The first prerequisite for cultivating the Lightning Release body-tempering technique was mastering Lightning-nature chakra transformation, and doing so to a relatively advanced level.
Yu Ye was naturally gifted with Wind and Lightning dual chakra natures, so clearing this hurdle was effortless for him.
As for refining Lightning Release to a higher stage of nature transformation, that too posed no real difficulty.
After all, Yu Ye's chakra reserves had already reached jōnin level, fully meeting the requirements for advanced chakra nature training. On top of that, his chakra control far surpassed that of ordinary shinobi.
In barely any time at all, Yu Ye smoothly mastered a high-level Lightning Release nature transformation.
At this point, if he wished to develop techniques like Chidori, it wouldn't take much effort at all.
However, Chidori required hand seals, and even its advanced form, Lightning Cutter (Raikiri), shared the same limitation. These techniques didn't suit Yu Ye's fighting style. His purpose in training Lightning Release was never for ninjutsu—it was purely for body enhancement.
The Lightning Release body-tempering technique turned out to be even easier to cultivate than Yu Ye had expected.
Perhaps this was because his body was already extraordinarily strong, capable of easily withstanding the cellular stimulation brought about by lightning-based chakra.
Under this training, not only did Yu Ye's physical durability increase, but his neural reflex speed—in other words, his raw movement speed—rose dramatically as well.
As the training deepened, the improvement was far from minor.
Yu Ye's speed nearly doubled outright.
Previously, his technique Vacuum Shatter: Flash Barrage could only stack震荡之力 (vibrational force) from three directions simultaneously.
Now, he could stack it five times.
Of course, five was the absolute limit.
No matter how fast Yu Ye became, the vibrational force itself could not be condensed more than five times within an instant. That was its inherent ceiling.
After all, vibrational force was never about speed—it was a straightforward, overwhelming power, meant for frontal domination.
Beyond speed, the further strengthening of Yu Ye's body also significantly boosted the potency of his vibrational force.
A full-power punch combined with superhuman strength could now effortlessly shatter high-tier A-rank ninjutsu.
Even without superhuman strength layered on, a "casual" punch was already capable of breaking mid-tier A-rank techniques.
For Yu Ye now:
Without superhuman strength → an ordinary punch
With superhuman strength → a serious punch
Since his chakra reserves had reached jōnin level, the chakra consumption of superhuman strength techniques had become almost negligible.
Overall, Lightning Release body-tempering granted Yu Ye a comprehensive, across-the-board enhancement.
Although he hadn't even finished cultivating the first stage, Yu Ye was already looking forward to the second—and possibly third—stages. He was seriously considering making a trip to the Land of Lightning in the future.
After spending a full month, during which he completed nearly half of the first stage, Hiruzen Sarutobi's orders finally arrived—orders Yu Ye could no longer postpone.
He had already received covert infiltration and assassination missions earlier, but had delayed them due to Lightning Release training. Now, however, the Second Shinobi World War was intensifying rapidly, leaving no room for further delay.
Besides, even while executing missions, training didn't have to stop.
Yu Ye's assignment this time was highly unusual.
He wasn't to wear an ANBU mask or cloak.
Instead, he was to disguise himself as an ordinary civilian of the Land of Rain, blending directly into Rain Country society.
Yu Ye had several targets.
Among them were numerous Amegakure elite jōnin—
and even Hanzō of the Salamander himself.
Naturally, Yu Ye ignored that particular name.
Hanzō was clearly a boss-level opponent. That fight was better left to Konoha—or to a future team-up with the Legendary Sannin.
After all, soloing him wouldn't drop any loot.
Beyond Amegakure shinobi, Iwagakure and Sunagakure jōnin were also listed among Yu Ye's assassination targets.
On top of that, he was simultaneously tasked with intelligence gathering.
Assassination, infiltration, reconnaissance—everything was rolled into one.
This was the nature of missions assigned to a Special ANBU operative.
And precisely because of this, Yu Ye enjoyed extreme freedom.
He could use any method he saw fit to accomplish his objectives.
After a brief round of preparations, Yu Ye quietly departed from the Konoha encampment.
In the end, he chose to follow mission protocol—disguising himself as a Rain Country civilian, infiltrating the Land of Rain, and then deciding his next steps based on gathered intelligence.
He also hoped to take this opportunity to investigate the Kusanagi Sword that had fallen into Sunagakure's hands—and, if possible, seize it for himself.
Not long after Yu Ye left, deep beneath the Konoha camp, inside a hidden underground chamber, a Root operative was reporting to Shimura Danzō.
Danzō narrowed his eyes, his gaze flickering.
"So… he left the camp alone? And without an ANBU mask or cloak?"
"Is this one of Sarutobi's secret missions?"
"But why send that brat, Yu Ye? And why specifically place him into that department?"
As the Hokage's advisor, Danzō had no authority to command ANBU directly—but he did have access to most ANBU intelligence.
However—
Within ANBU existed a special unit whose records even he could not access.
Its size was unknown.
Its members were unknown.
Only its existence was confirmed.
The only two people who knew the truth about this unit were Hiruzen Sarutobi and Hatake Sakumo.
And ever since Yu Ye had been transferred into it, all information regarding Yu Ye had been sealed at the highest level.
Even Danzō struggled to learn anything.
To this day, he still couldn't understand Hiruzen's intentions.
In Danzō's view, no matter how talented Yu Ye was, he hadn't fully matured yet.
He shouldn't have been qualified for that unit.
Unless…
Sarutobi was simply trying to protect an unfinished prodigy.
At that thought, a cold glint flashed through Danzō's eyes.
"If that's the case… you might as well hand him over to me, Sarutobi."
With a quiet murmur, Danzō issued an order.
Two Root shinobi instantly appeared before him.
"Nara Luchi. Kurama Yaso."
"You two specialize in control-type techniques. Go and bring Yu Ye back."
"Alive."
"Yes!"
The two masked operatives bowed.
Nara Luchi immediately hoisted Kurama Yaso onto his back, and the pair vanished in an instant.
Watching them leave, Danzō shook his head slightly.
"The Kurama clan's physical condition really is a fatal flaw… Even Orochimaru's external enhancements couldn't fix it."
"If only that Yamanaka shinobi hadn't died recently. Pairing a Yamanaka with Luchi would've been ideal."
"It seems I'll have to visit the Yamanaka clan again."
As his thoughts returned to Yu Ye, Danzō's expression grew colder.
This was a battlefield.
A few deaths would hardly attract attention.
And once Yu Ye was under his control…
He could infiltrate Sarutobi's ANBU—
that mysterious special unit.
Coupled with Yu Ye's near-perfect bloodline ability, he would become the most powerful and useful tool in Danzō's hands.
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