28 Natural Energy and Senjutsu Potential

'This revelation also seems to confirm some of my previous theories about this world in general. Other individuals, from the past, and possibly present, also likely managed to acquire senjutsu abilities without any actual connections to those three 'Holy' places...',

'The key was in extensive meditation all along. Yet, my Byakugan probably shortcut what would have been many, many decades of needed daily meditation for someone else before they could finally perceive this elusive natural energy...',

This insight led Hikari to a deeper appreciation for the unique advantage his Byakugan offered in his pursuit of higher power.

Two years ago, after delving into the historical records of this world, particularly those predating the Warring States period and the establishment of ninjutsu and the shinobi system, Hikari came to a realization that hinted at a broader spectrum of power.

His study, combined with the canonical information from his previous life, pointed towards the existence of a different system of power. Central to this realization were the samurai and various monks, who predated shinobi and persisted alongside them.

These warriors and ascetics were the predominant forces in the world before the advent of chakra. And what else was present before the chakra? Natural energy.

Natural energy was the energy derived from the fundamental elements of the world: the air that blanketed the planet, the water that flowed through its rivers and oceans, and the earth that formed its vast landscapes.

This energy existed ubiquitously, permeating every corner of the globe and endlessly circulating through the environment. It was an ever-present force, seamlessly woven into the fabric of nature itself, influencing ecosystems and the planet's myriad forms of life.

Hikari hypothesized, drawing parallels with fantasy elements from his previous life, that monks and samurai wielded unique sets of powers derived from intense internal focus and spiritual alignment with nature.

Through decades of meditation, they might have been capable of perceiving natural energy and utilizing it to enhance their swordsmanship and martial prowess, increasing the power and range of their attacks.

Furthermore, once chakra was introduced into this world, it was conceivable that these ancient warriors learned to combine this newfound energy with the natural energy they were already attuned to, giving rise to early forms of senjutsu.

What interested Hikari the most was not the Sage Mode, given that he recognized his physical limitations and chakra reserves were not on par with those who could easily harness such power.

The legendary bodies of the Senju or Uzumaki clans, known for inheriting the "body" of the Sage of the Six Paths, were well-suited to manage the influx and balance of natural energy within their bodies.

Hikari mused that perhaps if he had inherited the "body" of Hamura Otsutsuki, like Toneri's clan on the Moon or the descendants of Kaguya, he might have had a better chance.

However, the legacy of the Hyuga was different; they inherited the "eyes" of Hamura, focusing on spiritual and visual prowess, similar to how the Uchiha inherited the "eyes" of Hagoromo.

This lineage predisposed them more towards visual and spiritual feats rather than the physical robustness and vitality required for Sage Mode.

Nevertheless, Hikari saw a different pathway open before him: the practice of simple senjutsu, the technique of infusing one's own jutsu, rather than their body, with natural energy, to improve their potential, or even using simply taijutsu moves of the Hyuga clan alongside it.

Hikari envisioned a method where the natural energy would never need to directly merge with his body's internal chakra pathway system at all, avoiding the potential dangers of harm or petrification that could occur from an imbalance.

Instead, if he could enhance his Byakugan's ability to perceive natural energy with enough clarity and detail, he could then precisely manipulate his own chakra externally, with his expetinoal chakra control and launch his attacks in ways that actually interacted with the natural energy around him afterward to bring the potency of his attacks to a new dimension.

This would allow him to envelop his techniques with a layer of natural energy without it ever infiltrating his body, thereby circumventing the risks associated with traditional Sage Mode.

In Hikari's envisioned application of senjutsu, it would be his adversaries who would have to contend with the potent negative side-effects of natural energy, especially if his Gentle Fist managed to deliver such energy 'inside' of them.

The techniques he would develop, mixed with and coated in the raw power of the natural world, could have effects beyond sheer physical force, potentially carrying the destabilizing properties of natural energy to his foes, turning them into stone, and carrying a great deal of disturbance.

"It seems that, sometime in the future, it would be beneficial to visit either the Land of Iron or some Ninja Monk temples. I feel like I could gain some practical insights from them and speed up my learning process...", Hikari mused, contemplating his next steps.

The Land of Iron, with its samurai who might have ancient knowledge of integrating natural energy into their swordsmanship, and the Ninja Monk temples, with their deep spiritual practices possibly connected to natural energy, seemed like promising sources of knowledge that could aid his quest.

"It's unfortunate, but based on my current ability to perceive that kind of energy, and considering how much my vision has improved up to now, it looks like it will take at least another six years to develop my vision to a level that would allow me to implement many of the techniques I have in mind...", 

"And then, it would be wise to find some shortcuts to develop those techniques as quickly as possible after my vision has matured. So, locating those places would be beneficial...",

Hikari recognized the value of seeking external guidance and knowledge to complement his self-driven efforts. Visiting places steeped in the tradition of harnessing natural energy, whether through the disciplined lifestyle of the samurai or the spiritual practices of the monks, could provide him with the unique insights needed to refine his techniques and apply them more effectively. At that time, they would be forced to 'help' him willingly or unwillingly.

At this time, Hikari also realized another thing. Originally choosing to focus on taijutsu rather than ninjutsu proved to be a 'well-done' move for him in the light of this evening discovery.

It was because his theorized approach, which he termed "external precision detailed blending," involved externally combining his chakra-based attacks with natural energy.

This method allowed him to carefully enhance his taijutsu moves outside without the need to internalize the natural energy first, thereby sidestepping the significant risks that come with internal manipulation as highlighted many times in the original series by various characters.

However, had Hikari been a fighter inclined more towards ninjutsu instead, he would have likely been forced to take the complex task of integrating natural energy directly into his body's inner chakra system first in order to blend it with his physical and spiritual energies, meaning his own chakra, there, if he truly wanted to use senjutsu with his abilities at all.

This necessity stemmed from the difficulty of externally manipulating natural energy for ninjutsu techniques compared to taijutsu techniques Hikari was familiar with from Hyugas.

For instance, attempting to externally wrap a large-scale ninjutsu like some 'fire dragon' with natural energy, after it would have been already executed outside and distant from the user, posed significant challenges.

The technique's size and the distance it would have covered from the caster, in an instant it was launched outside, would certainly have made it a complex task and beyond the reach of simple close-range chakra manipulation, therefore, without much possibility for success.

But, the needed internal mixture of natural energy, instead, with one's own chakra could then lead to petrification if not properly managed, a danger also magnified during high-intensity and various battle scenarios when focus and concentration, for chakra control, got divided.

As the sky deepened into shades of twilight, Hikari returned to calm and focused and continued his meditation delving deeper into the realm of what he now knew was the natural energy with the aid of his Byakugan.

He moved with the natural rhythm of the world around him, trying to synchronize his chakra with the elusive patterns of natural energy he sought to understand and harness.

This unique meditative session stretched on, with Hikari fully immersed in the experience, pushing the limits of his perception.

However, after some time, a slight discomfort began to manifest, a subtle signal from his Byakugan that it was time to conclude the session.

Recognizing this indication, Hikari gently closed his eyes, allowing the visual prowess of his Byakugan to fade as he brought the meditation to a close.

With a deep, grounding breath, he acknowledged the progress made and the limitations respected, rising from his seated position with a sense of accomplishment and understanding.

As night fully enveloped the courtyard, Hikari retreated back inside his room, the peaceful and productive session leaving him in a state of deep contemplation.

Moving to his large adult bed, he settled in for the night, the day's experiences and insights weaving through his thoughts as he drifted off to sleep.