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Afterward, the team made their way to the village head's home. There, they gathered the final details they needed, confirming the location and suspected numbers of the bandits. Armed with this information, they headed into the hilly terrain where the bandits were thought to be hiding. With Inoiki's sensory skills, pinpointing their exact location proved almost effortless.
Soon, they arrived at a concealed stronghold built into the hillside. The team prepared themselves, moving in swiftly. Using their combined abilities, they subdued the bandits with ease. The three rogue ninjas within the group barely had time to react before Inoiki immobilized them with a single thought, his Psychokinesis holding them frozen in place, their weapons dropping uselessly to the ground.
As the last bandit was secured, Inoiki placed his fingers to his temple, closing his eyes to initiate the Psycho Mind Transmission technique. Moments later, he straightened, his face calm as he turned to Izumo.
"No," he reported. "They're not affiliated with any village. Just independent rogues who formed this bandit group to make enough money to retire comfortably."
Izumo nodded, a slight frown crossing his face. "Good to know," he said. "Then we'll hand them over to the authorities as planned."
After capturing all the bandits, they handed most of them over to the local authorities, ensuring they would be held securely. However, recognizing the higher threat level posed by the three ninjas among the bandits, they decided to take these particular captives back with them to Konoha, where they could be handled with stricter security. To transport the ninja bandits safely, they hired a carriage, knowing that traveling with dangerous prisoners on foot would be too risky and exhausting.
Due to this added responsibility, their return to Konoha was significantly delayed. Though it had initially taken them less than 24 hours to reach this village, the journey back stretched to almost three days and two nights. Extra caution was needed to keep the ninja prisoners secure, and they had to stop frequently to ensure they were maintaining control over their captives.
Upon their arrival in Konoha, they went through all the necessary formalities. The Anbu—elite ninjas specializing in handling high-risk threats—took custody of the three ninja bandits immediately. During this handover, Inoiki also submitted the critical information he had gathered by reading the memories of the captured ninja bandits, adding valuable intelligence to Konoha's records.
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Two months later, time had flown by, and once again, it was the day of the Jonin meeting with the Hokage. The Third Training Ground of Konoha was bustling with activity, and here, in an open area surrounded by tall trees, Inoiki and his father, Inoichi, stood opposite each other.
Inoichi, observing his son with a serious expression, asked, "Inoiki, are you absolutely certain you want to take my water ninjutsu attack head-on?"
Inoiki nodded with confidence. "Yes, Father. I'm ready. I want to test the defense my new technique can provide."
The air was tense as both prepared to unleash their techniques. This moment wasn't just about training—it was a test of Inoiki's growth, and he was determined to prove himself.
Inoichi nodded with determination and began forming a series of intricate hand seals. His movements were precise, each seal a step closer to summoning his attack. As soon as he completed the final seal, river water surged upward and took the shape of a massive, sinuous water dragon behind him. The dragon's glistening, liquid body twisted powerfully, its form brimming with raw energy and intent as it launched toward Inoiki with a fierce, serpentine motion.
Inoiki stood his ground, watching the oncoming dragon with a calm, focused expression. His eyes remained steady, showing no sign of fear as the dragon bore down on him. As it neared, he concentrated deeply, summoning his psychic power. With a sharp mental command, he activated his ability, 'Psychokinesis,' creating an invisible barrier around himself. This unseen wall shimmered faintly, a protective force that seemed to bend the air around it.
The water dragon collided with Inoiki's invisible barrier in a powerful, head-on clash. The impact sent shockwaves through the air, causing a brief yet intense spray of water as the dragon's force rebounded against the invisible wall. The barrier held, but Inoiki, connected to the wall through his mind, sensed subtle fractures spreading through its structure. Though unseen to others, Inoiki, as its creator, could feel the wall's integrity weakening with each passing moment.
Just as he prepared to reinforce his barrier, it finally shattered under the pressure, unable to hold any longer. Water surged forward, dousing him as a weakened wave rushed over him, then quickly subsided. Although the water dragon had spent most of its energy on the collision, the remaining force left Inoiki slightly drenched as he shook off the residual water.
Rising to his feet, Inoiki looked down thoughtfully. "The defensive power of my 'Psychokinesis' wall is still too weak," he muttered to himself. "I need to train harder, strengthen my mental reserves, and push my limits so I can reach that level of mastery soon."
With renewed resolve, he mentally committed himself to pushing his abilities, knowing that stronger psychic defences would be critical in facing future challenges.
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