Chapter 31 Conscious Lightning
Third Hokage was somewhat shocked.
"To actually possess All Nature Chakra—this kind of talent is absurdly powerful."
"And he even managed to learn a ninjutsu like 'Chidori' in a single try. His learning ability is also extremely strong."
"His Chakra reserves are enormous as well. It seems he really might be able to catch up to First Hokage's back."
Kakashi didn't know exactly how powerful First Hokage had been, but for Third Hokage to praise him so highly, he had to be incredibly strong.
Possibly even far stronger than Third Hokage himself.
After all, Third Hokage had said that First Hokage's ninjutsu could change the terrain. In Kakashi's impression, only a Tailed Beast possessed that kind of power.
In truth, Third Hokage was the one most shaken by all this.
The two he held the highest hopes for were Naruto and Sasuke, and that was precisely why he had made Kakashi their supervising Jonin.
He had never expected that Konohagakure was still hiding a ninja who might one day reach the same level as First Hokage. In Third Hokage's eyes, perhaps Konohagakure's revival was close at hand.
Seeing Third Hokage's calm expression, Kakashi said worriedly, "Lord Hokage, I think that before Yoruha has the ability to protect himself, he shouldn't be placed in people's sight."
Kakashi was worried that people from other villages—or even people within the village itself—might make a move against Yoruha.
Even though the ninja world was generally at peace right now, Kakashi had lived through the Third Great Ninja War. He knew very well that the other hidden villages would never be willing to let Konohagakure produce a ninja who could threaten them.
Not to mention that in Kakashi's mind, Yoruha might one day reach Fourth Hokage's level.
Back then, Fourth Hokage alone had been enough to deter the other hidden villages.
If they learned of Yoruha's existence, they would absolutely do everything they could to eliminate him.
That was something Kakashi did not want to see.
And there would also be people inside the village who would want him dead.
For example, Danzo. That man would never allow the existence of someone who might one day threaten the village.
In Kakashi's view, Danzo simply didn't want the village to produce someone who could compete with him for the position of Hokage.
Third Hokage naturally understood this, so he nodded.
"I know your concerns. I'll leave Yoruha to you. I hope you can help him become the trunk that supports Konohagakure in the future."
"And one more thing—find out exactly what that power inside him is."
"Help him bring it under control."
Third Hokage had no intention of teaching Yoruha personally.
If he did, it would be almost the same as telling others that Yoruha was special.
Hearing Third Hokage make those arrangements, Kakashi secretly let out a sigh of relief.
What he had feared most was that Third Hokage might transfer Yoruha to his own side. If that happened, Yoruha's situation would become extremely dangerous.
Even if Third Hokage didn't harm him, Danzo would never let him have it easy.
"All right, go see how he's doing now. I need to deal with the aftermath of this incident."
After leaving the Hokage Building, Kakashi headed straight for Yoruha's house.
Once Kakashi had gone, Third Hokage stood by the window, looking out at Konohagakure's nightscape.
He thought back to twelve years ago.
"I wonder whether that child will become another First Hokage... or Madara."
"If he becomes Madara, there won't be a First Hokage in this era to keep him in check."
Though Third Hokage valued Yoruha's talent greatly, if Yoruha truly gained Hashirama's strength in the future, there would be no one in Konohagakure capable of restraining him.
And if Yoruha became someone like Madara, Konohagakure would be in grave danger all the same.
"This is truly a huge gamble."
Third Hokage's expression grew solemn.
After all, he had no idea what kind of future awaited Yoruha. Whether it would be good or bad often came down to a single thought.
"Kakashi, I hope your judgment isn't wrong."
"Naruto, Sasuke—will you be able to become as strong as him in the future?"
Third Hokage had very high expectations for Naruto and Sasuke.
"If Naruto fully masters Kurama and becomes a perfect jinchūriki, and Sasuke awakens the Mangekyō Sharingan and gains that godlike power, then perhaps the two of you together will be able to keep him in check."
"Or perhaps, if the two of you are the ones who go wrong, Yoruha will be able to keep you in check."
Third Hokage had originally felt some concern over Yoruha's future, but once he thought of Naruto and Sasuke, he no longer felt quite so troubled.
In his view, both Naruto and Sasuke had tremendous potential.
If the two of them formed a powerful combination in the future, they might well have the strength to restrain Yoruha.
Third Hokage knew very well just how great the potential of Kurama and the Sharingan was.
Kakashi arrived at Yoruha's home.
At this moment, Yoruha was still unconscious.
But his vital signs were perfectly normal.
Standing by the bed and looking at the sleeping Yoruha, Kakashi sighed. "I told Third Hokage about you. I hope when you wake up, you won't blame me."
"Third Hokage had already seen through it. If I had kept hiding it, he would only have grown more suspicious of whether your existence might threaten Konohagakure."
Kakashi was helpless.
He had originally intended to keep Yoruha's situation hidden.
Who could have expected what happened tonight?
Just thinking about the commotion Yoruha had caused that evening still left Kakashi shaken.
Looking at Yoruha's still somewhat youthful face, he said, "I really don't know how someone your age can possess such terrifying Chakra reserves."
"That ninjutsu was already comparable to a Tailed Beast Ball. 'Chidori' can't produce that kind of destruction."
"But in the end, it did seem like some kind of Lightning Release ninjutsu similar to 'Chidori.'"
"Though that lightning had already far surpassed natural lightning... perhaps that's the kind of energy Sage Mode is supposed to have."
Kakashi suspected that the lightning Yoruha had unleashed might be because the Chakra he used was Senjutsu Chakra.
And Senjutsu Chakra was inherently far more powerful than ordinary Chakra.
Kakashi stood by the bed, guarding Yoruha, while Yoruha's consciousness was completely immersed in his mental space.
Yoruha himself was also confused about what had happened that night.
"Your Chakra reserves have doubled. Your speed has doubled."
Inside his mental space, that was all Yoruha heard—that his Chakra and speed had increased.
There was no explanation at all for why what had just happened had occurred.
Yoruha thought for a moment. "Could it be because of my Chakra? Maybe I output too much Chakra. After all, my Chakra is different from ordinary Chakra."
"It's pure Natural Energy. Inside my body, it's completely controllable, but once it overflows from my body, does it Rampage?"
Yoruha speculated.
In fact, he had already guessed correctly.
The reason Yoruha had caused such a disturbance that night was entirely because he had output too much Chakra, which triggered the surrounding Natural Energy to Rampage.
The Natural Energy inside Yoruha had a self-protection mechanism. The instant it sensed a danger in the surroundings that threatened Yoruha's life, it absorbed the surrounding Natural Energy and created an energy shield for him, protecting him from the lightning strike.
And since all that lightning had been created by Yoruha in the first place, it itself carried a certain awareness. When the energy erupted, most of it did not strike toward Yoruha.
That was exactly why everything around him ended up being the unlucky one instead.
The vast majority of the thunder's energy was released straight into the ground around Yoruha.