Chapter 19: Mastering the Lightning Chakra Mode

One and a half years had passed since Ei first attempted to fuse the powerful technique of Musou no Hitotachi with the Lightning Chakra Mode. That day, she had exhausted herself to the brink, her chakra completely depleted as the attack had taken almost everything she had. The Third Raikage had been furious at her recklessness.

"Ei, don't use Musou no Hitotachi again until you've mastered the Lightning Chakra Mode!" he had warned, his deep voice booming. "You'll end up killing yourself before you even scratch your potential!"

Those words had stayed with her, a constant reminder of how far she still had to go. Since then, her focus had been relentless—every training session, every sparring match, and every drop of sweat was dedicated to refining her control over the Lightning Chakra Mode.

Today, as she stood on the training grounds, she felt the difference. The electricity that once felt wild and untamed now flowed smoothly through her body. Her movements were faster, stronger, more precise. The Lightning Chakra Cloak no longer flickered or faded at random—it was stable, as if it had become part of her very essence.

"Today's the day," Ei muttered to herself, her eyes narrowed with determination.

In the distance, the Third Raikage watched her closely, his expression unreadable but his gaze sharp. He had been overseeing her training, ensuring that she didn't attempt the Musou no Hitotachi again prematurely. But Ei had made significant progress—enough to finally prove she had mastered the Lightning Chakra Mode.

As she prepared to spar with her teammates, the Raikage gave her a single nod of approval. It wasn't much, but it was more than enough to ignite a spark of pride in Ei's heart.

Across the field, Yugito, Samui, and Mabui were waiting, each of them showing the fruits of their own intensive training over the past year and a half. Yugito, with her mismatched eyes—a piercing yellow in her right eye and a striking blue in her left—had honed her control over Matatabi's power. Now, she could coat her limbs in blue flames, enhancing her physical movements by blasting fire from the soles of her feet and elbows, allowing her to move at incredible speeds.

Samui, too, had developed her own version of lightning chakra infusion. She couldn't use the full Lightning Chakra Mode like Ei or her brother A, but she had crafted a makeshift version that enhanced her speed and reflexes, allowing her to wield her katana with deadly precision, the blade covered in crackling lightning.

Mabui had finally succeeded in developing her space-time jutsu, though it was still limited. She could teleport small items over distances of about 300 meters. It wasn't perfect, but it was a start. Her sharp mind had also been working overtime, already planning how to improve the technique to one day teleport people or larger objects.

"Ready?" Ei asked, her voice steady but filled with anticipation.

"Let's see if you've really mastered it," Yugito replied with a smirk, her arms glowing with Matatabi's blue flames.

They had all grown accustomed to pushing each other to their limits. Ei's improvement had not gone unnoticed. Her teammates had watched her progress with awe over the past few months, noting the steady refinement in her lightning control.

As the sparring began, the difference in Ei's abilities was immediately clear. Her speed was unparalleled—she moved like a blur, faster than even Samui, who had always been known for her swiftness. The Lightning Chakra Cloak surged around her, amplifying her every move, making her strikes faster and stronger than ever before.

Yugito launched herself at Ei, her fists blazing with blue fire, but Ei dodged effortlessly, her reflexes sharper than ever. She countered with a swift strike of her katana, lightning crackling along the blade as it collided with Yugito's flames.

"You're faster than before," Yugito noted, her eyes narrowing as she attempted to keep up with Ei's movements.

"She's not just faster," Mabui said from the sidelines, watching intently. "Her chakra control has improved drastically. The Lightning Cloak isn't fluctuating anymore—it's stable."

Samui, wielding her lightning-infused katana, joined the fray, her strikes quick and deadly. But even she couldn't match Ei's newfound speed. Ei parried every attack with ease, her movements fluid and controlled.

"She's mastered it," Samui muttered, stepping back to observe her friend's progress. "The Lightning Chakra Mode is fully integrated now."

After several intense minutes of sparring, Ei finally stepped back, lowering her sword as she caught her breath. Her body was still cloaked in the steady hum of electricity, but she felt no strain—no loss of control. The Lightning Chakra Mode had truly become a part of her.

The Third Raikage approached, his towering figure casting a long shadow over the training grounds. He crossed his arms, his gaze fixed on Ei with a mixture of pride and caution.

"You've mastered the Lightning Chakra Mode," he said, his voice deep and authoritative. "But remember, this is just the beginning. You're ready for more advanced techniques, but don't let that power go to your head."

Ei nodded, grateful for his words. She knew there was still much to learn, but mastering the Lightning Chakra Mode was a significant milestone in her journey.

As they gathered their things to leave the training grounds, Ei felt a sense of accomplishment. Her teammates had all noticed the difference in her abilities, and she knew they would continue to push each other to become even stronger.

Yugito stretched, her arms still glowing faintly with Matatabi's blue flames. "You really have come a long way, Ei. It's impressive."

Samui nodded in agreement, her hand resting on the hilt of her lightning-infused katana. "You're stronger, faster, and your control is near perfect. We're going to need to step up our game if we want to keep up with you."

Mabui, always the strategist, smiled thoughtfully. "I'm not worried. We'll keep pushing each other forward, just like we always have. Ei may have mastered the Lightning Chakra Mode, but we've all grown, too."

Ei smiled at her friends, grateful for their support and camaraderie. She knew she wouldn't have come this far without them.

As they walked back to the village together, Ei couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of purpose. She had mastered the Lightning Chakra Mode, but now it was time to take the next step—refining her techniques, honing her skills, and continuing to grow stronger alongside her team.

The road ahead was long, but with her friends by her side and the Raikage's guidance, Ei knew she was ready for whatever challenges lay ahead.

End of Chapter 19.