Heart-to-Heart Talk

The two hurried towards Konohagakure with Asuma, time was tight and the mission was urgent. They didn't want to waste any more time.

Josuke hadn't expected Ino to stay behind. Wasn't he a Rogue Ninja?

"You shouldn't be here."

Josuke put on a cold front, trying to make Ino leave.

But if Ino could be restrained like this, she wouldn't be Ino.

After learning that Josuke had defected, Ino had cried, tired herself out, and been hurt, but she still refused to believe he had defected willingly.

There must be some hidden reason. As long as she didn't ask him about it, none of it would be real. Josuke definitely had a reason.

Even if Josuke had no hidden reason and had simply defected, Ino was prepared to defect with him.

Even if everything Josuke said now was a lie, Ino was willing to believe it.

This is how girls in love are, believing and loving their crush, their white moonlight, without reservation.

"You have a hidden reason, don't you?"

Ino pursed her lips and said in a low voice.

The sky was dimming, and the recent battle had left Ino looking a bit disheveled, but it did nothing to diminish the girl's beauty. A gentle breeze rustled her hair.

A faint, pleasant scent hung in the air.

Josuke remained silent, unsure how to face Ino. He probably seemed like the worst person in her eyes.

I'm sorry, Ino, I'm truly sorry.

"Josuke-kun..."

Ino moved closer and closer to Josuke.

She was almost touching him.

Don't be like this, Ino... Josuke closed his eyes. He didn't want Ino to get involved in this conflict. It was better to avoid trouble.

He didn't want Ino to get any closer, fearing he wouldn't be able to hold back the next second.

But Ino wouldn't have it her way. Having grown up with him, didn't she know Josuke's personality and what kind of person he was?

The relationship between the two was obvious to all the Twelve Rookie Shinobi. It was just a matter of time before it became official...

"Don't be like this... Ino."

Josuke said in a low voice, his tone filled with helplessness.

The brave girl still took that step, opening her arms and hugging Josuke.

Silence spoke louder than words.

He had lost in the end, hadn't he?

Josuke sighed helplessly. Since it had come to this, so be it.

With that, he opened his arms and embraced Ino's slender waist. She was very slim and already developing nicely. Now, she was all his.

Gently pulling Ino into his embrace, Josuke felt as if time had stopped around him, as if it would remain frozen in this moment forever.

After a long while, Josuke gently let go.

"I'm sorry, Ino."

Brushing aside Ino's hair, Josuke seemed to have found his resolve.

Ino shook her head. She knew Josuke must have had some unspeakable reason, otherwise, why would he have become a Rogue Ninja?

"Mhm, I don't blame you. I missed you so much... during the days you were gone."

Nestled in Josuke's arms, Ino poured out all her grievances from the past days to the person before her, the one who gave her peace and whom she longed for day and night.

"Me too..."

The girl's grievances tugged at Josuke's heart. If he had been stronger, why would he have resorted to such measures? He probably didn't even have the strength to trade his life for Danzo's now.

How could he protect the one he loved?

"Wait for me, okay? There are things I can't stay in Konoha for... but I will never do anything to harm Konoha or you. Trust me, okay?"

Josuke's words were like a calming balm, finally easing Ino's worried heart.

After all, Ino didn't know if Josuke's words were true or false, but her choice was to trust Josuke unconditionally. Even if it were a lie, she would believe it without hesitation.

"Mhm, I trust you."

No more words were needed; this was the best affirmation.

The heavy atmosphere had also eased. They couldn't linger here for long. Under Josuke's escort, Ino returned to the vicinity of Konoha's entrance.

Konohagakure loomed in the distance, faintly visible.

Konohagakure?

Josuke wondered if the Uchiha Clan Land had been plundered by those detestable capitalist higher-ups in Konoha.

Looking at the village that was about to arrive, Ino couldn't feel happy at all. This meant she would have to part ways with Josuke. ┭┮﹏┭┮.

Josuke naturally knew about Ino's little thoughts and gently comforted her.

"Alright~ It's not like I'm never coming back. I'll come back to see you when I have the chance, okay?"

Although she was still unhappy, since Josuke had said so, Ino naturally believed him.

"Then! I'm leaving!"

After speaking, without giving Josuke a chance to react, she sneakily pecked his cheek, kissed him on the face, and then, as if she had done something wrong, ran off without looking back.

Josuke froze.

He touched the spot where she had kissed him and let out a fond smile.

The severely injured Asuma was brought to Tsunade. Tsunade broke out in a cold sweat upon seeing Asuma's injuries. Despite his heart being damaged, he was still barely clinging to life.

Moreover, his heart was slowly repairing itself.

This was highly unusual, but now wasn't the time to think about such things; saving him was the priority.

As the surgery proceeded, Tsunade asked Shikamaru how Asuma had been injured.

She then learned about Josuke from Shikamaru and couldn't help but frown. Why would a Rogue Ninja show such kindness? Or did Josuke have some unspeakable secret?

For some reason, Tsunade's mind immediately went to that scoundrel Danzo.

She decided to stop thinking about it and focus on treating the patient. As Tsunade continued to treat Asuma, she was shocked by what she discovered.

Asuma's Chakra was dissipating at a visible rate, and all of the dissipating Chakra was converging on his heart to repair it.

Tsunade couldn't stop this conversion, but she could guarantee that Asuma's life was no longer in danger.

However, it was estimated that he would lose all his Chakra in the future and become an ordinary person. She wondered if this was what Asuma would have wanted.

The severely injured Asuma miraculously transformed into a lightly injured state. Tsunade hadn't even performed surgery, and Asuma's injuries had already recovered by about seventy to eighty percent. His external wounds were also not serious.

He just needed rest.

This mission served as a wake-up call for everyone, and the "Undead Duo" had become targets for Konoha to eliminate.

Not long after, Tsunade emerged, looking somewhat tired. She informed everyone of Asuma's condition, stating that he was out of danger.

Seeing that Asuma was no longer in mortal danger, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

It was good that he was alright. A person's life was more important than anything else. Kurenai, too, with her pregnant belly, finally felt her uneasy heart calm down.