Not learning is not an option!
The three stood obediently, listening to the Second Hokage explain the basic theory of Flying Thunder God. Tonton, realizing her cuteness didn't work on the Second Hokage, could only squat in the distance and cheer them on.
"Teacher, did you understand?" Ino whispered to Tsunade halfway through.
Tsunade proudly raised her chin: "Of course, how simple are these things? I understand them with one listen."
Really? Ino looked suspicious. She then asked Shizune: "Senior Sister, did you understand?"
The long-legged Senior Sister's expression was very awkward, and a fine layer of sweat appeared on her forehead: "...This, this, my aptitude for learning Ninjutsu has always been poor since childhood."
Shizune's "Ninjutsu" and "Wisdom" stats were not low at all; on the contrary, they were quite high, but she indeed struggled to learn.
The Flying Thunder God Technique was simply too difficult. While it was described as a high-level application of Body Flicker Technique, it actually involved a large amount of knowledge related to Sealing Technique and Summoning Technique. It was more like first carving one's Chakra mark somewhere, then using a remote method to activate the Jutsu, and finally using a self-summoning method to traverse space with an extremely fast Body Flicker Technique.
Ino felt that Tsunade's answer was so firm, she probably really understood. As for herself, she probably, possibly, perhaps understood, but Senior Sister Shizune's aptitude was still a bit lacking.
After lecturing for most of the day, Tsunade unladylike sat cross-legged on the ground and protested: "Grandpa Second, I really don't need to learn these things. Just let Ino and them practice."
The Second Hokage was expressionless: "Why?"
Tsunade lowered her voice, as if afraid of being overheard, and whispered: "I'm already fifty years old... Do I still need to practice Ninjutsu?"
The Second Hokage made her look at him: "Look, I'm already dead. When I listened to little Ino explain Rasengan earlier, I listened patiently. What reason do you have not to learn?"
Tsunade: "...Must I learn?"
"You must learn."
The theoretical part was fine, but once they entered the practical operation phase, Tsunade immediately experienced the terrible mood Shikamaru and Choji had last year.
When she saw Ino create twenty Shadow Clones, jumping up and down, diligently practicing the Flying Thunder God Technique, the fifty-year-old aunt was dumbfounded.
Let's just cooperate and fool Grandpa Second a bit to fulfill his wish. Do you really need to be this competitive?! I'm your teacher, and you're competing with me like this?!
The Second Hokage still had the mindset of the Warring States Period, emphasizing that diligence was more important than talent. Seeing Ino's hard work, he greatly praised her. If it weren't for the huge difference in seniority, he would have wanted to adopt a goddaughter.
He began to push Tsunade, saying, "Look, look at what your disciple is doing? What are you doing? Are you moved?"
If so, then you go practice too! Don't tell me you don't know the Shadow Clone Technique; I taught you that Jutsu when I was alive!
The Flying Thunder God Technique has extremely high requirements for "Speed"! Ino's "Speed" was only at a normal level of 7, so she struggled to practice. She hoped to get more guidance from the Second Hokage. Since Wood Release wasn't particularly urgent, she added the two pot points she obtained from "Sakura Sealing the Evil God" to "Speed," changing "Speed" 7 to "Speed" 8.
She still couldn't compare to those masters who had practiced Taijutsu for ten years, but at a normal level, her reaction speed was already considered very fast.
Her current stats were Ninjutsu 10, Stamina 7, Genjutsu 7, Wisdom 8, Strength 6, Speed 8, Chakra 10, Hand Seals 9, with a total attribute of 65.
She estimated that to master the Flying Thunder God Technique proficiently and use it in combat, "Ninjutsu," "Stamina," "Wisdom," "Speed," and "Hand Seals" might all need to reach max value... Of course, "Chakra," as the source of Chakra, requires a considerable amount of Chakra for each teleportation, so this item is also indispensable.
Of the eight Ninja stats, the S-rank Space-Time Ninjutsu, Flying Thunder God Technique, required six stats to meet the standards; failing in even one was unacceptable.
After Shizune chose to lie flat, and Tsunade and Ino competed for two days, their learning progress inevitably showed a gap.
Tonton dropped a leaf from a tree. Tsunade threw a special Kunai with a Chakra Jutsu formula. The moment the Kunai passed through the leaf, she instantly teleported over and caught the falling leaf. She completed this step perfectly, ten out of ten times, marking the completion of the first stage of training.
Ino was a bit behind, only achieving five out of ten. Her foundation was still insufficient, at least for this S-rank Space-Time Ninjutsu, especially the Body Flicker Technique. In five of her teleportations, due to her weaker Taijutsu, her body deformed during the teleportation, and she failed to catch the falling leaf.
Tsunade's learning progress was the fastest, but she also had a drawback: her reaction speed couldn't keep up.
Catching a falling leaf was fine, but she couldn't make judgments based on the environment while teleporting, adjust her body's direction in time, or anticipate and react.
Ino stood still, waiting for her to teleport. Twice, Ino had already placed a Kunai at Tsunade's neck, but Tsunade's reflexes were still in the state before the teleportation; she hadn't reacted at all.
She was too accustomed to her bulldozer-like fighting style, just swinging her fists and attacking. Dodging? Non-existent! One punch, one small meat patty, how simple?
Ino was barely adequate in all aspects, but the Second Hokage had high hopes for her future, believing that she could fully master this Ninjutsu when she reached her twenties, when her physical fitness and intellect were at their peak.
In other words, she still had a long way to go...
As for Shizune, there's even less to say. It could be said that all three struggled to learn this Ninjutsu; none of them were considered talented in this particular Jutsu.
Kakashi practiced for a year and was still unable to use it in combat, also being stuck by the strict conditions of this Ninjutsu. Shiranui Genma's adaptation of the Flying Thunder God Technique into the Three-Man Flying Thunder Formation was also a choice born out of helplessness.
Besides the Flying Thunder God Technique, the Second Hokage also taught many other Ninjutsu.
During the Konoha Crush, the Second Hokage's on-the-spot teaching was quite rushed, but now he had time.
He generously taught all the Water Release Ninjutsu he knew. Ino, as one of the top Water Release masters in the Ninja World today, found these things much easier to learn. One taught comfortably, the other learned happily; both "people" were very pleased.
The Second Hokage possessed all seven elemental affinities. While he was skilled in using Water Release in combat, it didn't mean he couldn't use other elemental Jutsu.
Ino also learned many Wind Release, Earth Release, and Fire Release Ninjutsu from him.
The Second Hokage's sensory ability was more like his own innate talent, which couldn't be taught, but he helped Ino improve the Yamanaka Clan's sensory Ninjutsu.
Originally, she could only sense targets within ten kilometers. Karin's Kagura Mind's Eye had a sensory range of tens of kilometers, while the Second Hokage's sensory ability was terrifying; his sensory radius could exceed a hundred li. After improvement, Ino can now also sense targets within a range of tens of kilometers, and as her proficiency increases, her accuracy will also become higher and higher.
------------------------
I've posted 70+ chapters in advance on Patreon.
Webnovel updates will still be daily, as usual.
It might not seem tempting right now but who knows what the future holds?
[email protected]/SolyuraMT
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"