Lightning Release: Spider Web Cat Rush

"What's the use of this scarf?"

On the way home, Shinmoku took out the system's reward.

[Cold Protection]

"Chirp chirp—"

Just then, the sound of summer cicadas chirping could be heard.

"How strange, a scarf can protect against the cold?"

[Charm +1]

Charm?

He had to admit, the scarf was quite beautiful, with a lot of white space in a Ukiyo-e style, woven from fine cashmere yarn, with tassels, long and wide, it could even be used as a shawl.

But what was the use of charm? He already had a handsome face.

Back in his room, he casually tossed it onto the coat rack.

First, let's see if I can use the Flying Raijin Jutsu. He took out the scroll he had copied long ago, studied it carefully, condensed chakra at his fingertips, and began to draw the Flying Raijin mark on the wooden floor.

The training was effective, at least in this part, it was very smooth.

He was drawing the first version of the Flying Raijin mark. He had no choice; one of the prerequisites for learning the Fourth Generation's mark was mastering the Second Generation's version.

The second step required being able to sense one's own mark. This depended entirely on talent; if you had it, you had it, and if not, you'd never learn it.

Shinmoku could sense it.

After establishing the connection, he stepped back two meters.

Face-to-face quick teleportation.

No, a one-centimeter flash.

"Flying Raijin Jutsu."

Instantly, he appeared above the mark.

"Success."

"Bang!"

He slammed hard onto the floor.

Pain.

Every cell in his body ached, as if it had been crushed and then reassembled.

No wonder so few people mastered this technique. If one's physical fitness was even slightly lacking, they might die of pain on their first practice.

"Knock knock knock—"

There was a knock on the door.

"What... what is it?" he asked through gritted teeth.

"Have you eaten?"

"I have... eaten."

The footsteps receded, and Shinmoku slowly closed his eyes, falling into a deep sleep.

In another courtyard behind the central garden, Shinnna, after washing up, changed into her nightgown.

The moonlight was bright. She lightly jumped onto the roof, which had curved eaves. Barefoot, she sat down with her legs hugged to her chest.

Under the moonlight, she was veiled in a hazy, fine mist.

Her gaze crossed the central garden to Shinmoku's room, where the light was on.

After waiting for an unknown amount of time, the lights in the distant village had all gone out, but Shinmoku's room remained brightly lit.

She stood up, leaped across the central garden, and landed at the door of Shinmoku's room. After hesitating for a long time, she pushed the door open.

Shinmoku was curled up on the floor, his face contorted in pain.

Shinnna sighed and helped him turn off the light.

The next morning, Shinmoku woke up from the pain.

It wasn't a problem with his physical fitness. To practice the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, his body had been tempered by the Raikage himself.

It must have been due to insufficient mastery of the mark's formation and insufficient chakra control.

The weaving training still had to continue.

After summarizing, Shinmoku struggled to get up and walked towards the Hyuga Clan's compound.

"What are you doing here?"

At the entrance of the Hyuga Clan, Shinmoku ran into Neji, who was just coming out.

"...Looking for Hinata."

Neji frowned slightly and walked around Shinmoku.

"..."

Not participating, not commenting.

"Hello, I'm looking for Hinata Hyuga."

After entering, he casually found someone to ask for directions.

"If you're giving a gift, just leave it to me."

"...I am Uchiha Shinmoku."

"Please follow me."

Shinmoku followed him to a separate courtyard.

Inside the gate, a little girl was sparring with an older man. It should be Hanabi and Hiashi Hyuga.

"Patriarch." The person leading the way spoke, "Mr. Uchiha Shinmoku is here to see Miss Hinata."

"Uchiha?" The practice paused, Hiashi Hyuga said, "When did Hinata get involved with the Uchiha family?"

"Yesterday?"

Shinmoku's tone was uncertain. Before yesterday, he had exchanged no more than three sentences with Hinata, so it probably didn't count.

"Shinmoku-kun?" Hinata poked her head out of the room, "Are we still studying today?"

"Yes, thank you for your trouble."

"It's nothing, I'm happy to help you." She gave a faint smile.

"Thank you."

"Let's go~"

The two of them practically ignored Hiashi Hyuga.

Hiashi Hyuga frowned as he watched the direction they left, and after a moment, he resumed sparring with Hanabi.

Still knitting a scarf, but it only took him one morning.

It was still Ichiraku Ramen. Teuchi knew Hinata's secret about what she could eat and promised not to tell anyone.

"I'm going to practice some other things this afternoon. Do you want to come along, or go back and rest?" Shinmoku asked after lunch.

"I..."

Kiba was training with Shino. Since she had to recover from her injuries and didn't have many friends, she was actually tempted.

"Can I watch?"

"I don't mind," Shinmoku replied.

"Is there anything you need me to do?"

"Probably not... cheer you on?"

"I can do that!" Hinata nodded emphatically, her eyes turning into smiling crescents.

The training planned for the afternoon was the further development of Lightning Style: Spider Web and Lightning Strike.

Both were C-rank ninjutsu. Spider Web only had the effect of paralyzing enemies. Lightning Strike was lethal, but slow to form and required guidance. He hadn't used it since becoming a Chunin in Cloud Village.

The purpose of further development was to add lethality to Spider Web and increase the speed of Lightning Strike.

"Lightning Style: Spider Web."

In the back of the mountain, after releasing the ninjutsu, Shinmoku formed the Seal of Unmei again following the hand seals for Spider Web.

Thanks to the practice over the past two days, he precisely controlled his chakra, causing a slight arc of light to leap up from the originally flat spider web, gradually condensing into a ball.

Not bad, the first stage went smoothly.

He dispelled Spider Web.

"Summoning Technique!"

A completely black cat was summoned.

There was a saying that Kakashi Hatake's Earth Style: Earth Wall had dog head statues because he borrowed the chakra of his summoning beast.

Shinmoku wanted to do the same, but with the opposite goal. He wanted the summoning beast's transformation.

"So cute!" Hinata's eyes sparkled.

Shinmoku glanced at her.

"Summoning Technique!"

"Go play with her." He said to the second, plump ragdoll cat.

"Meow~"

"Xiao Hei, lend me your chakra."

"Meow!"

Xiao Hei raised its front paws, and its paws, which couldn't be seen, slapped its forehead in a salute before jumping onto Shinmoku's head.

"Lightning Release: Spider Web!"

The blue arcs of light transformed into the shape of a small cat.

The second stage was complete.

"Xiaobu, jump up."

He turned his head to speak to the ragdoll cat, who was currently playing with Hinata.

"Meow!"

Without a second thought, Xiaobu leaped straight up.

As it went momentarily rigid, the cat made of lightning surged toward it along the electric web.

"Meow! Meow! Meow!"

"That sounded like quite the foul-mouthed complaint."

Shinmoku dispelled the ninjutsu, and Xiaobu instantly leaped into Hinata's arms.

Lightning Release: Spider Web Cat Rush.

Complete!