Down with the Sickness

Hirata Hyuga's POV

Two more tedious year has passed by.

My progress as a Shinobi went almost too well, as my Taijutsu and Shurikenjutsu had reached a proper, prodigious level for my age as a result of father's constant training and days of disciplined routine. Though, the same couldn't be said when it comes to the theoritical knowledge of Ninjutsu and Genjutsu, let alone the frivolous art that is Fuinjutsu.

While my intellectual understanding far exceeds those of my peers, performing those techniques are extremely difficult, especially in attempting to pull off consistent results. After finding out that Water was my chakra nature affinity, I've spent six weeks trying to cast a simple water bullet jutsu without acceptable results. Once in a while, I could execute them well and perfectly, but attempting to achieve the same result was impossible.

What's strange though, it's not a matter of Chakra Control. The ability to control one's chakra is often tied to the level of one's intellectual awareness of their body, as well as spiritual energy or otherwise called Yin Release. Part of a Hyūga's training is to release Chakra from each point of the body's Tenketsu, Hyūgas can exude energy from their back, neck, elbow or almost any part of their body, unlike most Shinobi who was used to channeling Chakra from their hands and feets. A side effect of growing up as a Hyūga, was the innate development in Chakra Control through the clan's training methods.

Not only that, in my resting hours I've eagerly taken to practiced the sticking a leaf to one's forehead. So, Chakra Control isn't an issue. While mine wasn't advanced by any means, it's certainly well developed for a pre-teen. Then, what could be the reason for my inability to use Ninjutsu or Genjutsu?

Sighing, I shelved those questions for another time. Now it is time for me to practice sparring with father, then with Neji. In the passing years, the younger boy had taken to training like a moth into flame. It's quite ridiculous, really, but I could almost say he train harder than me. Even more so, being an innate prodigy rather than a matured mind put into the body of a child, Neji's growth surpasses mine by some margin. He could now comfortably defeat me in single combat with only some difficulties.

It's hard truth to swallow, but I'll gladly accept the reminder of reality. The fact is, I could always push myself to train more, train harder. There is no rest for the wicked.

Hisaruno Hyuga's POV

"Are you ready, Hirata?" he nodded.

"Ready, Neji?" Neji nodded in turn.

Looking between the two boy facing off against each other, I silently raised my arm and let it fall down, signaling the beginning of their spar.

Neji launched forward first, faster than most fresh Genin I've seen. But his opening strike was deflected well by Hirata. My son, as talented as he is, have been struggling quite poorly against the younger Neji. Still, it wasn't out of his own mistakes. Even now, he handled himself very well. Little to no margin of error in his every movement. Each parry and counterstrike was well timed and efficient. It was just that Neji is unusually gifted in Taijutsu, perhaps the greatest natural talent among the clan ever since the days of the First Hokage.

Shifting back my focus to the spar, Neji retaliated with a leg sweet that Hirata evaded at the cost of losing his momentum. This was the deciding moment, though it's very early on in the battle, but everytime Neji broke Hirata's momentum and efficient footwork, it was all downhill from there.

The two dueling children traded blows and deflect each other's offenses impressively. To such level was their prowess in the Gentle Fist, that neither landed a hit. However, as is the norm, the spar usually ends when one or the other lands the first hit. Such is the tenets and philosophy of Gentle Fist, once the target's defenses has been penetrated, it is advised to follow up with a flurry of jabs and palm strikes intended to inject debilitating chakra into a tenketsu, causing them to malfunction and becoming near useless temporarily.

Thus why momentum is such an integral part between a battle of two users of the Gentle Fist.

Fourty six seconds later, and a one hundred thirty one blows that were exhanged, and failed to land, Neji finally broke through and landed a palm strike on Hirata's left shoulder, sending him reeling back a few steps in pain.

Rising to stand, I intervened with a firm voice, "That's enough! Neji, you won again this time, take a break. Hirata, I want you to come here and tell me what did you do wrongly?"

As my son stepped forward, I noticed his ragged breathing. Had Hirata been slacking on his physical conditioning? Impossible, he was especially driven to better himself for the longest time.

"Yes, Father. During the early part of the spar, I dodged Neji's attempt to threw me off balance, but at the cost of conservating my momentum and losing the edge in keeping a solid defense. From that point forward, the spar went to Neji's favor as he didn't relent or made any mistake." Hirata explained as expected.

"Good. You understand your failings, do better next time. That's it for today, the night is approaching. Continue your study in hidden villages history and theorem, I expect a detailed retelling by tomorrow after breakfast. Neji, you can --" I paused as Hirata cut me off with a request.

"Pardon me Father, could I perhaps spar with Neji once more? While the memory is still fresh in mind, I'd like to see how I'd fare for the sixth time in a row."

Looking back to Neji, the boy gave me an approving nod.

"Very well, you both may have one more bout. You may begin... now!!"

Immediately, Hirata rushed forward with a chakra-enhanced steps. Neji was surprised for a fraction of a second, but he held his ground as well. Half a dozen strikes, deflections and attempts at counter attack was exchanged in a mere second, but the fight remained on equal grounds.

Then, something very peculiar occured.

Hirata's footwork started to loosen, his strikes missed his intended target more and more. First, by half a centimeter, then an inch. After half a minute, the boy could barely stand while Neji stopped fighting and held Hirata in the shoulders as he begin to fall to the ground, unconcious.

Hirata Hyūga's POV

Waking up, I was instantly greeted by a throbbing headache and a nauseated sensation. Everything seems to be spinning and twisting, even the hospital light appeared as three separate source of light. Wait, hospital light?

Snapping back to reality, I noticed I laid upon the white and pristine sheets of Konoha's Shinobi Hospital. It's been a while since I was admitted here, last time it was nine months ago when I ran out of chakra quite dangerously during training. But that's not what happened,.. is it?

My last memory was of sparring with Neji.. or did I finished that already and went to bed? What time is it now.. what really happened to me?

Busied with my thoughts, I didn't noticed the approaching footsteps until someone opened the door of the infirmary. An elderly medic stepped in, complete with Konoha's flak jacket and an armband that signifies his station as a medical ninja.

"Oh, you're awake Hirata-kun. Tell me, how are you feeling?" the older shinobi asked me, as he takes out his paper and pen.

"Uh.. I have this throbbing migrane and everything is spinning. What... happened to me? Last I remember, I was sparring at home." I told him, squinting my eyes at the bright light.

"We're not sure yet. But... we've run some tests, and the results indicated that you suffer from chakra sickness.." he explained, not once looking up from whatever is in the content of the file in his hand.

"Pardon me sir,.. Chakra Sickness? What is that exactly?" I asked, as I felt my heart falling into an endless chasm.

Subverting his gaze away from the file, the medic ninja sympathetically offered me a smile. "Chakra Sickness is... when somebody sufffers from a massive imbalance of either Spiritual or Physical energy, so much so that it burns out their chakra pathway just from regular use. It is not untreatable, most patients can find therapy in honing the underdeveloped part of their chakra through years of training."

An audible sigh came out of me. This is bad news, yes, it will mess with my schedule and goals, but it seems like something I can eventually fix.

"However, Hirata-kun... your case is unique. We.. don't know why, but instead of having an overabundance of one type of Chakra, both your Spiritual and Physical Energy is too potent. Very much so, that it is burning away your chakra pathway, and if left untreated could damage your organs, with a risk of organ failure." the medic carefully explain while my face gradually grew paler and paler

"The good news is, it's still treatable. Difficult, but possible. To temper your Spiritual Energy, you must first master several Chakra exercises such as meditation and advanced shape manipulation. Before that though, I reccomend you learn how to walk on surfaces and water, then attempt to shape your chakra through your hands." he continued, much to my relief.

"And for your Physical Energy, there really isn't much except by learning how to expend them gradually. Thankfully, I've recruited the perfect teacher for that, he's a Jonin of the leaf who specialized in Taijutsu. A little bit on the quirky side, but I'm sure you'd grow fond of him soon enough. Sorry, but he's the only one both capable and available enough to help with your emergency. In fact, this person was rather enthusiastic about it. And ofcourse your father had been notified and asked for permission before hand... Well, he should be here anytime soon!" chuckled the old medic, as he handed me my file and left the room.

"Oh shit... don't tell me it's --" right before I could curse my luck, the door was kicked open and came forth a man with hideous haircut clad in a fashionless green jumpsuit.

"YOUTHH!!!!"

"Darn you, Kishimoto..."