In Konoha, This Naruto Has Decided To Take It Easy

"Kurenai-sensei wasn't always like that. She used to dislike large gatherings and wouldn't normally eat with such a big group."

Ino explained, "However, ever since she got closer to Asuma-sensei, she's changed a lot."

Sakura nodded but didn't say anything, while her eyes quickly darting elsewhere. She was skilled at glancing around without lingering, moving with subtle precision.

As the gathering was over, Anko left early, and Asuma and Kurenai also left together.

"We're going out first." Shikamaru waved to everyone, and he and Choji walked off in another direction.

The midsummer night breeze was cool and refreshing. Lee had gone to train, and Sakura and Tenten left together. Hinata and Neji were heading back to the Hyuga Clan's compound, and they bowed politely to the group, "Thank you for the invitation, please excuse us."

As the two Hyugas left, Naruto and Ino were the only ones left at the room.

"Let's go. I'll walk you home." Naruto said.

"I can go back on my own." Ino said without looking at him, struggling for a while.

"That's fine, you could come over to my place." Naruto said, completely ignoring her reply and continuing to speak as if it were a foregone conclusion.

"Huh?" Ino said in protest, "No way, it's too late for that."

As soon as she said this, she suddenly remembered what Sakura had told her. She had already shared a bed with Naruto once, though nothing had happened. Still, the mere thought of it made Ino's heart race in shock.

'Why was I even thinking about that? I seemed to have been growing more distracted recently, unable to focus on simple things that should have been clear.'

'How could I even begin to compare myself to Hinata over something like this? It was ridiculous. I had a mission to focus on! There was work tomorrow! If I let emotions get in the way and slowed down, I'd fall behind. Hinata was probably thinking the same, which is why she had restrained her feelings and avoided speaking to this guy tonight.'

Ino slapped her cheeks lightly, and said silently to herself, 'Wake up!'

"What's wrong with you?" Naruto asked with confusion.

"Uh, nothing." Ino stammered and said awkwardly, "Let's just go. It's already... really late."

"To my place?"

"No! No way! You idiot!" Ino refused with a snort, "I'm strong, you know. I'll grow into an amazing kunoichi like Tsunade-sama someday."

"Sure, sure, you're awesome." Naruto humored her, like coaxing a child.

Though Ino had claimed it was getting late, she still walked slowly beside Naruto, wasting a lot of time on their way.

It seemed like she had dressed up especially for the occasion. She was wearing a crisp white short-sleeved shirt, with her long blonde hair tied neatly behind her.

As they talked, her hands swung behind her back, her eyes narrowing slightly like cicadas hidden among summer leaves.

After each brief exchange, Ino would glance at Naruto, gauging his reactions. Only when she didn't see any sign of boredom on his face would she continue speaking.

"Yesterday, an older customer came into the shop. He said his wife asked him to buy flowers, but he forgot which kind." Ino rambled on.

"And then?" Naruto prompted, just at the right moment to keep the conversation going.

What Ino talked about most was the things in the Yamanaka Flower Shop. She had spent almost all of her childhood in the shop, diligently helping out and watching the sunset every evening.

"Later, of course, I helped him pick out a lot of different flowers, both expensive and cheap. However, he said that none of them seemed right. In the end, he chose a pot of very common yellow flowers."

Ino turned her head to look at Naruto's profile, and said, "Do you know? That customer's wife was one of our regulars at the shop. She passed away two years ago, and her favorite flower was that yellow one."

"Then why didn't you just give him the right one from the start?" Naruto tilted his head. His shoulders were very broad, and the rough outline of his shoulder blades was outlined under his shirt as he walked beside her.

"That would've been too harsh. What if he had forgotten that she had already passed away? If I gave him that flower right away, he might have remembered all at once." Ino explained earnestly, taking small steps as she spoke.

"People die, but as long as someone remembers them, they don't truly disappear. Although that old lady has passed away, there is light in life, which was extinguished once when they died." Ino continued, frowning slightly as if she was unsure how to put her thoughts into words.

"But when that old man came to buy flowers, his memory was already fading. I could tell he was trying really hard to remember. He was probably remembering not only the flowers that the old lady liked, but also the time they had shared together."

"So… So…" Ino trailed off, struggling to find the right words.

Upon hearing this, Naruto spoke up.

"So, if you just gave that old man the answer, it would cut short his process of remembering. The answer alone is hollow and can't provide him any true comfort?"

"Yeah." Ino's brows relaxed, and she said with a smile, "Exactly."

"When he slowly started to remember, his face brightened up more and more, and by the time he found that yellow flower, he was almost jumping with excitement. He fully remembered his wife, and the light of her life flickered back to life."

Ino paused here, her pale fingers gesturing in front of her chest as she frowned and tried to explain.

"I don't know how to describe it. Do you understand? It was just so striking, like it made me realize how fragile life really is. Everyone wants to live well, but..."

"But…" Naruto turned his head and glanced at Ino, filling in the words for her.

"All the sorrow and separation are like a narrow beam of light that shines on someone at a particular moment. As long as someone still remembers, they haven't truly disappeared."

"As long as the yellow flowers keep blooming, there will be someone who loves you."

"That's right." Ino whispered

Then, Ino didn't say anything again. She just glanced at Naruto, then turned her head away in panic. Her face was flushing, and it is unclear what she was thinking.

Even though Naruto was still young when he died suddenly in his previous life, he had experienced a lot of things. He understood some things a little bit, but not very well.

Seeing Ino's happy expression surprisingly made him feel a sense of joy.

'Maybe this is what loving someone felt like.'

"We're here." Naruto said when they arrived.

"Then, I'll go back first!" Ino's face was still flushed as she ran into the store as if escaping.

Naruto stood there for a while, thinking, 'When you walk a girl home, don't rush to leave. Stay for a bit longer. If she doesn't look back, it's fine. If she does, and you lock eyes, it's a win.'

Just as Ino opened the shop door, she quickly glanced back and saw Naruto still standing at the other end of the road. Under the dim streetlight, his shadow stretched out infinitely.

Suddenly, she bumped into the door with a loud thud.

"Ouch!" Ino covered her head and cried out in pain. She wanted to take another look, but was stopped by her mother's call from inside the shop.

"Ino, can you help me with something?"

"Coming~." Ino replied. When she looked back outside again, Naruto was already gone. She sighed softly, changed her shoes, and slowly walked over to help.

"Why are there so many white chrysanthemums?"

"Mr. Noda passed away yesterday. His family specifically asked us to prepare some flowers for the service." Rino said, her hands moving non-stop.

"Are you okay?" Rino turned to look at her daughter, "You don't look well."

"I'm fine."