Why was Ino helping Takasaki?
Of course, it was because of the diary.
Takasaki had written his name in the next diary entry, so Ino had a chance to receive a reward from the diary. That was the thought that had instinctively crossed her mind.
Naturally, she couldn't say that out loud.
Not only was it her secret, but the diary had strictly forbidden her from telling anyone about it. Otherwise, she would die.
She had already thought of an excuse to answer Takasaki's confusion:
"Our Yamanaka Clan practices the Mind Body Switch Technique. Simply put, it's a technique of the mind. On my first day of school, my father told me to be sincere with my classmates, and to lend them a hand when they were in trouble. That way, I could have a clear conscience and strengthen my mind technique."
Ino had prepared this explanation in advance, and it was so airtight that Takasaki didn't know how to argue with it.
It sounded as though Ino was helping him because her father had raised her well.
And it was a good thing he was a dead-last student who needed help. If his grades had been good, Ino might not have helped him at all.
At that moment,
not just Takasaki,
but even Naruto, standing beside him, was moved to tears by Ino's words.
So there really were kind classmates after all.
He and Takasaki were both dead-last students. If Ino was willing to help Takasaki, she would surely be willing to help him too.
Naruto rolled up the sleeve on his right arm and quietly waited nearby.
Once Ino finished writing the upcoming test's key points on Takasaki's palm, it would be his turn.
Takasaki hadn't noticed what Naruto was doing.
Having a girl help him for nothing—and a top beauty like the Yamanaka Clan heiress, no less—made him feel he ought to at least politely promise her a favor in return. "Ino, thanks so much. I'll remember this favor, and I'll repay you someday."
Takasaki had only said it in passing.
But when Ino heard the word "favor," her eyes lit up.
Having a favor owed by Takasaki meant she'd have a chance to interact with him again in the future—and thus a chance for him to write about her in his diary and earn her a reward.
Ino smiled as she capped her pen and stood up. "Then I'll remember this favor, Takasaki. If I ever need your help, you have to help me, okay?"
"Absolutely."
"Also, remember to keep an eye on the proctor when you sneak a look at the key points I wrote for you during the test. If you get caught, don't you dare give me away." Ino emphasized.
Takasaki declared with conviction, "I never betray my friends."
"Good luck~" Ino's voice suddenly turned much gentler.
With that,
Ino turned to leave, but Naruto suddenly called after her.
Naruto beamed. "Ino, could you write some for me too?"
As he spoke, he rolled his sleeve up high. "I don't know the first thing about the written test. I'm a classmate who needs your help too. You can write it on my wrist or palm."
Only then did Ino look at Naruto.
The corner of her mouth twitched, and she gave him a rather strained smile. "Sorry, Naruto, my pen's out of ink. I can only help Takasaki today. I'll help you before the final exams."
Naruto sat at his desk, his hopeful expression suddenly frozen.
It wasn't until Ino turned away decisively, showing no intention of helping him, and returned to her own seat and sat down firmly that Naruto slowly came to his senses.
He wasn't stupid. He understood what Ino meant.
She simply didn't want to help him.
The excuse about her pen being out of ink was just a brush-off.
Naruto had his pride. If Ino didn't want to help him, he certainly wouldn't pester her.
At the same time,
Sakura Haruno, sitting in the row ahead, noticed what had happened and was baffled. "Ino actually offered to help Takasaki cheat? What's in it for her? If the proctor catches her, she could lose the right to take the exam. How foolish."
Sakura scoffed.
She was about to find another topic to talk about with Sasuke when some switch in her mind suddenly flipped, and she thought of a tricky problem.
Crap!
In her original plan, she would keep a close eye on Hinata during the upcoming written test. The moment Hinata cheated to help Takasaki, Sakura would report her to the proctor and get her kicked out of the exam room. Then Sakura would help Takasaki herself.
After all, her seat was to Takasaki's left, making it easy to help him cheat.
With no other choice, Takasaki would have to rely on her.
Afterward, Takasaki would surely write about her in his diary, earning her a reward from it.
But Ino's actions had thrown her plan into disarray.
Even if Sakura reported Hinata, Takasaki could still answer the questions using the key points Ino had written on his palm. There was a good chance he wouldn't even notice Sakura.
This wouldn't do.
The exam was about to begin, and she still couldn't think of a better plan.
A thought she'd never had before suddenly rose in Sakura's mind. If Takasaki only has to write my name in his diary for me to get a reward, then I don't actually have to do something that benefits him. Even if I do something against his interests, could I still get a reward as long as he writes about it?
As soon as the thought appeared in Sakura's mind, she couldn't resist wanting to try it.
As far as Sakura was concerned, Takasaki had no charm whatsoever.
If she weren't trying to get him to write her name in his diary a few more times, she really wouldn't want to approach him, let alone help him like Hinata and Ino.
But, thinking about it the other way around,
if Sakura approached someone like Takasaki to do something against his interests, would she be willing to?
For some reason, the moment Sakura thought of it that way, she suddenly became very willing.
After all, her impression of Takasaki was simply awful.
He was the class dead-last, with no strength, no background, no money, and not even parents. He was only a little handsome.
Nobody liked someone like him, and his situation was already miserable. Even if she treated Takasaki a little worse, he should be able to put up with it, right?
Sakura glanced at Hinata, who was sitting at her desk, studying her textbook, then at Ino, who was chatting with Shikamaru and Choji, and quietly made a plan.
She stopped trying to strike up a conversation with Sasuke and lowered her head in thought. I'll just wait until the written test begins. Once I catch Takasaki cheating, I'll report him and get his exam eligibility revoked. He'll definitely remember me and write my name in his diary.
Sakura could imagine that, if she succeeded, Takasaki's diary entry about her would surely be negative.
Would a negative entry earn her a reward?
Who cared? She'd try it first.
At the very least, Hinata and Ino mustn't get rewards.
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