Lightning Release

The area of elemental nature transformation are techniques that allow the user to generate lightning by increasing the high frequency vibrations of their chakra, allowing for piercing damage and fast movement. The electricity paralyses the target so that they are unable to move and leave them vulnerable to a finishing strike. While uncommon, lightning can be infused into bladed weapons in a way similar to Wind Release through chakra flow for increased the piercing power through vibrations, with the added effect of inducing numbness. When the jutsu is released from their bodies, and thus not requiring physical contact, it does not move as fast as true lightning. Instead, due to the control the user has to exert over it, it moves far slower, which can give opponents time to still react.

Common to the ninja of Kumogakure, a lightning jutsu is naturally strong against an earth jutsu, and weak against wind. Lightning also has a unique relation with water, since water conducts electricity. This means that a Water Release technique can be used to increase the damage of a Lightning Release technique. Though this also means that if one's opponent still has a physical connection with the water, either a pre-existing source or one created with their own chakra, then they can be paralysed via their own jutsu. Based on the exhaustion of using Lightning Release techniques, it can be presumed that they require more chakra than the other nature transformations. In Kumogakure, the Third Raikage knew how to use Black Lightning, and taught Darui how to use it.

Along with water, lightning is one of the components for the Storm Release kekkai genkai nature.