In Konoha, This Naruto Has Decided To Take It Easy

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Naruto’s words would usually sound a bit overly sweet, but to Ino at this moment, they were just perfect.

For the rest of their walk, the two remained in silent understanding. Ino’s ears burned, and her heart raced. Naruto didn’t speak much either, simply holding her hand as they moved forward.

"Um…"

"Yeah?" Naruto responded absentmindedly, not asking what she wanted to say.

Ino mumbled for a moment but fell silent again, seemingly aware of what was about to happen. The more she thought about it, the more her mind scattered. However, she knew that this day was inevitable and didn’t really want to stop.

Choji and Shikamaru  were both already married, so it wasn’t like she didn’t understand what was coming. After knowing each other for so long and after all their years of bickering and teasing, claiming she didn’t like Naruto would be a lie.

But she felt there was still a gap between them and marriage, though she wasn’t entirely sure what that gap was. She had been focused on her career, while Naruto always seemed like a wandering leaf with no roots.

Both of their hearts were adrift, floating intensely and freely.

Meanwhile, Shikamaru and Choji had both settled down, already planning to take over their clans’ affairs, getting married, and having kids in Konoha. Their lives seemed steady, following in their fathers’ footsteps.

Ino knew that she, too, would likely take over her father’s responsibilities and manage the clan’s affairs, but at least not now, as she still had more important things she wanted to accomplish first.

Lost in her thoughts, they eventually arrived at their destination without her realizing it.

Naruto led her upstairs, and the hallway was dimly lit. She took one last glance at the street to ensure no one had seen them before quickly following him up, feeling a bit guilty.

Naruto was a little surprised as he felt her hand getting slightly warmer in the dark, and suddenly remembered something, ‘Ino seems to enjoy a bit of excitement. Whenever she got nervous, her eyes would become watery and glistening.’

For a moment, Naruto felt like teasing her but decided against it, fearing she might get scared off. So, he simply shut up, put away his playful intention, and reached out to open the door.

Kurama had just returned and heard the voices of the two people at the entrance from the balcony. He paused for a moment. He looked up at the other end of the living room in surprise and swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

‘They’re at it again?’

Without hesitation, he jumped from the second floor again.

"You can sit down first. I’ll get you something to drink. What do you want?" Naruto asked, stepping out of his shoes and turning back to look at her.

"Besides water or alcohol, what else do you have?"

"Nothing else." He chuckled.

"…Then I’ll have water." Ino sighed helplessly. Looking at him standing there chuckling, she didn't know why, but she just couldn’t get mad at him.

When Naruto went to the kitchen, Ino sat stiffly on the couch, leaving a large gap between her and the backrest. She was both a little reserved and somewhat anxious.

The feeling was peculiar. She had been here twice in one day… once at noon, and now again, still sitting here, staring at the familiar living room and surroundings.

She blinked her eyes a few times and unexpectedly felt at ease. Suddenly, she remembered she had a key to Naruto’s place. Her grip loosened and loosened, finally she was no longer nervous.

Unaware of Ino’s inner thoughts, Naruto brought over two glasses of water, placing them on the table. He sat down next to her and casually started a conversation, chatting about random things.

Ino, still distracted, occasionally glanced at the glass, responding now and then. That was until she felt his hands slip around her waist, causing her to tighten her grip on the glass suddenly.

"You don’t have to be nervous." He said gently, pushing her down onto the couch, easing her into a lying position.

Feeling his breath on her, Ino’s pulse raced, her neck pulsing with anticipation. Saying she wasn’t nervous would be a lie, but part of her also felt emboldened.

She reached up, hooking her arms around Naruto’s neck, pursed her lip, and kissed him.

The couch was now occupied by their entwined bodies, silence hanging in the air like a heavy pause before the storm.

The soft, continuous kisses felt like tiny grains of sand trickling into her heart, slowly filling the loneliness she had carried for so many years.

The deeper their emotions became, the more their bodies reveled in joy.

Outside, the sunlight was brilliant, with the summer trees casting deep shadows. Everywhere was lush and green. Inside Naruto’s home, the curtains were drawn tightly, shutting out the world.

Inside, the two of them were playing cards, trying to keep their spirits up, though the game was quickly becoming dull.

It was a sense of returning to a quiet place, like a bird to its nest, or a fish to the depths.

After a long time, there was a soft rustle as the curtains were pulled open. Naruto stood by the window, holding a glass of water, staring out at the now whitewashed sky in a daze.

It had been bright and sunny earlier, but now, after just a few hours, the sky looked as if it was about to rain. . The weather in summer was always unpredictable, with the heat building up until a sudden downpour.

He stood there for a while, lost in thought, before remembering they hadn’t eaten lunch. His stomach growled. Glancing at the peacefully sleeping Ino, he decided to head downstairs to buy some food.

The sky grew darker as Naruto stepped outside. Naruto didn't have an umbrella, so he could only quicken his pace. The sense of satisfaction in his heart gradually warmed up, and his mood became cheerful.

He packed some ramen and picked up a few fried snacks on the way back. By the time he returned, a light drizzle had begun to fall. Climbing the stairs, he pulled out his key and unlocked the door.

From inside, he could hear movement, soft rustling sounds. Pushing the door open, the dim lighting due to the curtains drawn, greeted him.

Ino woke up at some point, her soft blonde hair draped over her shoulders. She just looked at him blankly. It took her a while to react, and her expression changed as she said in aggrieved tone, "Hungry."

Hearing this, Naruto couldn't help but laugh.

"Good timing. I brought some food. Let’s make do with this for now."

The two of them sat by the bed, sharing the meal, one bite for him, one bite for her. It was a relaxed and cozy moment. As evening approached, the rain finally started falling outside.

The sound of the rain was intense, pouring down heavily, though some things were best left unspoken.

In the evening, Ino, exhausted, had no choice but to drag her tired body home. Naruto walked her back to the Yamanaka Flower Shop, and Ino tried her best to act like nothing had happened.

But just before leaving, she turned to glance at him, her gaze sharp like a sword.

Naruto felt a slight tingle on his scalp, silently hoping that everything would go smoothly in the future. However, after taking a few steps, he couldn’t help but laugh at the unexpected simplicity of it all. He had thought this matter would be much more complicated.

Life’s surprises come when you least expect them, circling around only to ultimately fulfill long-held wishes.