"Let's stop here for today," Ino said, wiping the sweat from her forehead as she turned to Hinata.
"O-okay," Hinata agreed, quickly grabbing two towels and handing one to her. "Here."
"Thanks."
Hinata hesitated, then carefully chose her words. "Ino… your taijutsu has really improved."
It wasn't just politeness. Beating Ino was no longer easy for her. That alone said everything.
Ino laughed lightly. "That's only because my foundation used to be terrible. When you start from zero, the early gains are always fast. It'll slow down later."
"I see…" Hinata nodded. "But why did you suddenly start focusing on taijutsu? I thought your role on the team was more supportive."
"That's true," Ino said after a moment's thought. "But I won't always have teammates around. If I'm alone, taijutsu helps whether I'm escaping against multiple enemies or landing my clan techniques one-on-one."
"That makes sense," Hinata agreed.
Then Ino casually added, "By the way, I heard from Fujimoto Tōma that Naruto spends most of his time training with Jiraiya on the back mountain."
Hinata froze. Her face immediately turned red.
"I also heard his training burns a ton of chakra," Ino continued. "He's so busy that he often skips meals."
"W-what?" Hinata's eyes widened in concern. "But… if he doesn't eat properly, his training will suffer too, won't it?"
Ino paused.
That reaction alone told her everything.
She smiled. Hinata really was deep in it.
"Exactly," Ino said. "So, for Naruto's health and training, you could bring him Ichiraku ramen. Maybe add some vegetables, fruit, and soldier pills too."
Hinata's embarrassment vanished, replaced entirely by worry.
"Ichiraku… Naruto's favorite place?" she asked softly.
"That's the one," Ino replied. Naruto's obsession with ramen, especially Ichiraku, bordered on fanatical.
"I understand," Hinata said firmly, nodding hard. "I'll prepare something for Naruto."
She even patted her cheeks, as if psyching herself up. This wasn't the time to be shy.
Ramen alone wasn't enough. He needed vegetables. Meat. Enough calories to support chakra consumption. Soldier pills, too.
Boys ate a lot. Naruto probably even more.
Watching Hinata sink into serious planning, Ino smiled and quietly took her leave.
On the way home, Ino felt unusually fulfilled.
A few missions. Regular training. And dates with Tōma.
Perfect.
Lately, Tōma seemed unusually free. She planned to clean up, then head over to see him.
That was when her body suddenly stopped.
Her thoughts grew heavy. Distant.
When awareness returned, Ino felt a jolt of pure shock.
She could see her body moving.
But she wasn't controlling it.
This sensation was familiar.
Too familiar.
Mind Transfer Jutsu.
Ino recognized it instantly.
Which only made it worse.
Someone had used her clan's technique on her.
A Yamanaka? But why?
She tried to break free, pushing her mental strength against the intrusion. She knew this jutsu well. Escaping shouldn't be—
Impossible.
No matter how hard she struggled, the grip didn't loosen in the slightest. The difference in mental power was overwhelming.
Terrifyingly so.
This level… even compared to her father, Yamanaka Inoichi, it didn't feel inferior.
Why would someone like that target her?
Her vision showed her body moving almost experimentally, flexing fingers, taking a few steps as if adjusting to the sensation.
That only deepened her confusion.
This wasn't someone's first time.
"Hey! What are you trying to do?!" Ino shouted within her own mind.
No response.
She watched helplessly as "Ino" smiled at a mirror by the street, a faint, mocking curve to the lips.
Then her body turned.
Toward a familiar path.
Toward Fujimoto Tōma's home.
Her eyes widened.
So that's it…
They were using her to get close to Tōma.
Anyone doing this wasn't his ally. They wanted something. Jutsu. Secrets. Or worse.
Ino struggled harder, panic rising.
Useless.
Her body entered Tōma's home smoothly, greeting Fujimoto Sana as naturally as she always did. When she learned Tōma wasn't home, there was a brief pause.
Then "Ino" asked to see his room.
Sana agreed without hesitation.
Ino's sense of danger screamed.
Inside the room, her body began searching through drawers and shelves.
Just as I thought.
They were after Tōma's jutsu.
Security around his home was tight. Only someone like her, who came and went freely, could bypass it so easily.
Finally, "Ino" smiled.
A scroll rested in her hand.
But something didn't add up.
The effective range of Mind Transfer wasn't this large. From where she'd been struck to here… it should have broken long ago.
Unless…
Multiple people?
Someone carrying the user's body closer?
If that were the case, Tōma would notice.
That thought gave her a sliver of relief.
Then she heard a voice.
Tōma's.
Her heart jumped.
That person won't fool him, she thought desperately.
Yet what she saw shattered that hope.
"Ino" spoke naturally. Moved naturally.
And Tōma showed no sign of suspicion.
How…?
Had someone been watching them this whole time?
"Ino" smiled sweetly. "Tōma, close your eyes. I've got a surprise for you."
"No! Don't!" Ino screamed internally.
Tōma closed his eyes.
Completely unguarded.
Ino felt sick.
If a kunai appeared now—
Please… no…
Then suddenly, the pressure vanished.
Control snapped back into her body.
She stumbled, breath catching.
"What, did I scare you?"
Tōma's familiar voice sounded right beside her.
She stared at him, a thousand questions crashing through her mind.
Then he spoke calmly.
"That was the Spirit Projection Technique. I just learned it. It's pretty similar to your clan's jutsu, right?"
Ino froze.
"…You?"
"So I wanted to test it," Tōma continued. "You're someone I trust. And, well… I thought I'd tease you a bit."
He smiled.
Ino lunged at him, fists pounding his chest. She wasn't using strength, but the fear poured out anyway.
Tōma didn't resist.
…I might've gone too far, he thought.
"I was terrified," Ino finally said, her voice shaking. "I thought someone was trying to hurt you."
"I'm sorry," Tōma said seriously. "I won't do that again."
She glared at him. "You're not getting off that easy. How are you compensating me?"
Tōma chuckled. "That technique I used. Want to learn it?"
He'd teased her, yes.
But he'd also shown her exactly what the technique could do.
And the test results?
Perfect.