Naruto: Lost to Hinata on Purpose, and Now Everything's a Mess Chapter 18 18 : Chakra Skyrockets

As Riku completed the hand seal, countless electric arcs suddenly erupted across his body, crackling like serpents as they surged outward. In an instant, the lightning ford a massive web-like grid across the ground.

Boom—

Within a five-ter radius, the entire area was engulfed.

The violent chakra discharge shattered the earth around Riku.

Boom—

The surrounding ground abruptly caved in, sinking over a ter deep and forming a massive crater more than ten ters wide.

After releasing Lightning Style: Ground Surge or Ground Walk, Riku stood frozen in shock.

"How is it this powerful?"

Kakashi, standing off to the side, hadn't anticipated such terrifying force from a Lightning Style technique executed by Riku.

This wasn't the power of a simple C-rank jutsu—it had already reached B-rank, maybe even close to A-rank.

"It must be because you're outputting too much chakra... and the quality of your chakra is unusually high."

Kakashi thought for a mont. That was the only explanation that made sense.

Riku nodded. "I see."

In truth, Riku hadn't poured an excessive amount of chakra into the jutsu. He had followed Kakashi's instructions precisely when molding and releasing the Lightning Style technique.

The reason for the overwhelming power, Riku suspected, might be due to a significant improvent in the quality of his chakra.

anwhile, Guy, who had just regained consciousness, was still reeling from the shock of what he'd witnessed.

The first thing he saw after waking up was the violently flickering lightning grid crackling through the air.

Staring at Riku's small figure in the center of the devastation, Guy's brow furrowed.

"What kind of jutsu did Kakashi teach him? That level of power… Is he not worried about hurting Riku's body?"

To Guy, it seed clear that Kakashi had taught Riku a B-rank or higher Lightning Style jutsu. But teaching sothing like that to a six-year-old? It seed irresponsible.

Riku, deep in thought, looked over at Kakashi and said, "Kakashi-sensei, I think this Lightning Style technique could be even more powerful if it were combined with a Water Style jutsu."

"It would also widen the attack range."

Kakashi walked over, a rare smile forming beneath his mask. "That's a good observation. Lightning Style: Ground Walk can indeed be paired with Water Style. But combining nature transformations is a very advanced skill—even I find it difficult. You can't just stack two jutsu together."

"But it's worth thinking about. Who knows? Maybe you'll be able to do it."

Though combining jutsu sounded simple in theory—just layering one elental technique with another—it was far from easy in practice.

You either needed seamless cooperation between multiple shinobi, or extrely high chakra control and skill to do it alone.

Even for Kakashi, it remained a challenge.

Combination jutsu wasn't sothing that could be achieved just by imagining it.

Kakashi paused, then added, "I've already taught you one technique from each of the four elents: Lightning, Water, Fire, and Earth. Now it's ti I taught you a Wind Style jutsu."

Riku nodded. "Alright."

Guy stared at the pair. While Kakashi and Riku were already used to the latter's frightening learning speed, Guy was still reeling from shock.

"He actually understands it after just hearing it once... Maybe Kakashi was right to teach him. Maybe he really does have potential on par with the Fourth Hokage."

"At this rate—learning and mastering a technique like that at only six years old—his talent is already comparable to the Kakashi of old."

Back when Kakashi was Riku's age, he had just passed the Chūnin Exams.

He was still a student at the Ninja Academy.

Compared to that, Riku's progress was astonishing.

Guy couldn't help but feel that Riku's growth was already rivaling, if not surpassing, Kakashi's at the sa age.

Especially in terms of taijutsu.

Kakashi looked at Riku and asked, a bit concerned, "The Lightning Style you just used consud a lot of chakra. Are you sure you're still up for learning Wind Style?"

Riku nodded. "Yeah. I've still got chakra left. I could probably still release an Earth Style: Earth Wall without issue."

In truth, his chakra had already fully recovered.

It was only a C-rank Lightning Style jutsu, and thanks to his recovery speed, he'd replenished his reserves in under a minute.

Kakashi nodded. "That's good. Your chakra reserves are getting larger… but this is important: don't let anyone else know about this, alright?"

He knew better than anyone that Riku's raw talent, while impressive, wasn't the most dangerous thing about him.

It was the sheer volu of chakra he possessed at such a young age.

That was the real secret.

Riku nodded. "Understood, Kakashi-sensei."

Satisfied, Kakashi began explaining the basic principles of Wind Style ninjutsu.

Half an hour passed.

Just as Kakashi finished his detailed explanation, a sudden jolt surged through Riku's mind like a lightning strike.

His spiritual awareness exploded outward, expanding rapidly—fivefold, at least.

With his already powerful physique, the sudden enhancent of his spiritual power caused an equally explosive increase in chakra.

A faint breeze of chakra began swirling visibly around his body.

Riku frowned.

"What just happened? My chakra jumped again… This is Jōnin-level, isn't it?"

He couldn't believe it—his chakra reserves had soared to the level of a full Jōnin in re monts.

His physical strength had also improved significantly.

Kakashi noticed the shift in Riku's chakra almost imdiately.

"What just happened?"

Riku looked up at him and replied calmly, "It's nothing. I just had a breakthrough."

"I have a feeling that once I've fully mastered ninjutsu from all five elents, I'll be able to develop combination techniques."

He quickly changed the subject.

Kakashi sensed that sothing was off, but he couldn't pinpoint it.

So he just smiled and said, "Still thinking about combination jutsu? It's not that easy. Usually, it requires multiple shinobi working in perfect sync. For one person to do it… well, outside of the Third Hokage, I haven't seen anyone who could."

In reality, both Jiraiya and Orochimaru could as well—but Kakashi didn't know that.

Riku blinked in surprise. "It's that hard?"

Kakashi chuckled. "If it weren't, more people would be using it. But it is incredibly powerful. Anyone who can pull it off becos a real threat."

"If you ever manage to master it, your strength will skyrocket."

Combined jutsu techniques were among the few ways that average shinobi could compete with those who possessed Kekkei Genkai.

Many of them were specifically designed to counter or rival the overwhelming force of bloodline techniques.

Riku smiled thoughtfully. "Maybe I really can master it soday."

There was no hesitation in his tone.

He truly believed it—and Kakashi, looking into the boy's determined eyes, believed it too.

If Riku was serious about this, there was a very real chance he'd succeed.

Vote Your Power Stones

Thank you.