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"I didn't ask anything, just whether you lived together."

"No." Naruto calmly, filling his and Ino's glasses with juice. "Only Pervy Sage you would ask such a pointless question."

"I'm just concerned about you," Jiraiya chuckled, taking a sip of his drink.

"Fine, ask whatever you want." Naruto didn't want to embarrass Jiraiya, so he simply pretended to be indifferent.

He walked over and sat down next to Ino, then looked at Jiraiya and asked.

"Leaving tomorrow?"

"Yes." Jiraiya yawned. Since it concerned village secrets, he didn't say much more.

The conversation naturally turned back to Naruto and Ino, Jiraiya pretended to ask some simple questions, such as...

Did you cook this soup?

"No, Ino cooked it," Naruto said casually.

"Oh, that explains why it seemed so special. Was it cooked in your kitchen? So you two see each other often?" Jiraiya was adept at getting information out of people, his conversation flowed smoothly and naturally.

"Yeah, we see each other quite often, which is normal between good friends, right?" Naruto said seriously.

Ino's eyes were practically brimming with tears. She was so embarrassed that she couldn't sit still. She glanced at Jiraiya and then stole a glance at the calm Naruto. Suddenly, she felt her face burning hot.

She secretly grumbled to herself, "What do you mean by 'closely related'? Couldn't they have just lied? Although lying to elders isn't good, it's just too shameful!"

He definitely did it on purpose! Foot fetish, womanizer! Go to hell!

"Really? So you're good friends. No wonder you're so in sync. When did you meet?" Jiraiya asked casually, picking up some food.

"We've known each other for quite a while now, and our relationship got even closer after we graduated from the Ninja Academy," Naruto replied, seemingly eager to answer any questions, while sipping his juice.

Ino, who was standing nearby, was so nervous that she was afraid Naruto would say something he shouldn't. She quickly and quietly slipped her hand under the table into his clothes.

Through his training clothes, she pinched Naruto's waist hard. He didn't flinch, only glancing at her with a smile, his eyelids trembling slightly.

Seeing this, Ino pursed her lips smugly, pretending not to know anything.

Under the lamplight, Jiraiya held a wine glass in one hand, taking small sips. Watching the two making these subtle gestures, a smile played on his lips, and he suddenly felt a sense of déjà vu, like a parent.

"You guys said you should go to the New Year Festival together, but with the snow falling so heavily outside, it's not necessary," Jiraiya said.

Jiraiya has never liked such lively scenes. If it weren't snowing heavily today, he might have considered going. But with the weather so bad, it wouldn't be appropriate to force himself to go to the shrine.

"It's unnecessary." Naruto turned to look out the window. Snowflakes were falling heavily, dancing like goose feathers under the bright yellow streetlights.

They stayed a while longer, chatting about some light topics. Jiraiya, having traveled extensively, was knowledgeable and witty. The atmosphere at the table quickly became relaxed, and Ino listened with great interest, her eyes shining.

Most of the time, Naruto and Jiraiya talking, while Ino would occasionally chime in, but otherwise she would quietly listen from the sidelines.

This Jiraiya the first time Jiraiya had ever found Naruto so agreeable, and he couldn't help but feel that this heartless boy had finally shown some maturity for once.

In my excitement, I ended up having a few extra drinks.

Inside the brightly lit izakaya, Jiraiya was quite drunk. Naruto looked up, put down his glass of juice, and suddenly spoke.

"Pervy Sage, she has encountered some difficulties in her cultivation. Do you have any good solutions?"

"What difficulties?" Jiraiya put down his wine glass and asked with amusement.

"Huh?" Ino looked bewildered, turned around abruptly to look at Naruto in surprise, then suddenly realized something and grabbed his hand to deny it.

"I don't!"

She then looked at Jiraiya, shaking her head vigorously.

"Lord Jiraiya, don't listen to him, he's talking nonsense!"

Naruto rolled his eyes and didn't say anything. Jiraiya lowered his eyes for a moment and then smiled. He wasn't afraid of being bothered by Naruto at all; the biggest trouble was that Naruto never asked him for anything.

"I might not be able to help much, but I can ask Tsunade; she probably wouldn't mind taking on another disciple. Or I can ask Utatane Koharu; those old folks are pretty free on weekdays."

Ino was speechless.

"Okay." Naruto nodded.

"What's so good about it!" Ino tugged at Naruto's hand and whispered.

Naruto ignored her and looked at Jiraiya he stood up and spoke.

"The snow is getting heavier, we should head back now."

"Go, go." Jiraiya waved with a smile, his heart filled with mixed feelings. He had been a wanderer for half his life, and this was the first time he was experiencing a bitter sense of responsibility.

"Be careful on the road."

"Um."

"I'm sorry, Lord Jiraiya, he's always talking nonsense! Please don't take what just happened to heart."

Before she could finish speaking, Ino was pulled away by Naruto.

Halfway there, Naruto stopped again, turned to look at Jiraiya, and gave him some instructions.

"Pervy Sage, don't die out there."

"Damn it! You brat, I'm from Mount Myōboku!" Jiraiya didn't say Jiraiya. Naruto had already led Ino away, and a large black umbrella was set up at the door.

He stared at it for a while, then suddenly smiled with satisfaction. He got up, slightly drunk, and muttered to himself.

"Well, there's no point in drinking any more."

"Let's finish that matter first. Anyway, it's rare for that idiot disciple to ask me for help, and the Love Hotel in Konohagakure aren't that interesting."

On the way home, snowflakes were falling everywhere.

The two walked side by side in silence, with a large black umbrella over their heads.

"Why did you say that just now?" Ino broke the silence, turning her head slightly to glance at Naruto's profile.

"It was just a casual question."

"I know you mean well, but this isn't appropriate." Ino's expression was somewhat complicated. "That's Lord Jiraiya. I don't want Lord Jiraiya."

"He won't think much of it. I've never asked him for anything." Naruto stopped walking, and the large black umbrella in the snow also came to a stop.

He will be very happy, and by extension, he will like you very much too.

Ino suddenly fell silent, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside her. She realized she seemed to have stepped into a deep pit. If she didn't pull herself out now, she might never have another chance.

"Why did you go to such lengths for me? I was just venting. I could have lived a good life as an ordinary ninja even if I had just started out."

"I am the eldest daughter of the Yamanaka Clan. I may inherit my father's job in the future, working in the Intelligence Department or the Torture and Interrogation Department. Actually, even if I don't improve, it won't matter much."

The two stood in the snow, the night was pitch black and deserted, the streets utterly silent. A streetlamp in the distance cast a clear, steady yellow light, illuminating this corner of the scene.

Snowflakes fell from the sky, shimmering like rain from a giant funnel under the lamplight. Each snowflake danced in the yellow light, gently landing on the large black umbrella.

When the snow falls heavily, it makes a sound, like a brush gliding across rice paper.

As Ino finished speaking in one breath, Naruto remained expressionless and did not argue with her; he simply watched her quietly.

Naruto only spoke when Ino turned her head away somewhat awkwardly and stopped looking at him.

"Isn't this better?"

"I don't know." Ino stubbornly shook her head. "That's good, but it would feel too heavy for me. I wouldn't be able to repay you."

Naruto stared at Ino's pretty little face for a while, wondering what was wrong with her, even though it was just a very small thing.

Whether Naruto spoke to Tsunade or Jiraiya spoke to Tsunade, it was the same thing; Naruto simply had Jiraiya act as a middleman.

Moreover, given Jiraiya's personality, he will most likely ask Tsunade first and then Utatane Koharu.

"Are you unhappy?" Naruto asked seriously.

"No!" Ino herself didn't know what was wrong with her. She just suddenly realized that everything had changed and that Naruto seemed to be able to live well without her.

Both Lord Jiraiya and Lord Tsunade treated him very well. Given their strength and status, the Yamanaka Clan was nothing in their eyes.

She wanted to accept his kindness without reservation, but if the relationship was unequal, it would be difficult. However, upon reflection, she realized that when she hadn't created much of a gap between herself and him, she seemed to be just like him.

She knew she was being unreasonable, so she wanted to get away as soon as possible, to hide under the covers and think things through. She figured it all out tomorrow, that a good night's sleep would do the trick.

"That's good." Naruto didn't think about her thoughts and said with a smile, "I thought you would be so upset that you would run home and cry in bed."

"You!!"

Having her thoughts completely guessed, Ino so embarrassed she felt like she was about to explode, her red lips pressed into a straight line. Pointing at Naruto and said fiercely.

"No way! Why bother talking to you? Do whatever you want! I'm not going to think about repaying a bastard like you!"

Upon hearing this, Naruto chuckled.

"That won't do, I bought you new clothes."

"Ah!!! Go put it on yourself! You damn pervert!" Ino punched him, her chest heaving with anger.

"I can wear it myself, it would be a shame if no one appreciates it." As he spoke, he took Ino's hand and held it tightly, pretending nothing had happened.

Ino's eyes widened as she stared at Naruto, who was so close to her, unsure what to do with her other hand. The hand being held was burning hot, and even her heart trembled.

She suddenly realized something: no matter what he becomes, at this age when he seems all-powerful, it's not a mistake, but a stroke of luck.

"Shall I take you back?" Naruto asked.

"The Ino-Shika-Cho family New Year Festival together, and my parents are probably not home right now," Ino said, biting her lower lip.

"Then let's go home," he said.

Also, two duplicate chapters suddenly popped up in the Little Black Room" (a term used to describe a private or unauthorized online platform). Don't subscribe to them. They were released from the Little Black Room." The original text is chapter 170, titled "New Year's Power Outage."

I'll ask the editor to delete those two chapters, and maybe I'll organize a group chat and send out red envelopes to refund the money.