Hirito moved through the dense forest like a gust of wind.
His movements were erratic—left to right, forward to backward—and his figure flickered between real and imagined, making him unpredictable. The forest air parted with each step, and the sound of rustling clothes accompanied his fluid motions.
He could feel the wind resistance against his body and hear the subtle sounds of his movement. It was a smooth, exhilarating sensation.
"Strength forms the foundation, but agility makes it seamless," Hirito thought.
His precise control over his body was paying off. The harmony of his chakra flow and the vigor of his blood left him feeling light and powerful. With the deliberate activation of his leg muscles through the [Return of Life] technique, Hirito's strength had reached a new peak.
His speed wasn't the only improvement. Hirito realized he could use his legs and feet to replicate the effects of the Gentle Fist.
It was a breakthrough.
"Let's test it," he thought.
His Byakugan activated, scanning the forest. About 360 meters away, a wild boar was digging at the roots of a tree.
"Captain, I'm going to catch a wild boar," Hirito called out to Aburame Ryoma.
With a nod of approval from the captain, Hirito's body blurred, and in a flash of Shunpo, he leapt through the forest. In less than five seconds, he perched on a tree branch directly above the boar.
The wild boar paused, its head tilting upward as it caught Hirito's scent. Its small, round eyes narrowed, and it snorted aggressively.
The boar pawed at the ground, creating shallow pits with its hooves, before turning to bolt.
But before the boar could run more than a few meters, Hirito descended like a shadow and tapped its back with his foot.
It stumbled but kept running.
Then, after only ten more meters, the boar stiffened. Its legs faltered, and it crashed into a tree with a loud thud. Blood trickled from its snout, and its body twitched. The boar's breathing became shallow—it was clearly dying.
"Just as I thought," Hirito murmured as he approached the boar. His Byakugan scanned its internal organs, confirming the damage.
"As long as chakra control is precise enough, the Gentle Fist can be executed through the legs."
He had merely brushed the boar's back with his left foot, injecting a sharp pulse of chakra into its body. The technique disrupted its vital systems, mimicking the effects of the Gentle Fist.
"Using legs frees up the hands for ninjutsu or weapons, making attacks more versatile."
He suddenly remembered the future Jiraiya, who would learn to perform seals with his feet. Then there were rumors of some who could form seals with their eyes.
"If they can do that, why can't Gentle Fist be used with legs?"
As he pondered a name for the technique, a smirk formed on his lips.
"Soft Legs? No… Soft Feet? That sounds terrible. I'll call it… Holy Feet. That's better."
Satisfied with his progress, Hirito flicked his foot, finishing the boar off with a clean strike to its neck. He hoisted the carcass over his shoulder and began heading back.
"I've earned myself a feast today."
Back at the camp, the team gathered for a hearty meal of charcoal-grilled boar. As the meat cooked, the conversation turned to Hirito's abilities.
"Gentle Fist with your feet?" Inuzuka Claw asked incredulously. "That sounds… impossible."
"It's a matter of control," Hirito explained modestly.
But Claw wasn't convinced. "Alright, let's test it out. Come on, Hirito—spar with me!"
Claw and her ninja dog, Kuromaru, activated their [Beast-like Ninja Technique], enhancing their speed and strength. Despite their combined efforts, they couldn't land a single hit on Hirito. He moved like a ghost, effortlessly evading each strike.
When the spar ended, Claw sat on the ground, panting. "He's like a slippery eel… impossible to catch."
Yamanaka Shinsuke chuckled. "Hirito, your ability is incredible. It's like you're the perfect counter to taijutsu."
Shinsuke's sharp intuition immediately recognized the potential of Hirito's ability. By perceiving subtle changes in airflow, Hirito could predict his opponent's movements. For taijutsu specialists, this made him a nightmare to face.
In response, Hirito shifted the conversation. "If you think my abilities are impressive, you should hear about the ninja from Kirigakure."
"Kirigakure?" Hizashi's interest was piqued. "Do you mean the Kaguya clan?"
"The Kaguya clan?" Claw tilted her head, looking puzzled. "Are they strong? I don't think I've heard much about them."
Claw's carefree personality often left her uninterested in ninja clans and their histories, unlike her teammates.
Shinsuke took over the explanation. "The Kaguya clan is a descendant family in Kirigakure. They're known for their warlike nature and their Dead Bone Pulse bloodline ability, which allows them to manipulate their bones as weapons."
"Bones as weapons?" Claw's eyes widened. "Are their bones tougher than steel?"
"That's what's said," Shinsuke replied. "Their ability is incredibly unique, though I've never seen it in person."
Claw's fists tightened, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "If I ever meet one of them, I'm going to test them out!"
Meanwhile, far away in Kirigakure, a meeting was taking place in the Mizukage's office. The shadow of the Mist loomed large as plans were quietly being set in motion.
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