes.
"Nice job today, Hinata," he said warmly. "You've mastered the Thirty-Two Palms. Try aiming for the Sixty-Four Palms before graduation."
The Sixty-Four Palms was a signature secret technique of the Hyuga clan.
When fully mastered, it allowed the user to strike sixty-four chakra points in rapid succession. Combined with the Byakugan, each blow could cut off the target's chakra flow, weakening them severely.
If Hinata could pull it off before graduation?
Yoruha was confident she'd crush the Chunin Exams—especially the match against Neji, which he knew from memory was going to be a tough one.
"Yoruha-kun… it's all thanks to you," Hinata whispered, cheeks flushed, as she wiped the sweat from her brow.
To her, mastering the Thirty-Two Palms wasn't because of her own ability—
It was because Yoruha believed in her and trained her so well.
So, what did the ideal girlfriend look like?
This was it.
—
"Hey, Yoruha, Hinata! You're done with training, right? Time to hold up your end of the deal—you're treating us!" Choji called out, glancing sadly into the bottom of his now-empty chip bag.
"Sweet! Let's go get some Ichiraku Ramen!" Naruto grinned. "My favorite!"
Normally, he'd be too broke to even think about ramen. But if it was on someone else's tab?
He was already halfway to the stand.
"Ramen?" Kiba made a face. "Come on, we're still growing—we need meat! Let's hit up the BBQ place I know. Great meat, not too expensive."
Clearly a carnivore at heart.
Pulled noodles were fine… but grilled meat?
That was real food.
"Yoruha-kun…" Sakura spoke up next, lightly touching her waist with a sheepish smile. "I've been watching my figure lately, so… I'll just order something vegetarian. Don't worry, I won't let you spend too much on me~"
Shino, ever a man of few words, simply added: "Anything's fine."
At that moment—
Choji turned back around, eyebrows raised in total disbelief.
"Are you guys serious?" he said, chewing slowly. "If that's all we're getting, you think Shikamaru would've bothered showing up?"
He pointed dramatically at Yoruha. "You promised us a feast! So don't hold back now!"