Ino flicked her wrist, summoning a shimmering kunai made of pure Soul Energy. The blade pulsed in her grip, weightless yet solid, humming with an otherworldly glow. She narrowed her eyes at the target in the distance, drew back, and hurled the weapon forward. It shot through the air, but before it could reach its mark, the energy faded, and the kunai dissipated mid-flight.
She groaned, hands on her hips. "Damn it! Why can't I get the range right?"
"Because you're throwing it like a regular kunai."
Ino jumped at the smooth voice behind her. She spun around to find Raven, leaning lazily against a tree, arms crossed, watching her with that ever-present smirk.
Ino scowled. "Do you always have to sneak up on people?"
Raven shrugged. "It's a skill." She pushed off the tree and sauntered toward Ino, gaze flicking toward the faint trace of dissipated Soul Energy in the air. "You're making the mistake of thinking your Soul Weapons work the same way as regular ones. That's your problem."
Ino crossed her arms. "And what am I supposed to do? Send them a love letter first?"
Raven grinned. "No, but you do have to stop thinking of them as objects." She gestured to the space where the kunai had faded. "Your Soul Weapons aren't just shaped energy. They're pieces of you. The stronger your intent, the further they'll go."
Ino frowned, processing that. She had always assumed her Soul Weapons were just a construct—chakra molded into form. But if they were extensions of her will, then…
She exhaled slowly and summoned another kunai, this time focusing not on throwing, but on sending. When she released it, she imagined the weapon carrying a piece of her forward, pushing further, faster—
The kunai soared across the field, piercing the target dead center.
Ino's eyes widened. "I… did it?"
Raven grinned, impressed. "Not bad, Blondie."
Raven set up multiple targets at different distances, some stationary, others rigged to move unpredictably.
"Alright, now let's push it," Raven said, tossing a kunai from hand to hand. "Your range just improved. Let's see how well you can handle precision."
Ino took a deep breath, summoning a handful of Soul Weapons—this time, small, sleek senbon needles. The weapons shimmered, nearly transparent, as she lined up her targets.
She launched them forward.
Two hit perfectly. The rest strayed off course, missing by inches.
Ino let out an irritated huff. "Ugh. Why is this so much harder than the sword?"
"Because close combat is instinct," Raven said, watching her carefully. "Long-range is about understanding your connection to Soul Chakra."
Ino glanced at her. "Soul Chakra?"
Raven nodded. "It's different from regular chakra. This power doesn't come from the physical or the spiritual—it's directly tied to your existence. It's why you're immune to most physical attacks in your Soul Projection form."
Ino flexed her fingers, gazing at the faint glow around her hands. "So… the stronger my Soul Chakra, the stronger my range?"
"Exactly," Raven confirmed. "You're not just throwing a weapon. You're extending a part of yourself. The further your soul can reach, the deadlier your attacks become."
Ino's eyes sharpened. "So if I train this properly, I'll be able to take out enemies from miles away without even getting close."
Raven smirked. "Now you're getting it."
Raven started moving the targets, forcing Ino to adjust her aim mid-flight. The more she practiced, the longer her weapons lasted, the more precise her strikes became.
At one point, Raven tossed a kunai at her mid-throw, forcing her to dodge and counter at the same time. Instead of reacting, Ino instinctively split her focus, forming two weapons at once—one for defense, one for attack.
The kunai bounced harmlessly off her deflected blade. The senbon needle she had thrown pierced a moving target dead-on.
Raven whistled. "Damn, Blondie. That's some assassin-level multitasking."
Ino smirked, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "You sound surprised."
Raven chuckled. "Impressed, actually. You're catching on fast."
As they rested, Raven stretched out on a large rock, hands behind her head. Ino sat beside her, examining her glowing kunai.
"You know," Raven mused, watching her. "Your soul shines brighter when you're focused. It's kinda… cute."
Ino froze. The kunai dropped from her fingers, fading into mist.
"Wh-what?!" she spluttered, whipping around to stare at Raven.
Raven tilted her head, smirking. "Just an observation."
Ino's face turned red. "D-don't say weird things out of nowhere!"
Raven laughed. "What? Can't handle a little compliment?"
Ino scowled, pointing a shaking finger at her. "You—you're messing with me!"
Raven chuckled, eyes glinting with amusement. "Maybe."
Ino crossed her arms, turning away sharply to hide her very, very red face.
After a moment of silence, Raven spoke again, more thoughtfully.
"You ever think about the future?"
Ino hesitated. "What do you mean?"
Raven turned her gaze skyward. "What you want. Where you want to be. Who you want to be with."
Ino frowned. "I… guess I never thought about it much."
Raven smirked. "Maybe you should start."
Ino looked at her carefully. "And you? What do you want?"
Raven exhaled. "Simple. I want the people I care about to be free."
The words lingered between them, heavier than the usual playful banter.
Ino, for the first time, realized something.
Raven wasn't just training her. She was inviting her into something bigger.
As they prepared to leave, Raven's expression shifted—serious, calculating.
"Ino."
Ino straightened, sensing the change in tone. "Yeah?"
Raven folded her arms. "The Chunin Exams aren't just a test. You need to be ready for anything."
Ino frowned. "You think something's coming?"
Raven nodded. "I don't just think. I know."
A chill ran down Ino's spine. "How bad?"
Raven's gaze darkened. "Let's just say… not everyone is walking out of this alive."
Ino's hands clenched into fists.
If that was the case… she needed to get even stronger.
And fast.
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