At this moment,
Within the Nara Clan compound.
Inside the forest behind the mountain,
Several days earlier, when Akira paid a visit to the three Ino–Shika–Chō families,
At the request of Shikaku Nara and Choza Akimichi,
He generously agreed that while guiding Ino, he would also take along her childhood companions, Shikamaru Nara and Choji Akimichi.
Because during these past two years, Ino's strength had advanced by leaps and bounds,
As a result, Shikamaru and Chōji had both come under tremendous pressure.
Their lives had practically become miserable over the past two years.
Their elders strictly supervised their training, not allowing them to slack off in the slightest.
Every generation of the Ino–Shika–Chō formation,
Had to grow together.
If one lagged too far behind, then the combination itself lost its meaning.
Akira also had no intention of dismantling the ancient alliance between the three clans, who had long existed as one inseparable unit.
Furthermore,
Back then, Shikaku and the others truly had treated him very well.
And if not for Shikaku and the others helping out,
Then Tsunade would never have received the handwritten letter from his grandmother, Chinye Nao, and rushed back to Konoha from outside the village.
Therefore,
Aside from leaving a Wood Clone at the usual place to guide Tenten,
Akira also arranged another Wood Clone to guide the next generation of the Ino–Shika–Chō trio, including Ino, within the Nara Clan's forest.
Of course, Thanks to the "cheats" Akira secretly gave Ino,
The girl's strength advanced at an astonishing pace, far beyond normal people.
Although the core strategist of the new generation Ino–Shika–Chō remained the genius-level Shikamaru,
The true leader of the group,
Had undoubtedly become Ino.
BOOM!!
Her golden ponytail swayed.
Ino's petite figure shot forward.
Her right fist clenched tightly as chakra gathered within it before she smashed it forward fiercely.
The enormous boulder before her exploded apart instantly.
BOOM—
Dust billowed while shattered stones scattered everywhere.
Nearby, Shikamaru and Chōji subconsciously shrank their necks.
Looking at the exaggerated destruction before them, they could not help swallowing hard.
The two exchanged glances—
Silently reaching the same conclusion.
In the future…
They absolutely must never provoke Ino!
"Not bad, Ino. Your Monster Strength Punch is becoming more and more proficient!"
After spending some time using the Spirit Transformation Technique to personally guide Tenten in storage-and-release space-time techniques using scrolls to seal flames and lake water—
And then instructing her to continue practicing on her own—
Akira arrived here to guide Ino.
He nodded in satisfaction.
"Hehe, that's all thanks to Akira Ren-niisan teaching me so well…"
Ino narrowed her eyes into happy crescents and grinned brightly.
These past few days—
Compared to before, her strength had become completely different.
And under Akira Ren's assistance—
Her chakra pathway system had widened, her physique comprehensively improved, and even both her chakra reserves and chakra control had increased substantially.
Furthermore—
Under Akira Ren's continued guidance via the Spirit Transformation Technique—
She had already successfully mastered Monster Strength.
"Don't get arrogant… keep working hard!"
Akira rubbed Ino's little head.
Then he looked toward Shikamaru and Chōji nearby and smiled.
"Shikamaru, Chōji—you two can't slack off either. Work harder!"
Honestly speaking—
The courage displayed by Shikaku and the others surprised him somewhat.
After he frankly stated that because the Ino–Shika–Chō combination each possessed their own secret clan techniques—
If he wanted to further develop the potential of the trio, then he needed a complete understanding of the secret techniques of the Yamanaka, Nara, and Akimichi clans—
And that during the process, he might unintentionally learn those inherited clan techniques himself—
Just like how guiding Ino's Yamanaka techniques through Spirit Transformation had effectively allowed him to master the Yamanaka Clan's abilities—
He truly did not expect—
That after hearing this—
Shikaku, after discussing it with Inoichi Yamanaka and Chōza—
Would directly deliver each clan's secret technique scrolls to him that very afternoon.
The Yamanaka Clan's Mind Body Switch Technique and the Nara Clan's Shadow Techniques—
Strictly speaking, both belonged to Yin Release ninjutsu.
Meanwhile—
The Akimichi Clan's Expansion Technique belonged to Yang Release ninjutsu.
Over these past few days—
Akira carefully studied all three clans' secret arts one by one.
Moreover—
Relying on the profound foundation he had accumulated over the years, combined with his wildly imaginative ideas—
Based upon techniques like the Shadow Techniques and Expansion Technique—
He once again developed entirely new ninjutsu.
"Akira Ren, this Shadow Humanoid Technique is seriously too hard…"
Hearing that—
Shikamaru's expression collapsed as he completely lacked motivation.
He truly never expected—
That Akira Ren, his childhood companion—
Would be this absurdly talented.
After obtaining the Nara Clan's techniques—
In merely a short period of time—
He used his astonishing talent and creativity to innovate a brand-new Shadow Technique—
Shadow Humanoid Technique.
Also known as the True Shadow Clone Technique!
It allowed one's shadow to transform into a tangible shadow clone.
Furthermore—
That shadow clone could also use the Nara Clan's other Shadow Techniques and possessed remarkable combat power.
The key point was—
Shadows could not be injured.
However—
Actually mastering it was no simple task.
"And that Wild Lion Mane Technique, plus Fire Nature Transformation too…"
Choji Akimichi also wore a miserable expression.
But honestly speaking—
The Akimichi Clan's secret arts truly were already extremely comprehensive.
Even Jiraiya's Wild Lion's Mane Technique—
Actually had a similar counterpart within the Akimichi Clan:
Wild Lion Hair Technique.
Using Yang Release to lengthen and harden one's hair like steel needles—
Then combining it with the Expansion Technique to cover the body and crush enemies using Human Bullet Tank.
It was even said that Jiraiya's technique had originally been created based on the Akimichi Clan's secret arts.
However—
Compared to Jiraiya's already highly refined Wild Lion's Mane Technique—
The Akimichi Clan's Wild Lion Hair Technique still fell somewhat short and lacked the same versatility.
But—
Having personally witnessed Jiraiya's technique before—
Akira directly improved it further.
By combining it with the Akimichi Clan's Yang Release secret arts—
It could now manipulate hair freely like Wild Lion's Mane Technique, using it at will for offense or defense.
Moreover—
By utilizing powerful chakra control and combining different chakra nature transformations with the Akimichi Clan's Expansion Technique—
Its power had been enhanced even further.
However—
Mastering it was still no easy matter.
"Recently, I've been researching your Nara Clan's Shadow Techniques…"
Akira walked over.
Knocking Shikamaru lightly on the head, he spoke bluntly:
"I discovered its potential is enormous. It can go much further and practically form its own entire system!"
"But I can only give you the beginning. You'll need to perfect it yourself!"
"If you can accomplish that, your clan will benefit endlessly!"
Akira never doubted Shikamaru's intelligence and talent.
The problem was—
This guy was simply too lazy and lacked motivation.
People like him—
Needed a lofty goal placed before them and occasional pressure to push them forward.
"Is it really that exaggerated?"
Shikamaru scratched his head.
Although he was proud of his clan's techniques—
He never believed they were superior to the secret arts of Konoha's other great clans.
"For example, developing a Shadow Substitution Technique that instantly swaps positions between the shadow clone and the main body, or transforming shadows into wings for flight…"
Akira shrugged and casually listed examples.
"Or perhaps a Shadow Sealing Technique that directly seals an enemy's shadow, or a Shadow Devouring Technique capable of consuming others' shadows to strengthen the user…"
"How far it can go depends entirely on you!"
"The intelligence of your Nara Clan possesses the potential to make these things reality!"
Gulp!
Hearing Akira Ren's words—
Both Chōji and Ino nearby were utterly dumbfounded.
Their horizons expanded dramatically.
Could these things…
Really be possible?
Only Shikamaru—
Though shocked—
Suddenly found his eyes lighting up.
Thinking about it carefully—
It actually seemed highly feasible.
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