Chapter 50: A Spar Between Master and Disciple

As time went on, the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist displayed by Kawaki Aoba grew increasingly refined. Yuhahi Kurenai had no choice but to believe it, while feeling completely numb all over.

Yet at the same time, Kurenai's strikes grew heavier and heavier.

This bastard brat's talent was simply inhuman, making anyone endlessly envious. What was even more infuriating was that he actually had the audacity to steal his precious daughter. Little punk, come and receive a loving lesson from your future father-in-law!

As for Kawaki Aoba, although he originally intended to let Teacher Kurenai vent his frustrations, he hadn't expected Kurenai to hit with such terrifying force. He only had himself to blame for taking performance-enhancing drugs beforehand, which conveniently spared Kurenai from worrying about inflicting severe injuries upon him. Furthermore, the amplification that the chakra cloak provided to a ninja was exaggerated enough.

Even with the formidable new martial art of the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist he had just acquired, he was still beaten black and blue by this jealous father-in-law.

While the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist was immensely powerful, its effectiveness depended entirely on the user. In the hands of Bang, it was a supreme martial art that could rank third among S-class heroes; but in the hands of an ordinary dojo student, it was nothing more than a combat routine slightly better than standard karate.

As for when Kawaki Aoba used it, although he was completely helpless against Yuhahi Kurenai—who possessed the strength of an elite jounin clad in a chakra cloak—and was beaten miserably, he could still barely manage to protect his own life.

Well, protecting his life here simply meant not being killed.

However, for Kawaki Aoba, that was more than enough. As long as he wasn't killed and could continue circling and wearing down the enemy, he had nothing to fear, backed as he was by an endless supply of potions.

Just as now, as time passed, the duration of Kurenai's drugs expired, and the effects of the chakra cloak gradually faded.

The scene of Kawaki Aoba stubbornly holding on with the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist looked much better than before.

Still, he wasn't foolish enough to launch a counterattack the moment Kurenai's drug effects wore off. Doing so would bring him nothing but unnecessary trouble.

After allowing Yuhahi Kurenai to vent the pent-up resentment in his heart, he actually proved to be a rather decent captain and father-in-law.

He unreservedly poured all his insights into developing the chakra cloak over the past few days into Kawaki Aoba.

At the same time, he began to inquire about the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist.

"You brat, it's time you explained to me properly what's going on with that bizarre fist technique of yours. A martial art this powerful could never have been conjured out of thin air by you in just the past few days. Don't feed me any lies about having figured out a prototype beforehand; none of your previous taijutsu routines ever resembled this style."

"Cough." With a slight cough, Kawaki Aoba didn't hesitate. He reached straight into his ninja tool pouch, pulled out a booklet, and handed it directly to Yuhahi Kurenai.

"Is this a martial arts manual? Could it be that your luck was off the charts and you stumbled upon some ancient predecessor's..."

As he spoke, Kurenai flipped open the pages. But before he could even examine them closely, he was stunned by the contents recorded within.

Struck by profound shock, he snapped the booklet shut with a sharp smack and stared at Kawaki Aoba in utter disbelief: "The Gentle Fist manual of the Hyuga clan! How on earth did you get your hands on this?"

"Naturally, it was handed to me personally by a member of the Hyuga clan." Speaking casually, Kawaki Aoba recounted everything that had happened to him recently, along with his own deductions, detailing the entire story to Yuhahi Kurenai.

Kurenai listened with the utmost gravity, though his expression grew equally grim.

"These so-called noble clans are truly malicious; to think they could even come up with a scheme like this. It was my carelessness. Aoba, why don't you move into my house to live after these few days? Although my standing cannot be compared to that of the Hyuga clan, with my current strength, I am fully capable of protecting you."

To his surprise, Kawaki Aoba simply shook his head: "Teacher Kurenai, do you really think that with my current strength, I would still fear them pulling such petty tricks behind the scenes?"

Hearing this, Yuhahi Kurenai was suddenly enlightened. Ah, right—he had been so blinded by anger earlier that he almost forgot Kawaki Aoba's current strength was not far behind his own. If one factored in the chakra cloak, the kid could already go toe-to-toe with him in his normal state.

Moreover, this brat was as cunning as a monkey. With the element of surprise on his side, anyone from the Hyuga clan trying to do him harm would be as difficult as ascending to the heavens.

Immediately afterward, Kurenai heard Kawaki Aoba say: "Speaking of which, I should actually thank the Hyuga clan. Had they not provided this Gentle Fist manual, I never would have been able to comprehend the momentum of flowing water while bathing in the river and thereby create the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist."

As expected, Yuhahi Kurenai muttered inwardly, while his mouth twitched involuntarily. Feeling that it was utterly absurd, he nonetheless forced himself to accept the explanation.

What else could he do if he didn't accept it? After all, aside from Kawaki Aoba, there was probably not a second person in the entire shinobi world who knew the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist; finding even a similar taijutsu technique would be a struggle.

Therefore, no matter how preposterous it sounded, he had no choice but to believe that this was a fist technique Kawaki Aoba had invented while taking a bath in a river.

No, judging by their previous exchange, this was far more than just an ordinary fist technique. The ability to channel water-style chakra within the body to attach to attacks already elevated it to the realm of ninjutsu-taijutsu.

Now that the Hyuga clan had offended such a monstrous talent, judging by this little bastard Kawaki Aoba's personality—

The future Hyuga clan was bound to face a massive disaster.

"Teacher Kurenai, what do you think of this Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist?" In the courtyard of the Yuhashi residence, Kawaki Aoba unselfishly imparted the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist to Yuhahi Kurenai.

At first, practicing a fist technique created by his own disciple made Kurenai feel somewhat awkward in terms of pride. However, after running through it once using the methods Kawaki Aoba taught, Kurenai instantly changed his tune.

"This Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist... although your teacher's insight isn't as profound as the Hokage's, the tangible effects of this technique speak for themselves. At the very least, it deserves to be called an S-rank ninjutsu-taijutsu. Even placed among the village's classified archives, it would definitely hold a prominent place."

"Its potential is easily no less than Kumogakure's secret Lightning Release ninjutsu-taijutsu."

In making this statement, Yuhahi Kurenai believed he was not exaggerating in the slightest; if anything, he was being conservative.

Even Kawaki Aoba felt the same way. Furthermore, while teaching Teacher Kurenai the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist just moments ago, he had discovered yet another hidden property of the technique: while practicing the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist, one could simultaneously and effectively train water-style chakra.

Yuhahi Kurenai even judged by his own intuition that prolonged practice of the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist would lay a rock-solid foundation for developing water-style chakra nature transformation, even for someone without innate talent.

Such an effect could only be described as defying the heavens.