Chapter 53: Changes

"Tell me, Raizu. Were you truly unaware of the Elemental Nations before now?" Raijin asked, his voice laced with genuine curiosity as he navigated the shelves of the clan library.

Raizu's response materialized gradually in Raijin's mind—first as a whisper, then crystallizing into clarity. [...No. What is that exactly?]

The answer didn't surprise Raijin; he had anticipated as much. Since their first mission together, Raizu had displayed an insatiable hunger for knowledge about the world—particularly the enigmatic arts of the Shinobi, the mysteries of Jutsu, and the fundamental nature of chakra itself. With each passing day, Raijin found himself explaining concepts that most Ninjas considered elementary to the entity residing within him. Raizu's supposedly wide-eyed fascination with the most mundane aspects of human existence resembled someone emerging from an eternity of isolation.

He couldn't shake the growing suspicion that Raizu seemed almost... alien to this world. No—alien to human existence entirely.

The way Raizu marveled at chakra as if witnessing some arcane, undiscovered power reminded Raijin of his own early days as a newcomer to Konoha when everything had seemed equally wondrous and bewildering.

Raijin had tried explaining these concepts in simplified terms, but his companion possessed a bottomless well of questions. Yet this made sense—Raizu had no foundation, no context for understanding the intricate world of shinobi or the complex art of chakra manipulation.

Raijin released a quiet sigh, but his curiosity persisted. Your father, Raijū, where did his companion originate from? Do you possess any knowledge of this?

Raizu's response was immediate, his tone uncharacteristically distant. [No.]

The shift in Raizu's demeanor was palpable, a reluctance to venture further into this subject. Raijin respected the boundary, even if the vague answer left him with more questions than answers.

What exactly is this bond between us? Raijin asked, shifting direction. You mentioned it was something special, beyond a mere contract.

Raizu seemed to stir within him. [It's a soul bond, in its simplest form,] he explained his mental voice warming. [But it's more than what most would understand as a contract or even a typical soul bond.]

How so? Raijin pressed, intrigued by the earnestness in Raizu's tone.

[My father, Raijū, and his companion—they shared something profound,] Raizu continued, reverence entering his voice. [They weren't merely bound by obligation or power. They were true friends, willing to sacrifice everything for one another. That's why I described creating such a bond as I did—it can potentially transcend the transactional nature most beings settle for.]

A friendship, Raijin mused, absorbing this information with quiet contemplation. Hmm, you appeared as a drake or dragon the first time we met. That towering figure, is that your real form?

[My father had told me that humans get excited when they see creatures like Fafnir,] Raizu replied with what felt like the mental equivalent of a casual shrug. [So, I simply attempted to emulate his appearance. But I am, in my essence, the embodiment of lightning. The form, however, is... complicated.]

And that jarring, deep voice—was that an imitation of Raijū's—your father's? Raijin couldn't help but ask, recalling the thunderous tone initially addressing him.

[Yes,] Raizu admitted, a ripple of amusement coloring his response. [Even I get goosebumps hearing that voice. Father could be quite intimidating when he wished to be.]

You aren't from this world, are you? Raijin ventured, giving voice to a suspicion that had been growing within him. He sensed that the origins of both Raizu and Raijū were otherworldly, and their meeting might be connected to something greater than mere chance—perhaps even fate itself.

Raizu's silence was deafening. The absence of a response spoke volumes—a confirmation louder than any words could have been. While Raijin respected Raizu's need for privacy, the question of his own privacy lingered.

Many powerful creatures also seek alliances with powerful beings like... like Fafnir, Raijin observed, changing the subject once more. Was your father… and you never tempted to form such connections with powerful creatures instead of bonding with a human?

[Powerful creatures are... predictable,] Raizu responded thoughtfully. [Dragons, beasts, even gods—they all want the same things: power, territory, dominance. But humans...]

He paused as if searching for the right words. [Humans are endlessly fascinating. Your kind makes choices that defy logic, display kindness when cruelty would benefit you more, and sacrifice yourselves for abstract concepts like love and honor. Your behavior is wonderfully unpredictable, your emotions are complex beyond measure. Why would I seek the companionship of a creature like Fafnir when I could experience the richness of human existence?]

The depth of Raizu's answer surprised Raijin, leaving ripples in the quiet atmosphere between them. He hadn't expected such philosophical contemplation from the lightning entity.

Sensing he had ventured far enough into Raizu's private thoughts for one day, Raijin allowed the subject to fade without pressing further. Instead, he let the conversation dissolve into the library's tranquil silence and redirected his attention to the scroll that unfurled before him. The library's quietude now felt comforting, an ideal sanctuary for concentration.

Raijin's fingers traced the weathered script with reverence, studying the intricate seals representing Water Release and Earth Release techniques.

Haruko's Water Shield Jutsu had become his latest focus, and as he examined the instructions, Raijin felt a quiet satisfaction stir within him. The manipulation of water chakra came more naturally than he had anticipated—fluid, responsive, and familiar. There was something meditative about the process, the fluidity of the technique, like the element recognized him. Water had always been his element of preference, responsive to his will.

Earth Release, however, presented an entirely different challenge. It wasn't a matter of capability—he had mastered both Water Shield and Earth Shield techniques with reasonable speed. But there was something more demanding and more rigid about Earth Release that made it less intuitive to control. Where water became an extension of himself, the earth felt like something he had to wrestle into submission. Earth Release lacked the flowing grace of water and the natural harmony he experienced with his primary affinity: Lightning.

The silence was suddenly pierced by Raizu's excited voice, [Hey, I can now sense the chakra flowing through you. It truly is like a river, as you described.]

Unmistakable awe permeated Raizu's words, his fascination with chakra evident—as though witnessing something entirely unprecedented in his existence. Despite his nature and knowledge, Raizu often spoke with childlike wonder when observing Raijin's training.

Raijin smiled to himself, refocusing on the scroll before him. The subtle resonance of the Water Release technique filled his consciousness as he deliberately formed the hand signs. Mastery wasn't merely about controlling the element—it was about understanding it and experiencing it as an extension of oneself.

[I'd prefer to observe you attempt something different,] Raizu suggested eagerly. [Something beyond your defensive techniques. You're becoming excessively focused on shields.]

Raijin raised an eyebrow, intrigued. Though accustomed to Raizu's enthusiasm, this recommendation was unexpected. "What specifically do you mean?"

+++

Training took on an entirely new dimension with Raizu's presence. As days melted into weeks, Raijin discovered his chakra control had improved dramatically—not in the gradual way that came from diligent practice, but with sudden quantum leaps that defied conventional progression. His affinity for lightning techniques, once merely notable, now manifested with startling potency. Whether this transformation stemmed directly from relentless training or simply resulted from having Raizu—the living embodiment of lightning—coaching him from within, Raijin couldn't be certain. Rather he didn't want to.

"Concentrate," Ryouka instructed, her voice cutting through the electric crackle as Raijin attempted to contain a massive concentration of lightning bolts within his palm. The energy danced and writhed like a living thing, fighting his attempts to restrain it. "Feel the energy, don't force it. Lightning responds to guidance, not domination."

[She's right, you know,] Raizu's voice resonated within Raijin's mind, a counterpoint to Ryouka's external coaching. [Lightning isn't something you command like an obedient servant. It's an elemental force you channel, direct, and suggest—a partner rather than a tool.]

Easy for you to say, Raijin retorted internally, his concentration wavering as beads of sweat formed on his brow. The lightning pulsed dangerously in response to his momentary lapse in focus. You ARE lightning personified.

[Exactly my point,] Raizu replied with what Raijin had recognized as his characteristic smugness—a certain inflection in his mental voice that radiated self-satisfaction. [Who better to learn from than the essence of the element itself? Watch.]

With that final word, Raijin felt a subtle shift within—Raizu wasn't taking control, but rather offering guidance, like hands placed over his own. The sensation was peculiar yet not unpleasant, a gentle pressure against his consciousness as Raizu demonstrated the proper approach.

Under this guidance, Raijin progressed at a pace that visibly surprised even his usually stoic sensei. The lightning responded to his will with increasing receptivity, as if recognizing a kindred spirit dwelling within him. Where once it had fought and strained against his attempts at mastery, now it seemed almost eager to comply, dancing through his chakra network with newfound harmony.

The crackling bolts that had previously scattered in a chaotic ten-meter radius now coalesced within his palm, a perfect storm contained in miniature.

"Impressive," Ryouka remarked after witnessing this particularly successful demonstration, her typically impassive features betraying a flicker of genuine surprise. She circled him slowly, analyzing his stance and the quality of chakra manifestation with professional scrutiny. "You've made remarkable progress in an unusually short timeframe. Your chakra signature has... evolved somehow."

Raijin simply nodded, offering a noncommittal "Thank you, sensei," not wishing to elaborate on his newfound proficiency. The last thing he needed was questions about the smug entity residing within his navel.

The following day, as the afternoon training session neared its conclusion, Ryouta made an unexpected announcement.

"Before we conclude today, I want a three-on-one sparring match," she declared, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. "All three of you against me, simultaneously."

Izumi, Sora, and Raijin exchanged quick glances. These culminating sparring sessions had become something of a ritual—a practical examination of their progress and teamwork.

The battle commenced with synchronized precision, the three Genin launching a coordinated assault from different angles, attempting to overwhelm Ryouta with their combined techniques.

"Raijin, behind you!" Sora shouted suddenly as a shadow clone of Ryouta materialized from seemingly nowhere, kunai already in mid-strike toward Raijin's unprotected back.

Raijin spun reflexively, reaching for his defensive kunai even as he calculated that his reaction would come to a crucial half-second too late.

[Let me help,] Raizu's voice came with urgent intensity, and Raijin felt a sudden surge of energy cascading through his system—not invasive or overwhelming, but perfectly calibrated to enhance rather than override.

At that moment, something extraordinary happened.

Time seemed to decelerate around him, not literally slowing but becoming more accessible as his perception sharpened to preternatural levels. His reflexes quickened beyond normal human capacity, his movements flowing with liquid precision. He evaded the attack with a grace that felt simultaneously foreign and natural, countering with a lightning-infused strike that sent the clone dissipating in a cloud of smoke.

[See? You got better.] Raizu said with obvious pride.

As the sparring match continued, Raijin found himself moving in perfect synchronization with Raizu's carefully modulated energy. It wasn't that Raizu was controlling him like a puppet—rather, the lightning entity was enhancing Raijin's natural abilities, amplifying his strengths while compensating for his weaknesses. They moved as a single harmonized entity, neither fully in control nor completely passive.

When the match concluded—with Ryouta still victorious but visibly working harder for her victory than ever before—both Sora and Izumi stared at Raijin with expressions of undisguised amazement.

"Since when could you move like that?" Izumi demanded, her voice carrying a complex mixture of awe, admiration, and undisguised suspicion. "That wasn't just faster—it was completely different. Your entire fighting style transformed mid-battle."

Raijin shrugged with feigned casualness, trying to downplay what had transpired. "I've been putting in extra training," he offered lamely, knowing how insufficient the explanation sounded even as he spoke.

[Smooth,] Raizu teased. [Very convincing.]

Shut up, Raijin thought back with no genuine annoyance behind it, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth despite his attempt to maintain a neutral expression.

He could feel Raizu's amusement radiating through their connection—a warm, pleasant buzzing sensation at the periphery of his awareness, like distant summer thunder promising rain to parched earth.

Even Ryouta was studying him with heightened interest now, her calculating gaze more intense than ever. "Interesting development," was all she said, but the thoughtful furrow of her brow suggested this conversation was far from over.

…

[She suspects something,] Raizu commented later as they walked home through Konoha's twilight-bathed streets, the village settling into its evening rhythms around them. [She keeps watching you with that calculating look—not the normal assessment of a teacher, but something deeper.]

"Ryouka-sensei always looks calculating," Raijin countered, keeping his voice low to avoid drawing attention from passing villagers. "It's just her natural expression."

Raizu insisted. [This isn't her baseline analytical gaze.]

Raijin couldn't reasonably argue. He felt the transformation himself—a newfound mastery over lightning that went beyond mere practice, a heightened visual acuity that made the world seem sharper and more defined, and an underlying sense of enhanced vitality he hadn't realized he was missing before Raizu's arrival.

Having the lightning entity with him, despite the occasional irritation of his smug commentary and constant observations, had catalyzed unexpected changes in his approach to ninjutsu and his overall capabilities.

[After all, what's the worst that could happen?] Raizu added with characteristic nonchalance.

+++

The days following their unexpected bond settled into a peculiar rhythm. Raijin found himself explaining mundane aspects of human existence that Raizu found endlessly fascinating, while Raizu honed and refined Raijin's lightning release techniques to unprecedented levels of control and power.

Simple experiences like the taste of different foods, the sensation of wind against the skin, and the complexity of human relationships were uncharted territories for the lightning entity—each discovery met with childlike enthusiasm that Raijin found strangely endearing.

"Can you experience what I feel physically?" Raijin asked one evening as they sat atop a roof overlooking Konoha, the village lights twinkling below them like earthbound constellations.

[To a degree,] Raizu replied thoughtfully. [It's more like... echoes or shadows. I perceive impressions of your physical sensations. The more intense the feeling, the more clearly it registers for me.]

Raijin nodded contemplatively, observing people in the streets below. "And what of your own emotions? Do you experience feelings independent of mine?"

[Of course, I do!] Raizu sounded almost offended by the suggestion. [I'm not merely some extension of your consciousness. I existed for eons before our paths crossed. I possess my own... everything.]

"Sorry," Raijin said with a gentle laugh, the tension dissolving as quickly as it had formed. "This is all new to me too."

The silence that followed wasn't uncomfortable or awkward. It was a shared moment of reflection, both entities adjusting to their unusual coexistence, finding their balance within this new reality.

[Your Shinobi world contains far more complexity than I ever imagined,] Raizu said, his mental voice soft with wonder. [All these intricate rules, customs, and ways of being. Lightning doesn't concern itself with such complexities. It simply exists in its purest form.]

"Must be liberating," Raijin muttered, as he watched the final rays of sunlight disappear behind Hokage Mountain, "to simply exist without question or doubt."

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