Time's almost up. Let's part ways here. If we stay any longer, someone might notice."
Shiraishi was worried that news of his secret meetings with Ayane would leak out. If that happened, not only Ayane but he himself would be thoroughly investigated.
Things would undoubtedly become troublesome if it came to that.
"Actually, you don't need to worry, Shiraishi-kun. I've already awakened the Byakugan. Within a one-kilometer radius, no one can approach here without me detecting them. I already scouted the area before coming."
As she spoke, Ayane formed hand seals, and the veins next to her eyes began to bulge, her white pupils instantly turning a bluish-white.
This was the Byakugan, the Kekkei Genkai passed down through the Hyuga clan since ancient times.
Members of the Hyuga clan who awakened the Byakugan could then combine it with their clan's ancient Gentle Fist style, further enhancing its power.
Besides maximizing the power of the Gentle Fist, the Byakugan also possessed many auxiliary abilities such as long-distance vision, X-ray vision, insight, and enhanced chakra release power.
Currently, Ayane could completely perceive everything within a one-kilometer radius. Combined with the Byakugan's inherent X-ray vision, it meant that within that radius, no one could secretly approach without Ayane noticing.
Whether using cover or invisibility, the human circulatory system would undoubtedly be detected by the Byakugan. This was why Ayane was confident that no one could approach silently.
The Byakugan's combat amplification might not be as powerful as the Uchiha's Sharingan, but in terms of strategic significance, the Byakugan's value far exceeded the Sharingan.
It could be said that as long as the Byakugan existed, Konoha wouldn't have to worry about being ambushed by enemies and falling into disarray during war.
All enemy deployments and traps would become meaningless.
"Ayane, when did you activate your Byakugan?"
Shiraishi's eyes showed surprise.
According to what he understood, the probability of awakening the Byakugan was much higher than the Uchiha's Sharingan.
However, generally speaking, the possibility of a Hyuga clan member awakening it before the age of ten was still relatively small.
And Ayane was only eight years old this year, yet she was able to activate the Byakugan, which showed her exceptional talent.
"I just awakened it a while ago. I wanted to surprise you, Shiraishi-kun, so I didn't say anything."
Ayane maintained her activated Byakugan, smiled, and said.
"I see." Shiraishi stroked his chin and said, "In that case, we'll have to change our upcoming plans, and the research process can be accelerated. How about this, find some time to come to my house, and I'll give you a full body examination."
The Byakugan… such precious and unknown data was truly something he didn't want to miss.
"Although I know Shiraishi-kun conducts legitimate experiments… um… at that time, Shiraishi-kun, you won't do anything strange to me, will you?"
Ayane seemed to be suspicious of Shiraishi's character.
"I say, where are you getting these ideas? You also said it's a legitimate experiment, didn't you?"
Shiraishi looked at Ayane helplessly.
"That's true… but Shiraishi also had an experience of touching my whole body before. He said it was to create a scientific exercise method for me… after all, no one knows if that was true."
Ayane smiled ambiguously, a hint of slyness in her bluish-white eyes.
What did she mean by 'touching her whole body'? Shiraishi didn't remember doing such a thing.
Besides, Ayane was wearing clothes during the examination.
Pedophilia is illegal.
"Hey, Ayane, you're getting more and more outrageous… If my exercise method was really useless, you wouldn't be complaining to me today… Never mind, I have important matters to attend to next, so let's stop here for today."
"Just kidding, I'll find time to go and cooperate with you for the body check, Shiraishi-kun. Well then, goodbye."
"Okay, goodbye, and be careful not to be discovered."
Watching Ayane leave the forest from another direction, Shiraishi put his hands in his pockets and slowly walked back towards his home.
◎
After Shiraishi returned, he took the blood Ayane had collected and began to analyze its composition using instruments.
Even ordinary blood contained many different things, or rather, characteristics.
For example, blood of the same type, the blood of Kekkei Genkai clans, and that of ordinary civilians had very significant differences in their characteristics.
Generally speaking, people from Kekkei Genkai clans had more active blood, and it contained a very special hereditary factor that could be passed down to the next generation.
Therefore, Shiraishi came to a conclusion: chakra was the origin of all changes.
Shiraishi called this thesis 'Exploring the Origin and Essence of Chakra.'
Ninjas perform shape and nature transformations through chakra. The combined use of chakra nature transformations is a relatively common prototype of Kekkei Genkai.
Kekkei Genkai generally form when a certain part of a person's body undergoes a special abnormal change under the influence of chakra, giving that part incredibly strong active factors, which then alters the entire body's genes.
And through the form of chakra, this special gene is passed down to the next generation, allowing the next generation to naturally master the power of the Kekkei Genkai.
This is how Kekkei Genkai clans were formed.
It is precisely because of this special hereditary factor that ordinary ninjas generally hold no advantage against Kekkei Genkai ninjas.
However, Shiraishi's primary purpose in analyzing the blood of a Hyuga clan branch family member collected by Ayane was not to prove how special the power of Kekkei Genkai was, or what tremendous advantages Kekkei Genkai held compared to ordinary people.
Such a topic, to Shiraishi, was actually of no value at all.
Using this blood to uncover the secrets of the Hyuga clan's Caged Bird Seal was also completely unfeasible.
Shiraishi understood this from the beginning.
All he wanted to do was understand the differences between Kekkei Genkai and ordinary people.
He was interested in the things on Kekkei Genkai ninjas to verify a certain question in his mind and confirm that his conjectures were correct.
Before this, he had already obtained some skin flakes, hair, and saliva from Ayane.
Of course, he also took some from Ruri, although he was severely beaten by Ruri when he first proposed the idea.
Getting back to the main point, Shiraishi divided his chakra research into two categories from the start.
Applied Chakra and Essential Chakra.
Applied Chakra refers to focusing on the practical utilization of chakra, for example, using chakra to derive ninjutsu, genjutsu, taijutsu systems, and applying them in fields such as combat.
Essential Chakra, on the other hand, is about exploring the true core of chakra.
Using water as an example, Shiraishi wasn't considering how water could be used; he was considering how water is formed, what elements it's composed of, how these elements are produced, and why they can combine to form water.
Similarly, Shiraishi wasn't considering what ninjutsu, genjutsu, or taijutsu chakra could perform; he focused on what chakra is composed of, why it can be composed, what spiritual energy and physical energy are, and why spiritual energy and physical energy can combine to form the essential chakra for the human body… too many 'whys' filled Shiraishi's mind.
Because no matter what changes or advancements occur in ninjas, they cannot depart from chakra as the root.
All roads lead to Rome.
Therefore, everything Shiraishi did was to explore the essence of chakra.
Chakra is the foundation of everything, the creator of everything.
If the secret of chakra is unraveled, then based on chakra as the root, whether it's the created Kekkei Genkai, or the so-called Caged Bird Seal, knowing the method to break them will no longer be a difficult task.
No, Shiraishi could imagine that by then, he would disdain to pursue things like ninjutsu and Kekkei Genkai.
However, this seemingly simple task is often the most difficult to accomplish.
Shiraishi searched through all the books in the Ninja Academy library, and not a single one explored the origin of chakra. They all discussed the perfected ninjutsu system, rather than chakra as the root.
Either ninjas are just tools for killing, and are not interested in the origin of their tools… or Konoha's higher-ups have sealed off this part of the secret.
According to Shiraishi's guess, the former is more likely.
No matter how much it's sealed off, some information should be revealed to cultivate some outstanding scientific research talents from the Ninja Academy.
Shiraishi said that the power of science is infinite, and he was not wrong about that.
However, this is the ninja world, and the science of the ninja world is not what is generally understood as mathematics, physics, chemistry, and so on.
It is chakra.
In this ninja world where chakra is truth, even science cannot escape the framework of chakra.
This is also why Shiraishi judged that Konoha had not truly begun to investigate the origin of chakra.
Should it be called a difference in cognition, or simply dullness?
If Konoha had research in this area, it could at least provide Shiraishi with a general direction.
However, Konoha had no theoretical research in this area. Everything needed to be perfected and constructed by Shiraishi himself.
Shiraishi touched the hair on his head, hoping he wouldn't suffer severe hair loss after adulthood.
His simple yet handsome appearance, oh.