Shinichi also answered tirelessly, and depending on the question, he either explained the principles in concise language, directly demonstrated the flow of chakra, or even guided Kakashi to personally experience the subtle differences.
Question and answer.
Teaching and learning.
Time quietly slipped away amid this efficient and focused exchange and practice.
Three hours later.
Crackle!
Crackle!
At the center of the training ground, around Kakashi's standing figure, a stable yet active layer of blue-white lightning began to flicker! The electricity was like a living suit of light armor, clinging tightly to his body as it shimmered faintly.
"This..."
Kakashi lowered his head and stared blankly at the lightning dancing around his body while feeling the faint stimulation spreading across his skin.
This fast?!
After reading the scroll earlier, he had combined it with his own understanding and made an estimate. He believed that to initially grasp the application of this lightning armor, he would need at least a week of nonstop practice and experimentation.
Yet unexpectedly, after only three hours of Shinichi's on-site explanations, demonstrations, and targeted guidance, he had already successfully transformed theory into practical application, initially constructing a stable lightning armor!
'Could it be... Is my talent really this good?'
That thought flashed through his mind, but even he himself found it somewhat absurd.
'No, probably not.'
Kakashi raised his eyes and looked toward Shinichi, who was watching him with a smile not far away.
During the lesson just now, Shinichi seemed able to fully grasp where his confusion lay, then feed those complex and profound principles directly into his mind in the easiest way for him to understand and absorb.
Every answer to his questions had been like a sharp blade cutting through fog, instantly enlightening him.
Rather than saying his own talent was exceptional, it would be more accurate to say that Shinichi's teaching ability itself had already reached an unbelievable realm.
"Excellent!!" Shinichi applauded in praise and said with a smile, "Kakashi, your talent in Lightning Style is truly top-tier. To actually enter the beginner stage and initially stabilize the lightning armor this quickly has already exceeded my expectations."
Compared to the Kakashi in his memories, the strength of this silver-haired youth before him had indeed become far greater.
The Kakashi of the original timeline truly had been a super genius, but because he stood too far above his peers, he had never truly faced someone of the same generation who completely surpassed him in every aspect, forcing him to desperately chase after them just to glimpse their back.
But the Kakashi of this timeline had been thoroughly defeated by Shinichi since their Ninja Academy days, tasting the bitterness of failure and the gap in strength very early on.
Then, at the cemetery, he had been deeply shaken by Shinichi's words about how, "Only by becoming strong enough, can one avoid falling into the same hopeless dilemma your father once faced."
Those words planted an obsession with becoming stronger deep within his heart.
Over the past year or so, Kakashi had also repeatedly received Shinichi's guidance.
Therefore, the current ten-year-old Kakashi had already nearly reached the level of a formal Jonin in overall strength, more than two full years ahead of his counterpart at the same age in the original timeline!
And now he had already begun touching upon and studying the profound principles of Lightning Style Nintaijutsu.
If, in this timeline, a crucial event similar to the battle at Kannabi Bridge still occurred two years later, then by that time, Kakashi's strength would very likely already have reached the elite Jonin level!
A twelve-year-old elite Jonin.
Although he still could not compare to the absurdity that was the original timeline's Itachi Uchiha, who awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan at eleven years old and initially possessed Kage-level strength.
Among ninja without special bloodlines, however, this was already a ceiling-level achievement.
"From here on, I'm really looking forward to seeing how much surprise you can bring to our shared research now that you have this foundation, Kakashi."
Why walk the path of copy ninja Kakashi? Just obediently walk the path of Lightning Style Nintaijutsu for me!
Kakashi looked at the person before him, a peer whose talent, strength, and wisdom were all unfathomably deep, and whose ability to teach others also made him feel immeasurably profound.
The unwillingness in his heart gradually gave way to a complex emotion.
Catching up might be difficult, but at the very least... He could first climb upward as quickly as possible along the staircase that the other party had laid out for him!
Then perhaps one day, in his own unique way, he could once again stand shoulder to shoulder with him, or even surpass him in certain fields!
"I will." Kakashi dispersed the lightning armor around his body and nodded.
"Oh, right."
As though remembering something, Shinichi added, "I heard senior Minato returned to the village three days ago. Senior Minato's insights regarding neural reactions are considered top-tier within the Shinobi World."
"While the core and most difficult essence of the Lightning Style Armour lies precisely in deeply and stably strengthening the nervous reflex system. In this area, if only the two of us conduct closed-door research, the progress might be very slow."
"So if you get the chance in the coming days, go exchange ideas with and seek guidance from senior Minato on my behalf. Discuss the problems you're currently encountering, as well as our preliminary research results and theories, with him."
"With senior Minato's experience and perspective, he'll definitely be able to provide us with extremely valuable advice and greatly accelerate our research progress on the Lightning Style Armour."
Hearing this, Kakashi was momentarily stunned.
Calling it exchanging ideas and seeking guidance was one thing, but during the process, the secrets Shinichi had already researched regarding Lightning Style Nintaijutsu would inevitably be revealed to Minato.
This was equivalent to sharing the precious knowledge of Hidden Jutsus that Shinichi had painstakingly researched with Minato Namikaze.
But immediately afterward, Kakashi recalled Shinichi's past words and actions.
Toward his companions, he had never been stingy in sharing knowledge and power.
This generosity and scope of vision once again moved Kakashi slightly.
He did not ask any further questions and simply nodded seriously.
"Alright! I'll go find Minato-sensei and properly seek his guidance."
Shinichi nodded. "Mm, then let's stop here for now. Today's training ends here."
Kakashi said nothing more.
After turning around, his figure lightly leaped several times before disappearing at the edge of the forest surrounding the training ground.
A Kakashi who might one day simultaneously master both Lightning Style Nintaijutsu and White Fang swordsmanship.
And in the future, there might even be another Minato Namikaze who likewise reached the peak in speed and neural reaction abilities, perhaps even combining Lightning Style Nintaijutsu with space-time Ninjutsu.
Toward this, Shinichi felt increasingly calm, even carrying a trace of anticipation.
Indeed, he viewed Minato Namikaze as the strongest opponent on the future road toward competing for the Hokage position.
But after the battle in the Land of Lightning, Shinichi's mentality had already undergone a subtle change.
Opponents? Competitors?
Become stronger, the stronger, the better.
No matter how strong you become in the future, you'll still obediently work for me!
After parting with Kakashi, Shinichi did not leave the training ground.
Instead, he changed direction and walked toward another relatively secluded corner shaded by trees.
There, under the careful guidance of two Shadow Clones he had left behind, two girls were carrying out their respective training.