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Let us shift our focus away from Akano's current circumstances.
In Konohagakure, within the Yuta household, the annual time of enlightenment had arrived once more.
Kiko, now more than three months into her pregnancy, carried a belly that appeared larger than when she had been expecting triplets. Yuta gently assisted her into a comfortable seated position.
Ganta and his brothers were now over four years old, their youthful exuberance tempered with a growing sense of understanding. They sat quietly behind Yuta, patiently awaiting the commencement of the session.
Joining them today was a new participant, Yuta and Kiko's adopted daughter, Nono.
Yuta had no intention of keeping secrets from this perceptive young girl. His understanding of her character, gleaned from future accounts, suggested a deep capacity for empathy and loyalty—traits that would later compel her to serve Root once more for the sake of the orphaned children.
"What do you each plan to focus on realizing today?"
Yuta looked at his four children and Nono, who sat beside them with wide-eyed curiosity, and asked with gentle patience.
"I still intend to further integrate the Second Hokage's Water Release ninjutsu that Mito-sama provided. However, based on past experience, a single session may not be sufficient," Kiko replied, her brow furrowed in thoughtful concentration.
Since the unsettling attack by Root within their own home, she had become acutely aware of the critical importance of increasing her strength.
"I plan to continue strengthening my chakra control. That way, I won't feel so inadequate compared to Jiro and Yuto," Ganta declared, a newfound maturity evident in his voice.
"Huh! You know how to be content. Not bad, you've made significant progress," Yuta commented, pleased by Ganta's growing composure.
He then turned his attention to Jiro and Yuto, eager to hear their respective plans.
"I simply want to refine my swordsmanship a bit more. It's too early for me to even approach the Hyuga bloodline limit, and my chakra reserves aren't yet sufficient to perform Magnetic Release ninjutsu," Jiro explained, a clear strategy guiding his choice.
"I… I plan to strengthen my chakra control, like my elder brother. That way, it will be easier when I learn medical ninjutsu," Yuto mumbled shyly, his gaze lowered.
Despite his quiet demeanor, Yuto possessed a sharp intellect, and those who underestimated him often did so at their own peril.
"Oh! Me? I'll listen to the teacher," Nono replied, a touch of uncertainty in her voice. Seeing all eyes upon her, she felt unsure of what to choose.
This was her first experience with such a session, and she felt a little lost. Ultimately, she decided to follow Kiko's guidance. After all, Kiko was her teacher and stepmother, and she trusted her implicitly.
"Haha, Nono, just like Ganta and Yuto, you should focus on improving your chakra control first. This will make learning medical ninjutsu much easier down the line. As for raw strength, you're still young, and there will be plenty of opportunities to develop that in the future," Kiko advised gently, ruffling Nono's hair affectionately.
During this period, Nono's presence in the household had been a tremendous help. Without her, even with two nannies, managing the increasingly mobile twins would have been a considerable challenge.
Yuta himself intended to delve into his nascent idea of electromagnetic release. He understood that such a complex ability wouldn't likely manifest in a single epiphany.
Past experience had taught him that the more potent the ability, the more arduous the process of comprehension, as evidenced by the intricate sealing techniques he had mastered over three separate enlightenment sessions.
Anticipating a potentially disruptive manifestation of his experiment, Yuta had erected a potent sealing barrier around their home to avoid unwanted attention.
As time flowed by, Nono was the first to emerge from her state of enlightenment.
A wave of pleasant surprise washed over her as she realized her control over chakra had undergone a significant transformation. She now wielded her inner energy with newfound precision and finesse.
Observing the Yuta family still immersed in their respective epiphanies, she suppressed her excitement and quietly returned to her room, a quiet sense of belonging settling within her.
Soon after, Ganta and his brothers also exited their states of heightened awareness. Having experienced this process before, they quietly departed, careful not to disturb Yuta and Kiko.
As dawn approached, Kiko, who had been deeply immersed in the fluid world of Water Release ninjutsu, was abruptly jolted awake by a sharp "sizzling" sound, forcing her out of her meditative state.
The sudden interruption, coupled with the heightened irritability of her pregnancy, initially led her to suspect Ganta and his brothers were causing mischief.
She opened her eyes, intending to issue a firm reprimand.
But the sight of Yuta directly opposite her caused her to gasp, her hand flying to cover her mouth, her eyes wide with disbelief.
Dense arcs of crackling energy emanated from Yuta's body, radiating outwards. Being in close proximity, Kiko felt a strange tingling sensation, as if her very cells were being pulled apart.
Despite her growing alarm for Yuta's well-being, the unsettling physical sensation compelled her to leave the room.
At that moment, Yuta felt as though he were swimming within a boundless ocean of electrons, observing the ceaseless collisions of protons, giving rise to minuscule currents.
Under the influence of these currents, the protons either attracted or repelled each other, creating a delicate, dynamic equilibrium.
Just as he was on the verge of further unraveling this intricate dance of energy, a searing, heart-wrenching pain tore through his entire being. He swiftly pulled his consciousness away from the mesmerizing scene and wrestled back control of his physical form.
When he finally opened his eyes, he found himself sitting amidst rubble, his body covered in a film of his own blood.
He attempted to rise, but a profound weakness rendered him immobile. He then looked around, realizing that dawn had broken. Kiko and their children stood at the edge of the debris, their faces etched with worry and fear.
Trying to allay their anxiety, Yuta forced a weak smile, but then his vision swam, darkness enveloped him, and he knew no more.
…
A sliver of dawn pierced the darkness, the somber sky gradually warming, layers of soft yellow spreading across the eastern horizon, illuminating Konohagakure.
By this time, the entire village was bathed in the soft glow of morning, and more and more people ventured onto the streets. The once quiet village had suddenly sprung to life, a surprising burst of vitality filling the air.
Sunlight streamed through a glass window, illuminating a ward within Konoha Hospital.
On the bed lay a figure swathed in bandages, utterly still, eyes closed. Were it not for the intravenous drip connected to his right hand, one might have mistaken him for a corpse.
Yuta's condition had terrified Kiko. Ignoring her own pregnancy, she had frantically carried him to the hospital and demanded immediate emergency treatment.
Only after confirming that Yuta was out of immediate danger did she succumb to her own dizziness and collapse, remaining in the hospital alongside him.
Had Mito not arranged for assistance upon hearing the news, Yuta's household would have descended into utter chaos.
Fortunately, Kiko had regained consciousness later that day. Her fainting spell had been a result of sudden relief after extreme stress, exacerbated by her pregnancy. Her recovery was swift.
Although Yuta was now out of mortal danger and his physical wounds were healing well, he had remained in a coma for an entire week.
During this time, the Third Hokage had also sent a representative to visit Yuta. Seeing that the formidable ninja was no longer in critical condition, he offered Kiko words of comfort before departing.