Training Ino

A/N: We've reached our goal, so you guys will get a double release next Monday. New target is to get the story to 500 powerstones by Sunday for a Triple Release next Monday. This story will only continue if it gets enough support e.g. Powerstones. New goal 500 powerstones!

It was the morning of Ino's training day. Goro sat in his room, testing the new Jutsu he had acquired.

'These Ice Jutsu are interesting, especially Ice Mirrors, but I can't shake the feeling that the kekkei genkai isn't being used to its full potential. There's so much more that can be done with it.'

Goro looked at his reflection in the Ice Mirror in front of him. Tapping his finger on the mirror, he drifted back into thought.

'They're sturdy, but they'd be useless at a high level. Is there no way to get a multiplication on Ice Affinity? It's not efficient to try and do the impossible task of finding another person with Ice Affinity. And even if I did find them, there'd be no way to tell…'

[Kekkei Genkai works differently from other elements. Ice is made up of both Water and Wind elements. To get a x2 multiplier, you'd need both Water and Wind at x2. Currently, you only have Water at x4, and Wind doesn't have a multiplier.]

'I always intended to do this, but I need to keep visiting the cemetery until all my affinities are maxed out. What's the max, System?'

[Finding current max… Found! Max: x5]

'Current max? Hm… I'm close to attaining that for the Water element. System, what about the techniques you stored from the scroll? Am I now able to use them?'

[You are able to use Bringer of Darkness Genjutsu.]

'Not Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu, Reaper Death Seal, or Reanimation Jutsu?'

[Reaper Death Seal requires a higher understanding of fuinjutsu, and the other mentioned Jutsu require more Chakra to be performed.]

'System, I'll still be able to perform them, right? They just won't be perfect?'

[Skills will not be unlocked unless the user has the necessary stats.]

Frustrated, Goro crossed his arms and started mumbling, "I can't currently use the Bringer of Darkness Genjutsu either, unless I have a target…"

As he sat mumbling to himself, a bright thought popped into Goro's mind, making him grin.

'System, my Jutsu don't have a casting time since no hand signs are involved. Does that mean I can simultaneously use Jutsu?'

[No. You can only use one Jutsu at a time. However, there is an alternative. Would you like to hear it?]

'Alternative? Go ahead, tell me.'

[You can create Jutsu using me, but it will take one week for the Jutsu to be completed. Even after the Jutsu is complete, there will be a two-week cooldown.]

'That's even better than what I originally asked for. Also, isn't it supposed to be incredibly tough to create Jutsu?'

[Yes, however, you are doing it through me, so you won't have to go through the tedious trial and error. All that matters is your Chakra Control stat, which includes Nature transformation and Shape transformation.]

Goro stood up and began pacing around his room, chewing on the nail of his thumb.

'Jutsu… Which Jutsu should I make?'

Pausing in his tracks, Goro looked out the window toward the Hokage Monument, and one face in particular stood out—the Fourth Hokage.

'The Fourth failed to perfect the Rasengan because he couldn't add a nature to the Jutsu. But what if I add Ice nature to the Rasengan? It's possible I could freeze the outside with a thin layer of ice, just enough to slow the rotation, and the ice would help maintain its form. This way, I can store the Jutsu in a scroll to use as a projectile, or use it for close combat.'

[Confirming Jutsu… Frozen Rasengan. Estimated wait time: 1 week.]

'It's really that easy, huh? Now that I've got everything sorted, it's about time I meet up with Ino.'

At the training ground, Ino was leaning against a tree. Noticing Goro approaching, she stood up straight and met him in the middle.

"On time as usual," Ino said in a delighted tone.

Shrugging, Goro replied, "Etiquette is only natural. Are you ready to start?" Having been a professional fighter, Goro had learned to maintain a structured life. Turning up late to press conferences and fights was frowned upon and could often ruin your reputation, so he became well-organized.

'System, what is this training mode you mentioned? Can you switch into that mode?'

[Changing into Training Mode…]

The blue system began to change color, glowing bright white before taking on a red hue. As the bright white faded, the system remained a deep red.

[Training Mode On. Select Student.]

'Ino.'

[Ino selected.]

"Goro? Why do you always go blank?" Ino asked, shaking him.

Goro gently pushed her hands off and sat on the grass, cross-legged, staring intently at the system.

[Ino's Stats:

Taijutsu: Genin (29%)

Physical: Lower Genin (20%) 

Ninjutsu: Genin (62%)

Chakra Capacity: Genin (19%)

Chakra Control: Upper Genin (12%)

Shurikenjutsu: Genin (72%)

Battle IQ: Genin (56%)

Chakra Affinity: Earth

Skills: Mind Transfer Jutsu (54%)] 

'Her stats aren't terrible... She's at the level of a regular Genin. The only reason she feels inadequate is because she's surrounded by a bunch of monsters.'

[Which stats would you like to train?]

'What does that mean? I thought Training Mode only gave me the ability to see the student's stats…'

[False, it also gives the user the ability to teach effectively.]

'I'm still not sure what the System means, but I'll move on. The training will be 3 hours long, so I need to allocate the time properly. What Ino needs most is better Taijutsu. That way, she'll be able to beat Sakura in their one-on-one match during the Chunin Exams. Her Ninjutsu also needs improvement, so that her Mind Transfer Jutsu is harder to escape. And, of course, her physical abilities need work. I'll allocate 1 hour to physical training, another hour to Taijutsu, and the last hour to Ninjutsu.'

Looking up at Ino, who was starting to get impatient, Goro explained, "The training session will be 3 hours long. If you want to improve as quickly as possible, we can't do less time."

"But—" Ino began to complain, but the system swiftly interrupted.

[Starting training… Training Begun]

With those last words from the System, Goro's consciousness faded, and the System assumed control.

In what felt like a blink to Goro, the 3 hours had passed. Ino lay slumped on the ground, her body soaked with sweat.

[Training complete!]

'What's going on? System, what are you talking about?'

[Student Ino's training has been completed.]

'Completed? But I don't even remember it.'

[User loses consciousness when teaching in Training Mode.]

Crouching beside Ino, who was gasping for air, Goro asked, "Are you alright?"

Shading her eyes as she looked up at Goro, Ino replied, "I haven't felt this good in a long time. I've never worked this hard in my life," she said, still out of breath.

[Ino's New Stats:

Taijutsu: Genin (59%)^

Physical: Lower Genin (50%)^

Ninjutsu: Genin (92%)^

Chakra Capacity: Genin (23%)^

Chakra Control: Upper Genin (12%)

Shurikenjutsu: Genin (72%)

Battle IQ: Genin (56%)

Chakra Affinity: Earth

Skills: Mind Transfer Jutsu (74%)^] 

'These improvements are insane... System, even some of the stats I never trained have improved.'

[These are passive improvements. A better physique can lead to increased Chakra Capacity. And Ninjutsu was trained through the use of the Mind Transfer Jutsu, so it is only natural.]

'This kind of growth would normally take at least a few months!'

[The larger the difference in stats between the Student and Teacher, the faster the student's growth.]

'Even so… That's a bit…'

[Reward: 5 free slots and Teaching Proficiency increased by 10%.]

"Goro, I'd like to do this again, but twice a week instead. Once on Tuesday and again on Saturday. That should give me enough time to rest. Th–that's if you agree, of course," Ino requested, blushing from her eagerness.

Scratching his neck and pretending to consider the request, Goro said, "Hm… I could…"

"Please…?" Ino added, her voice soft.

Sighing, Goro finally answered, "Fine."

'This works out for me. I need the increased teaching slots and proficiency anyway. With high proficiency and multiple slots, I could raise my own militia of trained ninja… More people by my side means more power. System, is it possible to train multiple people at once?'

[This is possible, but training would become less effective.]

'Hmm… If I increase my teaching proficiency and my own rank, I can offset that disadvantage. There's still hope. The timeskip will be a great opportunity for me to build a squad of subordinates outside the Leaf.'

In joy, Ino sprang up to a seated position but quickly lay back down, feeling the pain from her sore muscles.

"Take it easy. I'll carry you," Goro said.

'This is starting to become a trend…'

Goro lifted Ino onto his back, her chest pressing against him. Ino used what little strength she had left to wrap her arms around Goro's neck. From the close contact, Ino noticed something that made her blush. "He's extremely well-built," she mused, pressing her forehead against his back in an attempt to hide her face.

"Everything okay?" Goro asked, concerned by her constant shifting.

'Is she uncomfortable or something?'

"Everything's fine…" Ino muttered.

Reminder: We've reached our goal, so you guys will get a double release next Monday. New target is to get the story to 500 powerstones by Sunday for a Triple Release next Monday. This story will only continue if it gets enough support e.g. Powerstones. New goal 500 powerstones!