Vapor Explosion

Little Mustache still wanted to salvage the situation: "Actually, other ninja techniques are quite good too. Maybe you didn't hear clearly? Let me repeat them for you?"

Ino waved her hand weakly: "Lord Second Mizukage, I've already sustained serious injuries in my efforts to defeat the three outstanding ninjas from your Kirigakure Village. Please teach me the Vapor Explosion technique quickly so I can go out and treat my wounds."

Little Mustache had no choice but to agree.

Vapor Explosion was not only an S-rank secret ninja technique with an extremely high learning difficulty, but it was also a composite ninja technique that combined the essence of the Second Mizukage's various Water Release techniques, secret techniques, and Genjutsu.

Techniques like the Water Ball Technique, Oilification, Clan Secret Techniques, and Genjutsu were all partially involved in Vapor Explosion.

If she could only choose one, this was naturally the one to pick.

Why couldn't Asuma reach the Kage level? It was because he lacked a decisive, powerful ninja technique, or perhaps he simply couldn't learn one.

Even without the Sharingan, Kakashi was still at the Kage level because he had the S-rank Lightning Blade.

As for Might Guy, there was no need to even mention him.

Ino's abilities were relatively well-rounded at the moment, but she still lacked a trump card. Vapor Explosion was just the right fit.

Little Mustache was ultimately just a remnant of the original body's Chakra, so he couldn't hand over a ninja scroll to Ino and could only explain it verbally.

He taught for only half an hour. During this time, he detailed the hand seals for Vapor Explosion, the trajectory of Chakra flow, and numerous precautions to take while practicing the technique.

His remaining Chakra was extremely limited, so he couldn't demonstrate it. How much she could learn was entirely up to her.

Even though Ino currently had 9 points in "Ninja Skill," 8 points in "Stamina," and a level 3 "Water Release," she was still left dizzy by the sudden encounter with such a high-difficulty technique.

This technique was extremely complex and couldn't be mastered in just a day or two. It involved the Water Transformation Secret Technique, Water Release: Oil Transformation, and a vast amount of knowledge on Chakra Nature Transformation and Shape Transformation. She wanted to take notes, but she simply didn't have the strength. She could only memorize every word Little Mustache said and ponder it carefully later.

Half an hour later, Ino passed through a smoke-filled gate and returned to reality.

She appeared alongside Haku and Chojuro, both covered in blood. The maze then "spit out" Chojuro's Hiramekarei and Haku's Samurai Sword.

Ino gained a new understanding of Little Mustache and Jibachi's Genjutsu. Did this Genjutsu also affect the flow of time inside? Impressive! Unfortunately, in a world where the Sharingan exists, Genjutsu is just too powerless.

Gonbei put away the activation gem, which had lost much of its former brilliance and now bore faint, fine cracks. The high-ranking Kirigakure official was visibly distressed.

The expressions of those who emerged varied greatly.

Ino, Chojuro, and Haku looked like they had been through a bloody battle, covered in blood.

Chojuro and Haku leaned on their weapons to stand, barely managing to stay upright. Ino leaned against a rock wall, catching her breath, feeling as though she might collapse from exhaustion.

Sasuke's face was dark, clearly indicating that he hadn't experienced anything pleasant in the Genjutsu.

Shikamaru, on the other hand, was unusually energetic, with sleep marks still on his face. It was obvious he had been napping.

Naruto and Choji were both patting their stomachs, and every time they burped, it smelled like ramen.

Sakura? Ino looked over and noticed that Sakura seemed a bit dazed. Earlier, she seemed to be holding something, but after leaving the maze, those things had vanished into thin air. Ino's expression turned strange. "Wow, did you go shopping or something?"

"So, I'm the only one who fought for the glory of Konoha and ended up covered in wounds, while you guys were just here for a vacation?" Sakura felt a purple figure standing to her right and frowned tightly, instinctively turning her head. "Ino-pig, are you... Ah! How did you get so badly hurt?! Oh my god, who did this to you?"

She was startled by Ino's injuries and nervously grabbed her hand, only then noticing the massive wound on her palm that had been pierced through by Haku's samurai sword.

The wound was already bandaged, but it was still bleeding internally. Just the simple act of holding hands caused Ino's blood to stain Sakura's hands.

Sakura panicked, unsure of what to do, and instinctively called for Kakashi.

After Sasuke broke free from the Genjutsu, the gloom on his face subsided. He examined Ino's injuries and asked, "Did you run into people from Kirigakure Village in the maze?"

Ino rolled her eyes. "That's a stupid question. It's not like you were the one who hurt them, right?"

"You took on three of them by yourself?"

"It was three of them against me! I'm the victim here."

Kakashi and Asuma, who had been reading their little yellow books in the distance, heard Sakura's call and hurried over. Kakashi quickly assessed Ino's wound and said, "Don't worry, Mitokado-sama's guards include a medical ninja. I'll call him over to treat you."

Before long, Mitokado Homura's Jonin guard arrived. This Jonin was skilled in Medical Ninja Techniques and immediately began treating Ino without a word. She was covered in injuries and had only managed to stay upright because her attention had been focused on the Vapor Explosion earlier. Now, she was on the verge of passing out.

The medical ninja from Kirigakure Village rushed over to treat Chojuro and Haku.

The two warriors were clearly at their limit. Ranmaru tried to help Haku but failed, and the two nearly fell over together.

The medical ninja's techniques could stimulate cell growth in the wounds, but it still consumed the body's energy. The two of them lay down on stretchers, their eyelids heavy, having lost too much blood and being utterly exhausted.

Ino also lay dizzily on a stretcher, being treated by a Konoha Jonin.

Just before losing consciousness, Ino grabbed Kakashi's hand and said with sincerity, "Kakashi-sensei, thank you for your guidance. It was thanks to your advice that I managed to defeat those three in the maze."

"Guidance? What guidance?" Kakashi was completely baffled.

He thought Ino must be too injured and confused, mistakenly attributing Asuma's usual advice to him. This clearly wasn't the time to explain, nor was it necessary.

He scratched his head and mumbled, "Uh-huh, yeah," effectively taking the blame.

In the final moments before passing out, Ino glanced at the Kirigakure ninja nearby and then looked at her status panel.

Heh, just that one sentence had earned her two Pot Points. How petty were these people from Kirigakure Village?! Thankfully, she had shifted the blame in time, or all that resentment would have been directed at her.

Ditching Asuma was also an option, but she was worried that Asuma's slight frame might not be able to handle it. Someone like Kakashi was just right. The darkness in front of her eyes grew deeper, and Sakura, for some reason, kept shouting beside her, telling her not to fall asleep and to keep talking. Ino waved her hand, signaling that she was fine, but then everything went black, and she completely passed out.