Chapter 66

In the ninja world, countless examples exist of ninjas dying from chakra depletion due to battle.

Therefore, chakra can be considered an essential energy element required for the human body to perform life activities.

If this energy is lost, the human body will cease to function and fall into a state of death.

Although there are various causes of human death, the state of dying from depletion is considered by Shiroishi to be the most special form of death.

Despite not yet unraveling the mysteries, the current experiment has produced some unexpected results, opening a mysterious door to an unknown destination.

The vitality potion, which integrates natural energy, was accidentally injected into a laboratory mouse. After draining the mouse's chakra, it temporarily replaced the chakra's life energy, maintaining life activities for a certain period.

Whether this is a special case or can be universally applied, Shiroishi immediately began a new experiment.

He took out twenty mice, injected them all with the same vitality potion, drained their chakra, and placed them in observation glass containers.

Shiroishi saw that sixteen mice died immediately in the glass container after their chakra was drained, even with the vitality potion as an energy source.

Of the remaining four mice, one had weak limbs and lay on the ground, its eyes opening and closing, and soon stopped moving, losing its life activities.

The second mouse had a similar reaction, only lasting a few seconds longer than the first before lying still.

The third mouse, however, remained healthy and did not show signs of weakening, and even jumped around in the glass container.

The fourth mouse's transformation was even more astonishing to Shiroishi. After taking the vitality potion, the mouse's body grew larger, its eyes turned a deeper red, and it gave off a very dangerous feeling.

"This is..."

An experimental assistant showed surprise, staring at the mutated mouse without blinking.

"I didn't expect the vitality potion to have this effect. It's like the mouse took a hormone that matches its body, activating its hidden potential."

Shiroishi gave an objective evaluation.

The fourth mouse was clearly beginning to mutate in an unknown direction.

And this mutation, even Shiroishi could not predict its outcome.

Shiroishi then focused on the third mouse, which had suddenly entered a weakened state, just like the first two, lying still in the glass container and dying.

Shiroishi opened the glass container, took out the only surviving and mutating mouse, and observed it in his hand.

Shiroishi sensed that the mouse's body was filled with an abundant amount of natural energy.

Although it could not be guaranteed that it would not weaken and die like the others over time, currently, the mouse's life energy was very abundant, showing no signs of weakening.

Moreover, the experiment proved that chakra could indeed be replaced by another energy source to sustain life activities.

This energy source is related to natural energy.

However, there was a problem. In the past, when Shiroishi directly used natural energy to replace chakra, all the experimental mice died.

After special processing, the natural energy, formulated into the vitality potion, managed to provide life energy to living organisms.

The experiment proved that life activities could continue without chakra.

Why couldn't the original natural energy serve as a life energy source, while the processed vitality potion could?

Returning to the essence of the problem, after losing chakra, human life activities would cease, but after special processing, natural energy could replace it.

Chakra is not derived from the outside but is a combination of the body's physical and mental energy, a product of the body's "factory."

Proving the correctness of the experiment made Shiroishi happy.

It also meant that the process of breaking the bird cage was one step closer.

However, the relationship between chakra and natural energy was becoming increasingly mysterious to Shiroishi.

Comparing the two energies, there was an indescribable sense of disharmony.

"I feel like something important is missing. Only by finding this thing can all the problems with chakra and natural energy be resolved."

Unfortunately, Shiroishi had no clue what this "thing" was or where the answer lay, so he could only speculate and explore new paths to prove its existence.

◎

After that, Shiroishi continued to focus on the research of using natural energy to replace chakra and supply life activities.

If the experiment was previously just a vague guess, after the unexpected discovery, Shiroishi was confident that natural energy could replace chakra and provide the necessary life energy for the human body.

Since the experiment itself did not require complex operations, Shiroishi assigned it to the five experimental assistants to record the detailed process.

Shiroishi himself continued to practice the Spirit Transformation technique, further mastering the ability to change the nature of yin chakra.

Time passed unnoticed, and it was already late August, with the weather gradually becoming hotter.

It had been about a month since they returned to Konoha.

During this month, Shiroishi and his two companions had exchanged letters with their team leader, Sakumo Hatake, who was on a mission at the front line, to understand the current situation.

Sakumo learned that Shiroishi and his two companions had unexpectedly been tricked by the Sand ninjas. After a fierce battle, they managed to escape from the Sand ninjas' trap.

However, due to severe injuries, they needed to return to Konoha for two months of recuperation.

As for other matters, they did not mention anything.

In the letters Sakumo sent back, he mostly expressed concern for them and reported that his mission was going smoothly, successfully destroying an important Sand Hidden Village base, giving the front-line Konoha ninjas an advantage.

Currently, the morale of the front-line Konoha ninjas was gradually rising, while the Sand Hidden Village was showing signs of weakness.

It was believed that it would not be long before Konoha and the Sand Hidden Village would sit down to negotiate and end the war peacefully, bringing a perfect conclusion to the years-long conflict.

Although Sakumo tried to make the front-line situation sound less serious, Shiroishi and his companions knew that the front-line situation was far from optimistic.

However, seeing that Sakumo was fine, they felt relieved.

◎

"The village is much quieter than before."

After lunch, while accompanying Ruri on a walk through Konoha's streets, Shiroishi noticed that the crowd was much thinner than usual and sighed.

This was mostly due to the ongoing war.

Konoha had experienced two consecutive wars with the Hidden Rain and the Hidden Sand. Although Konoha won the war with the Hidden Rain, it suffered significant damage and needed time to recover.

Just as Konoha was recovering, the Hidden Sand came to provoke, forcing Konoha to hastily prepare for battle.

In the ongoing conflict with the Hidden Sand, both sides have had victories and losses, and the stalemate continues without a satisfactory outcome.

The Hidden Sand hopes to plunder as many resources as possible within the Fire Country to develop itself.

Konoha aims to pressure the Hidden Sand from the front to force them to sign a peace treaty and end the war.

This is an unsolvable problem, and it remains to be seen who will give up first.

Ruri did not take Shiroishi's sigh to heart.

"How is your work going?"

These days, Shiroishi has been spending most of his time in the laboratory, rarely appearing outside, only coming out for meals.

Ruri also had her own things to do during the day and had little time to inquire about Shiroishi's situation.

Shiroishi knew Ruri was referring to the senjutsu research and replied, "The success rate has improved, but the risk has not been eliminated. Using it rashly would result in the same state as you experienced that day."

Ruri nodded.

That day, she forcibly merged her chakra with natural energy to form senjutsu chakra, enhancing the power of her Fire Release technique. It seemed successful at first, but problems arose afterward.

Her senjutsu chakra began to rebel, and she fell into a deep coma. If Shiroishi had not acted in time, the outcome would have been dire.

Therefore, the senjutsu in that state could be considered a failure and not a successful example.

However, recalling the overwhelming power she felt after merging the senjutsu chakra, Ruri had a strong desire.

The power of senjutsu is formidable, as evidenced by the Fire Release technique she used that day. Senjutsu can completely transform a ninja, leading to a qualitative leap in strength.

Most importantly, her Sharingan had reached the three-tomoe stage, the peak of a regular Sharingan, with little potential for further evolution.

There were two paths ahead.

One was to obtain the method to activate a higher-level Mangekyo Sharingan from the Four Elders, further elevating the power of the Sharingan.

The other was senjutsu.

In Ruri's eyes, senjutsu held greater weight.

She had no direct understanding of the power of the Mangekyo Sharingan, but she had personally experienced the power of senjutsu.

Moreover, the First Hokage, who defeated the Mangekyo Sharingan user, Uchiha Madara, possessed the mysterious and powerful senjutsu.

Senjutsu is undoubtedly a formidable power, on par with the Mangekyo Sharingan.

Although Ruri was eager, she knew that mastering senjutsu was not easy, so she did not pressure Shiroishi, avoiding putting too much stress on him.

"Let's go over there; I want to buy some clothes."

"Sure."

Shiroishi had nothing to buy and followed Ruri's lead.

This was a traditional clothing store with a good reputation in Konoha.

When Shiroishi and Ruri entered, they unexpectedly encountered an acquaintance.

"Uchiha... and Chiba-kun?"

A man in his late twenties, wearing a Konoha ninja headband, looked surprised at Shiroishi and Ruri entering the store.

"Fujimura-sensei?"

Shiroishi also recognized the man as his homeroom teacher from first to sixth grade, Fujimura Daigoro.

He did not expect to meet him here.

"Are you the owner of this store, Chuunin Fujimura-sensei?"

Ruri looked at Fujimura with a scrutinizing gaze.

Fujimura's mouth twitched. Why add "Chuunin" before "sensei"?

"No, no, actually..."

Fujimura scratched his face, looking a bit embarrassed.

"...This is my girlfriend's store. She went out temporarily, so I'm helping her look after it."

"So, Chuunin Fujimura-sensei has a girlfriend."

Shiroishi rubbed his chin, thinking seriously.

"..."

Is this what they call "husband and wife working together"? Fujimura thought sarcastically.

"By the way, why are you two in the village? I remember your team leader is Sakumo Jounin..."

"Ah, due to some unexpected events, we are currently on leave in the village."

"Is that so?"

Fujimura did not pay much attention and began introducing the clothes in the store to Shiroishi and Ruri.

The store had a variety of clothing, including ninja uniforms, yukatas, casual wear, and sportswear.

There were also many accessories, such as ornate masks and earrings, which were very eye-catching.

"How about it, the clothes here are all quite nice, right?"

Fujimura said happily.

"Alright."

Ruri said this, but her eyes were fixed on a particular piece of clothing.

It was a kimono that perfectly matched her style and color preferences.

The price was not a concern for her.

Shiroishi also noticed the kimono and said with a smile, "Speaking of which, Ruri, I haven't given you many gifts over the years. If you like it, I'll buy it for you."

Since the research and accommodation expenses were provided by Ruri, Shiroishi rarely spent money, and the mission rewards he saved were more than enough to buy such a kimono.

After Shiroishi said this, Ruri's usually calm face quickly turned red.

Fujimura, seeing Shiroishi's confusion at Ruri's blushing, sighed and said, "Chiba-kun, you can't just give a kimono to someone. For a woman, receiving a kimono from a man means a marriage proposal."

"Uh?"

Shiroishi's body stiffened, and he felt... a killing intent!