Developing Flash Step (New Book—Please Bookmark and Follow)

When the sharp kunai touched the searing magma fist, it first let out a faint sizzle.

Then, as the temperature rose sharply, the kunai quickly turned red and softened, the sizzling growing more pronounced.

Soon after, the kunai gradually twisted out of shape. With a splash, it completely melted into the magma fist, perfectly merging with the scorching magma.

"Not good!" Uchiha Shu's expression changed drastically. He decisively used the Body Flicker Technique, his body retreating at lightning speed as he swiftly widened the distance between himself and Rogge.

Rogge also stopped his charge and turned his head, fixing Uchiha Shu with a cold stare.

"Body Flicker Technique..."

The Body Flicker Technique was a D-rank ninjutsu, a technique even low-ranking genin could master. Nearly every ninja knew it!

Yet embarrassingly, Rogge did not!

The principle behind the Body Flicker Technique was actually quite simple: chakra was used to activate the body, enabling high-speed movement. The amount of chakra consumed varied depending on the distance traveled and the difference in elevation.

At its core, the Body Flicker Technique was a form of accelerated movement with a specific travel path, similar to the Six Powers' Shave!

Unfortunately, Rogge's chakra reserves were pitifully low, and his talent for ninjutsu was exceptionally poor. As a result, he had never managed to learn the Body Flicker Technique.

"To think the Lava Release bloodline limit could be this powerful... What a troublesome brat."

Uchiha Shu took a deep breath and swiftly formed hand seals, muttering under his breath.

In an instant, the moisture in the air began gathering at an astonishing rate. Uchiha Shu shouted, "Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"

A massive, majestic water dragon appeared out of thin air, baring its fangs and claws as it roared toward Rogge.

Wherever the water dragon passed, the air rippled in clearly visible waves, accompanied by the thunderous roar of rushing water.

Rogge showed no fear. The magma across his body churned even more violently, like burning rage.

His thick arm instantly transformed into a massive, blazing magma fist, burning fiercely and radiating a terrifyingly high temperature.

"Lava Release—Explosive Fist!"

Rogge growled, and the magma fist shot forth with overwhelming force. It moved so fast that it carved a striking crimson trail through the air.

Faced with this incomparably fierce attack, the water dragon seemed unable to hold its ground.

With an earth-shaking bang, the magma fist easily punched through the water dragon.

Scorching magma surged wildly through the water dragon's body, instantly setting off a series of violent explosions.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!" The explosions were deafening. Their powerful shockwaves blasted the water dragon into pieces, turning it into droplets and steam that filled the air.

After breaking through the water dragon, Rogge's magma arm continued burning as it lunged fiercely at Uchiha Shu.

"Body Flicker Technique!"

With a whoosh, Uchiha Shu vanished from where he stood, and Rogge's magma fist struck empty air.

"Damn it!"

Speed had always been Rogge's fatal weakness. It seemed he had to find a way to solve this problem as soon as possible!

Otherwise, no matter how powerful his attacks were, they would be useless.

With nothing more than a speed advantage, an enemy could easily remain invincible from the outset.

"Stop! Both of you, stop fighting."

A ninja wearing a cat-faced mask suddenly appeared between them, his voice as cold as frost.

"Uchiha Shu, Rogge, why are you fighting privately in Konoha?"

Uchiha Shu struggled to calm the restless chakra within him and muttered, "Why is ANBU here?"

Now that ANBU had appeared, his plan to kill Rogge today had clearly fallen through.

Rogge also dispelled his elemental form and said calmly, "It has nothing to do with me. He wanted to kill me. I was only forced to fight back."

Uchiha Shu hurriedly said, "I am a squad captain of the Konoha Police Force. I suspect Rogge is a spy from the Hidden Mist Village, so I merely wanted to bring him to the Police Department for questioning. That is all."

Rogge cursed angrily, "Bullshit! You're the spy!"

"You insolent brat, how dare you suspect an Uchiha?" Uchiha Shu flew into a rage. His hands once again formed seals rapidly, and he looked ready to attack again.

"Enough!" The cat-masked ninja had been watching from the shadows. Having stepped forward now, he naturally intended to protect Rogge.

He said coldly to Uchiha Shu, "Uchiha Shu, whether Rogge is a spy or not must be decided by Lord Hokage himself. You have no authority to deal with him on your own."

Since Uchiha Shu had invoked the Police Department, he would invoke the Hokage.

"The Police Department has the authority to deal with spies who infiltrate Konoha."

"Rogge is a student of the Ninja Academy and a member of Konoha. What evidence do you have that he is a spy?"

"His Lava Release is evidence. Many ninjas from the Hidden Mist Village have possessed Lava Release, so..."

"Enough! Lord Hokage personally stated that Rogge's Lava Release is merely a special circumstance and has nothing to do with the Hidden Mist Village! Are you questioning Lord Hokage's decision?"

For a moment, the ANBU ninja and Uchiha Shu stood locked in confrontation, their auras clashing like needle against wheat stalk. Neither was willing to yield.

"Hmph..." At this point, Uchiha Shu knew perfectly well that there was nothing he could do to Rogge today.

After all, the ANBU ninja was backed by Konoha's current Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, while he was backed only by the Uchiha Clan of the Konoha Police Department.

It seemed this ANBU ninja was determined to protect Rogge today...

After realizing this, Uchiha Shu said nothing and directly used the Body Flicker Technique to leave.

"Thank you, sir." Rogge spoke, expressing his gratitude to the cat-masked ninja.

The cat-masked ninja remained cold in tone. "You need not thank me. If you want to thank someone, thank Lord Hokage. And let me warn you: do not casually use your Lava Release in Konoha Village again. If you accidentally cause massive damage, the Uchiha police force will have a legitimate reason to arrest you."

Whoosh~

After saying that, the cat-masked ninja also vanished from the spot.

So fast, so fast that the naked eye could barely track him...

Was that the Body Flicker Technique?

Rogge stood there alone, filled with unwillingness. Damn it, I have to increase my movement speed as soon as possible! Otherwise, I won't be able to fully utilize all this combat power!

Speed... speed...

Fire Cloud Evil God had once said, "Among all martial arts under heaven, nothing is unbreakable; only speed is unbeatable!"

Speed was equivalent to strength!

Rogge pondered silently. Just how could he improve his speed...

The Body Flicker Technique? There was no way he could learn it anytime soon.

What about the Six Powers' Shave?

Shave was a physical technique that surpassed the limits of human ability. Strictly speaking, it was taijutsu rather than ninjutsu.

Shave was a movement technique. Within an instant—0.36 seconds—it involved rapidly stomping the ground dozens of times in succession, generating explosive reactive force to achieve high-speed movement.

With Rogge's current physical condition, he simply could not do it!

"No... This world has a miraculous energy called chakra. What if... I use chakra to activate my body, then combine it with the eruptive properties of the Magma-Magma Fruit? Could I create a high-speed movement technique unique to myself?"

"I'll try it first."

Rogge mobilized the chakra within his body and activated his flesh according to the principles of the Body Flicker Technique. Then, his feet instantly turned into erupting magma, rapidly stomping the ground in succession within a single instant...

Whoosh~

Rogge's figure vanished from the spot in an instant.

"It worked!"

"Not good!"

Bang!

Rogge's entire body slammed solidly into a large tree, leaving him battered and bleeding.

He fell to the ground in a sorry state, his feet aching terribly and a large bump swelling on his forehead.

"The idea works, but this move still needs a lot more practice!"

"Otherwise, it's too easy to lose control. If this were a battlefield, I wouldn't have crashed into a tree—I'd have crashed into an enemy's blade!"

Rogge lay on the ground for quite a while before struggling back to his feet.

"This move is my own creation, so it needs a catchy name... I've got it. I'll call it Flash Step!"