A/N: We've reached our goal, so you guys will get a double release next Monday. New target is to get the story to 500 powerstones by Sunday for a Triple Release next Monday. This story will only continue if it gets enough support e.g. Powerstones. New goal 500 powerstones! Can we get to 700 by Sunday?
A week had passed since Goro had initially trained Ino. Team 10 was on their way to Yakiniku Q after another successful Rank D mission.
'I've only been teaching Ino for three lessons, but her stat gain is by no means insignificant. Yet, that's not all. The system has also finished creating the Jutsu I requested, so I need to test that after this meal.'
Noticing Goro lapse into his usual trance, Ino put an arm around him and teased, "What deep thoughts are you having now?"
Shikamaru, who had been walking behind the rest of the group with Choji, interrupted, "When did you two get so chummy?"
Ino had forgotten that Shikamaru and Choji were behind her, as was evident when she pulled back from Goro and stuttered, struggling to give a response.
"Oh, stop being an old man!" Asuma scolded, looking back at Shikamaru.
Shikamaru was about to respond but instead let out a big sigh. "Whatever, it's not that big a deal anyway," Shikamaru moaned.
"Saved..." Ino thought, placing her hand on her chest and exhaling.
Thankfully for Goro, Ino eased off and allowed him to continue thinking.
Not long later, the group arrived at Yakiniku, each taking a seat at the table. Goro sat next to Asuma, while Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji all sat on the other side.
"So, what'll it be today?" Asuma asked, a nervous smile taking shape.
Goro, Ino, and Shikamaru ordered fairly quickly, but Choji took his time listing half the meals on the menu.
Asuma's face lost its color upon hearing Choji's order. Initially, the group of Genin wasn't used to this, so they became incredibly concerned, but now it had become routine. Choji would ask for an absurd amount of food, and Asuma would stress as he saw the money drain from his pockets.
Feeling generous, Goro offered, "Sensei, I could pay if you like," to which Asuma was swift to take him up on his offer.
Goro pulled out the frog wallet he had bought earlier in the week and handed a 100-ryo note to Asuma.
Asuma's eyes lit up. "Thank you, Sir!" he laughed, acting as if he were an employee.
Goro chuckled, a little embarrassed by all the attention he was getting. "Don't worry about it, Sensei," he affirmed, trying to prevent Asuma from going further.
Crossing his arms and running his eyes over the other genin, Asuma scolded, "You guys need to be more like Goro. You all received a nice payday from the bridge builder mission, but only one of you is willing to spend it."
Unable to resist, Shikamaru retorted, "You're an active Jonin, but you're always being cheap. I heard Kiba's team doesn't pay for a single meal."
The group, including Goro, burst out laughing. Thirty minutes later, Team 10 had all finished their meals and were ready to head out.
Asuma stood up, turning away, when he suddenly turned back. "Oh, I forgot to tell you. In two days, we'll be doing joint training with Team 8." Without offering further details, Asuma flickered away.
'I have a feeling that's an excuse for him to spend time with Kurenai.'
"We're leaving," Shikamaru said, with Choji in tow. Ino and Goro were left alone together.
'This scene feels familiar…'
"So… what're you doing later?" Ino asked, fidgeting with her hands behind her back.
'I don't have time to hang out with her.'
"I'll be training," Goro responded simply.
"I can come alo—"
"No, it's private training, sorry," Goro interrupted.
Placing her hands on her hips, Ino replied, "It's really not that big of a deal; I just didn't have anything to do later."
Goro nodded and flickered away.
Arriving at the training grounds, Goro remembered something besides the Frozen Rasengan that he wanted to try.
'I've been wondering about this for some time now, but I've been too busy testing other Jutsu to get around to it. Since I can use the Body Flicker Jutsu without making hand signs, shouldn't it be possible to use it in combat, just like Shisui did? That would greatly increase my speed.'
Walking over to the tree before him, Goro pulled out a kunai and began flickering around the tree, striking it at different points.
Pausing briefly to admire his work, Goro realized that he had successfully hit the target from multiple angles while using the Body Flicker.
'This is incredible… Now that I know I can use it in combat, I should try something new.'
Goro began to flicker around the tree at a faster pace. Focusing on three different points around the tree, two doppelgangers slowly began to materialize. As he further increased his speed, the doppelgangers became more solid.
'This is the moment of truth.'
Goro struck the tree only once with his kunai, but the outcome amazed him.
'…Wow.'
"The tree has three marks at different points, all identical, even though I only struck it once…" Goro muttered.
Goro had flickered between different points around the tree so quickly that he managed to be in three places at once.
Dizzy from moving so fast, Goro fell on his back.
'I guess it was easier for Shisui because of the Sharingan.'
Getting up and brushing the grass off his pants, Goro recalibrated his focus onto performing the Frozen Rasengan.
He raised his right hand and turned it upward, willing the perfected Rasengan to come into existence. Without needing to utter a command, a regular Rasengan began to form, with a thin layer of ice wrapping around it, following the Rasengan's rotation.
'It's quite eye-catching, like some rare gem.'
Instinctively knowing the Frozen Rasengan had fully formed, he transferred it from his right hand to his left.
'It's not heavy either; it barely feels like I'm holding anything.'
Goro tossed the blue orb from hand to hand, gauging its sturdiness.
"This thing doesn't feel like it'll even break," Goro mumbled.
[Warning! The Frozen Rasengan will break if not handled carefully!]
'Okay, okay, got it. Now it's time to test this thing.'
Relocating a few meters away from the center of the training grounds, Goro tossed the orb into his right hand and pitched it toward the center of the grounds.
The sound of ice shattering echoed throughout the forest, causing birds to scatter.
The shattering was soon followed by the distorted sound of rapidly rotating chakra. A loud explosion rang out, shaking the very ground Goro was standing on. Dirt flew toward Goro's eyes, forcing him to shield them while trying to peek at the damage. A crater around 3 meters wide and 6 feet deep dominated the center of the grounds.
'I put 20% of my chakra into that, and it has this much destructive capability? This Jutsu could be useful for tricking enemies. They might brush aside a tiny orb, but if I put 50% of my chakra into it, the destructive power would be out of this world.'
[Incorrect. If 50% of your chakra or more is put into the Frozen Rasengan, it would turn into a Frozen Giant Rasengan.]
'Thanks for the warning, but I have enough chakra control to keep it below 50%. 45% should be sufficient to maintain its size while achieving a similar level of destructive power as with 50% of my chakra. I need to increase my wind affinity so that my ice affinity receives a multiple boost, allowing it to use less chakra.'
Reminder: We've reached our goal, so you guys will get a double release next Monday. New target is to get the story to 500 powerstones by Sunday for a Triple Release next Monday. This story will only continue if it gets enough support e.g. Powerstones. New goal 500 powerstones! Can we get to 700 by sunday?