Ino, this 'bridge' took on the task of communication.
Ashura gently tapped her forehead, enveloping his words in Chakra and sending them into her spiritual body.
What words were they? She had no idea; it seemed this ball of Chakra would only automatically unravel when she saw Indra.
This was purely a messenger's job.
After Ashura disappeared, she exited the dark space, returning to Naruto's mindscape.
When she looked back again, the staircase leading downwards was no longer visible.
Naruto's mindscape was truly lively; should she bring them a mahjong set next time?
The messenger's work was utterly uninteresting, but Naruto could charge Kurama rent.
For her, as this 'bridge,' enabling communication between the brothers, collecting a 'toll fee' should also be a very reasonable thing.
Asura Chakra, Indra Chakra—everyone who used them said they were good.
Entering Naruto's body was relatively easier; it was like a bustling courtyard where everyone came and went freely.
Contacting Indra, however, was difficult.
He was a bit tsundere, erasing her memories at the drop of a hat, and crucially, often unpredictably, entirely depending on his mood.
Ino shook her head, feeling this mission would be tough.
Delivering the message depended on fate.
Thinking of earlier events, she followed the pipes, continuing to search for Naruto.
"Naruto? Where are you? If you don't come out, I'm going back first, okay?"
"I'm really going back now, okay?"
"Didn't see a single ghost; boring! Release!"
She shouted "Release!" very loudly, but in reality, she didn't make a move, instead observing her surroundings.
Facts proved that Kurama wasn't foolish either; he disappeared as he said he would.
Ino's trick for fooling children was completely ineffective.
"I'll be back."
Leaving that message, she released her Mind Body Switch Technique, returning to her own body.
Opening her eyes, she saw Choji standing in front of her, holding a Kunai.
"What happened? Sounds like a fight?" Ino asked.
She stood up and looked outside.
Ha, looking outside, she found it was indeed lively.
The Otogakure Trio had found them at some point, and since their conversation didn't go well, they immediately started fighting.
Naruto and Ino were unconscious inside the cave, with Choji protecting them.
Sasuke, Shikamaru, and Sakura faced the attackers.
Sasuke beat Dosu of the Six Paths until he was crawling on the ground, his mouth twisted.
Shikamaru, having been involved with Ino for half a year, was significantly stronger than in the original timeline and also thoroughly thrashed the spirited young man with three 'Death' characters written on him.
Currently, only Sakura and the Female Ninja from the Hidden Sound Village were still fighting.
Sasuke and Shikamaru had good judgment; the two from Otogakure were covered in injuries, but their wounds were not fatal.
Ino watched Sakura's fight and felt she didn't need any help.
She refocused her attention on Naruto.
After a moment of thought, she said to Choji, "Something might happen to me later.
Don't worry, and don't touch me.
I can control the progress, and Water Release can heal all external injuries on the body."
Choji didn't know why she said that, but he nodded heavily, indicating he understood.
Ino glanced at her status panel.
Asura Chakra was indeed of paramount importance.
With this, just like when she possessed Haku's body last time, her panel finally displayed the necessary conditions for Wood Release.
Haku's Ice Release had a specific ratio of Water Release and Wind Release Chakra mixed.
Wood Release was even more complex.
Earth Release plus Water Release made Wood Release.
This was a Bloodline Limit, not a Bloodline Elimination formed by mixing three types of Chakra.
However, before mixing Earth Release and Water Release, Yang Release Chakra had to be added first, to both the water and the earth.
Strictly speaking, Wood Release was a mixture of Water Release Chakra with Yang Release Chakra and Earth Release Chakra with Yang Release Chakra, with a ratio of four parts water to six parts earth.
The required attributes were Ninja 10, Spirit 10, Yang Release Lv5, Water Release Lv5, and Earth Release Lv5—a total of five maxed attributes were needed to unlock Wood Release.
Currently, she only met the Ninja 10 condition.
The remaining attributes were Spirit 8, Yang Release Lv1, Water Release Lv4, and Earth Release Lv2; these four were clearly still far off.
Ino nodded to Choji, then once again used the Mind Body Switch Technique to enter Naruto's body.
This time, she came prepared.
As soon as she entered the mindscape, she started shouting.
"I'm not good with words."
Ino threw out an opening line, then said, "You're right there, aren't you? I know you, Nine-Tailed Fox!"
Talking about Kurama by name was impossible right now, so she could only use the title "Nine-Tailed Fox."
"You can't stop me from leaving, so naturally, you can't stop me from entering.
What's the point of throwing a tantrum now and making Naruto unconscious?
Can you break free?
Or will you be happy if Naruto dies?
You clearly know my purpose for coming, but what about you?
Pretending not to be home? Avoiding me?"
Ino pointed at the air and cursed, "What's the use of this?
Do you think your actions are a sign of maturity?
I'm telling you, your behavior is childish!
Utterly childish!"
The word "childish" seemed to enrage Kurama, and a vague, fiery red silhouette appeared on the wall near Ino.
Kurama was still firmly sealed; this was just a trace of Chakra overflowing due to the Five Elements Seal and Four Symbols Seal being confused.
For Kurama, this was less than a drop in the ocean.
He transformed into a vague, monstrous figure, baring his fangs and claws, covered in blood, towering as high as a mountain, attempting to scare Ino away.
Ino secretly formed the 'Release' hand seal with one hand, while pointing at him with the other: "Calling you childish, you really are childish.
What's the point of transforming like this?
To scare me?
Do you think I'm easily frightened?
If you're so capable, come and hit me!"
Kurama was furious; wasn't her "come and hit me" remark childish itself?
Ino heard a sharp roar, like grinding teeth, then realized her Mind Body Switch Technique was complete, and she had gained control of Naruto's body.
In less than a tenth of a second, she felt an unparalleled, immense Chakra filling this body.
The amount of this Chakra was simply incredible; unlike human Chakra, Kurama's Chakra was highly corrosive.
Due to the extremely intense energy, the skin, muscles, and bones were all being burned.
Because of his Uzumaki Clan lineage, Naruto had strong self-healing abilities, and the Chakra burning was roughly balanced by his recovery.
Ino, however, did not have this recovery ability.
The drawback of the Mind Body Switch Technique was that if the target was injured, the original body would also be injured.
Therefore, this technique was usually for support and rarely used in combat.
Kurama seemed to know this technique, or perhaps he discerned its weakness.
He used the connection of the technique to burn Ino's body through Naruto's body.
His heart was filled with glee; he wanted to see what this sharp-tongued woman could do!
---------------------------------
If you'd like to read the next 40 chapters in advance, you can support me on Patreon.
I regularly post chapter previews there, so you'll always be up-to-date and won't have to wait too long.
patreon.com/SolyuraMT
And if you enjoy the story, don't forget to give me a Power Stone. Your support really motivates me to continue translating!