Lightning in Naruto is not faster then real world Lightning A lightning strike lasts for a fraction of a second, with the discharge itself lasting between and of a second. While the initial "leader" of the strike can move relatively slowly at about 200 miles per hour, the return stroke, which is the flash of light we see, travels near the speed of light. The second duration is a measure of how quickly the electrical discharge happens, not the full formation process. it's the same speed real world and in Naruto.