"Chichi—!"
The sharp, crackling sound of lightning suddenly echoed across the training ground.
Kakashi, who had been leaning lazily against a tree, flipped a page of his book—then paused.
Slowly, he turned his head.
What he saw made his visible eye widen slightly.
In Aoki Yoru's hand, lightning gathered and surged violently, forming a concentrated mass of crackling energy. The air around it distorted faintly, and the ground beneath his feet showed signs of subtle trembling.
It was unmistakable.
The shape.
The intensity.
The nature of the chakra.
It was—
The Lightning Cutter.
At that moment, however, the lightning in Aoki's hand flickered and dispersed into the air.
He frowned slightly.
"No… it's still not right."
Without hesitation, he formed hand seals again.
"It needs to be compressed further… more refined…"
Kakashi stared silently.
A rare trace of astonishment surfaced in his eyes.
He actually replicated it… after seeing it once?
When Kakashi had first created the Lightning Cutter, it had taken him nearly half a year of relentless experimentation and refinement.
Even among the Uchiha—who were known for their exceptional copying ability—he had never seen anyone grasp the technique merely by observing it once.
Yet Aoki—
Had already reached this level.
Kakashi slowly exhaled.
"Huu…"
Then, as if nothing had happened, he returned to his usual lazy demeanor.
With a light jump, he landed on a tree branch and casually pulled out his book.
Icha Icha Paradise.
Soon, he was "studying" again.
Below, on the training ground—
Aoki continued.
Again.
And again.
Lightning formed in his palm.
Collapsed.
Formed again.
Each attempt was slightly better than the last.
His control improved.
His compression tightened.
The violent energy gradually became more obedient under his will.
From the shadows, Kakashi observed quietly.
Even he couldn't help but feel a twitch in his eyelids.
At this rate… he'll master it very soon.
Evening came quickly.
The golden light of the setting sun stretched long shadows across the village.
"Creak—"
Aoki pushed open the door to his home.
His body felt heavy.
Every muscle ached.
His chakra reserves were nearly drained.
But—
His face was full of smiles.
Today's training had been incredibly rewarding.
Not only had he begun mastering the Lightning Cutter, but he had also taken the opportunity to learn several other ninjutsu from Kakashi—techniques spanning Lightning, Water, and even Earth Release.
Having Kakashi as a teacher… is truly a blessing.
Even among Konoha's elite jonin, very few were as versatile as Kakashi.
If there was anyone more well-rounded—
It would only be Jiraiya.
But Jiraiya was rarely in the village.
When Aoki had first arrived in this world, he had once dreamed of becoming Jiraiya's disciple.
But reality quickly shattered that fantasy.
Konoha wasn't a place where opportunities simply fell into your lap.
Someone like Minato, who had been discovered and nurtured early, was an exception—not the rule.
Aoki shook his head slightly and headed to the kitchen.
After quickly preparing food, he devoured it without ceremony.
Then—
He sat cross-legged on his bed.
Closed his eyes.
And began cultivating again.
Natural energy.
This was his true trump card.
Something that could mean the difference between life and death.
He couldn't afford to neglect it.
Slowly, he adjusted the balance between his physical energy, spiritual energy, and the natural energy he drew in.
The process was delicate.
Precise.
Over time, his capacity to contain natural energy increased.
His body was gradually adapting.
But—
It was still slow.
Too slow.
Thinking about the looming future—the chaos of the Fourth Great Ninja War—
Aoki felt a faint sense of urgency.
I need to get stronger… faster.
Suddenly—
His eyes snapped open.
A spark of realization flashed within them.
"…Wait."
A smile slowly spread across his face.
Why am I forcing it into my body?
Instead—
He extended his perception outward.
Using his spiritual energy, he began to manipulate the natural energy in the surrounding environment.
Slowly.
Carefully.
He gathered it together.
Compressed it.
Shaped it.
"...Heh…"
A strange, almost eerie chuckle escaped his lips.
"It works…"
"It actually works!"
Excitement surged within him.
"I really am a genius."
He gave himself a thumbs-up, utterly pleased.
Of course—
The moment the energy formed—
It dissipated.
Aoki blinked.
"…Alright. Still needs work."
But he wasn't discouraged.
If anything—
He was more motivated.
He began again.
Forming.
Dissipating.
Forming.
Dissipating.
Again and again.
Gradually—
The duration increased.
The stability improved.
He pushed further.
Compressing the gathered energy into thin threads.
Refining it.
Controlling it.
Step by step.
Progress was slow.
But undeniable.
Five days later.
Training Ground 6.
The air was crisp, and the ground bore the marks of countless battles.
Aoki and Kenta stood apart, each focused on their own training.
Yui was absent.
She had been assigned by Kakashi to study at the hospital.
Medical training.
Another advantage of having a powerful and well-connected teacher.
Connections matter…
Aoki thought quietly.
Suddenly—
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
Two figures crashed down from above, landing heavily on the ground and kicking up clouds of dust.
Aoki raised an eyebrow.
Kenta turned his head.
Standing amidst the dust—
Was a man with a bowl haircut.
Thick eyebrows.
A green jumpsuit.
And an aura of overwhelming enthusiasm.
"My eternal rival!"
He turned dramatically, flashing a dazzling thumbs-up.
"Another draw!"
"But I will not give up!"
"Youth is about surpassing oneself!"
"Next time—I will defeat you fairly!"
His teeth gleamed unnaturally bright in the sunlight.
Aoki's mouth twitched.
…So this is him.
Kakashi landed nearby, casually dusting off his clothes.
He looked completely unfazed.
"This is Might Guy," he said.
"Konoha's top taijutsu specialist."
He glanced at Kenta.
"You'll be training under him for a while."
Kenta's eyes widened.
Then—
He nodded firmly.
"Yes, Kakashi-sensei!"
Excitement and determination filled his expression.
For someone like him—
This was a priceless opportunity.
Aoki glanced at Kakashi.
He really is putting thought into this.
Kenta was naturally suited for taijutsu.
And there was no better teacher than Might Guy.
Guy suddenly appeared in front of Kenta.
He circled him.
Prodded his arms.
Pressed his shoulders.
Then nodded vigorously.
"Excellent!"
"This physique—perfect for taijutsu!"
He struck a pose.
"Since Kakashi has entrusted you to me—"
"I will forge you into a powerhouse of youth!"
He pointed dramatically into the distance.
"Now!"
"Run fifty laps around Konoha with me!"
"Youth allows no laziness!"
"Go!!!"
Boom!
He dashed off instantly, leaving behind a trail of dust.
Kenta blinked.
Then—
"Wait for me!"
He sprinted after him without hesitation.
Aoki watched the two disappear into the distance.
"…That was fast."
He stepped forward toward Kakashi.
"Kakashi-sensei."
"Yes?"
"The Lightning Cutter is too violent."
Aoki spoke thoughtfully.
"I was wondering… if its nature could be adjusted."
"Make it more stable."
"Extend its range."
"And reduce the control difficulty."
Kakashi looked at him.
Not surprised.
Just thoughtful.
"…Theoretically possible."
He nodded slowly.
"I'll try it."
The next day—
Aoki stood frozen.
"…What?"
In front of him—
Kakashi stood enveloped in purple lightning.
His white hair stood upright.
His body radiated intense energy.
This…
Aoki's eyelid twitched.
Isn't this basically a Super Saiyan?
"If his hair turned yellow, this would be perfect…"
He muttered internally.
In just one day—
Kakashi had developed a new technique based on Aoki's idea.
Purple Lightning.
And—
He had even integrated elements of the Lightning Chakra Mode.
This is what true talent looks like…
After a moment, Kakashi dispersed the chakra.
"This consumes too much chakra," he said calmly.
"For me, it's only suitable for short bursts."
The Sharingan's constant drain made prolonged usage impractical.
Then—
He began explaining the principles behind it.
The flow of chakra.
The balance.
The control points.
Aoki listened carefully.
Nodding repeatedly.
These insights—
Would have taken him months to figure out alone.
Finally—
Kakashi's expression grew serious.
He took out a scroll.
And handed it over.
Aoki accepted it curiously.
When he opened it—
His pupils shrank.
His breathing quickened.
"...This is…"
The White Fang Sword Technique.
A legendary technique.
The pride of the Hatake clan.
"Kakashi-sensei… this is too valuable."
Aoki looked up, shocked.
"This is your clan's secret technique."
Kakashi shook his head.
"There's no rule saying it must stay within the clan."
His voice was calm.
But carried weight.
"A sword technique exists to be used."
"To be passed on."
"To protect what matters."
His gaze softened slightly.
"My father made this technique famous across the ninja world."
"I hope… you can carry it forward."
Aoki's grip tightened around the scroll.
He bowed deeply.
"I won't let it fade."
Kakashi nodded.
Then—
In the next instant—
He vanished.
Leaving Aoki standing alone in the training ground.
Holding a legacy.
And a future—
That was now his to shape.