The Purple Rabbit on the Towel

Naruto turned his head and saw Ino standing on the stone steps that were 1.5 meters higher than the road surface.

Under the dim yellow streetlights, the soft light perfectly outlined the girl's figure. Soft blonde hair fell over her forehead, and a golden ponytail was casually tied at the back of her head.

She wore an orange fitted short-sleeved top and gray capri pants, revealing a small section of her shapely, fair calves, exuding youthful energy.

"I wasn't thinking about anything." His gaze fell on Ino, and he smiled as he asked, "What are you doing here?"

"Me?" Ino tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and looked down at Naruto. "Teacher Asuma treated us to a meal, and I saw you from afar as I was heading home."

As she spoke, Ino jumped down from the stone steps and landed gracefully in front of him.

"I'm telling you~" she drawled, with a hint of coquettishness, "You've been doing missions with Tenten Neji, and Rock Lee lately, haven't you?"

"Ah, it was arranged by Lord Tsunade."

"Wasn't it you who chose us?" Ino's words didn't sound resentful at all; instead, they were rather cute. "You're supposed to be the closest to our class, but it seems like you've never done a mission with us even once."

"No." He shook his head and added, "Because the missions that my Genin are all high-risk, they're all A-rank Mission."

"So."

Team 10, Team Eight, and Team Seven where Naruto and Sakura are) were all ninjas who graduated the previous year, but Team 3 where Tenten Rock Lee are) graduated earlier and had more experience.

Whether it's Naruto or Tsunade, they would naturally prefer to assign more dangerous missions to Team 3.

"Okay." Ino pursed her lips.

"Are you going home?" Naruto changed the subject appropriately. His partnership with Team 10 was still far off, and he couldn't guarantee anything in the short term.

Besides, carrying out a mission is not child's play. During a mission last month, Team 3 encountered danger, and he almost used the Impure World Reincarnation on an ignorant ninja village.

If all their ancestors were awakened, the scene would probably be a river of blood.

"Yeah, it's getting late. I was just thinking of going home when I happened to see you." Ino's voice pulled him back to reality from his reverie.

"Let me take you home."

"This place is far from my home, and your home is in a completely different direction, right?" Ino seemed a little hesitant. "Wouldn't this be too much trouble?"

"It is indeed quite troublesome."

"It's true, but hearing that some people are hesitant because they want to go home and sleep, and that going home and sleeping takes priority over me, is really frustrating."

"Because I'll be going home alone later, and it will be very lonely."

"Who cares about you!" Ino muttered. "Don't even think that those clumsy and vulgar tricks will work on me."

"Huh? We've been discovered?"

"Just how slow-witted do you think I am?" Ino glared at him.

"Ms. Ino is amazing."

"Hmph, that's right." Ino seemed quite pleased with these words, her eyebrows curving into a smile. "It's rare to hear a serious word from you. If only you could always be this proper."

"Sure, just take a vacation and spend time with me," Naruto suddenly said.

"Keep with me!! Keep with you? Who wants to keep you company?!" Ino stammered.

"Then I'll go with you."

"No!" she refused without hesitation. "Besides, I'll probably be staying home to mind the shop. If you come, my parents will definitely be suspicious."

Naruto stroked his chin, gasped, and said.

"But... Auntie seems to like me more."

Ino: "."

He seemed to be telling the truth; Ino felt like she'd been shot in the knee, and her whole body felt terrible. Oh well, she thought, "I'd better go home quickly, and maybe I can cry in my blanket for a few minutes."

"You're not allowed to come!"

"But I'm so bored at home. I'm practically a customer, right?" Naruto asked somewhat shamelessly.

"Why half?" Ino had already turned and walked towards the Yamanaka Flower Shop. The two walked side by side on Konohagakure Street.

"Because I didn't go there to buy flowers." He turned and stared at Ino.

Ino shrank back slightly under his gaze, then couldn't help but glance at him quickly, her eyes sparkling. Her face flushed slightly, and she muttered softly.

"Don't say such strange things."

"It's summer now, so it's normal to say things like that." Naruto walked slowly beside Ino. The Konohagakure Street were still brightly lit and stretched as far as the eye could see.

"It has nothing to do with summer, don't make up weird excuses."

"Am I explaining that a person only has one summer in their life, and the rest of summers are for reminiscing, or something like that, the best summer?"

As he spoke, he quietly grasped Ino's hand. She struggled for a moment but couldn't break free, so she simply looked away.

"You"

"What's wrong with me?" someone asked shamelessly.

Ino didn't say anything more, looking in another direction, and said in a muffled voice.

"Don't pinch it randomly."

Naruto held a half-empty bottle of soda in one hand and grabbed Ino's hand with the other, not behaving himself. Ino's face turned bright red, and she finally couldn't take it anymore and pulled her hand away.

Perhaps sensing the awkward silence, Ino started trying to find topics to talk about as she walked.

What are you holding in your hand?

"Half a bottle of soda, I saved it for you."

"You drink it yourself." Ino was speechless. She shouldn't have had any expectations of that kind of person. With a long seven-day vacation, she would inevitably have to deal with him.

She thought to herself, though she didn't mean it, that she was already very tired from running the shop.

Under the Great Green Tree in front of the Yamanaka Flower Shop.

The two stopped in their tracks, even though they were still a street away from the Yamanaka Flower Shop. They always agreed that taking him home was the end of the journey.

"I'll come to the store to see you tomorrow," he said.

"Oh." Ino's gaze shifted downwards to the tips of her shoes, and she said nervously, "It's going to rain tomorrow."

Her rational mind hoped that Naruto would suggest rescheduling or simply not coming at all. But her heart started racing uncontrollably; she was nervous.

She had said something similar before, when her parents asked her if she wanted to celebrate her birthday separately. Since it always clashed with Fireworks Festival, they usually had to rush through it.

She shook her head and said it was too much trouble, her heart pounding at that moment. Although she did find it too much trouble, she was still hoping her parents would give a different answer.

Naruto glanced at her and frowned as he spoke.

"Yeah?"

Ino felt a sudden emptiness in her heart, but she still managed a smile.

"Yes, it's summer after all, and the long rainy season is just around the corner. Rain is a hassle, especially since the journey is long."

"I'll come earlier."

"Huh?" Ino looked up at him, momentarily confused.

"Is it okay to arrive before dawn?"

"No need to work that hard! Just start a little earlier, not that early."

"I'm treating this like a date."

"A date? No! It's not like that! Don't talk nonsense!" Ino seemed a little flustered. "Do you really need to be so excited?"

"Certainly."

"Since you're so looking forward to it, I'll reluctantly agree, but this isn't a date!" Ino reiterated, "It's just accompanying me to the shop."

"It's so boring. There aren't many customers, so I can only doze off."

"I understand." Naruto nodded. "It doesn't matter, I'll find my own fun."

"Ugh! That's so vulgar!" Ino hugged herself tightly and gave him a disdainful look. "You'd better put away that damn fetish of yours tomorrow, or you'll scare the guests."

Boom!

The next morning, the sky indeed turned gloomy.

Naruto was so sleepy he could barely keep his eyes open, but he forced himself to get up and wash. Nine-Tails was still sleeping on the sofa; thankfully, it didn't sweat, so it didn't get the sofa dirty.

Upon hearing the noise, Nine-Tails opened its eyes and instinctively reached for the wine bottle beside it.

Where are you going?

"The Yamanaka Flower Shop." Naruto's voice came from the bathroom.

"Boring." Nine-Tails couldn't find any words that interested it in his speech, so it pulled its head back in.

The sky was somewhat overcast, with occasional rumbles of thunder through the thick, black clouds. The earthy smell before the rain mingled with the cool raindrops in the wind, hitting my face the moment I opened the door.

The wind rushed down his neck and through his sleeves as he went out the door, holding an umbrella.

Inside the Yamanaka Flower Shop, Ino sat absentmindedly at the counter. The overhead light shone brightly, and the rain outside was pouring down harder. A cold wind seeped in through the cracks in the door, casting a white haze over the entrance of the flower shop.

Asuma mentioned at the dinner last night that they couldn't guarantee they could complete their seven-day vacation. If there was any movement from Sunagakure, they would have to end their vacation at any time.

It was probably a collective action by the Genin. At this critical juncture, they were the only people the village could freely mobilize.

The rain was pouring down outside, completely obscuring the view. Ino was restless, so she got up and walked to the door, carefully opening it a crack.

She wanted to see if the person had arrived, but just then she saw a black umbrella fall down, blocking her view.

Ino paused slightly, noticing the Tactical Sandals and the bare ankles soaked with rainwater. Her gaze moved upward to a smug smiling face, the black ribs of an umbrella pressed down.

"Were you waiting for me?" he asked.

"It's hot, I just opened the door to let in some fresh air." Ino rolled her eyes at him. "Don't think so highly of yourself."

Several thuds echoed down the street, sounding like metal frames hitting the ground. She glanced at Naruto, whose hair was half-soaked, pursed her lips, and moved aside to make way for him.

"Come in."

"This is the first time I've gotten up this early, you have to make it up to me, right?" He shook the black umbrella abruptly and then leaned it against the corner.

"You insisted on coming here yourself," Ino muttered, taking a towel from under the counter. "Dry your hair first."

"Thank you." Naruto reached out and took the towel. After wiping for a while, he noticed something was wrong. He examined the towel closely and his eyes showed a strange look.

"So you like rabbits?"

"Huh?" Ino was taken aback.

It wasn't until Naruto fully unfolded the white towel, revealing the embroidery of a purple rabbit, that Ino's pupils dilated slightly, and she snatched the towel away with a gasp.

"You took the wrong one!" Her face flushed instantly, and she clutched the towel tightly. "This is my own. I'll get you a new one."

As she spoke, she hurriedly returned to the counter, pulled out a dry white towel from underneath, and handed it to Naruto.

He didn't answer, but instead wrinkled his nose.

"For personal use?"

"Go to hell! You pervert! It's just for wiping sweat!" Ino angrily threw the new towel at Naruto's face.