Body Flicker Technique

The ninja world had five standard elemental affinities: water, fire, wind, lightning, and earth. Eighty percent of ninjutsu were developed on the foundation of these five elements.

Relatively speaking, Wind Style, Fire Release, and Lightning Release leaned more toward offense, while Water Release and Earth Release were more defensive.

Of course, nothing was absolute. There were always geniuses who could forge their own paths, but for ordinary people, developing a defensive ninjutsu with Fire Release was far more difficult than doing the same with Earth Release or Water Release.

Over time, this naturally led to Wind, Fire, and Lightning Release being more offense-oriented among low-level ninjutsu, while Water and Earth Release leaned more toward defense and support.

That was why Araki could choose one of two C-rank offensive Wind Style Ninjutsu to learn, while Zabuza had no C-rank offensive Water Release techniques to choose from and could only aim for B-rank or above.

Please note that a ninjutsu's rank did not represent its power; it only indicated its difficulty to learn. A ninjutsu's power depended solely on the caster's chakra reserves and proficiency.

So if Zabuza thought learning one more B-rank ninjutsu than Araki would give him some overwhelming advantage, he was bound to be disappointed.

By the time he finished those forty-four hand seals, Araki would have already chopped him into seventeen or eighteen pieces.

"Wind Cutter or Gale Palm?"

On his way to the Ninja Academy's ninjutsu exchange office, Araki muttered to himself.

In Araki's memory, Wind Cutter was a direct offensive ninjutsu that could unleash sharp, thin wind blades. Its power was considerable, enough to instantly sever extremely thick trees.

Gale Palm was different. Though it was also a C-rank Wind Style Ninjutsu, its focus was on releasing a fierce gale strong enough to blow people away, rather than compressing wind into blades to injure enemies.

Because of this, Gale Palm was inferior to Wind Cutter in direct destructive power, but it had far more varied applications.

For example, after throwing a shuriken, one could use Gale Palm to accelerate it. That sudden burst of acceleration could easily catch an enemy off guard.

Besides, speed was power. Getting hit by a concealed weapon moving at that speed was no joke.

Not only that, Gale Palm had a more refined advanced application: wrapping one's body in fierce wind to greatly increase one's movement speed.

At first glance, it even resembled the Lightning Release Chakra Mode secretly passed down through generations of Raikage, only as a Wind Style version. In reality, setting aside the difference in power, their principles were completely different.

The core of Lightning Release Chakra Mode was using lightning-natured chakra to stimulate one's body cells, accelerating neural transmission while also enhancing the body's speed and toughness. It was an ultimate ninjutsu that combined offense and defense.

Gale Palm, on the other hand, merely wrapped the caster's body in a layer of wind. Its defensive power was practically negligible, and it could not directly increase physical speed or neural reactions. It was simply an external force pushing the user along while moving, allowing them to travel with the wind faster and with less effort.

Snapping out of his analysis, Araki realized that he had arrived.

"Hello, I'm Araki, a genin who just graduated this year. I need the training scrolls for [Wind Style: Gale Palm], [Water Release: Water Replacement], and [Body Flicker Technique]!"

Araki spoke to the teacher at the Ninja Academy's ninjutsu department.

"Alright, let me find your records first. Hmm, genin Araki, just graduated. You may choose one one-time C-rank ninjutsu learning scroll and two D-rank ones. Are you sure you want these three?"

The teacher looked up at Araki and asked for confirmation.

"I'm sure!"

Araki nodded firmly.

"Very well, wait a moment while I find them. Genin who choose Wind Style ninjutsu really are rare. Looks like you're a genius too, kid~"

The elderly teacher muttered as he searched through the shelves.

"Teacher, if I want to learn new ninjutsu in the future, can I come here?"

Seeing that the teacher seemed quite kind, Araki asked.

He had suddenly realized that he did not know where he was supposed to learn new ninjutsu in the future.

In anime, all kinds of flashy ninjutsu seemed to number in the hundreds or thousands, but in reality, aside from clan inheritances and genuine master-disciple relationships, the main ways ninja acquired ninjutsu did not seem to be clearly explained.

After all, how did the many ordinary ninja from civilian backgrounds, who had neither inheritances nor anyone willing to take notice of them, learn the techniques they possessed?

Surely they could not all develop them themselves?

What, was everyone the Second Hokage?

"You don't know that, kid? Looks like you haven't done any missions yet!"

The teacher turned around with three scrolls in hand, smiling as he passed them over.

"When ninja complete missions for the village, they earn not only money but also permission to exchange for ninjutsu. The rank available will be one level lower than the mission's rating. For example, if you complete a C-rank mission, you'll have permission to exchange for D-rank ninjutsu. Of course, permission is one thing—you still have to pay when you exchange for it. Those people in the Logistics Department are obsessed with money."

"I see."

Araki took the scrolls, deep in thought.

"Alright, kid, don't think too hard. Even the cheapest C-rank ninjutsu costs several hundred thousand ryo. You won't be able to afford one anytime soon."

The teacher waved a hand.

"Thank you, Teacher!"

Araki politely gave a slight bow, then left.

"What a polite, good child. How many years has it been since I last saw someone like that?"

The teacher watched Araki's retreating figure, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes.

When he arrived at the seaside where he usually practiced swordsmanship alone, Araki first tore open the Body Flicker Technique scroll.

"Hmm, gather chakra beneath the soles of the feet, shape it into springs, compress it to the limit, then suddenly release it to launch the body forward..."

Upon reading this part, Araki's earlier confusion was cleared up.

Why was the Body Flicker Technique always so silent?

Wasn't this clearly a chakra burst technique?

Shouldn't every step leave a huge crater, with BANG BANG BANG explosions wherever one went?

So there were more advanced chakra application techniques involved. Springs, huh?

"The Body Flicker Technique is not difficult to learn, but it demands extremely high proficiency. If one is not skilled enough, it is easy to injure oneself by accident."

"The key to the Body Flicker Technique is speed and agility. It is a ninjutsu that genin can learn, yet even jonin may not truly master. Sufficient speed and agility can let you toy with your enemies in the palm of your hand."

After Araki finished reading every word on the scroll, it automatically began to smoke and burn away.

"As expected of a one-time learning scroll. It really is advanced!"

Araki briefly marveled at the scroll turning to ash, then faced the sea and began practicing the Body Flicker Technique.