Kiyohara's newly devised jutsu, Lightning Release: Guided Current Manipulated Shuriken Technique, though simple, was undeniably practical.
Any shinobi without sufficient taijutsu mastery or proper armor—just taking one hit from it would leave their flesh torn open.
And even against those who had trained their bodies, honed their taijutsu, and understood how to protect themselves with chakra, the technique could still deliver a significant numbing effect.
In battle, if the enemy's body stiffened or their mind faltered for even a split second at a critical moment, that alone could completely determine the outcome of the entire fight.
"Still… merely infusing Lightning Release chakra isn't enough. The power is still way too small."
Kiyohara stroked his chin thoughtfully.
The reason ninjutsu existed at all was that it allowed the user to maximize the effects of chakra nature transformation.
Otherwise, everyone could simply release their chakra in its elemental form. Why bother learning ninjutsu to begin with?
"Hmm… but it does get a bit hot."
Kiyohara couldn't help thinking this.
He truly didn't understand why Sasuke never burned himself when using Dragon Fire Technique. With how conductive wire is, the intense heat should immediately pass through and scorch the hand holding it.
"If that's the case, I guess I'll just have to wrap a thin layer of chakra around my fingertips each time."
Kiyohara silently concluded.
This much he could definitely handle—after all, the hands were one of the easiest places on the body to gather chakra. Only the soles of the feet were troublesome.
"By the way, do you know any similar jutsu?"
Kiyohara asked his missing-nin counterpart.
The missing-nin version of himself had only taught him two Lightning Release techniques: Lightning Release: Earth Walk, and Lightning Release: Flash Pillar.
Strictly speaking, Flash Pillar wasn't even a pure Lightning Release ninjutsu—it counted partly as a genjutsu-like technique.
The user's body would turn into streaks of lightning, producing a burst of intense light that temporarily blinded the target, inducing them to misjudge their surroundings and fall into a genjutsu-like trap.
Compared to the extremely widespread "Lightning Release: Earth Walk," which almost every hidden village's shinob knew, "Flash Pillar" was more commonly used by shinobi from the Hidden Cloud Village.
Thus, Kiyohara chose to learn Earth Walk.
If he learned Flash Pillar out of nowhere, it would be difficult to explain—he had never even met Cloud shinobi yet.
"No."
The missing-nin Kiyohara shook his head.
If he had access to more resources, why would he have defected in the first place?
When he was following Orochimaru, he didn't have much opportunity to obtain new ninjutsu either.
There were too many people around Orochimaru—unless someone had a special physique or was as clever as Kabuto, they would not be given special training.
"Well… this will have to be enough for now,"
Kiyohara nodded.
Currently, the technique he was most proficient in was the Wind Release ninjutsu Wind Release: Great Breakthrough.
This was the result of fulfilling the first wish—he had inherited the missing-nin version's complete experience, which made him equivalent to a jonin in terms of technique mastery.
He was only lacking the corresponding amount of chakra.
"No—wait. I almost forgot about Kakashi."
Kiyohara suddenly remembered.
If Kakashi could develop Chidori, then there was no way he didn't know other Lightning Release ninjutsu.
It was precisely because his foundation was so deep that he could create that technique so quickly.
As for creating something out of nothing?
Even Minato had a prototype—the Tailed Beast Bomb. It still took him three whole years to develop the Rasengan!
Night deepened, and only Kiyohara continued training beneath the moonlight.
A faint, ethereal spiritual figure silently watched over him.
…
The next morning.
Kakashi came to find him.
"Morning, Kakashi,"
Kiyohara mumbled with a toothbrush in his mouth.
"Morning."
Kakashi nodded slightly.
He wore his usual black shinobi undersuit, his black mask covering his face, with only his white, spiky hair giving him away.
"You're not using a sword anymore?"
Kiyohara noticed that Kakashi's back was empty.
The Hatake household certainly had more than one short blade.
If one intended to practice kenjutsu, one could not do so without a weapon.
And there was something else Kiyohara couldn't quite figure out.
Although Sakumo Hatake's famous short sword had shattered, it was still a great weapon. This was the blade the White Fang used to conquer countless battlefields, all without it ever breaking.
Yet in Kakashi's hands, it didn't last long before being chopped apart…
What else could one say?
Life wasn't the same depending on who you lived it with.
That blade truly met its downfall in Kakashi's hands.
"Mm. I plan to use the fragments to honor my father's spirit."
Kakashi said calmly.
After that battle, he had understood the path he needed to walk, the kind of fighting style he should pursue.
That path was the combination of the Sharingan and Chidori—the best way for him to maximize his combat potential.
Although the Sharingan's enhanced dynamic vision was extremely helpful for someone who used a blade, the offensive power simply wasn't enough.
Among all the techniques Kakashi currently knew, none had the same piercing power and cutting force as the new Lightning Release jutsu he had developed.
"I see…"
Kiyohara's expression stiffened slightly.
He remembered that in the original timeline, Kakashi died once—during Pain's assault on the village. He exhausted all his chakra and collapsed, his soul drifting toward the Pure Land.
And right at the boundary of the Pure Land, he encountered Sakumo Hatake, who had remained unable to pass on peacefully.
Yes—father and son had a conversation at the gates of the afterlife, and only after that did Sakumo finally let go.
Kiyohara couldn't help but wonder what Sakumo's expression would be like if he saw what had become of his son—whether he would feel pride… or heartbreak.
"Well, that's why I came. I wanted to discuss Lightning Release ninjutsu with you."
Kakashi nodded.
Hearing this, Kiyohara explained in detail the Lightning Release: Guided Current Manipulated Shuriken Technique he had developed the night before.
It was an easy technique to learn—simply adding Lightning Release chakra to the Manipulated Shuriken Technique, plus the cost of one copper wire.
"Not a bad idea at all."
Kakashi nodded with approval.
"But as for Lightning Release ninjutsu… there is one I know that's quite good."
He began explaining the technique he had in mind.
Kakashi was not the type to hide ninjutsu. In his mind, he was probably rambling on too much.
He assumed Kiyohara only listened to humor him.
After all, the old Kiyohara barely spoke. Sometimes Kakashi even suspected he might defect in the future.
But now, he had dismissed that thought entirely.
With how upright and righteous Kiyohara was now—there was no way he would turn traitor.
"Come in, drink some water while we talk."
Kiyohara brought Kakashi into the house and poured him a glass of plain boiled water.
According to etiquette, he should have brewed tea.
Unfortunately, he had nothing left—everything that could be pawned had already been pawned before he left for the battlefield.
"…Thanks."
Kakashi nodded.
He had already noticed that Kiyohara's home was even emptier than his face—utterly bare.
With one glance, Kakashi saw: one bed, one table, one pot, one toilet, and one wardrobe.
Nothing else. Not even a fan.
For a moment, Kakashi didn't even know where he was supposed to sit.
"I personally prefer the minimalist style."
Kiyohara said calmly.
"Oh—so this is minimalist style."
Kakashi nodded in sudden understanding.
He'd heard that this kind of interior design was all about being as simple as possible.
"Go on—keep explaining."
Kiyohara brought out the only stool in his kitchen for Kakashi to sit on.
(End of Chapter)