Ino's Probe

After the taijutsu ranking battles ended, the stage tests entered a brief lull.

For most students, the half-day break was just a chance to catch their breath. But for the few at the top, it meant the pressure had only become more concentrated. Everyone knew that the upcoming comprehensive combat evaluation would directly determine the overall rankings for this round.

Who would take first place was practically an open secret.

And precisely because it was nearly obvious, the entire Ninja Academy had its eyes fixed on those few names.

During lunch break, Ling went to sit beneath the shade of a tree as usual. He had only just opened his lunchbox when Ino walked over carrying hers and sat beside him. Unlike the last few times, she did not greet him with a teasing smile. Instead, she silently studied him for two seconds.

"Do you never get nervous?"

Ling paused while picking up some food. "Why do you ask?"

"Because everyone's practically going crazy over the rankings lately." Ino propped up her chin. "Kiba's even muttering in his sleep about overtaking people. Sasuke's even more obvious—the atmosphere around him is heavier than usual. But you look like nothing's happened at all."

Ling thought about it. "I do."

Ino raised a brow. "Do what?"

"Get nervous."

"Then why can't I tell?"

Ling looked up at her, his tone calm. "Just because you can't tell doesn't mean it isn't there."

Ino froze for a moment, then suddenly laughed. "Sometimes, you really are like a wall. When people run into you, all they know is that you're hard. They have no idea what's inside."

As she said that, her gaze remained fixed on Ling's face, as if she wanted to find a more genuine flicker of emotion in those always excessively calm eyes.

Ling did not look away. Instead, he asked, "What do you want to see?"

Ino had not expected him to throw the question straight back at her. She blanked for half a beat, then a sly curve appeared at the corner of her mouth.

"I want to see whether you'll get angry if you lose once."

"Then you probably won't get to see it."

"So confident?"

"No." Ling lowered his head and continued eating. "I just don't want to lose yet."

He said it so matter-of-factly that Ino fell silent instead.

She had realized that lately, she was becoming more and more easily stirred by this person's casual words. It was not the happiness of being coaxed. It was something more dangerous.

She knew perfectly well that he did not like talking and was not good at pleasing anyone.

Yet at certain moments, he always made her feel as though he had truly seen her.

"You want first place," Ino said softly.

"Yeah."

This time, Ling did not avoid the answer.

Ino looked at him and suddenly smiled. There was less of her usual playful mischief in that smile and a touch more seriousness. "Then don't make me bet on the wrong person."

She paused, then lowered her voice as though she were deliberately saying it for him alone. "If you really take first place, I'll celebrate with you alone."

Ling looked at her but did not answer immediately.

Ino suddenly felt that the air was a little hot, so she deliberately looked away and reached for the water bottle beside her. But a tree root caught her foot, throwing her slightly off balance. Her shoulder instinctively tipped forward.

Ling moved quickly, catching her wrist directly.

The motion was brief and natural, without the slightest excess.

But because it was so natural, Ino's heart suddenly skipped faster the instant he steadied her.

Unlike usual, she did not immediately pull her hand away. Instead, she used that bit of support to regain her footing, her fingertips resting neither lightly nor heavily against Ling's wrist bone, as if she were feeling something—or simply reluctant to let go too quickly.

"Be careful." Ling released her hand.

Ino lowered her head to look at the wrist he had touched. There was clearly no lingering sensation there, yet she felt as though a trace of warmth remained.

"I know..." she replied vaguely, her voice softer than usual.

Not far away, Hinata happened to pass behind the tree and saw the scene. Her steps paused slightly.

She did not make a sound. She merely stood there quietly, holding her lunchbox for two seconds before silently turning toward the other side.

Ling caught sight of that figure from the corner of his eye. His gaze shifted faintly, but he did not get up to chase after her.

He knew very well that some changes in relationships could not be smoothed over with a single explanation.

Before the afternoon classes began, Ino finally returned to her usual bright, spirited self. But as she stood, she deliberately leaned close to Ling and whispered, "If you really take first place, I'll treat you to barbecue."

She was so close that her smiling words seemed to brush past his ear.

Ling looked at her. "Why are you the one treating?"

Ino lifted her chin. "Because I'll be happy. Is that not allowed?"

With that, she turned and left, her golden hair swaying in a brilliant arc beneath the sunlight.

Ling watched her retreating figure, and for once, did not immediately look away.

The most remarkable thing about this girl was not that she knew how to talk.

It was that she could always make complicated things sound so simple.

During evening training, Iruka gave him a light routine. He only had to maintain his condition and was forbidden from doing any extra training. Ling followed the instructions, but the scene from noon kept flashing through his mind against his will.

The brief redness at Ino's ears when he steadied her.

The disappointment Hinata had failed to completely hide when she turned away.

He had once regarded emotional entanglements as possible future distractions.

But now, for the first time, he began to realize that these moments of closeness were not abstract settings. They were real people and real gazes surrounding him.

And he could no longer keep everyone far away as he had at the very beginning.