Return to the Village
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"What's going on? Why is his chakra still in a state of turmoil?"
Hizashi Hyūga activated his Byakugan, his pale eyes glowing with veins as he examined Bai Ye's chakra network. His expression darkened with concern.
The boy's internal chakra flow remained violently unstable—surging as though stimulated by something unnatural.
Earlier, Hizashi had retrieved a vial of the strange potion from one of the children Bai Ye had subdued. He had analyzed it briefly and tested a drop on himself, enough to understand its temporary amplification effects—but nothing suggested such prolonged or dangerous aftereffects.
"He's burning up. Hizashi-sensei, what's happening to him?"
Yue approached, her brows furrowed in worry. She touched Bai Ye's forehead gently and immediately recoiled.
He was radiating heat far beyond the threshold of a fever. It was almost scalding.
"It's the potion," Hizashi replied, frowning deeply. "His chakra system is in overdrive. The elixir he ingested is still active far beyond what I anticipated. I've had no formal training in medical ninjutsu, so I can't say how long this state will last—or whether his body can handle it."
He turned to face Yue and Yuyan, both of whom were clearly distraught. If Bai Ye's chakra continued to escalate unchecked, his tenketsu might rupture. In the worst case, his chakra coils could collapse entirely—resulting in death.
"But he'll be okay after some rest, right?" Yuyan asked, eyes searching Hizashi's for reassurance. "The others aren't even conscious yet. Maybe it's the same for him…"
"He'll be fine," Hizashi said firmly, though inwardly he wasn't sure. Yue and Yuyan hadn't consumed the potion themselves, and there was no need to instill more fear in them than necessary.
"I'll take Bai Ye back to Konoha immediately. The two of you will escort these children back to Sheyu Village. Once they're secure, return to Konoha at once."
His voice was sharp and commanding. This wasn't just a decision—it was a tactical necessity. They were too close to the village to risk splitting their forces any further.
Bai Ye's condition was deteriorating. There was no time to waste.
Before leaving, Hizashi raised his palm, channeling chakra into his signature technique—Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm. With a sharp burst of force, he shattered the machine in the base that had been distilling the potion. The explosion caved in part of the wall, leaving nothing but rubble and a gaping crater.
Initially, he'd considered taking the device back for study. But witnessing Bai Ye's current state changed everything. The elixir was too unstable. The side effects were reminiscent of the Akimichi clan's Three Colored Pills—but without any of the safeguards.
A stimulant that could kill wasn't a miracle—it was a liability.
"Destroy the rest of the potions on these captives. Do not keep any for yourself. I'll handle the sample we recovered."
With that final instruction, Hizashi hoisted Bai Ye onto his back and took off, moving at high speed through the trees toward the Hidden Leaf Village.
---
"Yuyan… Bai Ye's going to be okay, right?" Yue asked, voice trembling.
Though Hizashi had reassured them, she couldn't hide the tears in her eyes. The worry had already taken root.
"He will. Let's focus on getting back quickly," Yuyan said, her tone resolute—if only to convince herself.
There was no time for mourning. They had work to do.
The girls stopped resting and immediately began binding the unconscious captives with wire and rope. They would drag them back to Sheyu Village and send a formal report from there.
As they secured the last captive, Yue noticed something disturbing.
The three children who had ingested the potion—even those still unconscious—looked… older. Their skin had dulled, and their chakra signatures were faint. Gu Bin, who had taken the potion twice, now had streaks of white in his hair. He looked like a prematurely aged old man in a child's body.
Yuyan and Yue exchanged glances but said nothing.
There was no comfort in acknowledging what this meant for Bai Ye.
---
"Where's the boy?" Qinqin asked as Yuyan and Yue dragged the captives into view. "He's not with you?"
"He left early," Yue said, forcing a smile. "We'll head out after we drop everyone off."
Yuyan remained silent as she secured the last captive—binding the same man they had previously tied to a tree. Qinqin, sensing something was wrong, didn't press further. She ran to Gu Bin, gasping when she saw his frail, aged appearance.
She hadn't expected this. None of them had.
The group, subdued and grim, began the journey back to Sheyu Village.
---
Meanwhile, Hizashi moved like a blur across the treetops. His speed far surpassed what he'd used on the outbound journey. Chakra surged through his legs as he sprinted toward Konoha, with Bai Ye slumped unconscious on his back.
"Was that… Hizashi-sama?" one of the gate guards muttered, watching the white-robed blur vanish past them.
"I think so. He just left this morning, didn't he?"
"He was carrying someone. A Genin, maybe?"
"No way something could go wrong on his watch... right?"
The two guards shared a nervous glance. But Hizashi had already entered the Konoha Hospital, where he was quickly met by medical staff.
---
"Lady Tsunade isn't in the village right now," a nurse informed him. "We've sent messages, but…"
Hizashi gritted his teeth. If only she were here. Tsunade had the skill to treat nearly any internal damage, especially chakra injuries. But ever since the deaths of her brother Nawaki and lover Dan Katō, she had become unreliable, often leaving the village unannounced.
He glanced down at Bai Ye.
The boy's skin was flushed, sweat beading on his forehead. His chakra was still surging—erratic and dangerous.
Just then, an elderly man in a white coat approached, the kanji for "Chief" printed on his back.
"This is the boy?" the old man asked. "I'll begin treatment immediately. His chakra system is dangerously overclocked, but I'll do what I can."
"Thank you," Hizashi said, bowing his head slightly. "I leave him in your care."
He stayed at the door a moment longer, watching as the boy was carried inside, still radiating heat and chakra like a furnace on the verge of collapse.