Since he had taken on the role of instructor for the three of them, Hikari of course couldn't ignore their training.
"Come here. I'll start by talking about the problems each of you has."
Once Shikamaru, Ino, and Chōji gathered, Hikari began pointing out their weaknesses.
"Chōji, your chakra reserves are abundant. The technique I taught you last time—you've already grasped it quite well. More importantly, when combined with your Multi-Size Technique, it greatly enhances your combat ability."
Chōji scratched his head with an embarrassed grin. Being praised like this made him a bit shy.
"As for your shortcomings... from my point of view, you train too slowly. If you had the same diligence as Naruto and Sasuke, your current strength should be at least twice what it is now."
Chōji's face stiffened, and he forced out an awkward laugh, unable to say anything.
Even he felt terrified watching Naruto and Sasuke train—those two trained like they didn't care about their lives.
Naruto even used the Forbidden Multi Shadow Clone Technique for training. Just thinking about the side effects made Chōji shiver.
Shadow Clone Technique may be a normal shinobi technique, an advanced form of the Clone Technique, so Chōji could use it too. One clone was still bearable, but any more and it became taxing.
More clones not only split his chakra but also caused side effects when they dispersed. If they vanished normally it was fine—but if a clone was destroyed by an enemy, or died during training, the pain, fatigue, and even the feeling of "death" would all return to the original body. Each instance was worse than the last.
Watching Naruto spend chakra recklessly to mass-produce clones, Chōji held nothing but admiration.
"Being a shinobi is inherently a way of digging out your own potential. Once you pass thirty, you'll slowly start declining—no one can stop that. Chōji, your family conditions are good. You even have body-nourishing medicines. So I hope you'll work harder. Your future shouldn't be limited to what you see now."
Chōji nodded heavily. He understood.
"As for you, Shikamaru—you're too smart for your own good. I suggest you continue researching your clan's secret techniques. You should have already noticed the changes happening within them. I want you to keep moving forward."
Shikamaru thought quietly, then looked at Hikari.
"Hikari-senpai, I have a question. Can I ask?"
"Go ahead," Hikari replied directly.
"I want to know... when we trained, did you do something to us? Why is it that other people training the same way can't achieve results like ours?"
As he spoke, Shikamaru stomped lightly on the ground. A perfectly smooth footprint appeared on the surface, as though the earth had turned to mirror-like glass for an instant.
"Hikari-senpai, Shikamaru didn't mean anything by it!" Ino hurriedly tried to smooth things over.
Under normal circumstances, what Shikamaru said could be seen as violating shinobi confidentiality rules.
Hikari had taught them techniques. In many ways, he was their true teacher.
He hadn't given them permission to spread those techniques—if they leaked them and Hikari crippled them for it, no one would object.
"Ino, relax. I didn't leak anything."
Shikamaru looked seriously at Hikari. "I came to this conclusion by observing Sasuke's training. In terms of talent, I don't believe I surpass him. So why can I develop abilities like this, while he can't?"
"What a clever kid."
Hikari smiled. "Back then, I planted a small 'chakra seed' in each of you. Through that seed, your chakra was guided and altered—making your chakra capable of direct offense."
Normally, chakra produced through training couldn't be used as a direct attack.
Only by applying special methods could one transform chakra into something offensive.
Hikari's method had changed that.
"Besides the five basic chakra natures—Wind, Earth, Water, Fire, and Lightning—there are also two more subtle types: Yin and Yang. Chōji's Multi-Size Technique involves Yang Release. Shikamaru, your Shadow Imitation techniques involve Yin Release. Ino, your Mind Transfer Technique also falls under Yin Release."
"What I gave you was only a seed. How it developed afterward depended entirely on you. At this point, even if I wanted to revert your chakra back to its original form, I wouldn't be able to."
That chakra seed had been nothing more than a catalyst.
Now the changes in their bodies had nothing to do with Hikari anymore.
"What about me, Hikari-senpai?" Ino quickly cut in, trying to dispel the tense atmosphere.
If things kept going this way, Shikamaru might actually get in trouble.
"You, Ino, are different from the other two."
"Compared to Chōji, who attacks physically, and Shikamaru, who attacks through shadows—your Yamanaka clan techniques rely on spiritual attacks. You may want to consider strengthening your physical body... or pursuing the Spirit Transformation Technique."
"Spirit Transformation Technique?"
Ino thought for a moment, then said quietly, "That's senior Kato Dan's secret technique, right? I..."
Hikari waved a hand. "Don't worry. If you truly want to learn, I can help you acquire it. But the risks involved are high. Think carefully."
The Yamanaka clan specialized in spiritual control—pretending they knew nothing about the Spirit Transformation Technique would be a lie.
But back then, the clan had to stay low-profile and avoid drawing attention. They wouldn't dare go to Sarutobi Hiruzen to request such a technique.
In Hikari's eyes, however, times were already changing.
Once the Sage of Six Paths appeared and the world advanced, strong individuals would become more and more common.
If Ino didn't continue growing, she would soon fall far behind Shikamaru and Chōji.
The mind was something even Hikari didn't fully understand.
"Thank you, Hikari-senpai," Ino said seriously.
"I can help you obtain the technique," Hikari said, smiling. "But you must promise that without my permission, you are not allowed to teach it to anyone—not even your clan. At least, not for now."
Ino agreed without hesitation.
As a child of a shinobi clan, she understood secrecy rules better than most.
A shinobi who learned a forbidden technique from the Scroll of Seals couldn't teach it to others without the Hokage's or a senior's approval.
Such rules existed both to preserve secrecy and because these techniques carried great danger during training.
"Thank you, Hikari-senpai. I understand."
"Good. Continue your training. Shikamaru—don't forget to supervise the two of them. And if Chōji dares slack off, you'd better be careful later."
Shikamaru winced awkwardly.
It felt like Hikari's warning was more for him than for Chōji.
For someone as lazy as he was, asking him to train as diligently as Naruto was torture.
"Shikamaru... try to get stronger quickly."
"Otherwise, you'll all be overtaken by Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata before you know it."