Flying Slash (Seeking Recommendation Tickets)

The so-called Flying Slash is a technique where a master swordsman swings their blade to release sword qi or sword light, allowing them to strike enemies from a distance. Its emergence effectively compensates for the inherent weakness of bladed weapons in long-range combat, and it can be said to be one of the core skills that every master swordsman must master.

As for the underlying principles, they are rather esoteric, involving the advanced concepts of "Unity of Heart and Technique" and "Breath of All Things." The power varies from person to person, but it is at the very least not inferior to high-level Wind Release ninjutsu at the Jonin level.

Although Araki is still far from achieving "Unity of Heart and Technique" and "Breath of All Things," in this world of chakra, he believes he can use ninjutsu to simulate these high-level techniques in advance.

In fact, one could say that Whirlwind Slash is, to a certain extent, already a prototype of a Flying Slash. For instance, isn't the first flying slash technique mastered by a certain green-haired swordsman called "36 Pound Cannon"?

The problem now is that the wind blade produced by Whirlwind Slash is not condensed enough, lacking sufficient lethality. Therefore, Araki needs to find a way to compress it.

As for how to compress an ordinary whirlwind into a solid wind blade?

There are quite a few Wind Release ninjutsu that can serve as references.

Originally, the A-rank Wind Blade would be the best choice, but this technique has only been used by Baki of Sunagakure, and it is unknown if Kirigakure even possesses it; after all, the knowledge barriers between the major hidden villages are quite thick.

Even if they did have it, an A-rank ninjutsu like this would require an S-rank mission to unlock the exchange permissions, which is simply too far out of reach for Araki.

Therefore, he set his sights on another C-rank Wind Release ninjutsu: the Wind Cutter technique.

Unlike Wind Blade, which involves condensing a blade made of rapidly rotating wind in the hand, the Wind Cutter technique only requires the user to spit out a compressed wind blade from their mouth, so the difficulty of execution differs significantly.

However, the power of a ninjutsu never lies in its rank, but in the user's understanding of the shape transformation and nature transformation of that specific attribute.

This is the same reason why Madara's B-rank Fire Release technique was enough to destroy the world.

But even for a C-rank Wind Release technique, Araki currently lacks the permission to exchange for it, as that requires the experience of a B-rank mission.

However, that is the very purpose of forming a squad. Although Araki the Genin does not have the permission for now, his captain, Kisame, does!

As a responsible captain, Kisame agreed to Araki's request without hesitation.

After all, it was merely a C-rank ninjutsu, and since Kisame had just earned a large sum of money and was feeling flush, he didn't give it a second thought.

Secretly noting this favor, Araki couldn't wait to unfold the one-time learning scroll for the Wind Cutter technique.

"Five seals in total: Tiger-Hare-Dog-Ram-Dragon. Hmm. Same old routine, let's break it down step by step first and see which seals are responsible for shaping the wind blade."

Following his own summarized "Analysis of Ninjutsu Seal Patterns," Araki began to dismantle the seals of the Wind Cutter technique one by one, simplifying the steps as much as possible.

Having had the experience of dismantling Gale Palm, this ninjutsu breakdown went very smoothly, and Araki quickly discovered the two seals responsible for changing the chakra's shape and compressing it into a blade.

"If I can understand the shape transformation of wind to the extreme, this ninjutsu could be performed without seals. But for now..."

Araki gathered chakra onto the Wind Sword in his right hand, performed the two simplified hand seals, and finally swung his sword forward in a diagonal slash!

Whoosh!

A narrow, translucent blade resembling a crescent moon tore through the air, cutting a several-meter-long gash into the surface of the sea ahead.

"Success!"

Watching this "Flying Slash," Araki clenched his fist in triumph.

"Let's call this move [Slash Wave: New Moon]!"

While Araki and Kisame were rapidly improving themselves, Zabuza, the "tail-ender" of the current squad, was not idle either.

Following Araki's advice, he sought out Karatachi Yagura.

"You're saying you want to find a ninja skilled in sensory techniques to learn sensory ninjutsu?"

Karatachi Yagura was somewhat surprised.

To be honest, sensory ninjutsu is quite high-end and rare; people who possess such techniques are treated like treasures in every village, except for Konoha.

To give the simplest example, the Byakugan is the most popular sensory technique in the ninja world. The other four villages have been coveting that thing for decades.

Why? Isn't it just because they don't have it in their own villages?

The four great hidden villages outside of Konoha combined probably don't have as many ninjas who have mastered sensory techniques as Konoha alone.

"Can you tell me why you want to learn a sensory ninjutsu?"

Zabuza described the first path to becoming stronger that Araki had told him about.

"Listening to the voice of all things."

Karatachi Yagura stroked his chin, beginning to seriously consider what ninjutsu could assist in achieving this effect.

Suddenly, he snapped his fingers and said to Zabuza:

"This idea of yours is excellent. There are indeed some ninjutsu in the ninja world that can identify enemies through sound. However, whether it is feasible or not still requires consulting a professional."

"A professional?"

Zabuza opened his eyes wide, looking at Yagura with anticipation.

"Yes. The difficulty of practicing sensory ninjutsu is extremely high, and generally, it requires special talent. In any case, I don't know how to do it. So this time, I will take you to visit a senior who is skilled in sensory ninjutsu to let him give you some advice, and by the way, see if you have the talent to practice sensory ninjutsu."

The person they went to find was named Chukichi, one of the top sensory ninjas in Kirigakure.

"Senior Chukichi, please help me see if this child has the talent to learn sensory ninjutsu."

Yagura said to this chubby, round-faced ninja.

"Lord Yagura."

Chukichi's attire was somewhat strange; he wore red sunglasses, had colorful face paint on his face, and a string of prayer beads around his neck.

Despite this, his expression remained quite gentle.

"Do you have any talent for sensory perception?"

Chukichi walked over to Zabuza, pressed a hand onto his shoulder, and asked:

"Little one, have you ever seen any strange specks of light in your daily life? Like blue or green ones, for instance?"

"No."

"Then, when you close your eyes, do you ever get a sensation where your vision suddenly elevates, as if you are looking down upon everything from above?"

"No, not that either."

"Hmm, nothing at all, then."

Chukichi scratched his head.

"Is there any one of your senses that is particularly acute?"

"My hearing is very sharp. I can hear many sounds: heartbeats, breathing, even the flow of blood."

Finally, a question he could answer; Zabuza rattled off a long list in one breath.

"Breathing and heartbeats? About how large is the effective range?"

"Around a hundred meters, I suppose."

"A hundred meters? That is too close; it doesn't quite qualify as a sensory ninjutsu."

Chukichi shook his head, his tone tinged with regret.

"My apologies, Lord Yagura. This child does not seem to have any talent for sensory perception."

Zabuza was stunned upon hearing this, never expecting to be sentenced to death at the very first step.

"Thank you for your hard work, Chukichi. You may go back to your duties."

After sending Chukichi away, Karatachi Yagura smiled and patted Zabuza on the head:

"Although Chukichi is a capable sensory ninja, he is not the Sage of Six Paths, so his words are not necessarily absolute. Look, since you have already conceived such an excellent tactic, why not personally fill in the final piece of the puzzle yourself?"

"Personally fill in... the final piece of the puzzle?"

Zabuza looked up, his eyes filled with confusion.

"That's right. Just as you have envisioned it, develop a sensory ninjutsu that belongs uniquely to you, Zabuza!"

"But I don't have—"

"Believe in yourself, Zabuza. The moment I first saw you, I discovered the talent in you that far surpasses ordinary people," Yagura encouraged.

"Lord Yagura, I will certainly not let you down!"

Zabuza wore a solemn expression.

"Do your best!"