When Hinata felt chakra from Naruna's hand, she stayed calm. When Naruna's chakra flowed into her body, she remained composed. But when their hands parted and Naruna's chakra began merging with her own, Hinata panicked.
In her alarm, she tried to control the foreign chakra, expecting it to be difficult. To her shock, as soon as she intended to expel it, Naruna's chakra blended seamlessly with hers. The unprecedented chakra volume left her feeling bloated, yet she almost believed it had always been hers.
Tilting her head, Hinata gazed at Naruna in wonder. At four years old, she couldn't fathom why her body accepted Naruna's chakra. Despite her clan's teachings, no explanation fit.
Hinata knew chakra could be shared, but it was complex. She'd read that chakra—born from one's mental and physical energy—varied by individual. Sharing chakra caused losses during transfer, and the recipient's body had to handle the amount, ideally not exceeding their own chakra capacity. Uncontrolled foreign chakra could also harm the recipient, often outweighing the benefits.
Given her own struggles with chakra refinement, Hinata had dismissed borrowing chakra. Yet now, Naruna—a novice—had infused her with more chakra than she possessed, and it integrated perfectly, causing no harm, as if it belonged.
"Naruna, who are you?" Hinata blurted, rattled by the overwhelming chakra.
Naruna's joy faded, her whiskers twitching nervously. "Did I do something wrong? I'm Naruna, Naruna Uzumaki." Fearing Hinata's sudden "anger" might drive her away, she looked ready to cry.
Hinata's daze lasted only a moment. Since waking from her coma a year ago, fleeting visions had brought unfamiliar knowledge, teaching her to set aside unanswerable questions. Without this habit, those mysterious insights might have overwhelmed her.
"Sorry, I got lost in thought," Hinata said. "Do you have more chakra? Can you send some into me again?"
Hinata's initial sympathy for Naruna, born from shared struggles, had grown into friendship. Now, her body's perfect compatibility with Naruna's chakra sparked a curious idea, tinged with guilt. Her ears flushed as she made the request.
She doesn't hate me. Relieved, Naruna didn't question Hinata's intent. She grabbed Hinata's hand again, pouring all her remaining chakra into her, eager to please.
So full, so full, so full. Hinata's face reddened. So hungry, so hungry, so hungry. Naruna, pale and panting, collapsed.
As before, Naruna's chakra flowed through Hinata's meridians, merging without loss or discomfort beyond the bloating. Hinata's eyes gleamed, her gaze like a starving wolf eyeing a lamb. Seeing a path forward, she refused to leave Naruna's side.
"Naruna, I'll teach you ninja basics. Pay attention," Hinata said.
The abundant chakra thrilled her, urging her to release the excess. She began Naruna's next lesson, fresh off her chakra success.
"Naruna, every ninja must master three basic techniques, taught at the Leaf's Ninja Academy. First, I'll teach you the Clone Technique. With enough chakra, an hour's practice should do it."
Hinata spoke confidently, but inwardly, she was nervous. Her own chakra scarcity had limited her to theory; this was her first real attempt at ninjutsu.
I can't mess up. It'll be fine, she thought.
"The Clone Technique is basic, with three hand signs, completed in five seconds," she explained, demonstrating slowly. "Watch: Ram, Snake, Tiger. Link them quickly, guide your chakra with the signs, and release the technique when it gathers."
Hinata formed each sign deliberately, ensuring Naruna could follow. She watched Naruna mimic clumsily, nodding when she got it right, then prepared to demonstrate.
Ram-Snake-Tiger. Hinata took three seconds, not her fastest, to avoid mistakes and teach properly. "Ninjutsu: Clone Technique!"