Seeing the explanation, structure, and performance method of the ninjutsu written out, both the Third Kazekage and Ebizo veteran masters of the Wind Style felt its legitimacy immediately. Even circulating chakra through the described pathways in the body, following the hand-seal sequence, produced no irregularities. There were no contradictions, no unstable flows, no signs of flaws. It was unmistakably a complete and functional S-rank technique.
Both men were shadow-level experts who had long since reached the top with Wind Release. The Kazekage, in particular, had even fused a special wind-nature transformation to develop Magnet Release. Few people in the world were more qualified to judge the technique's authenticity.
Chiyo, however, after skimming the scroll, lifted her eyes toward Kurozai. "This is an excellent S-rank ninjutsu bordering on a clan secret technique. Is Kumogakure truly fine giving something like this away? And… It's strange. How is it that such a powerful technique never appeared in previous wars?"
Kurozai froze for a moment. He hadn't expected her to cut straight to the heart of the matter. Internally, he sighed. Truly an old witch. But he obviously couldn't say, "Kumogakure now has countless jutsu stocked in its repository."
Composing himself, he answered calmly. "Our Raikages have always focused on Lightning Release, and so do most of our shinobi; the vast majority train in taijutsu, lightning-nature ninjutsu, and nin-taijutsu like Lightning Chakra Mode. So no one in the village showed much interest in Wind Style techniques. As for handing it over to Sunagakure… Raikage-sama believes that while this ninjutsu is powerful and does counter lightning style, it is practically useless against him and against elite shinobi who use Lightning Chakra Mode. More importantly, sincerity matters. Isn't it a perfect match for Sunagakure, where most shinobi are naturally aligned with Wind Style?"
Kurozai's thoughts drifted back to the moment he had questioned the same thing. When the Third Raikage and Ron the Raikage's genius son, who had created the technique, decided to give it to Sunagakure, he blurted out, "Isn't this a bad idea? Wind Style counters Lightning Style…"
Ron and the Third Raikage both gave him the same look. After a long breath, the Third Raikage finally answered:
"Yes, this technique could annihilate an entire squad. If they're unlucky, only Jonin might escape alive. Even escaping the outskirts of a jutsu this large would heavily injure most Chunin and special Jonin. But there's something you might not understand. Right now, the weakest shinobi we send on missions in Kumogakure are Chunin. We practically don't have genin. Our forces are made up mostly of Jonin and special Jonin. Unlike the past, when our ranks were filled with genin and Chunin, our current generation has abundant resources. They can train endlessly without wasting talent or suffering crippling injuries. Other countries simply do not have this luxury."
He continued, voice firm.
"And although this technique is strong, it requires more than thirty hand seals. The Kazekage or elite Jonin might reduce that down to ten to twenty, but that isn't the point. In Kumogakure, we rely on taijutsu. Lightning Chakra Mode requires no seals and activates instantly. Even performing this technique properly at a beginner's level already means the user is at Jonin-tier."
Ron, standing nearby, added cheerfully:
"For a shinobi who has mastered Lightning Chakra Mode, their control over their body and chakra has already reached a threshold equal to a Jonin. Even someone with a weaker body or lower energy will eventually rise to the Jonin level with their ability to improve their body and the village's training grounds and medical chambers. Although I've deposited countless ninjutsu in the Kumogakure Library, the goal isn't to have everyone learn everything. The true purpose is to deepen their understanding of the chakra, its nature, and its control, and to refine their body and mind as shinobi. That's why many techniques remain locked and are expensive to redeem. But Lightning Chakra Mode is almost freely accessible and heavily encouraged. It represents the foundation of a ninja and the ability to overcome innate limits."