A Six-Year Marathon of Youth, as Carefree Boys Seemed to Race Through Time

A large estate is certainly good; it's close to Konohagakure, and you don't have to live with your family.

Naruto is used to being free on his own, and having to stay with his elders Tenten would be even more unbearable than getting a beating every day. But he can't bring himself to say it, since he can't take care of a child by himself.

Besides, the Yamanaka couple really like Yukino, so they can't stop them. Therefore, this matter can only be brought up by Ino.

For Naruto, the idea of the three of them living together is a perfect preliminary answer. As for why it's a preliminary answer, it's because it's just a hypothetical scenario.

Ino expressed this hope, but it didn't happen at this moment, and more importantly, it was her attitude that she expressed: Ino accepted living with Hinata.

Hearing this, Naruto finally relaxed and smiled.

"I'll go ask about it later, and it should be done in a few days."

"There's no rush."

Ino propped her head up on the sofa, her gaze sweeping over the shadows cast by the sunlight on the windowsill, her pupils reflecting a lush green plant, her red lips slightly parted.

"Is the war over? I have a feeling of unease, like something bad is going to happen."

"It'll be fine, it's all over now." Naruto glanced at the windowsill. "The sun is shining today, want to go for a walk? A good mood helps you recover faster."

"I've almost fully recovered, and I don't want to go out anytime soon." Ino shrank back onto the sofa, seemingly feeling less energetic after giving birth.

She also joked that half of her nutrition was being absorbed by her child, but she didn't usually show signs of fatigue.

What does Hinata usually do?

"I stay at home, but I go out for walks occasionally," he said truthfully. "What's wrong?"

"I want to go see Hinata. It's boring staying at home alone, and going out isn't very interesting either," Ino pouted. "I'm feeling a bit down, and I don't know who to talk to."

"Oh, are we going today?"

"Yes." Ino suddenly became excited. She always paid attention to her posture, maintaining a perfect figure, and subconsciously straightened her back at all times, even when...

"Okay, someone's taking care of Yukino, right?" Naruto paused, looking at Ino's tight little face. "If so, we can go there now."

Hyuga Clan Compound.

Hyuga Hiashi knelt on the tatami mat, his posture taut, staring at Naruto Uzumaki, who was also kneeling in front of him, with an urge to kill him.

What are you doing here?

"Look at the kids," Naruto said shamelessly.

Upon hearing this, Hyuga Hiashi's face immediately darkened, and his gaze towards the man seemed to conceal a knife. Unable to bear it any longer, he questioned him in a deep voice.

"What's the meaning of you bringing that girl from the Yamanaka Clan here?"

"Lord Hiashi, please calm down." Naruto smiled slightly and said shamelessly, "You're making too much noise. Don't frighten the child. Besides, this is something we have to face sooner or later."

That's tantamount to saying, "Old Deng, my Ghost Fire is already parked in your warehouse." Stop babbling and say something useful. Here's a pack of cigarettes.

Hyuga Hiashi is now truly regretting not killing that shameless blond guy from the start. Now that his precious little cabbage has been taken by a pig, it's too late for anything.

Besides, he quite likes little cabbages now.

Holding onto the thought that he didn't want Himawari to be without a father, Hyuga Hiashi suppressed his temper and his gaze shifted from harsh kindness to gentleness.

"I don't like to meddle in the affairs of you juniors, but Hinata might not think the same way."

"There's no need for Lord Hiashi to worry about that, Hinata has her own ideas," Naruto said. "However, there is something I would like to discuss with you Lord Hiashi."

You'd better not speak.

"There are some things I have to say, and if I don't say them now, I'll have to say them next time." Naruto said calmly, "I want to find a piece of land, not far from Konohagakure, to build a bigger house."

"When the child is older, we'll bring Hinata to live with us."

"What are you saying?" Hyuga Hiashi couldn't hold back any longer. "You and Hinata aren't even married yet, what do you mean by waiting until the child is older before bringing Hinata over?"

He thought to himself, "Do I have to be mindful of your attitude when I'm looking after my granddaughter?"

"That's for later, there's no rush. I want to have the wedding sooner rather than later." Naruto pondered for a moment before finally speaking his mind.

"When?"

"One week later."

Hyuga Hiashi nodded, then fell into a brief silence. He hadn't expected Hinata's wedding day to come so soon. His brow furrowed slightly, before slowly relaxing after a long while.

"Now that things have come to this, I won't say anything harsh. Although you are shameless, you have been sincere towards Hinata. I just hope that you won't let Hinata suffer in the future."

"Of course," Naruto replied.

It seemed that after a certain topic was brought up, the tense atmosphere between the two men instantly melted away, and Hyuga Hiashi began to give him some instructions on the details of the wedding.

Naruto memorized everything and soon left the room, heading towards another courtyard.

One week is his estimate of the time it would take for Black Zetsu to revive Kaguya. It's impossible to do it in a short time, but if it were longer, Black Zetsu would probably have already succeeded.

Nine Tailed Beasts are now complete, and there aren't many other things missing. Although Black Zetsu doesn't have Kabuto as an ally, he still has the ability to revive Uchiha Madara.

In the courtyard where Hinata was, the three of them sat together at a small square table after a long time, with three cups of steaming tea on the table.

The last time this scene was like this was six years ago on a rainy night. However, the atmosphere back then wasn't as calm as it is now; it was more like a battlefield.

However, the relationship between the two women improved during Choji's wedding when Naruto was absent. Now that they have a child, the atmosphere seems harmonious.

"Within a week?" Ino, somewhat surprised, turning to look at Naruto.

"Yes, I had already thought it through." Naruto had actually only thought it through yesterday, but that didn't stop him from spouting nonsense as he fiddled with a pastry box in his hand.

"Hmm?" Ino crossed her arms, her beautiful eyes narrowed, expressing her doubt.

"You are all equally important to me, even more important than myself, and now we have two more children. To be honest, I don't have any great ambitions; I just want to enjoy a peaceful life with you," he continued.

"I also think a simple life is good. I probably prefer being myself to being a ninja." Hinata smiled gently. "I used to always have a grudge against myself, wanting to prove to my father that I can be excellent too, but I've let it go now."

"The Hyuga Clan's Main Family and Branch Family have a long history of conflict. A weak ninja cannot inherit the position of clan head. My father also has his own."

"Now we don't have to think about it anymore, Neji has taken care of everything. Father doesn't have to worry about the Main Family and the Branch Family all the time, and Hanabi and I don't have to strive for the position of head of the family anymore."

Hinata spoke her mind, Ino seemed to be touched as well, pursing her lips and saying something.

"I can't stay idle. If I have the chance, I would still like to work in the Intelligence Department of the Hokage Building. Although my father's mind is on Yukino now, I still don't want the business that my father has built up over so many years to disappear."

Upon hearing this, Naruto immediately understood why Ino had been listless and sometimes staring blankly at one spot for a while after giving birth.

After all that, it turns out they were considering matters related to the Intelligence Department. That makes things easier.

After both women finished speaking—a simple, heart-to-heart talk before their marriage, where they shared their thoughts and plans— Naruto, naturally, didn't hold back and said...

"I've already spoken to Lord Hiashi about the land for building the house; he'll arrange it."

"I won't be a ninja anymore. I'll probably do whatever I want to do every day. I don't know how much a ninja contributes to the world, but I think I can do something else."

"Some more meaningful things, like creating an illusion projection or something, can be used in daily life. Compared to Ninjutsu that kills people, this would definitely be much more profitable."

~~

With wedding preparations in full swing and so many people helping out, Naruto found himself with some free time.

As for money, he doesn't need to contribute a single penny.

Both families were prominent clans in Konohagakure, and he was all alone, so everything was arranged between them. Once the elders met, the wedding, venue, and personnel were all taken care of.

What others think doesn't matter; what matters is that Hyuga Hiashi and Inoichi Yamanaka are sitting together, and that alone is enough. The nature of the situation has completely changed; it's no longer Naruto stealing the cabbage.

The Hinata and Yamanaka Clan are marrying off their daughters together; even ignoring Naruto, this is a genuine alliance.

In other words, once reality is accepted, it becomes a situation where everyone except the three parties involved benefits.

Naruto successfully won the hearts of Hinata and Ino, and through a roundabout way, gained the consent and blessings of the two women's elders, and openly walked hand in hand into the hall of marriage.

After six years of stalemate, Ino and Hinata finally reconciled, finding a somewhat acceptable ending. In any case, this six-year marathon, which began in their youth, has finally come to a close.

As the sun sets, orange rays of light spread across the long Konohagakure Street. It stretches as far as the eye can see, blurring the lines between day and night; the scenery is so beautiful it allows one to replay the events of a lifetime in their mind.

With a soft "plop, "Choji open the beer bottle cap with his chubby fingers and handed it to Naruto, Naruto was staring at the Konohagakure Street bathed in the glow of the sunset.

"You're getting married the day after tomorrow, what are you daydreaming about?"

Naruto sighed softly, turned to look at Choji, and said with emotion.

"In one's life, one will meet two people: one who amazes one's youth and the other who soothes Hinata Ino."

"Although I've always been optimistic, sometimes when I'm alone, I hesitate and worry that I might mess things up completely and end up with no one."

"Haven't you gotten what you wanted now?" Choji raised his bottle and toasted the setting sun.

"Yes, it was really tough." Naruto raised his bottle as well. "That's why it's always been difficult to do anything, and you only realize how hard it was once you've succeeded."

"You're so bookish. I know you don't want to be a ninja, but you want to be a poet?" Choji mocked. "You're getting a good deal and still acting innocent. You'll understand after you get married. You'll be in for a world of hurt."

"Hehe."

What do you mean by "hehe"?

"It's nothing, just a little something. But speaking of which, Choji, shouldn't you take a bite?" Naruto said with a teasing expression.

"Roll!"

The two staggered along the dimly Konohagakure Street, just like six years ago. The boys ran along the street, unrestrained and exuberant, as if their youthful spirit could ride the white horse of time.

Fortunately, as time goes by, they remain passionately young.