Ino pretty much knew everything taught in class. Since Shikamaru and Choji weren't around, Ino didn't bother with anyone else. She sat at her desk, took out a scroll, and started studying.
The Mind Body Switch Technique and Mind Body Disturbance Technique were Secret Techniques of the family, so she couldn't bring them to school to look at. The family's historical notes were even more precious; any damage or loss would be a huge blow.
The Mind Body Switch Technique and Mind Body Disturbance Technique had already been mastered. Next, she needed to train her mental energy, accumulating it to an extremely vast degree before she could even consider the Mind Disturbance Technique.
Ino had asked Inoichi how high her mental energy needed to be to qualify, to allow her to find a god to be her good friend. The answer was ten times her current mental energy, at least ten times. If that god was stronger, it might require even more.
Ino felt a bit down.
This wasn't a world of cultivation or Western fantasy; there was a lack of skills to enhance mental energy. Relying on existing methods, the increase in mental energy was very small. She could only rely on the Yamanaka Clan's ancestral medicines, drinking them in various ways to gradually increase her mental energy.
Due to drug resistance, there was an upper limit to the improvement from the medicines.
Compared to the previous generations of the Yamanaka Clan, Ino's stat allocation panel was a huge advantage. Her Yin Release ability could still be improved, and each time it improved, she would gain a large amount of mental energy.
Besides cheating, the most effective way to improve was to do as recorded in the Secret Techniques of the Uchiha Clan and Yamanaka Clan: first find a good friend, invest the most sincere emotions, and when those emotions reached their peak, personally kill that good friend! The immense shock could also rapidly increase mental energy.
This was too evil for Ino. Her choice was still to allocate points until she couldn't anymore.
In class, Ino diligently read about the development techniques of Water Release Chakra nature transformation by her family's predecessors.
In fact, Chakra shape transformation was also a direction for Ninjutsu enhancement.
Nature transformation was like smelting iron ore into iron, and at a higher level, it could become steel.
Shape transformation, on the other hand, was turning iron into an iron rod, and at a higher level, it could become a sharp steel blade.
Which was more important? Both were important, actually.
Utakata's Bubble Ninjutsu was water that could explode, and Kotetsu Hagane's good friend Izumo Kamizuki's Water Release: Starch Syrup Capturing Field spewed out something more like glue. These two were actually both Chakra shape transformations.
Ino now needed to first develop her Water Release Chakra and use Water Release, and only then would she research shape transformation.
Naruto, using the cheat of Multiple Shadow Clone, struggled desperately to develop his own Wind Release Chakra.
Sasuke, naturally endowed with Fire Release and Lightning Release, trained hard with Kakashi for a month to learn Chidori, which involved both nature and shape transformation.
Ino's current Water Release also needed practice and development. Without practice, it would be a blank slate; even being born with five elements wouldn't help.
Actually, she wanted to learn the Shadow Clone Technique even more now. The experience, insights, and understanding gained by each Shadow Clone would return to the main body upon dispelling the jutsu. This accumulated experience doubled learning efficiency; this Ninjutsu was truly too buggy.
The Yamanaka Clan had always been responsible for extracting important intelligence from enemy brains.
During their work, it was perfectly reasonable to look through intelligence-related content, then, while they were at it, check out the Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and Genjutsu that the opponent specialized in, record them, and so on.
Konoha Village had no professional codes or non-disclosure agreements. Submitting a copy of the Ninjutsu seen to the Village and keeping a copy for oneself was no problem at all.
Over time, the Ninjutsu collected by the Yamanaka Clan couldn't be described as just 'many'; they were incredibly numerous! And many of them were Ninjutsu from enemy Ninja from Hidden Mist Village, Iwagakure, and Hidden Cloud Village.
There might not be very high-level ones, but basic Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, Taijutsu, and Sealing Technique were all there.
The Yamanaka Clan itself had Ninjutsu scrolls for the Shadow Clone and Multiple Shadow Clone. Inoichi was mainly worried that the Shadow Clone's method of dividing Chakra was quite taxing on the body, and Ino also felt that her 6 points of "Spirit" were still a bit low, so she didn't insist on the Shadow Clone.
As news spread of Ino mastering her Secret Technique and returning to school, Shikamaru, Choji, and others also gradually returned.
Everyone's public statement was very consistent: we also mastered our family's Secret Technique! As for whether they really mastered it or just pretended to, that remained unknown.
Shikamaru had gotten much darker, Choji had lost a size, and Kiba Inuzuka slumped weakly onto his desk as soon as he entered the classroom. Shino Aburame's presence was even lower.
"Ino... you should also work hard, mmm, everyone work hard together." Hinata quietly came up to Ino, spoke a few words like a mosquito, then turned and ran.
Ino was utterly confused by what she said. What did she mean?
She had no idea that Hiashi Hyuga, the head of the Hyuga Clan, had always thought his daughter was useless. Now, with the Yamanaka Clan's daughter as a target to surpass, honestly, he was very happy.
Towards Hinata, his attitude had unknowingly improved by a couple of points.
Hinata wasn't stupid. Using Ino as an excuse, she increased her training, then discarded some of her ladylike manners, and naturally ate two more bowls of rice... She was truly too hungry. As the eldest daughter of the main family, her every word and action had strict regulations. She had strong digestive abilities, and the family's specialty was Taijutsu, which consumed even more. You mean you eat eighteen bowls of rice in one sitting? What kind of lady looks like that?
Hinata had a pretty good time at home this past month. She specifically came today to express her gratitude, hoping Ino would continue to work hard so she could also eat two more full meals.
Ino was completely unaware of the intricacies involved. Seeing Hinata take off running, she lightly called out, "Don't run, stop."
With strong mental energy, even without using the Mind Body Disturbance Technique, her every word and action would subtly influence those around her.
Hinata, always indecisive, instinctively stopped and then turned back.
Ino waved, signaling her to come closer.
"What... what is it?" Hinata asked softly.
Ino also lowered her voice: "I heard the Third Hokage went to your house? What did the Third Hokage tell you?"
Oh, it was about that, Hinata breathed a sigh of relief. As long as it wasn't a challenge to a duel, everything was fine. Miss Ino was truly too petty.
She recalled: "Third Grandpa told me not to be arrogant, to be humble, and then said that everyone in the Village is family and to live in harmony."
Hinata rambled on and on, and Ino listened carefully. The Third Hokage's words weren't important; his attitude in specifically seeking out Hinata for a talk was what mattered.
Did you think the Third Hokage talked to just anyone? He was very busy and didn't have that kind of free time.
Everyone he "Yuan Guidance"-ed was one of his own. He chose capable people from his acquaintances and acquaintances from capable people. Now, Hinata was probably considered an acquaintance in his mind, and Ino was also an acquaintance, but an acquaintance on a different line.