"It's about time, let's part ways here. If we stay any longer, we might be noticed."
Hakushi was worried that news of his secret meeting with Ayane might get out, which would result in both Ayane and himself being thoroughly investigated.
If things turned out that way, it would undoubtedly be very troublesome.
"Actually, there's no need to worry, Hakushi-kun. I've already awakened the Byakugan. Within a kilometer range, no one can approach without me noticing. I already searched the area before coming."
Saying this, Ayane formed a seal with both hands, and the veins around her eyes began to bulge, her white pupils suddenly turned a bluish-white.
This was the Kekkeigenkai that had been passed down through the ages by the Hyuga Clan—the Byakugan.
Members of the Hyuga Clan who awaken the Byakugan can pair it with the clan's ancient Gentle Fist, further enhancing its power.
The Byakugan not only brings the Gentle Fist to its full potential but also possesses abilities like long-range vision, x-ray vision, insight, and enhanced chakra release power, among many auxiliary capabilities.
Currently, Ayane can completely perceive within a kilometer radius, and with the x-ray ability of the Byakugan, no one can approach this area without being detected by Ayane.
Whether using cover or stealth, the body's meridian system will inevitably be perceived by the Byakugan, which is why Ayane is confident that no one can silently approach here.
The Byakugan's amplification in combat may not be as formidable as the Uchiha's Sharingan, but in strategic terms, the Byakugan's value surpasses that of the Sharingan.
With the Byakugan, Konoha need not fear surprise attacks during war.
All enemy defenses and traps will become meaningless.
"Ayane, when did you activate the Byakugan?"
Hakushi's gaze was filled with surprise.
From what he knew, the probability of activating the Byakugan was much higher than that of the Uchiha's Sharingan.
However, generally speaking, the likelihood of members of the Hyuga Clan under ten years old activating the Byakugan is relatively low.
And Ayane was only eight years old this year, yet she could activate the Byakugan, which was a testament to her exceptional talent.
"I just awakened it recently, and since I wanted to surprise you, Hakushi-kun, I didn't say anything."
Ayane maintained her Byakugan state, smiled, and said.
"I see." Hakushi touched his chin and said, "Since that's the case, we'll need to change the upcoming plans and speed up the research process. Let's do this, find some time to come to my house, and I'll give you a full-body check-up."
The Byakugan... such precious and unknown data cannot be overlooked.
"Although I know you're conducting a legitimate experiment, Hakushi-kun... hmm... at that time, you won't do anything strange to me, right?"
Ayane seemed to maintain a skeptical attitude toward Hakushi's character.
"What are you thinking about? You said it's a legitimate experiment, didn't you?"
Hakushi gave Ayane a helpless look.
"That may be so... but you have previously inspected my whole body, claiming it was to draft a scientifically appropriate training method for me... after all, no one knows if that's true."
Ayane smiled faintly, a hint of slyness in her bluish-white eyes.
What does it mean to inspect the whole body? Hakushi doesn't remember doing such a thing.
Besides, during the check-up, Ayane was fully clothed.
Child exploitation is illegal.
"Hey, Ayane, you're getting more and more outrageous... if my training method were truly ineffective, you wouldn't be complaining to me now... forget it, I have important matters to attend to, let's call it a day."
"Just kidding, I'll find time to cooperate with your check-up, Hakushi-kun. Well then, goodbye."
"Yes, goodbye, be careful not to be discovered."
Watching Ayane leave from another direction, Hakushi put his hands in his pockets and leisurely headed back home.
◎
After returning, Hakushi began analyzing the blood specimens collected from Ayane, using equipment to analyze their composition.
Even ordinary blood contains many different things or characteristics within it.
For example, comparing blood of the same type, the blood from bloodline-limited families is vastly different from that of ordinary civilians.
Generally speaking, people from bloodline-limited families have more active blood, and it carries a very special hereditary factor that can be passed down to the next generation.
Thus, Hakushi concluded that chakra is the origin of change.
Hakushi called this thesis 'Exploring the Origin and Nature of Chakra.'
Ninjas use chakra for changing form and properties, and by merging these transformations, a preliminary form of bloodline limits is created.
Bloodline limits typically involve some part of the human body undergoing extraordinary changes under the influence of chakra, giving that part highly active factors, thereby altering the entire genome.
Using chakra to pass down these special genes to the next generation allows them to naturally harness the power of the bloodline limit.
This is how bloodline-limited families are formed.
And because of this special hereditary factor, ordinary ninjas have no real advantage over bloodline-limited ninjas.
However, Hakushi's purpose for examining the blood of a branch member of the Hyuga Clan collected by Ayane was not to prove how special bloodline limits are or what substantial advantage they hold over ordinary people.
This thesis held no value for Hakushi.
Using such blood to uncover the secret of the Hyuga Clan's Caged Bird is fundamentally unfeasible.
From the beginning, Hakushi understood this.
His goal was merely to understand the differences between bloodline limits and ordinary people.
To verify a query in his mind and to confirm that his hypothesis was correct, he was interested in the elements found in bloodline-limited ninjas.
Before this, he had collected some skin flakes, hair, and saliva from Ayane.
Of course, he also took some from Ruri, though when he suggested it, Ruri gave him a good beating.
Returning to the point, Hakushi divided chakra research from the beginning into two categories.
Chakra for application and chakra for essence.
Chakra for application refers to the practical use of chakra, such as deriving ninja techniques, illusion techniques, taijutsu systems, applied in combat fields.
Chakra for essence is about exploring the true core of chakra.
To illustrate with water, Hakushi wasn't interested in how water could be used; he was concerned with how water was formed, what elements made it, how these elements were produced, and why they could synthesize into water.
Similarly, Hakushi wasn't focused on what ninjutsu, illusions, or taijutsu chakra could conjure, he valued what chakra consists of, why it can be formed, and what spiritual and physical energies are, and why these energies can synthesize into chakra essential for humans...
Many questions filled Hakushi's mind.
Because no matter the change or advancement regarding what ninjas naturally possessed, it all couldn't stray from the origin: chakra.
All changes, return to the source.
Therefore, everything Hakushi did was in pursuit of understanding the essence of chakra.
Chakra is the foundation of everything; it's the creator of all.
If the secrets of chakra were unlocked, then it wouldn't be challenging to figure out how to nullify things like bloodline limits or even the so-called Caged Bird pattern.
But no, Hakushi imagined that once that time came, he might no longer care for chasing after so-called ninjutsu or bloodline limits.
However, simple as it seemed, implementing this was often the hardest part.
Hakushi scoured every book in the Ninja School's library, none of which explored the origin of chakra; they all simply discussed perfected ninja systems, not the foundational chakra.
Either ninjas were merely killing tools, uninterested in the roots of the tools they wielded...
Or the higher-ups in Konoha sealed off this part of the secrets.
Hakushi guessed that the former was far more likely.
Even with many restrictions, some elements should have leaked through by now to cultivate some remarkable research talents from the Ninja School.
Hakushi believed in the limitless power of science, not making a mistake there.
But here in the Ninja Realm, the science is not in mathematics, physics, or chemistry in the ordinary sense.
It is chakra.
In this Ninja Realm where chakra is truth, even science cannot depart from the chakra framework.
This, Hakushi deduced, was the reason Konoha hadn't genuinely delved into chakra's origin.
Is it a cognitive disparity, or simply a lack of acuity?
If Konoha had such research, at least Hakushi could have a significant direction.
However, Konoha had no theories related to this; everything needed completing by Hakushi himself, constructing it on his own.
Hakushi touched the hair on his head, hoping he would not suffer severe hair loss after becoming an adult.
Ah, his simple and handsome appearance.