Returning to the village, a comparison between girls

Half a month later, the bridge in the Land of Waves was complete!

Team 7 prepared to return to the village and report that their mission was complete.

Watching the members of Team 7 on the bridge, Tazuna turned to the people of the island.

"The bridge is finished, but we still haven't given it a name."

Inari said, "How about calling it Shinki Bridge?"

On a mountaintop not far away.

There was a freshly raised grave here, with a mask and a wreath placed on it.

Zabuza stood there with the Kubikiribōchō in hand, watching Team 7 recede into the distance.

After successfully completing their mission in the Land of Waves.

Team 7 returned to Konoha.

Sakura, who had long harbored a crush on Sasuke, waited for them on the road into the village after learning that Team 7 was coming back.

She wanted to ask Sasuke to eat with her.

As Sakura waited on the road, she spotted a familiar figure.

"Ino? Why are you here?"

A puzzled look appeared on Sakura's face.

Then Sakura, with her broad forehead, realized something.

Could Ino like Sasuke too, and want to ask him out on a date?!

"Give up. Sasuke only likes me!"

Facing Ino, Sakura bared her teeth like a dog guarding its food.

Ino folded her arms dismissively. "You've got the wrong idea. Do you think everyone's like you?"

"I'm waiting for Shinki!"

Ino's expression irritated Sakura, so she deliberately mocked her. "That Shinki guy might have gotten lucky and ended up on the same team as Sasuke, but that doesn't mean they're on the same level. Sasuke isn't just handsome. More importantly, he's a Ninjutsu genius!"

"I should be the one saying that."

Ino folded her arms and spoke indifferently.

Although Shinki had yet to display powerful Ninjutsu in front of others, Ino had blind faith that his talent was inferior to no one's!

How could someone who could almost use the All-Attribute Clone Technique be anything less?!

As the two argued, Team 7 finally returned.

When Sakura saw Sasuke appear, she was like a chameleon.

Her expression changed from irritation at arguing with Ino to excitement and delight.

"Sasuke-kun, you're finally back! You must be exhausted after a C-rank mission. Would you like to get something to eat with me?" Sakura asked enthusiastically.

Oblivious to her feelings, Sasuke immediately shook his head and refused. "Sorry, I don't have time."

Sasuke really didn't have time.

This mission had made him keenly aware of the gap between himself and Shinki.

At the same time, he was ashamed that he hadn't been of any use in that final battle on the bridge!

So, after returning, he planned to go into seclusion and train, striving to take his Ninjutsu to the next level.

After being rejected, Sakura left with disappointment written all over her face. "Oh... all right, then."

"Broad forehead, rejected again, were you? Hahahahaha..."

Seeing Sakura like that, Ino Yamanaka, who stood nearby, mercilessly mocked her.

Naturally, Sakura wasn't about to let someone laugh at her for nothing, so she retorted, "At least I dared to ask Sasuke. You're different. You only dare watch Shinki from afar. You don't even dare go up and talk to him. ╮(╯▽╰)╭"

Ino: (｡•́︿•̀｡)

In fact, Sakura was right.

Ino had actually been paying attention to Shinki for a long time.

During their earlier years at the Ninja Academy, she had noticed.

Shinki was not only handsome, but also very hardworking.

It was just that his Ninjutsu skills had never improved.

Later, Shinki made a stunning impression in class, and Ino became certain of her feelings for him.

But although they had been classmates for years, they had never spoken.

That made it very difficult for Ino to take the first step.

Facing the smug Sakura, Ino opened her mouth to retort. "I..."

But Sakura's next words forced back what she had been about to say. "If you want to argue, why don't you go over there and prove it to me?"

Ino looked conflicted.

Wouldn't it seem too abrupt if I just went up to him like this?

What if Shinki thinks I'm being too forward?

What if Shinki doesn't like me?

What if Shinki rejects me the way Sasuke rejected Sakura?

And what should I say to Shinki when I go over?

Ino's mind went blank!

She swallowed.

To be honest, she also wanted to be brave and take the first step.

But the first step was often the hardest.

Just then, Team 7 passed by Ino.

Shinki greeted her quite naturally. "Ino, you're here too? Who are you waiting for?"

Hearing this, Ino looked up, directly at Shinki's fair face.

"I-I-I..."

Ino stammered, ultimately unable to get a complete sentence out.

Shinki thought his classmate was acting a little strange and casually asked, "Aren't you on the same team as Shikamaru and the others? Where are they?"

Ino's face turned even redder. "They..."

Just then.

Shikamaru and Choji approached from nearby and greeted Shinki enthusiastically. "Yo, Shinki, Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi-sensei! Did you just get back from a mission outside the village?"

When Shinki and Naruto were young, they had endured no end of scorn from the villagers because they were orphans.

Shikamaru and Choji were among the few who didn't point fingers at them and were willing to talk to them.

So Shinki was very fond of them.

Before Shinki could speak, the outgoing Naruto launched into a nonstop account of everything they had seen and heard along the way. "Yeah, we just got back from a mission in the Land of Waves. You have no idea how dangerous it was this time..."

"Most importantly, Shinki really showed his might on this mission."

As Naruto said this last part, he pointed at Shinki with a grand introductory gesture.

"In that battle on the bridge, if Shinki hadn't arrived in time, Sasuke and I would've been in big trouble..."

As Naruto began talking about Shinki's battle, Ino gradually relaxed, listening intently.

She was interested in everything related to Shinki!

Shikamaru listened nearby, nodding repeatedly. "I see. By the way, what was that Body Flicker Technique you kept saying Shinki used?"

Naruto looked thoughtful. "Kakashi-sensei said it was called something like... Flying Thunder God? Right, Flying Thunder God!"

Shikamaru, Sakura, and Ino: "What? ⊙▽⊙"

For a moment, Shikamaru thought he had misheard, so he asked again, "Are you sure?"

After receiving Naruto's confirmation, his heart surged with shock!

Shikamaru had been clever since childhood and loved reading.

So he knew the history of Konoha and most Ninjutsu.

The Flying Thunder God Technique was an exceptionally special one among them!

It was a Space-Time Ninjutsu that allowed the user to travel to any location where a Flying Thunder God Mark existed!

A Forbidden Technique developed by the Second Hokage, and the technique that had made the Fourth Hokage famous throughout the world!

It was a Konoha Forbidden Technique recorded in the Scroll of Seals!

How had Shinki learned it?!