Hiashi looked at Hanabi, the stern gaze softening a little as he spoke to her.
"Yes."
Hanabi nodded, meeting Hiashi's eyes without the slightest fear.
"Watch the time. Don't overtrain. You should allow yourself some proper rest."
Hiashi spoke with deliberate weight.
Before Hanabi could open her mouth, Hiashi continued, "Just right, you've finished warming up now. There's something I'd like to ask of you."
"Ask me?"
Hanabi tilted her head, a bit puzzled.
Hiashi didn't answer directly. Instead he looked toward the attendant outside the door and called out, "Have Natsu bring Hinata over."
"Yes, Lord Hiashi."
The attendant was a Jonin from the Hyuga Branch Family. Hearing Hiashi's order, he withdrew respectfully.
Watching the exchange between Hiashi and the attendant, Hanabi seemed to have guessed something, but she kept it to herself, hidden in her chest.
Before long, accompanying the Jonin from the Hyuga Branch Family came two females, one grown and one young.
The older woman was a Chunin of the Hyuga Branch Family, looking about twenty years old, named Hyuga Natsu. Because of her gentle nature and lack of talent for combat, she had stayed in the clan, becoming the maid who cared for the current Hyuga Clan Leader's elder daughter Hinata and second daughter Hanabi.
The younger one was Hinata, Clan Leader Hiashi's eldest daughter, the Main Family lady who would one day inherit the Hyuga Clan's leadership.
"Lord Hiashi."
As Hinata's maid, Hyuga Natsu bowed to Hiashi to show respect.
Hiashi waved his hand and turned his gaze to Hinata.
Feeling her father's stern eyes on her, Hinata uneasily lowered her head, speaking in a soft voice, "Father, sir, what did you need me for?"
"Have you finished your homework?"
Hiashi asked.
"N-not yet."
Hinata answered in a soft, sticky tone.
"For a lower-grade student like you, you shouldn't have that much homework."
"Yes."
"In other words, in the two hours since school ended, you still haven't finished your homework. As the Main Family's eldest daughter, that's a bit unacceptable. When I was in school at your age, my homework was already done and my time was focused on Gentle Fist training."
Hiashi's imposing voice turned harsh.
"Um, Lord Hiashi, Lady Hinata, she…"
Stepping forward to plead for Hinata, the maid Hyuga Natsu had just opened her mouth when Hiashi cut her off coldly:
"You don't need to defend her, Natsu. Just do your own job properly. This is Main Family business."
"…Yes."
Hyuga Natsu's body trembled slightly, and she fell silent.
Looking at Hinata, whose body was trembling as well, that timid, pitiful look made Hiashi's brows knit tightly.
"Hinata."
"Y-yes!"
Hinata answered in a panic, her voice a little louder.
"Let me check the results of your recent training, see just how far your Gentle Fist has come."
"Understood, Father. Please guide me."
Hinata took a deep breath, mustered her courage, and walked to the center of the dojo, ready to accept the test.
But after waiting for a while, only she and Hanabi were standing in the center of the dojo, which confused Hinata. She asked Hiashi, "Father, aren't you coming on the floor?"
Even though Hinata asked, Hiashi had no intention of stepping in. Instead he stood there with utmost composure, face stern as he said, "This time I don't plan to test your strength personally. This time you will spar with Hanabi, and I will watch from the side."
"Spar with Hanabi?" Hinata's face went slightly pale. Looking at Hanabi, whose body was even more slender and frail than hers, she forced out, "But, Father, Hanabi hasn't even started school yet, and she's only just begun learning Gentle Fist…"
Hinata couldn't understand why Hiashi wanted her to spar with Hanabi, who was three or four years younger. No matter how she looked at it, this couldn't possibly achieve a proper sparring effect.
First, Hanabi's body was far too small and weak; second, as someone who had only just started Gentle Fist, Hanabi definitely wouldn't be all that familiar with it.
If she accidentally hurt her little sister, she would surely be consumed by guilt.
"Don't underestimate Hanabi. Although she hasn't been practicing Gentle Fist as long as you, I acknowledge Hanabi's talent. You can't judge a Ninja by common sense. If you look down on your opponent, you're the one who'll pay the price."
Hiashi admonished Hinata.
But after hearing that, Hinata only half believed it, still unable to imagine Hanabi as a real opponent for her.
"Sister, let's begin in earnest."
While Hinata was still hesitating, Hanabi had already taken her position opposite her, assuming a Gentle Fist stance. On her small face, the same severity that Hiashi had was already there, her eyes intently tracking Hinata from head to toe.
"Wait, Hanabi, I don't want to hurt you. Father, please—"
Hinata flusteredly stepped back, appealing to Hiashi.
"Begin."
Ignoring Hinata's cry, Hiashi coldly declared the start of the match.
At the instant Hiashi's voice fell, Hanabi raised her arm, her body darting forward to appear before Hinata, swinging her arm and striking toward Hinata's chest.
Caught off guard, Hinata's response was clumsy, her movements looking quite awkward, but she barely managed to dodge Hanabi's attack.
Yet Hanabi's offensive did not end there. She kept pressing in, her soft, flowing palms pouring down over Hinata like a tidal surge, forcing Hinata to fight back. Unawares, beads of cold sweat slid down Hinata's face.
So fast! Hinata was shocked by the speed of Hanabi's strikes. More importantly, when Hanabi executed Gentle Fist, her proficiency was in no way inferior to Hinata's.
Although Hiashi had praised Hanabi's talent more than once, Hinata had never truly believed Hanabi could be her match.
Now, seeing Hanabi make a serious move, she finally understood that if she didn't respond earnestly, she really might be defeated by Hanabi.