Chapter 89: Students Aren’t Allowed

At the small wooden house, Shinho glanced at the tall bars and horizontal poles outside. Without Sasuke and Naruto around, the place felt rather desolate.

He chuckled softly and turned his gaze toward a small grove of trees not far away. Amidst the green foliage, a flash of golden hair stood out.

Ino Yamanaka, startled by being noticed, seemed flustered. But since her attempt at tracking had already been exposed, there was no point in hiding any longer.

She stepped out from behind the tree trunk.

"Since when did you develop a hobby for following people?" Shinho teased.

"I didn't!" Ino turned her head, her tone awkward and defensive.

"What did you need?" Shinho asked, looking at her fair face.

"I want to improve," Ino's gaze turned determined, her eyes reflecting her resolve. "I don't want to fall too far behind you, Shinho-kun."

Did something spark this drive? Shinho nodded slightly and turned to open the door.

He could use this opportunity to help Ino find her path for future development, which might even aid in solving the problem of the Caged Bird seal. Besides, helping her surpass her original limitations would be a nice bonus.

Among the Konoha Twelve, many faded into the background by the end, with less than a third retaining significance. Ino, unfortunately, was one of those who became more of a side character.

This couldn't be helped; clan techniques, though powerful, were often outshone by kekkei genkai (bloodline limits).

Ino followed Shinho into the small courtyard. As she looked at the garden filled with moon orchids, a look of admiration crossed her face. Although she had seen them several times before, their beauty never ceased to amaze her.

"As a member of the Yamanaka clan, you should focus on learning your family's secret techniques," Shinho said, giving her a glance.

Ino was taken aback. Honestly, she had considered it before. But the Yamanaka clan's jutsu were more suited for support, not combat.

To be useful in battle, she needed to work alongside the Akimichi and Nara clans to fully utilize her abilities. Compared to someone like Hinata, Ino felt woefully lacking in power.

"Are you feeling that your family's techniques lack strength?" Shinho could tell from her expression what she was thinking. It wasn't hard to guess, especially after today's sparring sessions—she clearly craved more battle prowess.

Ino nodded in acknowledgment.

If Yamanaka Inoichi were here, he would probably be both amused and exasperated. The secret techniques were meant for support, yet here was someone with a heart yearning for combat. Truly, a crime against tradition.

"Have you heard of Yin Release?" Shinho asked as he opened the fridge and poured her a glass of milk.

"Yin Release?" Ino repeated, confused. It was a term unfamiliar to her.

"Yin Release draws on spiritual energy as its source," Shinho explained. "It's the power of the mind. Your clan's secret techniques belong to this category."

Incidentally, soul-related jutsu, such as Spirit Transformation, also fall under Yin Release. Spirit Transformation, for example, allowed the user to separate their spirit from their body, turning mental power into a tangible form.

"I see," Ino murmured, sipping the milk. "You really know a lot, Shinho-kun."

"Yin Release's core lies in creation from nothing," Shinho pointed to his forehead. "In simple terms, it's about manifesting what you imagine into reality."

A certain name popped into Shinho's mind: Yakumo Kurama. She possessed a kekkei genkai related to genjutsu, capable of turning illusions into reality—an incredibly powerful ability.

"Can I really do that?" Ino's eyes sparkled with excitement as she looked at him.

The thought of turning her imagination into reality... didn't that mean she could easily handle Shinho-kun however she wanted? Her face turned slightly mischievous.

"Anything is possible," Shinho replied with a smile. "Though you can't do it right now, with enough training, you can reach that level."

In truth, it was difficult, almost impossible without a kekkei genkai like the Sharingan.

However, as someone who had read the original story and had access to many answers, Shinho knew it wasn't entirely out of reach. There were many things in the shinobi world that could enhance one's spiritual energy.

"Let's work hard together," Shinho said, extending his hand.

Ino blinked, her heart skipping a beat. She slowly placed her hand in his, feeling its warmth as he held hers. Her face instantly flushed red, but she inhaled deeply and said loudly, "I'll do my best!"

Such spirit.

Without thinking, Shinho gave her hand a light squeeze. Her small hand was soft to the touch.

If this were Hinata, she would have fainted by now. But Ino was bolder and more direct.

Realizing what he had done, Shinho let go of her hand, intending to pull back. But her grip remained firm on his.

Looks like the saying about women being like tigers isn't wrong after all. He hadn't expected to be the one getting caught off guard.

They stood there for a moment, Ino gripping his hand, before she finally loosened her hold under his watchful gaze. She nervously brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, her face glowing like a ripe apple.

"Well... I should go!" Ino suddenly exclaimed. "I'm going to find my dad and practice the clan's secret techniques!"

With that, her small legs took off in a hurry, quickly disappearing out of the courtyard.

Shinho watched her golden ponytail swaying as she ran, a smile forming on his lips.

After finishing his milk at a leisurely pace, Shinho headed into the woods outside the house.

After carefully selecting the largest tree, he decided to test the power boost granted by his Crocodile Strength Gu.

He clenched his fist and swung it with full force.

Boom!

A shockwave exploded outward from the impact, leaving a deep crater in the tree trunk.

Leaves scattered and fluttered to the ground, blanketing the earth.

Shinho felt that if he struck the tree one more time, it would snap in half.

If this punch were to land directly on a shinobi's body… well, the results would be devastating.

Shinho nodded in satisfaction. The strength brought by the second-tier Gu worms had elevated his power to the level of a Chunin.

Now, the next step was to train until he himself reached the level of a second-tier Gu Master.

At the Senju residence, Shinho entered the living room.

Tsunade was sprawled out on the couch, her expression one of utter defeat. She leaned back, her sleeveless top slightly pulled down by gravity, revealing a glimpse of the necklace between her ample bosom.

"Did you lose again?" Shinho bent down to pick up her discarded green coat from the floor.

"Brat!" Tsunade glared at him in annoyance. "What do you mean 'again'? I win sometimes, too!"

"You win?" Shinho raised an eyebrow skeptically.

Thinking back to the original story, he couldn't recall a single instance of her winning.

"Of course!" Tsunade sat up and grabbed his collar, grumbling, "Do you even know who I am? I'm Konoha's Gambling Queen!"

Taken by surprise, Shinho's hands landed on her thighs. The soft sensation caught him off guard.

He quickly regained his balance, but remained silent. Don't disgrace the word 'queen' like that, he thought but didn't dare say out loud, afraid of being crushed between her legs.

"Why are you back so early today?" Tsunade released his collar and casually caught her coat, tossing it back onto the couch.

"It was finals day," Shinho reminded her with a hint of exasperation. "Aren't you supposed to be my teacher?"

"As if it matters. You're always number one anyway," Tsunade coughed, clearly trying to brush it off.

"And what if I wasn't?" Shinho asked, raising an eyebrow.

"If you weren't?" Tsunade clenched her fist and said with a smirk, "Then you'd find out what a 'loving punch' feels like."

"Did you get first place back when you were at the academy?" Shinho glanced at her smooth, white fist, his curiosity piqued.

"Of course!" Tsunade replied, slightly evasive.

In reality, Orochimaru had been the top student.

"Really?" Shinho studied her expression suspiciously.

"Brat, stop asking so many questions!" Tsunade flicked him on the forehead with her finger. "When the teacher speaks, the student shouldn't talk back!"

"Even if the teacher's wrong?" Shinho rubbed his forehead and asked playfully.

Since when was there a rule in Konoha that said students couldn't argue with their teachers?

"Even then!" Tsunade puffed out her chest. "Because I'm the teacher."

Fine, you win just because you're bigger.

Shinho had no choice but to nod in agreement.

"That's more like it," Tsunade grinned triumphantly. A mere brat, could be easily toyed with in her hands.

"After the finals, we get a break, right?" Tsunade's amber eyes suddenly gleamed with excitement.

"You're planning to gamble again, aren't you?" Shinho anticipated her next move.

"What did we just discuss about talking back to your teacher?" Tsunade, caught red-handed, grabbed Shinho by the head.

She applied a bit of pressure, and a veritable avalanche followed. Shinho was buried beneath the weight of his own impending doom.

What a humiliation!

"Do you know what's most important for a ninja?" Tsunade scoffed, her grip still firm.

"What's that?" Shinho's voice was muffled as he spoke.

"Experience," Tsunade said with a smirk. "What you've learned in school is just surface. Out there in the real world, the dangers are beyond your imagination."

Indeed, very dangerous, Shinho thought, nodding as much as he could while still trapped.

"Since we have time, your teacher here will take you on some real training," Tsunade said, a sly smile crossing her face. "And speaking of training, shouldn't you pay some 'tuition'?"

Her breath brushed against Shinho's ear, sending a shiver down his spine. Ah, so that's your real goal, he realized. Some habits die hard, don't they?

"How much?" Shinho sighed, stepping back just enough to escape suffocation.

Tsunade studied his expression. As always, he was unnervingly calm. Just how much money does this kid have?

"One million ryō," she said, raising a single finger. "We'll be heading to the Land of Lightning this time."

"The Land of Lightning?" Shinho was curious. "Why there?"

"The Land of Lightning, with its Village Hidden in the Clouds, is quite infamous for its warrior culture. They're one of Konoha's fiercest rivals," Tsunade said seriously. "It's time you understood how cruel the real world is."

Shinho nodded. Cruelty, sure, but these past few years, the relationship between Konoha and the Hidden Cloud Village had been relatively peaceful. With Tsunade around, he wasn't particularly worried about being in danger.

"But you're still planning to gamble, right?" Shinho tilted his head.

"Don't start acting like your sister, Shizune," Tsunade gave him a stern look. "Always meddling in others shit—it'll only hold you back."

I've heard this somewhere before, Shinho thought, his gaze shifting to Tsunade's bare feet resting on the carpet.

"What are you looking at, brat?" Tsunade raised an eyebrow.

"Your nail polish is chipped, Sensei," Shinho said quickly, thinking on his feet.

Tsunade glanced down, though her view was partially blocked by the curve of her chest. She lifted her right foot to check. "You're right. Go grab the nail polish from my room, It's on the dressing table."

Shinho quickly retrieved the nail polish and returned. Tsunade had already reclined on the couch again, presenting her foot to him.

"Here's your chance to prove yourself," Tsunade teased.

Shinho unscrewed the bottle. Since she was lying down, her toes were pointed upward, making it difficult to apply the polish. He gently grasped her big toe, tilted it downwards, and began painting.

Soon, all ten toes were freshly polished.

"Not bad," Tsunade glanced at her nails with a satisfied nod.

"I'm going to practice," Shinho said, capping the bottle.

"Go on," Tsunade waved him off, sprawling lazily across the couch, her outfit barely holding together under the strain.

Shinho headed to the kitchen and grabbed a familiar tool: a small fruit knife. His trusty fish, the carp, was waiting.

Why the kitchen? Because Tsunade still had her hemophobia. So he knocked out the carp and laid it on the cutting board.

Instead of starting right away, he summoned Katsuyu, the giant slug.

"Good afternoon, Shinho-sama," Katsuyu's gentle and soothing voice greeted him.

"Good afternoon," Shinho responded casually. "Anything interesting happening in Shikkotsu Forest?"

"Nothing much," Katsuyu replied softly. "Shikkotsu Forest has remained unchanged for a thousand years."

"That so." Shinho made a small incision on the carp.

"Shall we continue the story from last time?" Katsuyu eagerly asked.

"Sure," Shinho nodded. "But in return, you'll tell me more about Tsunade's past."

This was an idea he had come up with recently. Since Tsunade refused to talk about her hemophobia, he figured he could learn more through Katsuyu.

"Deal," Katsuyu readily agreed to sell out Tsunade.

"Last time, I was telling you about Sun Wukong's third battle with the White Bone Demon..." Shinho recalled the classic Journey to the West story from memory, a tale embedded deep in his DNA from countless replays.

Katsuyu was the perfect listener, having spent millennia secluded in Shikkotsu Forest. Aside from a few contractors, it had almost no one to talk to, making it remarkably patient.

As for demons that could shapeshift, Katsuyu wasn't unfamiliar with such things. After all, Ryūchi Cave had the three snake princesses who could take human form.

…

"I'm back." Uchiha Itachi opened the door and called out.

"Brother!" Sasuke appeared immediately before him.

A rare smile crossed Itachi's face. For a brief moment, the weight of the tensions between the Uchiha clan and Konoha's higher-ups lifted from his shoulders, and he looked less slumped.

"How were your final exam results?" Itachi patted Sasuke on the head.

"I got second place overall," Sasuke's earlier enthusiasm vanished.

"Was Shinho Aburame first?" Itachi asked after thinking for a moment.

"Yeah, it was him," Sasuke admitted.

"Impressive, to beat you repeatedly," Itachi mused, his interest was now thoroughly piqued.

Over the past month, he had noticed Sasuke's determination and hard work, including learning two Lightning Style jutsu. Given the element of surprise, Sasuke might even be able to defeat an ordinary Chūnin.

"Brother! I want a teacher," Sasuke added, though he left out the part about losing to Naruto in the sparring match.

"A teacher?" Itachi felt a pang of guilt. "I'm sorry, Sasuke. I can't be there for you."

"Not you, Kakashi Hatake," Sasuke clarified, shaking his head.

"How do you know about him?" Itachi's expression grew sharp.

Kakashi was a rather unique figure among the Uchiha. He was the only non-Uchiha to possess a Sharingan, a relic of Obito Uchiha. After the death of the Fourth Hokage, some in the clan had even suggested retrieving the Sharingan from him—it was, after all, a three-tomoe eye.

Could someone be manipulating Sasuke? Itachi's eyes briefly darkened with suspicion.

"It was Shinho who told me about him," Sasuke said, confused by Itachi's reaction. "Is there something wrong?"

"It's nothing," Itachi relaxed slightly. Given that Shinho was Tsunade's apprentice, it wasn't surprising that he would know about Kakashi.

Come to think of it, Kakashi would make an excellent teacher for Sasuke.

"I'll discuss it with Father," Itachi said after a moment of consideration.

Kakashi was directly connected to the Hokage and represented a significant political relationship. Although Father hadn't openly expressed his stance, the growing number of 'hawks' within the Uchiha clan had certainly influenced him over the past two years.

With the situation so tense, Itachi had to assume the worst. If Father truly intended to move against the village, then he might have to rely on Shisui's special jutsu.

"Okay," Sasuke nodded, brimming with anticipation.

Watching his innocent brother, Itachi silently swore in his mind to protect him at all costs.

He then headed to his father's room.

"Sasuke wants to study under Kakashi," Itachi said directly.

Fugaku frowned slightly but then fell into thought.

He had been inclined to refuse, but on further consideration, this might not be a bad idea. The Uchiha were under constant surveillance, and the tension within the clan needed to ease.

Forging closer ties with the Hokage's faction could help achieve that goal.

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