Asuna drifted in a haze. She felt as though her body were slowly melting, becoming one with everything around her. She had experienced this sensation while practicing control over natural energy. That boundless feeling was unsettling, yet it also made her feel as though she could do anything.
No matter whose chakra it was, it was unimaginably insignificant compared with the natural energy of the entire world. That was why Sage Mode had always been an extremely dangerous power.
Asuna had learned about the risks from her father long ago, and this battle had taught her just how dangerous drawing in natural energy during combat could be. But under the circumstances, she had had no choice. She felt no regret, either, because it had been her own decision.
The medical ninjas' treatment had suppressed the natural energy causing the adverse reaction. With no new natural energy flowing in, her own power gradually dissipated what remained. Even so, Asuna did not wake immediately. Her weakened body had fallen ill, something that rarely happened to her, and countless fragmented thoughts spun through her mind as she lay in a stupor.
Hatake Sakumo sat beside the bed, watching the unconscious Asuna with a heavy heart. In a sense, his mentor's daughter had fallen into danger because he had failed to protect her properly. Although he knew the battlefield had been too dangerous to place all the blame on himself, he still felt guilty.
Hatake Sakumo had always thought Asuna was exceptionally capable, and everyone else could see it too. But looking at her pale face now, he felt for the first time that she was not as strong as he had imagined. It seemed this was the first time she had ever shown such a vulnerable side.
*Perhaps her usual strength had blinded