Finding Herself

A few days later, in the afternoon, inside the Flower Shop that Uzuki Yugao had already cleaned up.

Looking at the newly renovated, cozy, and fragrant little shop she had imagined, she smiled and decided to go to the Third Hokage the next day to explain everything. She was exhausted; she just wanted to live a simple life.

"Swiftwind, what brings you here?"

Today, an old classmate with whom she used to have a good relationship came to visit, and Uzuki Yugao showed a sweet smile, as if she had forgotten the past and dispelled all the pressure in her heart during this time.

The two sat at a table by the window, enjoying the fragrant tea. Gekko Hayate blew, and his weary face slowly lifted as he looked at the girl before him, the most perfect and innocent girl in his heart. At this moment, there was only irony.

"Yugao, why, why have you become like this? A while ago you said you wanted to find an ordinary person, and I thought I had a chance. I mustered up my courage so I wouldn't miss out, but what happened!"

Gekko Hayate's words startled Uzuki Yugao for a moment, but then she realized something and her smile froze.

"Swiftwind, you investigated me!"

Seeing Uzuki Yugao's unpleasant expression, Gekko Hayate gave a wry smile and nodded, admitting it directly, "You know, we're ninjas, and it's an instinctive habit for us to investigate the other party's information before settling down."

She originally thought she could bury that past, but it turned out that it was all just wishful thinking on his part.

Emerging from her own world Uzuki Yugao smiled. "As expected, I was too naive. It's impossible for a ninja to live such a simple life, especially a female ninja."

"The first thing ninjas do before starting a family is to investigate each other. I thought I could bury my past, but I was too naive."

After laying bare her complicated past, Uzuki Yugao thought she would run away and be afraid to face it, but when the moment actually came, she revealed a relaxed smile.

"Chakra Metal weapon, a top-tier sword, and any piece of your jewelry worth hundreds of thousands, plus this shop on the most bustling street, Yugao! If you truly want to forget the past, how do you explain all this?"

At this moment, when Gekko Hayate made up his mind to find Uzuki Yugao, he still had a sliver of hope. If Yugao was willing to give up everything, he was also willing to give up everything to pursue the goddess in his heart.

Gekko Hayate made no attempt to conceal his expression, while Uzuki Yugao slowly leaned back in her chair, her Divine Pursuer becoming unfocused.

"You're right. If I really want to bury everything from the past, I shouldn't have any of these things, much less enjoy them so readily."

"On the contrary, while I say I'm burying the past, I'm also openly enjoying it all." As she said this, a self-deprecating smile appeared on Uzuki Yugao's face.

"Perhaps I still need to confront my true self. As my classmate, Gale, are you willing to listen to me?"

Still clinging to a sliver of hope, Gekko Hayate nodded and said, "If you want to say it, I'll listen."

"It must have been three years ago, when we both joined the Seventh Division at the same time. Do you remember when I was in huge debt?"

Gekko Hayate nodded silently. He naturally knew about the incident three years ago. Yugao had said it had been resolved, and he hadn't thought much about it at the time.

"Do you know the pressure of being burdened with millions in debt? At that time, I contacted every relative I knew, neighbor, teacher, teammate, and classmate I thought was good!"

As she spoke, Uzuki Yugao's expression turned to one of reminiscence, and a sarcastic smile appeared on her lips. She had concealed the fact that she was on a mission for the Anbu, but that was not important. What mattered was that she had personally experienced what it meant to be cold and indifferent to human relationships.

Initially, she was determined to carry out the mission covertly, but the avoidant and disdainful looks from her former friends, relatives, and neighbors made her realize that this was perhaps the real face.

Then there were even disgusting acts of taking advantage of her misfortune. Her former teacher actually revealed a greedy look in his eyes and wanted to pay her several thousand taels of silver to sleep with him, since she wouldn't have a good life if she couldn't repay this huge sum.

Some were gloating; at that time, she had seen through human nature and felt a sense of relief and sneered as these people revealed their true colors.

"Later, under pressure, since so many people wanted to take advantage of me, and I was so valuable, why not sell myself for a high price? I could find someone I didn't mind and get even more people, so I approached the most prestigious Konoha Military Police Force at the time Seventh Division."

She concealed everything about the Anbu mission because it was Ninja Regulations, and she was required to keep it a secret for life.

As Uzuki Yugao recounted her story, Gekko Hayate revealed a look of regret. Back then! Back when Yugao was going through her most difficult time, he hadn't thought that far ahead. He had been so foolish.

"He's wonderful—gentle, considerate, and strong. I'm the one who doesn't deserve him. I was the one who came to him in the first place. And over the past three years, even though it's a secret, I've had everything a boyfriend and girlfriend should have: the warmth of a relationship, and all sorts of gifts for holidays."

"I accept all of this with equanimity: precious jewelry that only Noble Houses families can wear, bladed weapons that ordinary ninjas cannot even possess, and even advanced Ninjutsu. I believe these are all things I deserve."

At this point, Uzuki Yugao shook her head and smiled bitterly, "I thought I got all of this by sacrificing myself, but now that I think about it, it's so ridiculous. He's never lacked people like me. Talent and beauty aren't indispensable to him."

"But he never said anything. It was as if he felt guilty about this shameful relationship, and he was trying to make up for it. The advanced Ninjutsu and weapons were to help me survive, and the precious jewelry was perhaps his way of expressing his guilt. But I took it all for granted. Now I understand."

"He was a great man. For the sake of his ideals, he was afraid of burdening those around him. He had his own feelings, but he was also afraid of involving everyone, so he always gave silently."

Gekko Hayate listened silently as Uzuki Yugao recounted her experiences over the past three years with a smile and a touch of sarcasm, as if she were telling someone else's story.

"I arrogantly thought I was under various criticisms and pressures, so I chose to withdraw. Only now do I realize that I have only ever thought about myself and never about others."

"Tell me, if I had given up this precious sword, these jewels, and even all the Ninjutsu he taught me when we parted, if I had given up everything, could I have buried the past and started anew?"

Uzuki Yugao's curious question seemed to be asking about something she was very serious about and eager to know.

After listening, Gekko Hayate silently shook his head, "One cannot abandon the past; one can only temporarily bury it deep in one's heart."

"Indeed, just as I've grown accustomed to my current high and mighty position."

At this moment, Uzuki Yugao's face gradually regained the heroic spirit she once had at the Ninja Academy, and she slowly raised her head like a proud swan.

"I am a seventeen-year-old Special Jonin, possessing advanced Ninjutsu that countless people envy and are jealous of. I am at a level that many ordinary ninjas cannot reach even after a lifetime of hard work. I enjoy the gazes of those relatives, neighbors, and friends who once looked down on me and now regret it."

"And all of this was earned by me over three years, and he never minded!" When she said this, Uzuki Yugao directly amplified her selfishness, but she was also open and honest without any concealment.

"Even if I give up everything, these past experiences will still not be forgotten, just like you said, Gale."

With a self-deprecating smile, Uzuki Yugao chuckled and shook her head, saying, "I thought I was pursuing a simple life, but what about others? Will they forget my past? And the people around me? They won't!"

"From the moment I became a ninja, I was destined for greatness. Even if I went to Orphanage, they would investigate my information and personality, and even my ordinary colleagues would investigate me out of habit."

"Then tell me, why should I give all of this up? What I have is the safe haven he gave me; when I lose everything, these are my last reserves."

At this moment, Uzuki Yugao revealed a genuine smile, as if she had finally seen through herself.

She never wanted to give up everything she had gained in the past three years. Perhaps it was vanity, or perhaps it was selfishness, but that's human nature.

Even if she gives up everything, others won't let go of her past, so what reason does she have to give up what's hers?

"I understand now. Perhaps from that moment three years ago, we were from two different worlds."

This time, Gekko Hayate gave a wry smile. He knew that the two of them hadn't been in the same world for three years.

The last vestige of hope in his heart vanished completely. He could accept it, but what about his family? His friends? They constantly reminded him that he was just deceiving himself.

And Uzuki Yugao also rediscovered her true self.

Gekko Hayate left, this time decisively. They were from different worlds, and besides, neither of them would give up everything they had.

For example, Gekko Hayate could never abandon his family, companions, and everything closely connected to him. Similarly, Uzuki Yugao could never give up her power and everything else.

As the Flower Shop returned to tranquility, Uzuki Yugao stood alone in the sunlight, quietly gazing at the shop's surroundings.

"So this is the little house I wanted to escape to, not a place to forget everything and start over."

The soft voice echoed in the room, and just then a small figure timidly opened the door and walked in.

"Sister Yugao, I'll help you tidy up the Flower Shop today."

The girl with long blonde hair smiled immediately upon seeing Uzuki Yugao.

"Oh, it's Ino. You've come at the right time. My sister just prepared afternoon tea. We can rest today."

Ino Yamanaka: This shop was originally Ino's mother's Flower Shop. After her parents passed away, the shop closed down and was sold by the Yamanaka Family. Ino has always hoped that the new owner of the shop will continue to run the Flower Shop.

In this way, she can find her mother's flavor here.

Ino sat obediently on the stool, the two of them, one big and one small, smiling and sipping tea like sisters.

"Ino, I'm sorry about what happened to your parents."

Seeing her lose her parents at such a young age, and being the daughter of the clan chief, reduced to this state, although her treatment is better than ordinary people, compared to before, the new clan chief will certainly not treat her the same way, after all, the new clan chief represents new interests.

Despite her young age, Ino was a precocious child in the Shinobi World, and she smiled like a little adult.

"Sister Yugao, Mother is doing this to protect Ino, so Ino should smile every day so that Mother and Father won't be disappointed."

The infighting within the large family taught Ino, even at a young age, that relying on her mother was the most dangerous thing after her father's passing.

On the contrary, the mother's death was to protect her daughter. The couple gave up everything and left behind a young daughter. The new successor would also refrain from taking action against Ino to avoid gossip.

After all, since Ino is a child without parents, they don't need to target her. They just need to stop teaching her some advanced Ninjutsu, and Ino will naturally disappear from the crowd.

On the other hand, if her mother were alive, Ino would learn advanced Ninjutsu as Ino, and might she then reclaim her position as clan leader? This is a potential threat.

Furthermore, with the mother present, shouldn't the clan chief also allocate some resources to this orphan and widow?

Although Ino lost everything without her mother, she also lost her threat.

"Ino, are you doing well in your family?"

Faced with Yugao's question, Ino gave a sweet and innocent smile, "It's fine, anyway, nobody cares anymore."

The casual remark that no one cared sent a shiver down Uzuki Yugao; she naturally understood this. The former daughter of Yamanaka chief, now an ordinary, unremarkable girl from the Yamanaka Clan, long forgotten and unnoticed by anyone.

So, Ino, what are your dreams?

Whether she wanted to make amends or to see the hatred in Ino, Uzuki Yugao casually asked questions, but secretly released a simple Ninjutsu technique to put people at a loss and induce sleep.

The Yamanaka Clan allowed Ino to come here, and there was no doubt that they might use her methods to completely annihilate Ino, who was almost no threat.

Unconsciously, Ino's eyes, which had become somewhat glazed, slowly revealed a hint of hatred. "I will become the strongest female Jōnin, and then ask the heads of the Ino-Shika-Cho Clans! Why did they abandon my father when they were supposed to be fighting side by side?"

"And what about the Third Hokage, who claims to protect everyone? Why did he just stand by and watch all of this go unchecked?"

Young Ino, having grown up quickly after losing her parents, has come to understand something: who was the culprit who killed them.

Inside the Flower Shop, Ino Yamanaka leaned against a soft chair like a kitten, lost in a dream, as if her home and her parents were in her dream.

But Uzuki Yugao sighed softly, "Poor little girl, everything your parents are going through is a result of the current politics."

"Afraid to take responsibility and shifting it to subordinates, who then use their own interests to push your parents out—this may be politics, but it shouldn't be this cold and ruthless."

The regime of the Third Hokage, now Uzuki Yugao, has truly reached a point of decay, much like the Third Hokage at his age, now in its twilight years.

He is like the rising sun, and she hopes that this sun will never set!

Ugh, these editing assignments are giving me a real headache lately, I just can't seem to finish them.