Lightning Release Nature Transformation

Underground research base.

Feng Ye was asking Orochimaru some questions about ninjutsu and taijutsu.

The downside of taking Orochimaru as his master was that this teacher was rather dangerous and might set traps for him. The upside was that Orochimaru was proficient in an extremely wide range of ninjutsu. Coupled with his frequent experiments, almost no one could surpass him in understanding ninjutsu and the human body. He was practically a professor of knowledge.

His battle with the Cloud Ninja during the Chunin Exams had given Feng Ye some ideas for developing Chidori. However, his actual attempts had repeatedly failed, as though he had strayed from the correct path. After trying many times, Feng Ye decided to seek Orochimaru's guidance.

"...The nature transformation of Lightning Release Chakra?"

Orochimaru was resting on a damp stone chair. Upon hearing Feng Ye's question, he pondered briefly before extending one hand.

Crackle! Crackle!

Chakra gathered in his palm and swiftly transformed into the lightning attribute. Strands of electric arcs intertwined and flickered, looking exceedingly dangerous.

This was not ninjutsu, merely the pure nature transformation of Lightning Release Chakra.

Orochimaru had studied under the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi. Combined with his own research into ninjutsu and taijutsu, he could be said to be proficient in Wind, Lightning, Water, Fire, Earth, as well as Yin-Yang Release Chakra.

Techniques involving the physical body, such as Cell Activation, belonged to Yang Release, while secret techniques involving the mind and soul, such as Impure World Reincarnation, belonged to Yin Release.

"The characteristics of lightning-attribute Chakra are 'concentration' and 'paralysis.' They differ somewhat from the 'violence' of fire-attribute Chakra, and that difference lies in concentration..."

Orochimaru spread his palm, allowing the lightning-attribute Chakra to weave within it as he explained in his slightly hoarse voice the key points of controlling Lightning Release Chakra and the crucial aspects of nature transformation.

Every type of attribute Chakra had its own characteristics and traits.

For instance, fire had "violence," wind had "sharpness" and "cutting," earth had "heaviness," and so on. The key to Lightning Release Chakra was concentration.

Large-scale Lightning Release ninjutsu was far rarer than large-scale Fire Release or Wind Release. Even those large-scale Lightning Release techniques were actually unleashed by condensing the lightning into lines.

Lightning Release: Kirin, which drew upon the weather, was another special case.

Feng Ye pondered for a moment before saying, "So, while using it, I need to focus on keeping the Chakra concentrated... But Lightning Release Chakra is extremely difficult to control with precision."

Unlike Fire Release or Earth Release, lightning-attribute Chakra continually flashed into electric arcs after its nature transformation rather than remaining fixed at a single point. Concentrating it under such circumstances was absurdly difficult. Even Feng Ye, whose Chakra control was quite high, had always found it challenging.

"Hehehe..."

Orochimaru chuckled at Feng Ye's words. It was impossible to discern his current mood from that laugh. After chuckling, he said, "You've lost your way. Why do you need such precise control? It isn't like Wind Release Chakra, which moves according to patterns. Lightning Release Chakra is inherently irregular. That isn't where the key lies."

As he spoke, Orochimaru slowly lowered his right hand, and the Lightning Release Chakra in his palm gradually vanished. He stood up, looked down at Feng Ye, and said something simple.

Feng Ye froze for a moment.

Then, in an instant, everything became clear.

The saying about a leaf blocking one's vision of Mount Tai was probably exactly this feeling. He had mastered the Rasengan, and the way he controlled Chakra had always been somewhat reliant on the Rasengan's method of control. But that approach was better suited to Wind Release; when applied to Lightning Release, it was instead contradictory.

"I understand. Thank you, Orochimaru-sensei."

"Hehe... Asking about this, are you planning to further develop that Lightning Release ninjutsu that complements Hatake Swordsmanship?"

Orochimaru walked to the side, inspecting the results of his earlier experiment as he spoke.

Feng Ye nodded. "Yes."

After completing his Cell Activation training, his cultivation had returned to its previous three-pronged approach. Developing Chidori was still on his schedule.

Previously, he could only rely on his own thought and deduction. Now that he had Orochimaru as a teacher to consult, it was naturally better than wasting large amounts of meaningless time figuring things out from scratch.

Orochimaru suddenly turned to glance at Feng Ye.

Swoosh!

Without a sound.

Orochimaru vanished from where he stood and appeared to Feng Ye's left, placing a hand on Feng Ye's shoulder. Then, a slightly surprised look appeared in his eyes.

"Only half a month, and you've already trained Cell Activation to this extent?"

Orochimaru understood very well that one could not chew more than one could swallow. Even for geniuses, it was possible to train several types of ninjutsu simultaneously, as long as their natures were similar enough to complement one another. But Cell Activation and Lightning Release nature transformation were purely two different types of techniques.

In merely half a month, Feng Ye had come to ask about Lightning Release nature transformation, making Orochimaru think that Feng Ye was somewhat unfocused. Yet after a simple inspection, he discovered that Feng Ye's Cell Activation had already reached a profound level.

At this level, he was already qualified to train Orochimaru's Soft Body Modification.

This speed...

It's probably a little faster than opening the First Gate under Triple Speed. This probably still isn't Orochimaru's limit.

I really am still far from an existence like him... Even if I've trained the third of the Eight Inner Gates, I still can't get arrogant. I have no right to be arrogant.

Several thoughts flashed through Feng Ye's mind. He remained calm and replied, "This technique isn't very difficult to train... I remember you saying that the key to this technique lies in controlling its progress, Sensei?"

"Correct."

Orochimaru stared at Feng Ye with great interest for several seconds before speaking.

It was unclear whether that "correct" meant Feng Ye's answer was correct, or that Feng Ye's Cell Activation progress was quite good.

"Having trained to this level, you can learn some of my techniques as well. However, my techniques conflict with White Fang's swordsmanship, so they likely aren't suitable for you."

Hatake Swordsmanship was a forceful style of swordsmanship, renowned for its speed and lethality. It was not a sinister assassination art and did not suit his Soft Body Modification. Training Soft Body Modification would not only provide no benefit to Hatake Swordsmanship—it might even have the opposite effect.

Feng Ye understood this as well.

After pondering briefly, Orochimaru said, "There are no problems with your training. If you have any other questions, come ask me again."

Feng Ye looked at Orochimaru and asked, "...Orochimaru-sensei, can the Cell Activation Technique be taught to my younger brother Kakashi?"

"No problem."

Orochimaru chuckled softly. A faint gleam flashed through his snake-like pupils as he looked at Feng Ye. "It's only natural to look after your younger brother. But your brother does not share your ambition. Perhaps he will take a path entirely different from the one you choose."

The atmosphere suddenly became strange.