"Souma-kun, don't feel pressured," Hiashi said earnestly. "Our relationship may not be close, but treating me as an elder seeking guidance is enough."
Souma hesitated for a moment.
"Actually… there's someone who can answer that question better than I can."
"You mean—Neji?"
Hiashi fell into thought.
"Exactly. I'm not a Hyūga, so it's hard for me to speak on your clan's philosophy. And… I'm not sure if you've heard yet."
"Heard what?"
Hiashi's brows tightened.
Clearly something had happened without his knowledge.
Souma considered how to phrase it, then said:
"In the third round of the Chūnin Exams, Neji fought a wind-style specialist. He didn't use the Byakugan—not even once. He beat his opponent half to death using pure taijutsu."
"What?"
Hiashi was utterly stunned.
No Byakugan.
Only taijutsu.
He froze for several seconds.
As a Hyūga, he knew exactly how hard it was for someone accustomed to relying on the Byakugan to abandon it.
Was Neji trying to sever his ties with the Hyūga clan completely?
Hiashi's emotions were tangled.
Worse—
He had no idea how to talk about this with Souma.
After a long pause, he let out a sigh.
"So he used your technique?"
"A version he adapted."
"…Good."
Hiashi fell silent again, then slowly added:
"For many branch family members… the Byakugan is nothing but a burden."
You're the one saying that, not me.
Souma silently thought.
"And about the Gentle Fist technique?" Hiashi asked.
"I'll visit when I have time. But the Gentle Fist is vast and deep. I may need to trouble you for a few days."
"No problem. I'll make arrangements."
The two parted at the crossroads.
Their agreement didn't involve Souma giving fully developed techniques—only exchanging knowledge and principles regarding the Gentle Fist.
But from the way Hiashi spoke, he clearly hoped to use cooperation with Souma as a way to break the Hyūga clan's long-standing deadlock.
Whether he could succeed…
That was another matter.
Souma believed Hiashi had the heart for it.
But how strong was his resolve?
That part was unclear.
Souma shook his head.
Clan internal issues weren't something he wanted to interfere with, even if he and Neji were acquaintances.
Besides—
Neji didn't necessarily need his help.
He wasn't a Hyūga.
Souma returned to the Medical Corps.
Kitayama Oki asked a few questions before rushing off to treat a newly arrived patient.
Souma stayed in the lab, browsing through their experiment logs.
The Medical Corps never stopped researching.
Their notebook was packed with test results, and Souma circled a few promising materials before beginning to formulate mixtures.
By afternoon—
The surgeons returned from their operations.
Souma had already left.
At first Baicao was furious that someone had touched his research data.
But soon—
"Captain!" he shouted.
"What is it?" Oki replied from afar.
"Souma-kun! Souma-kun perfected the special pills!"
Baicao ran over joyfully, clutching three bottles and a note.
Oki rushed over barefoot, not even bothering with shoes.
She took the note and read:
'I tested three promising experimental variants and adjusted them. The verified results are as follows…'
All three pill formulas were improvements derived from the Akimichi clan's secret medicines.
Souma's versions were no exception.
Their effect was the same—burning fat for energy.
However, the Akimichi pills converted fat into raw physical energy by combining medicine with clan secret arts.
Souma's were different.
They turned fat directly into chakra—
but through pure medicinal modification.
Oki scanned the results, then picked up a pill and bit down.
Moments later, heat surged through her body.
Her fatigue vanished instantly.
"Effective! Twice as strong as before. Souma must've optimized the ratios of several ingredients."
"Yes, yes!" Baicao agreed.
According to Souma's notes, he had reduced the Akimichi-type ingredients and increased others.
Something Baicao hadn't even considered.
"Where is Souma now?"
"No idea. He was gone when I checked."
Oki frowned.
"Remind me to talk to him next time. Leaving finished medicine in the lab like this—if something happened… Never mind. Get back to work."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Souma hadn't been trying to act mysterious—
he'd simply been called away suddenly and left without thinking much of it.
ANBU had invited him.
Not Root—
the real ANBU.
Wearing a mask, Souma looked around curiously.
So this was the Intelligence Division?
It didn't seem frightening at all.
He found a seat at random.
"You're sitting where enemy prisoners sit. Usually with a mind-scanning device above."
"…"
He glanced up.
Yes. Definitely a mind-reading apparatus.
"Yamanaka Haichi-senpai?"
"You catch on quickly. Originally I was going to ask the Third to invite you, so our Yamanaka clan could collaborate with you outside the HQ."
Haichi stepped out from behind and sat in the interrogator's seat.
Neither seemed bothered by the setup.
Souma thought briefly.
"The Third never mentioned it."
"Right. He was… well—" Haichi coughed lightly, glossing over it.
No need to say it.
When Haichi had entered the office earlier, he saw the Third Hokage banging his head on the desk.
Clearly Souma's last conversation had dealt him a heavy emotional blow.
Even Haichi hadn't dared ask.
After a moment, Haichi said:
"I read your report. You detected Orochimaru's mental fluctuations through sensory perception?"
"Yes."
"Could you describe it in detail? Think of this as a cooperative exchange between our Yamanaka clan, the Intelligence Division, and you."
Haichi's tone grew serious.
He understood clearly—
What Souma had described was something the Yamanaka clan could not do.
It was knowledge on the level of clan secret techniques.
Since Konoha itself had secret arts, it would never try to rob others of theirs.
Cooperation had to be equal.
Souma smiled.
"What can you offer in return?"
Haichi thought for a moment.
"Our clan has a special method for tempering mental strength. We can exchange a portion of that knowledge with you."
"Deal!"
Souma stood up instantly.
This was something he had wanted for a long time.
"Ahem, but only a portion," Haichi clarified quickly. "Yours is a technique. Ours is a complete secret art. We can't give everything."
Souma nodded.
That was expected.
He pulled out his notebook.
"You specialize in spiritual training, so you must've noticed something… Mental strength has a concept similar to chakra control, doesn't it?"
"Yes."
Haichi nodded.
The Yamanaka clan had the deepest research in Konoha on matters of the mind.
Of course they understood.
In fact, their mental-tempering method had been discovered while studying control itself.
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