Chapter 37: I Owe Kai an Apology - The White Eyed Princess of Konoha

### Chapter 37: I Owe Kai an Apology For a ninja, great power can be like a drug—once you experience it, you can't escape its influence. Initially, Kakashi used the Sharingan simply to see the world as Obito did. But having become accustomed to its power, he found it impossible to give up. Kakashi had grown reliant on the enhancements the Sharingan provided, and without it, his combat skills would seriously decline. The three-tomoe Sharingan offered insight, replication, and dynamic visual acuity. Once accustomed to using these abilities, Kakashi's own perception and reflexes began to dull. It's like how we get used to ordering delivery food—we become too lazy to dine out. o(╯□╰)o Convenient abilities can lead us to abandon our instincts. In truth, though, abilities like the Sharingan and the Byakugan are intrinsic to one's power. It's like how ninjutsu and chakra are essential; without them, a ninja is basically just a stronger-than-average person. Yet, the Sharingan's burden on Kakashi is profound, compounded by his lack of training over the years, hindering his breakthrough to higher levels. Smack! Smack! Smack! With Naruto and Sasuke observing, Hinata wasn't worried that the sounds of Gentle Fist would be misconstrued. Kakashi's test was about teamwork, so with Naruto and Sasuke not participating, Hinata wasn't eager to take the bells from Kakashi. Even though the bell seemed easily within Hinata's reach during their close-quarters combat. After all, even if Hinata took a bell, and Kakashi told them to allocate the bells amongst themselves, it wouldn’t do for her to just hand them over, claiming she'd return to the ninja academy for another year. That wouldn't suit a lady like Hinata! Rather than earnestly fighting for a bell, she'd prefer to thrash Kakashi instead. Kakashi clearly noticed this, though he couldn't determine if Hinata was simply too engrossed in the spar to notice or if she had sensed the test's true nature. And fighting Hinata was exhausting; Kakashi could feel the sluggishness in his chakra flow. Unless he used ninjutsu or activated the Sharingan, he might really fall today. Realizing this, Kakashi decided to give Hinata a chance. He'd let her get a bell first, then have Sasuke and Naruto vie for the other, gauging their response. Kakashi offered a deliberate opening. Hinata ignored it. He provided another. Still ignored. Kakashi felt drained. Isn't this supposed to be a bell-grabbing game? Why won't you take the bell I'm handing you? Do you just want to beat me up?! Another intentional flaw. Hinata: "..." Hinata wasn't a fool. Seeing Kakashi continuously expose his waist, she knew what he was up to. Well, you asked for it! Hinata reached for the bell. Kakashi felt a surge of excitement—she was finally going for it. Letting Hinata take a bell was no big deal. He could then flash a few jutsu, impressing Naruto and Sasuke with his prowess. With a casual remark—like enlightening them about the essence of ninja battles—he'd restore his dignity. Just as Hinata was about to touch the bell, she extended a finger to press against Kakashi's waist. There, the organ—the kidney! "Argh—" Kakashi let out a yelp, clutching his waist and retreating swiftly into the forest, hiding in shame. Beyond just embarrassment—no man’s kidney should be struck so haphazardly! He wasn’t even married yet, and Kakashi worried intensely about his future domestic bliss. Hinata stared at her finger, dazed. I think I hit the wrong spot... there... Oh no!!! Hinata lamented, "What will Kai do now?" Striking Kakashi's kidney felt like a betrayal to Kai! Naruto dashed to Hinata's side, scratching his head in confusion, "Hinata, what's up with Kakashi-sensei?" Sasuke, knowledgeable about anatomy from ninja school, knew. That spot was indeed vital. Sasuke twitched, resolving never to spar with Hinata or provoke her anger. After all, you can't train the internal organs, and Gentle Fist targets them specifically. But no man’s kidney should be hit without care! After about five minutes, Kakashi appeared on a tree branch at the forest's edge, casting a deep glance at Hinata. To maintain his teacherly dignity, he feigned calmness, casually saying, "It seems your skills are impressive. Looks like I'll have to get a bit serious." Hinata glanced at her hands, suddenly excited, "I think I've discovered the true essence of the Gentle Fist—it's incredibly powerful!" Previously, Hiashi Hyuga taught her to target the chest. The heart was the true vulnerability. But accidentally hitting Kakashi's kidney today led Hinata to the ultimate truth of Gentle Fist. Kidney strike! At her words, Naruto and Sasuke quickly retreated over ten meters away from Hinata. Sweat dripped from Kakashi’s brow. He swore he'd never physically spar with Hinata again. No way! Kakashi said coolly, "Now, the real test begins!" With that, Kakashi's hands blurred, forming seals faster than the eye could catch. In just over a second, he launched a massive fireball towards Hinata, though she was the primary target. Naruto shouted, "Hinata, run!" Luckily, since Naruto and Sasuke had distanced themselves from Hinata, evading the technique was easy. Dodge? Ordinary players rely on skill, pay-to-win players on gear, and hackers rely on cheats. At best, Kakashi was a skilled player gifted an elite item by a cheater. As the proud Hyuga Hinata, could she not overcome Kakashi? Eight Trigrams—Mountain Breaking Strike Four twos! If Hinata’s Twenty Palms was her ultimate move, the Mountain Breaking Strike was her four of a kind. The penetration of Mountain Breaking is extremely powerful, far more than simple doubles. In essence, comparing Palms to Mountain Breaking is like comparing pyrotechnics to explosives—the formula and amounts are vastly different. A chakra beam pierced through the Great Fireball, heading straight for Kakashi. This was bad! Sweat beaded on Kakashi's forehead as he dodged the Mountain Breaking Strike. He planned to eliminate Naruto and Sasuke, then leisurely deal with Hinata.