Chapter 46: Ch 46. 50x Gravity & Medical Tank
After recalling the past, the determined Third Raikage was ready. This time, he was resolved to push his limits and grow even stronger so that not even a rampaging Tailed Beast would pose a threat. He would ensure that the village and those dear to him were never at risk. He would become both the shield and the spear that protected Kumogakure.
If Ron had been there to witness his father's determination, he might have been inspired to blurt out, "This is Sparta." The thought of something so unexpected slipping from his mouth would have amused him. Ever since his birth, he had seamlessly integrated into this world, not because he was naive or delusional, but because he was deeply aware of reality.
Even coming from a modern society, he understood that war and killing were ever-present, just often hidden from sight, both his and the world's. Yet, he never rejected his identity or longed for Konoha as the center of the world.
To him, this was a living world, not something bound by fate to follow a predetermined course. Even if it was, he was determined to change it. That was why, if he had been there, he would have spoken, not with irony, but with conviction. He would have expressed his admiration for his father, whom he had accepted from the depths of his heart, along with the family he now called his own.
Soon, the seals began humming again, and the gravity kept increasing from 33 times to 50 times normal gravity. When it finally stopped at 50 times, the strain became evident. Bones creaked under the pressure, and veins struggled to pump blood through the body.
For a normal ninja, this level of gravity would be nearly impossible to endure. Even though they were not entirely human in the conventional sense, the cell activation and chakra-supported bodily functions allowed them to withstand extreme conditions to a certain extent, but the chakra was decreasing as if a flood was let loose to support the body.
If an injured ninja with an open wound were subjected to this environment, even if they could endure the gravity through cell activation and the support of Lightning Chakra Mode, they would still bleed out.
Ron had placed seals to ensure the air remained breathable, but even a ninja utilizing Lightning Chakra Mode would struggle; circulatory, respiratory, and skeletal structures would begin to fail under such immense pressure.
Less than five seconds had passed, yet creaking sounds came from the Third Raikage's body. His lungs and heart began slowing under the strain. Internal stress built up in his lungs, rupturing capillaries, and his heart muscles endured immense pressure. Still, despite the damage, his body continued to function.
Observing this, Ron was amazed. This was beyond human endurance. "Ninjas evolve and adapt at a terrifying speed," he thought. "Even biologically, they seem to have more cells than regular people. The number and strength of these cells vary, almost like plants, which don't have a fixed number of cells and continue growing as needed."
The thought struck him; perhaps the First Hokage had an abnormally high number of high-quality cells, all concentrated within his human-sized body, granting him immense chakra reserves. And this, Ron theorized, must have been influenced by Ashura's chakra.
Now, he was certain. With proper training under intense gravity, people could undergo biological transformations and reach a higher level of existence with chakra, and someday, a strong body after training might lead ninjas to have chakra similar to the 1st Hokage or Ashura, just like how chakra affects the body, in this case, body affecting chakra, they are interdependent.
However, 50 times gravity was too much, even for the Third Raikage. Soon, he collapsed. The sealing mechanism automatically deactivated as he lost consciousness. Raiya and Kohana rushed in to assess his injuries. "Multiple internal bleedings, bone fractures, and muscle tears," Raiya reported. "Thankfully, his skull is intact, and his heart is still beating, though weak."
She turned to Ron and asked, "Does he need healing, or should he go into your machine?" Ron nodded and signaled Ay and Killer Bee to move their father into the chamber on the side.
The machine was a massive capsule with a transparent front that opened after Ed inputted the necessary instructions. The Third Raikage was carefully placed onto a chair-like structure inside. A respirator descended from above, attaching to his face like a mask, supplying oxygen and a mixture of healing substances.
Ed ensured it was properly secured before sealing the chamber. As the machine activated, various liquids filled the chamber, a transparent greenish-gray fluid. Soon, seals around the chamber lit up, and the chair slowly descended, suspending the Third Raikage in the liquid, weightless as if in zero gravity.
Seeing the curiosity in everyone's eyes, Ron explained, "I added a zero-gravity seal so that the body remains unstressed while healing naturally. This creates the ideal environment for cells to grow and recover without errors."
Ron continued, "Although healing jutsu is remarkable, it is still an external force. If possible, it should be avoided. Only natural recovery allows the body to recognize its deficiencies and improve as it heals, just like adaptation and evolution, which in turn sustains long-term growth."
"Rather than forceful healing, this medical tank accelerates the body's natural recovery process while ensuring it receives the necessary nutrients for growth. This way, ninjas become stronger after enduring injuries, strains, and stresses, rather than simply recovering."