Chapter 48: Ch 48. Recovery & Experience
Although the group was spread out across different locations, the distinct noise quickly reached their ears. For seasoned ninjas, picking up such sounds was nothing difficult, but this particular one carried a different weight. Killer Bee and Ay were the closest to the source, while the others, recognizing what it likely signified, turned their attention in that direction.
They understood that this was probably the moment when the Third Raikage would awaken. Without hesitation, they began making their way toward the medical recovery tank, knowing that the sight of their leader returning to his full strength was not something to be missed, they wanted to see if this device was truly such a creation.
Amidst this, Killer Bee, always attuned to rhythm and sound, suddenly perked up as he listened intently. A grin spread across his face as he nodded along to the beat of the noise. "Ah, this music, yeah! It's perfect! Imagine ninjas marching to this sound! It'll keep them in sync, energize them, yeah, yeah! It's got such a nice beat; I can already picture it!"
On the side, Ay couldn't help but twitch in irritation, his brows furrowing deeply. "Shut up, idiot! This won't motivate them; it'll demoralize them!" He shot Killer Bee an exasperated look, wondering how his brother always found the strangest moments to start talking about rapping.
Meanwhile, inside the chamber, the transformation was complete. The medical tank had fully drained, and the Third Raikage now stood tall, the very image of resilience and power. This time, the seat meant for those too weak to stand did not emerge, as it was only required for those who were still severely injured and, therefore, only needed when someone entered the chamber.
The moment the last remnants of the healing fluid receded, the glass chamber door lifted open automatically with a quiet hiss. With a steady movement, the Third Raikage reached up and removed his breathing mask before stepping outside, his powerful frame radiating vitality.
At that moment, although a strange buzzing noise echoed softly around him, he paid it little mind. His focus was not on his surroundings but entirely on himself.
The last thing he remembered before losing consciousness was the state of his body, chest pain so intense it felt like his heart would stop, and lungs hollowed out, cavitating with each breath. His bones had been riddled with countless cracks, and even his legendary, battle-hardened body, the strongest armor in Kumogakure, had finally reached its limit, splitting open and allowing blood to seep through. And yet, despite all of that, now… he felt completely different. Rejuvenated. Reborn.
As Ron and the others approached, carefully observing his reaction, the Third Raikage flexed his fingers experimentally before clenching his fists. He took a deep breath, expanding his chest, feeling the energy coursing through him like never before.
"I feel… new," he finally said, his voice filled with something akin to awe. "My entire body feels unbelievably light. My chakra is surging on its own, more vibrant and active than ever. Physically, I feel stronger than I've ever been before. In fact, after more training, I have no doubt I'll be able to endure even fifty times gravity!"
He examined his body again, shifting his stance, rolling his shoulders, and feeling the sheer power that radiated from his very core. Then, with a thoughtful expression, he added, "There isn't even the slightest trace of discomfort left in me. If anything, I feel better than ever, better than I did even before I was injured. And spiritually… it's like I've slept for days with no end."
His sharp, discerning gaze turned to the others. "How long was I inside?"
Raiya, who had been standing nearby, took a step forward, her eyes filled with curiosity and concern. "Husband, you were in there for no more than three hours. That's all. Can it truly feel that much better than being healed by medical ninjutsu and simply resting?"
The Third Raikage gave a firm nod, confirming it without hesitation. "It does."
Ron, having anticipated this reaction, stepped forward to offer a more detailed explanation. "While medical ninjutsu is the most effective for treating injuries in emergencies, it ultimately works by forcefully accelerating cell division, compelling the body to heal at an unnatural rate. While efficient, that method comes at a cost."
He gestured toward the now-empty medical tank. "Inside the tank, however, you were in a state of zero gravity, completely immersed in the most advanced healing and nutritional substances, precisely formulated to target your body's needs."
"But that's not all," he continued, his tone carrying a scientific precision. "In addition, with the deep sleep, your cells essentially did a full system reboot. Think of it as restarting a complex machine. Your body was scanned thoroughly from head to toe by your cellular system, not just for basic repair but for a complete diagnostic assessment. It analyzed the causes of your injuries, recorded that information, and then used chakra and specialized nutrients to adapt and optimize your recovery process."
He paused, letting the words sink in before adding, "Normally, your body wouldn't do this on its own. It simply lacks the conditions to trigger such a response naturally. However, within the medical tank, we created the perfect environment to make it possible."
The Third Raikage absorbed Ron's explanation, nodding in deep understanding. His expression was serious, yet there was an unmistakable sense of wonder in his eyes. "Yes… it was like stepping into an entirely new world," he murmured, more to himself than to anyone else. "For first-time users, it's as if you've returned to your youth… like being in the process of growing again, almost as if still being borne, returning to your mother's embrace."
Ron and Ed exchanged glances before Ron added, "That's exactly what we intended, the full sensation of rejuvenation and healing. This machine allows the body to temporarily re-enter its growth phase, providing an opportunity for greater development. Also, with the right training and continued use, even without the machine, ninjas will continue to grow as their bodies are constantly in a fully healed state without hidden injuries, which most ninjas accumulate over the years due to training and missions, not only will you continue to improve beyond your previous limits, your life level, will also improve, but albeit slowly for now"
He crossed his arms and thought for a moment before adding, "Of course, to achieve an even higher level of evolution, your body will need more than just this. More intense stimulation and training will be required, though I have yet to determine the exact changes that will happen; but for now, with continuous use, along with lightning body forging and gravity training, just your body's basic parameters and chakra, cell activity will continue to increase!"
"As you all know, higher cell activity means those cells can do more work in their life cycle and even live far beyond normal cells, so ninjas will age slowly and have massive amounts of physical strength and chakra, of course, this is the norm for, people in our clan who have practiced the lighting body forging, and lighting chakra mode for years, this training and healing device will allow others to accelerate this process, and allow us to go beyond that!"
The room fell silent for a moment as everyone processed the implications of what had just been revealed. The possibilities were endless. And for them, this was just the beginning.