Little Mustache still tried to salvage the situation: "Actually, other Ninjutsu are also good. Did you not hear clearly? Should I say it again?"
Ino weakly waved her hand: "Second Mizukage-sama, I have sustained very serious injuries trying to defeat the three outstanding Ninja of your Hidden Mist Village. Please teach me Steam Impurities Explosion quickly, and I will go out to treat my injuries immediately."
Little Mustache was helpless and could only agree.
Steam Impurities Explosion is not only an S-rank Secret Technique Ninjutsu that is extremely difficult to learn, but also a composite Ninjutsu that the Second Mizukage integrated with the essence of his many Water Release, Secret Technique, and Genjutsu.
Water Sphere Jutsu, Oil Transformation, family Secret Technique, Genjutsu—Steam Impurities Explosion involves a part of all of them to varying degrees.
If she could only choose one, she would naturally choose this one.
Why couldn't Asuma reach Kage-level? It was because he lacked a powerful Ninjutsu to deliver the decisive blow, or rather, he couldn't learn it.
Even without the Sharingan, Kakashi was Kage-level because he had the S-rank Chidori.
Not to mention Might Guy and others.
Ino's current abilities were relatively complete, but she still lacked a trump card, and Steam Impurities Explosion was just right.
Little Mustache was ultimately just the Chakra residue of the main body; he had no Ninjutsu scroll to give Ino, so he could only recite it.
He only taught for half an hour. During this half an hour, he thoroughly explained the hand seals for Steam Impurities Explosion, the trajectory of Chakra manipulation, and the many precautions when practicing this Jutsu.
His remaining Chakra was extremely limited; he wouldn't demonstrate. How much she learned was her own business.
Even with Ino's current 9 points in "Nin" and 8 points in "Gen," and her Lv3 Water Release, suddenly encountering such a difficult Ninjutsu still made her dizzy.
This Jutsu was extremely complex and truly couldn't be learned in a day or two. It involved Water Transformation Secret Technique, Water Release: Oil Transformation, and a large amount of knowledge on Chakra nature transformation and shape transformation. She wanted to write it down, but she was too weak, so she could only memorize it, remembering every word Little Mustache said, and then carefully ponder it after she got out.
Half an hour later, Ino passed through a smoke-shrouded door and returned to reality.
She appeared simultaneously with Haku and Chōjūrō, both covered in blood. Afterwards, the labyrinth also "spit out" Chōjūrō's Hiramekarei and Haku's samurai sword.
Ino gained a new understanding of Little Mustache and Zhe's Genjutsu. This Genjutsu even affected the time inside? Amazing! Unfortunately, in a world with the Sharingan, Genjutsu was truly too powerless.
Gonbei put away the activated gem. The originally dazzling gem had dimmed considerably, and many tiny cracks could vaguely be seen. This Hidden Mist Village high-ranking official was very distressed.
The expressions of those who emerged varied.
Ino, Chōjūrō, and Haku all looked like blood-soaked figures, clearly having endured a bitter battle.
Chōjūrō and Haku supported themselves with their weapons, barely standing, while Ino leaned against the rock wall, regulating her breathing. She felt so tired she was about to faint.
Sasuke's face was gloomy, suggesting he hadn't encountered anything pleasant within the Genjutsu.
Shikamaru's spirits were unusually high, and there were still indentations on his face; this guy had clearly gone to sleep.
Naruto and Choji were both patting their stomachs, and every burp smelled of ramen.
Sakura? Ino looked over and found Sakura's expression a bit dazed. She seemed to have been carrying something in her hand earlier, but after leaving the labyrinth, those things had vanished into thin air.
Ino's expression was strange. Good heavens, you went shopping, didn't you?
So, only I got covered in injuries fighting for Konoha's honor, while you guys were all here on vacation?
Sakura felt a purple figure standing to her right, frowned tightly, and instinctively turned her head: "Ino, are you... Oh! Why are you so badly injured?! Heavens, who hurt you?"
She was startled by Ino's injuries, and nervously took her hand. It was then that she saw the huge wound on Ino's palm, which Haku's samurai sword had pierced through.
The wound was already bandaged, but it was still bleeding internally. Just the act of holding hands caused Ino's blood to stain Sakura's hands red.
Sakura was flustered, unsure what to do, and instinctively called out to Kakashi.
After leaving the Genjutsu, the gloom on Sasuke's face subsided. He assessed Ino's injuries and asked: "Did you encounter people from Hidden Mist Village in the labyrinth?"
Ino rolled her eyes: "...That's a pointless question. It's not like you were the one who injured them, right?"
"You fought three of them alone?"
"They three fought me alone! I am the victim."
Kakashi and Asuma, who were reading a dirty book in the distance, heard Sakura's call and rushed over. Kakashi roughly examined Ino's wounds and said: "Don't worry, there's a Medical Ninja among Homura-sama's guards. I'll call him over to treat you."
Before long, Homura Mitokado's Jonin guard arrived. This Jonin knew Medical Ninjutsu and immediately began treating Ino without a word. She was covered in injuries; the only reason she hadn't collapsed was because her attention had been fixated on Steam Impurities Explosion. Now, she was on the verge of fainting.
The Medical Ninja of Hidden Mist Village also rushed over to treat Chōjūrō and Haku.
The two brave men were clearly unable to hold on. Ranmaru tried to support Haku but failed, and the two almost fell together.
The Medical Ninja's Ninjutsu could stimulate the growth of wound cells, but it actually consumed physical energy. The two of them took the opportunity to lie down on stretchers, their eyelids drooping, suffering from excessive blood loss, and their bodies were truly too exhausted.
Ino also lay dizzily on a stretcher, being treated by the Konoha Jonin.
Just before losing consciousness, Ino grabbed Kakashi's hand and sincerely said: "Kakashi-sensei, thank you for your guidance. Thanks to your guidance this time, I was able to defeat those three in the labyrinth."
My guidance? What did I guide? Kakashi was completely confused.
He felt that Ino was disoriented due to her severe injuries, so she attributed Asuma's usual guidance to him. It was clearly not the right time to explain, nor was there a need to explain.
He scratched his head and mumbled, accepting the blame.
Ino, in her final moments before losing consciousness, glanced at the Hidden Mist Ninja not far away, then looked at her own panel.
Heh heh, just that one sentence gave her two more points of blame. How petty were those people from Hidden Mist Village?! Fortunately, she shifted the blame in time, otherwise wouldn't all that resentment have concentrated on her?
Shifting it to Asuma would have worked too, but she was worried Asuma's small frame couldn't handle it. Kakashi was just right...
Her vision grew darker and darker. Sakura, for some reason, kept calling out beside her, telling her not to sleep, asking her to talk to her. Ino waved her hand, indicating she was fine, then her vision went black, and she completely fainted.
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