Chapter 158: Paper Arts?

The camp was quiet, save for the hum of Kaminari's electricity and the sharp thud of shurikens hitting wooden stakes. Occasionally, the cool breeze rolling down from Mount Fuji would rustle through the area, carrying with it a peaceful stillness.

As the sky darkened and the moon illuminated the scenery, creating a serene and beautiful atmosphere, Kaminari's mood was anything but serene.

For one, the dimming light made it harder to aim at the wooden stakes. And second, the repetitive practice had become excruciatingly dull.

Not only was he throwing shurikens over and over again, but after each round, he had to jog over to the stakes to retrieve the four shurikens.

Earlier, Kaminari had asked Edgeshot if he could use more shurikens to avoid all the back-and-forth, but the answer he received left him speechless.

"There are plenty of shurikens, but I won't give them to you. This way, you'll cherish every throw."

Kaminari understood the reasoning. Edgeshot wasn't talking about cherishing the physical shurikens themselves, but rather valuing the precision, form, and focus behind each throw.

The quickest way to reduce the tedious trips to retrieve them was to sharpen his skills and perfect the fundamental movements as soon as possible.

With this in mind, Kaminari shifted his attitude, much like he had back when he practiced micro-manipulations of his electricity in the depths of Omiya Park.

"If I can't hit the mark after ten throws, then I'll try a hundred. If I can't do it after a hundred, then I'll do it a thousand!"

"I'm sure even a genius like Itachi Uchiha had to practice countless times before achieving mastery of his shuriken techniques!"

Resolute, Kaminari continued to throw with unwavering focus, sweat starting to bead on his forehead. Under the moonlight, the faint glimmer of sweat reflected the cold silver glow.

On the other side of the camp, Edgeshot, now wrapped in golden electricity thanks to Kaminari's high-voltage boost, had entered a mysterious and heightened state of "stillness."

This time, however, the clarity he experienced wasn't internal but external.

Over the years, Edgeshot had refined his internal awareness to the point of near-perfection, achieving a level where he could manipulate his body through sheer mental focus without needing to close his eyes.

But now, thanks to the external amplification of his spirit through the high-voltage current, he could sense the world around him in ways he never thought possible.

"I can see it!"

"I can see every movement, the mosquitoes' flight patterns, the breeze as it flows past, even the grains of sand shifting on the ground."

"No, that's not right…"

"It's not 'seeing.' This world has no color or shape—it's all vibrations. I'm sensing the vibrations."

"This feeling… it must be 'awareness.'"

However, a lingering question bothered him: could this state only be achieved in the "activated" condition, with Kaminari's electricity enhancing him?

If that was the case, it was a problem. He couldn't rely on Kaminari to be by his side 24/7, acting as a personal power source.

"I have to master this ability on my own!"

Even so, Edgeshot couldn't help but feel a sense of triumph. He had stumbled upon a level of meditation that surpassed anything his predecessors had reached, even his own master.

"This must be what Eraser Head called 'spiritual projection.' At first, I thought it only applied to him because of his unique Quirk. But my situation is different, it's purely sensory. I can't affect external objects; I can only detect them."

"And the range isn't very large… maybe a three-meter radius at best."

He sighed inwardly, returning to the same question: how could he practice this on his own?

Bzzzt…

The electricity wrapped around him began to dissipate as the high-speed activation wore off.

"Hmm?"

Edgeshot realized the "world" he had been sensing was fading rapidly, slipping into darkness as the connection to his surroundings broke off.

For a brief moment, an inexplicable discomfort settled over him. Then, with some reluctance, he opened his eyes and returned to reality.

"Kaminari Denki…"

His eyes landed on Kaminari in the distance, who was silently practicing his shuriken throws.

"Thank you. Thank you for helping me see… a new 'world.'"

Standing tall atop a ten-meter-high bamboo pole, Edgeshot gazed at the glowing moon overhead, his heart swelling with determination.

"Master," he whispered, "I've made my decision. I will take him as my disciple!"

A cool night wind swept through the camp, causing his uniform ribbons to flutter in the breeze.

Below him, the soft sounds of shurikens embedding into wooden stakes blended with the rustling bamboo and the silver glow of the moonlight. The night, the serene setting, and the two figures practicing side by side formed a strikingly picturesque moment.

---

The days that followed blurred together into a routine.

Wake up. Breakfast. Meditation. Patrol. Dinner. Practice.

Again and again.

Time moved steadily but surely, with Kaminari and Edgeshot growing and evolving under the shadow of the mighty Mount Fuji.

Finally, the morning of the sixth day arrived.

"Kaminari, today is the last day," Edgeshot said calmly over breakfast. "As per our agreement, you'll patrol alone today."

The breakfast was the same as usual—grilled fish, miso soup, rice, and pickles.

"Yes, I'm ready. What about you?" Kaminari asked, nodding while glancing curiously at his now-official master.

Three days ago, Edgeshot had casually asked Kaminari if he'd like to become his disciple. Kaminari had agreed without hesitation, and that was that—no grand ceremony, just a simple exchange of words.

As part of this informal pact, Kaminari had received four additional star-shaped shurikens and a standard kunai.

"I'll stay here. I've made progress on 'that move,'" Edgeshot replied, a flicker of excitement in his usually composed voice.

Kaminari's heart skipped a beat. He knew exactly what "that move" referred to.

After Kaminari had mastered the basics of shuriken throwing, Edgeshot had told him to aim directly at him and throw with full force while he stood with his back turned, eyes closed.

At the time, Edgeshot had been wrapped in Kaminari's high-voltage current, yet the result had left Kaminari speechless.

For half an hour, Edgeshot barely moved, dodging every single shuriken with subtle, precise shifts.

At first, Kaminari had doubted his own skills, but Edgeshot explained the process. Three terms immediately popped into Kaminari's mind:

"Paper Arts? Or Observation Haki"

"If I can master this ability," Edgeshot had said with a smile, "I'll completely counter No. 3 Hero Hawks!"

"Why No. 3? Shouldn't your first target be No. 4, Best Jeanist?" Kaminari had asked, puzzled. Logically, No. 5 should aim to surpass No. 4 first.

At the time, Edgeshot's face darkened.

"Have you finished eating? If so, get outside and practice your meditation!" he had snapped.

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