Visiting the Hospital

Isamu focused intently, palms pressed firmly together as he channeled chakra through his body, eyes steady with quiet determination. The Akimichi clan's signature techniques were his foundation, and he approached each session methodically, determined to master every detail with both precision and practical understanding.

Yet, despite his disciplined approach, controlling his chakra posed an unusual challenge. Most children described chakra as thick and sluggish, like pushing syrup through a narrow pipe. For Isamu, the sensation was fundamentally different. Chakra flowed swiftly and powerfully through his channels, eager to surge forth at even the slightest release. While this effortless movement seemed advantageous at first glance, it came with its own drawbacks: without meticulous concentration, chakra easily flooded through his pathways, causing him to exhaust his reserves far too rapidly.

Considering the origin of this peculiarity, Isamu thought back pragmatically to his earliest training—when he had deliberately channeled precise, razor-thin slivers of chakra through his developing pathways, repeatedly stimulating them even while still in the womb. He reasoned logically that this practice must have permanently widened and reinforced those channels, allowing chakra to flow too freely, demanding even greater control and restraint on his part.

Until recently, this trait had quietly gone unnoticed. Early-stage exercises such as tree-walking and leaf-balancing naturally constrained chakra expenditure due to their inherent precision and simplicity. Furthermore, he had been a small child, with limited chakra reserves that masked the true scope of his channel's capacity. But a year was transformative; a child changed rapidly, and as Isamu grew, so did his strength, chakra reserves, and capacity to channel power. With each passing day, he noticed more clearly the ease with which chakra surged through his pathways, especially as he began working seriously on his clan's more demanding jutsu.

Still, Isamu found one key advantage mitigating these challenges: the immense strength of his soul sharpened his comprehension and memory. Observations and instructions seemed to engrave themselves effortlessly in his mind—he needed only a single clear demonstration to firmly grasp the essentials. Coupled with the youthful plasticity of a child's brain, which eagerly absorbed and integrated new concepts, his ability to memorize and process information proved astonishingly efficient. Nonetheless, he was practical enough to recognize that despite his swift grasp of concepts, actual mastery always required rigorous repetition and careful practice.

Privately, Isamu acknowledged the importance of keeping his accelerated comprehension hidden from view. If his clan learned how rapidly he was absorbing and adapting their signature techniques, they would surely elevate him to a status he deeply wished to avoid. Being placed upon a pedestal would mean scrutiny and restriction, tightly controlling his actions and choices. This pragmatic awareness shaped his careful behavior, always exercising restraint during public demonstrations or group training sessions, deliberately limiting the observable progress to match more closely with expectations of his age group.

To further refine his control, Isamu devised small exercises of his own invention—such as intentionally constricting chakra within narrow, imaginary paths inside his body, or shaping it into precise patterns before allowing it to disperse naturally. He reasoned that such creative drills would hone not only his restraint but also his chakra manipulation to increasingly nuanced levels.

Returning his focus to the present exercise, Isamu exhaled evenly, gathering himself before forming the familiar hand sign and activating the Partial Expansion Jutsu. Chakra surged into his right arm, precisely managed and deliberately paced. Muscles and bones expanded dramatically but steadily, enlarging with controlled force until his arm grew significantly larger, dense with raw strength. He swung forward decisively, his enlarged fist breaking cleanly through the reinforced wooden post, splinters scattering neatly rather than explosively—a testament to his steadily improving control.

Pausing to carefully assess his chakra consumption and expenditure, he made subtle adjustments to his internal flow before transitioning smoothly into the next technique: the Human Bullet Tank. Curling his form tightly, Isamu rotated his body forward into a compact sphere, chakra neatly and evenly coating his frame as he accelerated rapidly across the training ground. Rather than careening uncontrollably, he maneuvered skillfully, tracing precise arcs and quick directional shifts, gravel and dust tracing his carefully planned trajectories behind him.

Unfolding gracefully from the rotation, he regulated the dispersion of chakra evenly back into his core, breathing deeply yet calmly. With his energy carefully balanced, he proceeded to the subtler, essential Multi-Size Technique. Concentrating intently, he allowed chakra to slowly saturate his frame, expanding proportionately rather than impulsively, increasing his height and bulk with methodical steadiness. Limbs thickened, muscles tightened, and he towered significantly above his usual height with deliberate control, reinforcing his commanding physical presence for close combat scenarios.

Satisfied with his steady progress, Isamu gradually withdrew his chakra, returning smoothly and deliberately to his original size. He noted with cautious optimism how his careful management had conserved chakra reserves considerably better this session. With each repetition, he strengthened his confidence, deepening his understanding and practical mastery of the clan's powerful jutsu—valuable tools he knew he would rely upon once the inevitable conflicts of war drew him onto the battlefield.

As Isamu considered the intricacies of his clan's jutsu, he realized a significant gap in his theoretical understanding—his grasp on anatomy was practical but fundamentally limited. While he understood human anatomy from his experience as a fitness enthusiast, his knowledge of the body's chakra network and how it precisely interfaced with physical structures remained insufficient. To fully explore and refine these chakra-intensive techniques, he recognized that deeper anatomical knowledge—particularly of the chakra pathways and tenketsu—would be essential.

Fortunately, he had the perfect window to address this shortcoming. The academy's recent test had occurred at the start of a two-week break, and there was still a full week remaining before classes resumed for the next three-month quarter. With careful planning and focused study, Isamu knew he could substantially bolster his understanding in that limited timeframe

One aspect of his training Isamu found particularly intriguing was examining how the clan's expansion techniques operated at a fundamental level. While he deeply respected the raw strength and direct power these jutsu provided, he quickly recognized that such dramatic increases in size inherently sacrificed precision and finesse—qualities essential to his personal approach of technical and calculated combat.

Curiosity sparked within him as he mentally dissected the underlying mechanics of his clan's signature techniques. The Partial Expansion and Multi-Size Jutsu primarily revolved around chakra's Yang nature, a form of energy associated with vitality, physical growth, and bodily enhancement. These techniques essentially flooded specific regions—or even the entire body—with concentrated, yang-infused chakra, rapidly accelerating cellular growth, muscle density, and overall physical mass. The resulting explosive increase provided extraordinary power, resilience, and sheer physical dominance.

Yet Isamu quickly noted a key drawback: as size and density increased, precise movement inevitably suffered. Larger limbs slowed reaction times, while bulkier muscles made rapid, delicate adjustments difficult. Considering this logically, he pondered whether these limitations could be mitigated. Chakra, after all, was fundamentally energy guided through intention and technique. Could carefully modulating and selectively distributing yang chakra improve the finesse and agility of these otherwise blunt-force techniques?

He envisioned a refined approach—channeling chakra into smaller, targeted muscle groups or even selectively stimulating specific muscle fibers rather than expanding entire limbs wholesale. This specialized infusion of chakra could potentially preserve—or even enhance—his agility and technical precision, providing the best of both strength and finesse. However, as he explored this thought, Isamu recognized that he lacked sufficient theoretical knowledge regarding chakra anatomy. His grasp on standard human anatomy was strong, drawn from extensive experience in physical fitness, but his understanding of the chakra network and how precisely it interacted with anatomical structures remained superficial.

Fortunately, timing was on his side. The recent academy test had occurred at the start of a two-week break, meaning he still had a full week remaining before the next three-month quarter began. Isamu resolved to use this interval to strengthen his theoretical foundation, focusing especially on the chakra pathways and their intersections with human physiology. Such focused study would undoubtedly help validate his theory, enabling practical experimentation in the near future.

Careful to maintain a pragmatic mindset, Isamu mentally filed away these insights and potential refinements. He knew very well that extensive experimentation and disciplined practice would be required, but if successful, the payoff would be considerable. The war ahead demanded adaptability as much as brute force—and he fully intended to master both aspects.

Isamu decided there was no sense in delaying, so he simply went to find his sister, knowing she was likely absorbed in one of her medical books. When he located her, she sat cross-legged on the floor, her blonde hair tucked neatly behind her ear, eyes focused intently on a page detailing treatments for various injuries. Curious, he glanced at illustrations showing careful bandaging methods and wound-cleaning techniques.

He cleared his throat softly, prompting her to glance up with a small, familiar smile. "Studying?"

She nodded, gently tapping the page. "Burns, actually. I've been volunteering in the burn ward lately, so it seemed smart to get ahead."

He tilted his head thoughtfully, genuinely curious. "Since you're volunteering there, do you think you'd have access to the hospital's medical library?"

She blinked in mild surprise, clearly not expecting the question. Isamu rarely asked for anything directly. "I might. What exactly do you need?"

"A detailed book on how the chakra network interacts with human biology," he explained plainly.

Her brow furrowed slightly, thoughtful but uncertain. "Well, I've mostly stuck to first aid and basic injury care so far," she admitted honestly, rubbing her petite chin as she studied him carefully with hazel eyes that mirrored his own. "They probably have something like that at the hospital, but I'm not sure if they'll let you access it since you aren't a volunteer."

Closing her book gently, she stood up and stretched lightly. "We can always check, though. Maybe they'll be lenient now that you're officially enrolled at the academy."

As they began walking side by side, Isamu gestured casually toward the book she still loosely carried. "Any interesting insights from your time in the burn ward?"

She perked up immediately, clearly proud of her growing expertise, and began enthusiastically describing how medical-nin applied precise and powerful Iryō-ninjutsu to rapidly regenerate damaged tissue and repair even severe injuries. As she spoke, Isamu listened carefully, absorbing every detail. It quickly became clear to him just how heavily this world leaned into chakra-based healing methods. Though undeniably effective, these methods required immense chakra, control, and deep anatomical understanding.

Briefly, Isamu's thoughts drifted to memories of his past life. He vividly remembered how burns and open wounds had been distressingly common among soldiers—injuries from bombs, mortars, and improvised explosives. In particular, he recalled seeing medics apply skin grafts made from fish skin, noting their ability to significantly accelerate healing due to their high collagen content and anti-inflammatory properties.

Inspired by this memory and by the stark contrast he observed in the purely chakra-focused medical methods here, Isamu casually remarked, half-jokingly, "You know, I wonder if healing severe burns might be easier if there were already something in place—like some sort of chakra-infused patch with high collagen and anti-inflammatory properties. Fish skin sounds pretty plausible to me."

She stopped mid-step and looked up at him with genuine puzzlement. "Fish skin? Really?"

He simply shrugged, continuing nonchalantly to walk alongside her, an easy grin crossing his lips. "Why not? Seems reasonable enough."

She raised an eyebrow skeptically but said nothing more, her expression shifting subtly as curiosity overtook skepticism. He could almost see the wheels turning behind her thoughtful gaze as she considered a possibility she'd never before entertained.

After a comfortable silence, she smoothly transitioned into discussing academy life. Though she wasn't part of the elite class, she eagerly shared how she'd been earning strong marks, already firmly on a path toward transferring fully to the hospital after graduation.

Eventually, Isamu and his sister arrived at the hospital, and immediately he noticed just how much larger and more vibrant it was compared to its depiction in the anime. The structure itself maintained a familiar style—multi-storied, with clean white walls, large, sunlit windows framed by sturdy wooden panels, and gently sloping tiled roofs. Yet, everything was significantly grander, bustling with activity as medical-nin hurried along wide corridors, some carefully reviewing patient charts, others exchanging quick instructions as they passed. Lush plants were placed throughout the waiting areas, offering warmth and a sense of calm amid the busy atmosphere.

As they stepped inside, his sister was greeted immediately by various staff members, each face lighting up in genuine recognition. Her own smile effortlessly brightened their day, and even at eight, she already radiated charm. Quietly, Isamu noted that one day she would undoubtedly blossom into true beauty, much like their mother.

Eventually, they reached the check-in counter, where a female medical-nin in her mid-thirties sat, meticulously organizing paperwork. Her brown hair was pulled neatly into a tight bun, and she wore practical yet stylish rectangular glasses that framed sharp, observant eyes. She radiated a certain authoritative air—what Isamu instantly identified as a classic "Karen" vibe.

She raised her gaze toward them, briefly glancing over Isamu and clearly noting how young he appeared. Her eyebrow arched slightly in subtle skepticism. His sister quickly stepped forward, greeting the woman politely yet warmly, her voice gentle as she offered the cutest "please" Isamu had ever heard. He immediately sensed that the two were familiar, noting the slight softening in the woman's expression. Clearly, his sister's natural charm and kindness had won her over long ago.

"He's really smart, I promise," his sister said earnestly, gently clasping her hands together in front of her. "It won't take long."

The medical-nin gave another thoughtful "hmm," carefully adjusting her glasses as she studied Isamu one more time. Finally, after a brief pause, she sighed softly, her expression relaxing into a small smile reserved especially for his sister. "Alright, go ahead. But don't make me regret it."

As they moved past her, Isamu reconsidered his first impression. No, she wasn't quite a Karen, he decided—more of a Felicia. The name felt fitting, and as they walked away, he couldn't help but mentally remark, "Goodbye, Felicia," returning her curious glance with an amused, subtle smile of his own.

The library had a respectable collection of books lining tall wooden shelves, each meticulously organized by subject. His sister glanced around the room, softly explaining, "This is just the basic library. Anything more advanced or sensitive is locked away and off-limits."

Isamu sighed inwardly, slightly disappointed but understanding. Basic theory would have to suffice—it made sense, after all. Ninja were notoriously protective of their deeper secrets. He moved along the shelves with purpose, fingers lightly tracing the spines as he swiftly scanned titles. He quickly pulled out several books, flipping through their pages with practiced efficiency but finding nothing immediately relevant. Just as he began to feel the familiar tug of frustration, a particular title stood out distinctly among the rest.

Curiously, he retrieved it and raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. It was written by none other than Tsunade herself, covering foundational aspects of the chakra network. The discovery felt like a small victory, and he felt a brief surge of satisfaction.

Without delay, he began rapidly flipping through the pages, his eyes swiftly passing over each line. Though he appeared to be merely skimming, he was, in fact, meticulously memorizing every word. His intention wasn't immediate comprehension but perfect recall; later, he would rewrite each detail by hand, a strategy he'd found greatly enhanced his learning and solidified the information firmly into his memory.

His sister watched in confusion as he moved through the book at an unnatural pace, her brow furrowing deeper with each passing moment. "What exactly are you doing? You can't possibly be reading that quickly," she finally asked, unable to mask her curiosity.

"I'm memorizing the words," Isamu replied calmly, continuing his rapid page-turning without missing a beat. "I'll properly understand it later when I rewrite it by hand. I seriously doubt Felicia would let me borrow this book."

She blinked, clearly baffled. "Felicia? Who in the world is Felicia—wait, you're serious? You can actually read books that fast?"

Isamu paused briefly, glancing up to offer her a gentle, playful smile. "No and yes," he admitted with a casual shrug. "I'm not truly comprehending the information yet—just performing word-for-word memorization. Writing it down afterward helps me genuinely grasp and digest the content. Considering how limited our time is, it's the most efficient method."

His sister released an exaggerated sigh of amused exasperation, shaking her head as a smile tugged at her lips. "I wish I could do that!"

After another fifteen minutes, Isamu managed to locate a few more relevant books, quickly committing their pages to memory with quiet determination. When he finally indicated he was finished, his sister followed him out of the library, shaking her head lightly, still clearly amazed.

As they passed by the reception desk, the woman Isamu had mentally dubbed Felicia eyed them skeptically, clearly puzzled by their rapid departure. "You're finished already?" she asked, raising an eyebrow suspiciously. "Did something happen?"

Isamu continued walking calmly, unbothered, but his sister paused dramatically, throwing her hands up with adorable, exaggerated exasperation. "He's already memorized four books—four!" she said, clearly astonished and slightly frustrated by her brother's impossible efficiency.

Felicia simply blinked in confusion, clearly unsure whether the younger girl was joking or serious. Isamu allowed himself a subtle, amused grin as he kept walking, his sister hurrying quickly to catch up, muttering quietly under her breath about impossible little brothers and unfair talents.