Storm Release

Back at home, I rummaged through the fridge and stewed the last of the vegetables. Rice was the staple, and eggs and milk were still my sources of protein.

After eating, my excitement finally settled enough for me to consider trying out Storm Release.

"So this is what a Kekkei Genkai feels like. It doesn't take the effort that releasing a jutsu does. It seems like an instinctive part of my body, something I can summon and dismiss at will."

The Storm Release Kekkei Genkai granted to him by the Fate Grid was a blank slate. How to bring out its full potential was up to Byakuya to figure out.

Whatever the case, he now had the means to make a leap forward. It wasn't quite the cheat-like advantage of the Shinobi World's top-tier Kekkei Genkai, but it was still a small cheat. As the saying went, a little cheating didn't count as cheating.

The profound, all-around changes to his bloodline were still ongoing.

Byakuya gathered chakra in his palm and formed a deep blue droplet about the size of a pea. When he shook his hand, it wobbled like a liquid, yet faint flashes of lightning flickered inside and out, held back from bursting forth.

Lightning Release Chakra and Water Release Chakra had blended perfectly.

He stared at the deep blue droplet, sensing the power within as he analyzed it. "The ratio of water to lightning is about 7:3, close to the realm of Water Release Ninjutsu."

He dispersed it and formed another.

It no longer looked like a droplet. Though it was still pea-sized, it resembled a compressed ball of lightning, its blue-white glow dazzling as a soft "birdsong" rang out.

"This time, the ratio of water to lightning is 2:8... With Water Release Chakra involved, this little ball of lightning is very stable, but it takes more of my chakra."

"I underestimated Storm Release. I can freely adjust the proportions of Water Release and Lightning Release Chakra to bring out different qualities."

"I'll test its power in the forest tomorrow."

Though it was hard to suppress his excitement, Byakuya still forced his mind to go blank and rest. Getting enough sleep would help his body recover faster, so he could complete the training tasks issued by the Fate Grid.

The next day.

The moment he opened his eyes, Byakuya hurriedly brought up the Fate Grid Panel to check the day's task.

[Heaven Rewards Diligence, Perseverance Leads to Success

Time limit: 1 day: Practice throwing shuriken and hit the bull's-eye (0/100)

Reward: Increased chakra reserves]

Byakuya was overjoyed. His natural talent was truly awful, and his body could hold pitifully little chakra. His chakra had increased a little from the previous tasks, but it was nowhere near enough.

Today's timed task required him to hit the bull's-eye with shuriken 100 times. The deadline was tight and the task was demanding, but the reward wasn't "slightly increased chakra reserves." It simply said "increased," so the effect had to be good. Heaven rewarded diligence; if he worked hard, he might just complete the task.

He ate breakfast as quickly as he could, packed lunch and dinner, then hurried out and headed straight for the forest outside Konoha.

The woods were quiet. After winding along a twisting path, he reached the secluded spot he had picked out earlier.

He nailed a target to the trunk of a large tree.

Closing his eyes, he focused on sensing his Kekkei Genkai. After a night of fusion, Storm Release had become completely his, an inseparable part of him.

His physique and mental strength had also improved considerably as his body adapted to Storm Release.

As naturally as breathing, he controlled his chakra, adjusting it to a ratio of eight parts lightning to two parts water, and channeled Storm Release into a shuriken.

The ordinary-looking shuriken immediately glowed blue-white.

Byakuya examined the change. "Good thing my chakra control improved a little. The old me couldn't have managed this. But it consumes a lot of chakra. I won't be able to use it many times."

"Go!"

He aimed for the bull's-eye and hurled the shuriken with all his strength.

Empowered by Storm Release, with Lightning Release Chakra making up the majority, the shuriken struck the target at tremendous speed. But it missed the bull's-eye by quite a bit, hitting the four-ring.

"Even though Storm Release has become my Kekkei Genkai, without a lot of practice, it still feels unfamiliar. A higher proportion of Lightning Release Chakra also means I need more chakra and better control, though it's still much easier to control than pure Lightning Release. I should raise the proportion of Water Release Chakra to make the shuriken more responsive, then gradually increase the difficulty."

A ratio of six parts lightning to four parts water.

Storm Release coating the shuriken glowed bright blue, like seawater filled with lightning.

He threw it again.

Eight rings.

"No good."

Five parts lightning to five parts water.

Smack!

Bull's-eye!

Byakuya walked up to the target and pulled out the shuriken, examining the marks of varying depths. "The higher the proportion of Lightning Release Chakra, the stronger the attack, but the harder it is to control. The lower it is, the weaker the power, but easier to control. No, it's more that my abilities are too weak and I have too little chakra to show Storm Release's true power."

After a morning of shuriken practice, he had hit the bull's-eye 34 times.

Storm Release had greatly improved his accuracy, but it also consumed chakra at an alarming rate. He had stopped to rest several times.

Leaning against a tree, Byakuya ate the rice balls he had brought and pondered. "To make Storm Release work like a guided laser, I'll need a lot of chakra and the right jutsu.

"But all I know are the Academy's Three Basic Techniques, simple nature transformations for Lightning Release and Water Release, Konoha Style Taijutsu, how to recognize and break basic genjutsu, and shuriken and kunai throwing.

"The Way of Survival is a hard road. I need to figure out how to learn some Lightning Release and Water Release jutsu."

Suddenly, he heard soft footsteps shifting nearby.

Byakuya immediately turned and demanded, "Who's there?!"

A boy a little younger than him stepped out from behind a nearby tree.

He had slightly messy, short, silver-white spiky hair, and wore a Konoha Ninja Forehead Protector and a mask. "Your shuriken throwing is unusual."

That outfit—wasn't this the future Copy Ninja, Sixth Hatake Kakashi?

Byakuya pretended not to recognize him and assumed a fighting stance. "Who are you, exactly?"

"Sorry for disturbing your training. My name is Hatake Kakashi."

"Hatake Kakashi, hiding nearby and watching someone train is very rude."

An apologetic look appeared in Kakashi's eyes. "I'm sorry. I happened to be passing by, and your shuriken throwing caught my attention. I watched for a while. Please forgive me!"

Byakuya stayed wary of him and said nothing more. He pulled down the battered target and quickly left.

If he wanted to keep his head down and stay safe, he had to keep as far as possible from key figures entangled in countless events—especially Kakashi!

"I feel like I've seen him somewhere before. Where..." He held his forehead as he tried to remember.

Byakuya picked another secluded spot and continued practicing his shuriken throws.

After Storm Release fused with him, the Fate Grid had also improved his body to help him adapt to the Kekkei Genkai.

He could feel his stamina recovering faster, his mind focusing more easily, and his chakra reserves growing.

He practiced all afternoon without anyone else bothering him.

Leaning against a tree, he watched the slowly fading sunset as the evening sky burned across half the heavens.

"After completing several tasks issued by the Fate Grid, I've made huge strides in strength. Before, I couldn't have managed such intense training in a single day."

[Heaven Rewards Diligence, Perseverance Leads to Success

Time limit: 1 day: Practice throwing shuriken and hit the bull's-eye (100/100)

Reward: Increased chakra reserves]

He closed his eyes and savored the wonderful feeling of growing stronger.

The channels throughout his body widened and strengthened. His physical and mental energy surged together, bringing increases in speed, perception, vitality, and stamina. Chakra was the core of a ninja, and improving it brought changes in every aspect of his abilities. Its value was astonishing.

Byakuya hoped all his future Fate Grid rewards would involve chakra.

"I should study the nature and shape transformations of Lightning Release and Water Release in depth. The more thoroughly I understand the principles behind the two chakra natures, the more skillfully I'll be able to use Storm Release. The Ninja Academy library has plenty of information on the subject, but what about jutsu?"

"Where can I get jutsu? Take missions and save up, then buy them at the black market?"

An idea suddenly popped into Byakuya's head, making him snort with laughter. "It's not like Root will take an interest in me, and I'll get jutsu by earning merit in an organization that doesn't treat people like people."

Root, also known as the Anbu Training Department, was a secret organization established and led by Shimura Danzō.

"Beneath the ground where no one could see, they propped up the great tree that was Konoha."

He pulled the target off the tree, tucked it under his arm, and disappeared into the shadows of the forest. "Bullshit. They're all lunatics."