Kapitel 3: Chapter 3: Baptism of Lightning
The days blended into weeks, and weeks into months as Ei's training under her father, the Third Raikage, intensified. Each session tested her physical endurance, mental fortitude, and growing affinity with lightning chakra. Despite her small stature and the limitations of her young body, Ei pushed through every exercise, every grueling drill with a determination that matched her father's intensity.
By the time she was four and a half, Ei could already run laps around the training grounds without collapsing from exhaustion. Her movements became more fluid, more controlled, her muscles adapting to the demands of her father's harsh methods.
Still, the road to becoming the strongest was long and unforgiving.
---
It was the end of one particularly brutal training session that Ei felt the first flicker of doubt creep into her mind. Her small frame was sprawled across the rocky ground of the training field, gasping for breath. Her muscles screamed in protest with every twitch, and even though the sky overhead was clear and cloudless, she could feel the weight of an invisible storm pressing down on her chest.
She hadn't cried once during training—she refused to—but in moments like this, when she was alone with her thoughts, it became harder to ignore the exhaustion, the bone-deep weariness that threatened to pull her under. Her mind, sharp and clear, reminded her that this was the price of her ambition.
*Strength comes at a cost.*
Her father's words echoed in her ears as she lay there, struggling to catch her breath. He had said them once after she had managed to complete her first full day of training. Since then, they had become a mantra she clung to in her weakest moments. But there were times, like now, when the weight of those words felt too heavy.
She could hear her father's heavy footsteps approaching, his figure casting a long shadow over her as the afternoon sun dipped toward the horizon.
"You've improved," the Raikage said, his voice a low rumble. He was never one for compliments, but Ei had learned to recognize the small hints of approval in his tone. "But it's not enough."
Ei shifted, pushing herself up into a sitting position. Her muscles burned with the effort, but she refused to show weakness. She looked up at her father, her violet eyes steady and determined.
"Not enough…" she repeated, her voice hoarse but firm.
The Raikage's gaze softened, just for a moment. He knelt down in front of her, placing a hand on her small shoulder, his grip firm but not painful.
"Kumogakure is a village that thrives on strength," he said, his golden eyes locking onto hers. "You are the daughter of the Raikage. You will be expected to surpass me one day. That is the weight you carry, Ei. You must become strong enough to bear it."
Ei swallowed hard, her throat dry. She knew the weight of her legacy—it was something that had hung over her like a constant, invisible burden since the day she was born. But hearing it from her father, spoken so plainly, made it feel even heavier.
"I will," she said, her voice steady despite the exhaustion that clung to her every muscle. "I'll surpass you."
Her father stared at her for a long moment, his gaze searching hers for something she couldn't quite understand. Then, without another word, he stood and turned to leave.
"You will begin your chakra control training tomorrow," he called over his shoulder as he walked away, his deep voice carrying easily across the empty training grounds. "Prepare yourself."
---
That night, as Ei lay in her bed, she found herself unable to sleep. Her body was sore, and her mind was racing with thoughts of what was to come. Chakra control. She had seen the older shinobi in the village use their chakra to walk on walls, to channel it into their attacks, and even to enhance their speed and strength.
It was something that had always fascinated her, but she hadn't yet had the opportunity to learn it herself. Her father had focused primarily on building her physical strength, pushing her endurance to its limits. But now, she was about to step into the next phase of her training—harnessing the power that lay dormant within her.
As she lay there, staring at the ceiling of her room, Ei reached inward, focusing on the faint pulse of energy that had been growing steadily stronger since she was a baby. It was different from the chakra she had seen others use. Hers was sharper, more volatile, like a storm waiting to break free.
Lightning chakra.
She had felt it before—small sparks that danced through her body when she was especially focused or angry. It was the same energy that had coursed through the Raikage's bloodline for generations, and it was hers to command.
But mastering it… That was an entirely different challenge.
---
The next morning, Ei stood at the edge of a shallow river that ran through the outskirts of Kumogakure, the sound of rushing water filling her ears. Her father stood beside her, his arms crossed as he watched her silently.
"Your first task is simple," he said, his voice as calm as the morning breeze. "Walk on water."
Ei blinked, glancing down at the river's surface. The water flowed steadily, rippling as it caught the light of the early morning sun. She had seen shinobi do this countless times, but now, standing at the edge of the river, the task seemed far more daunting.
"Chakra control is the foundation of everything," her father continued, his gaze never leaving the water. "Without it, your strength is meaningless. If you cannot learn to control your chakra, you will never reach your full potential."
Ei nodded, her face set in a mask of determination. She knew the importance of this. Chakra control was the key to everything—her strength, her future as the Raikage, her ability to protect her village.
Taking a deep breath, Ei focused inward, feeling for the familiar pulse of energy that lay just beneath the surface of her skin. Slowly, she began to channel it, directing the flow of chakra toward the soles of her feet. It was a strange sensation, like trying to balance on the edge of a knife. The chakra buzzed and crackled, but she held it steady, her mind sharp and focused.
Without hesitation, she stepped forward, her foot landing lightly on the surface of the water. For a moment, she felt the solid support of her chakra beneath her, like standing on an invisible bridge.
But then, her control slipped.
With a loud splash, Ei plunged into the cold water, the shock of the icy river stealing her breath away. She surfaced quickly, gasping, her body shivering from the sudden chill.
Her father didn't move. He didn't speak. He simply stood there, watching her with that same unreadable expression.
"Again," he said, his voice calm but firm.
Ei dragged herself out of the water, her small body dripping and cold, but her resolve unshaken. She wouldn't give up. Not now. Not ever.
*Again,* she repeated to herself, the words becoming a chant in her mind as she climbed back onto the riverbank.
And so she tried again.
And again.
And again.
Each time, she managed to stay on the water's surface for a few seconds longer, her chakra control improving with every attempt. But it was exhausting, the constant focus required to keep her balance draining her energy faster than she had anticipated.
By the time the sun was high in the sky, Ei had managed to take several steps across the water before her chakra wavered and she fell in again. Her father remained silent throughout the entire process, offering no words of encouragement or advice.
But Ei didn't need them.
As she stood there, dripping wet and breathing heavily, she knew that this was just the beginning. Her journey to becoming the strongest would be long and filled with obstacles, but she would face them head-on.
*I will surpass him,* she thought, her eyes narrowing with determination as she prepared to try again. *I will surpass everyone.*
---
End of Chapter 3.
AUTORENGEDANKEN 
Israfil
Israfil This story has been on my mind for a while, I'm only doing this for fun and to share it with you all. I'm busy in real life so don't hope for a really fast update time.
Please give me your stones if you liked the story~!
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