A Transmigrator's Story in the Hyuga's Main Branch

'This revelation also seems to confirm some of my previous theories about this world in general. Other individuals, from the past and possibly present, also likely managed to acquire senjutsu abilities without any actual connections to those three 'Holy' places...',

'The key was in extensive meditation all along. Yet, my Byakugan probably shortcut what would have been many, many decades of needed daily meditation for someone else before they could finally perceive this elusive natural energy...',

This insight led Hikari to a deeper appreciation for the unique advantage his Byakugan offered in his pursuit of higher power.

Two years ago, after delving into the world's historical records, particularly those predating the Warring States period and the establishment of ninjutsu and the shinobi system, Hikari came to a realization that hinted at a broader spectrum of power.

His study, combined with the canonical information from his previous life, pointed towards the existence of a different system of power.

The samurai and various monks who predated shinobi and persisted alongside them were central to this realization.

These warriors and ascetics were the predominant forces in the world before the advent of chakra. And what else was present before the chakra? Natural energy.

Natural energy is energy derived from the world's fundamental elements: the air that blankets the planet, the water that flows through its rivers and oceans, and the earth that forms its vast landscapes.

This energy existed ubiquitously, permeating every corner of the globe and endlessly circulating through the environment. It was an ever-present force seamlessly woven into the fabric of nature itself, influencing ecosystems and the planet's myriad forms of life.

Hikari hypothesized, drawing parallels with fantasy elements from his previous life, that monks and samurai wielded unique sets of powers derived from intense internal focus and spiritual alignment with nature.

Through decades of meditation, they might have been capable of perceiving natural energy and utilizing it to enhance their swordsmanship and martial prowess, increasing the power and range of their attacks.

Furthermore, once chakra was introduced into this world, it was conceivable that these ancient warriors learned to combine this newfound energy with the natural energy they were already attuned to, giving rise to early forms of senjutsu.

What interested Hikari the most was not the Sage Mode, given that he recognized his physical limitations and chakra reserves were not on par with those who could easily harness such power.

The legendary bodies of the Senju or Uzumaki clans, known for inheriting the "body" of the Sage of the Six Paths, were well-suited to manage the influx and balance of natural energy within their bodies.

Hikari mused that he might have had a better chance if he had inherited Hamura Otsutsuki's " body," like Toneri's clan on the Moon or the descendants of Kaguya.

However, the Hyuga's legacy was different; they inherited the "eyes" of Hamura, focusing on spiritual and visual prowess, similar to how the Uchiha inherited the "eyes" of Hagoromo.

This lineage predisposed them more towards visual and spiritual feats rather than the physical robustness and vitality required for Sage Mode.

Nevertheless, Hikari saw a different pathway open before him: the practice of simple senjutsu, the technique of infusing one's own jutsu, rather than one's body, with natural energy to improve one's potential, or even using simple taijutsu moves of the Hyuga clan alongside it.

Hikari envisioned a method in which natural energy would never need to merge directly with his body's internal chakra pathway system, avoiding the potential dangers of harm or petrification that could occur from an imbalance.

Instead, if he could enhance his Byakugan's ability to perceive natural energy with enough clarity and detail, he could then precisely manipulate his own chakra externally, with his exceptional chakra control, and launch his attacks in ways that actually interacted with the natural energy around him afterward to bring the potency of his attacks to a new dimension.

This would allow him to envelop his techniques with a layer of natural energy without it ever infiltrating his body, thereby circumventing the risks associated with traditional Sage Mode.

In Hikari's envisioned application of senjutsu, his adversaries would have to contend with the potent negative side-effects of natural energy, especially if his Gentle Fist managed to deliver such energy 'inside' of them.

The techniques he would develop, mixed with and coated in the raw power of the natural world, could have effects beyond sheer physical force. They could potentially carry the destabilizing properties of natural energy to his foes, turning them into stone and causing great disturbance.

"It seems that, sometime in the future, it would be beneficial to visit either the Land of Iron or some Ninja Monk temples. I feel like I could gain some practical insights from them and speed up my learning process...", Hikari mused, contemplating his next steps.

The Land of Iron, with its samurai who might have ancient knowledge of integrating natural energy into their swordsmanship, and the Ninja Monk temples, with their deep spiritual practices possibly connected to natural energy, seemed like promising sources of knowledge that could aid his quest.

"It's unfortunate, but based on my current ability to perceive that kind of energy, and considering how much my vision has improved up to now, it looks like it will take at least another six years to develop my vision to a level that would allow me to implement many of the techniques I have in mind...", 

"And then, it would be wise to find some shortcuts to develop those techniques as quickly as possible after my vision has matured. So, locating those places would be beneficial...",

Hikari recognized the value of seeking external guidance and knowledge to complement his self-driven efforts. Visiting places steeped in the tradition of harnessing natural energy, whether through the samurai's disciplined lifestyle or the monks' spiritual practices, could provide him with the unique insights needed to refine his techniques and apply them more effectively. They would be forced to 'help' him willingly or unwillingly at that time.

At this time, Hikari also realized another thing. Originally, choosing to focus on taijutsu rather than ninjutsu proved to be a 'well-done' move for him in the light of this evening's discovery.

It was because his theorized approach, which he termed "external precision detailed blending," involved externally combining his chakra-based attacks with natural energy.

This method allowed him to carefully enhance his taijutsu moves outside without the need to internalize the natural energy first, thereby sidestepping the significant risks associated with internal manipulation, as various characters highlighted many times in the original series.

However, had Hikari been a fighter inclined more towards ninjutsu instead, he would have likely been forced to integrate natural energy directly into his body's inner chakra system first in order to blend it with his physical and spiritual energies, meaning his own chakra, there, if he truly wanted to use senjutsu with his abilities at all.

This necessity stemmed from the difficulty of externally manipulating natural energy for ninjutsu techniques compared to taijutsu techniques Hikari was familiar with from Hyugas.

For instance, attempting to externally wrap large-scale ninjutsu like some 'fire dragon' with natural energy after it would have been already executed outside and distant from the user posed significant challenges.

The technique's size and the distance it would have covered from the caster in an instant when it was launched outside would certainly have made it a complex task and beyond the reach of simple close-range chakra manipulation, therefore, without much possibility of success.

However, the needed internal mixture of natural energy with one's own chakra could lead to petrification if not properly managed. This danger is also magnified during high-intensity and various battle scenarios when focus and concentration, for chakra control, get divided.

As the sky deepened into shades of twilight, Hikari returned to calm and focused and continued his meditation, delving deeper into the realm of what he now knew was the natural energy with the aid of his Byakugan.

He moved with the natural rhythm of the world around him, trying to synchronize his chakra with the elusive patterns of natural energy he sought to understand and harness.

This unique meditative session continued, with Hikari fully immersed in the experience and pushing the limits of his perception.

However, a slight discomfort began to manifest after some time, a subtle signal from his Byakugan that it was time to conclude the session.

Recognizing this indication, Hikari gently closed his eyes, allowing the visual prowess of his Byakugan to fade as he closed the meditation.

With a deep, grounding breath, he acknowledged the progress and limitations, rising from his seated position with a sense of accomplishment and understanding.

As night fully enveloped the courtyard, Hikari retreated back inside his room. The peaceful and productive session had left him in a state of deep contemplation.

Moving to his large adult bed, he settled in for the night, the day's experiences and insights weaving through his thoughts as he drifted off to sleep.