Chapter 12: Neji: I Was Born to Master the Lightning Release Chakra Mode
Samui compiled a detailed analysis of Neji's basic shinobi skills—his chakra control, adaptability, and physical condition—and submitted the report to the Fourth Raikage.
"To awaken his lightning nature in just six months... this kid is incredible," A said, his voice filled with astonishment.
Dodai took the report and scanned its contents, his eye narrowing in thought. "He already has the strength of an average Genin?"
The Raikage's fingers tapped on his desk. After a moment of contemplation, he declared, "There's no need to spend any more time on the basics. It's time for him to learn the Lightning Release Chakra Mode."
"The Lightning Release Chakra Mode?" Dodai hesitated. "Lord Raikage, isn't that too soon? Neji isn't even five years old!"
"Dodai, even among geniuses, there are levels. You can't measure this boy by ordinary standards," A said with a hearty laugh, effortlessly lifting a dumbbell with one hand. He then turned to his beautiful secretary behind him. "Mabui, make the arrangements."
The next morning at five, as Neji reached the summit of Mount Kumokumo, he saw a man and a woman standing there in the distance.
"Neji, over here!" The woman with short, silver hair waved to him.
Mabui and Samui were good friends, so Neji was already somewhat familiar with her. He ran over and greeted her politely. "Mabui-neechan."
His well-behaved demeanor made Mabui's heart flutter.
So cute! The boys in the Hidden Cloud were mostly a rowdy bunch of dark-skinned troublemakers. Neji was a complete departure from the norm. She couldn't resist reaching out to pat his head.
The corner of Neji's mouth twitched. All the older sisters love to pat heads. Is this the Hidden Head-Patting Village? One day, I'll make them...
"Neji, this is Matsuichi-senpai," Mabui said, interrupting his thoughts. "He will be in charge of teaching you the Lightning Release Chakra Mode."
Neji's heart leaped with joy. The technique he had been dreaming of was finally within his grasp. He looked curiously at the old man, who appeared to be over sixty, his face lined with age.
"It's an honor, Matsuichi-senpai."
Matsuichi was also studying Neji, a sense of wonder in his heart. Normally, only a Yotsuki clan member who had reached the rank of Chūnin was qualified to even attempt to learn the Lightning Release Chakra Mode. And this child before him wasn't even five. At this age, the kids in the Cloud hadn't even started at the academy. He was greatly looking forward to seeing what Neji could do.
Gathering his thoughts, Matsuichi began to explain the technique.
Over two hundred years ago, on this very summit, the head of the Yotsuki clan, Unkan, had developed the Lightning Release Chakra Mode after observing the celestial lightning in the sky. The essence of the technique was to instantly release Lightning Release chakra from the entire body, forming an armor of lightning that granted the user extreme physical strength and speed.
Over the last two centuries, the technique had been refined and perfected. But in all that time, very few shinobi had ever managed to master it. Unlike Konoha, which jealously guarded its secrets, the Yotsuki had, for a long time, actively promoted the technique throughout the village, hoping it would be the key to the Cloud's domination of the shinobi world.
But the difficulty was simply too high. Even the man who would become the Fifth Raikage, Darui, from the original story, had never managed to learn it.
"Based on past experience," Matsuichi said, his voice grave, "to master the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, you must possess a massive amount of chakra, preferably on the level of a Tailed Beast."
"You are exceptionally talented, but your chakra reserves are insufficient for this training."
Matsuichi wasn't just trying to scare him. Chakra was king in this world. Naruto, with his vast reserves, had been able to overwhelm Mizuki the moment he learned the Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu. When Kaguya Ōtsutsuki was unsealed, her first act was to reclaim all the chakra in the world. The Ōtsutsuki who traveled across space came to Earth to plant the God Tree for the sole purpose of harvesting chakra. The Sage of Six Paths' body and soul had long since turned to dust, but his chakra still lingered in the world, undiminished after a thousand years.
"Matsuichi-senpai," Neji said, his gaze steady, "there are exceptions to every rule. And I believe I am uniquely suited to learn the Lightning Release Chakra Mode."
"Oh?" Matsuichi looked at him with surprise.
Neji pointed to his eyes. "Because I have the Byakugan."
Matsuichi's expression suddenly grew serious. "Continue."
"An ordinary ninja, even a Jōnin, can only release chakra from specific parts of their body, like their hands, feet, or mouth. However, the Hyūga clan, with our Byakugan, can see the body's tenketsu points. We can release chakra from every single one of those points simultaneously."
"The Hyūga clan's Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven and the Lightning Release Chakra Mode work on a similar principle!"
"So, in theory, I was born to master this technique."
Matsuichi nodded slowly, a look of admiration on his face. "To have already figured that out... your generation is truly formidable."
"I once worked with the Third Raikage-sama to promote this technique throughout the village."
"The Third-sama once had a theory: if a shinobi possessed both supreme insight and supreme chakra control, it might be possible for them to learn the Lightning Release Chakra Mode even without massive chakra reserves."
"In the entire shinobi world, the only ones who meet both those criteria... are your Hyūga clan."
"The Hidden Cloud's desire for the Byakugan is also partly due to this reason."
Matsuichi stepped forward and placed a hand on Neji's shoulder, treating him not as a five-year-old child, but as a peer.
"Neji, I will devote all my efforts to teaching you. I hope that the Third Raikage-sama's theory can be realized in you."
"I will give it my all, Matsuichi-senpai."
[You have listened to Matsuichi's explanation. Your understanding has increased.]
[You have practiced chakra refinement. Your understanding has increased.]
[Your Chakra Refinement Jutsu has improved. EXP +2.]
[Congratulations! You have learned Lightning Release Chakra Mode Lv1 (1/500)]
[You are practicing the Lightning Release Chakra Mode. Your understanding has increased.]
For Neji, learning the Lightning Release Chakra Mode was surprisingly easy. It wasn't because of his special ability. It was because he already possessed all the necessary prerequisites. All that was left was the final push.
The Byakugan gave him the ability to see his own internal chakra network. His understanding of the body's tenketsu points surpassed even that of the most elite medical-nin.
The first step was to channel his Lightning Release chakra to every tenketsu point in his body and release it all at once.
"I'm ready, Matsuichi-senpai."
"Remember the key points I told you. Start by trying with just your left hand."
"Right!"
The veins at Neji's temples bulged as he focused his vision on the tenketsu in his left hand. He molded a thread of lightning chakra and slowly guided it there.
A moment later, with a crackling sound, a ball of blue-white electricity sparked to life in Neji's palm, flickering erratically.
Lightning Release chakra was the most volatile and difficult to control of the five basic natures. The next step was to tame the electrical energy in his palm until it was completely under his command.
A look of pure excitement shone in Matsuichi's weathered eyes.
He had succeeded on the very first try.
It was nothing short of a miracle.
~~~
Get early access to 30+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn
~~~
Every 5 new reviews = 1 extra chapters
Every 150 Power Stones = 1 extra chapter