Mikoto (57)

Seijuro was aware of the Chunin Exam, and what was expected of him. Right now, the Academy should have finished its first year and currently be in its second year.

So if all went well, Minato should have graduated—which also was when he wanted Mikoto and Nawaki to graduate at the earliest, not at the six-month mark.

While sure, they were full-fledged Jonin now, with Nawaki having the strength of a low-tier Chunin, and Mikoto, with her Sharingan, being high Chunin level...

There was a big but on this: they barely had any experience and would lose to a basic Chunin for the most part. He wanted them to have more time to work on that.

Well, he couldn't change that. He had all that was needed for the Chunin Exam, really. This Chunin Exam would be quite short, as he planned to place everyone in there in a Genjutsu.

Should be easy enough... unless they snuck in some secret Jonin. His Body Flicker would be the best among the Genin and Chunin.

Body Flicker truly was an amazing technique. Placing a dozen or so Genjutsu on top of it was great. Sometimes it was even fun—it was basically high-speed movement, so it's kind of hard to control at first.

It's like going from 0 to 60 miles per hour in one step.

It's very disorienting. Yet as he used the technique, it felt familiar... Shunpo... hm. He wondered why that name came to him.

Speaking of which, Shunshin came very easy to him. While that was good, it felt bad—it felt inferior to what he could do.

So, he had started working on some stuff. It was a work in progress, of course—a new ability his identity as Aizen Sosuke shall take.

Here were the core concepts behind the upgraded Shunshin:

While the standard Body Flicker just boosts your body speed with chakra bursts, Shunpo, however, uses:

Chakra compression into the soles and calves

A micro-vacuum recoil effect, created by rapidly displacing air with chakra

A "phantom echo" delay, where afterimages flicker to confuse pursuers

For those who wish for a more in-depth explanation, here's something:

This is how it works:

Chakra Compression & Focus

The user—Seijuro—stores chakra in the calves, thighs, and soles in a tightly compressed state.

This compression takes micro-prep time, but a user with high chakra control (like Seijuro) can do it near-instantly.

Explosive Linear Burst

Upon activation, the user detonates the compressed chakra in a linear pulse, sending themselves flying forward with invisible propulsion.

The propulsion displaces the surrounding air violently, but without sound if Wind chakra is used (Kazeshun variant).

Atmospheric Distortion & Echo Trail

The sheer speed displaces air, creating a momentary vacuum distortion.

This produces an "afterimage flicker" as a visual lag: the opponent's eyes register an echo, but the real body is already gone.

Think of it like when your computer skips a frame in a fast-moving scene: there's a stutter where Seijuro was.

Static Chakra Echo (Optional Layer)

A secondary layer involves a brief chakra imprint left behind (phantom residue).

This "ghost" can either be:

A harmless chakra flicker to confuse enemy sensory types

Or, when used with Genjutsu, a full illusory image (see: Shinkanshin: Reijin)

🌪 Variants & Enhancements:

Wind-Enhanced: Shinkanshin - Kazeshun (Wind Flash)

Infuses Wind chakra to:

Erase all sound

Reduce air resistance

Make movement "smooth as slicing silk"

Appears like he flickers forward—no blast, no warning.

Genjutsu Layered: Shinkanshin - Reijin (Zero-Person Phantom)

A chakra echo is laced with Genjutsu to form a false visual double, standing where Seijuro was.

Enemies often attack it reflexively, giving Seijuro a window for critical strikes.

Kenjutsu Sync – "Kyouken no Kage" Style

By syncing Kyouken no Kage (Mirrorblade of Shadows) illusions with Shinkanshin, Seijuro can vanish and fake a sword trajectory.

The enemy sees a sword coming from the left—but he's already on the right.

👁️‍🗨️ Perception to Others:

Untrained eye: Seijuro just vanishes—no clue where he went.

Trained ninja (Chunin/Jonin): See a flicker, then afterimage, then maybe spot his new position.

Sensor-types: May catch a lingering chakra "trail," but it fades fast.

Byakugan/Sharingan types: Can sometimes follow the movement... but even then, it requires high-tier focus to counter in time.

Summing it up, it's a nightmare to go up against. He wanted to call it Shunpo. It's simple and easy enough—no need to give it a complicated name for no reason.

And thus, Seijuro went to his house, made 8 clones, which each started reading more about the Body Flicker and so on, just in case.

He spent roughly 8 hours training, pushing his swordsmanship to the limit.

His blade, Kyōka Suigetsu, since the first time since its inception, seemed to be reacting to him. The blade seemed to have somewhat resonated with his chakra.

Wasn't that just nice?

This routine continued for a while... until one day.

POV Shift – Kurama Clan Training Area

Seijuro swung around his wooden blade, practicing the same kata over and over again, having 6 clones next to him, all of them practicing a different kata.

"1,990, 1991, 1992..."

Seijuro's senses picked up someone coming toward him. He didn't bother looking up—it was Yui.

"Young master, your teammate wishes to see you," the woman would say in a calm voice. Yet the way she looked at him... hm, he felt like he was being shipped... hm.

"Tell them to come in," he would say calmly.

"1996..."

Soon, Mikoto would enter the area. And as to why he was still on swing number 1997, it was simple really: if you looked closely at his wooden blade, you could clearly see some seals.

What seals, you may ask? Well, my friend, it's simple. It was a seal that made the sword feel 100 pounds heavier... so yeah, there was that.

"You are taking the Chunin Exam."

"1999," Seijuro would say. And then he heard her question. Hm, he should have expected as much.

"2000," he would say, before taking in a deep breath. He would walk toward a nearby wall—there, a towel could be seen. He would place his wooden sword against the wall, where all the wooden swords were, cleaning his face with the towel.

"Yes, I am," he would say, looking at her.

"Why are you taking it alone? Aren't we a team? Why couldn't I be there?" Hm. Saying team and then following it up with an I, hm, he could tell immediately what she wanted. She wanted to be with him. She truly wanted for that future. However... she didn't get that future.

She worked so hard in the Academy to reach a level to graduate with him.