Chapter 35: Sakura VS Ino, The Duel of the Movie Queens
Sakura Haruno VS Ino Yamanaka
The entire audience breathed a sigh of relief. Having grown accustomed to Gaara's murderous intent and the high-end internal war of the Hyuga Clan, this pair of best friends—who usually fought over Sasuke—seemed like nothing more than a amateurish catfight involving hair-pulling and face-slapping to most people.
But Naruto, on the second floor, suddenly perked up. He specifically moved to a spot with a better view, his blue eyes sparkling with anticipation.
[Hehe, a classic scene, a classic scene indeed. Former best friends turned enemies over a man.]
[Although their current strength is just so-so, basically just scratching each other's faces and pulling hair until they both collapse from exhaustion... the process is very worth watching! Ino's midriff-baring outfit looks great, but it's prone to wardrobe malfunctions in a real fight... and Sakura, if she gets rubbed into the ground by Inoand her clothes tear just a little bit... *slurp*.]
Sakura Haruno and Ino Yamanaka, who had just stepped onto the field, stumbled simultaneously.
Veins popped on both their foreheads at the same time. The urge to rush up to the second floor and beat a certain blonde into a pulp was almost uncontrollable.
Rubbed into the ground? Wardrobe malfunctions?
Does your brain have any healthy thoughts that actually fit the "Future of the Ninja World" besides these?!
"Broad Forehead..." Ino took a deep breath, hands on her hips, and shouted loudly, "If you're afraid of messing up your face, it's not too late to forfeit now! Sasuke-kun is watching, don't lose too embarrassingly!"
"Ino Pig!" Sakura was not to be outdone, pointing at Ino's nose and cursing, "Save those flashy bandages of yours for dressing your wounds! I'll beat you so badly even Shikamaru won't recognize you!"
The two traded insults across the gap, the air thick with the smell of gunpowder.
In reality, under the cover of this shouting, a mental link had already been quietly established.
[Mind Transfer Jutsu: Telepathic Channel(Improved Version)]
This was an ability Ino had just acquired before the Chunin Exams, allowing her to establish a brief mental dialogue with a target without her soul leaving her body.
(Mental Channel) Ino: *"Did you hear that, Broad Forehead? That bastard just said in his head he wants to see me have a wardrobe malfunction! I'm so pissed! I was going to hold back, but now I really want to pour all the water out of his brain!"*
(Mental Channel) Sakura: *"Calm down, Ino Pig. I heard it too; he wants to see my clothes tear. But doesn't this prove we're following the script? If we show S-rank combat power now, that idiot will definitely start questioning his life."*
(Mental Channel) Ino: *"Tsk, acting out the whole set is really exhausting. Teacher Kurenai is something else too, actually making us play house with this pervert. Alright, how does the script go? He seems to want a 'double knockout' ending?"*
(Mental Channel) Sakura: *"Then let's give him a double knockout! But... let's add some 'personal touches' in the middle to give him a bit of a show, so he drops more gold coins."
In reality.
"Begin!"
At Gekkō Hayate's command, the two girls shouted and rushed at each other like they were in a street fight.
Bang! Slap!
Sakura threw a clumsy punch at Ino's shoulder, and Ino messily grabbed Sakura's forehead protector. The two immediately tangled into a heap, cursing as they fought.
"Let go! Ino Pig!"
"You let go! Why is your inner strength like you haven't eaten!"
Naruto, leaning on the railing, watched with great interest, providing constant commentary.
[Tsk tsk, this is the war of women, simple yet boring. Look at that kick from Ino, she almost showed that... ah, what a pity, the angle is still too conservative. Sakura too, why doesn't she use that overhead heavy punch?]
[But is the quality of these two's clothes a bit too good? They've been fighting for so long, and besides being covered in dust, not even a single seam has ripped? One star! One star rating!]
In the mental channel, Ino and Sakura finally couldn't take these increasingly outrageous complaints anymore.
(Mental Channel) Ino: *"It's my fault the clothes are high quality?! Fine, since this pervert wants to see something exciting, Broad Forehead, use that move!"*
(Mental Channel) Sakura: *"My thoughts exactly! Don't hurt the bones, just aim for the'surface'!"*
The situation in the arena suddenly shifted.
The two who were originally tangled together suddenly broke apart. Ino pulled a Kunai from her tool pouch, while Sakura began to weave hand signs.
"This move is for Sasuke!" Ino shouted, her movements suddenly becoming agile. Her Kunaiseemed to swing wildly, but it precisely sliced a hidden thread on Sakura's top.
*Rippp!*
A large tear suddenly appeared on the side of Sakura's previously intact red dress, revealing a long stretch of fair thigh.
The eyes of every male candidate in the room instantly went wide.
"Don't think you're getting off easy either!" Sakuraroared. "Die, Ino Pig!"
Her hands formed a seal, utilizing the mental power of [Inner Sakura] rewarded by the heavenly curtain to instantly cause a one-second visual displacement for Ino. Taking this chance, Sakura performed a sliding tackle, not only tripping Ino but also conveniently ripping the hem of Ino's already skimpy midriff top.
The scene instantly became both tragic and erotic.
[Holy crap!]
Naruto slammed the railing, his eyes bulging like copper bells, and the mental commentary was flying out fast.
[The battle has escalated! My god! I knew it, how can there be a fight without clothes getting shredded! Sakura's legs, they usually look thin, but they're actually quite shapely! And Ino's waist, it's incredible!]
[Fight on! Do it again! For Sasuke, fight to your heart's content!]
[This is simply the most exciting 'catfight' I've ever seen in Konoha! Whoever says this is Genin-level, I'll fight them; this is clearly art!]
Hearing Naruto's blatant excitement and even his fantasy of them fighting "for him," the two girls, who were pretending to pant and face off on the field, turned beet red to the tips of their ears.
(Mental Channel) Sakura: *"This... pervert! I can't do it anymore, I'm going to throw up if we keep acting, and it would be a huge loss if a real wardrobe malfunction happens! Wrapping it up!"*
(Mental Channel) Ino: *"Agreed! Last move, let's act out that Mind Transfer Clone!"*
Ino suddenly stood still, her hands forming a triangular seal aimed at Sakura.
"Mind Transfer Jutsu!"
There was no actual mental intrusion, but with Sakura's cooperation, she froze as if struck by electricity, her eyes instantly going dull. A few seconds later, she snapped awake and shouted at the air: "It's useless, Ino! I've kicked you out!"
Then, with perfect coordination, the two charged and threw their final punches simultaneously.
Bang! Bang!
Two dull thuds rang out as their fists precisely struck each other's cheeks. The force was perfectly controlled, only causing skin swelling without hurting the bones.
The two figures swayed and collapsed at the same time.
The entire hall was silent for two seconds before a smattering of applause broke out. In the eyes of the audience, this was a well-matched and tragic duel.
[Ding!]
[Detected that you have shown a 'perverted' fanatical appreciation for the battle between Ino Yamanaka and Sakura Haruno, and have performed a full-scale mental visualization of their figures and battle-damaged states.]
[The favorability of both parties has undergone extremely complex fluctuations (Shame + Satisfaction + Contempt).]
[heavenly curtain reward settlement in progress...]
The two girls lying on the field pretending to be unconscious heard a pleasant notification sound in their minds simultaneously.
[Sakura Haruno receives reward: Inner Sakura Materialization (Can summon a mental clone with physical attack power at any time without needing to be enraged, and will automatically protect the host if the main consciousness is damaged).]
[Ino Yamanaka receives reward: Mind Transfer Clone Jutsu (Does not require the original body to lose consciousness; can split off a pure mental clone to forcibly control enemies or conduct reconnaissance).]
This...?!
The two lying on the floor pretending to be fainted felt waves crashing in their hearts. These rewards completely made up for the biggest weaknesses in their Ninjutsu; it was practically a leap to heaven!
Especially Sakura; feeling that eager red phantom in her mental world and that sense of power as if she could shatter a boulder with one punch, her eyes suddenly grew hot. She would never have to be a decorative vase again, never have to just watch that blonde's back...
Meanwhile, Naruto on the second floor also heard the system's voice.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations to the host: As the sole mental sponsor and core connoisseur of this 'Girls' Wrestling Match,' you have greatly enhanced the watchability of the match through your thoughts.]
[Reward obtained: Basic Genjutsu Resistanceincreased (Possesses weak detection ability against ordinary Genjutsu).]
"This isn't bad either." Naruto stretched contentedly. "As expected, watching beautiful girls fight is great. Next... is it my turn?"
He looked at the display screen; the next name had appeared.
At the same time, Sakura and Ino, who were being carried away on stretchers, shared a subtle glance.
In their eyes was the understanding between accomplices, mixed with a trace of... indescribable feelings for that blonde idiot.