"If I wanted to become a medical ninja, would you have any way to help?"
Hikari got straight to the point.
That's right.
This was the best self-rescue plan she could come up with.
Having studied those Yang Release scrolls, she had a rough idea of how medical ninjutsu worked.
It involved converting chakra into pure healing life energy, using precise chakra control to infuse that vitality into cells, speeding up cell division and protein synthesis.
To break her physical limits and create a Sage Body, she needed two steps.
First, convert external chakra into pure, untainted life force. Second, use the Eight Gates' ability to "open gates" in reverse, channeling that external life force into the gates.
If she could pull off both steps, she'd not only gain a Sage Body but could later bypass Kaguya's will in tailed beast chakra, safely tapping into Kaguya's power.
The life force conversion of medical ninjutsu might be the key to that first step.
"You want to become a medical ninja?"
Chihaya Toru's brown hair practically jumped in shock at Hikari's words.
As a medical ninja himself, Chihaya knew how tough it was to become one.
Every medical ninjutsu was insanely complex, layered with knowledge of pharmacology, pathology, and human physiology.
It demanded years of study.
He wasn't doubting Hikari's talent.
As the saying goes, master one, master all.
With her level of genius, she'd learn anything faster than most. But studying medical ninjutsu would eat up a ton of time.
Everyone in Konoha knew Hikari's battle prowess was unmatched. Having a combat genius like her waste time on medical ninjutsu? That'd be like using a kunai to peel apples.
"I don't recommend becoming a medical ninja," Chihaya said, shaking his head.
"Learning medical ninjutsu is costly, and top-tier chakra control is a must. If something's wrong with your body, I'd be happy to help. No need to waste time learning it yourself."
"I'm not trying to become a medical ninja."
Hikari raised her hand.
A faint purple chakra gathered in her palm.
Rip!
A sound like tearing paper came from the desk corner.
Chihaya followed the noise.
The pale pink succulent had sprouted new green leaves.
The leaves stretched, then curled, shimmering with purple chakra under the sunlight. The new growth shed its pink hue, taking on a glassy, almost translucent quality.
"Wood Release? No—Yang Release!"
Having spent half his life studying medical ninjutsu, Chihaya instantly recognized the vibrant, life-filled purple glow.
"I've been researching Yang Release's nature transformation lately, and medical ninjutsu could help me bridge some gaps," Hikari said, dispersing the lively chakra in her hand.
After absorbing the Nine-Tails' power, she'd inherited its vibrant energy.
Beyond healing flesh, she'd discovered while practicing Yang Release a couple of days ago that stray energy could accelerate plant growth.
Some wilted potted plants at Kakashi's place had sprouted new buds, bursting with life under her influence.
"Yang Release… it's dangerous."
Chihaya eyed the thriving succulent warily, his face grave.
"Life force is highly invasive. It's not as wild as lightning or explosive as fire, but if you lose control, the changes it causes are permanent—even passing to your descendants. Don't mess with that forbidden power!"
But you're trembling with excitement, Dr. Chihaya!
Hikari glanced at his head.
Excitement, thrill, fear, and greed tangled together like sprawling tree roots.
His words warned against Yang Release, but the longing deep inside him scared even her. Since gaining the Nine-Tails' sense of good and evil, she'd seen things she could hardly imagine.
"Incredible!"
Chihaya set his apple on a napkin, cradling the succulent to inspect it closely. He kept glancing at Hikari, his eyes gleaming like she was some rare treasure.
"Dr. Chihaya, about me studying medical ninjutsu—"
Seeing him lost in the Yang Release's power, Hikari frowned and gently nudged him.
"Oh, right, sorry."
Chihaya tapped his head, set the pot down, and regained his composure, though his gaze held something new.
"Developing Yang Release is risky. Studying medical ninjutsu is a solid, safer choice. Here's what I'll do—I'll write you a recommendation letter. Join the medical ninja training program at Konoha Hospital for a while. It might help."
"That'd be great. Thank you!"
Noticing Chihaya's attitude shift after inspecting the succulent, Hikari feigned delight but grew warier inside.
A glance at his head showed his friendliness glowing brighter, but after Sarutobi Hiruzen's lesson, she no longer fully trusted her ability's judgment.
Her Byakugan scanned his body—muscles tensing, heart racing. This unnatural excitement? Something was off with Dr. Chihaya.
Scritch, scratch.
His pen scratched across paper.
Chihaya hunched over, quickly writing the recommendation.
"By the way, who teaches the medical ninja training program?" Hikari asked.
"The instructors are usually head physicians on rotation. I'm teaching the current batch."
Click!
He capped his pen.
Chihaya finished the letter, folded it, and stamped it with a red seal from his drawer.
"I'll hand this to the training coordinator after work. You can start attending the weekend classes to learn the basics."
"Don't experiment with Yang Release on your own. If you have questions, come to me."
His face radiated kindness and concern, but Hikari, seeing the greed in his aura, felt a chill.
"Thanks."
Her goal achieved, Hikari quickly said goodbye to the odd Dr. Chihaya.
She had to learn medical ninjutsu. As an elite Jonin and Sarutobi Hiruzen's disciple, 90% of Konoha's dangers couldn't touch her.
Plus, she'd send a shadow clone to the hospital classes. Whatever Chihaya was scheming, it couldn't harm her real body.
She was untouchable.
Click.
The door closed.
Tap, tap, tap…
As Hikari's footsteps faded down the hall, Chihaya's friendly smile twisted into something unrestrained.
Crunch!
He grabbed the red apple, biting off a chunk. Sweet-tart juice dripped down his purple-tinted lips.
He resumed reviewing the medical report on his desk.
It was a single, thin sheet, packed with complex medical data. A photo of a girl sat at the top.
In it, a silver-haired, crystal-eyed girl lay bloodied on a hospital bed, a gaping, unclosable wound in her chest, barely clinging to life.
"What terrifying recovery!"
Chihaya shook his head in awe, folded the report, and tucked it under the succulent's pot. He pulled out a blank sheet and began writing furiously.
Outside, the white-haired girl walked slowly down the corridor.
Under her black cloth, purple light flickered.
Two Days Later
5:30 PM.
The Hatake Clan training ground was a barren clearing. Scarred wooden targets stood on the southeast side, opposite a lightning rod-like device for practicing Raiton (Lightning Release) ninjutsu.
The sparse equipment made the field feel vast.
In the center, Hikari sat cross-legged in a black short-sleeve shirt, her brow furrowed.
Her Byakugan peered inward.
From head to chest, five glowing points formed a thin line, pulsing green.
After her near-death battle with Yagetsu Yuu, her fifth gate had loosened. She'd spent the last few days refining her reverse Eight Gates technique, and the Dumon (Gate of Limit) had finally opened.
When Rock Lee, a mere Chunin, opened the Dumon, he could kick Gaara like a ball. For Hikari, it massively boosted her chakra, but the exhaustion of burning life force hit hard.
A trickle of life force flowed to her heart, deepening the purple hue in her chakra core.
The speckled Shikotsumyaku stirred, greedily siphoning chakra to grow stronger.
Hikari's eyes narrowed.
Her Byakugan flared.
The chakra core, devouring her life force, froze like a jammed machine. The Shikotsumyaku creaked in protest but, under her pupil power, couldn't absorb more chakra and fell dormant.
Sealing both her chakra core and Shikotsumyaku, Hikari pushed the life force from the Dumon out of her heart, guiding it through her meridians in reverse along the Eight Gates' path.
Whoosh!
The life force surged back, colliding with the vitality flowing from each gate.
Pain ripped through her meridians.
Hikari calmly blocked the pain, purple light shielding her meridians as the two life forces clashed inside her.
Time ticked by.
The life force in her meridians grew denser, the backlash stronger, until the gates stopped releasing energy.
Seizing the moment, Hikari pushed the thick, viscous life force back into the gates.
The glowing green acupoints shone brighter. The sticky life force split into five parts, compressing back into the gates.
Gulp…
Life force returned.
Her empty body felt full, like soaking in a hot spring. The exhaustion of burning life force vanished.
Reverse Eight Gates—success.
Closing the Eight Gates, an exhilarated Hikari stood, brushing dust off her pants.
Absorb external chakra, convert it to pure life force with medical ninjutsu, then channel it into the gates. Repeat the process, and a Sage Body should form naturally.
There were still blurry details—like how to absorb chakra, whether others' chakra would convert purely, or if it could be absorbed directly.
But the ninjutsu's framework was set. The rest was just ironing out details.
Her Shikotsumyaku gave her little time. Her five-year estimate was optimistic.
Judging by the gray spots' growth, her bones would be fully tainted in two and a half years at most.
Thinking of the kunai crumbling like a cookie under the ash bone's touch, she wondered if her body could withstand that power.
If only I had Hashirama cells!
Hikari sighed regretfully.
Hashirama cells could solve her problem in one go. Even if she couldn't handle the transplant, studying them could speed up her reverse Eight Gates development.
Too bad.
She had no access, and her teacher, Sarutobi, would never let her touch such things.
Standing in the training field's center, Hikari looked up at the sky, streaked with red clouds.
As Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen was busy, sparing only two hours a week to teach her ninjutsu.
Today was their scheduled lesson.
Eyeing the Raikiri (Lightning Blade) chakra mode, but lacking a way to train Lightning Release nature transformation, Hikari was itching to start.
It wasn't even 5:00 PM, so she'd arrived early, practicing her Eight Gates while waiting for Sarutobi.
It should be about time.
Her Byakugan pierced three walls, checking the bedroom clock 500 meters away. It read 5:40 PM.
Did something hold him up?
Just as the thought crossed her mind, a blazingly fast chakra signature flashed in the distance.
Its chakra volume was three or four times stronger than hers.
No need to guess.
Few in Konoha had that kind of chakra.
As the figure approached, Hikari, having confirmed his identity with her Byakugan, stepped forward. "Sarutobi-sensei—"
Whoosh!
Before she could finish, a kunai flew at her, cutting her off.
Her Byakugan tracked its path.
The gleaming kunai aimed straight for her forehead.
Chakra surged, shifting to Wind Release. A tearing gust of Futon (Wind Release) chakra burst from her mouth.
Clang!
Like two swords clashing, the steel kunai spun backward, its blade notched by the wind chakra.
Thud!
Sarutobi Hiruzen's robes fluttered as he vaulted the wall, landing with the deflected kunai.
"Seal-less Wind Release? Nice!"
Seeing Hikari effortlessly counter the sneak attack, Sarutobi nodded approvingly.
"You're late."
After waiting half the day and getting ambushed, Hikari's mood soured, her tone icy.
"Sorry, work's been hectic these past two days."
Sarutobi's eyes flickered with apology before he fixed his gaze on her. "Before we start, I need to test your fighting style. Let's have a spar to gauge it. That way, I can tailor your training. Our time's precious—let's not waste it on pointless emotions, right, Hikari?"
"Agreed."
Gulp! Gulp!
Transparent chakra bubbles rose.
A scarlet tailed beast cloak enveloped her, blurring her features. Even her iconic silver hair turned fiery red.
Seeing that familiar cloak, Sarutobi couldn't help but recall that carefree, red-haired girl.
So alike.
"Ready to start?" Hikari asked.
"Begin!"
Boom!
The ground quaked.
The training field's center collapsed into a crater, dirt flying.
A scarlet figure, like a cannonball, slammed toward Sarutobi's chest.
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