NARUTO: In the Era of Sannin

The moon was high in the sky, its light glinting off the calm surface of the sea as Team Kagami boarded a modest boat. The mission was a success, though it had escalated to a B-rank due to unforeseen circumstances. Thus, the air around the team was tense yet charged with quiet satisfaction.

Yuichi sat at the edge of the boat, his katana sheathed and resting against his shoulder. He looked at his right hand, now wrapped in hastily tied bandages. 

Going through his experience of using a new jutsu at a fight, he felt delighted. However, the slight stinging sensation reminded him of the price of his innovation.

Just behind him, Mio was present leaning against the side of the boat, her gaze fixed on the water as the waves gently lapped against the wooden hull. 

She clenched her fists unconsciously. 

' Watching Yuichi execute that black lightning-enhanced attack earlier had been... humbling. His growth was relentless, almost unnatural. Even Kagami-sensei had praised him openly.'

.

'I've been doing everything right, haven't I?' she thought, frustration creeping into her usually cold demeanor. 'But why does it feel like I'm stuck in place while he keeps leaping forward?' many questions raised in her mind with no definite answers that she could think of.

She let out a shaky breath, allowing her mask of composure to slip for a moment. "You're incredible, you know that?" Mio said suddenly, breaking the silence.

Yuichi glanced at her, surprised by the sudden praise. "What's this? Did Mio just give me a compliment? Someone write this down," he teased with a grin, trying to lighten the mood.

Mio rolled her eyes but allowed a small smile to tug at her lips. "Don't get used to it. I just… wanted to say it before I changed my mind."

Her tone softened. "You're really something, Yuichi. But don't think for a second that I'm going to let you keep pulling ahead. I'll catch up. I'll show you something way much greater, just wait."

Yuichi gave a half-smile, recognizing the determination behind her words. "Looking forward to it," he replied simply.

On the opposite end of the boat, Sakumo sat cross-legged, his chakra blade unsheathed and lying across his lap. He stared at it, deep in thought. Watching Yuichi's technique had sparked a flurry of ideas in his mind.

The way Yuichi channeled his lightning into his blade, amplifying its power exponentially, was nothing short of genius. 

'What if I could enhance my blade with chakra flow in a similar way?' he wondered.

He began sketching ideas in the dirt at his feet, losing himself in thought. A grin spread across his face. 'No… not just enhancing it. What if I could fuse chakra into the very material of the blade itself? A permanent enhancement, unique to me…'

Sakumo clenched his fist, his heart pounding with excitement. "You've inspired me, Yuichi," he said aloud, earning a confused look from his teammate.

"Huh? What are you talking about?" Yuichi asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Nothing," Sakumo replied with a smirk. "Just you wait. You're not the only one coming up with new tricks."

Kagami observed his team from the back of the boat, his arms crossed as the wind tousled his hair. He was proud, immensely so.

Yuichi's self-made jutsu had proven that the boy was not only talented but also innovative. Kagami recognized the same spark he had once seen in the young prodigies of his generation.

But it wasn't just Yuichi who had impressed him. Mio's determination to improve and Sakumo's newfound drive to innovate were signs that his team was progressing in ways he hadn't anticipated.

'They'll all surpass me someday', he thought with a bittersweet smile. And that's how it should be.

* 

Yuichi flexed his fingers experimentally, wincing as pain shot up his arm. The bandages were a temporary solution, but the damage was real. High-voltage lightning coursing through his hand had burned his skin, albeit lightly. He turned to Kagami, who was still seated at the back of the boat.

"Kagami-sensei," Yuichi called out, drawing his teacher's attention. "I've got a problem."

Kagami raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You mean besides the fact that you nearly fried yourself on the battlefield?"

Yuichi chuckled nervously. "Yeah, that. The lightning chakra… it's too concentrated. I didn't account for how it would affect my hand. If I keep using it like this, I'll probably lose my arm eventually."

Kagami leaned forward, his expression serious. "You're right to be concerned. Chidori—or whatever it is you're calling your version—isn't a technique to use recklessly. It requires refinement. You need to find a way to insulate yourself from the lightning's effects, or channel it in a way that minimizes the backlash."

Yuichi nodded, taking in the advice. "I was thinking about that. Maybe a custom glove or some kind of chakra barrier could work."

Kagami stroked his chin thoughtfully. "A chakra-conductive material might help. Something that can withstand high-voltage lightning without breaking down. We'll experiment once we're back in Konoha."

Yuichi grinned. "Thanks, sensei."

Kagami smiled faintly. "Don't thank me yet. You're the one who has to figure it out."

As the boat docked at Konoha's harbor, the team disembarked, each carrying their own thoughts about the mission. Kagami dismissed them with a wave of his hand.

"Get some rest. We'll debrief tomorrow," he said, watching as his team dispersed into the night.

Yuichi glanced at his bandaged hand one last time before heading home. He had a long way to go, but tonight had proven that he was capable of creating something truly unique. Now, it was just a matter of refining it, and overcoming the challenges ahead.