Dazed and Dreamy, So This Was Kissing, Following Each Other's Scent

"Will you come with me?" Ino's question brought him back to reality, and he looked very nervous.

"Mmm." He answered almost instinctively.

Whether it's meeting an old lady or facing the Ino, since Ino has asked, we should agree. Hesitation will only lead to defeat; whether it's a freebie or not is another matter.

"Really? You're so kind." Ino seemed genuinely moved by Naruto's unwavering acceptance, her eyes reddening as she almost wiped away tears.

Why are you swearing?

"Oh, I didn't."

"You said I'm a good person."

Ino: "Do I have to call you a pervert to make you happy?"

"Not really." He raised his hand, revealing that despite traveling around all year round, he still had a remarkably pale complexion.

Ino also found this somewhat strange. But considering that he usually liked to stay at home and lie around like a corpse, she couldn't help but wonder if he would also find a place to stay when he went out on a mission?

If that's really the case, then it's truly a terrible sin. It's not that he committed a sin, it's that Konohagakure committed a sin by producing such an unparalleled prodigy like him.

If Ino knew that he was indeed slow and prone to finding scapegoats when carrying out missions, she would probably be shocked.

After finishing their meal, the two found a pub and had some drinks, but not too much. The pub's decor and the dim lighting allowed them to huddle together and whisper among themselves.

Their eyes met, instantly melting together, then they looked away in unspoken understanding, only to meet again. It was as if winter snow had melted into spring water, and they were completely merging.

Small dishes were laid out on the table, and the wine was refreshingly crisp. The two sat side by side at what looked like a counter, with high stools placed between them, creating a romantic atmosphere.

"Last time you asked me," Ino, already a little drunk, nestled in his neck like a puddle of water, chuckling softly, "Whether I've missed you, do you want to know the answer?"

"Yes, I do."

"I don't want to at all," she murmured dazedly, her eyes barely open.

"Oh." Naruto, who was tolerant of alcohol, supported Ino and occasionally responded to her like he was coaxing a child, while secretly plotting when to trick Choji into coming out and being fed dog food.

As for Shikamaru, forget it. That guy's too smart; he'll see through my scheme long ago. Either stand me up, or just bring Choji to share the damage.

He sipped his wine slowly, not drinking much. A soft, limp girl lay on top of him, his thoughts drifting away, thinking of Jiraiya of the Land of Rain and then of Obito.

Ino squinted and nestled against Naruto as if embracing him, like a little accessory. Her mind was foggy; she felt like she was dreaming.

One moment I felt like I was asleep, the next the scene of the successful development of the communicator flashed through my mind. All sorts of images mixed together, absurd and magical.

She sobered up a bit and groggily opened her eyes. She felt like she was lying on a stove, and instinctively snuggled closer to the warm breath.

Naruto's scent entered her nostrils without reservation; his breath was clean, with a hint of warm alcohol in his hormones.

This almost made her lose her mind. She groped around haphazardly with her hands, but Naruto pushed them back down.

He was lost in thought when he glanced down at her, his brow furrowing slightly. So engrossed in his thoughts, he'd forgotten she was drunk, and instinctively pulled her up.

"You're drunk, let me take you back to the flower shop."

"I'm not drunk." Ino opened her eyes, tilted her head back, and said with a forced smile, "I want to Takoyaki."

"Okay, let's have Takoyaki tomorrow." He had already started packing, preparing to leave with Ino. If it got too late, her parents might worry.

"Not tomorrow! It's the day after tomorrow!" Ino's eyes narrowed again.

"Yes, yes, the day after tomorrow." He continued, following her lead, and with great difficulty helped her up, then took her handbag and put it into his Sealing Space.

Ninjutsu is indeed convenient; at least now he only needs to focus on getting Ino home. He doesn't need to awkwardly carry a bag in one hand and support Ino with the other.

Ino kept fidgeting on the way, so Naruto simply carried her on his back. In the cold night wind, he walked steadily down the Konohagakure Street, his steps so steady they didn't seem like those of someone who had been drinking.

Ino sniffed the scent on his neck, feeling somewhat disoriented. She jumped off his back, hooked her arm around Naruto's neck, and said to him in a half-awake, half-asleep state.

"Let's kiss?"

"You're drunk." Naruto rubbed her face and sighed. "You've never drunk alcohol before, why did you drink so much on your first time? Even if I'm paying for the drinks, don't drink yourself to death."

"I'm serious." Ino blushed crimson, looking up at him stubbornly. "Normally, I wouldn't agree. Are you willing or not?"

The streets were deserted, with only old trees and bare branches.

The streetlights were dim. Ino, drunk, ripped off the two red hair clips on either side of her head, and her thick blonde hair suddenly cascaded down. In the night breeze, her blonde hair rippled slightly.

She stood right in front of Naruto, squinting her eyes and tilting her head back, looking like she was ready to be taken advantage of.

This time, Naruto couldn't stay calm. Gazing at Ino under the streetlights, the cold wind made him feel incredibly hot inside. The effects of the alcohol he had just drunk instantly dissipated.

"Forget it, I can't worry about that now!"

He lowered his head and slowly leaned closer. It was like ordering a bowl of cold jelly on a sweltering Natsuhi —icy cold on the palate, yet with a subtle warmth in the mouth. Ino's body stiffened abruptly, her mind going numb as if she'd been electrocuted.

She didn't know what kissing felt like; what she read in books seemed superficial, lacking depth in the words. But when she experienced it firsthand, she felt the books had been too simplistic.

My mind went blank for a moment, feeling dizzy and disoriented, and my heart pounded like a drum. The back of my head felt foggy, as if I'd been hit with a hammer, pricked with a needle, and then slowly swelled.

Faced with Naruto's forceful advances, she could only swallow it all, albeit vaguely. She was panting heavily, her heart pounding wildly under the influence of alcohol.

After a long while, the two parted ways under the Kishita.

She slightly opened her eyes and looked at the figure, at that clean and neat face, and couldn't help but smile. She finally understood that kissing was about finding each other's lips.

Driven by instinct, I drifted in a daze, feeling a comfortable, hazy state. I accepted everything without distinguishing between myself and others, or between the darkness and chaos.

Under the streetlights, a hazy, dim light followed.

Ino looked at Naruto's slightly suppressed eyes and immediately understood something, her face turning red. She sobered up considerably and stammered.

"I can't, not now. At least not now, unless you really can't resist."

"When are you going to visit your grandmother?" he asked.

"Huh?" Ino came back to her senses, only to find that the other person's eyes had returned to Qingming Festival, which made her a little dumbfounded.

"I'm asking you."

"Oh, let me think... the day after tomorrow," she said, her mind a bit muddled. Should she really not try again?

Sorry for the fewer updates during defense week; I'll try to update more tomorrow.