Forging New Powers

The next week, after intense debates and deliberations in the Hokage office, the proposal for the expansion of the Anbu finally bore fruit. Thanks to the strong backing of the Hokage, the Anbu Minister, and the various clan leaders who aligned themselves with the Anbu, the plan was approved. However, it came with a stipulation: after a major war, the size of the Anbu forces would be adjusted accordingly, ensuring that they would not remain bloated in peacetime.

The approval brought a sense of accomplishment to Tetsuma, but it was also a reminder of the storm that was on the horizon. With preparations underway, Tetsuma focused on the immediate tasks at hand. This week, he had immersed himself in the mastery of his Earth Release chakra transformation. It had been a goal of his for some time, especially given the immense utility it could provide on the battlefield.

As he meditated and practiced, Tetsuma's thoughts turned to a new challenge—fusing both his Lightning Release and Earth Release chakra natures. He had been toying with the idea of creating a unique Kekkei Genkai, a combination of both elements that could potentially unlock new techniques and expand his combat abilities.

His mastery of Lightning Release was already near complete, but Earth Release had proven more difficult. The tactile nature of Earth Release required a different kind of connection to the environment, one that demanded precision and control. Combining the two, however, was no small feat. The blending of elements was a delicate process, but Tetsuma was determined to make it work.

In the quiet of his Anbu office, surrounded by scrolls and ancient texts on chakra theory, he focused his chakra. Slowly, he began to channel both elements simultaneously—drawing on the power of the earth beneath him while calling upon the energy of lightning. His body trembled slightly as he felt the energies swirling inside him. It was like trying to bind two opposing forces together—each with its own distinct flow and rhythm.

The air crackled with electricity as small bursts of energy sparked in the room, and Tetsuma could feel the pull of the Earth chakra beneath his feet. His mind raced as he focused on the fusion, carefully controlling the flow of both elements.

He released a deep breath as the chakra began to stabilize. For a brief moment, he felt a surge of power, like the ground beneath him was alive, and the air above him hummed with energy. His attempt was still far from perfect, but it was progress—one step closer to unlocking the full potential of his newly formed Kekkei Genkai.

As he wiped the sweat from his brow, Tetsuma couldn't help but think that with this new power, he might be able to change the tides of the coming war—if it ever came to that.

In the weeks that followed, Tetsuma's training had intensified. With the approval of the Anbu expansion underway, the young commander couldn't afford to lose focus. His efforts were split between political maneuvering and his own personal growth as a shinobi. While navigating the shifting tides of power within the village, Tetsuma had committed himself to mastering his chakra natures.

He had already perfected his Earth Release chakra transformation, achieving mastery of several A-rank Earth Jutsus. The ground beneath his feet felt more like an extension of his own body than ever before, and his control over the earth allowed him to craft devastating techniques with precision. His Earth Style: Fist of the Mountain was one of his most powerful moves, enabling him to create massive, earthen fists that could crush even the toughest of foes. His mastery of these jutsus made him a fearsome force on the battlefield, able to control the terrain to his advantage.

However, it was his mastery of Lightning Release that truly set him apart. As a child prodigy with the skill and determination to match, Tetsuma had been working tirelessly to perfect his Lightning techniques. Among the most dangerous of these was the S-rank jutsu—Lightning Release: Kirin.

Kirin was a devastating technique that harnessed the power of natural lightning. It was not merely an ordinary jutsu—it was an apex-level technique that required immense control over the forces of nature itself. Tetsuma had spent weeks refining his control over the chakra involved, drawing it from the sky above, manipulating the weather itself to create a bolt of pure lightning. The technique itself could obliterate anything in its path, and it was a skill that was typically reserved only for those who had both mastery over their chakra and the rare ability to synchronize with the forces of nature.

His first few attempts were chaotic—lightning arcing in all directions, followed by massive storms and thunderclaps that shook the village. However, after days of meditation and focus, Tetsuma achieved the breakthrough he needed. He could now call down the lightning as easily as breathing, focusing it into a single concentrated beam that was powerful enough to level entire battalions.

But it wasn't just the power of the technique that impressed Tetsuma—it was the precision with which he had learned to wield it. The Kirin was no longer a random bolt of destructive force; it was a calculated weapon. He had learned to direct it, to focus the energy into specific targets, making it both deadly and tactical.

In a private training field, Tetsuma stood at the center of a barren landscape. He closed his eyes and raised his hand to the sky. Slowly, he began to draw upon the clouds that had gathered overhead, watching the natural currents of the atmosphere swirl in response to his chakra. He felt the surge of power fill his body as the sky darkened, and the winds began to howl.

With a deep breath, Tetsuma focused all his energy into the technique. The air hummed with static as the sky above crackled with power. Then, with a sharp exhale, Tetsuma raised his other hand, and a single bolt of lightning shot from the heavens, crashing into the earth with enough force to send a shockwave through the ground.

The field erupted in flames as the lightning scorched the earth, leaving a massive crater in its wake. Tetsuma stood at the edge of the blast radius, breathing heavily, but there was a calmness in his eyes. The jutsu had been perfect.

His mastery of Lightning Release: Kirin was a game-changer. With this technique at his disposal, he now had the power to decimate entire enemy squads in a single strike. But Tetsuma knew that with great power came even greater responsibility. If the coming war was truly inevitable, he would need to be prepared for the devastation that such power could bring.

The calmness he had after the jutsu's execution was replaced by a sense of urgency. He couldn't afford to let his guard down now, not when everything seemed to be hanging by a thread. The storm was coming, and he would be ready to face it with every weapon at his disposal, including his newly forged Kekkei Genkai.

Tetsuma turned back toward the village, his mind focused and his body ready for whatever came next. The world around him had shifted, and he was now standing at the precipice of something far greater than himself.