章節 337: Chapter 337 The Joys of Youth Come And Go Quickly
Ino's whole body went completely limp. That single 'Nee-chan, I'm sorry' from Naruto sent waves of forbidden emotions crashing through her mind, pushing away all the rationality she had built up.
She had completely forgotten what she was angry about, and when she wanted to push him away, she found that she had no strength at all.
Tsunade, lying in the chair, cracked her eyes open just a sliver. Her peripheral vision caught a glimpse of the two of them before she closed her eyes again. The warm evening breeze carried by the setting sun gently coaxed her back to sleep.
Naruto grabbed Ino by the wrist and led her out of the office, then softly closed the door behind them.
In the corridor, Ino, dressed in her professional suit skirt, had slender, fair wrists. After struggling for a while, she finally managed to pull her hand free, panting as she did so.
"Y-you! What do you think you're doing!?"
"Tsunade-sama said it's after hours, didn't you hear?" Naruto said with a smile, standing in front of the open window where the sunset bathed his broad back in a warm glow.
His frame appeared lean and tall, the edges of his figure outlined in a golden light.
"I haven't finished my work yet." She stammered, turning her head to the side, her face flushed. Her heart was pounding as her mind kept replaying the electrifying 'Nee-chan'.
She had no idea where he had picked up that way of calling her, but whatever it was, she wasn't going to let herself fall for it.
"Then, I'll go back in with you." Naruto looked at her with a teasing smile, "I'll help you finish up. If not, I'll just keep following you."
The mere thought of returning to the office with Tsunade still resting there made Ino panic, 'If this guy acted up again and caused a scene, I'd never be able to show my face again.'
"No way! It's after hours!" She said, almost pouting.
She didn't know why, but she wasn't really that angry right now.
Every time she saw him, she couldn't help but feel irritated, yet he always seemed to brush her frustrations away so easily.
Naruto grabbed her hand, his eyes sparkling with a youthful energy that was uniquely his. In the quiet hallway, warm evening air swirled around them, and their shadows intertwined on the wall.
He pushed Ino against the wall, leaning in close to her neck, his breath tickling her, making her squirm.
"Are you mad? You're even avoiding me, hmm? Hiding from me."
"I'm not." Ino's psychological defenses completely collapsed, her eyes brimming with mist as she trembled, trying to deny it, "I'm not hiding from you."
"If you weren't hiding from me, why didn't you tell me you were reassigned to the Hokage Tower?" Naruto let go of her, his eyes a little cold, as if he would leave at any moment.
"I… I wasn't." Ino's voice grew softer and softer.
"Really?" He asked, as if he would disappear immediately after she nodded.
"I was a little mad, but just now, when you… in the office, I wasn't mad anymore." She said with an embarrassed look on her face.
Hearing this, Naruto breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "Wanna go out tonight?"
"Where?"
"Well, let's just walk around and have something to eat on Konoha's Main Street." Naruto replied casually, and then asked, "Do you have to go to work tomorrow?"
"Yeah." She nodded, "It's been busy lately. I'll probably finish late again."
"Even later than today?"
"Probably… around midnight. Tomorrow is the end of the month, so I need to sort out the mission documents." Ino explained in a low voice.
After hearing what Ino said, Naruto realized it was already the end of March and April was just around the corner.
"Alright, I'll come pick you up around midnight." He said, taking her hand and leading her down the stairs.
"Why?" She asked in a muffled voice, looking at the figure who was half a step ahead with questioning gaze.
"Why so many questions? I don't want you walking home alone that late." He said, "If I didn't know, it'd be one thing, but since I do, I can't just pretend I didn't hear it."
"But… what if there are other times when I'll have to walk at night?" Ino followed him down the stairs. Her steps felt light, as if she was walking on clouds.
"Just tell me and I'll come get you."
"Mm." Ino softly responded, a small wave of happiness rising within her, like a piece of broken cookie that only revealed its sweetness after you took a bite.
On the staircase, Naruto kept holding her hand, and he walked in front of her, making his figure a little lower than hers. At the corner of the stairs, their gazes met for a brief moment, one looking up and the other down.
In the dimly lit, narrow space, Naruto's cool, restrained gaze made Ino's heart skip a beat. Somehow, she could read what his eyes were saying: He wanted her.
Naruto's gaze quickly shifted down the stairs, as if he were focusing on the path ahead.
Ino's face suddenly turned red at a visible speed, as if it was on fire. As she thought about a certain possibility, her face turned red all the way to her ears. Her teeth clenched from nervousness, and her heart was pounding loudly in her chest.
Konoha is actually quite prosperous, with a high population density, various shops, and stores selling all kinds of daily necessities. The spending power of the village's Shinobi wasn't lacking, and under Tsunade's governance, the village seemed to show signs of entering a new golden age.
The bustling streets of Konoha were brightly lit. Ino seemed a little uncomfortable with being held by the hand, but when she tried to break free, she found it was impossible to break free, so she gave in and let him lead her.
"What are you so nervous?" Naruto asked in surprise the moment he turned his head.
"I'm not." She quickly denied.
"You're a terrible liar. Next time, try to cover it up a bit better." Naruto commented casually as he glanced at her slowly. He found that she looked a little cute when she was trying to argue.
But when he thought about how her expression just now was like that of a little girl who stole the forbidden fruit for the first time, he couldn't help but frowned and asked another question, "Did you misunderstand something?"
"No." She denied at first, but then, taking advantage of the relatively quiet street, she leaned closer to his shoulder and whispered, "Are you trying to take me to that place?"
"What place?"
"You know…" Ino bit her lip, her pale hand hooking around Naruto's neck as she pulled him down closer, pressing her lips to his ear. Her hand clamped tightly over her mouth, as if to prevent the words from leaking out.
"***."
"Oh~!" Naruto pulled her hand away and looked at Ino in shock, "I really should've recorded that."
"You!" Ino punched him in annoyance, "I was just joking."
At an outdoor barbecue stall, Ino had kicked off her shoes, revealing her snow-white feet, and dangled them under the table. She took a bite of the sweet, oily grilled meat and washed it down with a drink, her face lighting up with happiness as she squinted her eyes in contentment.
"Ahh! This is great!" She exclaimed with emotion. "Thank goodness I got off work on time today. I've been so exhausted these past few days, I feel like I'm about to fall apart."
Looking at Ino, whose mood seemed to have improved, Naruto sat leisurely while slowly grilling more meat. The early summer night was lively, filled with the sound of clinking glasses and cheerful conversations.
The atmosphere made him feel a little envious, as summer was certainly a good time for drinking. But he reminded himself that there was no rush. He just needed to wait a few more years and then enjoy it properly.
"Ah~" Ino extended a piece of perfectly grilled meat toward him, smiling mischievously as she waited for him to take it.
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章節 338: Chapter 338 Wishing The Young Man Eternal Peace
Naruto didn't hesitate and took the bite of grilled meat she offered him, swallowing it in one go.
Amid the flickering lights and bustling noise of the street, the bright glow of the town stretched out like a ribbon. Ino covered her mouth with one hand, her almond-shaped eyes curving like crescent moons.
Her smile was warm and pure, filled with a sense of simple joy, as she watched him with a look of triumph.
"Tasty?"
"Yeah." He lowered his gaze and a faint smile appeared on his face.
Naruto is not the kind of person who cannot humble himself to please others. Even if he has done nothing wrong, he does not mind admitting his mistake. It is just a matter of words.
For him, admitting fault and teasing someone weren't mutually exclusive. Ino had a soft heart and a few words of comfort would easily make her happy. Young love was fleeting and carefree, like clouds drifting by.
What mattered more was that Ino always responded to him. Every word he said received a reply, like tossing a stone into a deep pond and waiting for the echo. She never brushed him off or left him hanging.
Her sincerity made everything more comfortable, and her occasional temper was nothing to worry about.
"So why were you transferred to the Hokage's Office?" Naruto leaned back in his chair, watching the flicker of the nearby flames reflected in his eyes. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly as he spoke.
"I was cast aside." Ino huffed, stuffing her mouth with grilled meat, her lips glistening with oil as she chewed angrily.
"Who could ever cast you aside? You're so popular that people are lining up outside the shop to see you." Naruto glanced at Ino sideways and said lazily.
"You're still holding onto that?" Ino felt a little guilty, but when she thought about what had happened, she puffed out her chest and said confidently, "It's not my fault! I already made it clear I wasn't interested."
"Mm." He acknowledged her with a simple nod.
Ino watched as Naruto reached for his drink, his long, slender fingers gently curling around the cup. The motion inexplicably sent a shiver down her spine, as if those fingers had grazed her heart.
She quickly averted her gaze, but her thoughts wandered uncontrollably, spreading like ivy, 'His hands looked so graceful. If those fingertips were to caress me, it would surely feel incredible.'
She imagined them tracing a delicate path down her spine, from her shoulder blades to her collarbone, and then lower…
"What are you thinking about?"
"Ah!" Ino nearly toppled from her chair. After realizing what she had just thought, she was too embarrassed to meet his eyes, or look at his hands.
"No!! Nothing!! I mean... I just zoned out, that's all, haha…"
"It's normal to get distracted when you're overworked," Naruto replied calmly.
"Y-Yeah." Ino chuckled nervously, feeling a bit guilty, "It's definitely because I've been working too hard. It's all my dad's fault for pulling me out of the Intelligence Department."
"Are you not working seriously?"
"No way!" Ino retorted, raising her chopsticks in defense before taking a big gulp of her drink and slamming the cup down on the table, "He had the nerve to say I'm too popular and that standing there would distract others from work!!"
"He just transferred his own daughter without a second thought! How old-fashioned!"
Hearing this, Naruto's lips twitched slightly.
He thought to himself, 'It was obvious that your father was helping you brush up your qualifications while Sakura was on leave. After all, the Hokage's Office wasn't just a place anyone could get assigned to.'
"So, how long are you going to be in the Hokage's Office this time?"
"I don't know, at least until Sakura comes back from her break. But I haven't seen her around much lately." Ino muttered, looking over at Naruto.
"Have you seen Sakura lately?"
"We just had lunch together this afternoon." He had nothing to hide, so he answered it truthfully.
"Why didn't she have lunch with me?" Ino pouted and frowned, "I'm the one filling in for her, so shouldn't she be treating me?"
"Oh, she owes me a meal."
"She paid?" Ino was stunned for a moment, "She's been very stingy lately. She said she wanted to save money for something big. Every time we eat, I'm the one paying."
"I paid. She doesn't have money." Naruto replied calmly.
"Then why would he invite you?"
"I never expected her to treat me anyway. You two are a perfect match, one is the 'Flower of the Intelligence Department and the other is the 'Flower of the Medical Department'." He said casually.
"Really? So, which one do you like more?" Ino asked, resting her face in her hands.
"Hmm?"
"Oh, right, including Hinata… who do you like more?"
"You."
"How perfunctory." Ino scoffed, then blew carefully while holding the drink, "But I'm still very happy to hear you say that. Do you think I'm..."
She looked up, only to freeze.
Naruto was watching her with a smile, his eyes reflecting the warm glow of the nearby lights. The moment their eyes met, Ino felt as if nothing else mattered.
Promises may change, and hearts may waver, but the sincerity of their youth never would. At that moment, she realized that whatever the answer was, it didn't matter anymore.
She remembered seeing Naruto years ago, slumped in his old apartment, looking worn out and isolated. She'd witnessed his dark, moody gaze as he wandered the streets, a wounded beast hiding his scars.
It wasn't until Tsunade's arrival that things started to change for him. What once seemed impossible to solve slowly resolved over time, and he finally became the person he was meant to be.
Watching him now, with that peaceful and warm smile in his eyes, Ino genuinely wished for a world where all discrimination and injustice vanished, and all hatred stayed far away from him.
She hoped he would always walk down the bustling streets, free from sickness and misfortune, crossing over every sorrow and separation. And in the crowd, she would be there, saying she liked him.
If the person she fell for had been an ordinary boy, she might have wanted to possess him. But with Naruto, all she wished was for the world to treat him with the same kindness she felt.
And she knew, whether or not she ever moved toward him, as long as he stood there, someone would always love him. No one asked him to be some dazzling beacon of light, only that he could live a peaceful life.
"I'm so full." Ino leaned back in her chair, rubbing her slightly rounded belly while gazing up at the starry sky, "You'll pick me up from work tomorrow too, right?"
"If you want, I can pick you up every day." He replied nonchalantly, "Considering how many people are after you, it's probably a good idea to be prepared."
"Really? Then you have to come every day!" Ino's mood brightened instantly at his words. She grinned as she sipped her drink, gently kicking him under the table with her bare feet.
The warm evening breeze carried the scent of grilled meat, mingling with the sweet remnants of the day's heat.
The noise from the lively street drifted over, close enough to hear but far enough not to intrude. Neither of them spoke, and Ino's pale feet softly grazed Naruto's pant leg.
They exchanged long, lingering smiles, a silent understanding building between them. It was like carefully piling sand into a tower, delicate but with an eager desire to build it higher and higher.
In that moment of mutual gazing, their eyes holding unspoken thoughts, Ino finally gave in with a long sigh, "How many girls' hearts have you stolen with that look? Your eyes are practically pulling strings!"
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