The blue eyed reaper

A spar and a secret technique

The idea had come to him as he pondered his situation. The Uzumaki clan had precious few boats—not ships, boats—that they could spare. While he hadn't asked the Uzukage, he was certain that they wouldn't part with one. Not that it was a problem, really. He didn't know how to sail. The boats, dinghies really, weren't even fit to sail on the open ocean. One rogue wave and they'd sink. They were made for travelling to and from the Land of Fire, across the calm waters of the bay.

So, he was stuck until he could develop the chakra reserves necessary to the run the entire distance to the Land of Water. Therefore, his morning routine of going through the Gentle Fist stances and forms had changed. Instead of performing them on land, he performed them on water. It had the added benefit of honing his chakra control. He had to focus on keeping afloat, and at the same time, focus on pushing chakra into his Gentle Fist forms. Two birds with one stone.

By some unknown sixth sense, Bolt felt an object fall behind him and plunge into the water. He still yelped like a girl when a tendril of cold water splashed onto his foot. He turned and glared at Kohaku, who had a few small pebbles in his hand. "Not bad, kid. Forms can only get you so far, though. How about a real spar?" Kohaku said haughtily. It was an arrogance born of confidence in one's abilities.

"Sure," Bolt said with a smile. Hand-to-hand combat was one area where he knew he excelled in. Kohaku didn't stand a chance.

The redhead raised a brow when Bolt didn't move from his spot. Bolt just smiled and held up his hand, gesturing with two fingers for him to join him on the water. Kohaku jumped down, his feet causing ripples to explode across the water's surface. He sunk down, lowering his center of gravity, and adopting a foreign stance which Bolt didn't recognize.

Bolt smirked and activated the Byakugan on the left eye, inched forward, and took the first strike. A guarded open palm strike that Kohaku deflected with his forearm. He went with the flow, like his grandfather taught him, bringing up his other arm gracefully to caress Kohaku's exposed shoulder. He saw it coming, and leaned back out of the way, careful to not let himself be touched. Clearly he knew that Bolt was a Gentle Fist practitioner from his left eye. Even the smallest of touches was dangerous.

Kohaku twirled, bringing the back of his fist up in a backhanded slap that left Bolt's cheek smarting. Bolt was a dervish of palm strikes and pointed fingers, pressing forward against his opponent. Each time his strikes would close in on Kohaku, and each time Kohaku spun away in a whirling, circular motion that seemed to always place him inside Bolt's guard. After a few exchanges, Bolt could feel fresh bruises forming on his ribs, forearms, and thighs. And he had nothing to show for it. Kohaku was surprisingly slippery.

Growling in thinly veiled frustration, Bolt took a few steps backwards to orient himself. Bending at the knees and waist, Bolt raised his right arm behind his back, and lowered his left arm below his waist. It resembled a mock bow. Kohaku inched forward, a cautious brow raised.

Bolt took in a deep breath, his body tensing and his muscles coiling. "Eight Trigrams," Bolt declared through grit teeth, chakra surging through his arms and legs. Kohaku backpedalled wildly, trying to get out of range.

"Two palms!" Bolt surged forward, both his left and right palms thundering towards Kohaku. They struck him dead in the chest, heavy as rocks. Right in 2 chakra points.

"Four palms!" Bolt whirled, striking with pointed fingers that struck Kohaku's shoulders and waist, two each. Kohaku hissed in pain as the blows continued to rain down on his body. He could feel his Chakra pints closing.

"... Eight palms!" Bolt yelled blocking chakra points, and Kohaku hissed in pain.

Kohaku jumped back with chakra sugar to escape weaved a series of hand seals escaping Boruto who was still practicing how to use the 64 palms. Water erupted from his feet, cascading outwards in large waves. Bolt yelped in surprise as his form was shattered, ending the chain of attacks that the Hyūga clan was famous for. Bolt struggled to channel his chakra into his feet to prevent him from sinking under the waves.