Kakashi: Godless Ascension

As they walked through the forest trail, sunlight peeking through the trees, Kakashi reached over and tugged playfully on a loose strand of Kurenai's hair. Before she could react, his hand slid lower, brushing against her back… and very casually cupped her.

"Hey!" she snapped, instantly swatting his hand away with a sharp glare, her cheeks already turning red.

He just laughed.

"Do that again and I'll trap you in a genjutsu so twisted you'll wake up apologizing to flowers," Kurenai threatened, narrowing her eyes at him. She tried to look menacing, but to Kakashi, she looked more like a cat trying to hiss, adorable, not terrifying.

"Oh no," Kakashi gasped in mock horror, placing a hand on his chest as if wounded. "Anything but that."

Before she could say anything more, he reached out and gently pulled her into a half-hug, his arm slipping around her waist.

"You're impossible," she murmured, shaking her head, but she didn't move away. In fact, she leaned into his side just a little more.

He gave her a wink. "You love it."

And though she tried to hide it behind a glare and a huff, deep down, she really did.

…

By midday, the two had made good progress on their journey back to Konoha. After a long stretch of walking, they decided to rest in a quiet clearing surrounded by wildflowers and soft wind.

Kakashi stood in the center of the field, eyes half-closed, as if thinking about something deep.

"I want to try something new," he said suddenly, without turning around.

Kurenai glanced up from where she sat, resting under a tree's shade. "New?"

"Yeah." He nodded. "A new lightning-style technique. Something similar to Chidori, but without relying on the Sharingan."

She blinked. "You're really giving it up completely, huh?"

He nodded again. "I've already sealed it. It's time I stop leaning on it unless absolutely necessary."

Kurenai smiled to herself. She remembered asking him about it earlier, suggesting gently that maybe he could let go of certain pieces of the past. It made her happy to see he was truly moving forward.

Kakashi lowered into a stance and began gathering chakra into his palm. But unlike the Chidori, he didn't force it into an aggressive, unstable mass. Instead, he shaped it gently, steadily, controlling every spark.

Kurenai watched in silence as faint crackles of blue lightning flickered in his hand. The chakra shimmered, then slowly shifted—turning from sky blue to a deep violet.

The lightning became quieter, more refined. It didn't screech like the Chidori. Instead, it hummed with a razor-sharp tension, like the calm before a storm.

"It worked," he said, opening his eyes.

"That's not Chidori," Kurenai said, clearly impressed.

"It's… different." Kakashi examined the lightning between his fingers. "I spread the chakra more evenly. No tunnel vision, no unstable burst. I'm calling it, Shiden."

"Shiden," she echoed softly, watching the purple lightning dance in his hand.

Then, with a thought, Kakashi tested its flexibility.

He let the lightning ripple out in a wave across the ground, sending it slithering like a serpent through the grass.

Next, he shaped it into multiple spears and threw them at nearby tree stumps, each one hit dead center.

Finally, he wrapped it around his body like armor, sparks sliding across his frame. It didn't burn his clothes or skin. Just protected, calm and precise.

"You created a whole new technique… today?" Kurenai said, astonished.

Kakashi gave her a calm smile. "I just combined everything I already knew. It's not about power, it's about control."

He said it humbly, but Kurenai couldn't help but admire the man in front of her. A genius in battle, yet grounded. Focused, but never boastful.

After perfecting Shiden, he stepped back, looking thoughtful again.

"There's another idea," he said.

"Hm?" Kurenai tilted her head.

"I want to create a lightning technique stronger than Chidori. I want something strong, stylish, and versatile."

She chuckled softly. "I see. You're feeling inspired today."

…

As night fell, the pair made a small camp near the edge of the forest. A gentle fire crackled in front of them, casting warm shadows across their faces. Dinner was simple, just rice and dried meat, but it was enough.

Kurenai sat beside the fire, legs pulled to her chest, watching the flames. She looked deep in thought.

Kakashi noticed. "What's on your mind?"

"I want to create a new genjutsu," she said after a pause.

He raised an eyebrow. "New?"

"Yeah. Watching you create Shiden reminded me, I need something new too. Something offensive." She turned to look at him, her red eyes glowing faintly in the firelight. "I want it to go beyond confusion or disorientation. I want to strike fear. Real, paralyzing fear."

Kakashi's expression turned thoughtful.

"Fear is powerful," he said slowly. "If deep enough, the brain reacts as if it's real. Pain, panic, even death responses can be triggered… if you use the right stimuli."

She nodded. "Exactly."

"Then target the limbic system," Kakashi said, scooting closer behind her. He pulled her gently into his lap, resting his chin on her shoulder, his voice low near her ear. "Shape the illusion using Yin chakra, and make it personal. Something the enemy's mind believes completely."

Kurenai closed her eyes, focusing. She began forming an illusion in her mind, trying to build something powerful. But it kept slipping. It didn't feel scary, it felt… forced.

"I can't form anything convincing," she admitted, frustrated.

"Children's playground," Kakashi whispered suddenly.

"Huh?" she opened her eyes.

"Start with the sound. Children laughing. Innocent, playful. Then… a red ball rolls across the ground."

She closed her eyes again and followed his words.

"A shadow follows behind it," Kakashi continued. "Slow. Heavy. The laughter fades. Then comes the clown."

Kurenai winced. "A clown?"

"Yes. Pale face, glowing eyes, jagged teeth. It grins too widely. Moves too fast. It grabs the target… starts biting slowly. Deep, painful, cruel."

"Okay, okay, I get it!" She shuddered. "You're creepier than I thought."

Kakashi laughed softly.

"But it works, right?"

Kurenai opened her eyes, impressed. "You're a genius."

"Make the pain feel real," Kakashi said, gently tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear.

"How?" she asked.

"Chakra can affect the nervous system. Use it to trigger pain receptors. The victim's brain will think it's real. If they believe it, they'll feel every bite."

Kurenai nodded slowly, already planning it in her head. The illusion would start innocently, lure the target in, then snap. She could build fear into the scene, play with pacing, with detail… yes, it could work.

"You're helping me become scary," she teased.

"You've always been scary," Kakashi grinned. "Now you'll just be scarier, with style."

She leaned back against him, resting her head on his shoulder.

"Thanks, Kakashi," she whispered.

"For the ideas… and everything else."

He held her close, letting the silence between them stretch comfortably.

Above them, the stars glittered in the sky, and the fire crackled quietly. The danger was behind them, but the future felt exciting, new jutsu, new bonds, and maybe even something deeper blooming between them.

After a moment, Kakashi whispered again, teasing, "So… still planning to trap me in a genjutsu if I mess around?"

She smirked. "Oh, definitely."

"Even after all my help?"

She looked up at him, eyes gleaming. "Especially after that creepy clown bit."

They both laughed quietly, the sound mixing with the wind in the trees as the night wrapped around them, gentle and full of promise.