119-121

*Chapter 119: Thunder Drum Mountain*

The quiet room had no windows, dim and dustless.

An old man with a single eye, his right one bound by a bandage, leaned back in a wooden chair. The wrinkles at the corners of his eye fanned out like a folding screen, and his once fierce, murderous face now showed faint traces of exhaustion.

A red candle flickered on the table.

The wavering light illuminated half his face, making his features appear even darker and more ominous.

“The southwestern border of the Land of Lightning—Thunder Drum Mountain—”

Yamanaka Ryoma repeated the mission assigned by Danzo, his voice as cold and mechanical as ever, like a machine built solely for carrying out orders.

Danzo, leaning on his cane with his right hand, squinted his left eye into a narrow slit, quietly observing Ryoma, who stood with his head bowed, waiting.

“This mission is critical. You’re the only one I can trust with it.”

Ryoma maintained his icy demeanor, head still lowered, but Danzo keenly noticed a hint of distraction.

“Something on your mind lately?” Danzo asked, showing a rare moment of concern for his most trusted subordinate.

Ryoma had been with him since the founding of Root, his right-hand man for over twenty years. They’d faced countless life-or-death trials together, making him the one person Danzo trusted implicitly. If he had to name someone who would never betray him, it would undoubtedly be Ryoma—no one else in Root came close.

Ryoma gazed at the flickering candlelight on Danzo’s face. Beneath his dark sunglasses, his cold eyes held a trace of confusion. “I… I can’t remember something.”

“What is it?”

“I don’t know.” Ryoma shook his head slowly. “There’s someone familiar. I can’t recall their name or face, but I feel like they’re important to me.”

Danzo’s forehead creased deeper.

Root members severed all ties to the outside world—no past, no future, their personal will and emotions erased to exist solely for missions.

Ryoma’s current state clashed with Root’s principles and Danzo’s expectations. If this continued and affected Root’s missions, Danzo would have no choice but to track down this “someone” and eliminate them.

Suppressing his displeasure, Danzo leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand, and probed, “Where did you meet them?”

“A familiar place… a dark room with no light, like an underground base.”

The Anbu or Root?

Danzo’s mind churned with guesses.

“Any specific details?”

Unaware of the killing intent hidden in Danzo’s words, Ryoma stared blankly at the dancing candlelight, murmuring, “They seemed to smile a lot—bright, warm, gentle…”

Not someone from Root.

Danzo’s killing intent sharpened.

The smiliest person in Root was probably Chihaya, but Danzo couldn’t connect that maniacal grin with anything “warm” or “gentle.”

Ryoma was his most capable operative, once Root’s only elite Jonin, privy to all its secrets. Danzo couldn’t tolerate any weaknesses, especially one tied to the outside world that could explode into a problem at any moment.

With a forced smile, Danzo patted Ryoma’s shoulder. “You’re probably just tired. After this mission, take some time off. I’ll help you look for this ‘familiar person.’”

Ryoma’s body stiffened. Having followed Danzo for over twenty years, he knew his leader’s nature all too well. Sensing the barely concealed killing intent, he paused, then shook his head firmly. “No need. They’re probably not that important.”

Danzo gave Ryoma a long, hard look, his smile fading.

This was the first time Ryoma had ever defied his orders. It seemed a thorough investigation into this mystery person was necessary.

“We’ll deal with this when you return. Go.”

“Yes!”

Ryoma nodded sharply, turned, and strode out of the quiet room.

Whoosh!

His cloak stirred a breeze, extinguishing the already faltering candlelight.

In the darkened room, Danzo sat alone, gripping his cane, like a statue carved from shadow.

---

*Equipment Department*

The group, having finished preparing their ninja tools, stood silently at the entrance, awaiting Ryoma’s arrival.

Clad in uniform black attire, their cold eyes peered through various masks, their mere presence filling the room with an oppressive air.

The atmosphere felt inexplicably tense.

“What’s your name?” Hikari crisp voice, muffled slightly by her mask, broke the silence.

A woman, expressionless as a puppet, opened her dull eyes, heavy dark circles beneath them, and met the eerie black gaze of Hikari owl mask.

“If you’re requesting tools, report to me after you’re done,” the woman said, brushing her hair to either side of her shoulders and picking up a pen and paper, her tone strictly business.

A fully brainwashed tool?

Hikari gaze shifted from the woman’s vibrant chakra core to the top of her head, where no emotional aura flickered—just a walking husk, devoid of feeling.

“Are there any blank sealing scrolls? How many can I take?” Hikari asked, rubbing her palms together. She’d forgotten to check last time she was here.

Standard ninja tools weren’t much use to her, but sealing scrolls, capable of storing items, were invaluable. If she encountered something valuable on a mission without enough scrolls, it’d be a wasted opportunity.

The intel suggested the mine in the Land of Lightning was critical—so important that Danzo had sent Ryoma himself. The ores there must be extraordinary, and Hikari saw a chance to cash in.

“Third shelf, far right. Three at most,” the woman replied.

“I didn’t take any tools last time. Combined with this mission’s quota, can I exchange both for scrolls?”

The woman paused her breathing, eyeing Hikari carefully. “Scrolls are valuable. Five at most.”

“Thanks.”

Her goal achieved, Hikari hurried to the shelf and grabbed five scrolls.

Sealing scrolls, made from chakra-conductive wood, were expensive and often out of stock at Konoha’s ninja shops. The one she had was a gift from Hiruzen Sarutobi. Now, she could stock up.

Rustle!

She unfurled the scrolls one by one.

The costly chakra paper was etched with intricate sealing formulas, densely packed except for a blank circle in the center, indicating nothing was sealed inside.

After checking for damage, Hikari selected two multi-use sealing scrolls and three single-use ones.

Sealing scrolls used Yin-Release ninjutsu, transforming objects into intangible projections in some mysterious way. They were rigid in function: whatever you sealed in one go had to be retrieved in one go.

Single-use scrolls could seal larger volumes but were limited to one use, regardless of whether the space was fully utilized. Multi-use scrolls, made of smaller linked seals, were narrower and longer. The ones Hikari held could seal up to ten times, with ten blank circles for categorized storage.

Satisfied, she tucked the scrolls away. Their value alone was equivalent to completing a top-tier B-rank mission.

She rejoined the group to wait.

Moments later—

Clang!

Without a sound of footsteps, Ryoma pushed open the door and entered the equipment department.

“Lord Ryoma!”

Swish!

Root’s ingrained obedience kicked in. Everyone except Hikari instantly bowed, showing respect for Danzo’s right-hand man.

Ryoma counted heads, ensuring no one was missing. His gaze lingered briefly on Hikari before he nodded amicably.

“Come here.”

Seeing Ryoma beckon, Hikari raised an eyebrow and stepped forward.

“Eyes up.”

Swish!

A dozen masked faces turned toward them.

Ryoma scanned the group calmly. “The target is Thunder Drum Mountain in the Land of Lightning. I’m the team leader. Yato is the deputy leader. In my absence, follow her orders strictly.”

“Yes!” they responded in unison.

Now deputy leader, Hikari observed the emotions above their heads.

No dissent, no trouble.

Root’s absolute obedience was both reassuring and unsettling. For these tools stripped of personal will, a superior’s command was law. Even if Ryoma appointed a child as leader—or ordered them to die on the spot—they likely wouldn’t blink.

Ryoma removed his sunglasses, donning a purple-black mask. Hikari noticed his eyes, hidden beneath the mask, had pale purple pupils, nearly identical to her chakra’s color.

“Move out!”

His muffled voice echoed in the room, and seventeen chakra cores flared brightly.

---

*Deep in the Dense Forest*

Purple-red, humid mist hung in the air. Lush green vines and branches sprawled across the undergrowth, like venomous snakes coiled in the foliage.

Hiss… hiss…

A ragged, frantic panting shattered the rainforest’s stillness.

A scrawny man in plain hemp clothing gasped for air, swinging a steel blade to hack through obstructing vines and branches.

Squelch!

He yanked his boot from the rotting, muddy leaves, stumbling deeper into the jungle.

Rip!

His clothes caught on sharp branches, tearing apart and leaving red scratches on his reddish-brown skin.

Seemingly numb to pain, he swung his blade wildly, clearing a path, occasionally glancing back with bloodshot eyes, as if drowning in endless terror.

Hiss!

The stench of decay licked at his neck like a slimy tongue. Ignoring the potentially toxic mist, his chest heaved, drawing in oxygen with each labored breath, like a bellows straining under pressure.

His chakra core flickered weakly.

His chakra was nearly depleted. If those two monsters caught up, fear-fueled survival instincts pushed his exhausted body to new limits.

Plop!

His foot sank into a soft patch, and one leg plunged into a mud pit.

This was—

He stared in horror at the pile of rotting leaves swallowing his leg. Foul-smelling mud oozed out, cold and viscous, as if countless invisible hands were pulling him down.

A hidden swamp.

Squeezing strength from his stone-hard muscles, he infused chakra into his fibers, grabbed a vine, and hauled himself out.

Huff, huff!

His already scarce chakra dwindled further. He glanced back at the path he’d come from, then down at the concealed swamp.

Whoosh!

His blade sliced through vines to the right, and he darted in that direction.

Crack, crack, crack!

He hacked through branches, leaving obvious cuts, then doubled back, took a deep breath, pinched his nose, and plunged into the swamp.

Splat!

The mud, mixed with rotting plant debris, reeked so badly it churned his stomach.

The forest fell eerily silent the moment he submerged.

The quiet was more unnerving than the pursuit.

Suppressing his discomfort, he crouched low, sinking deeper into the mud, moving carefully to avoid making noise.

Each shift stirred bubbles—gurgle, gurgle—shockingly loud in the dead forest.

Finally, he tucked himself beneath the ground, hidden under withered leaves.

Only his gleaming eyes remained exposed, warily scanning the surroundings.

The space beneath the leaves was cramped, his body curled tightly, knees nearly touching his chin. His hemp clothes, soaked in mud, clung heavily to his skin, miserably uncomfortable.

Breathing the foul swamp gas, the acrid stench burned his nose and throat, each inhale like swallowing embers.

Crack!

The sound of snapping vines jolted him, his limbs locking up in the mud.

The monsters were here!

Burying even his mouth in the muck, his eyes, like two pebbles in the sludge, stared fearfully at the purple-red mist above, noticing three spinning lights twisting through the haze.

“Did you get answers, Itachi?”

In a yellowish ravine—

Kisame Hoshigaki, with blue hair and shark-like skin, leaned against a tree, his bandaged greatsword slung over his back. His golden pupils glinted with boredom.

“Shut up.”

Itachi Uchiha, clad in a black-and-red cloud-patterned cloak, crouched on the ground, deep lines framing his nose. His Sharingan spun with three tomoeDOF.

The man, meant to be hiding in the swamp, was now half-buried in hardened earth, only his head exposed. His vacant eyes locked with Itachi’s, the scarlet three-tomoe Sharingan glowing eerily.

“—The Land of Lightning—southwestern border—Thunder Drum Mountain—”

“The target’s at Thunder Drum Mountain? No wonder we couldn’t find them,” Kisame said, stretching his stiff neck, his sharp, triangular teeth glinting.

Thunder Drum Mountain again?

Itachi’s eyes flickered with suspicion. “Why there? What’s special about it?”

“Thunderstone… thunderstone mines…” the man mumbled, drooling, his eyes blank as he repeated himself.

*Chapter 120: Swift Advance*

The sky gradually darkened, shrouded in heavy mist.

In the autumn forest, fallen leaves turned brittle and yellow, and the sturdy branches of towering trees stood bare, exuding a unique sense of tranquility.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh…

Figures cloaked in black, their faces hidden behind masks, darted swiftly across the treetops. Their pure black capes billowed in the wind like wings, faintly glinting with the cold sharpness of a blade.

Silent, elegant, and—

Boom! Boom!

Thick smoke rolled, and the ground trembled.

Frightened birds flapped their wings, soaring into the sky, while various beasts stampeded outward in all directions.

Ahead of the dust and smoke…

A seemingly delicate figure sprinted across the ground.

Her boots pounded the earth, flipping the soil with such force that leaves and dirt exploded outward, carried by surging energy.

Brutal, frenzied—like a ferocious beast rampaging through the jungle, her style was the polar opposite of the light, composed Root members gliding above.

Ryoma Aburame frowned, observing the petite girl below.

Whether in Root or the Anbu, or even as an ordinary ninja, the first rule of conduct was stealth—never revealing one’s presence.

She, however, was utterly incapable of that.

With a superhuman weight exceeding 500 pounds, combined with the breakneck speed of a ninja’s march, each step she took unleashed force measured in tons.

Fragile branches couldn’t withstand such power, and even the ground buckled, leaving deep craters in her wake—a glaring trail through the forest.

For a ninja like him, skilled in infiltration and reconnaissance, this was hard to stomach.

A freak like her belonged on the front lines of a battlefield or strapped to an operating table in the experimental division, not in Root, where assassination and intelligence-gathering were the focus.

Boom!

Crackle! Crackle! Lightning flashed.

Activating Lightning Release Chakra Mode, Hikari smashed through a massive tree blocking her path.

Her body’s momentum was too great—once she gained speed, crashing through obstacles was far simpler than wasting energy on sharp turns.

Crash!

The thick trunk, scorched black by lightning, toppled as its massive canopy smashed into the ground, kicking up clouds of dust.

Whoosh!

Ranmaru, about to leap onto a branch, saw the giant tree collapse and slammed on the brakes, veering to a nearby tree instead.

Looking ahead…

The girl, wreathed in flickering lightning and trailing smoke, charged forward, toppling every tree in her path, carving a crude road through the forest.

Ranmaru’s eye twitched, his mouth opening as if to say something.

Slap! Slap!

Iwaguma, landing beside him, patted his shoulder.

Understanding the gesture, the defiant Ranmaru sighed in resignation and followed Iwaguma as they pressed on.

His injuries from their last mission had only just healed, and he had no desire to end up back in the experimental division for treatment.

The nurse who bandaged him mentioned that Hikari was studying medical ninjutsu under Chihaya Toru in the experimental division, progressing at an alarming rate. If he got injured again, there was a chance that monster would be the one treating him.

He couldn’t afford to cross her.

Just imagining Hikari, stone-faced in a white coat, tending to his wounds sent a sharp, stabbing pain through his right ribs, like a stitch in his side.

“Stop!”

Ryoma Aburame’s voice cut through.

The group halted instantly, standing in place awaiting orders.

Boom!

Hikari screeched to a halt, toppling yet another tree before barely reining in her heavy body. She shook off the splintered wood chips, her feet surrounded by gouged earth.

Was this girl an elephant in disguise?

Cho, watching silently, groaned inwardly, at a loss for words.

Ignoring the monstrous girl below, Ryoma Aburame glanced at the dimming sky. Countless insects crawled from his clothing, buzzing outward in a swarm that looked like a dark cloud from afar.

“Cho, scout the area.”

Cho nodded, closing her eyes and forming a “Rat” hand seal.

In that silent moment, Hikari’s vision shifted to a 360-degree god’s-eye view, extending infinitely outward. Though her running was loud and her fighting style bold, she never forgot she was an exceptional sensory ninja.

Through her Byakugan, she saw Cho’s body emitting blue chakra ripples, spreading outward. When the ripples struck an object, they traced a unique path back to her.

It was likely a sonar-like sensory ninjutsu, its precision unclear, but its range—about 400 to 500 meters—was far inferior to the Byakugan.

Hikari mentally noted Cho’s technique.

Her vision expanded further.

Within a one-kilometer radius, there wasn’t a single soul besides them.

Her thunderous sprint had scared off every beast and venomous snake in the area, leaving the withered forest eerily silent.

The Land of Lightning was far from the Land of Fire. Though they’d been marching all day, they were still within Fire Country borders, barely past its central region. Danger was unlikely here.

At this pace…

Hikari calculated they’d need at least two more days to leave the Land of Fire.

To avoid towns and defenses and reach the southwestern border of the Land of Lightning, they’d need to exit through the northeastern border of the Land of Fire, passing through the Land of Rice Fields and a vast, uninhabited primal forest.

That would take another four days.

With two days reserved for the mission, returning to the Hidden Leaf would take about ten days total. The experiment to filter life force through Sharingan chakra could only be done by her, and she wondered if her main body had made progress with Hashirama’s cells.

“Captain, no anomalies detected,” Cho reported, retracting her chakra.

Ryoma Aburame nodded. His caution was habitual; he didn’t expect danger here. With their elite lineup, 99% of the ninja world’s threats were nothing to them.

Besides, he glanced at Hikari.

Any potential danger would’ve been scared off by this terrifying girl.

“Everyone, rest here.”

“Yes, sir!”

The group dispersed, each attending to their tasks.

Five Special Jonin set up steel wires, traps, and sealing-triggered jutsu in the surrounding forest. Two climbed to the treetops to find lookout points, while the remaining five erased the trail they’d left to prevent enemy tracking.

Looking at the toppled trees and deep craters Hikari had left, they worked silently, without complaint, using ninjutsu to swiftly cover her tracks.

Iwaguma formed hand seals and slammed his palms to the ground, raising a yellowish stone house from the earth.

Yamato’s Two-Bedroom Jutsu?

Hikari’s eyes lit up.

She’d thought it was a Wood Release exclusive, but it was apparently a shared Root secret. With Iwaguma’s Earth Release and Yamato’s Wood Release, they were practically a construction crew.

Rumble.

The stone house lacked Yamato’s flair, resembling a plain, lidded box.

A door-shaped hole was carved into the front wall, with a square vent on the right serving as a window.

While others continued erasing Hikari’s blatant trail, Ryoma Aburame and Iwaguma entered the house. With nothing to do, Hikari, Ranmaru, and Cho followed.

The sky was already dark, and the stone house’s interior was even dimmer and spartan—a true bare-bones shelter. But in the wilderness, with no other refuge, it was practically a mansion.

Ranmaru unfurled a scroll from his sleeve.

“Release!”

Poof!

Four candles appeared in his hand. Lighting them with a firestarter, he placed them in the room’s corners, instantly brightening the space.

Iwaguma, Cho, and Ryoma sat against the wall, pulling out ration pills and water. Ryoma spread a map on the ground, studying it under the candlelight.

“You not eating?” Cho asked, removing her mask. Her plain face would blend into any crowd. She popped a ration pill into her mouth and chewed.

Ranmaru and Iwaguma swallowed their pills with cold water, their expressions calm, clearly used to the unpalatable rations.

“Not hungry,” Hikari said, eyeing the ration pills with unease.

Since waking on the battlefield where the Taketori clan was wiped out, she’d survived by scavenging ration pills from her fallen clansmen to restore her chakra, ultimately outlasting two Mist Anbu to survive.

Back then, she was like a stray dog, relying on her clan’s “carrion” to stay alive.

Now, just half a year later…

She’d absorbed tailed beast chakra twice, mastered the Eight Gates, Lightning Release Chakra Mode, all five elemental releases, sealing techniques, and medical ninjutsu. She no longer had to scrape by like a desperate animal.

Scanning the surroundings with her Byakugan, Hikari stood and headed outside.

“No leaving the team during a mission, Yato,” Ryoma Aburame said, setting down the map marked with red circles, his purple eyes coldly fixed on her.

“I’m getting some real food.”

Cough, cough!

Ranmaru, mid-sip, choked on his water. Cho and Iwaguma stared at their ration pills, unsure whether to eat or not.

Nodding, Ryoma Aburame returned to his map and said flatly, “Bring me some.”

Hikari waved and strode into the forest.

Cho and Iwaguma exchanged a glance, pocketing their ration pills and pretending to rest, sated.

Inside, Ranmaru alone kept chewing his ration pill, cheeks puffed, eyes clear and oblivious.

Outside…

The twelve Root ninjas were still erasing Hikari’s trail.

They wiped footprints from branches, filled her craters with Earth Release, and covered them with weeds. The felled trees couldn’t be restored, so they cut down nearby ones to obscure the scene.

Hikari maximized her Byakugan, scanning for prey within a ten-kilometer radius.

Spotting the largest wild boar, she slowed her pace to avoid adding to the team’s cleanup work.

In a few bounds, she reached the boar.

Lightning crackled at her fingertips as she tapped its head.

Zap!

The boar, rummaging in the dirt, stiffened, limbs splayed, eyes closed, and a mysterious smile on its lips as it toppled like a log.

The electric arc faded.

Wind chakra sprayed from her hand’s tenketsu, peeling the boar’s skin inch by inch.

She slit its belly, removed the innards, and used Water Release to flush out the stench and blood. Sprinkling salt and spices from a sealing scroll, she prepared the meat.

Slap!

Hikari patted the pork.

Wind Release seeped into the pores, shredding tough sinew. Then, scorching Fire Release chakra, using a precise Empty Rift technique, cooked the meat from within.

Sizzle!

The skin shrank, and fragrant oil dripped from the meat.

Slap, slap, slap!

She patted the entire carcass.

In minutes, the Fire Release roasted the pork through.

Tearing off a piece…

The meat was evenly cooked, bubbling with oil and dripping juices. The savory aroma, mixed with fried spices, was mouthwatering.

Hikari removed her mask and took a bite, her eyes lighting up.

The scalding pork was tender, almost melting, with savory oil and salty freshness flooding her mouth. It had the texture of lean meat but was softer than fat.

The heat, flavor, and texture were perfection.

Once she defeated Kaguya Otsutsuki, she’d open a barbecue stall next to Ichiraku Ramen.

She’d lounge in a comfy chair, munching skewers, watching Naruto’s kids save the world.

Sounded nice.

Carrying the several-hundred-pound roast back to the stone house…

The Root members had finished cleaning her trail. Maskless, they sat under trees, chewing ration pills.

Root’s strict hierarchy wasn’t just talk.

So young…

Hikari studied their faces—teenagers, boys and girls. Her Byakugan saw their robust chakra but fading green life force.

Root’s brutal training honed obedience and, like the Eight Gates, squeezed out life force through harsh regimens to rapidly build combat strength.

But this method was cruder and more ruthless than the Eight Gates.

Years of such training left their bodies riddled with damage. Most wouldn’t live past their thirties before collapsing entirely.

“Eat this!”

Holding the massive roast, she set it before them. The twelve youths spat out their ration pills without hesitation, slicing the meat with kunai.

They devoured it eagerly, seemingly savoring every bite.

Hikari fell silent.

Their faces showed no emotion, only cold emptiness—like soulless machines.

They weren’t accepting her kindness or rejecting the ration pills out of dislike. They were following her order, the deputy captain’s command to “eat meat.”

That was Root.

Shaking her head, Hikari carried the remaining roast into the stone house.

Inside…

A stone table, four stone stools.

Cho, Iwaguma, and Ryoma Aburame sat around the map, studying it intently, as if it held earth-shattering secrets.

Ranmaru huddled in a corner, back hunched, feigning sleep.

Seeing Hikari enter with the fragrant roast, Ryoma Aburame sniffed, rolling up the map and tucking it away.

The three looked up at her.

“Table’s already cleaned,” Cho said, licking her lips with a smile. Iwaguma stayed silent, but his bobbing Adam’s apple betrayed his hunger.

“Tch.”

Iwaguma built the house, Cho was good at communication, and Ryoma was the captain. Hikari, at a loss for words, set the steaming roast on the table and sat on the stool prepared for her.

The four shared the meal in sync.

After tasting the pork, the three paused, then tore into it with increased fervor.

The savory aroma filled the stone house. Ranmaru, pretending to sleep, furrowed his brow and turned away.

His stomach, bloated from ration pills soaked in water, churned with hunger and fullness, unable to quell the exhaustion of a day’s march.

Chapter 121: Thunderstone and Black Thunder Crystal

At the summit of Thunder Drum Mountain, Mining Site No. 1.

Dark clouds rolled like massive black waves, stretching across the sky above the mine, casting the entire world in an oppressive gloom.

Boom!

A thick bolt of lightning tore through the clouds like a dragon, striking the lightning rod at the mountain’s peak. The deafening thunder that followed seemed powerful enough to shatter the earth itself.

The sound of thunder echoed through the valley, blending with the rhythmic clanging of machinery inside the mine, creating a chaotic, heart-pounding cacophony.

Deep within the damp, shadowy mine, incandescent lamps cast bright light but also an unbearable heat.

A Cloud Village ninja, headband gleaming, shirtless, with muscles rippling like polished stone, operated a massive cutting machine over two meters long, aimed at the jagged yellow-blue rock wall above.

The drill bit, made of durable high-speed steel, was enormous. Next to the handle sat a square motor, embedded with a metallic lattice housing a deep blue crystal.

Zzzzt!

The ninja’s eyes sharpened with focus.

Chakra infused with lightning nature coursed across his body, swiftly channeling into the deep blue crystal.

Hum!

The crystal glowed brighter as the lightning chakra triggered the stored energy within, the power of thunder stirring to life.

Hummmm—

The giant steel wheel at the drill’s front began to spin faster, emitting a chilling, eerie whine.

Zzzzt!

The ninja pressed the drill hard against the rock wall. Sparks flew as the spinning wheel carved into the tough stone.

Fragments of rock sprayed outward, clattering to the mine floor.

Buzz buzz!

The steel wheel spun furiously, its silvery surface slowly turning red with heat. The ninja paused the chakra flow to the thunderstone, taking a moment to catch his breath.

“Water it down.”

“On it!”

A shorter miner, lugging a bucket and holding a ladle, hurried forward.

Sssss!

Cold water splashed onto the scalding steel, instantly boiling and hissing with bubbles and white steam.

At the bottom of the mine, workers donned hard hats, dodging falling rocks. They seized the moment to gather the cut stones, loading them into baskets and joining others hauling raw thunderstone out of the mine.

Whoosh!

The fierce winds at the mountain’s peak made the sweat-soaked workers shiver. Soon, their sweat dried, leaving a rough layer of salt on their skin.

Clatter!

They dumped baskets of raw thunderstone into a small pile on the ground, caught their breath, and headed back into the mine.

Nearby, a Cloud ninja operated a grinding wheel embedded with a thunderstone, carefully polishing the raw stones to reveal the deep blue crystals inside—identical to the one in the machine.

The polished thunderstones were placed into a hollow metal sphere.

With a pull of a lever, they waited.

Boom!

Another bolt of lightning struck the rod at the peak, and countless arcs of electricity erupted inside the sphere, enveloping the crystals in dazzling light.

When the crystals began to emit a radiant glow, the ninja flipped the lever back, waiting for the light to fade and the stones to cool. Then, they were carefully transported to a storage vault.

“Whoa!”

A young ninja polishing a raw stone suddenly gasped. In his hand, a fist-sized piece of ore revealed a strikingly deep, inky black hue.

“It’s a black thunder crystal! We finally found another one!”

The ninja working beside him instantly recognized the rare stone, his eyes wide with excitement.

“Get it to Lord Yagetsu Takeo, quick!”

“Got it!”

Cradling the precious black thunder crystal, the young ninja ignored the remaining thunderstone ore and sprinted to the tent at the mountain’s center, marked with a lightning emblem.

“Lord Yagetsu Takeo, we’ve found another black thunder crystal!”

“Bring it in.”

A gruff, raspy voice came from inside the tent. The young ninja swallowed nervously.

This lord had arrived at Thunder Drum Mountain just days ago. Rumor had it he was once the captain of the Anbu, but he disliked being disturbed and spent most of his time cultivating in seclusion, rarely interacting with others.

Those who delivered his meals warned that he had a fiery temper and a poor memory, so it was best not to cross him.

Clutching the black thunder crystal, the young ninja stepped into the tent.

Inside, Yagetsu Takeo sat cross-legged, his Cloud Village headband glinting. His fierce, tiger-like eyes gleamed. Dozens of glowing thunderstones were embedded in the floor around him, connected by intricate sealing symbols, forming a field of crackling lightning around his body.

Zzzzt zzzzt!

Arcs of electricity danced across Takeo’s form, his muscular frame trembling as the energy sculpted his physique.

So powerful!

The young ninja’s eyes burned with admiration as he gazed at Takeo’s bare torso.

Using thunderstones to aid cultivation was incredibly difficult to control.

Thanks to his position, the young ninja had occasionally used thumb-sized thunderstones to practice his Lightning Armor technique, but he could only handle them in small batches, never overdoing it.

Yet Takeo was simultaneously using multiple thunderstones to train his Lightning Chakra Mode—a method so dangerous and demanding that only the Yagetsu clan, renowned for their lightning resistance, could attempt it.

“Just put it on the ground,” Takeo said calmly, eyeing the fist-sized black thunder crystal in the young ninja’s hands.

“Yes, sir.”

Relieved by Takeo’s mild tone, the young ninja placed the crystal on the floor and turned to leave.

“Wait!”

Takeo’s voice stopped him, enduring the stinging pain of the crackling lightning. The young ninja froze, visibly trembling, which made Takeo frown.

“What’s wrong, my lord?” the young ninja asked, his face stiffening under Takeo’s fierce gaze.

“We’re heading into late autumn soon. Tell the kitchen to prepare more meat and some sake to warm everyone up.”

“Yes, sir!” The young ninja’s face lit up, and he moved to leave.

“One more thing.”

Takeo called him back again, irritation flaring at the ninja’s nervous demeanor. “Am I that scary?”

“N-no, sir!” the young ninja stammered, clearly lying as he faced Takeo’s intimidating presence.

“A Cloud Village ninja shouldn’t act like a coward! If I see you shrinking like that again, you’re done!” Takeo barked.

The young ninja straightened up immediately, standing tall. After a moment, seeing Takeo close his eyes to resume his training, he turned to leave once more.

“One last thing!”

The young ninja sighed softly as he turned back, finally understanding what the meal runners meant about Takeo’s poor memory.

“Get Darkai here.”

The young ninja nodded, watching Takeo sit in meditation, waiting silently.

“You still here?” Takeo asked, puzzled, opening his eyes to see the ninja lingering.

“No, sir!”

“Then go already!”

“Y-yes, sir!” Startled by Takeo’s sudden shout, the young ninja reverted to his nervous state and bolted out of the tent.

Takeo forced himself to calm down, withdrawing the chakra fueling the thunderstones.

The stones embedded in the ground slowly dimmed.

Thunderstones from Thunder Drum Mountain could store vast amounts of electricity, acting like natural high-capacity batteries. They could hold both natural lightning and a ninja’s lightning chakra, and were easy to use—just channel lightning chakra to draw out the energy.

Their hardness rivaled the toughest granite, and they could withstand temperatures up to 2,000 degrees without changing, even increasing their output in high heat.

Whether powering weapons or aiding Lightning Chakra Mode training, thunderstones were a priceless treasure, considered a strategic resource for the Cloud Village.

Their only flaw was their lack of precision in energy release. They were fine for charging machines, but using them for training was highly dangerous. Only the Yagetsu clan could handle them on a large scale.

But that wasn’t why Takeo had come all the way to the remote Thunder Drum Mountain.

Standing, he stretched his thick neck, his bones popping like firecrackers.

He walked to the tent’s entrance and picked up the black thunder crystal, still dusted with rock fragments. His eyes gleamed with intensity.

Black thunder crystal.

A rare variant found only in the deepest veins of Thunder Drum Mountain, with roughly one fist-sized crystal produced for every fifty cubic meters of pure thunderstone.

As for its purpose…

Takeo gripped the crystal tightly, his heart pounding as he channeled lightning-natured chakra into it.

Zzzzt!

The crystal’s black surface shimmered with strange patterns, emitting an ominous dark glow.

The pure blue chakra was transformed by the crystal into an ethereal Yin Release energy, blending with the lightning chakra and absorbing both.

As more chakra poured in, the patterns on the crystal’s surface faded.

Soon, the patterns vanished entirely, and the crystal became an even deeper black, like a terrifying void leading to another dimension.

Zzzzt!

Black lightning arced from the crystal, striking Takeo’s hand.

“Argh!”

Even with his high lightning resistance, Takeo cried out in pain, his body paralyzed, unable to move. As his chakra flow halted, the crystal’s dark glow faded, and the strange black arcs dissipated.

“Huff… huff…”

Takeo stood frozen, regaining control after a long moment. His powerful body trembled as he set the crystal down, clutching his forehead and sitting back on the ground.

This was the power of the black thunder crystal.

Beyond the thunderstone’s ability to absorb lightning, it could also take in Yin Release energy, fusing the two into a terrifying black lightning.

This black lightning could attack the mind and spirit, even paralyzing the soul.

The Third Raikage, Ai’s secret technique, Lightning Release: Black Panther, was inspired by the black thunder crystal’s power, combining lightning and Yin Release into a devastating technique rivaling Storm Release, the fusion of water and lightning.

If not for its flaws—its inability to be passed down through chakra seeds—it could have been considered a unique bloodline limit.

The soul-numbing sensation faded, and Takeo regained control of his body.

The black lightning hadn’t harmed his lightning-forged physique, but the deep, soul-piercing pain and paralysis left him shaken.

Yet, it also fueled a burning resolve in his chest.

His father was dead.

Killed by a child from Konoha’s ninja academy, according to their spies.

Takeo knew his father’s strength. Even weakened by old injuries, he could still hold his own against Takeo. There was no way a mere academy student could have killed him.

Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen’s ploy was obvious—fabricate a prodigy to boost morale and ease the tension from the Uchiha clan’s massacre.

It wasn’t a new tactic. Everyone saw through it.

But Takeo couldn’t accept it.

His father’s death, with the killer’s identity unknown, was an outcome he refused to live with.

So he resigned as Anbu captain, sought the Third Raikage’s black lightning technique, and journeyed to Thunder Drum Mountain, home of the thunderstones.

He would use the thunderstones and black thunder crystals to master the secret technique.

Once his Lightning Chakra Mode reached new heights and he perfected the black lightning technique, he would go to Konoha, uncover the truth behind his father’s death, and kill the one responsible.

Step step step!

Footsteps approached the tent.

A tall, blond, blue-eyed man burst in—Darkai, one of the two jonin at Thunder Drum Mountain besides Takeo.

“Captain!”

“I’m not the Anbu captain anymore.”

“You’ll always be my captain!”

Takeo sighed at Darkai’s stubbornness. The man had been his subordinate in the Anbu and followed him to Thunder Drum Mountain after Takeo resigned.

He was as stubborn as they came.

“Any more disappearances in the mine?” Takeo asked.

“That’s what I came to report. Not only have the disappearances not stopped, they’ve increased. Two more chunin went missing last night.”

“Any traces at the scene?”

“Same as before—clean, no clues, not even signs of a struggle. The mine’s so noisy with machines, voices, and thunder that no one heard anything unusual.”

Thunder Drum Mountain’s thunderstone mine had one main vein and four branches, with five mining sites in total.

Last month, disappearances were concentrated at Sites 4 and 5 at the mountain’s base—fifteen regular miners, two genin, and one chunin. They’d increased security there.

Now, Sites 2 and 3 were hit—five regular miners, two genin, and two chunin.

Taking out two chunin without a trace suggested an enemy at least at special jonin level. With the mine’s complex caves and years of excavated tunnels, catching the culprit was like finding a needle in a haystack.

Takeo’s expression darkened, his rugged brows furrowing.

He’d come to Thunder Drum Mountain not just for training but also on a mission from the Fourth Raikage: investigate the miner disappearances and resolve it. A B-rank mission.

Focused on his training and revenge, he hadn’t taken the mission seriously. Yet, after a month, he still had no leads.

Even Darkai, an Anbu tracker, found nothing, making the task even more daunting for Takeo, who wasn’t skilled in tracking.

“There’s only one way,” Takeo said.

“What’s that?” Darkai asked, puzzled. The Yagetsu clan were known for brute force, not subtlety, and Takeo was no exception. Intelligence and tracking weren’t his strengths.

Takeo bent down, picking up the energy-filled black thunder crystal, its glossy black surface reflecting his fierce eyes.

“We go fishing.”