"Ninjutsu: Mind-Body Switch Technique"... "Ninjutsu: Mind-Body Disturbance Technique"... "Ninjutsu: Mind Reading, Mind Communication, Mind Disturbance Dance Technique"...
The Yamanaka Clan's foundation was entirely related to the mind. When it came to the study of the mind and soul, no one in all of Konoha could surpass them. Moreover, Sean remembered that although the "Mind-Body Switch Technique" was a broken-tier ability, its ninjutsu rank wasn't high, only C-Rank.
He should be able to afford it with his current "Reader Feedback Points."
He immediately asked the "Sage" mentally.
[As per Host's current needs, exchanging for 'Ninjutsu: Mind-Body Switch Technique' requires 200 "Reader Feedback Points."]
[200 Feedback Points have been deducted.]
[Loading Inoichi Yamanaka...]
A familiar white light entered his brow. Sean, who was standing next to Netero, appeared to be deep in thought, but his consciousness was already immersed, and in an instant, he had arrived in his mental space.
The swirling mist formed from his thoughts gradually condensed into the form of Inoichi Yamanaka.
Yellow hair, a red cloak, the standard Konoha Jōnin flak jacket, and a Konoha headband. As soon as Inoichi Yamanaka appeared, his hands rapidly formed seals, aiming to use the "Ninjutsu: Mind-Body Switch Technique" on Sean.
Unfortunately, while being on guard was good, invading someone else's "home" right in front of them... "Mr. Yamanaka, aren't you being a little too arrogant?"
Sean, hands in his pockets, lightly spat out a single word: "Freeze!"
Inoichi Yamanaka's body suddenly stiffened. Before his hand seals could even finish forming, he was frozen as if bound by chains, unable to move.
In Sean's mental space, Sean was king.
"It seems, boy, that you understand me better than I imagined." He was, after all, the chief of Konoha's Analysis Team. In terms of intellect, Inoichi Yamanaka was indeed no match for Shikaku, but compared to the Senju and Uchiha who only knew how to fight, Inoichi's ability to hold the second-in-command seat in Konoha's command center spoke to his intelligence-gathering abilities and vision. They were naturally not poor. Otherwise, he wouldn't have tried to seize control of the mental space one step ahead of Sean!
"Understand? I suppose so." Sean gave a noncommittal look at Inoichi. "On the contrary, Mr. Yamanaka, you gave me a big surprise the moment you arrived!"
"Trying to fight me for control of my mental space... You are truly the man I was looking for!"
"Besides my family's secret mind techniques, I can't think of any other reason you'd be looking for me." Inoichi's words were startling. Sean was certain he hadn't used the "Mind Reading Technique," but to be able to deduce his opponent's motive from just a few words...
"Clap, clap, clap" Sean clapped his hands in appreciation, his eyes shining as he looked at Inoichi. "There aren't many people in the entire world I admire. The Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, is one. You... count as half."
'?' Inoichi Yamanaka's heart jumped, and he couldn't help but narrow his eyes. "You know the Second Hokage?"
"I'd never forget our 'ramen appointment'." Sean nodded with a smile. If the Flying Thunder God technique wasn't so expensive, they might have already met.
"But the Second Hokage is dead!" Inoichi stated, word by word.
Sean gave him a playful look, his words full of meaning. "Do you believe that yourself? Don't tell me you don't know about the Impure World Reincarnation."
How long had it been since Orochimaru invaded Konoha and reincarnated the First and Second? As a Konoha Jōnin and the head of the intelligence system, if Inoichi didn't know about this, it would be the joke of the century!
Inoichi Yamanaka fell silent. Sean glanced at him, then ignored him, raising one finger as per his usual habit. "I believe you can see that I'm in a hurry, Mr. Yamanaka."
"One question for one question."
"You can ask yours now."
Inoichi's eyes darted, glancing at the world outside the mist. Netero was fishing in his Heart Lake, carefree, looking just like a senile old man. But the more Inoichi looked, the more frightened he became. He took a deep breath. "He's naturally imposing, and his Heart Lake is vast and clear, with occasional ripples. This old man's attainment in the spiritual realm... is very strong!"
"Well, he is the founder of Shingen-ryu, after all." Sean smiled at Inoichi. "Mr. Yamanaka, you're being too modest. Your clan is also extraordinary. The moment the Mind-Body Switch Technique is used, you can instantly strip an opponent of their body's control."
"I'm sure you understand... this is why I was looking for you."
'This mysterious boy...' Inoichi Yamanaka's gaze returned to Sean. He suppressed his voice and let out a low laugh. "It seems I have no choice."
Sean shrugged. "You can ask your question now."
"In that case... I want to know, is Madara Uchiha really still alive?"
The night of the Nine-Tails, Kushina Uzumaki's death, the Fourth Hokage's sacrifice... this had become an eternal pain in the hearts of this group of old Jōnin. Inoichi Yamanaka had never given up investigating the movements of that masked man.
"He's alive."
'As expected.' Inoichi was surprisingly calm, not at all as Sean expected. He tossed a scroll to Sean. "The scroll has the answer you want. Since you can control me at will, I assume materializing the thoughts in my head shouldn't be difficult."
It certainly wasn't difficult. "But that also requires Mr. Yamanaka's cooperation." Sean reached out and grabbed the scroll, then waved his hand. A wave of clouds rose, swallowing Inoichi.
To let a 'mind master' roam free in his mental space... even if Sean was absolutely confident that Inoichi couldn't seize an opportunity, if the risk could be reduced to zero, that was naturally for the best.
Inoichi's figure shattered like a lens.
Before he disappeared, he took one last look at Sean. The boy had casually opened the scroll. He was like a small blade of grass that had survived the harsh winter, shaking off the snow and absorbing the morning dew in the dawn light. His eyes grew brighter and brighter, as if he had come to a realization.
"Forcibly opening a heart-path... so that's how it works."
"I don't need to exhaust myself externally, trying to empathize with and deliberately curry favor with others."
"Nor do I need to exhaust myself internally, constantly doubting myself, wondering if I did something wrong."
"All I need to do is use 'myself' as the starting point, pave my *own* heart-path, undisturbed by the wind, rain, thunder, and lightning of the outside world, and unburdened by the judgments and gossip of others."
"Completely follow my own heart, construct *my* world, and forcibly bring others' hearts under *my* will."
"Force them to act according to *my* heart."
In other words... "This is the Konoha version of 'I would rather betray the world than let the world betray me'!"
With this single thought, everything became clear. Sean crushed the scroll in his hand and couldn't help but sigh with emotion. "It's just too tyrannical!"
"This isn't an 'idealist' anymore, this is a 'solipsist'!"
No wonder the Yamanaka Clan became Konoha's hereditary intelligence officers. With this kind of iron will, it would be a complete waste of talent for him *not* to be a spy.
The sea of clouds surged, following the ups and downs of Sean's emotions, faintly gathering into a storm. The boy waved his hand downward and said softly, "Silence!"
His consciousness returned. He opened his eyes.
At the same time—
Hearing Sean's audacious answer of "one day," Netero burst out laughing, finding the boy's arrogance comical.
He turned his head and looked at Sean playfully. "In that case, this old man doesn't mind waiting here one extra day."
'Young and reckless.' Netero suddenly understood why that old bastard Maha tried to suppress Sean in every way possible.
'Too rigid, and he'll break. A blade too sharp will be worn down. If this brat isn't suppressed, his nose will be in the air, and he'll probably poke a hole in the sky!'
Sean turned his head and looked at Netero, smiling.
"I think the Chairman is also in a hurry to catch his airship. Since time is tight, let's not wait a day. Let's just do it right now."
'?!' Netero raised an eyebrow. "Sean, this old man doesn't think this is a laughing matter."
"I also think..." Sean winked at Netero, then suddenly raised his foot and stomped down hard. "Come out, Heart Lake! Don't make me say it a second time."
"Gurgle" A spring's eye appeared out of thin air from under Sean's foot. Then, a surging torrent of spring water erupted, splashing... The water splashed up, heading straight for Netero. Fortunately, Sean was prepared and yanked him back, saving him from being drenched.
"Hah!" 'The brat actually did it!'
The great Chairman stood next to Sean, putting on a calm expression. But the old hands, clasped behind his back, were trembling uncontrollably, almost giving him away!
His eyes went wide as he looked down. The place where the spring water spread... was all lake! It was, without a doubt, a Heart Lake!
"Tsk. It's just a bit small," Sean said, retracting his foot. Compared to Netero's Heart Lake, Sean was very dissatisfied.
Netero's mouth twitched. He almost lost his composure and cussed out loud. 'You brat, you materialized a Heart Lake in less than a day! What do you mean, 'size'?'
'You should know, it took *this old man* nearly two years back then to materialize a Heart Lake the size of his palm, okay?!'
The great Chairman couldn't hold it together. He stroked his beard, his voice stiff. "Being able to materialize it at all is already very good. You can slowly expand it in the future."
"Sigh, I guess that's the only way." Sean sighed helplessly. "This kid is just too stupid. If I had half of your intelligence, old man, I might have even materialized the fishing rod by now."
"Ho ho..." Netero yanked them both out of [Heartdrop: Kencho]!
He couldn't listen anymore.
'That bastard Maha... look at your grandson! Isn't he just humiliating people?'
'Materialize a fishing rod? Why don't you just materialize a grandson for this old man?!'
'My standards aren't high, just having half your intelligence would be fine!'
"Bzzz" His mind full of roasts he couldn't unleash, his consciousness returned. Netero immediately turned and left.
"Eh? Hey! Chairman, wait for me! I haven't gotten Mr. Ben An's autograph yet!"
"Autograph my ass! Can't you see the airship is here?" Netero cursed without looking back. He turned into the tunnel and disappeared.
Beans stomped his little foot, turned to Sean, and bowed. "Next time... Mr. Ben An, please, you must give me an autograph next time."
With that, he abandoned the fried chicken and fries, clutched his briefcase, and chased after Netero, looking back reluctantly.
Tsubone glanced at Netero's disappearing figure and asked curiously, "The airship is at 10:30, and it's only ten o'clock. There's no need to be in such a hurry, is there?"
Sean gave a playful smile, revealing a set of white teeth. "Who knows?"