Ino said no more.
He had practiced his Taijutsu to this level through daily arduous training, which, to put it nicely, showed perseverance, or to put it less nicely, a stubborn personality that wouldn't turn back even after hitting a wall. A few words simply couldn't sway Shirō's mind.
"Alright then, if you change your mind, you can always come to Konoha Village to find us."
Ino didn't interfere with Choji's learning. Choji was very clear-headed. If he felt Shirō's breathing technique was beneficial to him, then he should learn it; that was his own business.
Over the next two days, Choji often used his evening rest time to study the breathing technique, occasionally using his Taijutsu knowledge to help Shirō modify it. When the two encountered problems and couldn't figure out the answers, Choji would bring the questions to Ino.
Ino's "Strength" was 8 points, similar to Asuma, making her a standard Jonin in terms of Taijutsu.
Not high, but not low either.
Tsunade herself was a top Taijutsu master of the current era, and the Taijutsu of powerhouses like the Second Hokage, Shisui, and Minato were also not weak. If Ino were to practice, she might not become exceptionally skilled, but she could talk!
This isn't right, that isn't right—she was a professional at finding flaws.
Her guidance might not always be correct, but for someone like Shirō, who had never received formal education or communicated with Taijutsu masters, it was like opening up entirely new paths.
In return, he taught Choji with even greater dedication.
The "Seven-Day Breathing Method" was a Taijutsu training method that utilized a unique breathing rhythm to rapidly burst out a large amount of Chakra in a short period.
Unlike the Eight Gates, which, once opened, could last for a period, this "Seven-Day Breathing Method" needed to be continuously maintained, and the breathing rhythm during combat absolutely could not be disrupted. At the same time, it also shared the drawback of the Eight Gates in damaging the body. While the Eight Gates damaged the eight Chakra points, the "Seven-Day Breathing Method" damaged the entire Chakra pathway.
Ino sought the harmony of Yin and Yang, the path to immortality. She respectfully declined Taijutsu that damaged the body's foundation, such as the Seven-Day Breathing Method and the Eight Gates. She would not practice them, nor was there any need to.
After about five days, the Ino–Shika–Choji trio crossed the desert. Choji secretly bid farewell to Shirō, and then they contacted Temari, secretly entering the Hidden Sand Village.
"This is infuriating!"
Temari's status in the Hidden Sand Village was equivalent to Ino's status in Konoha Village. She was often surrounded by a group of young, beautiful girls. She jabbed her three-star fan into the ground, and the young Kunoichi of Sunagakure buzzed around her, asking questions.
Temari plopped down on a chair, sulking.
Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji watched from a distance.
Shikamaru nudged her with his elbow: "Go ask what's going on."
Ino pointed to her own nose: "Me? Go ask? Temari looks like she's about to explode!"
Shikamaru's light remark made it impossible for her to refuse.
"You're a Jonin."
Alright! I'll go ask.
Ino walked over, hooked Temari's neck as if no one else was there, and the two walked away.
The group of Sunagakure Kunoichi, comparable to Sakura in their stunned cuteness, watched wide-eyed as Ino pulled their leader away.
"What are you doing? I'm not that familiar with you! Don't be so pushy!" Temari pushed back a couple of times, but Ino's "Strength" was now also 6 points, so her "Natural Divine Strength" no longer held an advantage.
Finding a sheltered spot, Ino asked directly: "What exactly are you thinking? Are you fully defecting to Konoha, or will you continue to coexist with those radicals as you are now? I heard Kankuro was attacked by unknown Ninja a few days ago?"
Temari was under immense pressure, with all the Village's conflicts falling on her shoulders. She was tired of being dragged out as a target by the radical elders every other day. But to say she would directly defect to Konoha? She felt a bit disloyal to her parents and Gaara.
Ino held up two fingers: "There are only two paths now. First, you bring your trusted subordinates and return to Konoha with me. I'll call for support, and we can safely escort you back to Konoha Village. Second, you continue to be a Jonin in the Hidden Sand Village, and the three of us will go back where we came from."
Temari's mind was in turmoil, and she couldn't make a decision.
Ino offered her another suggestion: "How about this, let's take it one step at a time. We'll say that you and your siblings are going to pay respects to the Fourth Kazekage. Once you reach the border, you can decide whether to come with us to Konoha. How does that sound?"
In truth, Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara had little to no affection for the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa. Rasa might have been a good Kazekage, but he was definitely not a good father.
Orochimaru killed Rasa, and after the Fourth Shinobi World War, he received a special pardon from Naruto, allowing him to continue his research in Konoha Village. Temari married into Konoha Village, becoming Shikamaru's wife. Did she not know Orochimaru was in the Village? Including Gaara and Kankuro, the three siblings had visited Konoha Village countless times, yet showed no hostility towards Orochimaru, their father's killer.
The three siblings were incredibly filial: 'My dad was killed by Orochimaru? What's that got to do with me!'
At this moment, when Ino mentioned their father, the extremely filial Temari showed no emotion of remembrance or nostalgia.
She considered the excuse quite seriously: "Perhaps we can try that."
The Hidden Sand Village Elder Council still approved of the Fourth Kazekage. Hearing that Temari and her siblings were going to pay respects, they saw no problem and immediately signed the order, agreeing to it.
Like a bird escaping its cage, Temari immediately gathered the Ninja who remained loyal to Gaara, preparing to leave the Village.
Her list included old friends like Miss Maki, and also a few young, beautiful Kunoichi who were new friends.
Due to the existence of Chakra, Ninja as a profession generally had equal status for men and women.
However, most Ninja who died in wars were male Ninja. This was due to multiple factors, one major reason being that Kunoichi often lacked sufficient ruthlessness and perseverance.
Kunoichi mostly worked in the Medical Corps and barrier teams, while male Ninja were primarily on the front lines, fighting to the death against enemies. Over time, the lower ranks of the Five Great Ninja Villages had more Kunoichi than male Ninja.
Currently, Temari's, or rather Gaara's, supporters were predominantly Kunoichi.
"You have too many Kunoichi on your side, don't you?"
Ino looked at the energetic Kunoichi before her, unsure how to complain.
Miss Matsuri said she was Gaara's disciple, and even though Gaara was now branded a Rogue Ninja, she still called him 'Master' repeatedly.
It was said that when Gaara asked several young Ninja what weapons they liked, Miss Matsuri said she liked using a meteor hammer. Then Gaara demonstrated with a meteor hammer for her a couple of times, and after that, she became Gaara's disciple.
Ino was stunned after hearing this anecdote. With Gaara's trash Taijutsu, where he just stood still, what kind of meteor hammer could he possibly know?!
Young lady, do you want to learn a skill? Your true intention isn't the wine; you wouldn't happen to want to be the Fifth Kazekage's wife, would you?
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