Avoiding the Puddle

is a unique Space-Time Ninjutsu crafted by Sargon’s Greatest General, Hojo Senryo. It is a defensive technique modeled after the Body Flicker Technique and it is one that is often combined with Hojo’s mastery of kenjutsu. It is a highly versatile technique that allows Hojo to deliver highly accurate slashes with his swords or while used on the defensive end, allowing him to dodge attacks impeccably and effortlessly through spatial/temporal shifting. When used in conjunction with Hojo’s masterful swordsmanship, it creates one of prolific kenjutsu techniques when used properly because it does not require hand-seals.

Overview
This technique starts off with Hojo in his stance, while allowing the opponent to attack him, he raises his sword in the Heshikigari stance allowing them to land a seemingly direct hit. Then in his Heshikigari stance, he effortlessly parries the blow leaving the opponent off balance for a fraction of a second. However, in a time scale that is considered absolutely instantaneously, Hojo activates this technique which can be viewed as shifting the local area. This shift allows Hojo to switch places with the opponent and himself once they have made contact with him allowing him to strike them down with a vertical, diagonal or a horizontal slash. The combination of the parry coupled with one of the fastest Space-Time Ninjutsu allows Hojo to attack and defend without fatigue. Avoiding the Puddle does not require hand-signs and it appears to activate at speeds faster than the shinobi brain can process. Within a fraction of a microsecond of the opponent becoming stunned by the parry, they are simultaneously bisected or attacked by Hojo’s kenjutsu strikes. It is considered Hojo’s best close-quarters technique. Highly evolved, doujutsu such as the Byakugan and Sharingan variants even have difficulty countering this technique due to its simple mechanics and sheer speed. This shift is done by creating a Space-Time regression sphere around the opponent by releasing astral existential energy along with his chakra around the opponent. From here, Hojo can shift any object that is within the sphere with his physical forms. This does not only include organic entities but it also includes inorganic entities.

Pradāśa Seal
When combined with the astral existential energy of the Astral Plane contained within the Pradāśa Seal: Faustian Bargain, Hojo can cause the range of this technique to happen between an even shorter time interval. This seal also allows Hojo to become immutable to Space-Time Ninjutsu based upon the concepts of the Physical Plane of existence (the shinobi world). When he combines the sheer speed of the Avoiding the Puddle technique with the Pradāśa Seal, Hojo is then capable of moving so fast that it warps the space around him which is capable slowing incoming attacks. With the inclusion of this astral energy, the Pradāśa Seal version of this technique even allows him to shift with entities from the Astral Plane of Existence such as switching the opponent with a localized spiritual force in the world that we cannot see.