"This is... Guys! Over here!" Daichi called out, his voice echoing through the dense foliage as he stood atop a tree. "There, look!" he pointed, summoning Ryuu and Hikari who were just behind him. They activated their Byakugan, their vision piercing through the distance to where Daichi was pointing.
Their eyes widened as they saw Daniel sitting casually at a table under an umbrella, sipping on a drink. Relief and rage surged through them—they had finally made it out of the forest.
"It's really him, it's not a genjutsu this time," Hikari confirmed, her voice filled with a mix of exhaustion and relief.
"Good," Ryuu remarked with a smile, the anger simmering in his eyes. "I've been waiting for a long time now," he added as Daichi nodded in agreement.
As they closed the distance, within a hundred meters of Daniel, Ryuu took the initiative. "Chakra bullet," he muttered, focusing his chakra into his fingertips. He fired a series of condensed chakra bullets at Daniel, each one aimed with deadly precision.
Simultaneously, the ground beneath Daniel began to sink as Daichi appeared behind him, ready to strike. "They've come so far," Daniel mused, just before Daichi's powerful blow sent him plummeting into the pit they had created.
The chakra bullets followed, locking onto his position and exploding in a brilliant display of force, shaking the ground. Ryuu and Daichi panted heavily, catching their breath.
"Think we got him?" Daichi asked, peering down into the pit, his voice filled with cautious optimism.
"Was that really necessary?" Hikari remarked, standing beside them with an exasperated look.
"That bastard deserves it," Daichi retorted, still fuming.
"With your current abilities, I'd say you're slightly above Jonin level," Daniel's voice echoed next to them, startling them as they spun around.
"What?!" they exclaimed in unison, eyes wide with shock. Despite the strength they had gained, they realized they were still far behind Daniel's level of power.
"Just how strong is he?" Ryuu exclaimed, frustration and awe mingling in his voice as he stared at Daniel.
"Now now, guys, before we hold your welcome party, don't you think you should freshen up first?" Daniel suggested, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
It was at this moment that the reality of their situation hit them. They had been so engrossed in their training and survival that they hadn't had a proper bath in days. The grime and sweat clinging to their bodies suddenly became all too apparent.
"Ugh, he's right," Daichi admitted reluctantly, a grimace crossing his face as he looked down at his dirt-streaked clothes.
Hikari's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she realized the state they were in. "We must look and smell terrible," she muttered, mortified.
"Alright, point taken," Ryuu said with a sigh, his earlier anger fading into weary acceptance. "Let's find a place to clean up."
Daniel chuckled softly, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Follow me," he instructed, leading them to a nearby stream where they could wash away the grime and fatigue.
During the one and a half years that the Hyuga trio was trapped in one of Daniel's personal dimensions, where time flowed slower, they underwent Daniel's unorthodox and rigorous training. This wasn't merely to help them master their clan techniques; Daniel aimed to push them towards a different path, utilizing their Byakugan in a way that diverged from the traditional Gentle Fist.
Daniel introduced them to the Kimontonkō technique, which he had recreated and altered specifically for the Byakugan. This technique allowed them to create a loupan circle, positioning themselves in the center and reacting to the enemy's positions by attacking or defending accordingly. This adaptation enabled them to quickly adjust to multiple enemies, choosing techniques based on their precise locations.
In terms of taijutsu, Daniel taught them Taijiquan Yōshu, a technique of charging the hands with chakra, similar to a move from 'The Outcast.' He also introduced a modified version of the Fists of Flowing Water, utilizing the Byakugan's ability to perceive chakra. This allowed the user to redirect impact force by manipulating chakra flows in themselves and their opponents, and even redirect ninjutsu attacks, turning them into a human equivalent of Kung Fu Panda.
Each member of the trio specialized in different aspects of their training, refining their overall battle prowess. Daichi, who had awakened and mastered the Byakugan, focused on ninjutsu techniques. Daniel taught him to mold chakra without hand signs, enabling him to release chakra from any point on his body. Ryuu, on the other hand, leaned towards taijutsu and chakra-based attacks, like the Chakra Bullets he used. Hikari excelled in taijutsu and was highly reliant on the Kimontonkō, her skill in using it surpassing that of her teammates.
Not only did they learn and master these advanced techniques, but their foundational abilities also improved significantly. Their use of the Byakugan, chakra control, and chakra pools grew exponentially, elevating them to a level close to that of elite Jonin.
"Screw being original," Daniel muttered, his thoughts drifting back to the techniques he had recreated while teaching the trio. "But now they're ready. I've never seen a Hyuga with sage mode. I wonder how they'd turn out. Will their Byakugan evolve, or will it be like a normal sage mode?" He pondered aloud, excitement bubbling within him. "Although I understand that awakening the Rinnegan isn't just about an Uchiha acquiring sage jutsu, I still wonder. And now I want to see what a monkey sage would do. Disregarding Hashirama and Jugo, there are toad and snake sages thus far... It'd be cooler if there were more. That's what I'm gonna do now," he said with a grin, thrilled at the prospect of his students learning sage mode.
"Fuu," Daichi exhaled with relief as he emerged from the bathhouse Daniel had prepared for them. "That was relaxing," he added, feeling rejuvenated. With fresh clothes and renewed spirits, they prepared to head back to Konoha. Daniel teleported everyone back to the valley where they had begun their journey.
"Finally," Daichi rejoiced, his eyes wide with relief and joy. They were out of that damned forest for good. As they took in the familiar surroundings, a bird flew towards them, carrying a scroll.
"A mission?" the trio remarked in unison, curiosity piqued. Daniel unfurled the scroll, his eyes scanning the contents.
"I guess it's time to put all that training to some good use," Daniel said, rolling the scroll back up and placing it in his ninja bag. His expression was a mix of anticipation and pride, ready to see how far his students had come.
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