Chapter 17: Researching Black Lightning
Neji committed every word to memory. It was all practical, hard-won experience. It might not have seemed like much, but he knew that one day, it could be the thing that saved a life.
The convoy of wagons stretched out in a single line, nearly six hundred meters long. From the rear, even with Yugito's enhanced vision, it was impossible to see the front. After a moment's thought, she formed the hand signs and created a Shadow Clone.
"Neji, you have the Byakugan, so you take the front. My real body will be at the rear, and my clone will cover the middle."
"Understood."
Neji found Tokugawa Takahara and told him they were ready to move out. He then took a seat on the lead wagon, activated his Byakugan, and scanned the road ahead.
The convoy began to move, the great gate of the Hidden Cloud slowly shrinking behind them as the vegetation on either side of the road grew denser.
This was Neji's first time on a long journey, and he was filled with curiosity about the wider shinobi world. He kept his Byakugan active, observing everything within a three-kilometer radius.
After a few hours, however, a sense of boredom began to set in. The Byakugan's vision was monochrome, lacking any real aesthetic beauty. Staring at it for too long was bound to cause eye strain.
With a thought, Neji created a Shadow Clone, just as Yugito had, and had it take over guard duty. He then lay back on the roof of the wagon, pulled out a copy of the Third Raikage's training notes, and began to study the principles of Lightning Release nature transformation.
[You are researching Lightning Release chakra nature transformation. Your understanding has increased.]
Neji had three small goals for his study of Lightning Release.
First, to master the Lightning Release Chakra Mode and comprehensively improve his physical abilities.
Second, to develop a powerful Lightning Release ninjutsu. Ideally, something like Kirin, the ultimate in large-scale destructive power, and a technique that represented the pinnacle of nature transformation, like Black Lightning or Purple Electricity.
Third, to cultivate a Kekkei Genkai that was primarily based on Lightning Release.
These three goals were both difficult and not so difficult. He had already achieved a high level of proficiency with the Lightning Release Chakra Mode. In the entire Hidden Cloud, there were no more than three people who were superior to him in its use.
As for the second goal, all five elemental releases were fundamentally similar, based on the principles of chakra nature and shape transformation. As long as he could master Black Lightning or Purple Electricity, and with the precedent of the Chidori Current—developed by Kakashi and perfected by Sasuke—all he had to do was follow their path, and he could create his own powerful Lightning Release ninjutsu.
How Purple Electricity was developed, Neji didn't know. But the development of the Third Raikage's Black Lightning was well-documented, a precious treasure of the Hidden Cloud. Given Neji's status, he had obtained the information with ease.
The most difficult goal by far was developing a Lightning Release Kekkei Genkai. Darui's Storm Release was one of the few such abilities in the world. Whether it was inherited through his bloodline or something he had developed on his own was, for the moment, unknown. If it was the former, there was nothing Neji could do. But if it was the latter, then it would be simple.
Neji focused on the Third Raikage's notes. Halfway through, he found himself filled with an even greater admiration for Kakashi. Although these notes were written by the Third, they were the culmination of the work of countless predecessors. Black Lightning was an innovation the Third had made while standing on the shoulders of giants.
Kakashi, however, was different. Konoha had no real high-level Lightning Release secret techniques. He had developed Purple Electricity, a technique on par with Black Lightning, completely on his own. It was only his civilian birth and lack of a powerful bloodline that had limited his potential. Otherwise, his achievements would have been boundless.
"Hiss... Black Lightning isn't just a Lightning Release nature transformation. It also possesses a small amount of Yang Release?"
Neji's eyes narrowed. In the age of myths, the Sage of Six Paths had used Yin-Yang Release to create the nine Tailed Beasts from nothing. Yin Release was the power of the mind, which governed imagination and could give form to nothingness. Yang Release was the power of the body, which governed life force and could breathe life into form.
Every human possessed both Yin and Yang energy, but not all of them could use Yin-Yang Release. The Hyūga clan was a classic example of a Yin Release bloodline; they did not possess Yang Release.
But Neji was an exception. After two years of soaking in the secret medicine, his physical constitution had changed, and he now possessed a small amount of Yang Release affinity. He had once used a chakra induction paper to test his elemental ratios. Yin was dominant, followed by Fire, Water, and Earth, then Lightning, with Yang being the weakest. But no matter how small the amount, as long as it was there, it was enough.
"Theoretically, if it can be learned, even if there's only a one in ten thousand chance, I can definitely learn it."
Having made up his mind, Neji sat cross-legged on the roof of the wagon and began to attempt to create Black Lightning.
A thread of blue-white electricity appeared at his fingertip, sometimes wild and chaotic, sometimes calm and docile. The attendants walking alongside the wagon saw this and clicked their tongues in amazement, calling him "Ninja-sama."
[You have attempted to infuse Lightning Release chakra with Yang Release chakra. You have failed. Your understanding has increased.]
[You have attempted to infuse Yang Release chakra with Lightning Release chakra. You have failed. Your understanding has increased.]
As the sun set, the convoy made camp for the night. The hundred wagons were arranged in a large circle, and the people set up their tents in the middle.
After setting up several traps in the surrounding area, Neji sat alone by a campfire, continuing his research into Black Lightning. He was making progress with every attempt. He estimated it would take no more than two days to create the skill. After that, he could improve it through combat, which would be much less tedious.
"Still training?"
Yugito suddenly sat down beside him. She took out a rice ball from her pouch and began to nibble on it.
"If you have something to say, I'm listening," Neji said, his face impassive as he continued to try and fuse his Yang and Lightning chakra.
Yugito looked at his diligent efforts with a certain amount of skepticism. Hard work was often useless. 99% perspiration was worth less than 1% inspiration. But she didn't say anything to discourage him.
"The Land of Lightning is very safe. We won't run into any trouble. But once we leave its borders, it's a different story. To get to the Land of Grass, we have to pass through the Land of Iron, the Land of Frost, and the Land of Waterfalls. Those smaller countries are a mess."
Yugito lay back on the grass, her left leg bent and her right leg crossed over it, munching on her rice ball as she spoke.
"Right. I understand."
Neji had already considered this before they left. The Five Great Nations were constantly cracking down on bandits, but they never seemed to be able to get rid of them completely. In reality, compared to the smaller countries, the Five Great Nations were quite safe. Wandering ninja, bandits, and rogue ninja generally avoided entering their territory unless absolutely necessary. The smaller countries, with their weaker hidden villages, were their paradise.
"As long as you're aware."
Yugito looked up at the silver moon hanging in the sky. She suddenly poked Neji with her toe.
"What are you doing?"
"Neji, I heard from the old folks in the village that a long, long time ago, the shinobi world didn't have a moon. The one we have now was man-made."
Hearing this, Neji turned to look at her, a half-smile on his face. "No way. You actually believe that?"
"You... Who said I believe it? Did I say that?"