"The Lightning Release: Wire Trap is simple," Kiyohara mused, analyzing his new jutsu. "But practical."
Against a civilian or a sloppy ninja, it's lethal. Against a Taijutsu specialist with chakra armor, it causes paralysis. And in high-speed combat, a split-second of paralysis is usually fatal.
"However, the power is still too weak."
Kiyohara rubbed his chin.
Simply channeling raw chakra isn't enough. That's why Ninjutsu exists—to shape, compress, and amplify the nature transformation.
"Also... it's hot."
Kiyohara flexed his fingers. Even with chakra reinforcement, the copper wire heated up rapidly due to resistance.
'How did Sasuke do it with the Dragon Fire Technique?' Kiyohara wondered. 'Maybe Uchiha fire resistance is just built different. Or maybe he just ignored the burns like an edgelord.'
"Do you know any other Lightning jutsu?" Kiyohara asked the Missing-nin.
"Only Lightning Release: Ground Flash and Lightning Release: Flash Pillar," the spirit replied.
Flash Pillar (Raiton: Raikōchū) was technically a Genjutsu-Ninjutsu hybrid. It turned the user's body into a blinding strobe light to disorient the enemy.
It was practical, but it was a Kumogakure (Hidden Cloud) signature move. Using it in Konoha would raise too many questions.
"No go," Kiyohara shook his head. "If I start flashing like a Raikage groupie, Anbu will have questions I can't answer."
"I learned it from a corpse," the Missing-nin shrugged. "But yeah, stick to the basics for now."
"What about Kakashi?"
Kiyohara's eyes narrowed.
Kakashi invented the Chidori. To invent an A-Rank jutsu at age twelve, he must have mastered a library of lower-ranked Lightning techniques as prerequisites. You don't build a Ferrari without knowing how an engine works.
Minato Namikaze took three years just to invent the Rasengan, and he was a genius with the Tailed Beast Ball as a template. Kakashi's resource pool must be deep.
The Next Day.
Kiyohara was brushing his teeth in his courtyard when Kakashi arrived.
"Good morning, Kakashi."
"Good morning."
Kakashi wore his standard black undershirt and mask. The only splash of color was his silver hair.
Kiyohara noticed his back was empty.
The White Light Chakra Sabre—or what was left of it—was gone.
"You're not using a sword anymore?"
"No," Kakashi said quietly. "I plan to keep the fragments as a memorial to my father."
Kiyohara felt a pang of second-hand embarrassment.
Sakumo Hatake used that blade to carve his name into history. It survived countless wars.
Kakashi broke it in his first real fight as a Jonin.
'Some things really don't last,' Kiyohara thought. 'I wonder what Sakumo thinks, watching his son retire the family heirloom.'
"I realized something," Kakashi continued. "The Sharingan combined with Chidori is my path. My sword can't match the penetration power of lightning."
"Is that so..."
Kiyohara nodded.
In the future, Kakashi would indeed become famous for the Lightning Cutter, not Kenjutsu. Though he would pick up Zabuza's sword briefly during the War Arc, his true weapon was always his hand.
"Anyway, I came to discuss Lightning Release again," Kakashi said, his visible eye curving slightly.
"Oh?" Kiyohara rinsed his mouth. "Come in. I actually developed something new last night."
He led Kakashi into the house.
"It's called Lightning Release: Wire Trap."
Kiyohara explained the mechanics: combining the Manipulated Shuriken Technique with copper wire and lightning conduction.
"That's brilliant," Kakashi nodded, impressed. "Simple, but effective against multiple targets."
"However," Kakashi added, "I know a jutsu that might complement it. It's called Lightning Release: Beast Tracking Fang."
He started explaining the hand seals and chakra flow.
Kiyohara listened intently. Kakashi didn't seem to care about leaking clan secrets. He just wanted to talk shop with the only person who understood him.
"Come, have a drink," Kiyohara offered, pouring a cup of plain boiled water.
He would have offered tea, but he had sold his tea leaves (and the teapot) to buy ninja tools.
"Thanks."
Kakashi took the cup. He looked around the room.
It was... empty.
A bed. A table. A pot. A wardrobe.
That was it. No chairs. No decorations. No pictures.
It was cleaner than an interrogation room.
"Where do I sit?" Kakashi asked, confused.
"I personally prefer the Minimalist Style," Kiyohara lied with a straight face.
"Ah. Minimalist."
Kakashi nodded sagely. He had heard of this philosophy. It was about detaching oneself from material possessions to focus on the ninja way.
'Kiyohara is truly disciplined,' Kakashi thought, admiring his friend's ascetic lifestyle.
"Please," Kiyohara dragged a small wooden stool from the kitchen—his only seating furniture. "Sit."
'Minimalist my ass,' the Missing-nin snorted in Kiyohara's mind. 'You're just broke.'
'Shut up,' Kiyohara thought back. 'Poverty is a mindset. I am merely temporarily lacking liquidity.'
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