Without a doubt, Lightning Release: Thunderbird was not a standard Ninjutsu. At the moment of the attack, it converted itself into an electric field!
Anyone with a basic understanding of physics knows that within an electric field, the speed of electron movement is the speed of light. Therefore, theoretically, once the Thunderbird disappears and establishes an electric field around the target, any defense or evasion becomes meaningless. What follows is a destructive discharge, the pillar of lightning that pierces the sky.
This meant that to learn this Jutsu, one needed not only extreme chakra control but also mastery of lightning-nature and shape transformation, along with a bit of common sense in physics. At the very least, one had to understand what an electric field was and why it could produce a destructive discharge.
After Allen finished explaining the entire casting process and theory, whether it was the Jonin leader Might Guy or students Lee, Tenten, and Neji, they all wore the same vacant expression.
Who am I? Where am I? What was just said? Why is it that I understand every single word, but when they're put together, I don't understand anything?
Similar questions circled their brains until reinforcements arrived, finally snapping them out of their daze.
Looking at the charred corpse on the ground, Kakashi's eyes widened. "You took out an elite Iwagakure squad?" he asked in disbelief.
"Yeah! Three in total, two Jonin and one who was either an elite Chunin or a Special Jonin. Allen handled two of them by himself," Might Guy said, slapping Allen on the shoulder and boasting with pride.
"Oh? You already have the strength to defeat a Jonin?" Kakashi reflexively glanced at the boy who had briefly lived with him.
"It was just luck," Allen replied with a modest smile. He had to maintain his persona until his defection.
"No. That kind of Ninjutsu isn't something created by luck!" Might Guy used his limited vocabulary to describe the Thunderbird's terrifying power and the principles he had just heard.
Despite Guy's messy explanation and the addition of some nonsensical descriptions, Kakashi somehow understood. He turned his head sharply. "You created a high-output Lightning Release Jutsu?"
"Yes, more or less. But it's still in an incomplete state for now." Allen condensed a small Thunderbird, only a few centimeters large, in his palm, carefully controlling it as it circled his arm.
"No-sign Ninjutsu? When did you master lightning-nature transformation and shape transformation?!" Kakashi quickly uncovered his Sharingan. He had undoubtedly copied the entire execution process.
"Not long ago, just within the last week or so. I heard you invented a Jutsu called Chidori. Do you mind if we exchange some experiences and insights?" Allen proposed with a smile.
As they say, progress comes through exchange. He didn't mind teaching what he knew, especially to someone like Kakashi who had a unique understanding of lightning.
Kakashi nodded without hesitation. "No problem! But we're still on a mission. Let's talk once we get back. Now that we've dealt with one Iwa squad, there's another one hiding somewhere. It's best to find them before nightfall, otherwise, it could get troublesome."
From the light in his eyes, it was clear that the Thunderbird had left him stunned. Most Lightning Release techniques either pursued raw destructive power or used lightning-natured chakra to stimulate cells and nerves for speed, defense, and penetration. But Allen had taken a completely different path: using the destructive discharge of an electric field to cause internal damage that ignored external defenses.
"Where do you think the other squad is hiding?" Might Guy pulled out the map marked with various attack sites, his face a mask of indecision.
"Based on the location of this squad, the other should be nearby. That's the only way they could cover the entire patrol route," Kakashi said, immediately circling an area on the map.
As a former member of the Anbu, he was quite skilled at judging enemy movements based on available intel. In contrast, while Guy could become a Jonin through sheer Taijutsu, he could never be an Anbu member. Simply put, his IQ wasn't up to the task.
"Hahahaha! As expected of my eternal rival!" To hide the embarrassment of his own mental shortcomings, Might Guy burst into laughter. Unfortunately, aside from Lee, everyone else looked at him with disdain.
After using basic Medical Ninjutsu to treat Lee and Neji's minor injuries, the group disguised themselves as a Konoha patrol again and continued along the original route. Kakashi's support team continued to follow from a distance. However, this time, having confirmed the enemy's general range, they stayed closer, roughly two to three kilometers away, which was the limit of visual range.
To a normal person, such a distance might take ten minutes to cover, but for a shinobi at full tilt, it could be covered in a few minutes.
Just as Team 3 was feeling confident about completing the mission, the unexpected occurred.
"Damn it! Why are there six of them? This is clearly two squads! Our intel was wrong!" Neji, with his Byakugan active, looked through the thick earth and saw six ninja with incredible chakra levels sitting together in a space constructed by Earth Release, seemingly in deep discussion.
"What about their strength? They can't all be Jonin, can they? What exactly is Iwa up to?" Guy frowned. He had already opened the Sixth Gate in the previous fight; his muscles were aching, and his condition was far from ideal.
"Two of them have terrifying chakra levels, much stronger than the squad we just faced! The other four aren't weak either. Clearly, these people aren't just hunting patrols. They definitely have other plans," Neji answered without hesitation.
It had to be said that the Byakugan was leagues ahead of the Sharingan in terms of reconnaissance. It could even see the exact volume of chakra in an enemy's body. No wonder the Uchiha were pushed to extinction, while the Hyuga remained the top clan in Konoha.
Allen felt that if he were the Hokage and had to choose between the Hyuga and Uchiha, he would choose the former every time. Sensory ninja were rare even in major villages, usually limited to two or three, making them strategic-level assets. But in Konoha? Every member of the Hyuga who awakened the Byakugan could do the job! Furthermore, because the Branch House members' eyes were destroyed upon death, there was no risk of the eyes being stolen or used by enemies.
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