After half a month of recovery at Bubu Pharmacy, Renji's admiration for Baizhu's medical expertise grew immensely. Back in the Shinobi World, injuries this severe would have kept him in a hospital bed for six months; here, he was back on his feet in two weeks.
Renji didn't waste a single day of his recuperation. He spent his time quietly testing the compatibility between his body and the laws of Teyvat.
Renji confirmed that his "gains" from the Naruto world were fully intact. He wasn't just some pampered clan member; he was a battle-hardened Chunin of the Uchiha.
Physical Mastery: Basic ninja techniques like wall-running, water-walking, and high-speed maneuvers were second nature to him.
The Sharingan: His greatest asset—a pair of Two-Tomoe Sharingan. He had awakened them in that final moment of utter despair and defiance when he faced death in the Second Great Ninja War.
While his power level was enough to tower over any ordinary human in Liyue, Renji was realistic. Against a Vision wielder—those chosen by the gods—his current strength might not be enough to guarantee victory.
As he delved deeper into the lore of this world, Renji realized that his most precious treasure wasn't the Sharingan or his Ninjutsu, but the technology of Chakra refining.
He learned that Teyvat is saturated with seven elemental powers: Hydro, Pyro, Electro, Cryo, Anemo, Geo, and Dendro. According to legend, these elements belonged to the ancient Sovereign Dragon Kings before the "First Throne," Phanes, arrived from another world to reshape the land for humanity.
However, humans are inherently fragile. Unlike the ancient dragons, a human body cannot withstand the violent, raw erosion of elemental energy. Absorbing it directly is much like attempting to use Senjutsu (Sage Chakra) in the Naruto world without proper training—too much natural energy, and the body simply turns to stone or collapses.
To solve this, the heavens grant "Visions" (the Eyes of God). These act as external magical organs, filtering the violent elemental energy into a form the human body can handle safely.
The Problem: Visions are rare, fickle, and tied to a single owner.
The Exception: Even someone as powerful as Ningguang of the Liyue Qixing couldn't force a Vision to work; she only obtained hers when a "dead" shell unexpectedly resonated with her while she was busy calculating its auction value.
This is where Renji's "cheat" comes into play. Chakra is the fusion of Physical Energy and Spiritual Energy.
By refining Chakra, Renji has created a "bridge." He doesn't need a Vision to act as a buffer because his Chakra allows him to mold and manifest energy from within his own cells. He is a walking anomaly: a person who can unleash a Fire Style: Great Ball of Fire without a Pyro Vision hanging from his belt.
In a world where elemental power is a "gift from the gods," Renji is a man who stole that power for himself through the legacy of the Uchiha.
The realization hit Renji (Uchiha Mikaro) like a bolt of lightning: Chakra was his ultimate trump card, but also his most dangerous secret.
Unlike the elements of Teyvat, which are external forces channeled through a Vision, Chakra is generated internally by the fusion of physical and mental energies from the body's 130 trillion cells. This "Internal Alchemy" allows a ninja to manifest elements without divine permission.
Renji knew that if the Fatui from Snezhnaya ever caught wind of this technology, they would hunt him to the ends of the earth.
The Comparison: The Fatui have spent decades and countless lives perfecting Delusions (Evil Eyes)—artificial Visions that grant power at the cost of the user's life force.
The Conflict: Chakra technology is harmless to the user (provided they have the stamina) and offers a way to master elements without a "gift" from Celestia. To the Doctor (Il Dottore), Renji wouldn't be a person; he would be the ultimate research specimen.
Tactical Decision: Renji must acquire a Fake Vision. He needs a prop to hang from his belt so that when he uses Fire Style, onlookers simply think he's a Pyro Vision wielder.
The Problem: The only known master of "imitation" Visions is Yoimiya in Inazuma, and that nation is currently a fortress under the Vision Hunt Decree. Asking the local Archons (Venti or Zhongli) for a fake is out of the question for a "penniless refugee."
Baizhu, with his ever-present "merchant-doctor" smile, informed Renji that his recovery bill totaled 100,000 Mora.
Renji did some quick mental math. In Teyvat, the purchasing power of Mora is roughly 100:1 compared to real-world currency.
100,000 Mora = 1,000 USD/RMB Approx.
For a stay in a high-end pharmacy like Bubu, 1,000 units for fifteen days of life-saving care was actually quite reasonable. The problem? Renji had exactly 0 Mora.
To clear the debt, Renji accepted a position as a temporary herb collector.
At first, Baizhu was hesitant. "Sending a boy who just woke up from a coma to climb the jagged cliffs of Liyue? I am a doctor, not a tyrant," Baizhu sighed, adjusting his glasses.
Renji didn't argue with words. He acted.
In one fluid motion, he dashed toward the balcony of Bubu Pharmacy and leapt. Baizhu and the snake, Changsheng, rushed to the edge, expecting to see a tragedy. Instead, Renji hit the ground sixty feet below in a perfect crouch, then instantly blurred. Using Chakra-enhanced jumping, he bounced off the stone walls and landed back on the balcony in seconds, his breath steady.
Baizhu stood frozen. Even Changsheng's tongue stopped flickering. No Wind Glider, no Vision glow—just raw, terrifying agility.
"I think I can handle the climbing," Renji said with a smirk.
Baizhu finally relented but insisted on one condition: Qiqi would lead the way. Renji might have the strength of a mountain goat, but he didn't know a Qingxin flower from a common weed.
Now, Renji finds himself standing at the gates of Liyue Harbor, a medicine basket on his back and a tiny, purple-clad zombie by his side.
[Mission Update: The Herb Gathering Quest]
Current Debt: 100,000 Mora.
Inventory: Empty Medicine Basket, Kunai (hidden), Shuriken (hidden).
Companion: Qiqi (Memory Status: "Acquaintance").