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"Cough, cough... To think I was so careless. I used to believe ninjas weren't all that impressive, but this lapse in judgment has truly cost me." As the pervasive smoke and dust gradually cleared, Hinata's formidable figure was revealed.
The sleeves of both her arms were utterly tattered. Her arms, once as delicate as jade, were now covered in burns and bruises. Even her fair face seemed a little disarrayed. A shuriken was embedded in her left calf and another in her right shoulder. She had frowned and used *Iron Body*; otherwise, the shurikens would have pierced deep into her very bones. No, they weren't just half a centimeter deep; they were embedded deep within her flesh and blood, so much so that the glint of her bones could be clearly seen.
Among the Six Styles of the Navy, Hinata's least proficient technique was *Iron Body*. Her defensive capabilities were likely her greatest weakness. Otherwise, she wouldn't have adopted such a ruthless approach. Yet, it must be said that there were still many intricacies to the *Iron Body* technique within the Six Styles of the Navy. For now, Hinata had only sustained some minor injuries and no fatal wounds.
Only her sleeves had truly suffered. What were once long sleeves were now mere short sleeves. Hinata's expression was solemn, her exquisite face glistening with sweat. She forcefully pulled out the shurikens embedded in her calf and shoulder, utterly disregarding the spurting blood. Such a minor loss of blood was of no consequence to her. As for pain, she had long grown accustomed to it.
This was because during the period she was rigorously trained by Liu Chen, especially during the year and a half she spent learning the Six Styles of the Navy, Hinata had even sustained injuries more severe than her current ones. She once fell from an altitude of 120 meters onto a hard rock, without using *Iron Body*, completely devoid of strength, and unable to even mitigate the impact of her fall. She immediately vomited blood and was severely injured. At that time, Hinata hadn't yet mastered her "Hundred Forms." That was only her second month of training in the Six Styles of the Navy. Unable to control her *Moon Walk*, she began to lose all strength mid-air and plummeted straight down.
Therefore, the injuries she sustained now were utterly insignificant. "Alright... I can't engage them in long-range combat; otherwise, I'll consistently be at a disadvantage. Plus, one of them has a broken leg – this is the perfect opportunity..." A strange glint flickered in Hinata's eyes, and she swiftly regulated her breathing. A transparent wave of air suddenly surged from beneath her feet. Her whole body tore through the shrouding smoke and dust. Prominent veins pulsed around her eyes.
With her *Byakugan* activated, neither the perpetual fog of the Land of Water nor the pervasive smoke and dust kicked up by the explosion significantly hindered her. She could see everything clearly; every detail within a one-kilometer radius was perfectly visible. Not far off, two Grass Ninjas stood. One had a solemn expression, while the other's face was contorted in pain and savagery. The Grass Ninja with the pain- and savagery-contorted face was none other than the one whose calf Hinata had severed with her *Tempest Kick*. His eyes burned with grim malice and ninja venom: "That brat *must* be dead, right?! *Phoenix Flower Jutsu*, plus *Vacuum Sphere*, plus dozens of shurikens—even a ninja taking such an attack head-on would at least be flayed alive, if not outright killed?!" The other rogue ninja frowned and said, "She managed to kill Shoumei, so be careful."
"I just have this feeling she's still alive, but I can't quite pinpoint it..." A sharp, sudden shout jolted the rogue ninja with the severed leg awake. He hastily gripped the kunai in his hand, his gaze sweeping across the scene, and there he saw an incredibly fast figure, tearing through the pervasive smoke and dust, rapidly closing in on them. But why wasn't the opponent seizing this chance to use ninjutsu?! Judging by her stance, it seemed she intended close-quarters combat?! Just as this thought flashed through his mind, a sharp, piercing glint suddenly bloomed before his eyes. The injured rogue ninja had no time to think, instinctively raising his guard against the sudden assault guided by the *Byakugan*.
A terrifying force surged from the kunai's hilt into his palm. His entire palm trembled violently. The web of skin between his thumb and forefinger tore open, and blood slowly seeped from the fresh wound. His entire arm was violently shaking from the impact. Staring at the pair of *Byakugan* before him, the rogue ninja's expression drastically shifted. He completely disregarded Hinata's seemingly tender face, his mind consumed by two thoughts: "How could this detestable *Byakugan* be so fast?!"
"Damn it... I feel like I can't hold out much longer. If I give way, I'm finished." "Fazhuo! Help me!!" He desperately called out to his companion, only a few meters away. His companion responded instantly, slashing the kunai in his hand straight for Hinata's throat. In such a situation, an ordinary ninja would typically either dodge, or risk a mutual kill. But... was Hinata an ordinary ninja? No, she wasn't. She wasn't even a ninja in the conventional sense. Hinata's free left hand darted out, seizing and then yanking. The attacking kunai was firmly gripped in her hand, and the rogue ninja, still reeling, frantically tried to wrench it free. But to his astonishment, he found... it wouldn't budge! "This girl has immense strength!" "Oh no..." An ominous premonition suddenly struck him. Just as he considered letting go of the kunai, a fierce whip kick slammed into his abdomen. The terrifying force instantly twisted his intestines into knots! He spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his entire body sent flying backward. "Your companion... it seems he won't be able to save you. Remember this: the one who killed you is Hinata Hyūga of Konoha Village."