"So you're all thinking of giving me a good beating, huh? Then don't just stand there, bring it on. I'll make you understand just how ridiculously self-important those thoughts of yours truly are."
Kirito's calm declaration instantly enraged the Hyuga elders present. One elder who had remained silent until now, thinking himself too lofty to exchange words with a kid, was now thoroughly provoked. This was the notoriously hot-headed Fourth Elder, who now stepped forward, fury burning in his eyes.
"Insolent kid!
With a thunderous shout, he acted without hesitation. True to his fiery nature, he wasn't one to simply run his mouth.
He stomped down heavily, his figure shooting forth like a tiger unleashed.
Kirito turned, calmly releasing Ayako's hand. He gently guided her backward and said softly,
"Ayako, step back a little. I'll end this quickly."
"You little punk!"
Seeing Kirito turn his back mid-attack only fueled the elder's fury. However, even in his rage, he didn't intend to seriously injure a younger clan member, so his blow held back some of its force.
"Thud!"
Kirito raised a palm and clashed directly with the elder. The impact shook the ground, and to everyone's surprise, it was the Fourth Elder who staggered back several steps!
Kirito raised an eyebrow slightly, then as if understanding something, he offered a mild shift in tone,
"My apologies. If this is a spar, please don't hold back."
But the elder stood frozen, stunned, staring at Kirito. Even though he'd withheld the majority of his power, he'd still used a solid 30% of his strength, and he'd still been knocked back by this boy?
If it had been someone like Hyuga Neji, it might have been understandable. But Kirito? The disgrace of the Hyuga Clan? The so-called "failure"? It defied belief.
"Uncle Four, are you alright?"
Ayako's worried voice rang out from the side.
"Kirito!"
Kirito quickly understood. This Fourth Elder had some relation to Ayako, probably from the same branch as her father, though one remained in the Main Family while the other was assigned to the Branch.
"Got it."
Kirito gave Ayako a small nod. With that connection, he wouldn't use excessive force. Besides, the elder had held back in his strike just now, a gesture Kirito noted favorably.
To him, this had nothing to do with the Hyuga name. He didn't care about rank or identity. What mattered was the other person's character. Whether they rubbed him the right way or not.
"Your strength… not bad," the Fourth Elder said as he shifted into the starting stance of the Hyuga Gentle Fist. "But now, it's time to get serious. Prepare yourself."
"Bring it on, Elder," Kirito replied with his usual calm. For once, there was a hint of respect in his tone.
The shift in attitude meant little to the elder. He had always been strict with the younger generation, not out of malice, but because he saw it as his duty.
His values were those of a traditionalist: harsh, demanding, and laser-focused on the strength of the clan. A weak descendant? Worthless. Even his own child would be treated the same.
Now that Kirito had proven himself strong, he had no hesitation in acknowledging that strength.
"Let's go!"
With a flash, the elder's Byakugan activated, his chakra surging as the air around him rippled.
"Whoosh!"
Both figures vanished and reappeared in a flash. A split-second later, the two were locked in a fierce close-range battle!
"Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!"
Fist met flesh, palm struck muscle. The rapid exchanges echoed like war drums.
This Fourth Elder had once been a famed Jōnin during the Great Ninja War. Even in old age, his close combat prowess had barely diminished.
Kirito, for his part, matched the elder in agility and strength, his boosted attributes putting him on par with any high-level shinobi.
The surrounding Hyuga were left dumbfounded.
"This… this kid… how is this even possible?!"
The elders could hardly believe their eyes.
The Fourth Elder was among the top five strongest in the clan, and yet, this so-called "expelled failure" was matching him blow for blow? The shock to their pride was overwhelming.
"Hahahahaha! Excellent! What a thrill! It's been years since someone in the clan gave me such a satisfying fight!"
The Fourth Elder burst out laughing mid-fight, completely immersed in the battle.
Looking at Kirito's composed and sharp expression, it felt like glimpsing a reflection of his own younger self.
Kirito, however, wasn't as relaxed.
He was clearly being outmatched in technique. In pure taijutsu, the elder had the upper hand.
Still, Kirito's high Endurance stat made him a beast in defense. Even after taking over a dozen direct hits, he remained standing strong.
"Ugh!"
A palm strike smashed into Kirito's shoulder, sending him flying. But even as he was knocked back, Kirito lashed out with a powerful counter-kick.
Both men retreated, panting.
"Whew…"
Their breathing was ragged. In terms of technique and number of clean hits, the elder clearly had the advantage. But age had worn him down. The prolonged battle was draining his stamina.
Kirito, on the other hand, had absorbed the hits and endured through sheer durability.
"Solid body you've got there, kid…"
The elder gave high praise. "Shame I'm not as young as I used to be. I'm out of steam. But you… you've been holding back, haven't you? Your strongest skill isn't taijutsu, right?"
"Then let's end this with one last clash!"
With a wild grin, the elder assumed a unique stance, his chakra flaring wildly and condensing in his palms, dense enough to form glowing orbs of concentrated energy.
"Gentle Fist Secret Art, Eight Trigrams: Vacuum Palm!"
Kirito wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and raised his head, eyes blazing.
He grabbed the torn remnants of his battle-worn shirt and ripped it off, revealing his right arm, bulging with flexed muscle and veins like steel cords.
"Heh… now that's more like it!"
The elder laughed loudly, exhilarated. His entire body tightened as he drew in chakra, focusing it into his palms.
"Eight Extreme Collapse"
<><>---------------------------------------
200 P.S = 1 Extra Chapters
45 Advanced Chapters on p(a)treon
p(a)treon.com/Aaltairr
• TL/N •
Hello guys Fanfic recommendation!
Check out my other work:
> Naruto: Mind Control
If you like smart and strong MC, this fanfic is for you.
It's Peak.
Give it a chance and you won't be disappointed