Storm Release: Body Flicker Technique

Hatred could be inherited.

The spark that ignited the Third Shinobi World War was Sasori of the Red Sands of Sunagakure assassinating the Third Kazekage.

The reason he did it was that his parents had died at the hands of Hatake Sakumo of Konoha during the Second Shinobi World War.

After Hatake Sakumo killed himself, Sasori could no longer take revenge on his true enemy. Instead, he resented the Third Kazekage for failing to protect his fellow villagers.

Hatake Sakumo was known as the White Fang of Konoha. He was Hatake Kakashi's father, and his renowned Chakra Short Blade, the White Fang, was now in Kakashi's hands.

And so, hatred passed smoothly from one generation to the next.

How many more were there like Sasori of Sunagakure and Hatake Kakashi of Konoha, across all the great ninja villages?

Byakuya didn't know.

But he did know that he had to kill the three Sunagakure Ninja nearby and take their rations. Otherwise, he'd go hungry in this vast forest.

He concealed his real body while his Shadow Clone crept quietly through the cover of night, into range of Storm Release: Torrential Lightning Flash, and formed Hand Seals.

Opening its mouth, it unleashed a brilliant flash of lightning that nearly drove away the darkness.

It was as though thunder from the highest heavens had gathered into a raging river, sweeping precisely over the three Sunagakure Ninja.

Storm Release was simply too fast.

By the time the Sunagakure Ninja sensed danger and grabbed the ninja tools beside them, their red glow cast by the campfire, it was already too late.

Torrential Lightning Flash pierced their vital points.

For a brief moment, they were still conscious, but their bodies were completely paralyzed. They couldn't fight back or use a secret technique to send a message before they died.

Byakuya's Shadow Clone threw shuriken, finishing them off.

He searched their bodies.

Here was what he found.

Essential wilderness survival gear, a Space-Time Scroll whose contents were unknown, three bags of Military Ration Pills—most of which had been eaten—four intelligence scrolls containing Sealing Jutsu, a detailed map of the Land of Wind and the Land of Rivers, and a Body Flicker Technique scroll.

Byakuya headed north with his spoils. At any rate, he wasn't going east toward the Land of Fire.

There was a fog of war in Pakura's eyes, and he had one in his, too.

Without an all-seeing perspective, making the best possible decision in the moment was actually very difficult.

Killing the three Sunagakure Ninja had been extremely risky.

Byakuya worried that using a Storm Release technique would reveal his position. But he was just as uneasy about attacking from medium or long range with kunai and shuriken. If he failed to kill them in one strike, the Sunagakure Ninja might send a signal to alert their nearby comrades.

After racing through the forest at night for more than two hours, he was still full of energy.

The captured Military Ration Pills tasted strange, with a spicy kick. He had no idea what had been added to them.

They were pretty filling, and tasted a little better than the Military Ration Pills he'd brought with him.

He climbed a mountain.

The sky was turning pale.

The wind was cool.

It wasn't until he reached the Land of Rivers that he understood just how complicated the terrain could be.

Below the mountain lay a gorge, and the roar of rushing water could be heard faintly.

Byakuya picked an easy path down. At the foot of the mountain, he leaped across the gorge and landed safely on the other side.

If his stamina, speed, and chakra reserves hadn't all been enhanced, this gorge would have stopped him.

After leaving the sea of trees, he came upon a stretch of desert.

Only then did it sink in.

He'd actually managed to make a strategic retreat from Pakura, who possessed Kage Level strength.

Though the process had been harrowing, it had given him an unparalleled boost to his combat experience.

Byakuya sighed. "The Way of Survival really is tough. If I hadn't kept up with my training, there's a good chance I'd have died under Pakura's Scorch Release."

That was also thanks to his constant practice with the Shadow Clone Technique and Substitution Technique.

The desert wasn't all that desolate.

He passed through a town in an oasis, enjoyed a long, hot bath, then rested for two days to recover before setting out again.

It was time to return to Konoha.

The benefits of increased vitality became clear. Even after an intense battle had drained most of his chakra, Byakuya suffered no aftereffects at all.

And after completing Fate Choice II and greatly improving the quality of his chakra, the chakra inside his body had even begun to grow slowly.

He also had the feeling that his chakra was exceptionally pure.

He learned the Body Flicker Technique scroll he'd taken from Sunagakure, then developed it into the Storm Release: Body Flicker Technique. The principle wasn't complicated: he used a burst of Storm Release chakra to accelerate and achieve the effect of Body Flicker. Because Storm Release was a Kekkei Genkai formed by combining the Lightning and Water natures, the Storm Release: Body Flicker Technique was faster than the ordinary Body Flicker Technique, allowed for more precise landings, and made it easier to control his balance.

Taking stock of the Ninjutsu he knew, the Transformation Technique, one of the Three Basic Techniques, couldn't fool someone like Pakura, who likely had Kage Level strength. He hadn't used it in battle, but it should work quite well against a ninja of similar strength in a one-on-one fight.

The Clone Technique had been replaced by the Shadow Clone Technique, which Byakuya had also been focusing on training.

The Lightning Release attack technique Earth Flash was mediocre, with obvious strengths and weaknesses.

Water Release: Water Wave was much the same as Lightning Release: Earth Flash.

As for the Summoning Technique, there was no need to explain. He'd been able to travel light in the Land of Rivers thanks to the Summoning Technique and the Space-Time Scroll.

There were many ways to use a Space-Time Scroll, and summoning was only one of them.

The expensive Space-Time Scrolls didn't even require any extra steps; they only needed to be activated with chakra.

At last, he had mastered Tobirama's version of Water Release: Water Formation Wall. Byakuya now had a defensive Ninjutsu.

His battle with Pakura had also proved that his Storm Release Kekkei Genkai could hold its own against Scorch Release.

A supremely dangerous battle had put his recent training to the test.

He'd have to think carefully about what reward to ask the Root Organization for when he handed over the mission.

A forbidden technique?

Definitely not. If he asked for one, the Root Organization would suspect his motives.

An S-Rank Ninjutsu, especially Senju Tobirama's Water Release: Water Severing Wave?

Honestly, Byakuya was very tempted. If he learned how Water Severing Wave worked, he could use it to develop a new Storm Release technique.

Like that Sage Art: Storm Release: Light Fang Uchiha Madara used.

Developing Storm Release techniques on Senju Tobirama's shoulders would make things much easier.

He also needed to start learning Earth nature transformation and shape transformation. He could use this opportunity to ask the Root Organization for a few Earth Release techniques; that was another option.

The sounds of battle came from up ahead.

Byakuya stopped and looked around.

He was in the desert, with nowhere to hide since he couldn't use Earth Release.

He was just about to change direction and race toward the Land of Fire when the battlefield between the two sides rapidly drew closer.

They wore the uniforms of Iwagakure and Sunagakure.

Seven Iwagakure Ninja were pursuing four wounded Sunagakure Ninja.

That was the Third Shinobi World War for you: a complete mess.

Byakuya thought about it and realized it made sense. Ōnoki, the ambitious Third Tsuchikage of Iwagakure, wouldn't pass up the chance to attack Sunagakure now that it had lost its Kazekage.

Perhaps it was because a mysterious figure in a Black Trench Coat and a Shuten-dōji Mask had suddenly appeared.

The Iwagakure Ninja feared he was reinforcements from Sunagakure, while the Sunagakure Ninja worried he was an Iwagakure spy who had infiltrated the Land of Rivers. Both groups kept their distance and watched his every move.

"Why have the Iwagakure Ninja come to the Land of Rivers?" Byakuya asked hoarsely.

"They're trying to circle around and attack our Land of Wind. We ran into their unit while scouting. Who are you?"

"Anbu. I came to the Land of Rivers to eliminate spies who threaten the village."

Byakuya hadn't lied. He was an unaffiliated member of Konoha's Anbu Training Department.

The four Sunagakure Ninja relaxed at once and laughed. "You Iwagakure curs! Was it fun hunting us down? We'll show you what real pain is! Come help us kill these Iwagakure curs!"