Chapter 76 (Patreon)

Konoha Year 63, Day 41

Before anyone realised it, nearly a month had passed since Team 8 completed its first S-rank mission.

Because the mission had been exceptionally dangerous, the Fifth Hokage had not assigned Team 8 any further work during that time, allowing its members a well-earned break.

As a result, Mihawk and his teammates had spent the past month living rather leisurely lives.

Following the celebration, Nerona Mihawk had not seen Nara Shikamaru or the others for several days. They had most likely already begun carrying out their own missions.

Mihawk himself was something of a homebody. Unless he needed to go out for food, he was perfectly capable of remaining at home for an entire day.

Aside from Hinata and Hanabi, it was difficult for anyone else to catch even a glimpse of him.

Today, Hinata had remained at the Hyūga compound to practise the tea ceremony and flower arrangement.

Meanwhile, inside the dojo of the Nerona residence, two figures were locked in combat.

Clang!

The sharp sound of metal striking metal echoed throughout the dojo.

A kunai collided with the edge of a playing card, scattering a few faint sparks.

“Faster. You need to move faster.”

Mihawk held the palm-sized card between two fingers. He calmly retreated half a step as Hanabi attacked him from a series of difficult angles.

Despite the relentless assault, his expression remained composed.

“You can already see my next move with the Byakugan, can’t you?” Mihawk said sternly. “Then make your body keep pace with your eyes.”

Hanabi’s face was damp with sweat, but Mihawk showed her no mercy.

“Don’t rely only on the kunai. Trust what your Byakugan shows you. Use the weapon to draw your opponent’s attention, then strike their tenketsu the instant an opening appears. Once you commit, drive your chakra into their chakra pathway system without hesitation.”

“Yes!”

Hanabi answered loudly as she thrust her kunai towards him.

Mihawk lightly tapped the side of the blade with the card held between his fingers.

A tremendous force travelled through the kunai.

The weapon was abruptly knocked away from its intended path.

Whoosh!

The kunai stabbed through empty air.

Hanabi immediately steadied her footing. Instead of resisting the force that had pushed her aside, she used its momentum to turn her body.

She brought the fingers of her left hand together like the point of a spear and thrust them towards the tenketsu in Mihawk’s arm.

Mihawk caught her wrist with one hand.

At the same moment, he hooked his foot behind her knee and pulled firmly on her captured arm.

Hanabi’s balance collapsed in an instant.

Before she could recover, the card in Mihawk’s other hand was already resting against her sweat-covered neck.

The match was over.

“Whew…”

Hanabi breathed heavily as she tried to catch her breath.

“I died again, Mihawk-nii-san.”

Mihawk flicked the card away with his fingers.

He then raised his sleeve and gently wiped the beads of sweat from Hanabi’s forehead.

“You were much more decisive this time,” he said with a smile. “Remember that feeling. Once you begin an attack, follow through. Hesitating halfway through a strike will only give your opponent an opportunity to counter.”

“Mm-hm!”

Hanabi nodded repeatedly.

She tilted her face upwards and patiently waited until Mihawk had finished wiping away the sweat.

“Mihawk-nii-san, when are we going to begin more serious taijutsu training?” she asked.

Mihawk placed a hand on her head and gently ruffled her dark hair.

“There’s no need to rush,” he replied. “The Gentle Fist is already a highly refined taijutsu style. As long as you accurately strike your opponent’s tenketsu and inject your chakra into their chakra pathway system, an ordinary shinobi can suffer severe internal injuries from a single clean hit.”

He gave her head another light pat.

“For now, continue with your usual training.”

“Okay.”

Hanabi nodded obediently.

Mihawk took her hand, and the two of them left the dojo.

After returning to his room, Mihawk removed his training kimono and changed into a pair of comfortable shorts.

He looked towards Hanabi.

“You should take a bath first,” he said. “Afterwards, you can either return home or take a nap here. I’ll begin my own training later.”

Hanabi looked him up and down before raising one small hand.

Her fingers briefly traced across the firm muscles of his abdomen before she looked up at him with a bright smile.

“Mihawk-nii-san, let’s wash together. Hanabi will scrub your back for you.”

Unlike Hinata, who was easily embarrassed, Hanabi was bold in both her words and actions.

Mihawk paused for a moment.

He then gently pinched Hanabi’s nose and nodded with an amused smile.

“All right. I’ll leave my back to you, then.”

Mihawk thought nothing unusual of it.

After all, this was not the first time Hanabi had helped him in the bath. On several occasions, Hinata had been present as well.

Although it did not happen often, Mihawk had long since become accustomed to treating the sisters like members of his own family.

Taking a bathing robe with him, Mihawk headed towards the washroom and began filling the bath.

Before long, warm white steam had spread throughout the room.

The sound of flowing water echoed quietly through the bathing area.

Mihawk sat on a small stool while Hanabi stood behind him and diligently scrubbed his back.

When either Hinata or Hanabi helped him, it was never as simple as merely washing his back.

Members of the Hyūga clan possessed an exceptional understanding of the human body and its chakra network. Because of that, both sisters had developed the habit of pressing certain points along Mihawk’s shoulders and back as they worked, easing the tension in his muscles.

After Hanabi finished scrubbing away the foam, she turned on the shower and rinsed his back with warm water.

She then poured another stream of water over Mihawk’s head, thoroughly wetting his long silver hair.

Hanabi squeezed shampoo into her hands and carefully worked it through his hair.

Her ten fingers moved like a comb as she patiently untangled and cleaned each strand.

Once she had finished washing his hair, her fingertips moved towards several pressure points along his scalp.

Hanabi began massaging them with surprising concentration.

Mihawk leaned back slightly, closed his eyes and allowed himself to relax.

He almost appeared to have fallen asleep.

After Hanabi finished the massage and rinsed his hair once more, Mihawk rose from the stool and prepared to enter the bath.

At that moment, he felt a light tug on the back of his bathing robe.

Hanabi stepped around him and stood directly in his path.

Mihawk looked down at her, confusion appearing in his eyes.

Hanabi raised her face with a mischievous smile.

“Mihawk-nii-san, I saw what happened that day.”

Mihawk tilted his head.

“What did you see?”

“Hmph.”

Hanabi placed her hands on her hips.

“You asked Nee-san to give you one of the Hyūga clan’s special massages.”

Mihawk blinked.

Before he could respond, Hanabi crouched down and grabbed the wooden basin beside her.

With a victorious grin, she filled it with water.

“If Nee-san gets to practise on you, then Hanabi does too!”

She immediately threw the water over him.

Splash!

The warm, peaceful atmosphere vanished in an instant.

Mihawk stood motionless, his silver hair dripping with water, while Hanabi covered her mouth and laughed.

A moment later, Mihawk slowly reached for the second basin.

Hanabi’s laughter stopped.

“M-Mihawk-nii-san?”

“You started this.”

Hanabi hurriedly turned to escape, but Mihawk was already standing behind her.

The quiet bathing room soon filled with splashing water and Hanabi’s cheerful cries of protest.