Chapter 25: The Body Flicker Lesson
Three days had passed.
Since parting ways with Hinata at Ichiraku Ramen, Aizen had returned to his monitored residence in the northern sector of Konoha.
During these three days, he cultivated with relentless focus. He practiced ninjutsu throughout the day and spent his nights in deep meditation, ceaselessly refining his chakra and spiritual energy.
After three days and nights of intense training, Aizen's power had grown by leaps and bounds. The spiritual power within him had recovered further, and due to the unique mutation of his spiritual seed, his chakra reserves had risen along with it, now barely surpassing the standard level for a Genin.
It was well-known that every ninja was born with different chakra capacities. Uzumaki Naruto was born with monstrous reserves, allowing him to create multiple Shadow Clones with ease. Others, however, were born with limited chakra, exhausting themselves after just a few techniques, forever facing a bottleneck.
This problem, however, did not exist for Aizen. Because of his spiritual seed, he only needed to steadily refine his spiritual power to continuously gain greater energy. Similarly, as his spiritual power recovered, he felt his capability with Kidō techniques increasing. More importantly, he could now初步 perform the first thirty-five levels of Kidō.
Aizen was satisfied with this heaven-defying pace of growth. After all, he had once wielded a Shinigami's power to its absolute peak. Starting over now, even from scratch, felt like achieving twice the result with half the effort.
By Aizen's estimation, he only needed to continue lurking for a while longer to recover a foundational level of his former strength. However, the road to restoring his Reiatsu to its truly terrifying, former magnitude was still a long one.
On the ninjutsu front, Aizen was also progressing rapidly. Three days ago, he could barely manage five Shadow Clones. Now, he could create ten.
It's not enough. This level of power can't even make a ripple. It seems I must continue the charade.
Under the dim moonlight, Aizen allowed his true nature to surface. The usual low-key humility vanished, replaced by the innate, overwhelming arrogance of one who had once stood above all.
Had anyone from Team 8 been present, they would have been shocked by the two completely different personas residing in the same person. But they couldn't see it. Only in the deep of night did Aizen shed his disguise and revert to the domineering ruler who looked down upon all of creation.
On the morning of the fourth day, the outskirts of Konoha.
It was the familiar training woods. The four members of Team 8 had gathered there early, filled with anticipation. Today, Kurenai was going to teach them the most basic Body Flicker Technique.
"Well, kids. You're very punctual."
A voice as clear as a oriole's broke the morning tranquility. The four genin turned to see a graceful, beautiful figure approaching. Her every movement exuded a captivating charm. It was Kurenai.
"Your complexions look good. It seems you haven't been slacking off these past three days," she said with a smile, stepping closer to the group and observing their faces carefully before nodding in satisfaction.
"Of course! For today's training, we're all fully energized, just waiting for you to teach us, Kurenai-sensei!" Kiba grinned triumphantly, his eyes alight with expectation. The Body Flicker Technique was one he had longed to learn.
"It seems you can't wait. Then I'll first explain the principles of the Body Flicker Technique," Kurenai began, her tone turning serious. "The so-called Body Flicker Technique is a high-speed movement skill that creates the effect of instantaneous travel."
She continued, "Of course, there are roughly three categories of instantaneous movement techniques: Space-Time Ninjutsu, high-speed Taijutsu, and elemental Escape Technique (Doton, Suiton, etc., used for hiding/moving through elements)."
Hinata, Kiba, and Shino listened with rapt attention, images of teleportation flashing in their minds. Even Aizen was drawn in by Kurenai's explanation.
"However, those three categories are far too advanced for you at this stage. What I will teach you today is the most fundamental Body Flicker Technique."
Kurenai leaped back, landing steadily about ten meters away. "Watch closely. I will now demonstrate the Body Flicker Technique."
She concentrated chakra into the soles of her feet and stomped on the ground in a rapid, blurring sequence. In an instant, her feet had struck the earth over a dozen times.
Swish!
Kurenai's figure vanished from their sight, reappearing instantly in a clearing thirty meters away.
"It's incredible! That speed is beyond what the eye can follow!" The three genin were utterly amazed, their eyes filled with admiration.
Aizen wore a similar expression of surprise, but a trace of imperceptible contempt flickered deep within his pupils. In Aizen's view, Kurenai's speed was indeed respectable. But compared to his own Shunpo, it held no advantage. As a fundamental Shinigami skill, Aizen had long ago mastered Shunpo to its absolute limit.
Aizen was confident that even with his current, diminished strength, using Shunpo would easily allow him to surpass Kurenai's speed.