Chapter 30: The Secret of Lightning Style

Chapter 30: The Secret of Lightning Style

Hayama sheathed his blade and stood poised, his chakra surging vigorously through his pathways. His entire presence exuded a sharp, cold aura, like a finely honed blade aimed squarely at his opponent.

The Suna jōnin's momentary blink of hesitation was all Hayama needed. A swift series of hand signs followed, and chakra surged into his mouth as he expelled a blazing torrent.

"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Bullet!"

The flames roared forward, consuming everything in their path. But the Suna ninja was prepared. With a burst of chakra at his feet, he propelled himself out of the inferno's range and retaliated by slamming his hands into the ground.

"Earth Style: Earth Flow River!"

Hayama, having kept a keen eye on the Suna shinobi's hand movements, recognized the technique immediately. Before the ground beneath his feet could turn treacherous, he leapt clear of the shifting terrain. The moment his feet touched down, his hands were already forming seals. A second wave of fire surged forth.

"Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"

The flames split into numerous smaller fireballs, darting unpredictably toward the Suna ninja. This technique was Hayama's favorite for its versatility—while not the most destructive, it was difficult to evade. Hayama watched intently, waiting for his opponent to jump into the air, where he would be vulnerable to a well-timed counterattack.

But Hayama's plan unraveled as the Suna shinobi deftly extinguished the flames with a precise gust of wind. Wind Style might have been weak to Fire Style in principle, but the skill level of the caster made all the difference. This shinobi's wind techniques were formidable, effortlessly nullifying Hayama's fire-based assault and launching a counterattack of dense, wind-infused chakra orbs. These projectiles spread out, leaving Hayama no clear path of escape.

Faced with this relentless barrage, Hayama had two choices: erect a defensive barrier or take to the air and risk becoming an easy target.

"Earth Style: Earth Wall!"

A sturdy wall erupted from the ground, shielding Hayama and breaking the enemy's line of sight. Taking advantage of the momentary reprieve, Hayama formed a familiar strategy. He split his chakra, sending a clone burrowing into the earth while he remained above, ready to strike. This tactic had served him well many times before. If he had more chakra, he might have summoned dozens of clones to overwhelm the enemy. Just imagining a swarm of Hayama clones raining fireballs down on an opponent made him grin.

However, chakra was a limited resource, and he couldn't afford to waste it.

The experienced Suna jōnin, suspecting an ambush, kept his attention fixed on the ground. When he noticed a slight disturbance in the soil, he acted immediately. A shadow burst from the earth, brandishing a glinting blade aimed at his heart.

The Suna ninja sneered and infused his hand with wind chakra, creating a sharp blade of air. With one swift motion, he cut through the attacking figure's weapon. The short sword shattered, and the Suna ninja's wind blade continued forward, slicing cleanly through the attacker—only to find his opponent dissolving into dirt.

Before he could process the ruse, a jolt of electricity coursed through him. Lightning surged along the ground, leaving him momentarily paralyzed. Hayama emerged from hiding, his blade flashing as he closed the distance.

But as his blade connected with the shinobi's neck, Hayama's instincts screamed that something was wrong. The sensation of the cut was off, not the usual flesh-and-bone resistance. A split-second later, he heard the telltale hiss of explosive tags activating.

"Boom!"

The explosion rocked the battlefield, sending shockwaves through the air. Minato, caught in another intense duel, momentarily lost focus. His opponent's relentless onslaught forced him to continue their skirmish, unable to rush to Hayama's aid.

When the smoke cleared, Hayama's silhouette became visible again. He knelt on one knee, his uniform scorched and torn. His flak jacket was in tatters, his hair singed nearly to the scalp, and his eyebrows had vanished entirely. He spat out a mouthful of blood and winced from the internal damage. The hardened chakra shield he'd managed to raise in the nick of time had prevented him from being shredded, but the blast had still wreaked havoc on his insides. Every organ felt bruised and battered.

For the first time in a long while, Hayama found himself outmaneuvered. His usually reliable tactics had failed against an opponent just as cunning. He realized he needed new strategies, a fresh approach to combat. The shinobi world was a harsh environment, and it was clear that only the most adaptable would survive.

With a weary sigh, Hayama pulled himself upright. The sting of humiliation fueled his determination. If clever tricks wouldn't work, he would fall back on raw power. He formed a new sequence of hand seals. Lightning flickered across his body, growing stronger with each passing second. The air around him began to buzz with energy. His form was soon engulfed in crackling electricity, his very presence a manifestation of power and speed.

The Suna jōnin blinked, and Hayama vanished.

In the blink of an eye, Hayama's blade was at the Suna shinobi's throat. The opponent instinctively recoiled, narrowly avoiding a fatal slash. But Hayama's enhanced speed allowed him to reposition instantly. Before the shinobi could recover, Hayama was behind him, driving his lightning-charged blade through his chest.

The Suna ninja's mouth opened as if to speak, but only blood came forth. He glanced down at the weapon piercing his heart, his voice weak. "Leaf… White Fang?"

Hayama twisted the blade sharply, ensuring the wound was fatal. He said nothing as he pulled the blade free, letting the body collapse to the ground.

The mistake was understandable. The Suna shinobi had heard countless tales of the Leaf's White Fang—a figure whose lightning-infused blade had claimed so many of their own. And now, with Hayama wielding a technique derived from Hatake Sakumo's unique style, it was easy to draw the comparison.

The truth was, Hayama's newfound technique, Shōrai Kill, had indeed been passed down by the White Fang himself. How the Uchiha clan had convinced Sakumo to share this secret was unknown, but Hayama suspected the price had been steep. The technique's power was undeniable. In just two years of practice, he had only scratched the surface, yet it was already making him a force to be reckoned with.

True to its name, Shōrai Kill—"Lightning Flash Kill"—allowed its user to strike with unparalleled speed and precision. By channeling lightning chakra throughout his body, Hayama could temporarily heighten his reflexes, awareness, and movement speed to extraordinary levels. It was a technique built for swift, decisive kills. But such power came at a cost. Even after a brief use, Hayama could feel his cells protesting, a sharp, needle-like pain spreading through his body.

Minato, watching from a distance, took note of Hayama's prowess. He allowed himself a small, confident smile. With Hayama's skills, the outcome of this battle was no longer in doubt. Together, they would turn the tide.

As Minato teleported to another enemy, Hayama stood amidst the fallen bodies of Suna shinobi. The battlefield was a grim testament to the effectiveness of his new technique. By the time the dust settled, the ambush had been utterly crushed. All that remained of the Suna force were lifeless forms scattered across the desert.

The ambush, intended to annihilate the Leaf team, ended with the ambushers completely destroyed. On the Konoha side, only minor injuries and some singed hair stood as proof of the skirmish's ferocity.

However, back in the village, Hayama's growing prowess had not gone unnoticed. His abilities—particularly his use of the White Fang's signature technique—caught the attention of Konoha's leadership. But instead of focusing on nurturing this promising young ninja, the higher-ups turned their attention elsewhere. The question on everyone's mind was why Hatake Sakumo would pass on such a valuable technique to someone outside the Hatake line.

Thus, a quiet but determined investigation into Hayama's newfound strength began, spearheaded by Konoha's shadowy Root division.