Chapter 83: Interpreting Ninja Training Through Cultivation - The White Eyed Princess of Konoha

Chapter 83: Interpreting Ninja Training Through Cultivation "Tch~" Hiashi Hyuga had spoken with such mystery during the day, yet Hinata ultimately realized that he knew even less than she did. When the Hyuga clan first inherited their techniques, Kaguya Otsutsuki had already been sealed away, so the Hyuga family actually knew very little. Moreover, as time passed and due to the wars in the ninja world, much knowledge was inevitably lost. However, one thing did catch Hinata's interest. It was an incomplete version of a Gentle Fist secret technique, or rather, a forbidden technique. This was a truly forbidden move, touching upon the very essence of "forbidden technique." The Hyuga clan's most powerful attack move, the Mountain-Destroying Strike, was derived from this incomplete forbidden technique. This was a secret known only to the direct descendants of the Hyuga main family line. After listening to Hiashi's explanation, Hinata's expression turned solemn. Too much was missing. Some have said that Minato Namikaze perfected the Flying Thunder God Technique, and Orochimaru perfected the Impure World Reincarnation. But before that, these forbidden techniques were merely incomplete versions. And this secret technique was, in fact, an incomplete version. In certain areas, Hinata knew far more than Hiashi. For instance, Sage Techniques. Among the few in the ninja world who had mastered Sage Techniques, almost none had showcased the power of these techniques in public. Those aware of the existence of Sage Techniques were few and far between. At least Hiashi wasn't aware of them. This secret, incomplete technique indeed involved the manipulation of natural energy. Hiashi believed that only the Hyuga clan ninja with vast amounts of chakra could hope to perfect and learn this technique. This was because, alongside this technique, there was a saying about resonating with one's chakra. Without knowledge of natural energy, Hiashi could only assume that such a technique required vast chakra reserves to sustain it. But Hinata understood in an instant: this was about natural energy. Thus, this move might really be an incomplete version of the Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack. After parting with Hiashi, Hinata took a bath and returned to her room. Lying on her bed, Hinata pondered how to perfect and practice the true version of the Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack. For someone like Kaguya Otsutsuki, who mastered Yin-Yang Release and gained natural energy by consuming the fruit of the Divine Tree, the Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack might be as simple as a basic attack. But for Hinata as she was now, it was incredibly challenging. Hinata no longer limited herself to this world’s Gentle Fist and ninjutsu knowledge. Training in natural energy felt somewhat akin to cultivation. Hinata had read many cultivation novels in her previous life, and her imagination was naturally more expansive than that of people in this world. Though much of the content was fictional, it still provided Hinata with hints, helping her expand her imagination. If the regular training of a ninja was comparable to the Foundation Establishment period, then the training of natural energy was undoubtedly akin to the Qi Refinement period... It could also be seen as transforming essence into energy and then energy into spirit. And following that would be the Golden Core stage, the Nascent Soul stage... Staring blankly at the ceiling, Hinata thought how strange this conceptual framework felt. Yet, interpreting ninja training through the lens of cultivation knowledge seemed not entirely incorrect. In cultivation terms, the Foundation Establishment period is to solidify one's foundation and cultivate inner breath, whereas the Qi Refinement period involves guiding the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into the body. But in the ninja world, except for the three great lands, natural energy in the outside world is extremely sparse, almost imperceptible to ordinary ninjas. Sparse, however, does not mean nonexistent. After mastering Sage Techniques, Naruto was able to absorb natural energy from the environment and enter Sage Mode. So, fundamentally, the first step in learning Sage Techniques is to perceive natural energy, and only then learn how to control it. Hinata felt her head spinning slightly. Yet she truly had an idea. With the Byakugan, one could see the meridians and chakra points inside the body. And the Gentle Fist is a technique that allows for precise control of chakra flow. The Hyuga clan's Rotation releases chakra from all chakra points in the body. But these techniques are used on adversaries. What if they were reversed for personal training? What effects would that yield? Hinata's imagination continued to expand. Since the Byakugan can clearly see one's own meridians and chakra points, Rotation can release chakra from all points, and Gentle Fist allows for meticulous chakra control... Could slowly releasing one's chakra using Rotation techniques allow one to perceive the barely-there natural energy in the environment? And then use one's chakra to draw this energy into the body? To thereby enter the Qi Refinement stage? However, Jiraiya once noted that the key to training in Sage Techniques was maintaining a balance between spiritual energy, physical energy, and natural energy within the body. But Minato Namikaze's example teaches us that as long as natural energy does not surpass the combined capacities of spiritual and physical energy, Sage Techniques can still be used. Indeed, Minato Namikaze could use Sage Techniques even without fully entering Sage Mode. Hinata was not demanding—being able to utilize natural energy like Minato Namikaze would suffice. Though she could not train at the three great lands, if her theory held, she might find a way to train in Sage Techniques in the outside world. Or, simply perceive and use natural energy. Hinata quickly sat up in bed. Rather than overthinking, it was better to take action. Theorizing was one thing, but nothing beat testing it out personally. Hinata got off the bed and sat cross-legged on the floor. "Byakugan!" Activating her Byakugan, her own meridians and chakra points became clearly visible. Hinata had long mastered Rotation, but Rotation involved rapidly releasing chakra through all the chakra points in the body while spinning. But now, Hinata was using the technique to slowly release chakra through her chakra points. As long as chakra doesn't stray too far from the body, it remains controllable, though with great difficulty. While diligently controlling the chakra, one also had to calm their mind to perceive natural energy—an incredibly challenging task. Hinata recalled Naruto's process for learning Sage Techniques. One scene featured Naruto sitting meditatively atop a mountain, sensing the natural world's energies. The abundant natural energy of Mount Myoboku meant Naruto could perceive it without a technique like Rotation. In the outside world, natural energy was sparse, but Hinata had a technique like Rotation, which allowed her to sense natural energy by releasing chakra through all her chakra points. Both methods shared a common principle—meditative focus. Hinata, typically prone to whimsical thoughts, especially after conceiving such a grand theory, found it hard to calm her mind. "Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale..." Hinata was determined to steady her mind. The idea she had come up with today truly was brilliant!