[Lightning manipulation; Lvl 7:

Increases control of lightning according to level

Lightning jutsu are 7% more effective.

Lightning jutsu cost 7% less

Lightning jutsu are 7% less effective on user]

'Not good enough,' I was weak. Too weak. Yesterday cleared my mind. I wasn't making progress fast enough at all. No. I was still too weak. I only had roughly seven months or so left. I found out the academy graduation date and I wasn't pleased. I didn't have as much time as I thought. 'I need to do more. Gain more levels.' The Kaguya clan incident was something I couldn't stop. I was reincarnated after it. But... seeing their bodies... that child's body... it... Something died in me.

'I need to become stronger as fast as I can.' I didn't have time for niceties or to run.' I couldn't start needless fights anymore. I could only spar with Choujuro and that was it. He was my assigned sparing partner after all. 'He will be perfect for helping me get stronger faster.' He was the sixth Mizukage in the future. He was a powerful person, even now. He was still far stronger than me.

Lightning crackled in between my fingers as I tried to make the leaf have an electrical flow. Without breaking it in any way. I had varying degrees of success. 'Damnit.' I grabbed another leaf. I needed to do better. I would kill every last one of these bastards for slaughtering the relatively innocent people of this village just because they had won the genetic lottery. 'No... You can't blame them for being brainwashed by Obito/Yagura's propaganda.' I wanted too. They openly loved talking about killing them. It was sickening. 'But isn't wanting to kill them stooping down to their level?' Maybe so.

I sighed and grabbed another leaf. After this one, I'd work on the Hidden Mist Jutsu a bit. It was progressing nicely. But not nicely enough. I needed to train it more. 'Damnit. If only you hadn't been slacking off these past two months... Maybe you should have asked that Kaguya if you could join the rebellion instead of waiting because you needed to be trained.' But that'd be abandoning Choujuro. 'Damnit...' I couldn't leave him here.

The leaf in my hand flowed with electricity, some tears appearing at the edges. "Slightly better than before," I hoped I could master at least the first stage before I left the academy behind. 'Maybe looking for Utakata would be a worthwhile venture.' I had many ideas for what I wanted to do after I left Kiri. Hopefully with Choujuro as well. Utakata was probably gone at this point and recruiting him to take down Obito wouldn't be the worst idea.

[Lightning manipulation has gone up a level]

'Perfect.' I grinned. At least my constant grinding today has been paying off. That was one level! One in a day. Albeit, my entire free period and literally all the free time I had today went into this but it was nice. I still had time after the academy to practice too! 'But even still... I need to practice other things which will take time away from my lightning mastery' My grin turned into a frown. There were to many things to train. To many things I needed.

"Hey Kukui you look pretty winded. Do you need a break? I'm sure sensei will let you have one today since you've been training hard." Choujuro asked. I turned around and saw him walking toward me. He was still my only friend in this world. Mainly because he too was an outcast. People called him too soft and kind for Kiri and that he was better off, fucking off to Konoha. I thought so too with how bad Kiri was at the moment but he was probably need here sometime.

I shook my head, "Thanks but nah. I need to be stronger. Better. I'm weak, Choujuro. I need to be better," I saw a flash of what looked to be understanding on his face. Then a look of worry, "Aww you don't need to worry about me. I just realized I needed to be better. I want to be able to beat you one day ya know?"

Choujuro awkwardly chuckled, "Your plenty strong as is Kukui. I know the feeling of wanting to be stronger but you shouldn't push yourself this hard. I can already see your exhausted and doing this everyday would do more harm than good," He was wrong. I felt great! Never better. I had gained a whole level in Lightning manipulation and I was only just about to move onto the Hidden mist jutsu. I understood his concern though.

I grinned. We hadn't really spent any time outside of class talking to each other thanks to Kiri sucking but he was a good friend, "No need to worry about me. I only look like I'm about to die because I don't have the best reserves," Thats why I needed to rest first... That or move onto extreme chakra exhaustion which I imagine isn't pretty.

Choujuro shook his head, "No... I mean it. You shouldn't be pushing yourself this hard. We're only ten Kukui! Not thirteen or fourteen. Are bodies aren't made to handle this strain," He was probably a little bit right. But how bad could it be?

' I could maybe do it a bit less? Stats.'

[Name: Kukui Tanku

Age: 10

Title: Academy student of Kiri

Chakra: 60/65

Stamina: 60/65

Strength: 10

Dexterity: 12

Constitution: 13

Chakra: 6.5

Chakra control: C]

'No never mind... I need to keep going at the rate I am... I'm to weak to do shit right now.' A ten in strength wasn't going to cut it when I needed to cave Obito's face in.

'I can't give up on training harder though... Its worth my body being destroyed for a while if it means I can beat Obito later.' I nodded, "I'm okay with my body being strained. We have medics here, ready to heal us! I'm sure I'll be fine. But thanks for the concern," I was lucky someone cared, "But now I think its time to train our Hidden mist jutsu," I stood up and waved goodbye, leaving Choujuro with a contemplating look on his face.

[Choujuro]

Something was wrong with his friend, Choujuro decided. He knew what it was, or at the very least, he had a good idea of what it was. Someone was either pushing him to overwork himself because he "wasn't good enough" 'Like me...' And he needed to be stronger to appease them. Or he was power-hungry.

Choujuro thought he knew his friend of two months well enough. He was nice if a bit of a brute. He was hard working and determined suddenly which was a nice change. So he probably wasn't power hungry which left option one. 'You incipient brat! You need to keep training. You have the potential to be Yagura-sama's right hand man one day. We cannot let you slack off.' Choujuro shook his head, shaking away the memory.

'I need to help him.' He got lucky when his parents were killed. As much as many would consider otherwise, he thought he was truly lucky, 'B-but... Its been ten whole hours! I'm tired.' Choujuro pushed back the memories once more. 'Why now?' His friend was in need he needed to help him.

He couldn't let his friend be taken advantage of. People would see his potential and mold him. Use him. Choujuro knew from experience. 'They were planning that for me.' If you had use somewhere in Kirigakure, you were probably going to be trained to hell and abused until you had no will to fight back. His friend already had the potential to be strong with he determination he had within him and he was a natural at the blade like he was. And he was a hard worker. Even Sensei saw it. He just didn't see the extent of it like Choujuro did. At least, not yet.

'We need to get out of here soon.' The academy was ending in seven months, give or take two days. Once they had that headband, they were either going to die or become shells of their former selves that worshipped the ground Yagura walked on.

'Saying anything bad about the Mizukage in public gets you beheaded after all.' Kirigakure was famously known for its caste system. At the top were the clans and families that were in Kiri from the start, Like the Hozuki, Karatachi, Hoshigaki, Kizuki, and Kamado's who have been around since the start of the village, then came the people who joined after Kiri's creation like the Kibutsuchi, Fushiguro, Uru, Kamehado, and the Hinokumo's, after that was the people taken in by war like the Kaguya, Yuki, Keninkai, and the Ryosenin. Orphans, regular civilians, and merchants came in varying levels between.

But there was one person above even the caste system. The Mizukage. The Mizukage had total authority over anything and everyone. If they were spoken against then the person who spoke out would die. Even if they were in the top caste. That was why the clan purges were allowed. The Mizukage spread propaganda as well to make sure nobody would question it.

And if you were to go against the Mizukage's orders. 'The last time someone did that... it wasn't pretty.' Choujuro would forever remember the event. A village traitor. Ganeki Kagi. He had saved three bloodline users from death. Two from the Kamado clan and one from the Yuki clan. He was flayed and healed repeatedly before he was fed to piranhas. 'He was a hero. Nobody knows where they are today.' Choujuro guessed somewhere in the rebellion territory although he had no idea where.

'Maybe I can convince Kukui to defect with me.' He had seen the boy's face and hands twitch when it was mentioned bloodline users were killed. Even if Sensei or nobody else realized it. Kukui was a bloodline sympathizer like him. They would be caught eventually and they had to get out of here. Preferably to the rebellion's side.

Choujuro had made up his mind then. He just needed to find a good time soon to bring it up to his friend. They would defect together soon hopefully.

'Hopefully it all goes smoothly though... Hunter-nin would be on us in an instant. That was Choujuro's biggest fear. The Hunter-nin being on them in an instant. He had no ideas on a distraction large enough to keep them distracted for a while.

'I guess that's a problem for future me,' Choujuro looked up at his sensei who was lecturing Kukui on Lightning release. Likely trying to get him to complete the first step faster. He was trying to encourage the boy by the looks of it. 'I thought he was training his Hidden mist jutsu? Oh no I should be doing that!' Choujuro completely forgot he was supposed to be training as well.

"Your doing fine... But you need to do this faster so we can have you learning elemental jutsu quicker. I'm happy to see your progressing quickly on this and that your working harder, but the Hidden mist Jutsu shouldn't be your priority right now. I understand you want to work on it badly but take it one step at a time okay," Sensei was an odd man. He was so kind to his students if a bit too stern but he hated those with Kekkei genkai with a passion.

Kukui nodded, "Okay Sensei. I'll continue to work on my lightning," He seemed pleased. Maybe now would be a good time to talk to him?

[Ito Kaguya]

Waiting for someone who might not even show up, in the root of the enemy base was extremely boring. 'Why am I doing this again?' It had been a few weeks since her meeting with the kind boy and she had yet to see him come back. Not a surprise considering that if seen with her, he was likely to be killed by Kiri nin. But still he should have at least walked past these parts once. 'Oh yeah, I want to talk to him and get a feel for the kind of person he is.' She got a decent idea of who exactly Kukui Tanku was in their last meeting. Kind and not a fan of Yagura. But there had to be more to the boy.

Ito hated waiting. She liked to make things exciting quickly because they were fun. So this was really testing her patience. Like come on. How can you just not come to a part of a village? One that you go to to rob as well. It was just dumb. When would the boy be here? She was about to leave out of bordem.

Suddenly Yellow eyes bored into Red. 'Speak of the devil.' She grinned, "Hello, I see you've come back here. Wanna talk about Yagura sucking?" It was well known that you couldn't do that in public. Also this was a nice way to start the conversation.

The boy shook his head, "Not today, although the short prick really needs to die," Stating the obvious, "I just kind of saw you and decided to say hello," Bullshit.

Ito rolled her eyes, "Yeah, yeah bullshit. So why are you here?" Maybe he was going to rat her out? She could pierce his skull in an instant if need be but she'd have to escape hunter-nin who would know a Kaguya with the legendary Shikotsumyaku was running from them.

The boy sat down in front of her, "No idea to be honest," He shrugged, "Just saw you and wondered why you were here. Speaking of, why are you here yourself?" Wasn't that obvious... No not really.

Ito hummed, "Well, you are an odd one, Kukui Tanku. Normally anyone our age and under doesn't see the problems with Kirigkure or hate Yagura. You hate Yagura but do you see whats wrong with Kirigakure? I want to know more about you as you are an interesting one. This is me asking,"

The boy nodded, "I see..." He looked down, "I do and I don't,"

This time Ito tilted her head, "Explain please,"

Kukui sighed, "Well I've been kinda ignoring a lot of Kiri's problems for a while now whilst focusing on getting stronger," Why? Ito decided to not ask as it looked like he was getting to that part, "But a few days ago I've come to see reality. I was chased by some people and was forced to leave Kiri to circle back inside to safety," Ito had an idea of where this was going and she didn't like it. What happened on that day nobody should have to even have an idea of what happened, "I saw the bodies of the Kaguya clan... Your clan," At least he remembered her name, "Their bodies looked horrific. But one stood out to me."

Ito's face softened in sympathy. There was always one thing that stood out to everyone when they saw a body, "I'm sorry to hear that,"

Kukui looked at the Kaguya, "You didn't even hear what I was going to say yet,"

Ito nodded, "I don't need too. But please continue,"

Kukui look down and barely nodded, his eyes glazed over, "It was the body of a child. Barely five years old. They didn't even look like a fighter," A tear fell onto the ground, "I asked myself why did he have to die. There's no way he deserved to die. But he did. It made me think that change was needed. Change needs to happen in Kiri. If people like Yagura are still around to encourage this. After the last war we were looking to lose the bloody mist moniker. But with people like Yagura, Zabuza, and Kisame around in high positions there will always be bloodshed that isn't needed," He looked up then, "Its why things need to change. If people like them can be given positions of power where needless violence was encouraged then Kiri needs to change,"

'I'm sure Kushimaru-sensei would disagree... although he is a softie on the inside and he only likes killing his enemies and not the innocent...' Ito smiled, "I agree. Change needs to happen. For that change to happen, Yagura needs to die,"

Kukui nodded, "I agree. And I plan on killing him myself," Big words, "Among other things..."

Ito snorted, "No offense but you probably couldn't beat even me right now, let alone the Mizukage,"

Kukui palmed his chin, "I know. And that's why I need to be stronger. I'm weak, I can't even beat my friend in Taijutsu sparing with or without a sword. And I progress slower than everyone else. Plus to cause change I need to be strong. Power can change the world if kindness can't. And I know that I'm not Kind enough to cause change through kindness,"

Ito nodded, "Thats mature of you..." Ito had an idea then. 'He wants power huh? Maybe I should test him and put a bit of what Kushimaru sensei taught me into practice! I'm sure we won't get caught. If he passes then I can give him something to help, if not then I'll probably do that anyways. Knowing the type of person he is now helps. He'll defect soon for sure.' Ito grinned, "Say, wanna spar?"

Kukui raised an eyebrow, "Why do you ask that?"

Ito pulled out a sewing needle like blade from a scroll. 'A cheap knock off of the real thing but it'll do for this. Besides its only for training anyways,' Ito hummed as she saw Kukui's eyes light up in recognition, "You said you needed power to change the world. I want to see how much you'll need, "Do you have a sword on you or a kunai?"

Kukui sighed seeing he wasn't getting out of this and pulled out a kunai, "If we get caught... take me with you. I'd also want to come back for my friend who's not a fan of Yagura or Genocide as well," Fair. They were sparring in literally the worst place, "I also don't have a sword on me so I'll use a kunai," He muttered something after that as well.

Ito nodded, "Okay. But if your deadweight then I'll leave you somewhere else. Now then lets begin!"

Ito attached some wire to her blade and it came alive with her chakra flowing through it. It dashed toward Kukui to wrap him up quickly but he narrowly ducked under, Ito pulled the thread back quickly and attached it around her arm, lifting the sewing needle like blade into the air with her chakra instead of

Kukui threw three Kunai at her and her sword quickly picked them out of the sky and with that Kukui ran close, Kunai facing upward. Like a Taiji blade they struck the wire in the air, getting trapped by the wire enlosing on it. Kukui let go of the Kunai and grabbed another from the floor. 'If he had another Kunai it'd be like he's been using Ameyuri-sama's blades... that style might be good for him.'

"This is a fake Nuibari. Its wire doesn't come with it but I was given this wire which is sturdier than normal to suffice," Ito pulled the Kunai back and threw it at Kukui which he deflected. Nubari soared by and grazed his cheek and he grunted in pain, "Oh yeah, its sharp. Really sharp,"

Kukui narrowed his eyes, "Your the student of Kushimaru Kurirare... I won't win this won't I?' Aww this early and he is already is losing hope, "I'll just have to do better then," Ito grinned. His determination was admirable, She had the better weapon and she didn't even show him her Shikotsumyaku yet.

Ito nodded and Kukui rushed toward her again, throwing a dozen shuriken at her and her sword sprung to life intercepting all the shuriken mid-air.

Kukui smirked and he became faster than before somehow, Rushing toward Ito, going for the kill. 'Good. Looks like he isn't inept at being a shinobi. He could be using some jutsu, Hidden mist won't help him here though... Ah was he seriously taught nothing else yet?' Ito ignored her thoughts for now and jumped back and Had her sword circle around Kukui. Going in for the metaphorical kill herself.

Kukui jumped at the last second though, "Should have kept it further away," He chuckled, "Low level sensor I may be, but slow I am not," He was smiling at that. He jumped onto the wall, sticking to it. He jumped off the wall toward Ito and grunted as he hit the floor. Ito had moved out of the way at the last second, she kicked the brown haired boy who groaned in pain as he hit the wall.

'Your better than I expected but I haven't even gone near going all out yet!' I thought as she willed her blade to skewer Kukui barely rolled out of the way of the Nuibari knock off. He rubbed his side and licked the blade away. He was breathing heavily now

He stood up as the blade came back to Ito they stared at each other for a second. Kukui took another Kunai out of his holster. Ito then sent the Nuibari knock off after Kukui once more. Kukui ducked and the long sword was flaying toward the wall. 'Perfect.' Ito's plan was working... okay she had the idea after something that would have not failed on most others failed.

Kukui once more jumped forward, "I'll beat you here," Determination flooded his eyes. He threw the Kunai at her at the last second. At the arm controlling her long sword. Smart, but not smart enough. Especially to beat her. Ito sidestepped the Kunai. It hit the wall behind her instead. Kukui gulped.

'Cute. He won't beat me.' Ito pulled the longsword back with its thread. It securely wrapped around Kukui a moment later who struggled against its grasp, "Should have just said you were a sensor. Not a bad one. I would have been more vigilant,"

Kukui continued to struggle, "So I guess this means you win," His hands sparked to life with lightning, trying to tear the wire, "Yeah... you win,"

Ito nodded, pleased with herself. 'Good strategies. Didn't see his taijutsu but his reflexes are sharp. If there's enough chakra in his vicinity... Five meters maybe? He can sense it. Has a lightning affinity. He was using it too harshly. To controlled. Lightning is supposed to be wild and free.' Ito pulled the wire away without harming the boy. "Come back here tomorrow, I'll have what I promised for you,"

Kukui wiped himself off, "Why?"

Ito looked at the boy, "Why what?"

"Why help me? For all you know I could be a spy from Yagura to try and eradicate the Kaguya clan for good," Kukui tilted his head in confusion.

Ito chuckled, "He doesn't even know I exist. As for why I'm helping you," The Kaguya shrugged, "You need it badly. If you want to change Kiri like you said, you will need help. Allies. And power. I'm only offering you help because it sure as hell looks like you won't get it anywhere else. Now bye!"

Ito then disappeared, leaving Kukui shocked.

[Kukui Tanku]

"Why help me? For all you know I could be a spy from Yagura to try and eradicate the Kaguya clan for good," I tilted my head in confusion. She had no obligation to help me but she was apparently going to. If I defected I wondered if she'd try to find me. It was weird to know someone, even someone in the rebellion apparently was going to help me.

Ito chuckled, "He doesn't even know I exist. As for why I'm helping you," Ito shrugged, "You need it badly. If you want to change Kiri like you said, you will need help. Allies. And power. I'm only offering you help because it sure as hell looks like you won't get it anywhere else. Now bye!" She disappeared in what I assumed was the shunshin.

I replayed the scene in my mind again and again. 'She's right. Just power won't help me. I need other things.' I looked down at the scroll. 'I need Allies, Help, and Power if I want to change Kirigakure.' First I'd need to leave Kirigakure and probably find Utakata. And then I'd need to join up with the Kiri rebellion and see what I could do there.

'Plans are forming now. Good.' I thought as I walked. I was in a secluded place, alone. I wanted somewhere to read the scroll Ito gave me yesterday. I wondered what was inside? Our spar yesterday kind of showed me I need some range. 'I only have Kunai and Shuriken. And little chakra. Only seventy.' My reserves were increasing slowly yet steadily. But I needed more chakra if I wanted to pull off something tantamount to Kirin or Madara's majestic destroyer flame. A lot more chakra.

I opened the scroll after finding a tree to sit under.

[Hey! Ito here and well I know your wondering what I put in here but first we'll just talk about some boring stuff.

1: Your fighting style: You seem like the type of person who would benefit from using two bladed weapons. Duel wielding. Your style reminds me a lot of someone's and I think you'll be able to use it effectively, Also try to learn chakra flow, that'll help a lot.

2: Carry your blade on you at all times. I damn well know Kiri students carry their swords, so you should have yours with pride!

3: You clearly lack a lot of chakra. So smaller scale jutsu are better for you at the moment.

4: You have no ranged jutsu. There are some people this works for, like Might guy or the third Mizukage but your neither of them. Your going to need to fix that

Now with those out of the way we can move onto the exciting stuff! Jutsu. Now I know we just talked about you needing range but I'll be teaching you a supplementary jutsu instead. One that very useful.

The jutsu I am sharing with you is D-rank! But not one to be taken lightly. It is the Lightning clone jutsu.

Now to actually form one you are going to need too...]

I read the scrolls contents and grinned. A simple concept. Spreading a very thin layer of lightning chakra around my body and separating it from my body. The clones were only one tenth as powerful as me which wasn't much but they would be extremely useful to me. They also shocked the opponent on impact if destroyed.

'Well... I know what I'm doing today.' When I saw Ito again, I was so going to thank her. If she asked me to hide a body, I would no questions asked... Okay I wouldn't do that but I'd be very grateful for this. This literally helps me so much though. This solves a lot of things I wouldn't be able to do alone.

'I wonder if she would be my ally later on.'

Now this chapter took longer to make then I hoped it would. It honestly started off well with me making it to 4.2k at 6 PM. But then I played a browser game... for six hours. Then I had to rush the rest of this chapter before bedtime and this totally went off plan. I had planned for Ito's pov to actually be Kukui's and their spar being from his pov. But Ito's pov was too good to pass up. And at the end was Kukui recruiting Choujuro as his first ally. I decided it's too early for him to be recruiting anyone to help him. He needs a bit more power and trauma first... And Maturity. He's gonna get that quickly.

Anyways hopefully you enjoyed! Tobi-kun out!

Edit: releasing early today. I'm bored and I just want to have more motivation to write