Night once again blanketed the Hidden Leaf Village. The forest of Training Ground No. 66 was quiet—only the soft chirping of insects and the rustle of leaves broke the silence.
But deep within the clearing, faint flashes of blue light flickered like miniature storms. Naruto Uzumaki stood at the center, his right hand raised, a faint current of lightning dancing across his palm. The air around him sizzled, and the smell of ozone filled the clearing.
He smiled faintly. "So this is lightning chakra… alive, wild, violent. " He could feel it surging through his hand, the raw, electric energy that sought to destroy everything it touched. It wasn't as calm or gentle as wind—it was pure, untamed power. Exactly the kind he liked.
He exhaled slowly and began channeling chakra again, this time molding it with the sharpness and speed of lightning. In his mind's eye, he pictured a storm—bolts racing through dark clouds, tearing the heavens apart in a heartbeat. His chakra responded instantly.
Crack! A spark leapt between his fingers, followed by a faint electric hum. The hairs on his arms stood on end.
Then— "You are training lightning nature transformation! " "You have comprehended Basic Lightning Nature! "
Naruto grinned. "Good start. "
He tightened his fist and forced the chakra outward again. The sparks grew brighter, until arcs of blue lightning danced freely across his hand. Each discharge was powerful enough to scorch the ground lightly.
He could feel the current running through his muscles, awakening something primal in his body. It wasn't just chakra anymore—it was energy.
He focused deeper. To truly master lightning nature, he needed to merge speed and precision—control the current like flowing water, not let it explode uncontrollably.
He extended his hand toward a tree nearby and released the chakra in a sudden burst.
Zzzt! A streak of lightning shot forward, tearing through the air with a loud crack! And blasting a fist-sized hole through the tree trunk. The leaves rustled violently from the shockwave.
Naruto lowered his hand, staring at the smoking mark. "That'll do. "
Then came the familiar chime in his mind: "Your understanding deepens! " "You have mastered Intermediate Lightning Nature! " "You can now direct lightning chakra through your body to increase reaction speed and nerve conduction. "
He paused, intrigued. "Nerve conduction? "
He immediately tested it—channeling lightning chakra through his body, letting it flow into his arms and legs. The world seemed to slow down. Every movement became clearer, every sound sharper, every breath synchronized with the crackle of electricity in his veins.
He took a step forward—and in that instant, he vanished.
Crack! He reappeared several meters away, the air where he had stood still humming faintly.
Naruto blinked in surprise. He hadn't used a jutsu—just pure movement, enhanced by lightning chakra stimulating his muscles.
He grinned. "Speed of thought… huh? I like that. "
He continued to train, each burst of chakra faster and cleaner than the last. The sparks no longer burned him—they obeyed him. The lightning had become a part of his body, like blood and bone.
Hours passed, and finally another chime rang in his mind. "You have achieved Advanced Lightning Nature Mastery! " "You can channel lightning through weapons and attacks. " "Reflexes increased by 400%. "
Naruto flexed his hand, watching lightning flow between his fingers like living serpents. He picked up a kunai from his pouch, focused, and poured lightning chakra into it. The blade hummed sharply, its edge glowing faintly with blue light.
When he swung it downward—
Zzzt! The air itself split. A streak of lightning cut through the ground, leaving a deep, blackened scar in the soil.
Naruto whistled softly. "Not bad. If I keep this up, even metal won't stand a chance. "
At that very moment, hidden in the forest canopy above, two ANBU operatives were watching through chakra lenses.
"Are you seeing this? " one whispered. "He's using lightning chakra to enhance his movement. That's… that's advanced jōnin-level technique! "
The other nodded slowly. "And he's what—six years old? " "Seven, maybe. "
The first ANBU swallowed. "This kid's terrifying. " "Yeah, " the second muttered. "Let's just pray he stays on our side. "
They vanished silently into the shadows, to deliver their report to the Hokage.
Meanwhile, Naruto deactivated his lightning flow and sat down on a tree stump. His chakra was still buzzing faintly, but he wasn't tired at all. In fact, he felt more awake than ever.
Lightning energy coursed through his meridians, refining his control even further. He could feel the faint electric pulse beneath his skin—steady, rhythmic, alive.
He closed his eyes and smiled faintly. "Lightning… pure energy and motion. " "If Wind is freedom, then Lightning is will. "
He thought about the two elements together—wind's cutting precision and lightning's explosive speed. Then he smirked. "If I combine them… it'll be unstoppable. "
High above the village, in the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen read the latest ANBU report. His brows furrowed as he set the paper down.
"Three hours for wind… four hours for lightning…"
He exhaled heavily, his expression grim. "At this rate, he'll master all five elements before graduating the Academy. "
He stood by the window, looking out over Konoha's rooftops glowing under the moonlight. "Minato… Kushina… your son's talent truly defies heaven. "
Then, more quietly: "But what will that talent become? "
The old man's eyes reflected the moon, and for a fleeting moment, there was uncertainty in the gaze of the Hokage.
Down in the forest, Naruto looked toward the village lights in the distance. He could feel the gaze watching him from afar—the ANBU, the Hokage, even Danzo's Root. But it didn't bother him anymore.
He simply smiled. "Watch all you want. " "Because soon, you won't even understand what you're seeing. "
He raised his hand again, lightning and wind swirling together faintly at his fingertips—unstable, chaotic, but filled with limitless potential. The two elements hissed and sparked, repelling and colliding like wild beasts. And yet, Naruto's eyes gleamed with excitement.
"Fusion training, " he whispered. "Let's see if I can make it work. "
The forest trembled with the roar of wind and thunder as the boy began to experiment—each spark brighter, each gust stronger—a child playing with the powers of gods.
And somewhere deep inside his body, the Nine-Tails stirred, its crimson eyes flickering open.
"Hmph… interesting, brat, " the beast growled, a low rumble echoing in the sealed space. "Maybe you're not as useless as I thought. "
◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews. comment
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ You can read 50 chapter ahead on P@treon if you're interested: www.patreon.comTheShadowMonarch
