Chương 146: Chapter 146: Ino's Progress

"All right, a few days' rest should do the trick," Shizune said, dispersing the green chakra from her hands.

"Shizune, what exactly happened here?" Kakashi asked with a heavy expression.

"We're not certain yet," Shizune replied, shaking her head. "Lady Tsunade will assign someone to investigate."

"Their uniforms were identical, so it's likely they belong to an organization of some sort," Kakashi mused. "As for their target… it could be Sasuke, or Naruto."

Focused on his fight with Kisame, Kakashi hadn't overheard the conversation with Itachi, but it was clear that the attack on Team 7 had a purpose.

Given that Sasuke was Itachi's younger brother, his return could simply be a personal visit. And Naruto, as the Nine-Tails' jinchuuriki, was significant for entirely different reasons.

"You could be right. I'll report that to Lady Tsunade. As for now, leave the rest to us and focus on recuperating," Shizune said, glancing at the unconscious Sasuke. "And what about him?"

"He's fine." Shinho answered. "I knocked him out myself."

"Then you can take him home," Shizune said, observing him for a moment to be sure he wasn't injured.

"Sure," Shinho replied, raising his hand as his kikaichu insects lifted Sasuke into the air.

"Whoa, so cool!" Naruto exclaimed, now fully recovered from the genjutsu and as lively as ever.

"Naruto, time for some extra training!" Guy said as he flipped into a handstand, challenging him with a grin.

"Your performance today lacked the proper youthfulness. For that, I'll have you do a hundred laps as punishment!"

"Yes, sir!" Naruto's eyes lit up as his energy spiked even higher. It had been a while since he'd seen Guy-sensei, and now he felt the old familiar drive of youth—like nothing could hold him back!

Kakashi watched as the two bounded off and couldn't help but sigh. Those two were like a pair meant for each other.

With the chunin exams around the corner, it was good timing. Naruto was in good hands with Guy-sensei, leaving him free to train Sasuke. As for Shinho… well, he was already beyond needing Kakashi's help.

….

At the Uchiha compound, Shinho knocked on the door, and it soon swung open. Lady Mikoto's face brightened at the sight of him but quickly darkened with worry when she saw Sasuke.

"Sasuke's fine," Shinho reassured her right away. "He's just unconscious."

"What happened?" she asked, visibly relaxing as she hugged her son close, though her voice took on a cold edge.

A trace of authority, one that befitted the clan leader she'd become, filled the air.

Mikoto was no longer the fragile widow she once was—motherhood had made her a fierce woman, ready to protect Sasuke against absolutely anyone.

"It was me who knocked him out," Shinho replied plainly.

"Ah?" The intensity of her expression melted into surprise, and she eased her grip on Sasuke.

If it was Shinho, there was no need to worry.

In fact, this was a pattern she knew all too well since Sasuke's childhood. Whenever Sasuke felt he'd made a breakthrough, he'd challenge Shinho to a match, only to end up beaten and humbled again.

The bouts pushed Sasuke's skills without giving him time to get complacent, and Mikoto had observed how much these fights encouraged him to grow.

"Was he looking for a spar again?" Mikoto asked with a smile as she laid Sasuke on the couch. "Maybe he wanted to show off his new Rasengan?"

"No, not this time," Shinho replied, hesitating slightly. "It was because of Itachi."

Mikoto froze, the smile vanishing from her face. She hadn't heard Itachi's name for so many years that it left her momentarily stunned.

"Did he meet with Sasuke?" Mikoto's hand instinctively tightened around Sasuke's, her voice laced with worry.

"It was purely by chance," Shinho explained. "He wasn't here for Sasuke."

Mikoto was puzzled. "If not for Sasuke, then what was his purpose?" what the hell was he doing?

Shinho could sense her unease, as he talked with hesitation. "Lady Mikoto, this is classified information. I'd ask that you keep it strictly confidential."

"Classified?" She blinked, surprised. "If that's the case, you don't have to tell me anything that might be sensitive."

"It's all right. As long as it stays with you, it should be fine," Shinho said with a smile.

Mikoto was a skilled shinobi, having spent years in the village as a jonin. She wasn't a risk to security, and as clan head, she was entitled to know some of the inner workings of the village.

"Thank you, Shinho," she said, touched by his trust. "It's been a relief to have both you and Sasuke by my side."

Shinho looked at her earnestly and continued, "Itachi's joined a group called the Akatsuki. They're after the tailed beasts."

Her eyes widened in disbelief.

"The tailed beasts? That… that means he's aligning himself against all five great nations!"

"That traitor," Mikoto spat with venom, horrified as she pieced it together. If the tailed beasts were his goal, then Naruto was the target.

That meant Sasuke, and possibly Shinho too, had been drawn into Itachi's mission simply by association.

"Are you hurt at all?" she asked, placing a gentle hand on Shinho's arm, checking for injuries.

"No, I'm perfectly fine." He smiled, reassuring her. "Do I look like someone who'd come out injured?"

"I suppose not," she said, exhaling in relief.

"You don't have to worry," Shinho continued. "Lady Tsunade is handling everything."

According to the original plot, this would be the last time Sasuke and Itachi would meet for several years.

"That's good to know," Mikoto murmured, glancing at her unconscious son with a resigned sigh. "I'm sure he was shaken, though."

"You'll be busy with him, I'm sure," Shinho noted.

"It's nothing at all," Mikoto replied, shaking her head. "I'm his mother—this is what I'm here for."

"Thank you, Lady Mikoto," Shinho said as he excused himself. "I should get back to the Hokage's office; there are still things left to sort out."

"Go ahead," Mikoto said, seeing him out the door.

Once he was gone, she closed the door and gently lifted Sasuke back onto his bed, watching over him protectively.

….

The intense summer heat brought with it the sound of cicadas.

Shinho stepped into the Hokage's office, only to find that Tsunade was alone.

"Back already?" she remarked, raising an eyebrow.

"Kakashi was asking for you."

"Wonder what he wanted with me?" Shinho muttered as he walked up to her, noticing her bare feet again.

So, no shoes this time either.

"He thought you were slacking off," she said, eyeing him. "You didn't even try to pretend, did you?"

"It would've been pointless," Shinho replied with a small cough.

"Whatever. Let's leave it at that," Tsunade said with a wave of her hand. "There are two months until the exam, so train hard. And if you lose, you know the consequences."

"Just make sure you have my reward ready," Shinho said with a grin.

"Don't get too confident, kid!" Tsunade scoffed, her tone challenging. "We'll see who's crying in the end."

Her stubborn attitude only amused him more. Let's see who really cries, he thought, noting how soft her slightly pursed lips looked.

With a quick nod to Tsunade, he headed out, considering where to go next.

It was still early, not yet nine o'clock, so after a moment's thought, he turned toward the Forest of Death.

On his way, Shinho heard the rumble of heavy impacts.

He turned instinctively, just in time to spot Chōji in his massive form, towering over the surrounding area like a giant casting shadows.

This was one of the Akimichi clan's secret techniques, the Multi-Size Technique, allowing them to expand parts or all of their body to greatly amplify their strength, boosting both offensive and defensive power.

Shinho stroked his chin thoughtfully. He'd love to learn that.

Too bad the Akimichi clan kept it closely guarded. If it were Ino, at least he could consider marrying into it to acquire the technique by proxy.

As he took a few steps further, shinho could see the fight clearly. Chōji was bearing down on Asuma, who was weaving between his attacks, unscathed amid Chōji's massive presence.

Clearly, this was a combat training for Team 10.

With a thunderous crash, Chōji's fist hit the ground, sending tremors through the area.

Yet, through the smoke and dust, Asuma charged forward unharmed. He quickly came to a halt, realizing something wasn't right as Choji's shadow stretched over him, blocking the sunlight.

Looking down, Asuma saw his shadow interlinked with another. He'd been immobilized.

"Ino!" Shikamaru called out sharply, his usual laziness replaced by focus.

Following his cue, Ino immediately stilled, her eyes losing their focus as she launched her Mind Body Disturbance Jutsu.

An invisible wave struck Asuma, momentarily scattering his body into nothing.

"A shadow clone!" Shikamaru's eyes widened in surprise.

"Look out! He's behind you!" Chōji, given his elevated view, spotted Asuma's real body flanking his teammates from behind.

Shikamaru shot out a shadow toward the rear, but it was too late.

Just as Asuma's fist nearly connected with Shikamaru, a delicate hand caught his wrist mid-air.

"Sensei," Ino said with a bright smile. "Did you forget about me?"

Asuma's expression faltered as he tried to pull free but found her grip unexpectedly powerful.

In the next instant, his shadow was caught by Shikamaru's Shadow Possession Jutsu again.

"You got me," Asuma admitted with a grin.

While he'd refrained from using Wind Release or his chakra blades, the teamwork of the three had still caught him by surprise. They seemed ready for the chunin exams.

"Ino," Asuma said approvingly, "Your strength is the real hidden weapon here."

Shikamaru canceled his jutsu, looking at Ino with slight confusion. "Where did your strength come from all of a sudden?"

Ino's strength had been perfectly normal until about half a year ago when it took on an unexpected boost. Shikamaru's suspicions went straight back to Shinho.

"No idea," Ino replied casually. "Maybe I'm just a late bloomer?"

"Yeah, sure." Shikamaru gave her a look of disbelief. He didn't buy that at all.

"Either way, it's a good thing," Asuma chuckled.

"Yeah," Shikamaru agreed, looking thoughtful. Like Ino's enhanced Mind Transfer Jutsu, this boost in strength could be a real asset in the chunin exams.

Ino's growth only made the Ino-Shika-Chō formation much stronger.

"Shinho?" Chōji's voice called out as he noticed Shinho nearby. A glance at Ino showed her figure disappearing in Shinho's direction.

"Haah, it's good to be young." Asuma glanced after her and sighed with a wry smile, remembering his own younger days pursuing Kurenai from their days in the academy.

"Let's take a short break," Asuma said, smiling as a gentle breeze swept over them.

In no time, Ino was standing in front of Shinho, her head tilted back as she looked up at him with bright, expectant eyes. "Shinho-kun, did you see me just now? How did I do?"

Ino had various reasons for seeking Shinho's opinion. Her new strength came from the White Boar Gu and the Black Boar Gu, and her Mind Transfer Jutsu had been powered up by Ido's energy.

In other words, both abilities could be traced back to Shinho. She was determined not to disappoint him.

Shinho's gaze drifted to her face, noticing the faint sheen of sweat and how a few golden strands of her hair clung together, adding a touch of allure to her lively features.

"Is… something wrong?" Ino asked, growing flustered under his steady gaze.

"You did great," Shinho said, reaching out to separate the damp strands, revealing her smooth forehead beneath them.

A slight tremor ran through Ino, her mind going blank as a warm blush spread across her cheeks. She didn't pull away, letting him brush back her hair.

"Have you registered for the chunin exams?" Shinho asked, pulling his hand back.

Ino nodded, looking down shyly, avoiding his eyes.

"So have we. Who knows? We might end up as opponents," Shinho said, glancing up to see Shikamaru's amused grin and Chōji waving from afar.

"We wouldn't stand a chance," Ino said without hesitation.

"How would you know without even trying?" Shinho lifted his hand, waving back.

Noticing his gesture, Ino glanced over her shoulder to see her teammates watching them. "I'm going back to training!" she called in a fluster and quickly turned away, her footsteps speeding up.

Though nothing had really happened between her and Shinho, the intense thrill of having her teammates' eyes on her was a bit more than she could bear.

The wind picked up, and as her clothes fluttered, Shinho caught a glimpse of her slim waist wrapped in bandages.

Shinho smiled and made his way to the treehouse.

Finding it empty, with both Chisori and Karin absent, he sat down to meditate. Time slipped by until a familiar scent drifted through the air, bringing him out of his focus.

Sure enough, his eyes opened to see Karin's lock of fiery red hair close to his. She was so close, there was barely a ten-centimeter gap between them.

Karin jumped back slightly when he opened his eyes, patting her flat chest to steady herself. "You startled me there, phew. Shinho-nii! Good afternoon!"

She sat down beside him with a grin, shuffling even closer until her legs, clad in thigh-high black stockings, rested against his.

"Where's your mom?" Shinho asked, glancing at her.

"Upstairs, she's cooking," Karin answered, leaning her shoulder against him.

"You're too close," Shinho said, nudging her back a bit. "It's hot."

"Oh." She pursed her lips, scooting back reluctantly.

"Before long, you'll both be official Konoha shinobi," Shinho said, considering that once he took over as acting Hokage, he'd arrange for them to join.

Knowing Tsunade's impatience, it wouldn't take too long, no matter his objections.

"Really?" Karin's face lit up, and she moved closer again instinctively.

"Yes, really," Shinho said, holding her back with a hand to her forehead as she tried to reach him, stretching her arms that fell just short.

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