"Body Flicker Technique? That can't be right. The Body Flicker Technique isn't this fast."
Normally, the technique was an advanced jutsu taught only to Jōnin. Even then, it was never this quick.
The Body Flicker was usually just chakra gathered at the soles of the feet, released through a hand seal to generate propulsion.
It consumed a large amount of chakra, and since it required seals, it was useless for continuous close-range combat.
But Yuichi's version—seamless, without hand seals, faster than anyone had seen—was completely different.
It was as though he had developed a new ninjutsu altogether.
"Even if that was Body Flicker, how can he be so fast? Almost instantaneous…"
Why was his speed so terrifying?
Asuma narrowed his eyes. He already had a theory.
"Maybe… because his chakra reserves are far greater than an ordinary ninja's. That would explain why his instantaneous movement is so fast."
That explanation seemed the most reasonable.
"Really?" one of the Jōnin muttered, still in disbelief.
Could a simple Body Flicker really become something this monstrous? Faster even than Might Guy himself?
It was almost impossible to imagine.
"Flash God Yuichi," Shikaku said with a faint smile.
"With this speed, it's no wonder the Sand shinobi call him that."
And now, seeing it for themselves, the name wasn't just enemy propaganda meant to exaggerate Yuichi's reputation.
Yuichi truly had redefined what the Body Flicker could be.
For taijutsu specialists especially, a hand-seal-free Body Flicker like this was a nightmare opponent.
On the field, even Might Guy was frowning.
To think the Body Flicker could be used this way…
But can he keep this up continuously?
Planting his feet, Guy surged forward.
His body blurred with explosive speed, faster than the standard Body Flicker most Jōnin could manage.
If an average Jōnin dared show off the Body Flicker in front of Guy, he'd show them what speed really was.
Bang!
The ground cracked beneath him as he vanished, air splitting from the force.
Yuichi straightened on the broken earth, eyes narrowing as Guy charged straight toward him.
He raised his fist, locking on instantly.
But the moment Yuichi's punch launched, his figure flickered again.
In Guy's eyes, Yuichi disappeared.
Reappearing two meters away.
Then flickered again.
And again.
Five, six times in the blink of an eye—covering over ten meters in a storm of afterimages.
Guy's eyes widened.
"Continuous flickers…?"
He couldn't believe what he was seeing.
Yuichi wasn't faster than him outright.
But by chaining multiple Body Flickers together, he accelerated to terrifying levels.
Not only Guy—even the surrounding Jōnin were stunned speechless.
Behind Yuichi trailed a series of afterimages, like frozen frames overlapping each other.
Using that acceleration, Yuichi closed Guy's opening. His fist rocketed toward Guy's chest.
The air whistled.
Guy's eyelids twitched violently.
That fist looked small, harmless even.
But every instinct screamed—don't let it hit you.
He couldn't stop his momentum. Inertia made it impossible to slow down.
So he accelerated further, stomping hard on the ground.
The two collided in an instant.
Boom!
Compressed air detonated.
Guy caught Yuichi's wrist at the last possible moment, twisting the strike away.
Then, in the same motion, his knee shot up toward Yuichi's torso.
Yuichi raised his left arm to block.
A dull crash shook the air.
Bang!
Yuichi was blown back, flipping midair to dissipate the force before landing lightly.
He slid several meters, steadied himself, and flexed his fingers.
Not a scratch.
The Dead Bone Pulse in his body bolstered his defense, letting him absorb the impact head-on.
"Yuichi's body… is that tough?"
Kakashi's eyes widened.
He knew exactly how strong Guy's full-force strike was.
Even if it wasn't aimed at a vital spot, it was not something a twelve-year-old should be able to endure.
Yet Yuichi stood calmly, completely unscathed.
Even many seasoned Jōnin couldn't manage that.
"Leaf Hurricane!"
Guy's shout split the air.
Seeing Yuichi withstand his attack, Guy felt the fires of youth blaze higher.
His blood boiled.
Aside from Kakashi, almost no one in Konoha could push him in taijutsu.
And now, a twelve-year-old kid stood against him.
Unbelievable—and exhilarating.
Boom!
Guy descended from the sky, slamming a kick into the earth. The ground cracked apart—
But Yuichi's figure flickered, reappearing twenty meters away.
Guy's eyes narrowed.
So that's it. When he keeps his flickers within two meters, he's almost impossible to track. But when he stretches the distance, I can see his movement. The longer the distance, the more the speed drops…
It was a limitation of Yuichi's technique.
Short range, near-instantaneous. Long range, slower and more visible.
Bang!
Guy exploded forward again.
Almost the instant Yuichi reappeared, Guy was there—beside him, fist raised.
Their blows met head-on.
The collision sent a whirlwind bursting beneath their feet.
The ground caved slightly from the force.
The two froze mid-strike, locked together.
In just a few seconds of fighting, neither had held position for more than half a heartbeat.
Feeling the rippling shockwave, the surrounding Jōnin could only marvel.
"Unbelievable… Yuichi's actually holding his own in taijutsu against Might Guy…"