AN: Note that I do not own Naruto, Naruto Shippuden, or any of the characters from either Anime. This work is a fanfiction written out of my love for the series and not in any attempt to make a profit.

Proofread by: Author

Before you read this chapter, know that I am not all that good with coming up with appropriate Japanese names. My current way to decide on Japanese names is to randomly write the first vaguely Japanese name I can think of and google it. An earlier example of this would be Sakamoto, which was likely the first ones I thought of due to having watched "Sakamoto desu ka" back when it was first subbed. One of the names in this chapter was similarly chosen due to subconsciously choosing a character from another anime, while the last one was taken from a list of Japanese names. I do not intentionally try and make references, please keep that in mind.

Chapter 32: Brain array

"So… what was all the fuss about earlier, Kakashi?" Sakura asked as they were led down to the lower levels of the hospital.

"Well," Kakashi began, only for Sakura to notice the medical-nin next to them become worried for some reason. "It's nothing you don't already know. The awakening of your Kekkei Genkai seems to have severely changed your brain structure. Simply put, your brain is incredibly unique." Kakashi tries to explain, not all too bothered about it.

Frowning, Sakura tries to imagine how her brain would be severely changed. She felt normal, and all Neji had mentioned was that she had additional chakra pathways. "Unique how?" She asks for clarification, and Kakashi turns his head to look at her as he responds.

"It doesn't look even remotely human anymore." He tells her bluntly, baffling Sakura for a moment before she recovers.

"Well, that's to be expected. I can't say that the Sharingan or Byakugan look human either." Inner comments and Sakura tries to object, only to realize that Inner does have a point. Either way, the news doesn't shake her all that much

"So why is that such a big deal?" Sakura inquires, only to see Kakashi's amused expression as he turns to face the medical-nin to answer her question.

Having regained his composure as Sakura seemed undisturbed by the news, he decides to explain. "Well, you see, the brain is a rather delicate organ. Even minimal changes can have a huge impact. The changes we observed to yours is… well, simply astonishing. We can't even begin to guess how this affects you, and I doubt we ever will be. We're hoping to gain some insight into it in this next set of examinations." The medical-nin clarified, and Sakura wondered what it would actually mean for her in the long run. She didn't feel that different than normal, if anything, she felt like… more, if that made any sense.

Being able to feel her surroundings, people, and the ambient Natural Energy all around her was like taking off a blindfold after living with one all her life. For now, everything was blurry and she couldn't see far, but with time, she could only imagine how much of an advantage such an ability would bring her. "Anything else?" Sakura inquired, to which the medical-nin frowned.

"Yes, it seems we've already discovered the first drawback of your Kekkei Genkai. Your metabolism has increased compared to what we have on record, and you've begun to show signs of malnourishment after just a few days on training ground forty-four." The medical-nin revealed, shocking Sakura.

"I… think he might be right. I didn't realize, but our body is a mess… I think you might be eating for both of us now Sakura." Inner confirmed, trying to make the news a bit more palatable with a joke.

"That… that doesn't make sense, does it? The brain is mostly nerves and fat, how can my brain changing lead to my metabolism increasing and me becoming malnourished?" Sakura questioned, only for the medical-nin to shake his head.

"Like your Sensei told you, your brain is very unique now. For one, you seem to actually have muscles inside of your cranium now. What for, we have no idea, but that's what it looked like on the MRI, and regardless of what the brain is made out of, it still requires all kinds of nutrients, fats, and minerals to function properly. Vitamins are necessary to uphold body functions and assist in enzymatic processes, fats, or rather lipids are alongside proteins required for the construction of new nerves and neurotransmitters. The human body is designed to prioritize the brain above all else so that you're showing signs of malnourishment that might stem from your brain hoarding all the nutrients. Once we're done here, we'll see about getting you a proper diet that will help you recover. Of course, we'll adjust it for your training as well." The medical-nin assured her, although it didn't make Sakura feel all that better. To be told she would have to follow a medically assigned diet was not something she was interested in, even if she knew it was meant for her benefit.

"One of the things we will have to suck up and accept, we want to become a better Shinobi, and that means listening to the professionals. We can always ask them about the diet they put us on for clarification, you never really did much research about the diets you went on." Inner pointed out, beginning to suspect that their diet might have been part of their problem with working on building their body for physical energy. Sakura could feel Inner's suspicion and felt embarrassed as she realized how plausible Inner's deduction might be.

"Okay, point taken," Sakura told Inner, before responding to the medical-nin. "I'd really appreciate that." She said earnestly, earning her an eye-smile from Kakashi before he turned back to face forward as they reached the end of the stairs, leaving them on what Sakura believed to be two floors below ground level.

"We're almost there, just through that door over there." The medical-nin informed them, gesturing for a door farther down the corridor they found themselves in.

"We've never been down here before, what do you think this floor is for?" Inner asked Sakura.

"How should I know? All I know is that we're supposed to have our Kekkei Genkai abilities examined here." Sakura answered, although her curiosity was apparently written all over her face as the medical-nin escorting them decided to explain.

"Now then, this area is usually off-limits as it contains a lot of medical secrets and is where we perform large scale medical jutsu whenever there is a need." He explains, before opening the door as they reach it, holding it open for Kakashi and Sakura.

The room they stepped into wasn't what Sakura had expected. The area was one big room, the walls, floor, and ceiling were all seemingly perfectly flush and depressingly green in color. Despite it, the room seemed immaculately clean, from what Sakura could see, and only the presence of shelves filled with scrolls lining the walls, counters filled with medical tools and open scrolls, and huge Fūinjutsu arrays filling different areas of the floor. The medical-nin who had led them to the room immediately headed for one of the diagrams painted on the floor where a group of medical-nin in regular medical-nin attire seemed to be inspecting the array.

"Mokuba, how are things coming along?" Their guide inquired as they approached, one of the medical-nin, who was simply observing the others' work, turned to look their way, revealing his pupil-less Byakugan eyes, making him a member of the Hyūga clan.

"Ah, Akihisa. Yes, we're about ready here." Mokuba told them with a nod before smiling in Sakura's direction. "I assume this our patient, Sakura, yes?" He asks, and Sakura nods in confirmation.

"Yes, as you've deduced, this is Sakura. Sakura, meet Mokuba, he will be present during today's examination to ensure things we don't miss anything and that should something happen, you will be out of danger." Akihisa explained, as well as introduced Mokuba before turning his head in Kakashi's direction and gestured lightly towards him. "And Kakashi here will fulfill much the same role, only using his Sharingan rather than using the Byakugan. He also has some experience with Natural Energy and knows what to look for, even if he can't see it directly." Akihishi clarified Kakashi's role as well as why he was meant to be present for this part.

"Ah, yes, his help will be invaluable if that is the case." Mokuba agreed, before turning back to look at Sakura, still smiling at her kindly. "You're Kekkei Genkai is unique from what I've heard, isn't it? Don't worry, you're in good hands." He promised her, and Sakura nodded, certain she could trust him, considering how much they seemed to be investing into this examination with this many medical-nin and both a Sharingan and a Byakugan being part of it all.

"Nice to meet you." Sakura greeted Mokuba and bowed, "I'll be in your care." She told him and he let out a chuckle.

"Raise your head Sakura, being here is a pleasure of mine, I get to potentially see history in the making after all." He told her amused, and Sakura couldn't help but frown a bit at the idea that she would suddenly become part of history for all future, just because of something that she was apparently born with.

"They're really not messing around when it comes to Kekkei Genkai, do they?" Inner asked rhetorically, before directing Sakura's gaze to the Fūinjutsu array the rest of the medical-nin were carefully walking around and inspecting.

"What is that?" Inner asked, using Sakura's mouth to voice her question, rather than ask Sakura so she could pass the question on. Sakura didn't mind as she had the same question brewing in her mind.

Following Sakura's gaze, Mokuba turned back around to see Sakura looking at the Fūinjutsu array. "Ah, curious? This is a medical Fūinjutsu array we have prepared for this particular examination. It's been a long while since it was last used, so we had to restore some of it and have worked on improving it in some areas as well, it is practically a new jutsu at this point, and while we've already managed to test it without incident, it never hurts to be extra careful taking a last-minute look at it." Mokuba explained, while the medical-nin who had been working on the array all suddenly stopped and stood up as if on an unspoken signal.

"Seems we're ready to begin," Kakashi observed as the medical-nin all took up spots at the edges of the array, forming a square as one sat down in each corner, with a second medical-nin stood behind them.

"Now then, Sakura. If you'd be so kind as to stand in the middle of the array, we'll be able to begin." Mokuba asked her, gesturing for the array and Sakura nodded as she walked over, looking over the array as she did so. Sakura's knowledge about Fūinjutsu was minimal, as it wasn't included in the Academy curriculum besides a small aptitude test. Sakura had naturally memorized the rules and symbols introduced with ease, but the rest of the test had stumped her. It had differed so much from normal that she hadn't even been able to finish it! From what she later figured out, the test had been intended to see who had the intuition and patience required for Fūinjutsu. Sakura was certain that if she took the test again, she would now be able to pass it easily, knowing how the test worked, but in reality, she knew she wasn't suited for Fūinjutsu. Still, that didn't mean she wasn't curious.

The array she had been told to stand was a masterwork in its own right. The brush strokes forming lines out of words and signs formed an array out of a set of circles overlaid by two rounded rhombuses that together formed a four-pointed star, all of it contained within a square and multiple circles circling the middle at varying distances from the middle, all areas in between were also filled with kanji symbols spelling out words like health, mind, body, sight and various other words that Sakura could vaguely decipher the meaning behind. However, some parts turned out to be hard to read not because of the size, brush-style of the writer, or because of their meaning, but because they were overlaid with additional rows of letters stacked on top of them as if part of a different array.

"This… will let you feel what I feel, correct?" Sakura asked, looking up at medical-nin, some of them raising an eyebrow at her, while others seemed surprised she had managed to decipher part of the array.

"Well, partly. There's a lot more to this array, like for example monitoring your vitals and also observing the mitosis of your cells. There's a lot of information that this array will let us be privy to. There won't be any direct mental communication between anyone here, but the array might give them insight into your thoughts." Mokuba explained to her with another smile. "I must say, it's impressive that you got that." He told her earnestly, and Sakura shrugged.

"The Fūinjutsu aptitude test in the academy bothered me immensely when I couldn't manage even half of it, so I got a bit curious and ended up spending a lot of time thinking about it," Sakura explained, before glancing down at the lines that seemed out of place. "What are these additional lines for? They don't seem to be part of the original array." Sakura pointed out.

"Ah, well, that would be because they're not. The old version of this array is… well, outdated so to speak. We had to make adjustments to make the entire process more effective and more pleasant.

"Pleasant?" Sakura asked, confused, only to see Mokuba sweatdrop before Kakashi spoke up.

"He means that unlike the last time this array was used, it won't slowly be torturing you to death, Sakura," Kakashi bluntly explained.

AN: This chapter turned out to be more of a challenge than I expected. Despite all of the additional time I took to try and research whatever necessary for this chapter, it still ended up taking me a while to write it all out in a satisfying way. Fortunately, here we are. Oh, and if you find that any kind of "fact", conclusion or explanation I write is complete and utter bull, or for some reason doesn't make sense, please call me out on it and correct me. Thank you.