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 and Kyluxia
Surprisingly, this chapter flowed with a lot more ease than I had expected. Perhaps it was because I had been considering it for a while, or that I find writing exposition easier? Who knows. Either way, here it is for you curious fellas to enjoy.
Chapter 50: Unexpected Acupuncture
"Now then, what do the two of you know about Acupuncture?" Kotone asked Sai and the twins as they laid down.
"It's an alternative medicinal art meant to relieve stress and treat pain, using needles," Sakura explained, deciding not to voice their less than favorable medical knowledge concerning the treatment. Sai decided not to say anything.
"That is essentially correct, at least when it concerns regular practitioners of Acupuncture," Kotone stated with a bit of a smile, while Sakura quirked a brow.
"You're saying that you're different?" Sakura inquired, to which Kotone nodded, visibly amused.
"As Shinobi, you're aware of chakra and its many uses. My family practiced Acupuncture long ago, ever since they realized that Acupuncture was first meant as a means to treat the chakra network within people." Kotone explained, making Sakura frown, as she realized that what Kotone was telling them wasn't exactly lining up with what she knew.
"Really? As far as I've learned, its roots come from trying to manipulate energy called Chi, but the treatment has never corresponded to the chakra network, not to mention that when adapted to treat the chakra network, it never actually showed any difference in patients." Sakura contradicted, to which Kotone nodded in agreement.
"That is generally the result, many attempts develop. But if you know the history of Acupuncture, it becomes far more clear as to why this is the case, and how the art can be improved on. This is what my family discovered several generations ago, and by adopting it, using chakra in tandem with the needles, we eventually learned to treat not just the chakra network, but the rest of the body as well." Kotone explained, intriguing the twins, as well as surprising them with the implications.
"Are you saying you have Shinobi training?" Sakura asked as Kotone implied she knew how to mold and control her chakra, but was surprised to see Kotone shake her head again, still smiling.
"No, I've had no Shinobi training. Remember, Shinobi, Monks, and Samurais aren't the only people that possess chakra, even if they are the most notable users. My family used to be merchants, long ago, and eventually came upon documents and scriptures that allowed them to begin practicing with chakra. Unfortunately, the information was rather incomplete, and I don't know the story myself, but as a result, we at least know how to control chakra and make use of it for simpler things. One of the techniques we have developed is to use our chakra in our Acupuncture treatment, and so far, the results have spoken for themselves." Kotone explained, moving over to begin preparing the needles.
"So, you will be using chakra in tandem with the needles for this treatment, affecting our chakra networks?" Sakura asked for clarification, frowning slightly. After all, everyone's chakra network was different, and to their knowledge, only a Hyūga could see a person's chakra network well enough to affect it directly.
"Indeed. You don't need to worry. The needles will always find the right mark, using chakra we can pinpoint the most optimal points to pierce for the treatment." Kotone tried to assure them.
"Ah, I feel like it might be prudent to inform you that Sakura here has a second chakra network." Sai decided to reveal, realizing it might be a bad idea to keep that fact concealed when someone was about to begin trying to perform Acupuncture with the impression of the twins only having one chakra network.
Kotone paused, surprised, as she gave Sakura an appraising look. "Truly? That's… unusual. In fact, this is the first time I've ever heard of such a condition. Would you mind if I examine you?" Kotone asked, to which Sakura nodded, curious as to how Kotone intended to examine them.
As Kotone stepped up next to them, the twins focused on their energy senses to see what the woman was doing, without turning their head, noticing how Kotone first held one of the needles above their body, before letting go, yet without the needle falling, remaining suspended by what they suspected were chakra strings. The chakra gave away its presence, repelling natural energy away from where it connected the needle to Kotone's fingertips.
"Chakra strings?" Sakura guessed, which seemingly surprised Kotone, while Sai confirmed their suspicion.
"It is. I'm impressed. You have amazing control and ability, miss Kotone." Sai praised the woman, who nodded thankfully with a smile, before looking down at the twins again.
"Are you a chakra sensor, miss? I'm afraid that I forgot to tell you that this treatment might be rather uncomfortable if you are one." Kotone informed them in an apologetic tone.
"Don't worry. I'm not a chakra sensor. I feel natural energy instead. I'm a trained sage. Chakra and natural energy repel each other, which is why I could tell you were using chakra. I can't sense the chakra itself, but I can feel the disturbance in the natural energy." Sakura explained, seeing no harm in it.
"Oh, I'm not familiar with natural energy. If you don't mind, could you explain what it is?" Kotone asked, while the needle she held aloft with her chakra began moving above the twin's back, moving softly, as if submerged in water, rather than suspended by a string.
"I'm not surprised. Even amongst Shinobi, few know about natural energy. It is, as the name implies, a natural energy present everywhere around us. Much like physical and mental energy, it can be used to mold chakra, only that it is much harder to use, but if one can manage to control it, it is very worthwhile, as it can be used to mold Senjutsu chakra, which is more powerful than regular chakra. Unfortunately, while our bodies do produce natural energy on their own, the quantity isn't large enough for us to take note of it. Even those capable of sensing it can rarely feel it within other people, unless they're using Senjutsu chakra, due to the raw quantity required." Sakura explained, both Sai and Kotone listening to her intently.
"My, that's quite interesting. Did you say not a lot of people know about this, even amongst Shinobi? How come, wouldn't this be something your Shinobi would value and try to teach to as many as possible?" Kotone inquired, curious.
"Perhaps, but it isn't that simple. You see, those that master natural energy, and manage to create Senjutsu chakra are very few, and not everyone who are brave enough to attempt the training required, survive. You see, a large amount of natural energy is harmful to humans. If one loses control over it while training, there is a big risk that their body will transform, before turning them into stone, permanently." Sakura explained, hoping that the warning would prevent Kotone from attempting, or suggesting anyone else try and learn Senjutsu.
"Oh, my. I see." Kotone exclaimed, horrified, as well as a little sad, knowing that people had died, just for training in an attempt to become more powerful. "I see why it isn't something many would know about then." She told them, before the needle hovering above the twins stopped. "It seems I've found the starting point. Are you ready?" Kotone asked.
Sakura took a moment to compose herself, relax, and then braced herself as she nodded an affirmative. Faster than they had expected, the needle simply fell, the chakra strings keeping it up guiding it into the twin's back, and to their surprise, sinking into their back without any pain. However, even more surprising was that the needle didn't simply puncture through the skin, muscle, and their chakra network, as they had expected after Kotone had explained it all to them. The needle had managed to burrow through their body at a slight angle, puncturing not one, but two of their tenketsu, one from each of their separate chakra networks, a blood vessel and a nerve all at once, and without pain. The twins, alarmed, were about to ask Kotone exactly what she had done, only to feel chakra flow from the needle, into their system.
The foreign chakra, contrary to their expectations, wasn't painful. It didn't conflict with their own chakra but instead seemed to flow with it, slowly spreading out through their body, leaving the area surrounding the needle feeling numb, but not in the same way as when paralyzed or poisoned, but in a way that made them feel relaxed, despite the increase in both chakra and blood pressure. Before the twins could compose themselves again, they found another needle in their back, with the same result. They could feel a slight change in their chakra, but couldn't put their finger on it, but they had to admit, despite the odd experience, they didn't feel as if they were in any danger.
"Sakura?" Sai asked, having noticed their reaction and noted it as odd.
"I'm fine, Sai. Just, weren't expecting the needles to pierce two tenketsu points, a nerve, and a blood vessel all at once. Was that intentional?" Sakura asked Kotone who nodded.
"It was. Channeling chakra through your tenketsu, as well as the nervous system and circulatory system provides the best effect when injecting medicinal chakra." Kotone informed them, which the twins accepted.
"How did you locate our tenketsu? We thought only Hyūga's could do that using their Dōjutsu." Sakura pointed out.
"I don't know about that, but in my family, we use a technique similar to dowsing. We channel our chakra through the needle, adjusting the power of our chakra until we feel a response. The stronger the response, the closer the needle is to a tenketsu. We believe it is a result of chakra resonating with other sources of chakra, and tenketsu points being points where chakra gatherers and releases are easier to find than the rest of the chakra system. As such, when we find a tenketsu, we focus on the area, in particular, narrowing our precision down until we have a clear picture of where the tenketsu is located, and how the surrounding tissue is layered, allowing us to pierce it with the needle with minimum disturbance to the rest of the body. I admit, it is a lot trickier with having to pierce two tenketsu at once, but it is still within my abilities." Kotone explained as the twins felt another needle sink into their back.
It was fascinating to hear Kotone explain the process. The twins realized that the power of the chakra Kotone had referred to was actually the rotation of her chakra and that what she did was adjust it until it resonated with the rotation of their own chakra. Granted, Kotone could only find the tenketsu in one of their chakra networks that way, but it didn't explain how she managed to figure out the locations of their blood vessels and nerves, as well as the tenketsu of their secondary chakra network. The two networks had different if similar, chakra in them.
"That's impressive," Sakura told Kotone, honestly. "I'll have to tell Tsunade, she's going to flip once she learns just how wrong she was concerning Acupuncture," Sakura added, smirking as she imagined Tsunade's reaction. Heikō was naturally all for that plan, not willing to miss an opportunity to mess with the new Hokage or former Sensei.
"We should definitely convince Karin to try this before we leave," Heikō suggested, making Sakura chuckle inward at the suggestion, before agreeing.
"Tsunade? You mean, one of the legendary Sannin?" Kotone asked, slightly awed when Sakura confirmed it with a nod.
"Yeah, I traveled with her for a while, and she taught me as much as she could during that time," Sakura admitted, smirking to herself. "Actually, one of her apprentices is in the village right now. I'm planning to recommend this place to her." Sakura revealed, feeling another needle sink into their back before Kotone responded.
"It would be our honor… Imagine if Tsunade herself decided to visit, that'd… that'd be amazing, and the Thousand Dewdrops would benefit greatly from that kind of reputation." Kotone mused as she continued working.
Amused, Sakura glanced at Sai, to see what he thought about the suggestion, only to note to both of the twin's surprise, that he also had plenty of needles in his own back by now, without the twins noticing Kotone ever stepping away from them.
AN: Traditional Acupuncture stemmed from the idea to regulate the Chi inside a person's body, based on the assumption that pain and sickness came from an imbalance within a person's life force, that is to say, Chi, something that could be corrected by manipulating certain points in the body. The similarities between the concept of Chi, and points of power within the body that through manipulation effect said power draws enough parallels that it was easy to imagine some civilians with no idea what chakra was, to try and come up with a way to use it, despite being clueless about it. Their assumptions and poorly thought out speculation developing a new alternative medicinal art, that spread due to the results of the placebo effect, only to eventually fall out of favor and become obscure, and eventually, be perfected when someone added actual chakra theory to it and managed to find a proper use by adjusting it enough. That's what I've done here.