Body Flicker Technique

Bai Ye had stumbled upon another unexpected windfall.

Although the Body Flicker Technique was not as valuable as the Flying Thunder God Technique, it was a ninjutsu that paired extremely well with it.

The Body Flicker Technique was quite common in Naruto. Different ninja villages had their own versions, or rather, "Body Flicker Technique" was an umbrella term for abilities that allowed extremely fast movement, covering a broad range of techniques.

For example, the Raikage's Lightning Body Flicker and Shisui's Phantom Body Flicker Technique were completely different. One used Lightning Release Chakra Mode, while the other was a Sharingan ocular technique, yet both were called Body Flicker Techniques.

The same went for Hanzo of the Salamander's Water Body Flicker and Zabuza Momochi's Mist Body Flicker.

The Body Flicker Technique Bai Ye had acquired, however, was the version commonly used in Konoha.

Konoha classified it as a D-rank ninjutsu, but its upper limits could be continually raised through practice.

Minato, for instance, had mastered the Body Flicker Technique to perfection. Combined with the Flying Thunder God Technique, it let him move freely across the battlefield, even faster than the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju.

The most iconic example was the Fourth Shinobi World War. Minato used the Body Flicker Technique to reach the battlefield quickly, placing multiple Flying Thunder God Marks out at sea, on the battlefield, and at the four positions for the Four Red Yang Formation along the way. That was what made those famous scenes possible: teleporting a Tailed Beast Bomb out to sea, then teleporting the First, Second, and Third Hokages to their positions for the Four Red Yang Formation.

A little thought made it obvious: the Flying Thunder God Technique could not teleport anyone directly to a location that had not been marked beforehand. By pairing it with his superb Body Flicker Technique, Minato had brought out its full potential.

To be precise, the Flying Thunder God Technique was both Space-Time Ninjutsu and a special Body Flicker Technique. Minato also possessed the basic Body Flicker Technique and had honed it to the absolute peak, which was one of the reasons he could master a ninjutsu as difficult as the Flying Thunder God Technique.

That was why the Body Flicker Technique was the Flying Thunder God Technique's ideal partner.

"That's right. And from the looks of it, you're already an S-Class Hero."

Bai Ye spoke to Saitama while secretly rejoicing over the Body Flicker Technique.

"Is becoming an S-Class Hero that easy? Then you must be an S-Class Hero too, right, Bai Ye?"

Saitama ventured a guess.

He wondered whether the exam had been too easy, especially the physical tests...

Was that all it took to become an S-Class Hero?

"...Sorry, I've only just been promoted from C-Class to B-Class. Pretty embarrassing, I know."

An awkward yet polite smile immediately appeared on Bai Ye's face.

"Huh? Really?"

Saitama was immediately surprised.

He recalled what Bai Ye had said about the perspectives of the strong and the weak. Had he been looking at things from a strong person's perspective again?

So the hero exam was actually really difficult?

Saitama rested his chin on one hand and thought for a while. No matter how he looked at it, that seemed to be the only possibility.

"Yes. You really are very strong, Mr. Saitama. I look forward to your support from now on."

Bai Ye smiled.

"Yeah, I'm the one who'll be relying on you."

Saitama nodded with a serious expression.

He was talking about getting free meals.

"Mr. Saitama, the orientation for successful applicants will begin at 3 p.m. Please arrive at the Second Auditorium on time."

Just then, an announcement came from the speaker on the wall.

"Does that mean we can go home once the orientation is over?"

Saitama immediately asked.

"Yes."

Bai Ye nodded.

"All right, let's go."

Saitama set off at once.

By then, Bai Ye and Saitama had arrived at the Second Auditorium.

In the spacious auditorium, only Bai Ye and Saitama sat in the front row, with a staff member standing at the lectern.

Strictly speaking, he was not a staff member, but an active A-Class Hero: Sneck, ranked thirty-eighth.

Sneck had a rather thin face and a pointed chin. Anyone unfamiliar with him would have taken one look and thought he was a bad guy best left alone.

Although only two people had come to attend the orientation, Sneck still raised a question.

"First, congratulations to Mr. Saitama on passing the exam. But...wasn't there only one successful applicant today? If he's Saitama, who are you?"

Sneck directed his question at Bai Ye.

"I'm Bai Ye, a B-Class Hero. I accompanied Saitama here for the exam. You can ignore me."

Bai Ye sat upright and answered expressionlessly.

"Oh, you're Bai Ye, the one who just got promoted. All right..."

Sneck said nothing more to Bai Ye, evidently giving him tacit permission to stay and listen.

After all, the Hero Association had never forbidden other professional heroes from sitting in. The rules only barred failed applicants and outsiders from entering.

"Now, then..."

Bai Ye was fine, really. The one who bothered Sneck most was Saitama, sitting beside him.

He was the first new S-Class Hero in a long time, but his attitude was a bit much...

Saitama had one arm resting on the back of his chair and one leg crossed over the other. He wore a sweatshirt printed with the word "OPPAI" and a matching graphic, and he kept chewing bubble gum, looking utterly flippant.

This was an official Hero Association event!

By comparison, Bai Ye's upright posture was far more pleasing to Sneck's eyes. That was also why he had not given Bai Ye a hard time earlier.

But Sneck could not openly express his displeasure with Saitama's flippant behavior. This job did not allow him to lose his temper at will, and it earned him a tidy sum on the side. Besides, Saitama's status as a new S-Class Hero made him someone Sneck dared not offend lightly.

Forcing himself to keep his tone calm, Sneck continued the orientation. "Mr. Saitama, although you're already an S-Class Hero and could be called a genius among geniuses, you must remember not to grow complacent. You need to be conscious of your responsibilities as a hero. Your appearance has already been made public on the Hero Association's official website, and the public will be watching your conduct at all times."

Yet Saitama's expression remained unchanged, and he did not shift his posture in the slightest. It was as though he had taken none of those words to heart. He even leisurely blew a bubble with his gum.

"..."

Sneck's face immediately darkened, but he still forced himself to hold back his anger.

"I hope you'll strive to become a hero who excels in both character and conduct..."

Just as Sneck finished speaking, Saitama's bubble burst, splattering gum all over his face.

Pop-

Watching this, Sneck was utterly numb.

He could not lose his temper, and as an A-Class Hero, he had no way to retaliate against the S-Class Saitama either. All he could do was finish the orientation with his anger bottled up.

P.S. I was in pretty good form today and pushed out five updates totaling ten thousand characters. On top of that, I also need to update the side stories for the old novel on my old account. I'll be updating fairly frequently while this novel is still new, so I hope you'll try not to let the chapters pile up before reading.