"You…"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's pupils trembled slightly as he stared at Hyūga Kumokawa before him.
Pressing his somewhat parched lips together, he said,
"You actually learned Raikiri?"
"Forgive me, Lord Third. I feel like I'm still far from Senior Kakashi's Raikiri."
Hyūga Kumokawa shook his head instead, looking down at the lightning in his hand with a troubled expression.
"My grasp of Lightning Release chakra's nature transformation and shape transformation is still far beneath Senior Kakashi's. At present, it feels like I can only reach the level and difficulty of an A-rank ninjutsu."
"It doesn't yet deserve the name Raikiri. Perhaps it should be called Chidori instead?"
After speaking, Hyūga Kumokawa lifted his gaze toward the stunned Sarutobi Hiruzen, his expression humble and filled with remorse.
[Ding! Your lie has been judged as "Nonsense." Sarutobi Hiruzen experienced violent emotional fluctuations, reaching the level of "Questioning Life." You gain 800 Truth Points.]
Only at the level of an A-rank ninjutsu… and he even feels ashamed about it…
The corner of Sarutobi Hiruzen's eye twitched involuntarily.
For a moment he didn't know how to express his emotions, and could only force a complicated smile.
"Already very impressive."
This Third Hokage truly bore the title recognized across the entire shinobi world—"Professor of Ninjutsu."
This was no self-glorifying moniker like Orochimaru calling his teacher the "God of Shinobi" or the "Strongest Hokage."
Sarutobi Hiruzen, even as a child, could combine the five elemental natures in ninjutsu.
Later he was capable of wielding over a thousand jutsu. His mastery of chakra's five elemental nature transformations was superb, and his skill in secret arts, taijutsu, and genjutsu was not weak either.
The disciple he favored most among his three had been Orochimaru—because like him, Orochimaru was born with five-elemental chakra.
Naturally, Orochimaru was the one most suited to inherit his mantle.
It was just unfortunate that Orochimaru later strayed from the path.
And so, Sarutobi Hiruzen could easily discern what Hyūga Kumokawa's display meant.
"Ahem." He lightly coughed, suppressing his expression, then revealed a sincere smile.
"Kumokawa, when did you master Lightning Release chakra to such a degree?"
Precisely because he understood the implications, he had lost his composure earlier.
Since Kumokawa had already demonstrated a hand-signless simplified version of "Wind Release: Wind Cutter Technique" during the jōnin council meeting, that proved his mastery of Wind Release chakra's nature and shape transformation had already reached a very advanced level.
This was why Hiruzen had intentionally left so many B-rank Wind Release ninjutsu scrolls here, even considering whether to let Danzō—who was most skilled in Wind Release—personally instruct the boy.
To know: simply reaching the level of using B-rank jutsu with a single elemental nature's chakra transformation already marked the standard of a jōnin.
That was why Kakashi, after developing the S-rank Lightning Release ninjutsu, could become a jōnin at only twelve years old, and even join the ANBU as a squad captain.
This was also why, during the jōnin meeting, when Hyūga Kumokawa unveiled that Wind Release jutsu, the others fell quiet—and even secretly ridiculed Hyūga Hideki.
Even Sarutobi Hiruzen himself was only at such a level in terms of single-element nature and shape transformation.
For instance, his most proficient techniques: Fire Release: Dragon Flame Bomb, Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet, Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet, Lightning Release: Thunderclap, and Wind Release: Whirlwind—all of them were B-rank ninjutsu.
Of course, his true specialty lay in compound ninjutsu.
Yet Sarutobi Hiruzen had never imagined that even with Lightning Release, Hyūga Kumokawa's mastery of nature and shape transformation had reached this level—completely beyond the standard of ordinary jōnin…
Buzz!
The solid lightning in Hyūga Kumokawa's hand dissipated, leaving behind only a few serpentine arcs lingering in the air.
Scratching his head, he seemed somewhat ill at ease under Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze. In a low voice he said,
"Lord Third, actually I've been trying to temper my body with Lightning Release chakra since three or four years ago."
Sarutobi Hiruzen fell into complete silence—but his eyes only grew brighter and brighter.
How old was this child again?
Fifteen? Or sixteen?
Looking at the youth's still-immature face, it was as though he were gazing at a "peerless treasure."
At only fifteen years of age, both Wind and Lightning Release nature and shape transformation had reached a level surpassing most jōnin.
And considering his Hyūga lineage, those earlier years had been largely wasted…
"Kumokawa!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen flickered forward with a Body Flicker, appearing right before him. He gripped the boy's shoulders tightly, asking with grave intensity:
"Have you ever tested your chakra attributes?"
His emotions, having surged wildly up and down, now drove a powerful impulse.
Orochimaru could no longer be relied upon… but if it were this child—!
However, Hyūga Kumokawa's smile faltered. Lowering his head in dejection, he said:
"I only have Wind and Lightning attributes."
At those words, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him.
He instantly sobered, his grip loosening slightly.
"Only Wind and Lightning attributes?" He sighed deeply with disappointment.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had truly felt a powerful urge—to pass down his mantle to Hyūga Kumokawa, to take him as a disciple.
But to cultivate completely new attributes from nothing, to master additional chakra nature transformations—that was even harder than refining one's mastery of shape transformation.
What a pity. Truly, what a pity…
"No matter. Having two attributes is already quite remarkable."
Noticing the dejection and shame on Hyūga Kumokawa's face, Sarutobi Hiruzen forced a smile, patting his shoulder.
"Most shinobi go their entire lives unable to master even a second chakra nature transformation. I believe with your talent, you can go even further."
He still held hope for Hyūga Kumokawa.
After all, this boy was only fifteen or sixteen.
But it was somewhat regrettable—he was from the branch family of the Hyūga clan.
Remembering this, Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze instinctively flicked to Kumokawa's forehead—but it was covered by his headband.
As if struck by a sudden thought, Hiruzen glanced toward the desk, noticing the unrolled Yin Seal scroll. His lips pressed tightly together.
"Kumokawa…" He turned back, asking cautiously,
"I noticed you had looked over the Yin Seal. How did you find it?"
Under Sarutobi Hiruzen's expectant—almost wishful—gaze, Hyūga Kumokawa shook his head firmly. His tone was low:
"I could sense that the technique's effect suits me well… but that meridian system seems to be designed for women only."
"To modify it would require far too much work."
[Ding! Your lie has been judged as "Nonsense." Sarutobi Hiruzen experienced emotional fluctuation, reaching the level of "Swayed by Words." You gain 600 Truth Points.]
The emotionless voice echoed in his mind, as if mocking the fact that everything Hyūga Kumokawa said was false.
Yes. The Yin Seal—he had already mastered it too.