Lightning Cutter


 * Name:
 * Rank: S-rank, Offensive, Short range (0-5)
 * Users: Kakashi Hatake
 * Hand seals: Ox, Rabbit, Monkey

The Lightning Blade, is an enhanced form of the Chidori, with the same effects and drawbacks, but more power. Kakashi learned how to perform this ninjutsu before Kakashi Gaiden but was not able to sustain it long enough to connect. He finally made it work after a lightning bolt struck and him gave him enough power to use it and take revenge for Obito Uchiha's death. It is also said that Kakashi cut a lightning bolt in half with this technique. The first time he used it and the legend of him splitting said lightning bolt are speculated to be the origin of its name. Because the Chidori is already powerful on its own, the Raikiri requires much more chakra and better chakra control, which is examplfied in its appearance. The Chidori appears as simply a mass of electrical chakra in the user's hand, the Raikiri is more focused. Like the Chidori, Kakashi can use the technique four times a day, which is an incredible feat, considering the intensity and chakra requirements. As seen when Orochimaru was talking to Kakashi after he used the Evil Sealing Method on Sasuke, he can apparently form the Raikiri at will without any hand seals. Somewhere in the time-skip, Kakashi developed the ability to cast the technique on both of his hands, which has only been seen while fighting the Akatsuki member Kakuzu.

Trivia

 * The name Raikiri seems to have derived from the Legend of the Tailed Beasts. A ninja named Sarutobi (not the Third Hokage) cut a lightning bolt from the, with the technique Kinjutsu: Raikiri. The kinjutsu efficiently sealed the demon weasel into a shrine.