Chapter 502: Thunder Breathing Chakra Mode
Slow.
As Kakashi raised his blade to swing, Yokogawa Tsutomu's movements in his eyes suddenly slowed.
Kakashi, in a state of absolute emptiness, did not question it. He did not analyze it. He simply carried out the action he had repeated countless times in training.
Bzzz!
In an instant, Kakashi's chakra fully converted into Lightning Release chakra. Dazzling arcs wrapped around his body, crawling over his limbs like living light.
The lightning surged down his arm, poured into the White Fang short blade, and extended outward, forming a blade of lightning.
"No, is his next move a swing?" Yokogawa sensed something wrong.
Normally, he should have sensed Kakashi's intent before Kakashi even moved.
Yokogawa tried to tear away at extreme speed, but it was already too late. The moment the thought of escaping surfaced, Kakashi's lightning blade came down, releasing that ultimate No Thought Strike.
Boom!
Purple lightning flashed.
A slash so fast it felt like it tore the air itself struck Yokogawa as he tried to flee.
The moment it landed, Yokogawa let out a scream that sounded more like pure agony than a human voice.
His body was cut cleanly at the waist. Every cell that touched the slash was corroded by the terrifying lightning, as if the strike was eating him apart from the inside.
Boom! Boom!
The impact ravaged the ground around him, triggering a chain of explosions.
And Yokogawa, at the center of it all, became two Yokogawas, his massive body split in half.
"This guy, when did he get this strong?" Obito's eyes widened as he stared at the scene.
Yokogawa, who had just forced all of them into a bitter struggle, had been cut in half by Kakashi with a single swing.
Obito almost wanted to report Kakashi for cheating.
During the Chunin Exams, Kakashi had been badly injured and still instantly killed a Mist jonin with one strike. Now he was badly injured again, and he had instantly cut down Yokogawa Tsutomu.
"Kakashi, you have a bloodline limit that explodes in power when you're seriously hurt, don't you?"
"What a terrifying slash." Kosuke looked genuinely stunned. "This is a path he forged for himself by combining Lightning Release and swordsmanship."
As a seasoned shinobi, Kosuke had fought alongside White Fang before. White Fang had killed enemies as easily as cutting through vegetables, but even White Fang might not have been able to unleash a slash like that against a monster of this kind.
It could not be said Kakashi had surpassed White Fang, but it did prove one thing.
Kakashi was not merely walking in his father's shadow.
"Impressive." Shibi pushed up his sunglasses.
If he took that slash head on, death would be unavoidable.
"Is this the gap between the Hidden Grass Village and Konoha?" Drag watched Yokogawa's severed body with a complicated expression.
He truly wanted Yokogawa dead, but seeing Yokogawa turn into a monster and still be slain by a young shinobi like Kakashi made his heart tighten in a way he could not explain.
Yokogawa had gambled everything, even dragging the entire village down a dangerous path to chase power, yet he still could not defeat Konoha's elite squad.
"Lightning Release Chakra Mode?" Shisui narrowed his eyes, a guess forming.
That slash had been absurdly strong, but if it was Transparent World stacked with Lightning Release Chakra Mode, then fused with the Lightning Release sword art Teacher Mugetsu had taught, that power made sense.
After all, layering all of that together, a single swing would likely drain Kakashi dry.
Shisui's guess proved correct.
Kakashi did not even stay upright for three seconds. He tilted his head back and collapsed.
Rin immediately rushed forward, activating medical ninjutsu as she ran.
Obito Body Flickered to Kakashi's side first and caught him, helping him up before Rin could reach them.
The pain finally hit.
Kakashi frowned as the agony surged through his body. He had felt nothing when he swung the blade, but now he realized how severe the abdominal wound truly was.
If not for Rin and Katsuyu's healing, he would have gone into shock the moment the No Thought Strike ended.
A serious injury, plus extreme chakra depletion.
This state was unbearable.
"In that case, the One Thought Strike can't be used in an internal battle at all," Kakashi admitted silently, bitterly.
He could only perform the One Thought Strike with the amplification of Lightning Release Chakra Mode, and the consumption was so extreme he could only swing once.
That was right. Even at full health, even if he used no other ninjutsu at all, using the One Thought Strike one time would nearly strip him of combat power.
And his fellow disciples were not fools. They would never rush him head on. They would drag the fight out, drain his chakra, and prevent him from ever reaching that moment.
Not just internal battles either. Even in real combat, the technique relied heavily on timing.
Because after one slash, Kakashi would be out of commission and forced to rely on his teammates. That meant the slash had to be decisive. Even if it did not kill, it had to cripple.
"Lightning Release Chakra Mode is a very good gain," Kakashi thought. "This trip was worth it."
Stack Lightning Release Chakra Mode with Transparent World, and his strength and speed would reach a new level. Even his Lightning Release ninjutsu would be greatly enhanced.
Overall, this mission to the Hidden Grass Village had strengthened him tremendously. If he could seize the chance to truly master the One Thought Strike, then defeating Guy might not be impossible.
"Kakashi, are you doing this on purpose?" Obito complained while staring at the wound on Kakashi's abdomen. "You can't use ninjutsu unless you're seriously injured, right?"
Watching Kakashi's strength spike like that made Obito feel miserable. How was he supposed to win the next internal battle now?
The best case would be Kakashi and Guy meeting in the first round, then Obito facing Shisui. That way, he could avoid punishment at least, even if he lost the chance to be the strongest disciple.
Kakashi, too exhausted to argue, simply rolled his eyes.
Rin finally arrived at his side and immediately increased her treatment.
"This injury is extremely severe. Thankfully Katsuyu sama is here," Rin said as she worked.
Drag also walked over, his shoulders loosening slightly when he saw Kakashi still able to make an expression like that.
If Kakashi had truly died, Drag would have had no choice but to sacrifice himself with Dragon Life Reincarnation to prolong Kakashi's life.
After all, who knew whether Teacher Mugetsu would blame the Hidden Grass Village for his disciple's death? Losing a genius of Kakashi's level could make Konoha's response impossible to predict.
Drag then turned and walked toward Yokogawa's corpse.
Memories rose uninvited, of the years when they had been rivals, clashing and sharpening each other.
He shook his head, forced the chaos down, and formed hand seals, preparing Fire Release.
The commotion here had already drawn the attention of the entire Hidden Grass Village. Yet because Yokogawa looked too terrifying, no civilians dared to approach.
To give Yokogawa one last shred of dignity, Drag planned to burn him to ash, so he would not remain forever as a monster.
"Fire Release: Ghost Lantern!"
The moment Dragon Gate released the flames, Yokogawa's upper body suddenly moved.
A huge hand shot out, grabbed Drag, and the winged monster flapped hard, lifting into the air and flying straight toward the paradise box.
The change was so sudden it stunned everyone.
"His vitality is that tenacious?" Suzaku stared. "He's not dead even after that?"
Kakashi coughed, forcing words through pain. "Everyone, don't panic. He must be severely injured."
If Yokogawa still had his previous combat ability, he could have used Kakashi's weakness to launch a surprise attack and turn the situation instantly.
Kakashi guessed Yokogawa had survived through some trait of the monster body, but his current state was likely no better than Kakashi's.
Shisui Body Flickered to Kakashi's side. His Sharingan, which had been closed, opened again as he stared intently at Yokogawa.
Yokogawa stopped above the paradise box, still gripping Drag tightly in his claws.
"Drag, your time to sacrifice for the Hidden Grass Village has come," Yokogawa commanded. "Use Dragon Life Reincarnation on me. Then I can recover and kill all these Konoha shinobi."
"The village will not forget your contribution. I will reward your family's descendants."
Drag sneered. "You monster are dreaming. You are not worthy to share my life."
Bang!
Yokogawa's rage exploded. He lifted Drag and slammed him down in front of the paradise box with brutal force.
"Why do you always oppose me?" Yokogawa roared. "I am making the Hidden Grass Village great! I am the Leader of the Hidden Grass Village!"
"Monster," Drag spat, still refusing to bend, "you will regret this."
While Yokogawa raged, Kakashi and the others used every second to refine chakra. Shibi continuously fed chakra into his insects, hatching more. Suzaku, after a brief calculation, chose a position that was neither too close nor too far from Yokogawa.
Since Yokogawa was holding Drag, Kakashi's group was not in a rush.
They could not risk their lives for a shinobi from another village, especially when it was already confirmed that the Hidden Grass Village had aided Iwagakure against Konoha.
"Paradise box," Yokogawa said, forcing the words through gritted teeth, "help me recover from my injuries. Or control Drag and make him use Dragon Life Reincarnation on me."
But what made Yokogawa's unease deepen was the silence.
No matter how hard he tried to connect, the paradise box did not respond.
"I wonder what's happening with Teacher Mugetsu," Shisui muttered.
He activated his Sharingan and stared at the entrance, but the darkness inside swallowed everything. He could not see through it at all.
"What is this?" Hana Uzumaki asked blankly as she woke, staring at the ruined surroundings.
Rin noticed her and, through the Katsuyu on Kakashi's back, quickly explained the situation to Hana.
Yokogawa's eyes, filled with malice, locked onto Drag again.
"Since you won't help me, then I'll kill all your family members!"
"Then go ahead," Drag said coldly.
He did feel some regret for his family, but this was the entire Hidden Grass Village. Even if Yokogawa spared his descendants, once Konoha's forces arrived later, the entire village could still be wiped out.
"Do you think I'm just scaring you?" Yokogawa raised his claw again, grabbed Drag, and prepared to force obedience with the threat of his family.
Suzaku and Shibi formed hand seals at the same time, ready to intercept.
If Yokogawa truly recovered his strength, the outcome of this fight would become uncertain.
Just as Yokogawa flapped his wings and rose into the air, a golden figure flashed above him.
Kakashi, Shisui, and the others' eyes lit up at once.
Obito, now in Flame Breathing Chakra Mode, retreated quickly.
Yokogawa Tsutomu's fate was sealed.
.....
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