Naruto: Stormbreaker

Chapter 34: Chapter 34: Still More Accurate Than Most Stormtroopers

I continued training my lightning chakra circulation, feeling like I was finally on the verge of a breakthrough. Particularly when it came to channeling chakra through my legs while actually moving. To give myself the best chance of success, I chose a clearing some distance from my flat. It was isolated, spacious, and most importantly, empty of ANBU or judgmental eyes. There, at least, I wouldn’t worry about accidentally slamming face-first into something at high speed.

The spot I chose was a dusty, sandy clearing, perfect if my goal was to sweep the ground with my face. Taking a steadying breath, I formed the hand seals, calmly and deliberately, before gradually pushing lightning chakra into both legs. My muscles tingled, a buzzing current running through them, controlled but alive. Maintaining this steady, cautious flow, I recalled the precise timing I’d practiced with Flicker Step. Now I just had to take that first step.

I shifted my weight forward cautiously, releasing chakra into my muscles as I moved. To my astonishment, Unlike the previous tries my body shot forward in an instant, moving with shocking speed. My eyes widened, startled by how smoothly everything responded, especially when I instinctively poured more lightning chakra into my legs, this time to tense the muscles and slow myself down instead of cutting the flow like I had before. To my surprise, it actually worked.

”How did I not think of this before?” I muttered aloud, both annoyed and pleased.

Encouraged by this initial success, I spent the next few hours making careful, calculated movements. Each step was a delicate balance, putting every toddler’s first shaky attempts at walking utterly to shame. By the end, I was actually walking short distances without collapsing or triggering muscle spasms and cramps.

The effects were impressive. I appeared to be walking normally, yet somehow each step carried me farther. Anyone watching might have felt uneasy or confused, sensing something unnatural about the movement but unable to identify exactly what.

With continued training, I’d soon be able to maintain this chakra-enhanced speed effortlessly. Smiling to myself, I glanced down at the remaining area of my body still untouched by lightning chakra circulation. My chest and abdomen. Immediately, my smile faded into a scowl. The thought of circulating lightning chakra near my heart and other vital organs terrified me. One mistake, one slip of control, could cause a heart attack, or worse. I’d definitely save that experiment for the summer vacation, when I’d have time to approach it with extreme caution and minimal risk. Rushing something like that could literally cost me my life.

Satisfied with my cautious decision, I resolved to spend the rest of the school year perfecting the circulation in my arms and legs instead.

In the days that followed, Daiken surprised the class again with an interesting lesson. Basic first aid for minor injuries. Daiken had really hit his stride lately, delivering useful and practical lessons one after another. Today, he carefully demonstrated how to disinfect small wounds, apply medicinal ointments, and properly dress injuries to ensure rapid recovery. Chakra in this world provided enhanced healing, greatly reducing recovery times compared to my previous life. People here rarely got sick, with one glaring exception being what was dubbed ”Sharingan aids.” Unfortunately, there wasn’t a treatment for that one.

After class, I met Shizuru at the library, where she continued to tutor me well beyond the first year’s curriculum. Eventually, we parted ways, and I headed home, eager to finally master the next step of my lightning training. Current Shot.

I sat cross-legged in the middle of my flat, staring skeptically at my right hand. I had no scroll, only the clear memory of the technique’s basic concept, condense lightning chakra into a fingertip, then shoot. Easy enough, right?

Slowly, deliberately, I formed the hand seals Snake, Boar, Bird channeling chakra steadily toward my index finger. Lightning chakra wasn’t cooperative. It didn’t sit still obediently, it surged, flickered, sparked, and generally refused to behave itself.

My first attempt ended with my middle finger cramping painfully, stuck upright like my chakra was deliberately mocking me. To add insult to injury, a weak, irritating zap shot through my wrist. I shook my hand vigorously, finally managing to loosen the cramp. ”Message received,” I muttered bitterly.

For the second attempt, I slowed down even more, emphasizing control above all else. This time, chakra formed steadily at my fingertip, buzzing gently. It held perfectly for two encouraging seconds before it snapped sideways, igniting my thumb like a festive sparkler.

”Fantastic,” I grumbled. ”Progress, I suppose.”

By my fourth try, I finally found a workable rhythm. I began to understand exactly how the chakra needed to coil, compressed and tight, without being forced. The next spark didn’t misfire wildly. Instead, it hovered quietly, flickering gently at my fingertip like a cautious promise.

Pausing to catch my breath, I rolled my shoulders, noting how my entire hand tingled with the residual lightning chakra. It was an odd sensation, but there was no real pain. My constant practice circulating lightning chakra had evidently toughened my body against its negative effects.

”Alright,” I muttered, eyes fixed on my target. ”Step two.”

I formed the hand seals again, condensed the chakra even tighter, and held it firm. My fingertip hummed with suppressed energy. Carefully, I pointed my finger at a piece of wood salvaged from the demolished forest I used to train in. All I had to do was release the chakra in one quick, intentional burst.

Snap.

The bolt leaped from my finger, sizzling through the air and missed the target by a full meter. Instead, it scorched a neat black mark into the wall above the water jug I’d conveniently liberated from the Academy cafeteria.

”Well,” I said calmly, observing the damage. ”Could’ve gone better. But also worse.”

My next attempt was pathetic, fizzling out halfway. I was pretty certain even a determined mosquito could’ve shrugged it off, laughing at my pitiful excuse for an attack.

But the third attempt was different. It was sharp, controlled, and almost perfectly on target. It just needed more speed. Taking a calming breath, I relaxed my hand and stopped trying to brute-force the chakra. Instead, I allowed it to build steadily, naturally.

Snap.

The bolt shot forward in a vivid streak of crackling white-blue, slicing cleanly through the air. It hit the board dead center, leaving behind a satisfying scorch mark and a curl of smoke. The smell of burnt pine filled the air as I stood there, stunned by the sensation of residual electricity humming gently at my fingertip.

I blinked once, then slowly grinned. ”That’s it. That’s the correct feeling.”

Flexing my fingers, I noted the lingering vibration in my bones. There was no pain this time only a pleasant, energized hum.

My aim clearly needed more practice to be consistent, and the bolt wasn’t lethal yet, but it was fast, sharp, and precise. Most importantly, it was mine.

I couldn’t help but mutter triumphantly, ”The next person who underestimates me is getting this right between the eyes.” Then I paused, reconsidered, and added with a shrug, ”After some more practice, probably. Hopefully.”

Either way, I finally had a real weapon , small, precise, efficient, and perfectly suited to me.