Three years flew by in an instant. During this time, the new generation of ninja underwent significant changes.

Take Sasuke, for example. After the tragic loss of his clan, he became increasingly withdrawn and arrogant, much like Hayashi.

But despite his aloofness, he still managed to attract a swarm of admirers from their class - the immature girls, in particular, couldn't get enough of him.

Then there was Hayashi, the class's second heartthrob. Dubbed the 'cold prince', his popularity rivaled even Sasuke's.

As the top student, he had a strong influence that extended beyond their class.

But what nobody knew was that he had been using shadow clones to attend classes in his place for over three years.

In fact, their classmates had only interacted with these clones during their three years together.

Hayashi himself had stopped attending the ninja school altogether from the second year on, only making rare appearances during major exams in the first year.

But why had he stopped attending classes? Because he had become too powerful.

His strength went beyond just combat skills; his ninja abilities had surpassed the need for traditional training.

With his growing chakra reserves and strength, Sasuke couldn't even defeat one of Hayashi's shadow clones in the past three years.

Moving on, there was Hinata. She was often overlooked, but had undergone a remarkable transformation.

What most people didn't know was that she had started sending out her own shadow clones a year ago.

The secret bond between them, forged from a courageous act years ago, had only grown stronger over the past three years.

Initially, Hinata was disciplined and timid, but she had gradually transformed.

She no longer just sent her shadow clone to class; instead, she joined it in intense training sessions.

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In the training area of Hayashi's residence, the sound of their intense sparring echoed through the open wooden door.

They were no longer the children they once were; their attacks had transformed from gentle to powerful.

Hinata unleashed her family's signature Gentle Fist technique, her temple veins bulging as she launched precise attacks.

Her opponent moved with effortless agility, dodging her strikes with ease despite being blindfolded. His skill and precision were remarkable.

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In the end, Hayashi emerged victorious, landing a light hand chop on Hinata's forehead.

But despite her defeat, Hinata's face lit up with joy.

Breathless and flushed, with beads of sweat adorning her cheeks, she thanked Hayashi with a smile.

"You're getting stronger," she said.

Hayashi removed his blindfold, revealing a contented smile as he thanked Hinata for her help.

"I'm only this good because of you," he said, smiling at her.

"I'm glad I could help," Hinata whispered.

As their eyes met, her gaze faltered, unable to meet his directly. But he didn't mind.

He felt a surge of emotion, and gently pulled her into a warm embrace, cherishing her presence as if she were a precious treasure.

"Hayashi..." she murmured, her voice trembling slightly as he held her close.

He gently ran his fingers through her waist-length hair, which had grown over the past three years.

The air was filled with her natural fragrance.

He released her from his embrace and used his kimono's cuff to wipe the sweat from her face.

Then, he placed his palms against her flushed cheeks, sensing her rising body temperature.

With a smile, he said, "Let's move on to the next stage."

"Um..."

Hinata's face turned bright red as she nodded vigorously, her head still spinning from the intimacy.

She had been through this process with him before, and his familiarity with it was clear.

After a few moments, her blush began to fade, and she composed herself. Hayashi blindfolded himself again with cloth strips, then sat cross-legged with his back to her.

As she observed his posture, her eyes shone with admiration, unhidden by her usual shyness.

Hayashi and Sasuke were both known as geniuses at the ninja school.

One was the top student among his peers, while the other was the lone survivor of the Uchiha clan, always vying for the top two spots.

To outsiders, it seemed like only a small gap separated them.

But Hinata knew better than anyone that the difference between Sasuke and Hayashi was not just a step, but a vast chasm.

Recalling the incredible swordplay she had witnessed, she picked up the Shigure Kintoki, which Hayashi had placed nearby.

Standing behind him, she gripped the bamboo sword tightly and lunged at him with force.

If he didn't dodge, it would surely leave a painful mark on his right temple.

But just as the sword was about to strike, Hayashi instinctively ducked, narrowly avoiding the attack.

Hinata was no stranger to intense training sessions, so she kept pushing forward, attacking his head from every angle.

But no matter how hard she tried, he dodged her strikes with ease.

It was as if he could predict her every move, every breath.

It was as if he had the legendary Sharingan of the Uchiha clan, allowing him to track her every motion.

But he didn't have those eyes, and he wasn't even using his eyes right now.

In fact, Hayashi's skills went beyond the normal Sharingan's perception abilities.

What made him so formidable was his mastery of Observation Haki, a skill not native to the Naruto world.

He could predict his opponent's movements and sense the presence and number of enemies outside his field of vision.

This unique fusion of predictive prowess and situational awareness was a result of his remarkable skill for his age.

With sufficient mastery, it could even grant the user the ability to foresee the future.

In just three years, Sasuke's progress has been steady, but Hayashi's growth has been nothing short of astonishing.

His Hawkeye template has skyrocketed to 33.26%.

What's more, he's already mastered two crucial skills: Armament and Observation Haki.

It's no easy feat, especially with Armament Haki, which usually takes time and experience to master. But he has been dedicated to honing his skills.

His hard work on Observation Haki is evident in the way he's dodging Hinata's attacks blindfolded.

He awakened this ability in just three months and has made significant progress in the past seven months.

But what really sets Hayashi apart is his deep understanding of the Breath of All Things.

His skill in this area has earned him Hinata's respect. She's seen his incredible growth firsthand, like when he cut through the waterfall with ease.