Picking up the history book, he flipped through it again and again.
Unbeknownst to him, as he read, only half of the setting sun remained over the western sea.
"Alright, alright, alright~?"
Karatachi Yagura stretched, feeling a bit drowsy. "Ah~ Immersing myself in studying is such a joy."
"It's getting late. Time to head back. If I don't, Grandpa's going to scold me again~"
Rolling up the book and tucking it into his waistband, Yagura leapt effortlessly from the tree, landing lightly on the ground.
Using the momentum of his landing, he pushed forward and sprinted towards Kirigakure.
Crackle—Snap—Crackle—Snap—
Weak Lightning Release chakra flickered over his body as he controlled it to stimulate his cells, enhancing their activity.
This was one of his daily training routines.
From the moment he extracted chakra and determined his chakra nature, Yagura had been "copying homework."
He clearly remembered that, in the original series, the Fourth Raikage used this method to stimulate his cells, boosting his physical abilities to gain incredible strength and speed.
There were plenty of famous Lightning Release techniques in Naruto.
The most well-known were Sasuke Uchiha's Chidori, the Lightning Release Chakra Mode of the Third and Fourth Raikage, and Darui's Black Lightning.
Comparing these techniques, Yagura decisively borrowed the Fourth Raikage's concept.
Unlike Chidori, the Raikage's technique enhanced his entire physical body.
The piercing attacks that Chidori excelled at? The Raikage's Lightning Release Chakra Mode could achieve the same thing.
Using descriptions from the original series, Yagura developed his own approach.
The Raikage's technique required covering the entire body with Lightning Release chakra to stimulate all cells.
In simple terms, the user's entire body was in a state of continuous self-electrocution.
If he didn't want to knock himself out with his own chakra, he needed to build up his body's resistance to electricity.
"Damn, this hurts!"
Increasing his speed as he rushed toward the village, Yagura gritted his teeth, enduring the sensation of thousands of needles stabbing through his cells from the Lightning Release stimulation.
"Raikage, you damn masochist! No wonder you sacrificed an arm just to punch Sasuke in the future! You're not secretly into pain, are you?"
...
Meanwhile, far away in Kumogakure, the future Fourth Raikage, A, was undergoing the same training under the guidance of his father, the Third Raikage.
Despite being young, he already had the makings of the muscle-bound powerhouse he would become.
Suddenly, A sneezed out of nowhere!
"Achoo!"
The Third Raikage frowned and barked, "You're getting distracted! Increase the Lightning Release chakra level!"
"Yes, Father!"
...
The Karatachi clan was a well-known and prestigious family in Kirigakure.
Because of this, their residence was large and located just outside the central ring of Kirigakure. From their doorstep, it was only a short walk to the Mizukage's office.
A house with such prime real estate was something Yagura had always envied in his past life but could never afford.
But now, after transmigrating, he got to enjoy it for free!
Truly, working hard in life couldn't compare to being born in the right place.
With a loud bang, he pushed open the front door, grinning as he called out,
"Grandpa! I'm home!"
Smack!
A slipper smacked him square in the face.
Seeing him, his grandfather's mustache practically bristled with fury.
"You brat! Where the hell have you been? Do you know how late it is?!"
Pulling the slipper off his face, Yagura still smiled. "Ah, come on, Grandpa, don't get so worked up. Stress will make you age faster. I left you a note! I was just outside the village reading."
He spoke gently, trying to soothe his grandfather's temper while casually guiding him toward the inner courtyard.
At the mention of that note, his grandfather's anger flared up even more!
"A note?! You wrote in some gibberish only you could understand! I even took it to the Cipher Division, and they couldn't decode it!"
Well, of course.
The note had been written in Chinese characters, not the numbers or symbols ninja typically used for coded messages. Naturally, the Cipher Division had no chance of cracking it.
Just as Yagura sighed in relief, thinking the matter was over, his grandfather suddenly struck out with a palm to his stomach.
"Coral Palm!"
Hard coral rapidly sprouted from the impact site, spreading across his body and encasing him completely.
By the time he realized what had happened, he was already trapped in a coral prison.
Yagura gave a helpless smile and tried struggling a little.
Yep. No way out.
This was the Karatachi clan's secret technique—Coral Palm.
The chakra-generated coral was incredibly tough. To break free, one needed either immense brute strength or the ability to release chakra externally.
Unfortunately, Yagura currently had neither.
Even though he had been training since he was three years old, he was only seven now—just four years of training.
Not every ninja could progress like Naruto Uzumaki or Sasuke Uchiha.
He didn't have any hacks.
Despite being wrapped up in coral like a cocoon, Yagura continued to smile.
"Grandpa, come on, there's no need to go this far. We can talk things through."
After all, he knew his grandfather wouldn't actually harm him~
At most, he'd be forced to stand outside all night without dinner.
His grandfather sighed heavily, rubbing his temples.
"Having a grandson like you is truly a blessing and a curse."
He couldn't beat him, scolding didn't work, and even Coral Palm as punishment seemed ineffective.
This kid was completely impervious to reason! His skin was even thicker than that of this old man!
Well, of course.
Karatachi Yagura chuckled to himself. A little corporal punishment was nothing. Compared to all the nonsense he had to deal with in his past life's workplace, this was a walk in the park.
"Obviously. You've been calling me smart since I was a kid."
Hardened!
His fists clenched tight!
Damn it, if I'd known that praising you would make you grow wings this tough, I would've 'accidentally' dropped you when you were born!
Grandpa waved his hand, dispelling the coral that had been restraining Yagura.
It was useless anyway—might as well let it go.
The last thing he wanted was for the streets of Kirigakure to be filled with gossip about how the head of the prestigious Karatachi clan got angered to death by his own grandson.
Yagura didn't push his luck. He quickly raised both hands in surrender and played the good grandson, massaging his grandfather's back.
"Thanks for letting me off, Grandpa."
"Hmph! Harder! Did you even eat today?"
"Funny you mention that—I actually haven't."
"...!" Grandpa nearly choked on his own breath!
And why? Pure rage!
Sometimes, he seriously suspected that Yagura had been sent by the God of Shinobi himself to punish their family.
Yes—and no.
Setting aside his maddening, thick-skinned personality, Grandpa had no doubt—Yagura was a genius, one rarely seen in their clan's history, perhaps even in all of Kirigakure!
The brat really was smart (gritted teeth). His talent for ninjutsu was outstanding, his comprehension exceptional. He started training his chakra at three years old, and when he tested his chakra nature with chakra paper, he immediately planned out his future path as a shinobi.
Pulling off a few C-rank jutsu was child's play for him.
As for the Karatachi clan's secret technique, Coral Palm—he mastered it in less than a month.
For comparison, Yagura's father had needed three whole months to learn it back in the day—and Grandpa had mocked him endlessly for it.