"Alright, I've noted this mission down. One B-rank mission—go collect the reward later." Minato took out the mission log and recorded it.
Ino turned her head and asked, "Naruto, what are you doing here?"
Naruto replied casually, "Dad gave us an S-rank mission. We're heading to some place called Rōran—I've never even heard of it. But Sasuke seems to have something going on and can't come, so it looks like I can only go with Kakashi-sensei and Hinata."
"Hm?" Ino's eyes lit up as an idea suddenly occurred to her. She lowered her voice and asked, "Sasuke can't go?"
Minato had already put away the report Shikamaru handed in. "Alright, Kakashi, set out now. As for Sasuke, he won't be coming along this time."
Kakashi was just about to speak when Ino leaped forward and cried, "Lord Hokage, I want to go too! I want to go!"
"Huh?" Everyone looked at her in surprise.
Shikamaru covered his eyes and said, "Don't embarrass yourself at a time like this. Naruto and the others are carrying out an S-rank mission. You're just a Chunin—what are you getting involved for?"
Ino pursed her lips. "Hinata is a Chunin too... Besides, Naruto will protect me."
As she spoke, she edged closer to Naruto.
Hinata glanced at the two of them, puffed out her cheeks, but said nothing.
"Well..." Minato became a little awkward. He had heard of how popular his son was with girls, but he had no idea how to handle something like this.
Come to think of it, back when he was in school, he had been both handsome and talented. Quite a few girls had fallen for him—until he met Kushina.
The moment he recalled Kushina's attitude whenever he spoke to other girls, cold sweat broke out on his forehead. Yet