Chương 108

Seiji-sensei looked at me suspiciously when I told him that I had already mastered the Thunderclap Spear jutsu in such a short time. I didn't want to cause him a heart attack by admitting I would've mastered it even faster if I wasn't also training in three other things at the same time. He didn't say a word as he motioned for me to follow. We walked in silence until we reached a private training room near the back. The space inside was sparse and worn.

The walls were scorched from repeated use, the floor was reinforced and cracked in places, and the faint scent of burnt chakra still hung in the air. At the far end, a row of cracked dummies stood in silence, lined up like condemned criminals waiting their turn. He gave me a short nod.

"Show me." I stepped forward and exhaled slowly. Focus. I raised my right arm, letting lightning chakra coat my palm and forearm. This wasn't for show. This layer was the foundation. I'd been shaping the flow to act like a guiding rail, a real launching track that added speed, control, and accuracy to the technique. If I wanted a harder punch, this was how I got it. The chakra sparked and settled, wrapping my skin in a thin, volatile current.

It buzzed faintly under the surface, like it was holding its breath and waiting for the signal.

"Lightning Release," I muttered.

"Thunderclap Spear." The jutsu formed above my palm, a spear of condensed lightning. I pushed in more chakra than usual, testing the upper limit. Without the rail to stabilize and guide the flow, it would've probably shorted out or twisted off course. But with it, the spear held steady, thrumming like it wanted to break free. I released it. The coating along my arm flared to life. The chakra rail snapped with a sharp crack, releasing the built-up energy in a controlled burst. The spear didn't just fly forward.

It surged ahead, stabilized and guided by the rail, then tore through the air like a jagged arrow of blue light, splitting the space between me and the target before the sound even caught up. Then came the blast. A deep, concussive crack echoed through the room as the lightning spear struck the dummy. It didn't just pierce, it collapsed the torso inward, then detonated in a sudden surge. The compressed lightning exploded outward like a short-range lightning bomb.

Wood, cloth, and chunks of burned padding scattered across the floor. A black scorch mark etched itself into the back wall, branching out in jagged lines like it had been struck by nature itself. I slowly lowered my arm. The last of the lightning faded off my skin with a few lazy sparks. Seiji was still staring at the wreckage. His eyes widened slightly, the closest thing to shock I'd ever seen from him.

He stepped toward the training post, gaze narrowing like he was trying to figure out how exactly that just happened.

"That was fast. Sharp, too. The chakra didn't just pierce... it ripped through." He glanced back at me, studying me more closely.

"You've done more than boost the power. That kind of control isn't normal for your age."

"It's the coating," I said.

"The lightning rail builds pressure and directs the chakra. When I let the jutsu fly, it uses that same force to launch. Gives it more power, speed, and better aim." Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. He crouched by the broken dummy, fingers brushing a blackened shard, then stood again.

"How stable is it?"

"I've done it around a dozen times. Doesn't burn my arm anymore. I regulate the buildup, then fire through the rail." Another long pause. Then he gave a small nod.

"You're weaponizing chakra flow itself. That's not bad. Though it still takes too much time to charge, and the chakra cost is high. From a cost-to-benefit angle, it's barely worth it." I didn't argue. His observation was fair.

"It's not perfect," I admitted.

"But the more I train it, the faster it gets. I'm still working on the range and reducing the chakra cost. As my control improves, I think it'll balance out."

"Fine. Keep refining it," he said.

"And document everything. Every fluctuation, every misfire. If you ever want to build something more advanced, that data will matter. Besides, this might benefit the village if we can develop another strong lightning-style specialist." I gave a small nod at that. He actually looked… proud. Not in a loud way, but it was there. Maybe Konoha had been short on lightning talents for too long. He pointed toward the next dummy.

"Again. Let's see if you're consistent." I rolled my shoulder and brought the lightning back down my arm.

"Sure thing," I muttered.

"Let's vaporize another one." After a few more runs, my body started flagging. I felt my chakra dip low. Not dangerously, but enough to trigger the first edge of fatigue. Seiji must've noticed, because he raised a hand.

"That's enough." His tone stayed flat.

"Because of the chakra cost, this technique should either be an opening move to end a fight quickly… or a finisher, used when the enemy is already worn down." I nodded, catching my breath.

"Got it. Flashbang or execution." He gave the faintest hint of a smirk, then reached into his sleeve and produced a second scroll.

"Fine. You're ready for the next one." He handed it over. This scroll felt heavier, the paper thicker, reinforced with a sealing tag at the edge. I broke it open and unrolled it. The name was inked clearly across the top. Lightning Release: Arc Net I looked up.

"Sounds… interesting?"

"It is," Seiji replied.

"This technique creates a spread of lightning across a set area, forming a fast-moving chakra web. Anything that touches it gets stunned. It won't pierce like the spear, but it can overload the nervous system, disrupt chakra flow, and leave most opponents unable to move for a few seconds." I pictured it.

"So… a trap."

"A controlled zone," he corrected.

"But close enough." He tapped the last section of the scroll with a finger.

"You'll need to go through a long sequence of hand signs to shape the chakra first. After that, you press both hands to the ground to deploy it." I squinted at the script.

"Why the extra steps?"

"Because you're not throwing chakra. You're embedding it into the terrain. You'll create anchor points that connect with lightning arcs. Each point must be stable. The web can activate instantly, or linger for a few seconds before triggering. That makes it useful as a delay trap." My eyes widened, genuinely impressed. And a clearer idea began forming in my mind. This was going to be a very situational jutsu… but for the right moment, it could turn the tide completely.

Seiji continued, "You can activate a specific arc to strike an enemy standing at one point and conserve chakra, or trigger the entire net at once for wider coverage, though it costs more. The technique can be tuned for precision or area control. That's where your chakra control really matters." He folded his arms.

"You'll start with a four-point setup. Form stable chakra threads between the corners. If you can keep the shape active for five seconds without breaking, I'll have you expand it. Eventually, you should be able to manage eight or more anchors in a wide ring." I stared at the training field. This was shaping electricity and holding it steady. A completely different kind of challenge from the previous Jutsu.

"Wonderful," I muttered.

"Can't wait to electrocute myself in the name of progress." A quiet chuckle escaped him.

"Take today to rest. Start tomorrow." Before he walked off, I asked, "Do the points have to be exact?"

"Rough symmetry is fine. The layout helps you get the hang of the jutsu faster, but control is what really matters. Chakra threads aren't easy to form or stabilize. Don't rush it. This one will probably take time to master." I let out a long breath and glanced at the clearing again. Thunderclap Spear was a cannon shot. This was a spider web.

"Alright," I said.

"Let's prepare some fun traps."