"..."
To be honest, after reading the scroll, Hakushi felt a bit disappointed, but upon reflection, it seemed normal.
If it recorded the method of practicing the Immortal Technique, Ruri wouldn't have taken it upon herself to give him something like this.
Up to now, Hakushi's research on Chakra had reached a bottleneck; he needed something new to break through his understanding of Chakra.
Originally, he hoped to gain some insights from the Immortal Technique, but the knowledge on the scroll wasn't very useful to him.
No...it's a bit unlike me to give up so early.
Actually, there's still some use for the things on the scroll.
Though it didn't specifically state how to integrate with nature and sense Natural Energy, if this hypothesis is valid and correct, how would one enter a state of fusion with nature to sense the presence of Natural Energy?
So, integrating with nature is the key.
How to integrate?
Hakushi took out his previous notes on Chakra.
In Hakushi's research, he had already explored some hidden information about Chakra.
For instance, the synthesis of Chakra follows a pattern, a combination of Physical Energy and Spiritual Energy, already forming a stable 'system'. By following this 'system' route, one can stably produce Chakra.
And Sage Art Chakra is formed by adding Natural Energy to the 'system'.
Switching from a two-energy system to a stable system of three energies.
The Sage Art Chakra 'system' must exist and must be stably and sustainably mastered by people.
There is a certain deep connection between ordinary Chakra and Sage Art Chakra.
This connection might be the key to drawing out Natural Energy.
So, how to use ordinary Chakra to draw out Natural Energy?
When integrating with nature, what role does ordinary Chakra play here?
"The production of Physical Energy can be through exercising the body or maintaining the necessary sources of life for the body. Carbohydrates, fats, and proteins oxidized in the body are essential substances for maintaining a person's physical activity..."
Spiritual Energy is related to consciousness, more broadly speaking, is something aligned with the soul.
The Sharingan of the Uchiha Race requires emotional stimulation to activate, as Ruri says, this is also a kind of Spiritual Energy.
So, emotions are also Spiritual Energy... more precisely, emotional fluctuations depend on the mental strength or weakness of each individual.
At the end of his notes, Hakushi wrote down his conclusion.
The refinement of Chakra is related to the amount of life matter ingested on a given day, the emotional state of that day, and a person's innate strength of soul and body.
These factors will all affect the functional efficiency of Chakra refinement.
Having solved the source problem of ordinary Chakra, he further analyzed the specific means of obtaining Physical Energy and Spiritual Energy.
While Natural Energy comes from the air and earth, it is omnipresent.
"I am breathing the air every moment now, does this count as absorbing Natural Energy?"
Hakushi looked at the pitch-black night scene outside the window, feeling the refreshing and dry evening breeze, and muttered to himself.
Hmm, it seems quite promising.
◎
Another round of Sunday break.
Hakushi arrived at the famous Uchiha Clan Land.
It appeared like a village within the village.
The Uchiha Clan Land is located in the midsection of Konoha Village, to be honest, for a prestigious family, the position is somewhat remote from the village core.
After all, the Uchiha hold the Security Team, a department with enormous power.
How great is their power? For instance, the Hokage's direct Anbu usually cannot arrest people without showing the Hokage's order.
But the Uchiha Race's Security Team doesn't need such an order, they can take anyone at will, though the final judgment requires the Hokage's arbitration.
But it also means the power of the Uchiha Race's Security Team is above the Hokage's direct Anbu.
For a Ninja Race, such excessive power certainly wouldn't end well.
However, this is the Uchiha, they co-founded Konoha Village with the Senju Clan, as the founding two major Ninja Races of the village, it is normal for them to have such power.
Moreover, only this race's people are qualified and able to manage the Security Team.
The first thing Hakushi saw upon entering the Uchiha Clan Land was a huge and luxurious building, that was the Uchiha Race's Security Team Headquarters.
At the entrance of the Security Team building, two Uchiha Chunin were routinely standing guard.
Seeing an outsider like Hakushi walking into the Uchiha Clan Land didn't make them stop or expel him.
The Uchiha Race's clan land is not forbidden for outsiders to visit, as long as you don't provoke them, they are actually quite approachable...right?
Following the route map given by Ruri, Hakushi searched for the location of Ruri's home.
The Uchiha Race's clan land was vast; just in search of Ruri's residence, Hakushi saw many large training grounds, mansion after mansion.
The shops were bustling too, occasionally, some non-Uchiha adults were seen shopping there, it seemed they were getting along quite well.
Though Hakushi had heard of the arrogant attitude of the Uchiha Ninja of the Security Team, it was just hearsay, he had never personally witnessed how arrogant the Security Team Ninja could be.
However, not everyone in a clan shares the same temperament, some are gentle, naturally, some are irritable.
Just like not all Konoha civilians are honest, sometimes when Hakushi eats out, he gets ripped off, there are also some drunk troublemakers on the street.
Most are still those honest and kind-hearted civilians, possessing many precious qualities of being a person.
So, whether big family Ninja Race or civilians, you cannot generalize.
While thinking about these matters, Hakushi also found the last location on the route map, Ruri's residence.
Hakushi looked at the huge mansion in front of him, it was the most luxurious residence he had seen along the way, no previous mansion could compare to this one.
Hakushi estimated that this mansion's area was at least a few thousand square feet.
Through the walls, he could see the blossoming cherry trees in the courtyard, with a few pink petals drifting from inside the wall, bringing fragrance.
The first impression was that this place is huge.
The second impression was that Ruri's family is very wealthy.
This property couldn't be bought for less than a hundred million ryo.
Hakushi felt that the place he lived was no different from a doghouse.
Damn capitalists.
"Hello, are you here to see Lady Ruri?"
A young woman wearing a kimono saw Hakushi standing at the door, stopped her cleaning work, came up to Hakushi, and gently smiled to ask.
"Yes, I am Chiba Hakushi, I believe I have an appointment."
Upon hearing Hakushi introduce himself, the maid in a kimono continued to look at Hakushi with a gentle smile and nodded.
"Follow me, please. Lady Ruri is waiting for you inside."
Her manner and politeness were impeccable, even using honorifics.
Hakushi followed the maid into this strangely large mansion.
The house's building materials were mainly two-hundred-year-old cedar wood, the corridor's wooden floor clean and bright, reflecting a blurred reflection of people walking on it.
The doors and windows were mostly simple and transparent, the courtyard had a pond and many old trees of different breeds and ages.
While walking down the corridor, Hakushi also encountered quite a few passing maids, all neatly dressed in kimonos, they all smiled kindly at Hakushi as they passed by, showing they were very polite.
Even with so many maids, cleaning such a big mansion probably wasn't an easy job.
And this was only a small part of the front yard.
Ruri was in the largest house in the backyard, the maid slid the wooden door open, respectfully bowed to the person inside:
"Lady Ruri, the guest is here."
"Dismissed."
"Yes."
The maid complied with Ruri's order and left.
Hakushi walked in, curiously observing the surroundings.
The huge room was almost empty, only a few cushions, a low tea table, and a seemingly high-end futon.
The plain lifestyle of capitalists.
Suddenly, Hakushi didn't want to put in any effort anymore.