[Having devised a simple plan, you begin waiting for the next prey.]
[You don't wait long; just two days later, the second prey appears.]
[It's another Chunin you don't recognize, practicing a Lightning Release Ninjutsu.]
[The first time, you restrain the urge to pounce, allowing the Chunin to successfully release the technique.]
[Then you patiently wait for his second practice attempt.]
[Seeming to feel he isn't skillful enough, the Chunin, after a brief moment of thought, immediately begins his second try.]
[You seize the opportunity and pounce instantly. The lightning's speed flashes by in a moment; the Chunin doesn't notice anything unusual, and the Lightning Release Ninjutsu in his hand has already disappeared.]
[He instinctively thinks it's a failed release, so he immediately performs the technique again.]
[He succeeds again on the third try, but fails on the fourth, naturally because you successfully devoured it.]
'A good rhythm. Without the abnormal dynamic vision of the Sharingan, observing a lightning bolt that flashes by in an instant is basically impossible.'
Takumi nodded with satisfaction.
Perhaps because he himself is lightning, after devouring, there's no need for a digestion process; the power of the Devour talent manifests immediately. The original bolt, only two meters long and finger-thick, quickly becomes four meters long and three fingers thick.
At this rate, with enough prey, it won't take long to transform into an extremely powerful natural thunderbolt.
[You follow a certain rhythm, giving the Chunin the illusion that his proficiency is low, and he starts practicing desperately.]
[By the time his Chakra is mostly consumed and he leaves puzzled, you have successfully extended your body to twenty-eight meters.]
[After that, Shinobi come to practice techniques every now and then, but the number of those practicing Lightning Release is still relatively low, and Genin basically don't use Lightning Release Ninjutsu.]
[Time passes imperceptibly. Gradually, a rumor appears in the training ground.]
[The rumor says that if you practice Lightning Release at the training ground, a bolt of lightning will appear, devour the technique, and then disappear.]
[At first, no one believes it, but as you appear more and more frequently, and your size grows larger, your existence is discovered.]
[But you are lightning, moving too fast to be caught. Who could possibly capture lightning?]
'The growth rate is fast, already over twenty meters.'
Takumi couldn't help but be astonished, but considering the lightning in nature that connects the sky to the ground, this length seems trivial.
'There's still plenty of room for improvement.'
[After being discovered, you become even bolder, constantly moving around Konoha and its outskirts. Whenever you sense the presence of Lightning Release, you immediately appear and devour it.]
[Although quite annoyed, Konoha's Shinobi are helpless against you.]
[You are pleased with yourself; with no one interfering with you, your growth rate becomes even faster.]
[However, you've been hoping to encounter one person: Hatake Kakashi.]
[Kakashi's Chidori is a very advanced Lightning Release Ninjutsu, so it will surely provide you with immense energy.]
[But Kakashi doesn't use Ninjutsu within the village, and it's still far from the time of the Chunin Exams.]
[You can't take the opportunity to devour their Lightning Release while Kakashi is teaching Sasuke.]
[But before long, you still find a perfect opportunity.]
'It must be the Land of Waves mission.'
Takumi guessed silently. 'The only time Kakashi displays Raikiri early on is that one time. Later, it's during his training with Sasuke. The time span isn't too long, but it's not short either.'
Raikiri is an S-Rank Ninjutsu. He's somewhat looking forward to seeing how much growth devouring it will bring.
[You silently follow behind Kakashi's team, drawing no one's attention.]
[During the battle on the broken bridge, at the moment Kakashi unleashes Raikiri and is about to kill Haku, you appear and devour the Raikiri cleanly.]
[Raikiri is named for Kakashi cutting through lightning from the sky, but you are not Kakashi's target, so you devour it with ease.]
[For the first time in a long while, you feel a sense of fullness, though it's only for an instant, making it seem like an illusion.]
[You burrow back underground to observe the situation. Your appearance didn't change the battle's outcome, but it did save Haku's life.]
[Zabuza's hands are crippled, he's lost combat ability. Gato's appearance also ends the fight between Zabuza and Kakashi.]
[Gato betrays Zabuza, but the injured Zabuza and Haku easily kill him. The samurai he trusted are useless and are slaughtered.]
[Satisfied, you burrow underground and then return to Konoha.]
'Making lightning feel full, worthy of an S-Rank Ninjutsu.'
Takumi sighed softly, excitement in his eyes.
After devouring the lightning energy of Raikiri, the simulated lightning body has exceeded one hundred meters and is as thick as an arm.
This is a tremendous improvement.
And this is just the first time. Later, when Kakashi teaches Sasuke, there will be chances to devour it a second, even a third time.
Although Sasuke's Chidori energy is less than Kakashi's, it's still an A-Rank Ninjutsu, much stronger than the B-Rank and C-Rank Ninjutsu devoured before.
[Time passes, and the Chunin Exams arrive. After the second exam, to help Sasuke deal with Gaara's absolute defense, Kakashi gives him special training.]
[You sense the opportunity and immediately lurk nearby. Whenever they use a Lightning Release Ninjutsu, you instantly appear and devour it.]
[To stop you, Kakashi deliberately uses Raikiri to attract your attention, then releases a clone to try and ambush you.]
[But you've already noticed, so you turn the tables and devour the clone's Raikiri as well.]
[Helpless, Kakashi can only rely on theory for teaching. Every time he uses Raikiri, he is extremely cautious, constantly monitoring his surroundings.]
[He keeps his headband raised at all times, using the Sharingan's dynamic vision to track your position and avoid you.]
'The Sharingan really is abnormal, able to capture even the speed of lightning.'
Takumi frowned.
With Kakashi guarding so closely, opportunities will be few.
[Because of Kakashi's surveillance, you can't successfully devour Raikiri every time, but you do manage to devour Sasuke's Chidori each time.]
[Although inferior to Raikiri, it's still substantial energy for you.]
[In a short time, relying on Kakashi and Sasuke, your body has grown tremendously.]
[At the same time, this means you now possess immense power.]
[In your spare time, you soar into the sky, hiding among the clouds, overlooking the ground below.]
[Whenever something displeases you happens, you deliver divine punishment from above. This feeling of being divine retribution is incredibly satisfying.]
[Suddenly, on the street, you see Asuma on an intimate date with Kurenai. At that moment, jealousy consumes your mind.]
[Without hesitation, you unleash a thunderous punishment. Caught completely off guard, Asuma is directly turned into charcoal, his heart stopping as Kurenai screams in shock.]