Chapter 66: The Taste of Thunder – The Limits of Elementalization

"Anyone want this Zoan fruit?" Gin asked, holding up a shimmering devil fruit with faint animalistic etchings.

"Pass!"

"No thanks!"

"Hard no."

The group collectively winced.

"That thing looks awful—and sounds weak," Minato muttered.

"It might improve physical attributes or training speed," Kushina added, scrunching her nose. "But ugh, it's ugly."

Gin and Hikari both laughed, the others joining in with light chuckles.

"Anyway, just a reminder—refined devil fruits need a proper fruit carrier to stabilize," Gin explained. "Otherwise, the energy just dissipates."

"Oh? Planning to make one now?" Hikari raised an eyebrow.

"Yep. But I'm out of compatible fruits. Mind grabbing me some?" Gin asked.

"One minute!" Hikari vanished in a flicker of light and reappeared moments later at a bustling fruit shop in Pirate City.

Before the owner could react, she swept up every fruit in sight, tossed down a bag of beli, and disappeared again.

The stunned owner blinked. "Uh… I got paid, right?"

Back at their base, Hikari tossed the fruits into storage.

"Vault's stocked. Take your pick!" she said.

"Thanks." Gin selected one of the larger king-fruits and held it close. He poured in the energy of the bear-based Zoan fruit they'd refined earlier.

In seconds, it transformed—its skin turning storm-gray with glowing yellow streaks that pulsed like lightning veins.

"Thunder Fruit, huh?" Gin held it up. "Anyone want it?"

"Nope. That one's yours," Kushina said instantly. "You've had your eye on it for a while now."

"Lightning's not really my thing. I need something more like a Mythical Zoan or a strong Paramecia. Something that powers up my fists!"

She raised her small but deadly fist proudly.

"She's been practicing Mito-sama's legendary punches," Mikoto said with a smirk.

"I get it," Gin nodded. "You want something that synergizes with your taijutsu and Uzumaki vitality. I'll keep an eye out—maybe a Strike-type Paramecia or a Mythical Zoan like a Nine-Tails variant."

"Sounds good, but wouldn't the Nine-Tails fruit suit Grandma Mito better?" Kushina tilted her head thoughtfully. "She is the current Jinchūriki."

Gin sighed. "We'd need her favor first. No contracts, no secrets of the other world. And Mito-sama's not dying any time soon."

"True," Kushina grinned. "Still, I bet you'll win her over eventually. She already likes you a lot."

"As for the Gura Gura no Mi... definitely off the table," Gin added with a scoff. "Not poking Whitebeard while he's at his peak."

"Good. He's terrifying right now," Minato said with a nervous chuckle.

"Probably stronger than the original Madara before Sage Mode," Gin mused. "Kaguya might beat him in theory, but she was always more alien than fighter. Anyway, I'll take the Thunder Fruit. You'll all get your own when the time's right."

He took a bite.

The taste was... surprising.

"Sweet?" Gin muttered, chewing slowly. "Tastes like pineapple... no bitterness at all."

"Wait, really?" Kushina blinked. "Aren't devil fruits supposed to taste horrible?"

"Probably because this one's purified," Gin replied. "I think the usual foulness comes from corrupted will energy embedded in the fruit. Ours are made through soul-light refinement—clean power."

He took a few more bites and swallowed the last of it, power crackling within him.

In moments, lightning surged through his veins. Blue sparks arced across his skin. A notification appeared in his mind:

[Thunder Fruit – Level 1/1000 – Logia Type]Chakra Affinity: Lightning Attribute Gained

"Zzzzzt!"

Gin raised his hand. Blue energy built up and exploded forward with a crackling blast.

BOOM!

A bolt the size of his palm blasted into the sand, leaving a glassy crater nearly 10 centimeters deep.

[Thunder Fruit used. Mastery +20]

"Feels like a C-rank Lightning Ninjutsu," Hikari commented. "But what's the cost?"

"No chakra needed," Gin said. "It pulls from stamina—used about 1% of my reserves."

"Efficient!" Hikari's eyes lit up. "That's way better than most chakra techniques. Logias really are OP."

Gin nodded, but remained thoughtful. "Strange... The power fills my body, but it doesn't feel like it's fused with my soul the way other energies do. Maybe it takes time?"

Kushina tilted her head. "Wait, you looked weird for a second. What's wrong? Does it taste like poop?"

Gin froze, turning slowly.

"Kushina... why would you say that?"

"I—uh—never mind!" she waved frantically. "Forget I asked!"

"Anyway," Gin laughed, "good fruit. No regrets."

"Let's test your elementalization!" Hikari clapped her hands. "Mom, throw a kunai at him!"

"Got it!" She launched one without hesitation. It passed straight through Gin's shoulder.

FZZT! Lightning surged where the weapon phased through, his form stabilizing instantly.

"Wow! Lightning can't normally do that," Minato muttered in awe.

They reached out—hands passed through Gin's body, blue sparks dancing harmlessly across their skin.

"Very useful against taijutsu and weapons," Hikari said. "But... will it work against ninjutsu?"

"Let's find out," Gin grinned.

Hikari extended a hand and summoned a weak Lightning-based chakra stream.

"Zzzzt!"

The chakra struck Gin's extended hand. Nothing.

"No damage," he reported. "Not even a tingle."

"Could be Lightning affinity immunity," Hikari guessed. "Try the other elements."

Over the next few minutes, they tested Fire, Wind, Earth, and Water chakra attacks.

Each caused minor discomfort—clearly resisted, but not nullified.

"Too bad," Hikari sighed. "Complete ninjutsu immunity would've made you nearly unkillable."

Gin rubbed his chin. "In the One Piece world, Logias are only damaged by Haki or special elements. Chakra might behave similarly to Haki—it's made from both physical and spiritual energy. Haki is basically spiritual will fused with life force. Chakra is the same—just more structured."

"That explains it!" Hikari nodded. "It's all about spiritual force and intent. No true elemental invulnerability here."

"Still, this is a huge step forward," Mikoto said.

"And it's only the beginning," Gin added, lightning crackling across his fingers.