"How was it, Shikamaru?"
Watching Shikamaru sink into thought after confirming her intelligence, Ino Yamanaka and Akimichi Choji exchanged a glance. After a while, they finally could not help asking in unison.
There was obvious nervousness in their voices.
"Hmm..."
In response to his two friends' nervous, hopeful, and eager question, Shikamaru Nara merely pondered aloud, "How was it?"
Seeing him hum thoughtfully, the two of them could not help leaning closer, asking with expectant looks on their faces.
"Too close!"
But in the next second, seeing their faces suddenly loom before his eyes, Shikamaru Nara pushed them away with an annoyed look and complained.
"It's very useful information."
Then, unwilling to keep his two friends in suspense, he directly affirmed the value of the intelligence Ino Yamanaka had obtained.
Is this the difference between sons and daughters?
Choji and I both failed, but Ino got the relevant information so easily.
Uncle Inoichi really dotes on Ino. Even while drunk, he had no guard up around her. That could only come from trust and affection for his daughter.
At the same time, that thought flashed through his mind.
"Really? That's great! Choji!"
Hearing Shikamaru Nara's affirmation, Ino Yamanaka nearly hopped with delight as she turned to Akimichi Choji.
"Yeah!"
In response, Akimichi Choji looked at the jubilant Ino Yamanaka, stuffed another huge handful of chips into his mouth, and nodded heavily as he crunched away.
At the same time, he began stuffing chips into his mouth faster and faster.
He knew that what Shikamaru said next would be the key to whether they could uncover the Strongest Ninja's mysterious veil.
"I think we should start with that Japanese-style wooden house—uh... the Japanese-style wooden house with a garden."
As he expected, the troubled look on Shikamaru Nara's face gradually faded in