Extending lightning chakra into a spear-like thrust allowed for a wider attack range. Though the pinpoint lethality might suffer, the increased area of effect was a significant gain.
"Hmm~~ Impressive. Not only have you mastered the A-rank jutsu Chidori, you've already modified it?"
A lazy voice suddenly sounded behind Sasuke, making the black-haired boy—who had been testing his technique—tense up. He whipped around to face the source.
Kakashi stood not far behind him, now dressed once again in his standard jōnin gear, studying Sasuke with a curious gaze.
As a covert member planted within Hinata's group, Kakashi naturally had the freedom to gather intel. Seeing Sasuke wielding Chidori firsthand had genuinely surprised him.
He'd only heard that the trio had learned some jutsu from the Scroll of Seals—but this confirmed it.
Though now, he wondered what the other two had learned.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?"
Sasuke narrowed his dark eyes. His instincts told him that this masked, spiky-haired man wasn't a mere nobody. And even though the Konoha forehead protector said otherwise, Sasuke had just recently dealt with a traitor like Mizuki, so he had no reason to be friendly.
"Heh~ That Uchiha pride really shines through in you."
Kakashi lowered his arms, now intrigued. He wanted to see just how skilled this so-called Uchiha genius really was.
"Sure, mastering Chidori at age eleven is impressive. But, if I may be blunt—someone mastered it at age seven. It's a jutsu even a child can learn."
There was no question: Kakashi's words were full of smugness, almost begging for a fight. The sneer wasn't even hidden.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed in anger. He didn't waste time replying. Instead, he decided to switch communication styles—with his fists.
Zzzap—!
With a sound like sparking electricity, two shuriken flew from Sasuke's hand, spinning toward Kakashi in tight arcs. Their spiral trajectory made Kakashi squint slightly in appraisal, but it was the lightning coating the blades that truly impressed him. This was the technique Sasuke had used in a previous fight: Starflower Claw Storm.
No doubt, this Uchiha kid was a real prodigy. He'd already mastered combining lightning chakra with metal tools. That meant you couldn't block these shuriken with regular kunai—they'd stun you. Dodging was the only safe option.
Crack—!
Both shuriken struck Kakashi head-on, knocking him back like a log. But Sasuke didn't celebrate—he frowned. His black pupils turned crimson.
Stimulated by Hinata and Mizuki's earlier provocations, Sasuke's Sharingan had awakened. Now, the two-tomoe pattern in both eyes spun rapidly.
He dropped low and, with a cold shout, thrust his left hand downward—brilliant lightning flaring from his palm—and smashed it into the ground.
Boom—!
His fist tore through the training field like it was paper.
But underground, a lightning-coated hand suddenly grabbed his.
The Kakashi that had taken the shuriken to the chest exploded in a puff of smoke—a log from a substitution jutsu.
Kakashi had dodged the attack and immediately used [Earth Style: Headhunter Jutsu], aiming to drag Sasuke underground.
But Sasuke's activated Sharingan let him track Kakashi's chakra signature through the ground. He retaliated with Wild Fang, blasting downward. If Kakashi hadn't countered with Chidori in time, he'd have been fried—or at least stunned.
"Hmph!"
Sasuke quickly leapt back, shocked. His Wild Fang punch was powerful enough to shatter stone, yet this guy had blocked it.
And when their lightning chakra clashed, Sasuke clearly felt outmatched. His left hand was slightly numb—that meant this guy's lightning control exceeded his own.
"So that's how it is… Truly a genius of the Uchiha clan. You've already awakened your Sharingan?"
Kakashi climbed out of the ground, his tone suddenly serious. He'd expected Sasuke to be strong, but not this strong—fully awakened two-tomoe Sharingan in both eyes.
"You… you're not just some nobody. What are you really after?"
Cautiously taking a fighting stance, Sasuke had already concluded that he wasn't a match for this man. Kakashi seemed ready to speak—but then paused. He gave a mysterious smile and shook his head.
"No need to rush. We'll meet again. Until then, farewell."
He formed a seal with two fingers, and with a puff of smoke, the white-haired jōnin vanished using a Body Flicker Technique.
"Hey~~ Sasuke? Whoa—what happened here?!"
Naruto, still in his pajamas and nightcap, yawned as he walked up. Clearly, he'd gotten up to pee, realized Sasuke wasn't in bed, and followed the noise to the training field. The scene in front of him immediately sobered him up.
"Hmph~ Nothing to do with you. Just a big rat."
Lowering his fists, Sasuke clenched his teeth. He still wasn't strong enough. That white-haired mophead… he couldn't beat him yet.
He had to train harder.
"Tch~ Fine, don't tell me! No need to be such a jerk!"
Feeling snubbed, Naruto huffed and stomped away. Watching him go, Sasuke had to suppress the urge to explain. Instead, he turned back—he was determined to finish his Chidori Spear technique today.
Back in Hinata's room, the white-eyed girl reclined lazily on her bed with a smirk.
"Heh~ That was amusing."
Veins bulged at the corners of her eyes—she had her Byakugan activated. She'd watched everything: Kakashi vs. Sasuke, and Sasuke vs. Naruto. Nothing had escaped her sight.
Looks like, aside from that idiot Naruto, both she and Sasuke had already begun developing their own techniques.
Well, of course. That moron whose only trick was making chakra balls… he'd never invent a jutsu. It'd be easier to get him to stop eating ramen forever.
Such rare and powerful wind chakra… wasted on a ball. Truly laughable.
Glancing at a scroll beside her pillow, Hinata sneered. This wasn't some random scroll—it contained backup techniques she'd prepared to make her own lies about "Southern Sacred Fist" more convincing. She had personally restructured them based on taijutsu mechanics and chakra manipulation.
Gale Fist, Sonic Blade Chop, Caesar Wave, Supreme Roaring Fist, Vacuum Shock Fist—any of these could work perfectly with wind chakra. But that idiot Naruto would probably never figure that out.
As for her…
"There's no need to tell him. Ehehehehe~"
Laughing cruelly, Hinata dismissed the idea of helping Naruto. She casually tossed the scroll into the trash can and flicked a spark to set it alight.
---
Hinata had no plans for today—for a simple reason: her delivery had arrived.
"Ah~ For those who love surprises, every package brings endless wonder."
She looked at the long cardboard box with satisfaction. Akatsuki's efficiency truly impressed her. No wonder even the Tsuchikage had praised them in the original. With this level of service, she might just keep using Akatsuki Prime.
"Lady Hinata, I've checked. She's alive—most likely a rogue ninja from the Fūma clan."
Sai drew his short blade and sliced the box open. Inside was a black-haired girl, bound hand and foot, her mouth gagged. She was awake now, eyes filled with panic, scanning the room wildly. Clearly, she'd been ambushed by Kakuzu or Hidan and dragged here without warning.
"Any injuries?"
Hinata didn't care about the girl's identity. As long as she wasn't from Konoha and her body was intact, that was all that mattered.
"None. I've done a preliminary check. Her limbs and chakra pathways are fine. Chakra flow is smooth."
Sai gently helped the girl sit up for Hinata's inspection. Hinata promptly activated her Byakugan to scan for traps—implanted forbidden jutsu, hidden explosive tags, anything bizarre. After all, in a world built on strange jutsu, nothing could be ruled out.
After several seconds, Hinata deactivated her Byakugan, satisfied, and began studying the girl's appearance.
Clearly, Kakuzu was a professional. He had delivered exactly what was requested. The girl had jet-black straight hair in a traditional hime cut and delicate features—definitely a natural beauty. The glint of violence in her brow hinted that she'd already killed before, meaning she had solid shinobi instincts.
Also… her curves were extremely well-defined.