Dust Settles: Go See the Final Result, No Matter What, Have Them All

How many did he provoke? Naruto probably had no idea. When he woke up, he felt more and more regretful. If only he had done it before Obito Uchiha move.

Now that the patriarch has been alerted, and he can't contact the two women either. Although he could still find ways to get some information if he wanted to, but...

Any action now will lead to errors, so it's better to do nothing and just wait.

Before leaving, Sakura told him that she would be staying in the lab very late that day and that he didn't need to wait for her; he could come to the lab to find her if he needed anything.

However, Naruto wouldn't bother Sakura alone, since she was indeed busy with work. He couldn't very well show an anxious and troubled expression while waiting; there was no need to add to his anxiety.

Quietly leaving the office, Naruto found a secluded path to go home. Nikko slanted down, illuminating red walls, green trees, and a shady cobblestone path.

He walked to a corner and suddenly bumped into someone he never expected. Tenten, wearing a light green jacket with a side opening, turned around when she heard the noise and was also stunned for a moment when she saw Naruto.

"Naruto? What are you doing here?" Tenten asked.

"Going home." Naruto wasn't in the mood for banter, his expression calm. "But Tenten, where are you going dressed like that?"

Upon hearing this, Tenten blushed.

Her appearance was completely different from usual, as if she had dressed up on purpose. She usually wore a cheongsam, or that white off-the-shoulder top, but now...

"Is it obvious to me?" Tenten looked around and asked softly.

"Hold head high."

"Okay, don't tell anyone else," Tenten said somewhat awkwardly. "Kakashi-sensei asked me to Genin class, and I didn't know how to refuse, so I had to agree."

"Leading the team?"

He suddenly realized that his friends were all Jonin their own, and perhaps in the Genin they were already very cool adults.

"Yeah!" she said, rubbing her forehead in frustration. "It was recommended by Teacher Kai. Honestly, he didn't listen to my opinion at all!"

"They even insisted on saying strange things like 'burning youth,' and I got stared at by strangers for a long time. It's not good to say it like that, but it's really embarrassing."

"It's alright, you'll get used to it," he said reassuringly. He was about to say goodbye and leave when he suddenly asked, "Who are your students?"

Then Tenten announced the names of three kids that Naruto had never heard of before. One was a ninja from the Hyuga Clan, and the other two were probably commoner ninjas.

However, this tradition has a long history: to de-organize ninjas into clans and make them belong to the village. Unfortunately, after the Uchiha Clan rebellion, this method clearly became unworkable.

While the Uchiha may have been unruly, it's unfair to say all ninja clans are idiots. Efforts to de-emphasize clan structures and strengthen the concept of ninja villages have been ongoing but with little success.

There are many reasons for this, which are not worth going into detail.

As the saying goes, dynasties come and go, but powerful families remain.

Since Hashirama Senju proposed the concept of a village many years ago, it has certainly had an effect. At least more and more commoner ninjas are stepping onto the stage and competing with the once unattainable clan ninjas.

However, even today, ninja clans still control power in the village, and there are reasons for their existence. Calling it a hereditary system isn't an exaggeration.

After all, ninja clans have people and resources, so even if they choose the best among the worst, they'll still be a cut above the average commoner ninja. You can't argue with that.

"Then you can go ahead and get busy." Naruto made a move to leave.

"Hey, Naruto! Don't tell anyone about what happened today." Tenten was a little embarrassed; she had deliberately taken the back path to avoid running into acquaintances.

Little did they know that even the narrow path was difficult to traverse, with plenty of water and slippery surfaces.

"Understood." He waved and slowly left.

"Sigh, I still got caught. How embarrassing!" Tenten watched Naruto's departing figure, her face burning. She stomped her foot and walked towards the training ground.

At noon, at the Yamanaka Clan's camp, at the family's dining table.

Ino sat silently, slowly eating her meal. She could clearly feel two pairs of eyes on her, making her uncomfortable.

"What's wrong?" She put down her chopsticks and looked up at her parents.

"Ino, you and Naruto... are you...?" Inoichi Yamanaka asked, but couldn't get the question out, unsure how to ask it. He then looked at his wife beside him.

Yamanaka Rino smiled gently, sat gracefully at the dining table, and asked.

How is your relationship?

"Old ginger is spicier, "Ino suddenly wondered, unsure how to answer. Was their relationship good or bad? The answer was undeniable, but how good could it really be?

The other person isn't even willing to give their whole heart; they like you, but there's another girl in their heart. Hinata is so gentle; most guys would probably like someone like that.

Of course she was heartbroken, but what could she do? Love is a matter of mutual consent. You can't force someone to be devoted to you.

The Yamanaka Clan's secret technique is the Mind Body Switch Technique, which allows them to know the other person's thoughts even without them speaking after using Ninjutsu. Yet, this very family finds themselves unable to speak at this moment.

The couple exchanged a glance at the dining table, and hesitated afterward. Last night, they had seen their daughter seemingly secretly shedding tears, and it had saddened them.

"It's alright, I think," Ino replied vaguely, getting up. "I'm full, I'm going upstairs now."

Inoichi Yamanaka was about to speak, his wife grabbed him, and he could only swallow back the words he was about to say.

After Ino had completely gone upstairs, he looked at his wife and asked, puzzled.

"Why are you stopping me? We need to get this straight!"

"Of course I know I need to ask clearly, but I also need to consider Ino's feelings," Yamanaka Rino patiently advised. "Ino is a sensible child. I'll go upstairs and talk to her alone later."

"Hmm." Inoichi Yamanaka picked up his chopsticks, about to pick up some food, but stopped himself. He turned to his wife and said, "What's going on with Naruto Uzumaki? They used to be getting along so well, didn't they?"

"You know that was in the past, many years ago. It's nothing serious for two kids to have a fight; they'll make up after a quarrel," Yamanaka Rino said.

"This isn't about arguing. I remember that kid was playing dress-up with Ino in the store when we weren't there. At the time, I thought they were just kids and didn't take it to heart."

Inoichi Yamanaka looked regretful, picked up his chopsticks, and said to her.

"If they really like each other, then being well-matched in terms of social status isn't that important, as long as Ino is happy. But who could have known that guy would provoke the Hyuga Clan as well?"

"If I had known they would turn out like this, I should have just thrown Naruto away back then. That would have saved Ino from getting hurt. Seriously!"

Listening to her husband's complaints, Yamanaka Rino couldn't help but say.

"The matter hasn't been fully investigated yet, and it might not be as we imagine. What if it's just a misunderstanding? Don't act rashly."

"Isn't that clear enough? Remnants of the Akatsuki Organization infiltrated the village, took Hinata and Ino away, and wanted to threaten Naruto," he said angrily.

"It's good that my daughter is back safe and sound, but why two?"

Yamanaka Rino was also helpless; strange things happen every year, but why were there so many today? She thought for a moment but didn't reply, and turned to go upstairs.

Upstairs, Ino was about to take her clothes to shower, having turned off her communicator and tossed it onto the sofa. Seeing her mother come upstairs, she stopped in her tracks.

"Ino?" She smiled.

"Mmm." Ino grabbed her clothes and ran off, feeling a little guilty and not daring to look at her mother.

Half an hour later, Ino quietly left the bathroom and was about to return to her bedroom when she was suddenly stopped by Yamanaka Rino the living room. She froze for a moment and turned around awkwardly.

"Mother?"

"Hmm, shall we go to your room and talk?" Yamanaka Rino asked tentatively.

"Okay." Ino entered the room without locking the door, Yamanaka Rino followed her in, looking at Ino who was drying her hair, and asked, "Can you tell me about it?"

"What exactly is going on between you and Naruto, and that girl from the Hyuga Clan?"

Yamanaka Rino's voice was gentle, with a uniquely feminine tenderness, and her eyes looked softly at Ino. It seemed she was waiting, waiting for Ino to speak.

"I"

Hearing her mother's question, Ino felt somewhat aggrieved. She had also seen the head of the Hyuga Clan, who had also sized her up; Hinata was probably facing the same question.

She didn't want the relationship between the three of them to be ambiguous, but what could she do? Should she just leave? She had never even considered doing that.

"We're just...just friends," Ino said.

"Who? Are you friends with that Hyuga Clan girl? What about Naruto?" Yamanaka Rino continued to ask, not letting Ino's vague answer fool her.

"Are you lovers?" she asked.

"Hmm." Ino lowered her head.

"If that's the case, then why is Naruto related to Hinata? You guys..." Yamanaka Rino frowned slightly, having probably guessed the truth of the matter.

"He wouldn't want to be with both of you at the same time?"

"No, that's not it." Ino panicked and said subconsciously, "Hinata and I are friends, Naruto doesn't have those kinds of thoughts."

Upon hearing this, Yamanaka Rino frowned even more deeply; no one knows a daughter better than her mother.

Hinata felt somewhat uneasy about the Hyuga Clan.

Hyuga Hiashi kept her behind for questioning, his palms were sweating profusely. Fortunately, Hyuga Hiashi didn't say much, only reminding her to be mindful of her family's reputation.

Back in her room, Hinata lay on the bed in a daze, with a black-screened communicator lying next to her pillow.

She really wanted to open the door and talk to Naruto. But when she thought about what had happened in the last two days, she felt a little lost. It seemed she couldn't deceive herself anymore by being open about it.

How could someone who likes another person so much possibly give them up, or even share them?

Hinata it. She had done everything she could, so why couldn't she just like one person? How did she and Ino usually get along?

As Hinata pondered, she felt a tightness in her chest, as if a heavy weight of sorrow was pressing down on her. Tears streamed down her face, soaking her pillow.

Nothing was said that night.

Naruto woke up in his apartment, momentarily disoriented upon opening his eyes. He instinctively tried to contact the two girls using his communicator, but just like yesterday, he couldn't get through.

After his attempts failed, he wasn't in a hurry and simply put the two communicators into his Sealing Space.

Two days have passed since that incident, and the outcome is likely already clear. Nothing we do now will change anything; the best approach is to quickly ascertain the attitudes of both parties.

Unable to reach him shouldn't cause him too much panic. At least it proves that the two women still harbor resentment towards him, and what he fears most is one of them calmly answering his call.

Then nothing happened, and it all fizzled out.

After getting out of bed and washing up, Naruto stood in front of the mirror, brushing his teeth with his blond hair sticking out, silently thinking about his future plans. Regardless of how the Ino and Hinata situation was resolved.

He still had to finish what he was supposed to do. Even if one of the parties cut off contact with him, no one in Konohagakure would dare to steal his man.

Even if someone becomes foolish and blinded by love, their smoking ancestral graves will instantly bring them to their senses. Anyone vying for Ino or Hinata, well, let's hear what their ancestors have to say.

He wanted both of them, Ino and Hinata, and no one else could touch them.

After washing up, Nine-Tails, drunk, climbed in from the balcony, glanced up at Naruto, then lowered his head and slowly moved towards the small sofa.

"How much did you drink?" Naruto, embarrassed.

"I've been thinking about it, and I think we should enjoy life while we can." Nine-Tails struggled to climb onto the small sofa, letting out a burp as she rolled over. "We'll talk about the future later."

Upon hearing this, he smiled and nodded.

"You're right, Kurama. From the first day I met you until now, you've finally said something human."

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!!

Nine-Tails was fast asleep and hadn't heard a thing Naruto said. The chubby fox lay on the sofa, its round shape quite comical.

Laughing heartily, Naruto stepped out the door, washing away the pent-up frustration of the past two days. Walking in the Nikko corridor, bathed in the warm sunlight, his mood instantly lifted.

After dealing with this matter, the next target is Iwagakure. I need to quickly collect the ten Evil God follower for Mission Three and obtain the reward of returning to body age eighteen.

The Akatsuki Organization only has a few members, the Hawk Team only has a few members, but we can still assemble a force of our own. We will be larger and stronger than them.

Whether it's the Uzumaki Ten Maidens or anyone else, the immediate priority is to fill the quest bar. Time is running out, and quest three can't be delayed any longer.

If we wait until the Shinobi World descends into chaos, even if we complete Mission Three by then, it will be difficult to persuade Tsunade to let go of her inner conflicts and return to help us complete the Otsutsuki's plan to fall.

After all, Tsunade cares more about Konohagakure. If the Shinobi World descends into chaos and the village's existence is threatened, Tsunade would most likely not agree to her conditions, even at the cost of her life.

Tsunade was now. The Dragon Vein affair was a complicated matter, leaving both of them somewhat awkward. Naruto also regretted his actions, but the seed of resentment had already been planted in Tsunade.

Simply regretting it won't help; we still need to get out of Konohagakure as soon as possible and head to Iwagakure to backstab Ōnoki.