A year had passed since Ei, Yugito, Samui, and Mabui successfully completed their first mission. Their time at the academy had been filled with relentless drills, lectures, and sparring matches, but it was their personal training that truly shaped them. Each of them pushed their limits to improve their skills, growing stronger and more capable with every passing day.
Ei, however, had one singular goal that consumed her mind—mastering the **Lightning Chakra Mode**.
She had spent countless hours training under her father, the Third Raikage. Their sessions were unforgiving, with her father demanding nothing less than perfection. Every day, Ei forced herself to channel her chakra through her body, allowing the electric current to surge through her, pushing her muscles and nerves to their limits.
"Hold the form, Ei!" her father barked, his voice booming like thunder across the training grounds. "You must master the lightning! It must flow through you naturally, or you'll never be fast enough."
Gritting her teeth, Ei closed her eyes and focused, her entire body crackling with electricity. She could feel the power within her—dangerous, raw, and untamed. The Lightning Chakra Mode was far from easy to control, but every day she pushed herself to sustain it just a little longer. Her progress was noticeable, but she knew it wasn't enough. The Raikage's expectations were high, and Ei was determined to meet them.
But even as she grew stronger, Ei felt an odd restlessness inside her. Despite all her progress, something about her training felt incomplete. She was sure she could tap into a deeper power, but it eluded her. It was as if something buried deep within her was waiting to be unlocked.
Then, one fateful night, everything changed.
Ei found herself in a vivid dream—so intense it felt more like another reality. In the dream, she wasn't in Kumogakure. Instead, she stood in a towering, futuristic city where the sky was dark, filled with storm clouds. In the distance, thunder rolled, and bolts of lightning illuminated the skyline. The air was charged with energy, and Ei could feel it buzzing against her skin.
Before her stood a figure—tall, with long dark hair, and eyes filled with determination. She moved with precision, lightning sparking off her body as she fought enemies shrouded in shadow. Her movements were fluid, graceful, and deadly, every strike landing with devastating accuracy. Her aura was powerful, and Ei knew instinctively that this woman was like her—someone who commanded lightning.
"Raiden Mei..." The name came to her as if it were always there, hidden just beneath the surface.
In the dream, Ei watched Raiden Mei's journey unfold. Mei wasn't just fighting—she was training, growing stronger with each battle. Her goal was to save someone dear to her—**Kiana Kaslana**, a friend who was willing to sacrifice herself for the greater good. Mei's resolve was unwavering as she fought through trials that tested both her strength and her will. But it wasn't enough.
The training was brutal—intense physical combat mixed with deep mental discipline. Each Flame Chaser pushed Mei beyond her limits, guiding her to embrace her power in ways she had never imagined. Over time, Mei's control over lightning became absolute. She could command storms with ease, her body a conduit for the raw, destructive power of thunder.
As Mei trained, Ei could feel a resonance between them—each step Mei took seemed to mirror Ei's own struggles. Mei's battles, her growth, and her desire to protect those she loved all felt eerily familiar. But there was something more. Mei was evolving, becoming something greater than just a warrior. She was unlocking a power beyond human understanding.
And then, Ei witnessed it—**Raiden Mei's transformation into the Herrscher of Thunder**. In that moment, Mei's power surged to a new level. She wasn't just wielding lightning—she *was* lightning. Her form radiated pure electric energy, her eyes glowing with the power of the storm as she embraced her role as the Herrscher.
But that wasn't the end.
As the dream shifted, Ei saw Raiden Mei standing among thirteen figures, each one imposing and powerful in their own right. They were the **Flame Chasers**, a group of elite warriors, each representing an aspect of ultimate power. Mei trained with them, learning from their unique abilities and philosophies. They challenged her, forcing her to reach new heights as she struggled to balance her inner turmoil with her growing power over lightning.
In the dream, Ei saw Mei take her power further. Mei continued to train, not content with her role as the Herrscher of Thunder. She sought out even more strength, pushing herself beyond her limits. Under the guidance of the Flame Chasers, Mei tapped into an even deeper power, one that transcended lightning itself. She mastered the **Origin of Lightning**, becoming the **Herrscher of Origin**. With this ultimate power, Mei gained the ability to shape lightning as she wished, manipulating not just the storm but the very fabric of reality with her command over electricity.
As Ei watched Mei's journey, she felt a deep connection to her. The dream wasn't just a vision of someone else's struggle—it was a message to Ei. Mei's growth, her mastery of lightning, and her journey to becoming the Herrscher of Origin mirrored the path Ei herself was walking. It was a reminder that she, too, could reach that level of power—if only she embraced the storm within her.
"Embrace the storm within you," Mei's voice echoed in Ei's mind as the dream began to fade.
When Ei woke, she was drenched in sweat, her heart pounding as if she had just finished a battle. The images of the dream were still vivid in her mind—the power Mei had wielded, the intensity of her training, and the moment she had become one with lightning. It all felt so real, so tangible. Ei knew it wasn't just a dream. It was a sign. A message.
"Raiden Mei..." Ei whispered to herself, sitting up in her bed. "You showed me the way."
Ei's thoughts raced as she replayed the dream in her mind. Mei's technique—her complete unity with the lightning—was different from what Ei had been taught. It wasn't just about controlling chakra. It was about becoming one with the lightning, letting it flow through her as naturally as blood. Mei had mastered it, and Ei was determined to do the same.
The next day, Ei returned to her training with renewed focus. Her father, the Raikage, immediately noticed the change in her demeanor.
"You're different," he remarked, watching as Ei summoned her lightning chakra with a precision and intensity he hadn't seen before. "What happened?"
"I had a dream," Ei replied, her voice calm but filled with conviction. "I saw someone—someone who showed me a different way to control lightning. I'm going to master it."
The Raikage raised an eyebrow but didn't question her further. He had always known Ei was destined for greatness, and this new fire in her eyes only confirmed it.
"Show me, then," he said, folding his arms.
Ei closed her eyes, focusing inward. She remembered the way Mei had moved, how she had become lightning itself. Ei let the chakra build up inside her, but instead of forcing it outward, she let it flow naturally through her body. The electric current hummed through her, wrapping around her like a second skin. Her body began to crackle with energy, but this time it felt different—smoother, more controlled. The lightning wasn't just a tool; it was part of her.
When she opened her eyes, her father nodded approvingly. "You're improving. But you still have a long way to go."
Ei smiled faintly. "I know. But I'll master this. I'll surpass even you, Father."
For the next year, Ei threw herself into her training with even greater intensity. She practiced not only controlling the Lightning Chakra Mode but incorporating the techniques she had seen in her dream. She focused on becoming one with the lightning, letting it guide her movements rather than forcing it. Her swordsmanship grew sharper as well, each strike now enhanced by the crackling energy that flowed through her body and into her blade.
As she trained, Ei couldn't shake the feeling that the dream was more than just a vision. It was a sign of things to come—a reminder that she was capable of more than she had ever imagined. And as her power continued to grow, she knew that her journey was far from over.
There was still so much to learn, so much to master. But one thing was certain—Ei would embrace the storm within her and rise to new heights, just like Raiden Mei had.
End of Chapter 15.