The next day, Ge Liang still woke up early and opened the door as usual, hoping for customers, but he waited until noon without a single one, not even someone coming to inquire. It was clear just how desolate this alley was.
Ino coming here yesterday was an absolute stroke of luck for Ge Liang. Fortunately, Ge Liang seized this opportunity, otherwise, he wouldn't know when his first customer would arrive.
"Speaking of Ino, what is that girl doing right now?"... Ino wasn't doing anything special; she was, of course, studying at the Ninja Academy.
Soon, this year's students would graduate. At this time every year, the school teachers would try every possible method to enhance the students' combat experience. Sure enough, today Iruka arranged a practical combat lesson.
On the training ground, a group of twelve-year-old kids formed a circle, watching the duel between two classmates in the center. "Clang!" With a soft sound, a young boy was knocked to the ground.
Iruka, acting as the referee, immediately stepped forward to check, then announced the winner. "Kishimoto Masashi wins." "Both parties, form the Seal of Reconciliation."
The two who had just been fighting immediately formed the hand seal and left the field. "Next match." "Ino Yamanaka VS Sakura Haruno."
In the crowd, Ino Yamanaka and Sakura Haruno exchanged glances before immediately entering the dueling circle.
"Wide Forehead, I didn't expect it to be us again today. I'm warning you again, Sasuke-kun is mine, so just surrender obediently." ┐(￣ー￣)┌
"Ino Pig, stop dreaming! Sasuke-kun is mine!" (╬￣dish￣) "Wide Forehead!" (╬◣д◢) "Ino Pig!" o(▼dish▼メ;)o
The two didn't immediately attack; instead, they unexpectedly chose to argue, a situation that immediately infuriated Iruka.
He roared, "Ino! Sakura! Start quickly, or neither of you will graduate!" Iruka's shout startled both of them, and they quickly bowed and apologized to Iruka.
"We're sorry, Iruka Sensei!" (ಥ_ಥ) Seeing Iruka's expression soften slightly, the two began their duel. "Ino Pig, take this!"
Sakura held a wooden Kunai and launched the first attack. Ino quickly dodged. Seeing Ino evade, Sakura didn't feel discouraged but immediately started a fierce assault on Ino.
Ostensibly, Ino was naturally slightly stronger, as her Family was a Konoha noble clan, possessing the Family Secret Technique: Mind Transfer Technique.
However, Sakura possessed an Inner Personality. In the original work, during the Chunin Exams, when Ino used the Mind Transfer Technique on Sakura, she was immediately blasted out by Sakura's Inner Personality. Therefore, the Mind Transfer Technique was completely useless against Sakura.
Aside from the Secret Technique, Ino's Taijutsu was only marginally better than Sakura's. She had fought Sakura just two days ago, and only after a bitter struggle did she manage to win the duel.
But for some reason today, in Ino's eyes, Sakura's attacks were filled with flaws. "What's going on? Why are there so many weaknesses in Sakura's moves?"
"This Kunai thrust is utterly weak and soft. As long as I duck my head and stab my right hand straight under Sakura's armpit, her offense will instantly be broken." "And this move too..." "And this move too..."
Ino was very confused. She didn't know what had happened. How could Sakura, who usually fought her to a standstill, suddenly show so many weaknesses today? "Could it be...?"
Ino wasn't stupid. Only a few days had passed, and she hadn't deliberately trained her Taijutsu. How could she suddenly spot so many flaws in Sakura's moves? The reason must be yesterday's game.
Thinking of the game, Ino decided to verify her idea. She executed a sweeping kick, forcing Sakura back, then jumped several times, leaving her spot and moving to the outermost edge of the dueling circle.
"Shikamaru, go pick up a tree branch for me." "I'm not going, that's such a drag."
Anyone who has watched the anime knows that Shikamaru absolutely hates trouble. If he can lie down, he will never sit up; he is an extremely lazy person.
But when it comes to matters of great importance, he will cast aside his aversion to trouble and become a very reliable person. However, since Ino was inexplicably asking him to pick up a stick, he couldn't be bothered to move for such a trivial matter.
"Please, Shikamaru, this is very important to me." Ino knew what Shikamaru was like, so she repeated her request very seriously. "If that's the case, then fine."
"Thanks, Shikamaru. Preferably find me a relatively straight branch." "I know, stop nagging."
Seeing Ino's seriousness, Shikamaru had no choice. While complaining about how troublesome it was, he started walking toward the edge of the training ground. "Ino, what are you trying to do?"
Iruka had heard Ino and Shikamaru's conversation clearly. Picking up a stick? What kind of move was that? "It's nothing, Iruka Sensei. I'm just having Shikamaru find me a weapon." "A weapon?"
Iruka's mouth twitched. Using a stick as a weapon? I think you must be joking. With the hardness of a stick, can it really be used as a weapon? It would probably break the moment it touched Sakura's wooden Kunai.
"Don't worry, Iruka Sensei, I just want to try a small experiment." "Alright, just don't take it too far."
In his opinion, without using Secret Techniques, Ino and Sakura were evenly matched. Now, giving up the wooden Kunai and instead using a stick as a weapon was practically 'courting death'.
"Hmph, Ino Pig, I won't hold back!" Sakura felt insulted. Who uses a stick as a weapon during a duel?
Despite her words, she didn't take the opportunity to continue attacking. Instead, she stayed put, patiently waiting for Shikamaru to return.
There were several large trees in the corner of the training ground. Since he didn't know how long a branch Ino needed, Shikamaru not only picked up a few on the ground but also climbed a tree and broke off a few more. "Here, pick one yourself."
Looking at the dozen or so branches, Ino chose the one she thought was most suitable, thanked him again, and then turned to Sakura. "Let's continue, Wide Forehead." (*^▽^*)
"Prepare to die, Ino Pig!" (╬￣dish￣)=○ After saying this, she dashed toward Ino.
Because of her appearance, Sakura hated being called Wide Forehead the most, and Ino was also her love rival. Combining these factors, Sakura wished she could knock Ino to the ground and spank her hard, making her realize what words should never be said.
"Now it's time to verify my idea." Holding the stick and watching the charging Sakura, Ino wasn't flustered. Instead, the corner of her mouth curled up, and she silently chanted: "Songfeng Sword Technique: Pine Waves Like Thunder."
The characteristic of the Songfeng Sword Technique is that it is as powerful as a pine tree and as swift as the wind. Although its changes are unpredictable, it moves straight forward and never retreats.
An inch longer is an inch stronger. The length of the stick was certainly greater than the Kunai. Faced with Ino's sudden attack, Sakura was startled and quickly changed her mind, deciding not to clash directly with Ino. As Sakura changed her move, Ino also changed hers.
Ino's body continuously swayed, and the stick in her hand moved straight and true. The attack speed was extremely fast, full of force, and incredibly fierce.
Faced with such a fierce offensive, Sakura was completely unable to resist, having been struck countless times all over her body by Ino. Iruka, witnessing this, immediately stopped the duel. "Stop."
Anyone with eyes could see that Sakura had absolutely no room for counterattack and was just passively taking hits. It was fortunate that Ino was holding a stick; if it had been a sword... "I never expected the Yamanaka Family to possess such a formidable sword technique." "Hehe, thank you for the compliment, Iruka Sensei."