24. After The Storm

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The aftermath of Kira's devastating training session lingered in the air long after he had left the forest. The sky, once dark and foreboding, had begun to clear, the heavy clouds slowly dispersing to reveal patches of blue. But the damage was done. The ground remained scorched, deep fissures crisscrossed the earth, and the trees surrounding the clearing lay shattered and uprooted.

Kira had known that the consequences of unleashing Honoikazuchi no Kami would not go unnoticed. As he slipped back into the shadows of the village, he was acutely aware of the chaos he had left behind. He could only imagine the scene when the village's authorities discovered the devastation. But for now, he had other things to worry about—namely, the cracked sword at his side, a stark reminder of the technique's destructive power.

---

In the village of Konoha, the sudden cloud cover and the violent lightning storm that had erupted in the outer forest had not gone unnoticed. The villagers had looked up in fear and confusion, murmuring among themselves about the strange weather. The ninja who patrolled the area had felt the shift in the atmosphere, the sudden tension that gripped the village.

In response, the Hokage's office quickly dispatched a team of Anbu to investigate. The elite shinobi moved swiftly and silently through the forest, their masks reflecting their stoic dedication to the village's protection. When they arrived at the clearing, what they found sent a wave of shock through the normally composed unit.

The forest was decimated. The ground was blackened and cracked, the earth torn apart as if a great force had ripped through it. Trees were splintered and scattered, some still smoldering from the intense heat of the lightning. The air was thick with the smell of ozone and burnt wood, a sharp reminder of the power that had been unleashed.

The Anbu moved through the area, their eyes sharp as they searched for any sign of what—or who—had caused this devastation. But there was nothing. No enemy, no chakra residue that they could trace, no clues to indicate who might have been responsible. It was as if the storm had appeared from nowhere, wreaking havoc and then disappearing without a trace.

One of the Anbu crouched down, examining a particularly deep fissure in the ground. The crack was wide and jagged, the earth around it scorched and still warm to the touch. "This is comparable to an S-Rank jutsu," he muttered, his voice laced with concern.

Another Anbu, standing a few feet away, nodded in agreement. "Whatever did this, it's powerful. We need to report this to the Hokage immediately."

Without further delay, the Anbu left the devastated forest, moving swiftly back toward the village to deliver their report. The scene they had discovered was enough to put the entire village on high alert.

---

In the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen sat at his desk, deep in thought as he awaited the Anbu's report. The sudden storm and the reports of lightning in the outer forest had set his instincts on edge. As the Third Hokage, it was his duty to ensure the safety of the village, and the unexplained phenomena had him concerned.

The Anbu entered the office silently, their presence causing Hiruzen to look up from the scrolls on his desk. Their leader, wearing the mask of a bird, stepped forward and gave a brief report on their findings.

"Hokage-sama, we investigated the site of the storm in the outer forest. The area is heavily damaged—scorched ground, shattered trees, deep fissures. The devastation is comparable to that of an S-Rank jutsu," the Anbu reported, his voice calm but serious.

Hiruzen's expression grew more serious, his eyes narrowing as he absorbed the information. "And the cause? Did you find any trace of who might have done this?"

The Anbu shook his head. "No, Hokage-sama. There was no trace of any shinobi, no lingering chakra signatures. Whoever did this, they left no evidence behind."

Hiruzen leaned back in his chair, his mind racing with possibilities. An S-Rank jutsu? In the outer forest? It was troubling, to say the least. The kind of power needed to cause such destruction was not something to be taken lightly.

"Thank you," Hiruzen said, dismissing the Anbu with a wave of his hand. As they left, he turned his thoughts inward, trying to piece together what might have happened. The first possibility that came to mind was one of the village's most capable shinobi—Hatake Kakashi.

"Kakashi?" Hiruzen mused. "Could he have been testing a new jutsu?"

He knew that Kakashi often trained in seclusion, and his proficiency with Lightning Release made him a prime candidate for such an event. Deciding to follow his instincts, Hiruzen called for Kakashi to be summoned to his office.

Kakashi arrived shortly afterward, his usual relaxed demeanor in place, but with a curious look in his visible eye. "Hokage-sama, you called for me?"

Hiruzen nodded, leaning forward slightly. "Kakashi, I need to ask you something. There was a sudden storm in the outer forest today—a storm that caused significant damage. It had all the signs of a powerful Lightning Release technique. Were you responsible for this?"

Kakashi's eye widened slightly in surprise, but he quickly shook his head. "No, Hokage-sama. I haven't been to the outer forest today. And I certainly haven't been practicing any new jutsu."

Hiruzen studied Kakashi's face carefully, searching for any sign of deception, but found none. Kakashi was telling the truth.

"I see," Hiruzen said slowly, leaning back in his chair. "Thank you, Kakashi. That will be all for now."

Kakashi bowed slightly and left the room, leaving Hiruzen alone with his thoughts. The fact that Kakashi was not responsible only deepened the mystery. Whoever had caused the storm was powerful—powerful enough to rival some of the village's most skilled shinobi.

For now, Hiruzen decided to put the investigation on hold. The village would remain on alert, but without any further leads, there was little else that could be done.

---

Back in the Kozuki compound, Kira sat alone in his room, his mind occupied with thoughts of the day's events. He had known that using Honoikazuchi no Kami would draw attention, but he wasn't particularly bothered by it. The Anbu would investigate, but they wouldn't find anything. He had been careful to leave no trace of his presence.

What concerned him more was the state of his sword.

Kira looked down at the weapon in his hands, running his fingers over the blade. The sword was cracked, the once flawless steel marred by the immense power it had been forced to channel. This wasn't the first time he had damaged a sword while using the Thunder Breathing technique, but this time it was different. The damage was more severe, more final.

"I need to speed up my blacksmithing training," Kira thought, his brow furrowing in frustration. "I can't keep replacing swords every time I use Thunder Breathing. The technique is too powerful for ordinary weapons."

He didn't even know how many swords he had gone through since he began practicing Thunder Breathing. The technique put immense strain on the blade, the sheer force of the lightning causing the metal to crack and weaken at an accelerated rate. Compared to Water Breathing, the damage was ten times faster, and Kira knew that this was unsustainable.

The System had offered him the Nichirin Blade technique as a reward for mastering blacksmithing, and Kira knew that he needed to claim that reward soon. The Nichirin Blade was said to be a sword capable of channeling immense chakra and elemental energy without breaking, a weapon perfectly suited for the destructive power of Thunder Breathing.

Kira stood, determination setting in. He couldn't afford to wait any longer. He needed to refine his blacksmithing skills, to forge a blade that could withstand the power of a storm. Without such a weapon, his progress would be limited, and his ambitions would be harder to achieve.

Kira stood in the dimly lit smithing workshop, the familiar scent of burning coal and hot metal filling the air. The rhythmic clang of hammer against steel echoed through the space, a sound that had become as comforting as it was invigorating. The forge glowed with a fiery intensity, casting flickering shadows across the walls.

This workshop had seen countless hours of Kira's dedication, his hands shaping steel into weapons that reflected the strength and honor of the Kozuki clan. But today, as he picked up his tools and examined the raw materials before him, Kira felt a renewed sense of purpose. The cracked sword at his side was a stark reminder of the journey he still had to undertake.

The path to becoming a master smith was one that demanded patience, precision, and an understanding of metallurgy that went beyond the mere creation of weapons. In the Shinobi World, a master smith was not just a creator of tools for battle; they were artisans of metal, shaping it with care and respect. Mastery in smithing was not defined by the ability to craft weapons of mass destruction but by the knowledge of metallurgy and the delicate balance between form and function.

Kira knew that he wasn't far off from achieving that mastery. The countless hours he had spent at the forge, the meticulous attention to detail in each blade he crafted, and the relentless pursuit of perfection had all brought him closer to his goal. He had learned the properties of different metals, the precise temperatures needed to forge them, and the subtle nuances that could make the difference between a good weapon and a great one.

As he began to work, Kira's hands moved with practiced ease, the hammer striking the heated steel with measured force. The metal responded to his touch, bending and shaping under the careful guidance of his tools. He could feel the steel's resistance, the way it softened and became malleable under the right conditions, the way it hardened into something strong and unyielding.

The process of blacksmithing was one of transformation—taking raw, unrefined material and turning it into something beautiful, something deadly. It was an art form, one that required not just skill but an understanding of the nature of metal itself. And Kira was beginning to see that he was closer to mastering this art than he had realized.

As he worked, Kira's thoughts turned to the Nichirin Blade technique, the reward that awaited him upon reaching the pinnacle of his blacksmithing training. The Nichirin Blade was said to be a weapon of unparalleled strength, capable of channeling immense chakra without breaking, a perfect companion for the Thunder Breathing techniques he had been honing.

Kira knew that mastering the Nichirin Blade technique would elevate him to a new level as a shinobi. It would allow him to wield the full power of his techniques without fear of destroying his weapon, to harness the storm within him and direct it with precision and control.

He worked methodically, the clang of the hammer against metal resonating through the workshop. Sparks flew with each strike, illuminating Kira's focused expression. He could feel the steel taking shape, the blade forming under his careful hands. The process was slow, deliberate, but each step brought him closer to his goal.

As the hours passed, the sword began to take shape. The blade was straight and sharp, its edge gleaming in the light of the forge. Kira's eyes reflected the fire of the forge, his determination burning just as brightly. He could see the progress he had made, the skills he had honed over countless hours of work.

And as he placed the nearly finished blade into the quenching oil, watching the steam rise in a cloud of hissing vapor, Kira realized something important: he was on the brink of becoming a master smith. The knowledge, the skill, the dedication—it was all coming together. He wasn't just crafting weapons; he was forging his future, shaping the tools that would allow him to achieve his ambitions.

The path of the blade was one of discipline and patience, and Kira was ready to walk it to its end. He would master the Nichirin Blade technique, and with it, he would become a force to be reckoned with in the Shinobi World.

The sound of hammering metal echoed through the compound as Kira entered the workshop, ready to begin his training. The journey to mastering blacksmithing and claiming the Nichirin Blade technique would be challenging, but Kira knew that it was necessary. And with every strike of the hammer, every spark of metal meeting metal, Kira knew he was one step closer to mastering the power he had unleashed—and to achieving the future he envisioned.