"You're distracted again?" Ino said, puffing her cheeks, "This is the third time."
"Oh, sorry." Naruto came back to his senses and said apologetically, "Maybe I didn't sleep well yesterday, I'm too tired. By the way, where were we?"
In the barbecue restaurant, the two were having a private meeting, sitting face to face.
Their seats were near the window, with two bottles of opened orange soda on the table, and five or six plates of meat on a small cart. Two small plates of watermelon were placed on each side, and various sauces were laid out in front of them.
Ino was dressed elegantly, wearing a black and blue striped crop top paired with loose beige pants. It was obvious that she had dressed up carefully for the occasion.
In contrast, a certain blonde was much more casual. His messy blond hair, white T-shirt, and black pants gave him a laid-back appearance wherever he went.
"You…" Ino rolled her eyes. "Don't you usually love to sleep? You sleep everywhere, even in Tsunade-sama's office."
"That time was because I had to wait too long, it was just so boring." Naruto defended himself, "There was no one around, yet they insisted on calling me in so early?"
Ino's expression turned complicated, and she asked quietly, "So you just slept on the desk?"
"That's not important." Naruto awkwardly tried to change the subject, "What was the mission you mentioned earlier? Can you repeat it?"
"The Fire Temple." Ino propped herself up on the table with one hand, using the other to start grilling meat. With a sizzling sound, a puff of white smoke rose, and her voice resumed.
"Asuma-sensei said the client is a monk from the Fire Temple. Apparently, someone attacked the temple, targeting Chiriku-san. But Chiriku-san wasn't there, so…"
Ino spoke methodically, but her hands never stopping. Her fair wrist moved nimbly, flipping the meat quickly and then skillfully lowering her head to mix the sauce.
Her high ponytail was tied up, and her blond hair was tucked behind her ears.
She continued to chat without noticing Naruto's increasingly quiet demeanor. It wasn't until she realized the blond in front of her was too silent that Ino stopped.
"What's wrong with you?" She asked puzzledly.
"This mission is too dangerous." Naruto cleared his throat, then subconsciously touched his nose nervously, "It's really too much for a Genin Team to carry out that kind of mission."
"You underestimate us too much." Ino complained, "Besides, didn't we have Asuma-sensei with us? There won't be any danger."
"After all, we've done quite a few dangerous missions together, so this one shouldn't be anything special."
"I've been to the Fire Temple." Naruto said after a moment of silence, "Chiriku-san is someone who... Well, anyway, let's just say the enemy is a member of the Akatsuki that even Chiriku-san can't handle. This mission is just too perilous."
Chiriku's life was valued at thirty million ryo, and the Akatsuki were taking on missions for money everywhere, so Chiriku had long anticipated he would be targeted. However, at that time, the Akatsuki had not shown signs of activity in the Land of Fire, so Chiriku didn't take too many precautions.
But now, Chiriku was still alive.
Naruto didn't know if it was because of his warning or simply a butterfly effect. But one thing was certain, Kakuzu hadn't taken Chiriku's head yet, so he would definitely come back sooner or later.
"Idiot! It's a mission, since when is there one without danger?" Ino placed the grilled meat in Naruto's bowl, "Even if we know it's dangerous, so what? This is a Shinobi's job."
"No, I can't let that happen. I'm going to talk to Tsunade-sama, I want to go too." Naruto said after taking a sip of juice.
"You think it won't be dangerous just because you're going?" Ino was speechless.
"Of course, I'm very strong, you know that." Naruto said half-jokingly, "Besides, if I don't go, I'll just be worried about you, and I won't be able to rest well in the village either."
"How could you possibly not rest well? Someone hasn't contacted me in a long time, and it seems like you don't have much going on most days." Ino said with a pout.
"This…" Naruto knew he was in the wrong.
"Alright, you don't need to explain." Ino mumbled, "Anyway, that's just how you are. But not contacting me is fine, at least I don't get bothered."
"If you say it like that, I'm going to be sad."
"Pfft! Who would believe you!" Despite her words, Ino still smiled.
"The mission is decided then. I'll talk to Tsunade-sana about it." Naruto said, taking on a determined stance, with a tone that left no room for refusal.
"Better not." Ino sighed and said a little guiltily, "It's really safe. There's no need to trouble Tsunade-sama."
Hearing this, Naruto's eyelid twitched slightly, and he thought to himself, 'How could I not know whether it's safe or not?'
'It would be a miracle if you guys could be safe after meeting Kakuzu and Hidan. The Immortal Duo are the most troublesome and difficult to deal with among the Akatsuki's members. If you guys make the slightest mistake, you will lose your lives.'
Since there is a butterfly effect, Naruto doesn't dare to bet that Ino can come back safely.
"I've already decided, no need to persuade me anymore." Naruto said.
"But you're still just a Genin, right? If you keep being this reckless, even if Tsunade-sama doesn't blame you, you might offend the higher-ups." Ino was anxious and couldn't help but say.
As soon as she said it, she regretted it and quickly tried to change her words.
"Not really the higher-ups, it's just… the impression won't be good. Always doing things just for me is too…"
"You don't need to worry about that." Naruto leaned back in his chair, "It's not troublesome at all. Besides, there's no way I'd let you go on a risky mission."
Ino felt a bit flustered, and her cheeks turned slightly red.
"Isn't that what all Shinobi do? How could they do something like this just because they are worried?"
"Of course they can." Naruto stared at her and showed a mischievous smile, "I'm about to become a higher-up myself soon. What can they say to me?"
"What?" Ino looked up in surprise, "What higher-up?"
"Me!" Naruto pointed at himself, "Didn't I make it clear enough just now? The person sitting in front of you is about to become one of Konoha's higher-ups."
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Ino blinked, wondering if Naruto had lost his mind, "You're still a Genin, how can you be a higher-up?"
"Soon," Naruto corrected, then coughed once and sat up straighter, "Let me reintroduce myself: Uzumaki Naruto, the new Clan Head of the Uzumaki Clan."
He stretched out his hand to with great flair and said, "One of the future higher-ups of Konoha, Uzumaki Naruto, at your service!"
"You?" Ino was stunned, struggling to digest such a large amount of information at once, "What did you just say about being the Clan Head of the Uzumaki Clan? I didn't quite catch that."
"You don't need to understand that, it's just a title." Naruto said as he returned to his usual demeanor and picked up a piece of grilled meat, "Anyway, no need to worry about me."
"No matter what, I can't just sit by and watch you take on such a dangerous mission."
"Who…who asked you to care." Ino retorted in a low voice.
After leaving the barbecue restaurant.
The two walked side by side along the road, with Ino listening to Naruto's explanation about the higher-up position.
She couldn't help but occasionally sigh. After giving him a complicated look, she said, "Being the Clan Head of a clan all by yourself… Won't you feel lonely?"
"It's alright. Do you want to join?"
Ino: "… I shouldn't have asked you."