Chapter 149: Researching the Spirit Transformation Technique

Chapter 149: Researching the Spirit Transformation Technique

Tsunade preferred not to dwell on her past. Seeing that Ino already knew about Dan Katou, she brushed over his life, as if trying to hide something obvious.

"He…" Tsunade didn't even want to say his name, referring to him simply as "him."

"He left behind a secret technique, which is now in my possession. Would you like to learn it?"

The Spirit Transformation Technique, Ino thought, her interest piqued. This jutsu seemed similar to the Yamanaka clan's Mind Body Switch techniques. Spirit Transformation – the name itself suggested turning oneself into a spiritual entity. This would not only be useful for certain tasks but could also be incredibly lethal.

Dan Katou's death was likely due to attracting too much attention, making him a target for someone lurking in the shadows. If she were careful and avoided being conspicuous, this technique should be relatively safe.

Given the opportunity, she definitely wanted to learn it.

"Yes, yes! Sensei, I want to learn it!"

Tsunade gave her a sidelong glance, her expression unchanged. She had originally intended to take this technique to her grave, but this disciple of hers – with her talent for ninjutsu, her chakra reserves, and her aptitude for Yin Release – was simply too well-suited for the Spirit Transformation Technique.

That man probably wouldn't want his technique to be lost either, would he? Tsunade sighed inwardly.

"Are you sure you want to learn it?"

"Yes, yes!"

"Absolutely sure?"

Ino's expression turned quizzical. "...Yes, I want to learn it."

Tsunade took a sip of sake, speaking almost to herself. "Too bad. You can't learn it right now."

Ino nearly choked. If I can't learn it, why the hell did you bring it up?!

Even though she had been drinking, a somber mood settled over Tsunade as she recalled this part of her past.

"Back then, after he… passed away, I went through his belongings. The scroll containing this secret technique only detailed the chakra flow and hand seals. The incantations and the formula for the secret medicine were lost with his death."

Ino nodded in understanding. Secret techniques were often like that. If the Second Mizukage hadn't been bound by his promise to teach her the Steaming Danger Tyranny, he certainly wouldn't have explained all the intricacies of the Hiding in Water Technique.

He had to explain, otherwise Ino wouldn't have been able to learn Steaming Danger Tyranny. The two techniques were too closely linked.

Now, Dan Katou's Spirit Transformation Technique was missing crucial details due to his death in battle.

Suddenly, Tsunade's tone became assertive. "Ninjutsu, secret techniques – they were all created by people originally. If our predecessors could do it, so can we! Little Ino, do you have confidence?"

What confidence am I supposed to have?! Ino was utterly bewildered by Tsunade's question. She strongly suspected her large-chested teacher was drunk.

Beside them, the pet pig, Tonton, nudged her twice and let out a few "Oink oink" grunts, as if urging her to respond quickly.

Ino's forehead creased. I'm a transmigrator, damn it! Since when do I need a pig to tell me what to do?

Still, she imitated Might Guy and Rock Lee's enthusiastic style, shouting with fiery passion, "I have confidence!"

"Good! Then I'll… Hmm? Actually, we can skip some steps. Here's what we'll do: use the Yamanaka clan's secret technique on me – the Mind Body Switch Technique, right? Is that what it's called? Go ahead, use it on me. Take over my body. I'll use this opportunity to study whether we can modify the Spirit Transformation Technique based on your foundation."

Shizune and Tonton, who had been playing nearby, immediately fell silent. Both watched intently, waiting to see how Ino would "directly confront" Tsunade.

We're soaking in a hot spring while talking about something this intense… Is this really appropriate? Ino hesitated. Wouldn't it be better if they got dressed, found a quiet room, and then discussed the Spirit Transformation Technique?

Tsunade, however, thought it was perfectly fine. Ino had no choice but to comply.

"Alright, alright… I'm going in. Mind Body Switch Technique!"

She formed the hand seals and aimed at Tsunade. The next moment, Ino's consciousness, wrapped in chakra, surged into Tsunade's mental world.

Tsunade didn't resist, stepping aside and allowing Ino's consciousness to take over her body.

With Ino in control, the two conversed within the mental world. While she couldn't reveal the specifics of her clan's secret techniques, she could describe some of their external effects.

"What a peculiar technique. Your Yamanaka clan's jutsu… No, never mind, that's not important. To me, the Yamanaka's secret technique is very similar to the Spirit Transformation Technique, but there's a fundamental difference. If my body is injured, will yours be injured as well?"

Ino nodded. "Yes. It's because the technique links the two. If your body is injured now, my original body will also suffer the same damage. That's why the Yamanaka clan has always been limited to intelligence-gathering roles. In combat, we need the Ino-Shika-Cho trio to cooperate."

Tsunade pondered seriously for a moment. "Alright, you can leave now. I need to rethink the approach to this technique."

Her "rethinking" took two full days. With only five days left until the Chunin Exams, minus the one day Ino needed to return, that left them with just four days.

The moment the trio (plus pig) left the Land of Tea, they were ambushed by a group of debt collectors.

Against shinobi, they could fight back, but against ordinary people, Tsunade still adhered to an older rule: no ninjutsu against civilians.

Their only option was to run.

"Don't let them escape! The one with the biggest chest is Tsunade!"

Tsunade hastily wrapped her clothes tightly around her chest.

"The one with the word 'Gambling' on her clothes is Tsunade!"

Tsunade immediately threw her coat onto Shizune.

"Get them! The one with the golden ponytail is Tsunade!"

Tsunade instantly transformed into a little girl, leaving the swarm of debt collectors to charge at Ino instead.

The three (plus pig) scattered, fleeing in different directions. After shaking off the pursuers, they regrouped on the mountain behind the town.

Tonton was exhausted, letting out a series of "Oink oink" grunts. Ino, too, sat on a large rock, catching her breath. Damn, the thrill of running away from debt collectors is something else!

Tsunade had forbidden her from using ninjutsu or chakra, claiming this was part of her taijutsu training. She could only rely on her physical strength to run, leaving her utterly drained.

Seeing that the debt collectors hadn't caught up, the three (plus pig) collectively sighed in relief.

Drinking, gambling, being chased, escaping, and in their spare moments, discussing the Spirit Transformation Technique – this became their routine for the remaining four days.

Tsunade and Shizune were both too "yang" in nature. Neither of them possessed Yin-natured chakra, yet the Spirit Transformation Technique demanded extremely high proficiency in Yin Release. Over the past decade or so, the two had only been able to wildly theorize about the technique, unable to actually practice it themselves. They couldn't even overcome the initial hurdle.

Ino's timely appearance compensated for their lack of practical experience.

Not only did she possess a high level of Yin Release, but her "Ninjutsu" stat of 10 also gave her the insight needed to help reconstruct the technique.

The Spirit Transformation Technique was an S-rank soul ninjutsu that allowed the user's soul to leave their body. However, with so much of the technique missing, the most critical issue was that once activated, the user's soul might completely detach, severing the connection instantly and turning them into a wandering spirit. After a few minutes, or at most a few dozen minutes, the spirit would dissipate, and the user would die!