“……! This is…….”
If things were normal, Aoba should have been able to see the shinobi’s mind. However, as soon as he entered his consciousness, his field of vision was completely dyed red. The ocean of red spread underfoot, and started to undulate like giant waves in response to the intruder.
“…..Damn it! Is this a genjutsu trap?! I’ve never experienced an offensive genjutsu trap….” He tried to run away, but the giants waves swept him away into a vortex of thought, forcefully swallowing him.
“……Uh, Sakura-chan, what’s wrong with him?” Naruto asked, noticing the strange signs that something was wrong. Aoba was rocking back forth as if stuck in an ocean wave.
“There must be a genjutsu trap in his mind….!” Sakura said, realizing what was going on.
“What’s going on!?”
Ino’s expression became stiff. Immediately, she joined her pointer fingers and thumbs from each hand together, and aimed them towards Aoba.
—Mind body switch technique!
It was the secret ninja technique of the Yamanaka Clan. Ino entered Aoba’s consciousness and her own body slanted towards the ground. Instantly, Shikamaru reacted with his shadow imitation jutsu, catching Ino before she hit the ground.
“Ino, are you okay….?!” Sakura asked looking from Ino to Aoba.
The struggle between their consciousness took but an instant, but for Ino and Aoba it felt like an eternity.
“…..huh!” Aoba took a deep breath and fell to his knees.
“You saved me, thank you…..” His mind was fairly exhausted, and he sat on the ground with both hands together breathing heavily.
“I don’t know what would have happened.”
Ino released the jutsu and her face was as white as a ghost’s.
“Ino!”
She let out a weak laugh in response to Sakura’s concern. The blood was gone from her face, and it was clear she was trying to put on a show of strength.
“Ino!” Having spent massive reserves of chakra, Ino lost consciousness. The same thing happened to Aoba, and he fell to his side.
“Sai! Carry Ino and Aoba to the hospital ! I’ll examine them!” Sakura yelled, while sending chakra into Ino and Aoba’s bodies with her medical ninjutsu. She had the medical ninjutsu of the previous Hokage, Tsunade. Sai quickly went to work with his paintbrush.
The sun started to climb into the Eastern sky without a care of what went on below. Sweat ran down Naruto’s cheek. He sensed that a deep hatred had infected them.