The winter sun shone warmly over the peaceful courtyard, its gentle rays bringing a soothing tranquility to the surroundings.
Since Orochimaru's departure, Uzumaki Raiden's home had returned to its usual calm. Seated in a reclining chair, Raiden leisurely rocked back and forth, watching Kakashi and Uchiha Itachi train in the yard.
For Raiden, beyond enjoying this hard-earned peace, his most important duty was cultivating the next generation of Konoha's shinobi. Among them, Kakashi and Itachi were the ones who held his greatest attention.
Currently, four individuals were traveling with him—his disciple, Uchiha Itachi, along with Hatake Kakashi, Nohara Rin, and Uchiha Obito.
During their stay in the Land of Flowers, Raiden had been teaching Kakashi the principles of the Lightning Armor. Without the burden of a Sharingan, Kakashi's chakra reserves were comparable to his father's—far from lacking, even among elite Jonin.
With this solid foundation, he was theoretically capable of learning the Lightning Armor.
Years ago, Kakashi had developed Chidori, a technique that, in some ways, shared similarities with the Lightning Armor—it enhanced the user's speed and power by stimulating the body with Lightning Chakra.
However, Chidori lacked the defensive properties of the Lightning Armor, and Kakashi's inability to control its high-speed movement was why Minato had banned him from using it.
Now, Raiden sought to help Kakashi refine Chidori or, more precisely, teach him a combat style akin to the Third Raikage's.
The Training Ground
"Clang! Clang!"
Sparks flew as Kakashi's dagger clashed repeatedly against Sakegari no Tachi in Itachi's hands. Each strike forced Itachi backward, his young body struggling against Kakashi's raw power.
Electricity crackled around Kakashi's short blade, and faint blue lightning flickered across his body. His speed had visibly improved.
However, despite his apparent dominance, Kakashi frowned deeply, his face contorted in discomfort.
He was in pain.
"That's enough for now," Raiden called out, sighing slightly as he noticed Kakashi's fatigue.
"Damn it!"
Kakashi muttered under his breath, retracting his blade.
"It still isn't working properly! I can feel the energy, but there's such a massive difference between mine and Master Raiden's!"
Frustration was clear in his voice.
Ever since their battle with Orochimaru, Kakashi had been deeply dissatisfied with his performance. He blamed himself for being too weak—for failing to properly protect his comrades.
He believed Obito's injuries were his fault.
To make things worse, despite being older, Kakashi felt that Itachi had performed better in that battle than he had.
For someone hailed as a genius since childhood, this gap in ability was humiliating.
"Senior Kakashi," Itachi approached him calmly. "Your speed has improved significantly. Even with my Sharingan, it's becoming harder to follow your movements."
Kakashi shook his head. "Itachi, you don't have to sugarcoat it."
"I know I'm nowhere near Master Raiden's standard."
"Still… thanks."
Kakashi appreciated the attempt, but he wasn't naive.
Even with the Lightning Armor, he couldn't defeat a younger Itachi in close combat.
That alone told him everything.
The Sharingan could predict movements, but it couldn't enhance physical ability. The fact that Itachi could not only track his movements but also keep up physically meant that Kakashi's use of Lightning Armor was still laughably weak.
Right now, it wasn't even as effective as his Chidori.
Raiden's Observations
Seated in his chair, Raiden's gaze narrowed slightly.
"With Kakashi's talent, why is he struggling with the Lightning Armor?"
There was no doubt about Kakashi's raw genius.
At a young age, he had already mastered the shape transformation of Lightning Chakra and even developed Chidori on his own. His thinking was mature, his analytical skills sharp, and his ability to learn new techniques was exceptional.
And yet… he had hit a bottleneck.
Raiden hadn't expected this.
"Is it a problem with his body?"
Standing up, Raiden walked over to Kakashi and placed a firm hand on his shoulder. He pressed down slightly, feeling the tension in Kakashi's muscles.
Kakashi's physique was well-developed—years of rigorous training had given him solid muscle definition, especially in his shoulders and neck.
"With a build like this, he should at least be able to handle the initial stage of the Lightning Armor… so why is he struggling?"
"Kakashi, when you use the Lightning Armor, do you feel a sense of heaviness or weight pressing down on you?"
For a moment, Kakashi was confused by the question, but he quickly recalled the sensations from his training.
"No… I don't feel any added weight."
"But…"
"It feels like my muscles are being torn apart."
Raiden's eyes lit up with understanding.
"I see."
"So that's the issue."
Kakashi looked at him curiously. "What do you mean?"
Raiden exhaled, crossing his arms.
"You've found your problem."
"Your issue isn't with chakra control—it's with your body."
Kakashi's expression stiffened.
"Your muscles aren't strong enough to withstand the Lightning Armor's effects."
"So every time you try to push it further, your body instinctively resists, preventing you from using it properly."
"Your training needs to change, Kakashi."
A bitter smile formed on Kakashi's face. "So that's it… My body can't handle it?"
This meant that mastering the technique wouldn't be an overnight process.
However, now that the issue was clear, Raiden knew exactly what needed to be done.
A New Training Plan
From that day forward, Raiden completely revised Kakashi's training regimen.
Instead of focusing purely on chakra control, his emphasis shifted toward increasing Kakashi's physical endurance and raw strength.
His training site also moved—from the courtyard to the harsh wilderness.
Kakashi began leaving early in the morning and returning late at night, dedicating himself entirely to his new regimen.
Meanwhile, Itachi continued his own rigorous training in the courtyard, demonstrating the same self-discipline that defined him.
Their relentless dedication began to affect the others.
Even Obito, who had previously been more laid-back, found himself motivated by Kakashi's determination.
For too long, he had always stood behind Kakashi, looking at his back.
That needed to change.
(End of this chapter)