Chapter 533: Black Lightning Flashing in the Forest

"This is too much!"

In the preliminary round of the Chunin Exams, within the Forest of Death.

Akimichi Chocho was stomping her feet in frustration, while Sarada, standing beside her, looked puzzled. "Chocho, what's wrong?"

Chocho was visibly upset. "I have my exam starting today, and yet my dad came home completely drunk yesterday."

"He promised to prepare special strategic reserve snacks for my exam, but he didn't buy any at all!"

Strategic reserve?

Sarada sighed helplessly.

Hearing this, she recalled that her own father had also come home reeking of alcohol yesterday, which was rare.

It was her uncle who brought him back.

Though her uncle didn't seem to have drunk much.

"Looks like my dad went drinking with your dad yesterday, huh?"

Shikadai also sighed.

"What a coincidence, maybe my old man was there too!" Inojin frowned.

As the next generation of the Konoha 12, they were now gathered together, discussing how their parents had come home utterly drunk the previous night.

"What's going on with them? Are they so happy about our exams that they had to throw a drinking party??"

Inojin was speechless. If that were really the case, then their dads were way out of line.

Shikadai, however, didn't think so.

Because yesterday, his mother had acted unusually by not reacting at all to Shikamaru's drinking.

She even took care of him all night, which was unlike her. In the past,

she would have sent him flying with a fan without a second thought.

Coming home that drunk would have been suicidal.

However, this unusual behavior made Shikadai realize that things might not be as simple as they seemed.

'Did Dad encounter something that made him drink, something even Mom agreed with?'

Shikadai recalled the last time Shikamaru had a rare moment to drink a little with the Sixth Hokage.

He ended up sleeping at the doorstep all night.

Even the Hokage was like that, so who could it be that...

"Let me tell you guys, Sarada has learned a new jutsu!"

"And it's super powerful. Sarada is going to surprise everyone in today's Chunin Exams!"

Chocho was boasting on the side, though she was bragging about Sarada, it felt like she was boasting about herself.

Sarada was anxious. "Chocho, didn't we agree not to tell anyone?"

"What's the big deal? The exam has already started. Let's psych them out and boost your morale."

Sarada looked around. If it were just Konoha ninjas, it wouldn't be a problem.

But the key issue was, this Chunin Exam also included ninjas from other villages!

Now, all these guys were looking at her with unfriendly eyes.

As a member of the Uchiha clan, a family with a Kekkei Genkai, she was already a target.

With Chocho spreading the word like that, it's certain that once the exam starts, they'll be targeted.

The first test was simple: traverse the forest, which was full of traps, and successfully reach the destination.

That would be a pass.

In the past, such an exam for genin like Sasuke's generation, while not as easy as child's play,

nine out of ten ordinary genin could reach the finish line without much trouble.

For genin without much talent, shuriken and traps were their main focus.

So!

Avoiding traps was a piece of cake.

The exam began.

Ninjas from all five divisions started their tasks.

Ninjas from other villages also set off one after another.

At the finish line, Sai, holding his head.

"I drank too much yesterday, still feeling dizzy, really..."

Looking up at the forest ahead, screams echoed one after another.

Sai shook his head helplessly. "This generation of genin is too... weak..."

Just as Sai was speaking, suddenly, the next second.

Zzzz!

A strong surge of chakra erupted from the forest, followed by black lightning striking down instantly.

Crack!

Seeing the black lightning flash, Sai's drunkenness vanished, and he sobered up immediately.

He looked at the residual black lightning in the air.

'This is... Sasuke's... Lightning Release?'

Sai rushed into the forest without hesitation, but the scene before him was a large log, mostly destroyed by lightning, with Boruto sitting on the ground in front of it.

Behind him, Sarada's hands were glowing with black lightning.

Sai looked at Sarada in surprise.

"That black Lightning Release just now was..."

Sarada, having used up a lot of chakra, was panting when she suddenly heard Sai's voice.

She looked up, "Teacher! Are... are we not allowed to use ninjutsu?"

Hearing this, Sai shook his head, "You can use it!"

"That black Lightning Release you used, was it taught to you by that person?"

That person?

Sarada was a bit surprised. Was that title referring to her uncle, Sasuke?

As the right-hand man of the Hokage, to be referred to as 'that man', and upon seeing the black Lightning Release, it seemed he knew who had taught her.

Was her uncle that famous?

"My uncle taught me, my dad's younger brother, he only recently..."

"I know who he is, and his background, no need to explain!"

Sai exhaled lightly, "I never thought I'd see... this black Lightning Release again!"

Hearing this, Sarada was stunned. The way he said it made it seem like this black Lightning Release was of great significance.

"Use this jutsu well! It's not something just anyone can learn and master!"

"It's truly enviable!"

With that, Sai left, returning to his role as an examiner.

At this moment.

Boruto stood up, "That Lightning Release was so strong, Sarada, teach me!"

Sarada wasn't in the mood for that now. If it weren't for Boruto showing off, she wouldn't have revealed her secret weapon prematurely.

But from Sai's reaction, it seemed this black Lightning Release of hers had quite the background.

It seemed she needed to find a good opportunity to ask about the origins of this jutsu.

Didn't that 'uncle' say it was just a C-rank Lightning Release ninjutsu?

A C-rank ninjutsu shouldn't be that noteworthy, right?!

What Sarada considered not noteworthy had already reached Shikamaru's attention.

Looking at the intelligence report brought by an Anbu ninja.

"Sasuke actually taught Sarada the black Lightning Release!"

"And this girl actually learned it, truly gifted!"

Shikamaru smiled, Lightning Release ~ Discharge!

Though nominally a C-rank Lightning Release ninjutsu, its actual effects far exceeded its rank.

Of course, its power wasn't particularly special; the user's mastery of Lightning Release nature transformation determined the jutsu's power, but this jutsu allowed free manipulation of lightning.

It was a jutsu that grew stronger as the user did.

If one could fully comprehend Lightning Release nature transformation, its power could rival A-rank or even S-rank ninjutsu, no problem at all...

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