After returning his soul to his body, Hyuga Mirai could no longer sense that unique energy, but he did notice an improvement in his sensory abilities following the use of the *Spirit Transformation Technique*. Sensory ninjutsu typically relies on Yin Release chakra, and if he wanted to enhance his sensory perception to the point of detecting natural energy, strengthening his spiritual energy would be key.
"I could try visiting Ryūchi Cave... but only when the purple snake becomes strong enough," thought Hyuga Mirai. The intelligent snakes in Ryūchi Cave were notoriously unpredictable—some were man-eaters, while others had murderous tendencies. Mirai even suspected the summoning scroll for Ryūchi Cave was nothing more than bait set by those serpents to lure unsuspecting ninjas.
Still, the power granted by Ryūchi Cave was undeniably useful. Enormous snakes, some as long as a hundred meters, could easily incapacitate any ninja below the rank of Jonin.
The *Spirit Transformation Technique* had a wide range of applications—it was practically a trifecta of interrogation, assassination, and control. Mirai believed it was worth investing more effort into refining its utility.
Additionally, he considered the development of exoskeleton armor. "The main issue is the lack of composite materials for nano-particles. To develop such materials, I'd need a cutting-edge laboratory, not a makeshift setup like Konoha Hospital."
Hyuga Mirai muttered thoughtfully to himself, deciding to issue a directive to Unit 18 to prioritize the establishment of an advanced materials lab. He ranked this as the third priority on his list.
If he could successfully develop nanotechnology in the ninja world, Mirai could create control chips, enabling him to recruit a loyal following. But the biggest obstacle to this ambition remained funding. Once the Uzumaki Trade Association amassed sufficient wealth, he intended to establish his own instrument manufacturing company to save costs on purchasing equipment.
In the following days, Mirai kept a low profile. Apart from researching composite materials and designing exoskeleton armor, he avoided any attention-grabbing activities. Although he had access to complete schematics from S.H.I.E.L.D., none of their models suited him. Unlike their standard designs, Mirai possessed extraordinary strength and speed. His armor needed to be optimized for support and intelligent control.
His explosive speed far surpassed that of typical propulsion systems in standard armor. If these systems were repurposed as support mechanisms, the resulting synergy would amplify his capabilities exponentially.
Mirai delegated all the research and design work to his shadow clones, spending his evenings assimilating their daily progress and fine-tuning their efforts. This routine allowed him to focus on physical conditioning.
Training under triple-gravity conditions, Mirai meticulously tracked his progress. Within ten days, his cellular activity increased by 12%, while his bone and muscle density improved by about 6%. His internal organs also adapted—he could now consume five bowls of rice in one sitting, a marked improvement. However, returning to his former capacity of thirty bowls would take more time.
---
**One Morning**
As usual, Hyuga Mirai prepared to head to Konoha Hospital to dispatch shadow clones for research, while his real body trained outside the village. However, his plans were interrupted when Kiyo Hyuga blocked his path.
"Kiyo, what's the matter?" Mirai asked casually, noting there was no one from the Hyuga clan nearby, so formalities were unnecessary.
"Seeing you is a rarity these days," Kiyo said with a hint of reproach. After giving Mirai a once-over, he frowned slightly. "Are you headed to Konoha Hospital again? If it's not urgent, why not join our team training? It's been a while since you practiced, and you haven't forgotten *Gentle Fist*, have you?"
"Forgotten? Probably not," Mirai replied with a laugh. After considering it briefly, he decided that taking a day off wouldn't hurt. "Alright, no big deal at the hospital today. Let's do some team training."
"That's more like it. At this rate, you'd lose to Obito," Kiyo said, satisfied, and gestured for Mirai to follow.
"Now that's an exaggeration. Beating Obito? I can still manage that," Mirai retorted confidently as he followed.
On their way to the training field, Kiyo explained the day's schedule. The morning would be dedicated to team training, while the afternoon was reserved for a group meal with their former classmates. Several of their peers, who had been on support missions, had recently returned to Konoha for rest, including Kakashi, Obito, and Rin. However, their teacher, Namikaze Minato, had remained on the front lines.
Such separations between teachers and their teams were rare, but it was likely Minato's arrangement. He had probably used his authority as a frontline commander to allow his students a much-needed break after months on the battlefield.
After morning training at the field, Mirai demonstrated more through verbal guidance than hands-on practice. His instructions were sharp and precise, leaving even Kiyo, usually quick to criticize, with little room to argue.
They had lunch at the training ground, thanks to Kurenai Yuhi bringing enough bento boxes. However, she had miscalculated Mirai's appetite, leaving several uneaten.
By the afternoon, training ended. The trio returned to their respective homes to change before meeting at the restaurant. Thankfully, such days were rare; having to act the part all the time would wear Mirai out.
---
After freshening up, Mirai donned a white training outfit, preparing to meet the others. Most members of the Hyuga clan wore white—not by rule, but out of habit. Standing out with a different color, like red, would make one feel out of place.
At the restaurant, Mirai greeted his peers. Despite seldom keeping in touch, they were all graduates of the same class. Mirai, now a medical Jonin, had risen through the ranks faster than even Kakashi, their acknowledged prodigy.
Kiyo Hyuga and Kurenai Yuhi sat beside Mirai, following their usual seating arrangement from past gatherings.
"Damn it!" thought Asuma Sarutobi bitterly. Despite increasing his training regimen and even picking up smoking to seem more mature, he had failed to attract Kurenai's attention. Beyond a polite greeting, she barely acknowledged him.
"Hey, I heard there's a ninja-themed computer game being sold in the village," said Genma Shiranui suddenly, his face alight with curiosity. "Want to check it out after dinner?"
The mention of a game pitting Konoha ninjas against other villages piqued everyone's interest—even Kiyo, typically reserved, leaned in to hear more.
Mirai, however, wore an odd expression. Could this be the game developed by Unit 18? Had it already reached Konoha?
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(End of Chapter)
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