Hikari's Byakugan led them to a quiet spot away from the battlefield of two armies, well-hidden by dense foliage.
It was a small clearing surrounded by tall trees, whose thick branches and leaves created a natural canopy overhead, giving them a good cover.
Nearby, a small stream flowed, its soft gurgling adding to the calm of the secluded spot. The water was clear, running over smooth stones, and could be useful for cleaning or as part of Pakura's treatment.
The ground was soft, covered in moss and scattered leaves, making it comfortable for Pakura to lie down while Hikari prepared to treat her.
Light from the sun peeked through the tree branches, lighting up the area with spots of brightness.
Even though they were not far from the conflict, this hidden spot felt peaceful and removed from the rest of the world, allowing them to focus on Pakura's recovery without interruption.
Settling into the quiet clearing, Hikari prepared to initiate the medical procedure on Pakura. He explained the steps he would take, ensuring she understood the nature and intensity of the treatment given its urgency and potential discomfort.
"This medical technique I'll be using is specialized against poisons; it is the best in Konoha...", Hikari started, maintaining eye contact to gauge her reaction and ensure her comfort with the process,
"It's designed to draw out toxins and heal the damage they've caused. First, I'll use my Byakugan to locate the disturbances in your chakra caused by the poison. Thanks to my Byakugan, it will also be relatively easier for me to perform it than it is for ordinary people."
Hikari continued, "I'll make a small incision using a chakra scalpel near the affected area. Then, I'll introduce a medicinal fluid through the incision, which will encapsulate the poison and draw it out from your body. It's effective but can be quite painful, so I need you to be as still as possible.",
However, as Hikari prepared to begin, he noted the location of Pakura's initial wound—the creamy skin of her exposed naturally thick thigh, where the poison had entered her system.
Nonetheless, Hikari's expression remained composed outwardly as he addressed the necessary procedure,
"The poison entered through your left thigh, I see...", He informed Pakura, his voice neutral to maintain 'professionalism', "I'll need to start the work from there to extract it effectively."
Pakura, understanding the necessity, nonetheless felt a flush of shyness at the intimate nature of the treatment.
Despite the urgency, her cheeks colored slightly, and she shifted a bit, trying to position herself in a way that offered him access while maintaining her modesty.
Hikari noticed her discomfort and nodded reassuringly, aiming to ease her unease. "I'll be as quick and as careful as possible," he assured her, his tone gentle enough to calm her nerves.
As he positioned himself to make the incision, Hikari couldn't help but appreciate the contrast of her warrior-like strength against the vulnerability and grace she displayed at the moment. It was also a reminder of her humanity beneath the hardened shinobi exterior.
Using a chakra scalpel, Hikari made a precise incision near the site where the poison had first entered from the ground.
As he administered the medicinal fluid, he was acutely aware of Pakura's tensed muscles and the effort she made to remain still through the discomfort.
The dark tissue on her previously quite proportionally muscular and athletic thigh looked especially atrophied and full of convulsions. It was probably the most painful area.
Following the injection, Hikari then manipulated the medicinal fluid, now in the shape of a translucent orb, which immediately began its work, binding with the poison everywhere Hikari's hand moved it, but mostly in the immediate surroundings of the initial wound.
The process was intense, and Pakura's breaths came in short gasps as she felt the fluid interact with the poison, drawing it out with a painful but necessary force. She gritted her teeth against the pain, her fists clenching.
Hikari remained focused, watching closely through his Byakugan to monitor the progress and ensure the poison was thoroughly removed.
The entire process was taxing for both Pakura and Hikari, but there was a palpable sense of relief as it concluded.
Once the extraction neared completion, he applied a gentle flow of healing Yang Release type, precise chakra to soothe the area, help her body's natural recovery systems, and aid the healing of the incision. "It's almost over, Pakura..." he murmured, almost as much to comfort her as to inform her.
As the final traces of poison were removed, Pakura let out a long, slow breath, the relief palpable in her exhale.
She glanced down at her thigh, then up at Hikari, a complex mix of gratitude and newfound respect in her gaze.
Despite the awkwardness of the situation, his professionalism and the successful treatment forged a bond of trust that might have been impossible under any other circumstances.
"Thank you, Hikari...", She said, her voice softer, the initial shyness replaced by a quiet strength, "I wasn't sure what to expect, but you handled that... well...",
Her smile was tentative but genuine, acknowledging both the physical and emotional ordeal they had just navigated together.
Hikari, meanwhile, observed her as she thanked him and smiled beautifully, in his impression, and as she regained some color in her face, her appearance clearly showing signs of relief and recovery already.
Despite their clinical interaction, he couldn't help but notice her resilience and the striking, attractive way she presented herself—even in a state of exhaustion and vulnerability.
Pakura's stunning face, glistening from sweat, though marked by the ordeal, carried a beauty that was enhanced rather than diminished by her evident fatigue in his mind.
The wet, bruised contours of her worn-out, exhausted, fair-skinned body contrasted sharply with her delicate, harmonious facial features, framed by her damp hair sticking to her forehead and cheeks.
Now that the procedure had passed already, Hikari noticed for the first time just how seductive she looked overall.
She wore a smaller and more form-fitting black tank top than usual shinobi attire, which seemed to accentuate her warrior's physique further. Hikari found himself momentarily distracted by her appearance.
Despite his usual stoic and unfazed demeanor, a brief, involuntary swallow betrayed a flash of human reaction—surprise mixed with an uncharacteristic flicker of human male desire.
At 20, she was indeed the oldest and one of the most captivating women he had ever been this close to, and her minor role in the original story he knew did nothing to diminish the impression she made in person.
But, Hikari masked these thoughts well, maintaining a composed exterior as he spoke, "The procedure seems to have been effective, Pakura. You should feel significant relief soon...",
He said, his voice calm and devoid of the internal conflict he had just experienced, "We'll need to keep a close eye on your recovery for a bit more, but the worst should be behind."
Hikari's mind processed the success of the medical intervention, acknowledging the practical application of years of theoretical study and training.
As he watched Pakura begin to stabilize slowly, a strategic thought crossed his mind: 'All those years of medical mastery finally paid off, but surprisingly not for my benefit but by potentially securing a powerful ally like Pakura in Sunagakure.'
He recalled that Sakura had used a similar technique to treat Kankuro in the original story of his previous life.
The circumstances were different—Kankuro had been suffering for days under the influence of a slow-acting, torturous poison, making the treatment more complex and demanding.
In contrast, Pakura had been affected only briefly by a poison designed for rapid lethality, which simplified the extraction process somewhat.
Hikari acknowledged that while Sakura was undoubtedly a more proficient medical ninja, the poison's nature and the treatment's timing played crucial roles in the outcomes.
Sasori's poison used on Kankuro was crafted to debilitate over time, drawing out the victim's agony.
The quick-acting poison used on Pakura, while potentially deadly in the short term, didn't integrate as deeply into the system, allowing for a quicker and more straightforward intervention.
Reflecting on these differences, Hikari understood that his success was not just a testament to his medical skill but also a consequence of the specific circumstances and the nature of the poison.
Therefore, he knew he was not necessarily a better medical shinobi than Sakura.
Nonetheless, he was pleased with the outcome and the strategic advantage it could represent.
Securing Pakura's trust and cooperation could be invaluable, and he was prepared to leverage this incident to build a lasting alliance.