Professor Agasa

"How could this happen?! How could the future me... how could I end up running a spy ring inside an enemy nation?!"

Ino clutched her head and crouched down in disbelief, despair filling her voice. "My dream... All I wanted was to open the best flower shop in the entire Shinobi World and live a peaceful life!"

"I wanted to spend every day surrounded by beautiful flowers and plants, helping customers put together bouquets that said exactly what they felt! Why did my future turn out like that?!"

"Always on edge, hiding underground where the sun never shines... That's nothing like the life I wanted!!"

Just as this "cruel" future was about to make Ino wilt, her father, Inoichi Yamanaka, came over after hearing her.

He glanced at the capable, composed daughter on the Canopy Screen, weariness etched between her brows, then at the daughter before him, still young and full of romantic hopes for the future. He understood.

He rested his broad hand gently on Ino's head. His voice was steady and reassuring. "Ino, calm down."

"Dad! How am I supposed to calm down?!"

Inoichi looked at his daughter and said gravely, "Think about it. The future Sixth Hokage, Lord Kakashi, entrusted you with a mission this important and difficult. He put you in charge of the entire intelligence network in Kumogakure. What does that tell you?"

He paused, then continued, "It tells you that, in the future, the Yamanaka Clan is still a pillar of Konoha, deeply trusted by the Hokage!"

"That trust is more precious than anything."

"When the village needs us, we step forward and shoulder its most dangerous, darkest responsibilities. That is our fate as ninja, and our family's honor."

Seeing that Ino still looked hurt and unconvinced, he softened his tone, though his words