Onoki

Theoretically, the Body Flicker Technique relies on a specific chakra flow to allow the user to achieve momentary acceleration.

However, this unique acceleration process of the Body Flicker Technique typically involves a stiffening period before and after its use.

In the original concept, combining it with the Heavenly Covering Formation was supposed to resolve the post-use stiffness of the Body Flicker Technique, potentially achieving speeds like Uchiha Shisui's, leaving afterimages in place.

Sakura's figure darted across the Third Training Ground like a streak of light, every step she took smashing the ground beneath her feet and sending up clouds of dust!

Ahead of that dust cloud, a petite pink figure charged like a wild beast. By the time the dust began to rise, the pink beast had already moved further ahead!

If there were anyone else present, they would witness an incredible scene.

A pink figure rampaged forward with explosive momentum, accompanied by thunderous booms. The ground beneath her feet shattered, and about seven or eight meters behind her, clouds of dust continually erupted.

This kind of dramatic acceleration was utterly unsuitable for ninja, who typically relied on stealth.

There was no connection between this technique and secrecy or assassination!

Sakura unleashed her chakra freely, feeling the wind rushing by as she moved at high speed. A carefree smile appeared on her face for the first time.

In truth, combining the Heavenly Covering Formation and the Body Flicker Technique wouldn't have produced this effect. Sakura had added her enhanced strength to the equation.

While the Heavenly Covering Formation resolved the stiffness issue of the Body Flicker Technique, the latter itself is a short-burst acceleration method, which didn't align well with Sakura's fighting style.

What Sakura needed was sustained high-speed movement, using the inertia of speed to make her punches faster and more violent.

By sacrificing some of the speed advantage of the Body Flicker Technique and compensating with her enhanced strength, she could make her punches heavier, harder, and faster.

This resulted in her current form—a high-speed, armored tank in human form.

But it didn't matter. While ninja often relied on stealth and assassination, another option was to eliminate everyone who saw you, leaving no witnesses behind.

Perfect.

The only drawback was that this movement technique couldn't be used in everyday life or while traveling, as it caused too much commotion and could easily attract attention.

Sakura didn't mind that at all.

"Big equals strong. Speed equals power. Smash the opponent with one punch—what else is there to say? It's all about presence and momentum!"

Now, she had strength, speed, perception, recovery, and weapons—everything she needed.

Who needed anything else?

Satisfied with her new acceleration technique, Sakura felt that this was the first jutsu that truly represented her. By combining enhanced chakra control, monstrous strength, the Body Flicker Technique, and the Heavenly Covering Formation, she had created something uniquely hers.

With her hands on her hips, she proudly declared:

"I, Sakura the Battle Ninja, rely solely on skill!"

"It's all about technique—not just brute force!"

However, as she glanced back at the recently restored Third Training Ground, her confident expression stiffened slightly.

The entire ground was riddled with craters, as though bombarded by artillery.

The training ground, which had just been repaired a few hours earlier, now looked like a fragile maiden who had been bullied to the point of tears.

Cough. Time to disappear…

Five days after Kazekage Rasa's visit, the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki of Both Scales, also arrived in Konoha.

The short-statured elder gazed up at Konoha's gates, his expression complicated.

As a staunch hardliner, he had always viewed Konoha as a grave threat.

Onoki had personally experienced Konoha's dominance, from the era of the First Hokage to the Fourth Hokage. Even now, after Minato Namikaze's sacrifice during the Nine-Tails' attack and Hiruzen Sarutobi's return to power, Onoki remained cautious.

He had initially thought that Konoha would fall into decline after the Nine-Tails' rampage, but recent shifts in the ninja world had put him on edge again.

The Land of Earth was barren, while the Land of Fire was prosperous.

It was no secret that the Land of Earth relied on food imports from the Lands of Grass, Waterfall, and Fire.

Now, with rising grain prices in the Land of Fire, the Land of Earth could barely sustain itself.

Though prices had been lenient in recent years, this only emphasized how the Land of Earth's survival hinged on the Land of Fire's goodwill.

Onoki despised being at someone else's mercy, but he had no choice but to bow to Konoha.

If he were alone, he might have risked it all and initiated another war like the three before it.

But if food supplies were cut off and he failed to seize Konoha swiftly, the consequences for the Land of Earth would be disastrous.

If the Land of Fire had never provided food to the Land of Earth, Onoki might have had the resolve to launch an immediate war.

Without war, they could struggle to maintain their survival.

If they fought and became mired in a prolonged conflict, the Land of Earth would suffer a slow death.

Moreover, the previous wars had proven that Konoha was the hardest adversary in the ninja world.

Most importantly, why was the Land of Fire acting so boldly?

How could Konoha, recovering from the Nine-Tails attack, have the confidence to act this way?

Unless they had regained enough power to launch another ninja world war or had produced another extraordinary figure like White Fang, the Sannin, or the Yellow Flash.

Onoki wasn't overly cautious—it was simply that Konoha's track record was ridiculous.

In just a few decades, they had produced Hashirama Senju, Madara Uchiha, Tobirama Senju, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Sakumo Hatake, the Sannin, and Minato Namikaze.

Figures who should have been rare in any era had appeared in rapid succession, like bamboo shoots after the rain.

It was absurd.

Onoki didn't dare gamble on whether Konoha had produced another talent like Minato Namikaze.

For that reason, when Orochimaru, one of the three Sannin who had defected from Konoha twelve years ago, approached him, Onoki hadn't immediately agreed.

People were like this: in dire circumstances, they might risk everything. But if they could maintain the status quo, they hesitated.

Failure would mean that Onoki and the Land of Earth would bear the consequences.

"Old man!"

As Onoki pondered, a lively voice broke his thoughts.

"What are you brooding about at the gate?"

"Hurry up and go in!"

A short-haired girl with a bright smile ran up to Onoki, carrying a large bag of snacks.

She pulled out a skewer of tri-colored dango and held it up to the elder's mouth.

"Try this, old man—it's delicious!"

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