Ino's New Mission

"You're daydreaming again?" Ino, her face puffed up with anger. "This is the third time."

"Oh, sorry." Naruto snapped out of his reverie and said apologetically, "I guess I didn't sleep well last night, I was just too tired. By the way, where were we?"

The two met alone at the Barbecue restaurant and sat facing each other.

The seat was near the window, with two open bottles of orange soda on the table, and five or six plates of sliced meat on a small cart. Two Little Watermelon were placed on either side, and various sauces were laid out in front of me.

Ino was dressed meticulously, wearing a black and blue striped vest paired with loose beige trousers, clearly having dressed up carefully before going out.

In contrast, the blond guy was much more casual. With his messy blond hair, white short-sleeved shirt, and black pants, he always looked lazy and relaxed.

"You," Ino rolled her eyes, "Don't you usually love sleeping the most? You sleep everywhere, even in Lord Tsunade's office."

"That time it was because I was waiting for too long and I was really bored," Naruto explained. "There was no one there, but they had to call me over so early."

Ino's expression was complicated as she asked quietly, "So you just slept on the table?"

"That's not important." Naruto awkwardly changed the subject. "What mission were you talking about? Could you repeat it?"

"The Fire Temple." Ino rested one hand on the table, and with the other hand began grilling meat. With a sizzle, white smoke billowed up, and her voice rang out again.

"Teacher Asuma said the client is a monk from the Fire Temple. Apparently, someone attacked the Fire Temple, targeting Master Jiraiya. But Master Jiraiya isn't here, so..."

Ino spoke methodically, her hands never stopping, her slender white wrists moving nimbly. She quickly flipped the grilled meat over, then expertly bent down to mix the sauce.

Her hair was tied in a high ponytail, and her blonde hair was tucked behind her ears.

She kept talking, completely oblivious to Naruto's increasingly silent expression. Ino only stopped when she realized the blond-haired man in front of her was unusually quiet.

"What's wrong?" she asked, puzzled.

"This mission is too dangerous." Naruto coughed and then subconsciously touched his nose nervously. "It's really going too far for Genin team to carry out that kind of mission."

"You underestimate us too much," Ino complained. "Besides, Teacher Asuma is here, so there won't be any danger."

"After all, we've done quite a few dangerous missions together, so this mission shouldn't be anything special."

"I've been to the Fire Temple," Naruto said after a moment of silence. "Master Jiraiya is a rather... well, anyway, the opponent is an Akatsuki Organization member that even Master Jiraiya couldn't handle. The mission was extremely dangerous."

Chiriku's life was worth 30 million ryo. The Akatsuki Organization were taking on missions everywhere for money, and Chiriku had a premonition that he would be targeted. However, at that time, the Akatsuki Organization had not yet shown any signs of activity in the Land of Fire, so he did not take many precautions.

But now, Chiriku is still alive.

Naruto wasn't sure if his reminder had worked or if it was simply a butterfly effect. But one thing was certain: Kakuzu gotten Chiriku's head, and he'd be back sooner or later.

"Idiot! But this is a mission, there's no such thing as a safe one." Ino put the grilled meat into Naruto's bowl. "So what if you know it's dangerous? This is a ninja's job."

"No, I'm going to find Lord Tsunade. I want to go too," Naruto said, taking a sip of his juice.

"Wouldn't it be safe if you went?" Ino asked, speechless.

"Of course, you know I'm very strong," Naruto said half-jokingly. "Besides, I'll worry about you if I don't go, and I won't get any rest if I stay in the village."

"How could you not get enough rest? Some people haven't contacted me in ages, and they don't seem to have anything important to do on weekdays," Ino said, pursing her lips.

"This..." Naruto knew he was in the wrong.

"Alright, I don't need you to explain anymore," Ino muttered. "Anyway, that's just how you are. It's better if you don't contact me; at least I won't be harassed."

"I'm going to be sad if you say that."

"Oh! Who would believe you!" Despite this, Ino still smiled.

"The mission is decided then. I'll try to get it done with Lord Tsunade." Naruto said, adopting a decisive and authoritative tone.

"Let's not," Ino sighed, sounding a little guilty. "It's really safe, there's no need to trouble Lord Tsunade."

Upon hearing this, Naruto's eyelids twitched slightly, thinking to himself, "How could I not know whether it's safe or not?"

It would be a miracle if you could stay safe from Kakuzu and Hidan. The Immortal Duo are the most troublesome and difficult to deal with; the slightest mistake could cost you your life.

Given the butterfly effect, Naruto didn't dare gamble on Ino's safe return.

"I've made up my mind, you don't need to try to persuade me anymore," he said.

"But you're just a Genin after all. If you keep acting so willfully, even if Lord Tsunade doesn't blame you, you'll offend the higher-ups," Ino said anxiously.

As soon as she said it, she regretted it and quickly changed her words.

"It's not like I'm in a high-ranking position, it's just that this has a bad influence. They're always making an example of me."

"You don't need to worry about that." Naruto leaned back in his chair and said, "It's not troublesome at all. Besides, why would I watch you go on a risk?"

Ino was in turmoil, and her cheeks flushed slightly.

"Aren't all ninjas like that? They never do such things out of fear."

"Of course." Naruto glanced at her, revealing a roguish smile. "I'll be a high-ranking member soon, what can they say about me?"

"What?" Ino looked up in surprise. "What high-level executive?"

"Me?!" Naruto pointed to himself. "Wasn't what I said clear enough? The person sitting in front of you is about to become Konoha High Command."

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Ino blinked, wondering if Naruto had lost his mind due to the fever. "You're just a Genin, how could you possibly be a high-ranking member?"

"Right away," Naruto corrected, coughing as he straightened up and said, "Let's get to know each other again, the new head of the Uzumaki Clan."

He extended his hand to Ino in a very flamboyant manner and said...

"Naruto Uzumaki, one of the future Konoha High Command, has arrived!"

"You?" Ino was stunned, unable to process such a large amount of information for a moment. "What did you just say about the patriarch of the Uzumaki Clan? I didn't quite understand."

"That's not something to understand, it's just a title." Naruto regained his composure, picked up a piece of grilled meat, and said, "Anyway, don't worry about me."

"No matter what, I can't just watch you do missions that are too dangerous."

"Who cares what anyone says?" Ino retorted softly.

After leaving the Barbecue restaurant.

The two walked side by side on the road again. Ino listened to Naruto's explanation of the high-ranking positions, still occasionally letting out a sigh of admiration. After giving him a complicated look, she said...

"Won't a clan leader who lives alone be lonely?"

"It's alright, are you coming?"

Ino: "I shouldn't have asked you."