Ino forced down the ache in her heart, hurried forward, and greeted him. "Denji, it's only been a little over a month, but you seem to have grown quite a bit taller."
Akimichi Denji smiled and patted her head. "I have."
He was now two heads taller than Ino.
And that gap would probably only keep growing.
That was probably one of the drawbacks of being a taijutsu ninja.
"I learned a lot on the battlefield. I grew quite a bit taller, too."
Yamanaka Ino said regretfully, "Now we can't even talk face-to-face at the same height like we used to."
"It's all right. Your place in my heart won't change, Ino."
At those words, Yamanaka Ino sidled up to Denji with a bright grin.
Without the slightest hesitation, she wrapped both arms around his arm.
She even deliberately puffed out her chest, challenging Samui beside them.
Samui merely found it strange.
She was a taijutsu ninja and couldn't understand what Yamanaka Ino was doing.
She privately guessed that this was probably how they welcomed ninja returning victorious.
Samui didn't understand; after all, this was her first visit to Konoha.
The girl deliberately pressed close, hugging Akimichi Denji's arm tightly.
Could she be my replacement? Ino let her imagination run wild.
With that thought, she suddenly felt confident again.
After all, this old woman looked so much like her. Anyone with eyes could tell that Denji had simply found a substitute modeled after her!
"You just got back to the village. Where are you going first?" Ino asked.
Akimichi Denji replied, "Home first, to share the good news. I haven't told my father yet."
"Great! The Akimichi Clan is on my way. Let's go together!"
"I've been teaching Karin diligently, you know." Ino lifted her little head, her voice full