Storm Release

Returning home, Byakuya rummaged through the refrigerator, stewing the last of the vegetables. His staples were rice, with eggs and milk serving as his protein sources.

After eating, his excitement finally began to subside, allowing him to consider experimenting with Storm Release.

"So this is a Kekkei Genkai. It doesn't require the laborious effort of casting a ninjutsu; it feels like a natural instinct of the body—summoned at will and dismissed with a wave."

The Storm Release Kekkei Genkai granted by his Fate Grid was merely a blank slate. How to maximize its power would depend entirely on Byakuya's own development.

Regardless, he now had the capital to rise. While it didn't feel like a "cheat" compared to the top-tier Kekkei Genkai of the ninja world, it was at least a minor one. As the old saying goes, a small hack is no hack at all.

Deep, comprehensive changes to his bloodline continued to unfold.

Byakuya gathered chakra in his palm, condensing a pea-sized, azure water droplet. He gave it a shake; the droplet wobbled, retaining its fluidity, yet inside and out, lightning flickered—contained but unreleased.

The lightning-natured chakra and water-natured chakra were perfectly blended.

He stared at the azure droplet, sensing the power hidden within, and analyzed: "The ratio of water to lightning is about 7:3, leaning toward the category of Water Release ninjutsu."

He dispersed it and condensed another.

It no longer resembled a water droplet. Though still pea-sized, it felt like a compressed ball of lightning. The blue-white light was dazzling, and a faint "chirping of birds" sound began to resonate.

"This time the ratio of water to lightning is 2:8... With the participation of water-natured chakra, this small lightning ball is very stable, but it requires more of my chakra."

"I underestimated Storm Release. It can freely adjust the ratio of water and lightning chakra to exhibit different characteristics."

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

Despite his barely contained excitement, Byakuya forced his mind to empty so he could rest. Only with sufficient sleep and rapid physical recovery could he successfully complete the training tasks issued by the Fate Grid.

The next day.

The moment he opened his eyes, Byakuya hurriedly opened the Fate Grid panel to check today's task.

[Heaven Rewards Diligence, the Perseverant Succeed. Time limit: 1 day: Practice throwing shuriken at the ten-ring target (0/100) Reward: Increase in chakra volume]

Byakuya was overjoyed. Because his talent was truly poor, the amount of chakra his body could contain was pitifully small. In previous tasks, his chakra had only received minor boosts, which didn't even begin to quench his thirst.

Today's time-limited task—hitting the ten-ring target with shuriken 100 times—was tight and heavy, but the reward wasn't a "minor increase." It explicitly stated "increase." The effect would surely be significant. Heaven rewards diligence; if he worked hard, completing the task wasn't impossible.

He finished breakfast as quickly as possible, packed his lunch and dinner, hurried out, and headed straight for the forest outside Konoha.

The woods were quiet. After winding through several paths, he arrived at the secluded spot he had selected earlier.

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

Closing his eyes, he focused entirely on sensing his Kekkei Genkai. After a night of fusion, Storm Release belonged to him completely, with no distinction between them.

To adapt to Storm Release, his physique and spirit had also strengthened significantly.

Like breathing, he controlled his chakra to follow an 8:2 ratio of lightning to water, causing the Storm Release to coat the shuriken.

The ordinary shuriken instantly glowed with a blue-white light.

Byakuya observed the change in the shuriken: "Fortunately, my control over chakra has improved slightly. If it were the old me, I couldn't have done this. But the chakra consumption is high; I can't use it many times."

"Go!"

Aiming for the ten-ring of the target, he threw the shuriken with all his might.

Enhanced by Storm Release, with lightning-natured chakra taking the lead, the shuriken hit the target extremely quickly, but it wasn't a ten-ring. It missed by quite a bit, landing in the four-ring.

"Even though Storm Release is now my Kekkei Genkai, a lack of extensive training makes my hands feel clumsy. When lightning-natured chakra dominates, the required chakra and control increase, but it's still easier to control than pure Lightning Release. I'll increase the ratio of water-natured chakra to make the shuriken more obedient, then slowly increase the difficulty."

6:4 ratio of lightning to water.

The Storm Release coating the shuriken glowed a bright blue, as if it were seawater containing lightning.

He threw it again.

Eight-ring.

"Not good enough."

5:5 ratio.

Thwack!

Ten-ring!

Byakuya walked to the target, pulled out the shuriken, and observed the varying depths of the marks left by the blades: "When the lightning-natured chakra ratio is high, the attack power is stronger but harder to control. Conversely, the power weakens, but it's easier to manipulate. No, rather, my strength is too low and my chakra is too scarce to display the true power of Storm Release."

He spent the morning practicing shuriken throws, hitting the ten-ring 34 times.

Possessing Storm Release greatly improved his accuracy, but his chakra was also being consumed rapidly, forcing him to stop and rest several times.

Leaning against a tree, Byakuya ate the rice ball he had brought, pondering: "To use Storm Release like a guided laser, I need a massive amount of chakra and corresponding ninjutsu."

"But I only know the Three Basic Jutsu taught at the Ninja Academy, simple nature transformations for Lightning and Water Release, Konoha Style Taijutsu, how to identify and break basic genjutsu, and shuriken and kunai throwing techniques."

"The path of caution is arduous. I must find a way to learn some Lightning and Water Release ninjutsu."

Suddenly, there was the sound of light, shifting footsteps.

Byakuya immediately turned his head and shouted: "Who?!"

A youth slightly younger than him stepped out from behind a nearby tree.

He had messy, silver-white, spiky hair and wore a Konoha forehead protector and a face mask: "Your shurikenjutsu is quite unique."

This attire—wasn't this the future Copy Ninja, the Sixth Hokage, Hatake Kakashi!

Byakuya feigned ignorance and assumed a combat stance: "Who exactly are you?"

"Sorry to disturb your training. My name is Hatake Kakashi."

"Hatake Kakashi, lurking in the shadows to spy on someone else's training is a very impolite thing to do."

A look of apology appeared in Kakashi's eyes: "I apologize. I was just passing by and was drawn in by your shurikenjutsu, so I watched for a while. Please forgive me!"

Byakuya remained wary of him and said nothing more; he pulled down the battered target and left quickly.

If he wanted to play it safe and stay low, he had to stay as far away as possible from these key plot characters who carried endless karma, especially Kakashi!

I keep feeling like I've seen him somewhere before, but where... He clutched his forehead, trying to recall.

Byakuya chose a new, secluded spot and continued his shuriken training.

After fusing Storm Release, his Fate Grid had also enhanced his body to better adapt to the Kekkei Genkai.

He could feel his stamina recovering faster, his focus sharpening, and his chakra reserves increasing.

He trained for the entire afternoon without any further interruptions.

Leaning against a tree, he gazed at the slowly vanishing sunset, the evening glow burning across half the sky.

"After completing the few tasks issued by the Fate Grid, my strength has made significant progress. In the past, I never could have completed such high-intensity training in a single day."

Heaven Rewards Diligence: The persistent shall succeed.
Time limit: 1 day. Practice throwing shuriken at the bullseye (100/100).
Reward: Chakra capacity increased.

He closed his eyes, savoring the wonderful sensation of growing stronger.

The meridians throughout his body were widening and reinforcing; his physical and spiritual energy surged simultaneously, bringing enhancements to his speed, perception, vitality, and stamina. Chakra was, without a doubt, the core of a ninja, and its growth brought changes to every aspect of his being—the cost-effectiveness was terrifyingly high.

Byakuya hoped that all future Fate Grid rewards would be related to chakra.

"I should delve deeper into the nature and shape transformation of Lightning Release and Water Release. The more deeply I master the principles of these two releases, the more skillfully I can utilize Storm Release. The Ninja Academy library has plenty of knowledge on this, but what about ninjutsu?"

"Where can I obtain ninjutsu? Take missions to save up money and buy them on the black market?"

A thought suddenly popped into Byakuya's mind, making him chuckle: "I certainly can't get scouted by Root and earn ninjutsu by performing meritorious deeds for an organization that doesn't treat people like human beings."

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

"Supporting the great tree of Konoha from the unseen underground."

He pulled the target from the tree, tucked it under his arm, and vanished into the shadows of the forest: "Bullshit, a bunch of lunatics."