Body Flicker Technique (Level 1)
Looking at the information displayed on the panel, Kyosuke couldn't help grinning despite the aches all over his body.
The explosive burst of the Body Flicker Technique wasn't hard to master. Most people simply couldn't endure the pain of feeling their bodies tear apart.
He had only gradually grasped its essentials by gritting his teeth and pushing through.
Of course, learning it was one thing. He was still a long way from using it in actual combat.
With too much force, he could easily charge straight onto an enemy's blade.
With too little, the stiffness that followed could all but spell his immediate death.
That was why the Body Flicker Technique only became common among jonin.
The key came down to one word: control.
Beyond chakra control, another crucial factor was the skill with which one used the Body Flicker Technique.
Kyosuke's experiment had been meant to save points so he could redeem the Body Flicker techniques of renowned ninja in the shinobi world.
Excluding the exceedingly rare Space-Time Ninjutsu and forbidden techniques like Might Guy's, who had made a name for himself in the shinobi world through the Body Flicker Technique?
The first name that sprang to Kyosuke's mind was the genius of his own clan, Uchiha Shisui.
The name "Body Flicker Shisui" had resounded throughout the shinobi world during the Third Shinobi World War.
His genjutsu was outstanding, but his Body Flicker Technique was every bit as impressive.
Considering what the two had in common, Kyosuke chose to redeem the Shisui-style Body Flicker Technique without hesitation.
Originally, the Shisui-style Body Flicker Technique had cost 8,000 points.
But when he checked again after mastering the basic Body Flicker Technique, the price had dropped all the way to 4,000-exactly half.
"Looks like I guessed right. Mastering the basic ability myself really does reduce the redemption cost accordingly."
"This system is pretty user-friendly."
He selected the button to confirm the exchange. A second later, a vast amount of knowledge flooded his mind.
Only after a long while did Kyosuke return from that unreal state to reality, as though waking from a long dream.
Shisui-style Body Flicker Technique (Level 1)
Opening the list, he saw that the name of his Body Flicker Technique had quietly changed.
As he carefully considered the changes in the technique, he couldn't help marveling. Shisui's fearsome reputation had certainly been no accident.
Even in the Warring States Period, he could still have become a hero whose name rang out across an entire region.
Knock, knock, knock!
Before Kyosuke could head outside to test it, a rapid knocking suddenly came from the door.
He was just about to get up and answer it when his expression abruptly changed. His short sword was already in his hand.
Clang! Deflecting the kunai flying toward his face, Kyosuke calmly stepped forward. Chakra surged through him, and his short sword slashed at the wooden door as fast as lightning.
"Oh, crap!"
The familiar shout made Kyosuke instinctively ease off.
Even so, the door split apart, revealing a thoroughly panicked Uchiha Izuna outside.
This idiot. Kyosuke's heart leaped into his throat. He knew all too well what would happen if he accidentally killed Izuna.
At the critical moment, a short sword darted in from the side and caught his strike with a steady clang.
Kyosuke stood frozen for two or three seconds before letting out a long breath. Then he stepped forward and flicked little Izuna on the forehead.
"Damn it, Uchiha Kyosuke! You've gone too far!" Izuna flailed indignantly, looking utterly brazen.
In truth, little Izuna usually didn't dare provoke him too much. No matter how stupid he was, enough beatings would teach him a lesson.
He was only acting so cocky today because his greatest backer had returned.
Ignoring the little brat's protests, Kyosuke turned to the owner of the long sword. "You're finally back, Madara."
The one who had blocked his attack was none other than Madara Uchiha, newly returned from the front lines.
Half a year ago, Madara's strength had reached the level of an elite chunin, leaving Tajima with no further reason to stop him from going to war.
He truly lived up to the name Dance King. In just six months, he had made the entire Senju Clan remember the name Madara Uchiha.
Only now, with the fighting easing somewhat, had Madara found the chance to return to the clan grounds.
Looking at the increasingly tall, straight-backed young man before him, Kyosuke knew that Madara had grown even more formidable.
"Come inside."
That evening, they were back at the same barbecue restaurant.
Kyosuke, Izuna, and Madara sat facing one another, and they had even secretly asked the owner for alcohol.
Who cared about minors not being allowed to drink? One was a battlefield Asura, and the other was the Evil-Faced Rakshasa. If they spent every gathering drinking juice, their enemies would laugh themselves to death.
Izuna... well, he was an exception.
Under Madara's stern gaze, little Izuna could only keep pouting and clinking his glass of juice against their cups.
"Tsk. Kids will be kids." Kyosuke couldn't resist taking a sarcastic jab at him.
Izuna could only suffer it in silence.
In the Uchiha Clan, only three people could keep him in line.
His father, Tajima Uchiha, commanded such imposing authority that Izuna didn't dare disobey him.
His older brother, Madara Uchiha, had his heartfelt respect, and Izuna was unwilling to go against his wishes.
Then there was his friend and sworn rival, Uchiha Kyosuke. Well, he was the only one who would actually beat him without holding back.
Most outrageous of all, his brother and father thoroughly approved, believing it helped improve his strength.
This is just ridiculous... Filled with grief and indignation, Izuna gulped down an entire glass of juice.
"Boss, another pitcher!"
Meanwhile, the other two were exchanging their experiences on the battlefield.
With his prominent status, Madara Uchiha was placed among the commanders wherever he went. His perspective was well worth learning from.
As for Kyosuke, his past missions had all been extremely dangerous. Going deep behind enemy lines was practically routine for him.
Madara was eager to learn from those experiences, too.
"Tch. What's so great about that?" Izuna was practically dying of envy beside them.
Unfortunately, his father still refused to let him onto the battlefield.
"Once you can beat Kyosuke, I'll let you go." Those had been Tajima Uchiha's exact words.
Izuna had tried many times, but he had never managed to overcome that short sword.
If his brother hadn't been there today, he would have been badly wounded, if not killed. Izuna understood that better than anyone.
Damn it! Why does the gap between us keep getting bigger?
Glancing at Kyosuke as he spoke at ease, little Izuna hardened his resolve and began secretly stealing his grilled meat.
When their conversation ended and Kyosuke was ready to dig in, he discovered that not a single piece of meat remained on the grill before him.
"Burp~" Little Izuna held his stomach and looked at him smugly.
"Careful you don't eat yourself to death." Kyosuke rolled his eyes and helplessly ordered a few more plates of meat from the server.
There was no helping it. Ninja generally had hearty appetites, and several plates of grilled meat per person was perfectly normal.
Not to mention that all three of them were still growing rapidly.
Watching the other two wolf down their food, Izuna's little eyes darted about. Suddenly, he asked, "You two haven't seen each other in so long. I wonder which of you is stronger now?"
The moment he finished speaking, the table fell silent.
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