Hinata took a steady breath and immediately assumed her stance. Chakra surged through her body, flowing smoothly into her palms and along the meridians of her arms.
"Eight Trigrams—Vacuum Palm!"
She thrust both palms forward.
A compressed sphere of chakra shot out, tearing through the air with a thunderous boom as it raced toward Gaara in the distance. This was a long-range Gentle Fist technique she had mastered only a month ago under the personal guidance of her father, Hyūga Hiashi.
Boom—!
The chakra blast struck its target head-on.
But the result was exactly what Hinata feared.
Gaara did not move.
The sand at his feet surged upward on its own, forming dense, overlapping layers that instantly hardened into a defensive wall. The Vacuum Palm exploded against it, sending shockwaves rippling through the arena, yet the barrier remained completely intact.
"What…?"
Hinata's eyes widened slightly. "It didn't even shake… Did the sand move on its own?"
To confirm her suspicion, she quickly drew several shuriken and hurled them in rapid succession. The angles were sharp, the timing precise—each throw was calculated to exploit a blind spot.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Every single shuriken was deflected midair. The sand twisted like a living thing, intercepting each projectile before it could come anywhere near Gaara.
From beginning to end, Gaara remained completely still. His arms were crossed, his expression indifferent, his pale green eyes devoid of emotion—as if none of this concerned him at all.
The entire arena erupted.
"What kind of monster is this?!"
"His sand is defending him automatically?!"
"He didn't even move, and he blocked the Hyūga Clan's Eight Trigrams techniques!"
Naruto stared, stunned. "That's… insane."
Even Sasuke's expression darkened. His Sharingan traced the flow of chakra, yet even he couldn't find a clear opening.
Temari scoffed, her tone carrying a hint of pride. "Gaara's sand will protect him even without his conscious control. No ordinary attack can break through it."
She spread her arms slightly. "This is his unique ability—Absolute Defense."
"Absolute Defense…" Naruto repeated under his breath. "That's way too strong."
Kakashi rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm. This match just became troublesome."
Hinata didn't hesitate.
If long-range attacks were ineffective, then she would close the distance.
She dashed forward, her movements light yet decisive. The moment she entered Gaara's range, the sand surged again, coiling around him like a shield and forcing her back.
Hinata inhaled sharply and activated her bloodline.
"Byakugan!"
Veins bulged around her eyes as her vision expanded. Chakra pathways, points of tension, and the subtle movements within the sand all became visible.
"Gentle Fist—Eight Trigrams Palm!"
Her body blurred.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Hinata's strikes came like a storm—precise, fluid, and relentless. Every palm strike carried the refined power of the Hyūga Clan's thousand-year legacy. Her footwork traced the Eight Trigrams beneath her, each step perfectly aligned.
Yet no matter how flawless her technique was, the result did not change.
The sand absorbed everything.
Her palms struck sand instead of flesh. Chakra dispersed harmlessly, unable to reach Gaara's body at all.
Still, Hinata did not retreat.
"I won't give up…" she whispered.
Naruto's words echoed in her mind.
All three members of Team 7 will become Chūnin.
"I won't disappoint you, Naruto-kun… I won't fall here!"
Her resolve hardened.
"Gentle Fist—Eight Trigrams, Thirty-Two Palms!"
Her speed doubled.
The Eight Trigrams formation beneath her feet expanded as her strikes multiplied, her palms flashing like afterimages. Thirty-two consecutive blows landed in rapid succession, each one aimed with absolute precision.
The air trembled.
And yet—
The sand endured.
When the final strike landed, Hinata stepped back, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Sweat beaded on her forehead, her face pale with exertion.
"How… is this possible…?"
Even the Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms had failed to break through.
Gaara finally spoke.
"Is that all?"
His voice was low, distorted, carrying an inhuman edge that sent chills through the audience.
"You're finished."
At last, he moved.
Gaara slowly raised his right hand and clenched his fist.
The sand exploded into motion.
A massive wave surged toward Hinata, twisting and roaring like a feral beast, its form resembling a monstrous maw ready to devour her whole.
"Hinata!" Naruto shouted.
But Hinata was ready.
She shifted her stance instantly, chakra erupting outward.
"This is my own technique…"
"Protective Gentle Fist—Eight Trigrams Palm!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Her chakra burst outward in all directions, forming a rotating field that violently repelled the incoming sand. The impact sent grains scattering across the arena like a storm.
Temari and Kankurō froze.
"She blocked it?!"
Naruto grinned fiercely. "Don't think only that monster has Absolute Defense!"
"This is Hinata's own Absolute Defense!"
Gaara's eyes narrowed.
"Oh?"
"Interesting."
He intensified his assault. The sand grew heavier, faster, more oppressive.
Hinata retreated while maintaining her stance, activating the technique again. The Eight Trigrams formation beneath her feet became clearer, her chakra output doubling.
Boom—!
A hemispherical barrier formed around her, impenetrable and airtight, blasting away all incoming sand.
"Incredible…" Kakashi murmured. "This must be a fully integrated technique refined under Hiashi's guidance."
Temari frowned deeply. "I underestimated her."
Kankurō nodded grimly. "To fight Gaara like this…"
Hyūga Hanabi clenched her fists. "Sister…"
Hyūga Hiashi watched silently before speaking. "Hinata… even if you can block the sand temporarily, this battle cannot be won through endurance alone."
Hinata knew it too.
Her chakra was draining rapidly.
Gaara, a jinchūriki, possessed reserves far beyond hers.
But she refused to surrender.
Gaara's frustration finally boiled over.
"Enough!"
He clenched both fists.
"Sand Coffin!"
The sand converged from every direction, compressing inward to crush and imprison her.
Hinata shouted and pushed her chakra to its absolute limit.
Boom—!!!
Her hands separated as chakra detonated outward, shattering the Sand Coffin entirely.
The arena fell silent.
Temari, Kankurō, and even Baki stared in disbelief.
"What kind of power… is this?!"
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)