Chapter 64 - The Strategist

Shikamaru, who had been carefully observing the battle between Ino and Sakura, suddenly became serious. "Is she really going to use the Mind-Body Switch Technique?" he muttered.

Asuma, the leader of Team 10, took the cigarette out of his mouth, surprised. "What is Ino thinking…"

On the battlefield, Sakura noticed the hand sign Ino was making and immediately understood her opponent's plan.

"I know you want to end this fight, but… it won't work!" Sakura said. "The Mind-Body Switch Jutsu allows the user to project their mental energy into the target, controlling their body for a few minutes. However…"

Sakura continued explaining, "This technique has fatal flaws. One, the mental energy moves slowly and only in a straight line. Two, if the mental energy doesn't hit the target, the user will be unable to return to their own body for a few minutes. And lastly, the user's body becomes completely immobile during the technique, leaving them vulnerable."

Despite Sakura's analysis of the weaknesses, Ino was determined and ignored her. She formed a hand sign with her fingers in a triangle aimed at Sakura.

"So what!" Ino shouted. "For Furen, I have to try!"

Sakura prepared to dodge. "If I evade your mental energy, Furen will be mine! Isn't that right?" she teased.

Ino took a deep breath and focused, predicting Sakura's next move.

As Sakura started running at high speed, Ino activated her technique. "Mind-Body Switch Jutsu!"

Both Sakura and Ino stopped in their tracks, lowering their heads. A few seconds later, Sakura slowly lifted her head, a mischievous grin on her face. "Hehe, too bad, Sakura."

Ino had successfully predicted Sakura's movements, hitting her with the Mind-Body Switch Jutsu and taking control of her body.

Shikamaru, watching closely, nodded. "Ino's won. Sakura's mind is completely under her control."

Inside Sakura's body, Ino's consciousness grinned triumphantly as she addressed Sakura's now-dormant mind. "Looks like I've won. Goodbye, Sakura. Furen is mine now!"

Controlling Sakura's body, Ino raised her hand to signal surrender. Referee Hayate Gekko was about to declare the match over when something unexpected happened. Sakura's mental energy stirred, and her consciousness suddenly reawakened.

Ino, shocked, exclaimed, "Sakura? No way! You're still resisting?"

"I won't give up!" Sakura's spirit roared, her thoughts focused on Furen. "There's no way I'll let you take Furen from me!"

Fueled by her intense emotions for Furen, Sakura's mental energy grew stronger, and she violently broke free from Ino's control. Ino's jutsu was forcibly canceled.

Back in her own body, Ino was exhausted from the chakra consumption, just like Sakura. Both were clearly drained and had little energy left to continue fighting.

"How… how far will you go before you give up on Furen?" Ino asked, panting.

Sakura glanced toward the stands, where Furen was watching, and smiled affectionately. "Hehe… You still don't get it, do you, Ino? A girl will always go after what she wants. I love Furen—so much it hurts."

Sakura repeated the same words Ino had once spoken about her love for Furen.

The two girls stared at each other before charging at one another for one final blow. "This is the last strike!" they cried simultaneously.

Just before they reached each other, a figure suddenly appeared between them and caught both their fists.

"Furen~"

"Furen!" both girls exclaimed, looking at him with love-filled eyes.

Furen smiled warmly. "I love both Sakura and Ino," he said softly.

Hearing this, both Sakura and Ino smiled, satisfied, before fainting from exhaustion and collapsing into Furen's arms.

In Furen's mind, the system's voice echoed:

Haruno Sakura's favorability toward you has increased by 6%.

Yamanaka Ino's favorability toward you has increased by 5%.

Haruno Sakura's favorability has reached 100%. You have one remaining draw opportunity. Would you like to open it?

Yamanaka Ino's favorability has reached 100%. You have one remaining draw opportunity. Would you like to open it?

Ding!

Congratulations, host! You have successfully maxed out the favorability of five characters: Haruno Sakura, Yamanaka Ino, Haku, Koyuki Kazahana, and Kin Tsuchi. Achievement unlocked: Strategist!

Strategist: This achievement allows you to infinitely increase the probability of obtaining rare items in the reward pool.

Upon hearing the system notification, Furen couldn't contain his excitement. "Finally, the day has come!"

Kin Tsuchi's favorability had already surpassed 120%, and her reward pool included top-tier items like the First Hokage's Wood Style, his cells, and the Edo Tensei technique. Now, with two more reward draws from Sakura and Ino's 100% favorability, and the Strategist ability to boost rare item drop rates, Furen felt a strong urge to start drawing the rewards immediately!

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T/N:

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