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A week had passed since Kakashi's relentless training began.
The sky was dark and heavy, thick clouds rolling like waves across the horizon. Thunder rumbled in the distance as fierce winds swept away the remaining remnants of sunlight.
Deep within Konoha's dense forest, far from the village's bustle, a powerful rumbling echoed — almost as if the heavens themselves were roaring.
"Ox… Rabbit… Monkey…"
Kakashi muttered under his breath, completing the hand seals with practiced precision.
A surge of lightning-attribute Chakra, dense and crackling with raw energy, immediately enveloped his right hand. Brilliant arcs of electricity danced along his fingers, casting sharp, fleeting flashes of bluish-white light in every direction.
At that moment, a sharp, piercing sound pierced the air — a sharp whistle, reminiscent of thousands of birds singing in unison.
Kakashi's body leaned forward as he launched himself into a sprint, lightning crackling violently around his right hand. His movements blurred, his speed pushing the limits of human ability.
Where his foot struck the ground, the earth trembled, soil scattering as lightning arcs hissed across the forest floor, carving shallow grooves into the dirt.
Ahead loomed a massive tree — thick, towering, and ancient.
Without hesitation, Kakashi swung his right arm forward, muscles coiled with power, and drove his electrified hand straight into the trunk.
Crunch!
The tree split cleanly in two, the thunderous crack of breaking wood echoing through the forest. Dust and splinters billowed upward as the mighty tree crashed to the ground.
Kakashi quickly retracted the crackling Chakra from his hand, then formed a swift hand seal with his free hand.
A gust of wind, sharp and biting, swept away the dust lingering in the air — a simple but effective Wind Style: Fierce Wind Palm.
He stood back, carefully observing the blackened, carbonized edge of the shattered trunk.
"So this is the effect of the Chidori," he murmured thoughtfully. "It uses powerful, high-voltage electric currents to pierce through targets instantly, causing massive damage."
Kakashi's eyes narrowed. After witnessing the Third Raikage's Lightning Style during the recent battlefield, he had been inspired. Taking Raikage's technique as a foundation, he set out to create his own version of the Chidori.
His understanding of lightning-attribute Chakra had skyrocketed since then.
In just one week, Kakashi had succeeded.
The Chidori he developed was still rudimentary — usable only for close combat and requiring a high-speed sprint to maximize its destructive power.
This explained why, in the original tale, Kakashi could only fully harness Chidori's power after awakening the Sharingan and gaining super dynamic vision. That ability allowed him to see the enemy's movements clearly even at high speeds, which was essential for perfect execution.
However, Kakashi's current situation was different.
On one hand, he was no longer afraid to trade blows with the enemy — thanks to his Ninja Art: Mitotic Regeneration, his body healed rapidly.
On the other hand, having mastered Lightning Style armor, his defense had improved significantly, giving him a much better chance to survive close-range fights.
Just as Kakashi's thoughts settled, a jagged bolt of lightning suddenly ripped across the sky and struck the very tree he had just split in half.
His instincts flared.
With a sharp intake of breath, he immediately activated his Lightning Style armor, blue electricity crackling wildly across his body. Simultaneously, the Chidori in his right hand condensed once more, humming with lethal energy.
Boom!
The sky seemed to grow angrier.
Dark clouds roiled overhead, thunder clashing incessantly. Lightning flickered wildly along the black edges of the storm, and the very air between heaven and earth felt heavy with tension.
Another lightning bolt crashed down — this one aimed directly at Kakashi's head.
He did not flinch.
"Good!" Kakashi shouted, leaping high into the air.
With a palm charged in lightning, he met the bolt head-on and sliced through it, splitting the lightning in two.
"Heh, a mere lightning bolt dares to act recklessly before me?" Kakashi smirked confidently as he landed.
He placed his left hand behind his back, striking a stance that radiated calm mastery — the aura of a warrior unmatched in battle.
But barely had he finished speaking when multiple lightning bolts came crashing down around him in quick succession, as if the storm itself had declared war.
"What the hell?" Kakashi muttered, eyes sharp as he activated Lightning Body and dodged with fluid grace, moving as if dancing on a razor's edge.
The strikes came fast and furious, forcing him to weave and leap with blinding speed. The entire forest seemed alive with electric fury.
Yet Kakashi did not resent the attack. In fact, he welcomed it.
This unexpected barrage was the perfect opportunity to sharpen his reflexes and improve his agility.
Originally, his plan was to focus solely on recreating Raikiri's famed technique — the ultimate form of Chidori.
But now, he decided to seize this chance to hone his body and instincts, mastering the high-speed movement needed to maximize his new jutsu's potential.
After an intense hour, Kakashi finally came to a halt, exhaustion evident on his face. The Lightning Style armor dissipated, leaving him standing amid the still-crackling air.
Without hesitation, he activated Flying Thunder God and vanished in a flash, teleporting back to his room.
"Second Generation... you really are a genius."
Kakashi sighed, half to himself.
He peeled off his training clothes and stepped into the shower, the steady rush of warm water masking his heavy breathing.
In the quiet mist of the bathroom, Kakashi closed his eyes and reflected on his progress — the breakthroughs and setbacks alike.
---
Meanwhile, at Namikaze Minato's home...
Minato sat quietly in a recliner, lost deep in thought.
Behind him, Kushina gently approached and massaged his temples, her touch tender and soothing.
"Minato, what are you thinking about?" she asked softly.
He looked up and took her delicate hand in his, voice low and contemplative.
"I've been thinking about whether it's possible to imitate the principle of the Tailed Beast Bomb to develop a new, powerful ninjutsu."
Kushina frowned slightly in curiosity.
"What made you think of that all of a sudden?"
Minato gave a small smile, stroking her hand.
"During my battle with the Raikage, I encountered his Lightning Style armor — his defense was incredibly strong, impenetrable."
"In the end, it was Kakashi who risked everything to block the Raikage's killing blow, using his sealing technique to break through."
"That gave me the opening to finish the fight."
Kushina's eyes widened.
"Kakashi saved your life on the battlefield?"
"Why didn't you tell me sooner? I would've liked to thank him personally."
Minato chuckled.
"I've been busy with the alliance negotiations between Konoha and the Sand Shinobi. I hadn't had a chance to tell you."
Kushina's face lit up.
"Well, after this rain stops, I have to cook a special meal for Kakashi to show my gratitude!"
She was already mentally listing expensive ingredients she would buy.
Minato laughed gently, cutting her off.
"I think Kakashi cares more about improving his strength than food."
"It would be better if I developed this new ninjutsu and taught it to him. He'd appreciate that far more."
Kushina pursed her lips, a little disappointed her plan was thwarted, but nodded in understanding.
Minato went on, his tone serious.
"I've been studying carefully. The principle behind the Tailed Beast Bomb is to change the Chakra's form, compress it, then release it all at once."
"I wonder if I can create a version of the Tailed Beast Bomb usable by ordinary ninja — not just Jinchūriki."
"And most importantly, without requiring hand seals."
Kushina's eyes sparkled with surprise and hope.
"Is that really possible?"
Minato met her gaze with a confident smile.
"I believe so. Just give me some time."
Kushina thought of the immense power the Tailed Beast Bomb required — even the Jinchūriki must transform into their tailed beasts to perform it.
This was an S-rank ninjutsu, the pinnacle of power.
"Developing such an unmatched technique... it's bold, but you have the talent, Minato."
Minato's smile widened, feeling encouraged by Kushina's faith.
Their eyes met, warm and full of shared dreams.
Suddenly, he pulled her gently into his arms.
"I think I already have an idea. Why don't we try it out?"
Kushina bit her lip shyly, a blush spreading across her cheeks.
The seal of the Nine Tails within her body strengthened subtly, a quiet pulse of energy resonating between them.
That night, no words were spoken — only a shared determination to push beyond limits, to forge new paths in the art of ninja.
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