Chapter 72: Ch 72. Yin & Yang Jutsus x Black Lightning
As Ron's sensory abilities sharpened over the years, one thing became increasingly clear, Natural Energy within Kumogakure, and even the entire Land of Lightning, had grown denser. Compared to five years ago, it had nearly doubled in concentration, approaching levels similar to that of the Land of Fire, which Ron had visited once for business.
This realization reinforced a theory he had long suspected, life itself was a major factor in the formation and accumulation of Natural Energy. The Land of Lightning had flourished in recent years, experiencing a surge in population and prosperity. And with that, the ambient Natural Energy seemed to have intensified as well. Yet, geography and climate also played undeniable roles. As Ron traveled and refined his perception, he noticed subtle yet distinct variations in Natural Energy across different regions.
For example, Kumogakure's Lightning Mountain Ranges had always been infused with a chaotic and turbulent quality of Natural Energy, as if resonating with the very essence of thunder. Even now, as its vibrancy increased, that ever-present hint of electricity remained. Perhaps this was why each Great Nation had a natural affinity for specific chakra natures, why the Land of Wind produced exceptional wind users, the Land of Water excelled in water release, and the Land of Lightning naturally bred powerful lightning-wielding shinobi and others.
Ron couldn't help but ponder, "Could the battle between the Sage of Six Paths and Kaguya have left an irreversible imprint upon these lands? After all, Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki wielded not only Yin-Yang Release, which could shape reality itself, but also Senjutsu at an unfathomable level. Kaguya, on the other hand, possessed chakra of the highest order, True Kekkei Mōra, encompassing all five nature transformations alongside Yin-Yang Release. Their clash might have permanently altered the world's very foundations, influenced nature."
In this context, Yin-Yang Release wasn't merely an advanced form of nature transformation; it was akin to a bloodline limit, an innate mastery over both Yin and Yang at their most fundamental level, and a fusion of it.
Ron's thoughts drifted to the Land of Fire. Though named after fire, it's prosperity far surpassed that of the other nations. Perhaps this was no coincidence. Hashirama Senju's Wood Release deeply rooted in the life-giving force of Yang Release had once shaped its very landscape, nurturing its forests and lands. Furthermore, the lingering influence of Ashura and Indra, the Sage's sons, might have played a role. Ashura, the inheritor of Yang Release, and Indra, the master of Yin Release, had left their marks on history, shaping the balance of nature within the land itself. This equilibrium could explain why the Land of Fire boasted a diversity of chakra natures and remained the most fertile and densely populated region.
Yin and Yang Release had long been fundamental to shinobi arts, forming the basis of medical ninjutsu, genjutsu, sensory techniques, and even unique clan abilities like shadow manipulation and Akimichi's Partial Expansion Jutsu. Tsunade's so-called "Monster Strength" was a prime example of an application of volatile Yang chakra precisely controlled to enhance power.
But at higher levels, Yin-Yang Release was more than that, at an advanced chakra nature it was an art that, when subtly applied, could elevate even conventional ninjutsu to a superior level. Madara Uchiha had demonstrated this with his Yin-Release, Lightning Dispatch, a technique that merged Yin chakra with lightning to enhance its lethality and penetration and control. Similarly, Hashirama Senju had unconsciously infused his Yang chakra while trying to create his blood line limit, elevating it beyond a mere bloodline limit into something not replicable, by normal means.
In Kumogakure, while Lightning Release was the most commonly used nature, its inherently volatile and erratic nature made it difficult to control, to perform with better form, and for different types of ninjutsu. Over the years, ninjas devised various methods to tackle it, leading to the development of Storm Release, a bloodline limit that allowed users to manipulate lightning with fluidity akin to water. Unlike standard Lightning Release, Storm Release techniques could be retracted and redirected mid-combat, making them more versatile than even Water Release in certain applications.
Beyond elemental fusion, Yin Release played a crucial role in shaping and refining Lightning Release techniques. Many advanced practitioners of Lightning Chakra Mode eventually infused Yin chakra into their technique, granting their lightning style chakra mode a level of solidity despite its flowing nature. This refinement allowed them to block attacks and manipulate their chakra offensively and defensively. In Kumogakure, this refined state of Lightning Chakra Mode was commonly known as the Lightning Armor.
However, another variation of Lightning Armor existed, one based purely on Lightning Flow, an application of nature transformation that coated the body or body parts with lightning chakra, similar to Chidori Nagashi/flow. Both techniques shared similarities in appearance, but their mechanics differed. Chidori, for instance, typically required hand seals and generated a much more concentrated, erratic lightning flow, reminiscent of the Rasengan in its erraticness, and had was stronger in terms of its penetrative force. Of course, most ninja utilizing Lightning Flow or even chidori maintained a thin layer of chakra between their bodies and the transformed lightning, preventing self-inflicted damage. Without this precaution, the intense nature of Lightning Release could harm the user as much as their opponent.
Among the many advancements in Lightning Release, none stood out more than Black Lightning, an exclusive technique created by Ron's father, the Third Raikage. Unlike conventional Lightning Release, Black Lightning was infused with Yin chakra, making it more than just a variation, it was, in essence, Yin-Style Lightning Jutsu.
The Third Raikage primarily used Black Lightning to create animal-shaped constructs imbued with claws and fangs, capable of pouncing on enemies and restraining them. His signature jutsu, Black Panther, embodied these traits. Black Lightning focused on both penetration and lethality, bearing similarities to Yin-enhanced Chidori, such as the one Sasuke later wielded with the Rinnegan, or his early Chidori Sharp Spear, which had increased Yin-based cutting power due to Senjutsu chakra. However, unlike Chidori, the Third Raikage's Black Lightning also prioritized shape transformation and fluidity, allowing for more dynamic usage in combat, of course, both had greater power and chakra power than normal lightning release. Merging both Yin or Yang to ninjutsu allowed ninjutsu to have greater power.
While Yin-release allowed better control, and form change, which included shape, fluidity, etc. While Yang, generally formed a chemical reaction similar to gasoline on fire, like a chemical reaction, immensely increasing the volatility of the ninjutsu, of course, high level enough Yang escape could allow users to give living force to general wood style, thus making Hahirama's wood escape better than Yamato's deadwood. As the combination of high level Yin and Yang produced Yin-Yang escape, which allowed users to create form and give life, tailed beasts were the results of this.
In the future, Darui would inherit and master both Storm Release and Black Lightning. Yet Ron always felt that Black Lightning was never truly developed to its full potential. After passing from the Third Raikage to Darui, its progression seemed to stagnate, likely because Darui favored Storm Release as his primary ability. This left Ron with an unanswered and unsatisfied question, "Had Black Lightning been fully explored, what heights could it have reached?"