Naruto, What's the point of being Hokage without you!

In the past, she would never have dared to get this close to him...

"That's still not enough..."

Suddenly, a voice rang out abruptly behind Hinata.

Th-this is...

She turned around and saw Ino's smiling face.

Even though it was still streaked with tearstains.

"I-Ino?"

With a bright smile, Ino walked up to Hinata and patted her small, delicate shoulder.

"What, are you surprised?"

Hinata didn't know what to say.

There really hadn't been much interaction between the two of them.

Hinata was introverted and low-key, while Ino was cheerful and lively.

Moreover, Hinata only cared about Naruto, while Ino, along with Sakura and countless other lovestruck girls, revolved around Sasuke.

"Oh, come on, we're classmates after all..."

"There's no need to be so guarded against me, is there?"

Hinata shook her head hurriedly.

"No, it's not that, I just..."

"Alright, alright, I'm just teasing you. You really are the type to take everything so seriously..."

Hinata started to smile as well.

"I-Ino, what did you mean just now when you said it wasn't enough?"

Ino giggled, looking mysterious.

"Your feelings, of course..."

"M-my feelings?"

Hinata became visibly flustered once again.

"You like Naruto, don't you?"

Hinata felt as if she had been struck by lightning.

"Ah... I... how did you..."

Ino laughed. "Anyone with eyes can see it. Only that blockhead Naruto is too dense to understand anything..."

"But Hinata, you really are something. Did you think you were hiding it that well?"

It was the first time someone had pointed out her feelings so bluntly. Hinata's body trembled involuntarily, and her face flushed so red it felt like it was boiling.

If it got any hotter, she might start steaming.

She quickly covered her burning, crimson cheeks with both hands, her eyes wide with disbelief.

"D-does everyone know?!"

"H-how could this happen..."

Ino burst into laughter.

"It's not that dramatic. At least there are plenty of other blockheads in class just like Naruto."

"Someone as understanding and sharp-eyed as me is one in a hundred, after all..."

Hinata let out a small sigh of relief.

She lowered her head, her face still flushed a deep red.

"Ino, is Sakura... still angry with me?"

At the mention of Sakura's name, the expression on Ino's face dimmed instantly.

She gave a sad, self-deprecating smile.

"If anyone is angry, she's probably even angrier at me..."

Hinata was equally delicate and sensitive, and she understood exactly what Ino meant.

"I can understand..."

"Because even though you and Sakura seem to be at odds on the surface, you've actually always been best friends..."

Ino stroked Hinata's hair and smiled.

"You really are a clear-eyed observer. When it's not about yourself, you see things so clearly..."

Hinata asked worriedly, "So, is Sakura doing okay?"

Ino fell silent for a moment.

"In her eyes, I'm afraid I'm a traitor to our friendship..."

"After all, I stood on your and Naruto's side..."

"Instead of on the side of her, my best friend."

Hinata fell silent as well.

Ino, however, laughed: "Don't worry, she'll be fine. It's just that some things haven't been going the way she wants lately..."

"But then again, how could the world ever go exactly as one wishes?"

"This world doesn't revolve around anyone..."

"Sakura should understand this truth by now..."

Hinata asked: "The things you're talking about, do you mean Sasuke?"

"No, not really..."

Ino shook her head: "How should I put it? Rather than Sasuke, it's more about Naruto..."

"Na, Naruto?"

"Could it be that Sakura also..."

Ino gave a teasing smile: "Oh my, you really are sensitive whenever Naruto is mentioned..."

"That girl Sakura is definitely not the type to easily change her affections..."

"The one she likes will always be Sasuke."

"It's just that in the past, Naruto was always hovering around her, fawning over her. Even when she kicked and punched him, he didn't mind and kept pestering her, but now..."

Hinata understood what she meant.

Naruto had indeed seemed like a different person these past few days...

Although, no matter how he changed, it wouldn't affect her feelings for him.

"Is it a sense of loss?"

Hinata whispered.

Ino sighed: "Perhaps a little bit..."

"Sometimes people are just like that. Even if it's not someone or something they like, once it's gone, they always feel a sense of loss in their hearts..."

Hinata couldn't help but cover her mouth and giggle.

Ino glared at her.

"What are you laughing at?"

Hinata smiled softly: "Because... Ino, you sound so old-fashioned, just like a middle-aged man..."

Ino huffed: "This is called maturity, maturity!"

Watching Hinata's smiling face, her heart stirred slightly, and she thought of a question that had troubled her for a long time.

"Hey, Hinata..."

"Hmm?"

The two walked side by side, and Ino couldn't help but turn her head to ask.

"Naruto..."

"He used to be so persistent with Sakura. Seeing that, didn't you feel wronged or pained?"

Hinata lowered her head, blushing, but shook her head without hesitation.

"No."

"Then, what if he never likes you?"

Hinata's eyes reflected the twilight of the dusk.

"I will keep waiting for him."

Ino was stunned: "What if you wait forever and he never comes?"

Hinata said softly, shyly yet firmly.

"Then I will watch him from afar..."

"And pray for his happiness and joy."

Ino stared at Hinata in surprise.

The setting sun cast a golden glow over her petite frame.

At this moment, in Ino's eyes, Hinata actually felt somewhat saintly...

Naruto vs Sasuke! Millennial Fate Duel!

Ino couldn't help but stare in a daze.

"Little Hinata, you say I'm old-fashioned, but you, saying things like that, are actually the one who is truly too old-fashioned, aren't you?"

"You, just how old are you to see through these things so clearly?"

Hinata shook her head, her face flushing red.

"I... I just like to let my mind wander..."

Ino fell silent for a moment, rubbing her chin in thought.

If it were her...

If she could never wait for the moment Sasuke liked her back in her entire life...

What would happen?

Hinata saw right through her thoughts.

"What would Ino do?"

For once, Ino's face turned red as well.

"Ah, well, about that..."

"Hahaha, to be honest, I don't know either..."

"But I'm afraid I'm not as noble as little Hinata; if I saw Sasuke-kun with someone else, I'm afraid I would still be very sad..."

Hinata nodded: "Sa... sadness is definitely inevitable, isn't it..."

Ino said: "Then how can you say such mature things?"

Hinata thought for a moment.

"I feel that if you like someone, you should want to see them happy and content."

"And what about ourselves?"

Ino asked, hands on her hips.