Chapter 118: Lightning Blade Completed!
Hozuki Izumo took the Thunder Swords to the battlefield in the Land of Fire.
At this time, Soma also began forging the Lightning Blade.
The simulation and modeling were already complete.
"First, craft the wood into a halberd handle."
"Then, shape the metal into the halberd blade and connect the two."
"The bone needs to be ground and integrated into the blade."
"As for the sphere, it needs to be embedded between the blade and the handle."
"The blueprint shows it this way."
"But this would make the connection between the blade and the handle less secure."
"However, just as I could wrap materials around the Water Dragon Possession, I can do the same for the Lightning Blade."
Soma decided to reinforce the connection after completing the Lightning Blade.
"No, if the Lightning Blade is for a Lightning Release Ninja, I could reinforce the entire handle."
"Lightning Release Ninjas wouldn't fear the lightning." Just like how Kakashi and Sasuke can concentrate Chidori in their hands, possessing the ability to control lightning.
Soma took out his tools and began working on the halberd handle. Wearing the God's Hand, this task posed no difficulty for him. The manual grinding had minimal error. However, due to the length of the handle, it would take some time. Soma spent an entire day grinding the handle.
At noon, Biwa Haruko delivered lunch to the forging room's entrance. Ao guarded the door. Only when Soma took a break did Ao knock on the door.
By the time Soma finished grinding the handle and stepped out of the forging room, it was already evening. The sky had darkened. Two figures entered Soma's view. One was Ameyuri Ringo, and the other was Kaguya Izumi.
"Ameyuri."
"Uehara Senpai."
Kaguya Izumi bowed. Chief-sama."
Soma nodded slightly. "Kaguya Izumi, right?"
"Yes, Chief-sama."
"Are you training Ameyuri?"
Kaguya Izumi replied, "Juzo-senpai told me before he left that if I was available, I should guide Ameyuri."
Soma nodded. "It's unfortunate what happened to the Kaguya Clan, but people must look forward. Your Kaguya Clan will surely get better in the future. Don't dwell too much on the past."
"Yes, Chief-sama."
"Go ahead."
Kaguya Izumi returned to her post. Daida was receiving treatment in the medical department, leaving the forging department's guard team with thirteen members. However, for now, thirteen was just enough.
The entire forging department's guard team consisted of:
Ao, currently a Jonin, whose value is higher than a regular Jonin due to possessing the Byakugan.
Kaguya Izumi, a Special Jonin.
Daida, a Jonin.
The rest were all Chunin.
Soma, normally a Special Jonin, could reach the level of a Jonin when using Pioggia.
Overall, this constituted a considerable force.
Soma glanced at Kaguya Izumi's back. In Kaguya Izumi, he could vaguely see a mix of conflicting emotions—confusion, bewilderment, and resentment. It was as if she had just experienced a betrayal.
"The Kaguya Clan doesn't seem to have the custom of marrying into other ninja families, usually resolving matters internally."
"Kaguya Izumi is likely the same."
"If the person Kaguya Izumi liked had already died, her emotions wouldn't be so complicated."
"But the current members of the Kaguya Clan have all been selected by Kaguya Neko."
"Could it be..."
Soma's brows furrowed slightly, and a guess formed in his mind.
"Is Kaguya Izumi's partner Kaguya Neko?"
"This would explain why Kaguya Izumi's emotions are so complicated."
"Come to think of it, the relationship between Kaguya Izumi and Kaguya Neko is somewhat similar to that between Uchiha Izumi and Uchiha Itachi, but Kaguya Izumi is much luckier."
"Uchiha Izumi was killed by Uchiha Itachi himself."
"He claimed to have given Uchiha Izumi a beautiful dream through Genjutsu before her death."
"But who would want that?"
"It was just Uchiha Itachi trying to alleviate his own guilt, only moving himself."
"Kaguya Neko and Kaguya Izumi are at least still alive and maybe one day, Kaguya Izumi might learn the truth."
Soma shifted his gaze.
"Ameyuri, let's go to the eat together."
"Yes, Uehara Senpai."
When they arrived at the restaurant, Biwa Haruko had already prepared dinner.
It was a lavish meal.
Besides shrimp, crab, and fish, there was also stewed beef.
Vegetables were relatively scarce in the Land of Water.
But there were substitutes.
The dining table often featured fruits and edible seaweed.
After dinner, Soma waved Ameyuri Ringo over.
"Ameyuri, come here."
"Uehara Senpai."
"Are you familiar with the members of the guard team now?"
"I'm quite familiar with the first squad, but not so much with the second squad."
The first squad was the one Ao belonged to. The second squad is the one led by Daida.
"Tell me about your impressions and understanding of them."
As the head of the forging department, the primary purpose of the guard team is to ensure the safety of the forging department. More specifically, to ensure Soma's safety. Naturally, Soma would want to have some understanding of these people, to determine if they are trustworthy.
"Sister Izumi is a very good person and very skilled. She excels in Taijutsu and Kenjutsu, and her Water Release is also quite good. But for some reason, she often seems unhappy."
"Ryukame Senpai doesn't like to talk and specializes in defensive Ninjutsu."
"Kaguya Satoru trains very hard, but during training, he always looks like he's clenching his teeth, as if someone has wronged him. He always wears a look of deep-seated resentment."
"Maybe he resents Kaguya Neko," Ameyuri Ringo speculated and Soma agreed with her silently.
...
On the second day, Soma took out metal ingots.
"Chakra Smelting Technique!"
"Breathing Forging Method."
Next came the shaping.
Two forks.
One slightly longer, shaped like lightning.
The other resembling a curved blade.
As he shaped them, Soma examined the metal before him.
"A very special metal."
"Not extremely hard, but extremely ductile."
"It should conduct electricity very well."
"Under my forging, its toughness has been enhanced. Quenching can adopt a rather extreme ice-water quenching method. With the metal's own toughness, it can withstand it without becoming overly brittle like ordinary metals."
Once the blade and pole were completed, the Lightning Blade was more than halfway finished.
The remaining issue was assembly.
...
On the fourth day of forging. Soma finally completed all the steps.
When Soma perfectly mounted the blade on the pole.
[Congratulations to the host for completing the forging.]
[Lightning Blade forging successful.]
[Completion level, Excellent.]
[Congratulations to the host for gaining Swordsmanship experiencex2000.]
Soma glanced at the semi-transparent panel in front of him.
In the Kenjutsu column, the number had changed to 9300.
Soma could feel that his Kenjutsu proficiency had noticeably improved.
Even holding the long spear-like Lightning Blade in his hand felt different.
"I wonder how much experience is needed to reach the next level."
"10000?"
"Below 1000 is Novice."
"Below 5000 is Familiar."
"The next level probably starts at 10000."
"I wonder what level my Kenjutsu proficiency will be considered in this world at that time."
Soma understands that in this world, there are actually very few people who rely solely on Kenjutsu for combat.
Konoha's White Fang can be considered one.
But most others rely on other means as well.
Even Kakashi didn't inherit Konoha's White Fang's Kenjutsu.
Gekko Hayate could also be considered one, but he wasn't strong enough.
Orochimaru's Sword of Kusanagi.
Killer B's multiple swords.
But none of them can be considered pure Kenjutsu users.
"The system's Kenjutsu doesn't actually refer to pure Kenjutsu, but more like techniques using weapons such as swords, spears, axes, and so on."
"Akame uses a sword."
"Baraggan uses an axe."
"Lightning Blade is a long spear."
"Since the system's Kenjutsu isn't limited to just swords."
"Then the hammer I forged is also included in this category."
"In that case, the speed at which I developed the Breathing Forging Method is related to this."
Soma furrowed his brows slightly.
"In that case, using a hammer as a weapon in combat is actually quite reliable."
"My previous idea of using the Breathing Forging Method as an attack method was correct."
"Long-range with Water Release, close combat with the hammer."
"Now I can be a versatile Ninja, proficient in both long-range and close combat with Water Release and Taijutsu."
A burst of information flooded into Soma's mind.
[Lightning Blade]
[Type: Long spear]
[Quality: Excellent]
[Abilities: Thunderbolt — Excellent-grade replica. By inputting energy, the user can evoke lightning. The intensity of the lightning depends on the user's own capabilities. This ninja tool possesses the power of lightning, which can be triggered by the user and slowly replenishes itself.]
[Note: According to Blacksmith's Third Rule, this ninja tool's power cannot harm its creator.]
"It indeed possesses the power of lightning, just as I anticipated."
"Speaking of which, that spherical object is somewhat similar to the demon cores I read about in xianxia novels in my previous life."
"But in the world of Inuyasha, there doesn't seem to be such a concept of demon cores."
Soma set down the Lightning Blade.
"Next, I will proceed to reinforce the Lightning Blade."
Soma fetched metal and began forging.
He continued until the thirtieth forging before he had to stop.
For the shaft of the Lightning Blade, Soma designed a two-layer wrapping.
The inner layer is tough and relatively soft, providing both protection and a cushioning effect. The outer layer is slightly harder. Apart from wrapping the entire shaft, Soma reinforced the connection between the shaft and the blade. After completion, the entire spear has undergone a significant transformation. It gave off a heavy and sturdy feeling, imposing in close combat.
"However, to wield this spear effectively, considerable practice is required," Soma reflected. "Otherwise, it can only be used for long-range attacks."
"Yet, in long-range combat, its power is also formidable."
"In addition to the user's chakra, the Lightning Blade itself possesses the power of lightning."
"It's somewhat akin to the combination of Hoshigaki Kisame and Samehada."
Hoshigaki Kisame excels in the Chakra Absorption Technique.
Samehada specializes in chakra absorption. Therefore, combining both abilities makes them extremely potent. Lighting Blade excels in Lightning Release. The user's chakra can also be converted into Lightning Release. When these two are combined, the result is inevitably powerful.
"I will Let Ameyuri Ringo try it first, but I won't initiate the contract yet."
"If the compatibility between Kurosuki Raiga and Lighting Blade is much worse compared to Ameyuri Ringo and Lighting Blade, then Lighting Blade won't be able to be fully utilized."
"In that case, there's no need to force Kurosuki Raiga into a contract."
Soma walked out with the Lighting Blade. Hearing the door open, Ao stood up and looked over.
"Soma."
"Ao-senpai."
"Soma, is this the ninja tool you crafted this time?"
"Yes, this Zanpakuto is called Lighting Blade."
"Lighting Blade? A ninja tool with lightning attributes?"
"Yes, it shares the same attributes as the monster we killed, but it can be used without needing lightning properties."
The information on Lighting Blade states that it can convert energy into lightning power.
Ao speculated in his heart. That is, Soma's materials for crafting the Lighting Blade likely came from that monster.
But Ao had no psychological burden about it.
For Manten, Ao saw its actions in the Dungeon Instance.
It was a monster that was extremely brutal towards humans.
It killed without hesitation.
Moreover, it treated humans as food, massacring them.
Even though Ao had nothing to do with those humans,
after seeing Manten's actions, he considered Manten an enemy. An enemy to be killed!
"Ao-senpai, let's go to the training ground."
Two people arrived at the training ground.
Soma handed the Lighting Blade to Ao.
"Ao-senpai, would you like to give it a try?"
Ao nodded.
A surge of chakra was infused.
The next moment, lightning appeared from the tip of the spear.
"Boom!"
It struck the target on the opposite side and the target was instantly shattered.
Ao was stunned.
"Such immense power!"
Before using it, Ao estimated the destructive potential based on his Water Release chakra.
But in actual use, Ao found that the attack of the Lighting Blade far exceeded his expectations.
Subconsciously, Ao felt delighted, thinking that the Lighting Blade had recognized him.
However, Ao soon realized that he didn't feel any closeness coming from the Lighting Blade.
In other words, the Lighting Blade did not recognize him.
Most likely, the reason for the strong Lightning Release was solely the ability of the Lighting Blade itself so he handed the Lighting Blade back to Soma.
"Soma, this Lighting Blade can enhance Lightning Release and unleash power beyond what is infused with chakra?"
Soma nodded.
"The Lighting Blade itself contains power," Ao said, looking at the Lighting Blade in admiration.
"In that case, this Lighting Blade is much stronger than Thunder Swords," Ao continued.
"It doesn't necessarily require the Lightning attribute to use, but this Lighting Blade should still be recognized by a ninja with Lightning attributes. In our village, if we talk about talent in Lightning Release, it's probably Kurosuki Raiga."
"Soma, you can ask Mizukage-sama to have him come and try it."
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