Chapter 42: Kakashi’s Shock — Damn, Did I Become the Knockoff?!

After setting up defensive measures for Izumi and her family, Reiji went to find Kakashi.

His improvements to Chidori were complete.

Now, there were still two things he needed to master as part of developing his Lightning Release talent: the Lightning Release stimulation technique and Lightning Release: Kirin.

Reiji planned to gradually figure out the latter himself.

As for the former, he had tried experimenting with it on his own before, only to discover a major problem.

Without anyone to guide him, experimenting with the Lightning Release stimulation technique was simply too easy to injure himself.

Rather than waste all that time and risk covering himself in injuries, it would be better to directly ask Kakashi for guidance.

"You want to learn the Lightning Release stimulation technique...?"

Kakashi happened to be on leave today. He put away his copy of Icha Icha Paradise and rubbed his hair somewhat helplessly.

He was wondering how he should refuse.

It wasn’t that he was unwilling to teach Reiji.

The problem was that learning the Lightning Release stimulation technique required quite a lot of time.

His work in the ANBU was already extremely demanding, and he rarely got time off.

If he really agreed to teach Reiji, he might have to spend a long period of his leave doing it.

Reiji noticed Kakashi’s hesitation and immediately said:

"Speaking of which, I should thank you for showing me Chidori before."

"I made a few small improvements to Chidori afterward. I’d like you to take a look."

"I named it Lightning Cutter because I once used this Lightning Release technique to cut through Raiga’s Lightning Release."

As he spoke, electricity suddenly flashed in his hand!

There was no sharp cry resembling a thousand birds anymore. Instead, only a dense electrical crackling could be heard.

"This is?!"

Kakashi’s expression suddenly changed, and he immediately activated his Sharingan.

He carefully examined it.

The sound was much quieter than his Chidori.

And its piercing ability was clearly several times stronger!

"This is an enhanced version of Chidori... Lightning Cutter?"

Kakashi’s voice carried a hint of emotion.

"I’ve actually been thinking about improving Chidori myself, but unfortunately, I’ve never had the time."

He hadn’t expected that the advanced version of Chidori that had previously existed only as an idea in his mind would actually be completed by Might Guy’s student.

Kakashi didn’t hesitate and immediately used his Sharingan to record the flow of chakra through Reiji’s body.

However, Kakashi soon noticed something strange.

His expression became slightly hesitant.

"What hand seals does your Lightning Cutter use?"

Although Uchiha Reiji didn’t need hand seals to use ninjutsu, Hatake Kakashi did!

Simply recording the chakra flow wasn’t enough. He also needed to combine it with hand seals to assist with chakra control when performing the technique.

"This..."

Reiji thought for a moment.

"I’m afraid you’ll have to figure out the hand seals yourself, Senior."

"..."

Kakashi fell silent.

He felt somewhat complicated inside.

This was the first time he had experienced the feeling of envying someone else’s talent.

If only he didn’t need hand seals to use ninjutsu too.

How much effort would that save him?

Forget it.

It was just a matter of figuring out the hand seals.

He already had the chakra flow recorded. As long as he modified the hand seals from Chidori accordingly, he should be able to make it work.

Kakashi rubbed his forehead.

Since Reiji had directly shown him his improved technique, it was now difficult for him to refuse.

He was just about to make up his mind and sacrifice some of his Icha Icha Paradise reading time to teach Reiji the Lightning Release stimulation technique when Reiji spoke again.

"Oh, right. I’ve also developed a few applications of Chidori involving changes in form."

As he spoke, Reiji began displaying various Chidori-derived techniques.

"This is Chidori Sharp Spear, a Chidori-derived technique that can attack from a distance."

A lightning spear resembling a laser shot forward for five meters!

"This is Chidori Senbon. It transforms Chidori into a large number of tiny needle-like projectiles. It requires relatively precise chakra control."

"This is Chidori Current. It spreads Chidori throughout the entire body, allowing it to attack all enemies around the user..."

"This is Chidori Blade..."

Kakashi was completely dumbfounded.

He stood there in a daze, watching Reiji demonstrate one Chidori-derived technique after another while mechanically copying each technique with his Sharingan.

His entire mind seemed to have gone numb.

He even began wondering whether Chidori was really his technique anymore.

Why were you using it better than he was?!

At this rate, it was as though the creator of Chidori had become the knockoff!

Finally.

After Reiji finished demonstrating everything, Kakashi finally came back to his senses.

His voice sounded somewhat shaken.

"These... were all developed by you during this period?"

It had only been a few months since Reiji copied Chidori from him!

And he had already developed so many things?!

Kakashi, as the person who had personally created Chidori, knew better than anyone how difficult developing ninjutsu was.

Even his teacher, Minato Namikaze, was a renowned genius of the shinobi world, yet it had taken him three years to complete the development of the Rasengan!

"I only made a few insignificant improvements."

Reiji spoke modestly.

Besides, the development of the later Chidori derivatives had been guided by the knowledge in his memories.

Those were techniques Sasuke would eventually develop in the original story.

He had simply brought them into existence ahead of time.

Combined with the Lightning Release talent he had obtained from the system, developing these techniques had barely taken any time at all.

Reiji looked up at Kakashi.

He had already shown him so many techniques.

Surely Kakashi would feel too embarrassed to refuse his request now?

Sure enough!

After recovering from his shock, Kakashi finally remembered Reiji’s original purpose.

After copying so many of Kakashi’s techniques, there was no way he could refuse to teach Reiji the Lightning Release stimulation technique.

Still, he couldn’t help feeling a little regretful.

He would probably have less time to read Icha Icha Paradise for a while.

Kakashi cleared his throat twice before speaking.

"The Lightning Release stimulation technique uses Lightning Release chakra to stimulate the entire body, comprehensively increasing speed, strength, explosive power, and reaction speed."

"Even with me guiding you, there’s still a possibility that you’ll accidentally injure yourself."

"And it will require quite a bit of time, so be prepared."

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