Chapter 26: A Prodigy's "Struggle"
"Did you see that, kids? That is the power of the basic Body Flicker Technique. It allows for rapid movement across short distances in an instant."
Kurenai smiled slightly, pleased to see the shock and admiration in the eyes of her four students. Their captivated expressions were deeply satisfying.
"That's so cool! I want to learn that too!" Kiba shouted, his eyes blazing with energy, the impulsive wildness in his bones thoroughly awakened.
"Kiba is correct," Shino added, pushing his sunglasses up his nose. Though his face was hidden, the intensity of his gaze was palpable. "Instantaneous movement is extremely useful for tracking and reconnaissance missions. It is an essential skill."
"Kurenai-sensei, please teach us quickly!" Aizen chimed in, his eagerness even more pronounced than Kiba's. "Once we learn this, performing those tedious D-rank missions will be so much more convenient."
Kurenai waved a hand to calm them down. "It's good that you're so enthusiastic. However, you must first understand the principles behind the basic Body Flicker Technique."
"The... principles?" The four looked at each other, puzzled. They realized they had been driven by pure excitement without considering the mechanics.
"Every ninjutsu has its underlying principles, even the most basic ones," Kurenai explained, her tone patient. She coughed lightly. "The so-called basic Body Flicker Technique involves concentrating chakra into the soles of your feet, then stomping on the ground multiple times in rapid succession. You use the explosive reaction force generated to propel yourself forward."
"The distance and speed of the movement vary with the ninja's chakra level and control. The finer your chakra control, the further and more precise your movement will be."
To demonstrate, Kurenai lifted her foot, allowing them to see a thin, shimmering layer of light blue chakra condensed on her sole.
"But... with our current level, how are we supposed to do that?" Aizen asked, tilting his head with a look of genuine, eager confusion.
Seeing his earnest expression, Kurenai smiled inwardly. "Don't worry. For now, all you need to do is focus on gathering and maintaining chakra at the soles of your feet."
"Is it really that simple?" all four asked in near-unison.
"Just try it first, kids," Kurenai replied, a sly smile touching her lips. She knew perfectly well that with their current skill, it would be incredibly difficult for them to sustain chakra in their soles for any length of time, let alone execute the rapid stomping sequence.
Sure enough, as they began to try, they encountered difficulties one after another. While they could momentarily gather chakra, maintaining it consistently was a struggle. The rapid, sequential stomping required for the technique proved even more elusive.
Huff... Huff...
After numerous attempts, the four were exhausted and drenched in sweat. They could barely manage a few clumsy stomps, which were utterly ineffective.
"It's too hard... no wonder Kurenai-sensei wasn't more optimistic," Kiba groaned, collapsing onto the ground, panting heavily. He was the most headstrong and the most reluctant to admit defeat, but even he was stymied.
Hinata's face was flushed with effort, her bangs sticking to her sweaty forehead. Though she possessed a quiet determination and refused to give up easily, her results were the same. She, too, had failed.
"Don't be discouraged," Kurenai encouraged gently. "Even the basic Body Flicker Technique isn't easy to master. You should know, it took even me quite a bit of struggle to learn it properly back in the day."
She scanned their determined, youthful faces with a fond heart. While the members of Team 8 might not be prodigies in every area, their sheer drive and spirit made her appreciate them deeply.
"How about it, Aizen? Have you managed to grasp the basics?" Kurenai walked over to him, her tone hopeful. In her view, the talented Aizen was the most likely to pick it up quickly.
Aizen hesitated, then spoke with feigned uncertainty. "Kurenai-sensei... although I've failed many times... I think... I might have barely managed to get the hang of the Body Flicker Technique."
Pfft!
Kiba, who was in the middle of drinking from his canteen, spat out a huge mouthful of water, nearly choking himself.
Not just him, but Hinata and Shino were also struck dumb. They wondered if they had misheard.
"No way... is he really that much of a monster?" Kiba muttered weakly, slumping further into the grass.
"Really, Aizen? Can you demonstrate it for me?" Even Kurenai was shocked, though she forced herself to remain composed. She knew that a true genius could never be measured by common standards.
"Alright... I'll try my best," Aizen said, getting up and walking toward the open training ground with a convincingly unconfident air. His expression clearly showed he wasn't completely sure of himself.
All eyes, including Kurenai's, were locked on Aizen. They all wanted to see if the miracle would repeat itself.
Aizen paused for a moment, as if gathering his resolve. Then, with a focused thought, he concentrated chakra into his feet.
Suddenly, his legs became a blur. His feet stomped against the ground ten times in a rapid, whirling sequence.
Swish!
Aizen's figure vanished from their sight.
"How is this possible?!" Kurenai's jaw dropped, her mouth forming a perfect 'O'. Her heart thudded violently in her chest.
A moment later, Aizen's figure reappeared—already twenty meters away. He materialized in mid-air, stumbled slightly upon landing, but managed to keep his footing.
Though the performance wasn't flawless, it was more than enough to stun the other four. They never expected Aizen to be so astonishingly versatile. Not only was he gifted in ninjutsu and genjutsu, but his talent for instantaneous movement was nothing short of prodigious.