Kakashi's Lightning Release Chakra Mode, Combat Power Soars!

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Ato's Mental Training Space.

Ato had already been training here for a month.

At that moment, Ato was engaged in an intense battle with his Mental Clone.

Within the mental space, Ato could freely create Mental Clones of himself.

The Mental Clone possessed exactly the same strength and thoughts as him.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The dull sounds of fists and feet colliding echoed continuously through the mental space.

Ato's Mangekyo Sharingan spun rapidly in his eye sockets.

He bent his right arm to block, stopping the Mental Clone's roundhouse kick.

Then he flashed behind the Mental Clone and sent a roundhouse kick straight at its back.

As a Mental Clone with the same strength and thoughts as Ato, it knew every one of Ato's moves inside out.

The Mental Clone swiftly charged forward. While dodging Ato's attack, it turned and fired an Energy Blast at him.

Ato clenched his right hand into a fist and smashed the Energy Blast away with a straight punch.

Then he flashed before the Mental Clone again, clenched both fists, and launched a rapid barrage at it.

Faced with Ato's assault, the Mental Clone raised both arms to block from side to side, its defense impenetrable.

The two fought faster and faster, every strike landing solidly with immense force.

After a brief close-quarters exchange, Ato and the Mental Shadow Clone raised their legs at the same time.

Bang! Bang!

Ato's and the Mental Shadow Clone's attacks both struck the other's chest. The heavy kicks sent both of them flying backward.

"Whew... Fighting a Mental Clone can't make up for my lack of combat experience at all."

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Ato casually dismissed the Mental Clone, then frowned deeply.

Through his battle with the Mental Clone, Ato had discovered his weakness.

A lack of combat experience.

He relied entirely on overwhelming strength in battle, without a shred of actual fighting technique.

Ever since becoming a Saiyan, Ato had never truly fought anyone.

That was also why he had organized the Martial Arts Tournament.

Although the Ninja World's ninja were inferior to Ato in combat power,

their hand-to-hand combat skills and battle experience still surpassed his, someone who had never truly fought before.

Moreover, Ato had originally joined the Lower-Class Saiyan Destruction Corps precisely to fight.

"I've trained for a month. It's time to rest."

After a month of mental training, his mind was already extremely exhausted.

Mental training was different from physical training.

It required a proper balance between exertion and rest.

Once one overtrained, it would drain the mind instead, making the effort counterproductive.

Therefore, whenever Ato felt mentally exhausted, he would head straight to the lounge in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber and use sleep to restore his mental strength.

However, Ato did not return to the Hyperbolic Time Chamber to rest today.

Instead, he directly withdrew from the mental space.

Ato opened his eyes in his training room.

Then he stretched and lightly moved his body.

Ato could feel that as his mental strength grew, his control over his body had become stronger as well.

That put him in a very good mood.

Since it was rare for him to take a break, Ato decided to go out for a stroll.

With a thought, Ato left his villa and appeared on Konoha's bustling streets.

Watching the lively streets, Ato wandered around casually like an ordinary person.

Just as Ato stood before a takoyaki stall, eating with great relish,

a group of ninja wearing Shinobi Alliance forehead protectors sped past over the rooftops around him.

Ato curiously looked up and immediately spotted a familiar face.

Hiruzen Sarutobi!

Hiruzen Sarutobi was carrying a huge Sealing Scroll in his hands.

"Notify the Fourth Hokage immediately. The Uchiha Clan has contributed a pair of Three-Tomoe Sharingan!"

Even while racing forward, Hiruzen Sarutobi did not forget to instruct an Anbu beside him.

"Yes, Minister Sarutobi." The Anbu vanished in a Body Flicker.

Ato tossed the final takoyaki into his mouth, then opened his Byakugan with interest and looked in the direction Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others had disappeared.

Konoha, Eighth Training Ground.

Inside this enormous training ground,

Kakashi and Might Guy stood facing each other.

Between them, Minato Namikaze raised his right hand with a grave expression.

"Begin!"

Boom!

As soon as Minato Namikaze spoke, Kakashi moved first.

The chakra within him erupted, and Lightning Release Armor crackling with arcs of electricity covered his entire body.

What Kakashi used was Kumogakure's secret technique: Lightning Release Chakra Mode.

It activated every cell in the body with lightning-nature chakra, enhancing speed, strength, neural reactions, and more.

It was Kumogakure's strongest Nintaijutsu.

Crackle! Crackle!

Blue electricity constantly flickered over Kakashi's Lightning Release Armor, while every strand of his silver hair stood on end, making him look incredibly cool.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

As Kakashi activated Lightning Release Chakra Mode, the Scouter over Minato Namikaze's eye immediately began to sound.

Kakashi's combat power had originally only been 30, the standard level for a jonin.

But now, the number began climbing rapidly.

30.

42.

58.

74!!!

Only after Kakashi's combat power reached 74 did the number on the Scouter stop changing.

Lightning Release Chakra Mode alone had directly increased Kakashi's combat power by twofold!

"Just as expected, Kakashi's talent is exceptionally suited to Kumogakure's Lightning Release Chakra Mode." A trace of delight appeared on Minato Namikaze's face.

Then he turned to look at Might Guy beside him.

Might Guy took a deep breath, then crossed his arms before his chest.

"Eight Gates, Gate of View—Open!"

Boom!

Massive green chakra surged from Might Guy's body.

His combat power also rose from 15.

It shot upward rapidly.

40.

60.

70.

"Whew... whew... whew."

Sweat poured from Might Guy's entire body. Opening six gates at once had increased his combat power fivefold, but with his current physique, he could only maintain it for five minutes before his body could no longer bear the strain and he lost all combat power.

"If only I had a body as powerful as Lord Ato's." Feeling the immense pain caused by opening six gates, Might Guy could not help muttering.

A ninja's body was simply too weak.

As a result, Might Guy could not bring out the Eight Gates' true power at all.

After breathing heavily a few times, Might Guy nodded toward the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki's Shadow Clone, who was watching from the side.

"Earth Release: Ultra-Added-Weight Rock Technique."

Ōnoki's Shadow Clone formed hand seals, his palms aimed at Might Guy.

This was Iwagakure's secret Earth Release ninjutsu.

It could increase the weight of oneself or an enemy, making the body heavier than rock.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

As Might Guy's body was affected by the Ultra-Added-Weight Rock Technique, his combat power soared once more, reaching 85.

The Eight Gates combined with the Ultra-Added-Weight Rock Technique made every one of his attacks contain incomparably heavy force.

"What a pity. Guy's talent for ninjutsu is poor, so he can't learn Lady Tsunade's Strength of a Hundred Technique. Otherwise, with the Eight Gates and the Akimichi Clan's Three-Colored Pills, Guy's combat power would skyrocket."

There was delight in Minato Namikaze's eyes, but also a trace of regret.

In truth, the Eight Gates and Iwagakure's Ultra-Added-Weight Rock Technique were not a suitable match.

The ideal combination was the Strength of a Hundred Technique created by Tsunade, also known as the Creation Rebirth Technique.

As long as Might Guy could learn that technique, then so long as he did not open the Gate of Death, he could use the Eight Gates continuously without any side effects.

And if it were paired with the Akimichi Clan's supreme secret medicine, the Three-Colored Pills, which greatly enhanced one's strength,

Might Guy's power could even reach an unprecedented level.

Boom!

After each had completed their techniques, Kakashi's and Might Guy's speed surged rapidly, and they collided head-on.

Bang!

Kakashi clenched his right fist, blue arcs of electricity dancing across it as he punched at Might Guy.

Might Guy crossed his arms to block.

Boom!

A huge blast erupted from the two of them and instantly spread in all directions.

"Morning Peacock!" After blocking Kakashi's attack, Might Guy exerted force through his waist and abdomen, swinging both fists. His ultra-high-speed attacks turned the air into flame-shaped air blasts that swept toward Kakashi like a peacock spreading its tail.

"So fast!" Kakashi's pupils contracted. Although Lightning Release Chakra Mode had enhanced him, Kakashi's expression remained grave as he faced the overwhelming barrage of flaming air blasts.

"Lightning Cutter!"

Kakashi gripped his right wrist with his left hand. Electricity flashed over his right hand, producing a piercing shriek like the cry of a thousand birds.

This was the A-rank ninjutsu Kakashi had developed himself: Lightning Release: Lightning Cutter!

After releasing Lightning Cutter, Kakashi's speed surged once again. Rather than retreating, he charged forward.

Like a streak of blue lightning, he instantly pierced through the flames filling the sky.

Pssh!

Might Guy only saw a blur before Kakashi's right hand had pierced through his shoulder.

Bright red blood flowed from Might Guy's shoulder before turning into steam.

"As expected of my lifelong rival!"

Might Guy quickly retreated and opened the distance from Kakashi. Ignoring his injury, he gave Kakashi a thumbs-up.

"Guy, are you all right?"

Kakashi glanced at the blood on his right hand, his gaze toward Might Guy filled with apology.

In truth, he had nearly pierced Might Guy's heart just now.

If he had not barely adjusted his palm at the final moment and moved it slightly upward,

then Might Guy's shoulder being pierced would have been the least of his problems.

Under Lightning Release Chakra Mode, his Lightning Cutter had become even stronger.

His previous Lightning Cutter had been said to be capable of instantly cutting through lightning.

But that had only been an exaggeration.

It was merely meant to describe Lightning Cutter's speed and sharpness.

But now, his Lightning Cutter truly could cut through lightning.

Moreover, after releasing Lightning Cutter, the Lightning Release Armor around Kakashi's body became even more active, increasing his cellular activation several times over.

This further enhanced his speed, strength, neural reactions, and more.

"Sensei, what was my combat power just now?" After confirming that Might Guy was not seriously hurt, Kakashi deactivated Lightning Release Chakra Mode and asked Minato Namikaze.

"Very strong. Your instantaneous combat power just now reached 92!"

"That has already begun to approach the power of a Tailed Beast Ball!"