The morning light filtered through the trees, casting a soft glow across the training grounds. Team 7 had gathered once more, ready to push themselves further. After the sparring matches the day before, Kakashi had seen the potential in his students, especially Sasuke. It was time to introduce a new technique, one that would give Sasuke an advantage when facing opponents.
Kakashi turned to Sasuke, who was already eyeing him, waiting for the lesson. "Alright, Sasuke. Today, I'm going to teach you a C-rank Lightning Style technique," Kakashi began, his voice calm and steady.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed, eager to learn. "A C-rank jutsu? What is it?"
Kakashi stepped forward, a thoughtful expression crossing his face as he considered the best way to explain it. "It's called Lightning Style: Stopping Jutsu," he said. "This technique paralyzes an opponent temporarily by using lightning chakra. When it makes contact, it disrupts their nervous system, making it difficult for them to move or act for a few seconds. It's especially useful when you need to disable an opponent without causing major harm."
Sasuke tilted his head, intrigued. "So, it's a jutsu that temporarily paralyzes someone?"
"Exactly," Kakashi replied. "It's a versatile technique that works well in situations where you need to subdue someone, but you don't want to go overboard and cause too much damage. But... it's not easy to use. It requires precision and control. Too much power, and it'll just burn your opponent. Too little, and it won't do anything."
Sasuke's eyes gleamed with determination. "I can do it."
Kakashi gave a small smile beneath his mask. "I like that confidence. Let's get started."
Step One: Channeling the Lightning Chakra
Kakashi demonstrated the first step of the technique. He extended his hand out in front of him and began to concentrate, the air around his fingers crackling with the subtle hum of electricity. "First, you need to focus on gathering lightning chakra into a specific area—your palm, in this case. It's like gathering chakra for a normal jutsu, but you need to control the lightning so it doesn't get out of hand."
Sasuke stood in front of Kakashi, mimicking his sensei's movements. His brow furrowed in concentration, and he extended his hand toward the ground. Slowly, the faintest crackling sound filled the air as Sasuke began to gather chakra into his palm, the electric energy beginning to flicker around his fingers.
"Good, Sasuke," Kakashi said, nodding. "Keep your focus. The key is control. Let the chakra flow through you without overwhelming it."
Sasuke's hand shook slightly as he concentrated, but the energy in his palm started to stabilize. The crackling noise grew louder, and a blue, crackling sphere of electricity formed around his hand.
"Now, let's move on," Kakashi said, his tone calm but encouraging. "The next part is to focus the lightning chakra to a single point. That's the tricky part."
Step Two: Focusing the Energy
Sasuke's fingers twitched, and he directed all the gathered lightning chakra into the center of his palm. The electric energy crackled more intensely, but this time, it didn't spread out like before. Instead, it stayed contained, the blue light buzzing in the palm of his hand.
"Good," Kakashi said, watching Sasuke closely. "You're focusing it well. But to make this jutsu effective, you need to focus that energy into a precise, concentrated strike. You'll use the chakra to touch your opponent—just a light touch is enough. The electrical current will disrupt their nervous system and paralyze them."
Sasuke nodded, determination clear in his eyes. He could feel the power in his hand, the raw energy surging and ready to be released.
Kakashi stepped back and gestured to a nearby target—a thick wooden post in the distance. "Now, let's see if you can perform the next part. Strike the target with your chakra. But remember—don't overdo it. Just a small, controlled amount."
Sasuke's body tensed as he sprinted toward the post, his hand extended toward it. He focused his chakra, his eyes locked on the target. When he reached the post, he thrust his hand forward, delivering a focused surge of lightning chakra.
The electricity arced toward the post, striking it with a sharp crack. The post trembled under the force of the strike, the wood splintering where the lightning made contact. Sasuke withdrew his hand, breathing heavily. The blue lightning flickered and dissipated, leaving the post with a singed mark.
"Not bad," Kakashi said, his voice thoughtful. "You've got the basic control down, but you need to focus on applying that power to your opponent. The key is in the precision of your strike. You can't just throw it around. The more controlled your chakra is, the more effective the paralyzing effect will be."
Sasuke stood there, his hand still crackling with residual energy. He looked down at his palm, considering Kakashi's words. "I understand," he said, his voice calm but focused. "It's about the precision of the strike, not just the power."
Kakashi nodded. "Exactly. And remember, this jutsu works best when you target your opponent's limbs. If you can hit them in a vital area—like the legs or arms—you'll paralyze them for a few seconds, enough to give you an advantage."
Step Three: Putting It All Together
"Now," Kakashi continued, "let's see you put it all together. I want you to try it again, but this time, try to deliver it like you would in a real fight. Don't hold back, but keep control of the energy."
Sasuke nodded, taking a deep breath. He focused on the task ahead, gathering chakra in his palm and concentrating it into the familiar crackling energy. With a single motion, he sprinted toward another target, this time more focused, more controlled.
As he reached it, he thrust his hand forward again, releasing the surge of lightning chakra. This time, it was more refined—more controlled. The energy crackled and arced with precision, hitting the target in a focused strike.
When the lightning made contact, a faint shockwave pulsed through the air. The target jerked, and Sasuke's chakra spread throughout the object, creating a brief but intense electrical disruption. The jutsu had worked. The target didn't move for a moment, and the electric energy fizzled out.
Kakashi observed with an approving nod. "Good. Very good. You've learned it."
Sasuke stood there, his hand still crackling with residual energy. There was a quiet pride in his gaze as he looked back at Kakashi. "I did it."
"You did," Kakashi said, his eyes glinting with satisfaction. "Now, remember: it's not always about power. In battle, this jutsu can make the difference between winning and losing. You'll have to judge when and how to use it."
Sasuke smirked slightly, wiping the sweat from his brow. "I'll make sure I use it right."
Kakashi looked at him for a moment before turning his gaze to the rest of Team 7. "Alright, that's enough for today. Let's head back."