Thunder Breathing

**Thunder Breathing** (雷の呼吸 *Kaminari no kokyū*) is one of the five main Breathing Styles directly derived from Sun Breathing.

## Overview

Thunder Breathing is a Breathing Style that mimics lightning, specifically swift strikes and movements akin to lightning ripping through the sky, and replicates it with the user's movements, techniques and abilities. Most, if not all, known techniques and forms involve utilizing blinding speeds and immensely fast attacks to overwhelm the enemy in an instant. Users of Thunder Breathing also visualize themselves seemingly creating and manipulating lightning and electricity when unleashing its techniques.

## Known Techniques

Thunder Breathing has 6 standard forms in total, with the first form said to be the foundation for all the other forms. However, Raiden Inakane developed a Seventh Form in order to stand on equal ground with Kaigaku, her former senior disciple under Jigoro who had become the Upper Rank Six of the Twelve Kizuki.

**Note**: The second to sixth forms of Thunder Breathing have only been displayed by Kaigaku, who uses actual lightning in conjunction with his swordsmanship. While the forms are presumably still similar to the original style, it is currently unknown how a normal swordsman would perform these techniques, or if mastery of the first form would alter how the others are executed.

* **First Form: Thunderclap and Flash** (壱ノ型 霹靂一閃 *Ichi no kata: Hekireki Issen*) - The user unsheathes their katana, dashes forward at blinding speeds and decapitates their opponent faster than they can react, before sheathing it back. This technique is extremely reminiscent of Iaijutsu and its movements are described to be akin to "lightning ripping through the air".
	+ **Sixfold** (六連 *Rokuren*) - An extension of the **Thunderclap and Flash** technique created by Raiden. The user performs **Thunderclap and Flash** six times in quick succession while slightly augmenting the power and speed of her dashes.
	+ **Eightfold** (八連 *Hachiren*) - An extension of the **Thunderclap and Flash** technique created by Raiden. The user performs **Thunderclap and Flash** eight times in quick succession while slightly augmenting the power and speed of her dashes.
	+ **Godspeed** (神速 *Shinsoku*) - An extension of the **Thunderclap and Flash** technique created by Raiden. The user performs **Thunderclap and Flash** while greatly augmenting the speed of the technique. During the first display of this technique, an unconscious Raiden remarked that she mustn't perform this technique more than two times.
* **Second Form: Rice Spirit** (弐ノ型　稲魂 *Ni no kata: Inadama*) - Kaigaku releases five arched slashes accompanied by lightning in quick succession.
* **Third Form: Thunder Swarm** (参ノ型　聚蚊成雷) - Kaigaku generates a ball of electricity that releases waves of strong multi-directional lightning bolts from afar.
* **Fourth Form: Distant Thunder**
* **Fifth Form: Heat Lightning**
* **Sixth Form: Rumble and Flash**

* **Seventh Form: Honoikazuchi no Kami** (漆ノ型 火雷神 *Shichi no kata: Honoikazuchi no Kami*, lit. Seventh Form: Flaming Thunder God) - The personal creation of Raiden Inakane. The user dashes forward at blinding speeds and unleashes a singular forward slash at a low stance, which is seemingly accompanied by a yellow Japanese dragon shaped like a lightning bolt.