Chapter 169: The Second Hokage's On-the-Spot Lesson
"First Hokage-sama, your chakra is incredible!" Ino exclaimed, surprised by the sheer power. If her own Water Severing Wave felt like a fire hose, then channeling the First Hokage's chakra turned it into an industrial water cutter.
It was clear this wasn't his original body; just some insignificant pawn from the Hidden Sound Village. Yet, the moment the First Hokage possessed it, a massive surge of chakra erupted.
The greater the chakra, the more intense the pressure behind the Water Severing Wave.
The First Hokage let out a hearty laugh. "This is nothing! This is far less chakra than I had in my prime, ha ha ha!"
Ino estimated that the First Hokage's current state of Impure World Reincarnation was at an "Essence" level of 10. In her mind, that equated to the chakra of four Inos, twelve Tsunades, twenty-four Asumas, and forty to fifty Kakashis.
For Ino, "Essence" 10 might represent her absolute limit, but for the First Hokage, it was merely his lower threshold.
It made perfect sense then that when he saw Naruto distributing the Nine-Tails' chakra to the Allied Shinobi Forces, this legendary figure would remark, "That kid's chakra is on par with mine!"
A living human being comparing his chakra to a tailed beast, especially one that had received an extra boost from the Ten-Tails' chakra via the Sage of Six Paths? It was almost beyond comprehension.
Orochimaru performed his Snake Style Body Replacement Technique. His new, mucus-covered form slithered out from the mouth of his previous body.
The fatal injuries he had sustained earlier had completely vanished. He fixed a scrutinizing gaze on the First Hokage, seemingly trying to understand the sudden shift in power.
Ino, meanwhile, unleashed a "Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave" to intercept the Second Hokage. She then called out to the Third Hokage in the distance, "Third Hokage-sama, leave this one to me! I'll hold off the Second!"
The Third Hokage, a veteran of countless battles, didn't know who was assisting him, and he didn't have the luxury of pondering it.
"Alright, I'm counting on you then!" he replied.
He swiftly performed the hand seals for "Majestic Destroyer Flame" to block Orochimaru, then swung his Adamantine Staff, and the former teacher and student became locked in combat.
On the other side of the battlefield, Ino found herself facing her idol, the Second Hokage.
Water Dragon Bullet clashed against Water Dragon Bullet, Water Severing Wave met Water Severing Wave.
Her mastery of Water Release was clearly inferior to the Second Hokage's, but the First Hokage's immense chakra reserves more than compensated for this deficit.
Just then, the Second Hokage regained his voice.
After two swift exchanges, he inquired, "Hmm? A very talented junior indeed. Brother, is your consciousness still intact?"
Ino answered for the First Hokage, while also addressing the Third Hokage on the other side, hoping to make her contribution known.
"Second Hokage-sama, the First Hokage asked me to tell you that he is resisting Orochimaru's control. You don't know who Orochimaru is? Oh, right, he's the ninja who controlled you, the one with the long hair and golden eyes. Second Hokage-sama, I am a disciple of Teacher Tsunade, and I've also learned quite a few of your Water Release ninjutsu. Now, Yamanaka Ino will be your opponent."
Announcing one's name had its advantages, but it also carried risks, primarily attracting unwanted attention.
The sound of something cracking echoed in Orochimaru's mind. He recognized her. So, it's you!
"Since you desire death, then I shall grant it!" Orochimaru thought, risking a blow to the head from the Third Hokage's Adamantine Staff. He still managed to form hand seals with both hands, intent on undoing the Impure World Reincarnation – a technique that had a high probability of dragging Ino's consciousness down to the underworld with them.
His reaction was lightning fast, but the Third Hokage knew his former student well. The Adamantine Staff swept through the air in a semi-circular arc, forcefully wedging itself between Orochimaru's hands, then with a sharp flick and push, it disrupted his hand seals.
The Second Hokage's Water Release ninjutsu continued relentlessly, but he whispered the key to countering Impure World Reincarnation to Ino: "I invented this technique. It seems Orochimaru has modified it from my original, but the core remains the same. You only need to perform the first three hand seals of the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Dragon, and Boar sequence to counteract his release. Performing all five seals will allow my brother's consciousness to return to rest."
The Second Hokage was undoubtedly a good teacher. He didn't explain how to use Impure World Reincarnation, but he thoroughly explained how to undo it and how to resist its effects.
Orochimaru tried twice more from a distance, but both attempts were thwarted. The distraction also cost him two more hits. Left with no other option, Orochimaru issued a death command to the Second Hokage and the Fourth Kazekage, ordering them to attack with full force while he focused all his efforts on dealing with the Third Hokage.
The Second Hokage's hand seal speed was incredible, almost as if a simple clap was all it took to execute a ninjutsu.
This silver-haired, red-eyed ninja wearing a layered blue garment finished explaining how to undo Impure World Reincarnation, then continued his impromptu lesson.
"You seemed to have used Water Colliding Wave earlier?" he asked.
"Ah? Yes, Teacher Tsunade taught me," Ino replied.
The Second Hokage smiled. "Little Tsunade wouldn't know much about Water Release; it's rather misleading. Watch me do it once. My hand seal sequence is Boar, Tiger, Monkey. Simplified, it's just one Tiger seal and one Monkey seal. I circulate chakra from my left kidney for one and a half rotations, passing through the Belt Meridian..."
While fiercely battling Ino with Water Release, he meticulously explained the principle and execution of the technique.
Orochimaru in the distance didn't initially notice, but when he realized they had started an on-the-spot teaching session, he was so enraged he let out a mocking laugh. "Second Hokage-sama, isn't it a bit late for lessons now?"
The Third Hokage held a different view. "Orochimaru, you are not the only genius to have emerged from the Hidden Leaf Village. Future generations will catch up and far surpass you. That was the case with Minato, and it's the same with today's children. You, who are trapped in past glories, will never truly understand the trajectory of your own life."
Orochimaru sneered. "Fourth Hokage? Where is he? Can you bring him out so he can give me a lecture?"
Ino, for her part, had no attention to spare for their teacher-student squabble. She divided her focus into three parts: dealing with the Second Hokage's numerous high-level Water Release ninjutsu, actively learning from him, and studying the Water Release chakra within the First Hokage's body.
Ino possessed a remarkably high aptitude for ninjutsu. She had a deep understanding of Water Release techniques and had gained significant experience using them from Old Man Kosuke and Tsunade. Combined with the Second Hokage's live instruction, the conditions were perfect for rapid learning.
Often, after the Second Hokage demonstrated a Water Release ninjutsu, with only a few moments in between, she could roughly replicate it. At least B-rank Water Release techniques posed no difficulty for her at all, and C-rank techniques were even easier. After hearing an explanation just once, she would essentially master them.
Water Release: Water Colliding Wave, Water Release: Water Serial Shots, Water Release: Water Trumpet, Water Release: Surfing Attack, and Water Release: Water Dragon Biting Explosion were all quickly added to her repertoire. Water Release: Heavenly Cry and Water Release: Water Blade Severing proved more challenging, and even she couldn't learn them instantly, requiring further contemplation later.
Ino also attempted to utilize the First Hokage's Wood Release, but the outcome was disappointing.
The First Hokage's teaching ability was as terrible as the Second Hokage's was exceptional!
"How do you use Wood Release? Your question is really..." In his inner world, the First Hokage scratched his head like a perplexed child. How was he supposed to answer that? He couldn't articulate it clearly at all!
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