"Damn… that hurts like hell," Kaito groaned, the pain in his head dulling ever so slightly. He lay flat on the moss-covered earth of Shikkotsu Forest, his body limp and lifeless like a discarded rag.

Only a madman would try something this reckless, he thought, breathing heavily as he prepared for the next step.

Given the torment he had just endured, using lightning chakra to enhance his soul again was out of the question. That process would have to wait. For now, his goal was simpler—but no less dangerous: merging his spiritual energy with his lightning bloodline.

Spiritual energy wasn't one of the traditional five elements—wind, lightning, fire, water, or earth. It existed on a higher tier. In the shinobi world, Yin and Yang Release eclipsed all basic chakra natures.

Yin birthed form from the void. Yang gave that form life. Together, they formed the unseen foundations of all things. Naruto had once used them to restore Guy's heart and Kakashi's eye after gaining Six Paths powers. Even the Tailed Beasts were born of Yin–Yang Release.

If Kaito succeeded in binding spiritual energy to his Lightning Release, it would become a weapon capable of striking spiritual entities—beings like reanimated corpses brought back by Impure World Reincarnation. A jutsu nearly invincible under normal means could be undone.

He closed his eyes and turned his focus inward. The aftermath of lightning chakra searing his soul was still evident. His vision lit up with strange clarity. His spirit body… it was incomplete. A piece was missing—one that hadn't been gone before.

Fighting through the pulsing throb in his skull, Kaito quickly formed a hand seal sequence. His spirit detached from his body, hovering momentarily above him before sinking back in. The shift was instant—his body felt denser, more grounded, and even his perception sharpened slightly.

Still minor, but it worked.

A grin touched his lips. He'd been right.

Once his soul returned to substance and no longer required fortifying, it might finally be time to unlock the Last Gate.

With newfound resolve, Kaito once again tried to intertwine spiritual energy with his lightning-infused chakra, weaving it into his bloodline. But the moment the two energies met—crack! crack!—they repelled each other violently, like two magnetic poles forced together.

"Maybe I released too much spiritual energy," he muttered under his breath, adjusting the flow and trying again.

---

Konohagakure – Hokage's Office

Deep in the heart of the Hidden Leaf Village, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his cluttered desk, a stack of reports in front of him. His brow furrowed with each line he read, his face growing increasingly grim.

"Hiruzen-sensei," Jiraiya spoke up, irritated, "why did you call us back so suddenly? We've been on the border for two weeks without orders. That area's practically exposed now. Other villages could exploit this."

Without replying, Hiruzen slid a folder across the desk.

Jiraiya's casual demeanor faltered as he skimmed through it. His expression tightened. "Is this real?" he asked, handing the papers to Orochimaru.

"It is," Hiruzen confirmed. "The intel came through Uchiha Mu. He used secret channels to transmit the message back to us."

Jiraiya frowned. "Why would he come all the way here? We didn't provoke him. Is he just here to take out his anger on Tsunade or something?"

"Only Hiruzen-sensei understands what provokes someone like Kaito," Orochimaru said with a vague, unsettling smirk. His golden eyes scanned the room. "He wouldn't summon us if it wasn't serious."

Jiraiya exhaled slowly, recalling the chaos from Kaito's last appearance—the battle against the Four-Tails and Five-Tails. "If this is true… we're in real trouble."

"If he dares to make a move, Konoha will respond in kind," Koharu snapped, her voice sharp. "We're not pacifists. A single man threatening the Leaf? He'll regret it."

"Big words," Jiraiya muttered with a roll of his eyes. "Let's see how loud you talk when he actually shows up."

Hiruzen met their gazes with solemn weight. "He'll be here within days. Until then, I want you both to remain in the village."

"I'll return to the front lines tomorrow," Orochimaru said coolly, his voice detached. "I don't involve myself in political drama."

"Directed by who, exactly?" Utatane flared. "Are you ignoring the Hokage's command?!"

Orochimaru's eyes narrowed. "Elder Utatane, I don't answer to you."

Utatane flinched as a chill crawled up her spine. She dabbed sweat from her brow, visibly unnerved.

Hiruzen sighed. "Orochimaru, you're permitted to leave tomorrow."

"I understand, Hiruzen-sensei," Orochimaru replied, turning to leave without another word.

Utatane shook slightly as the door closed behind him. "Good heavens…"

Jiraiya snorted. "Maybe it's not what he says that's dangerous—it's just him."

His tone shifted, thoughtful. "Still… it feels like he knows something we don't."

Hiruzen's expression darkened as he gave a faint nod.

Jiraiya stood. "If that's all, I've got some preparation to do."

---