"Excuse me." Rino, dressed in a small-patterned yukata, bowed to Naruto, who hurriedly returned the gesture.
Suddenly, Naruto and Ino were the only ones left on the dimly lit path. The fireworks festival had already ended, with only a few sporadic fireworks still lighting up the night sky above Hokage Rock.
Before she realized it, Ino noticed that her mother had already left without her noticing. She suddenly snapped back to reality.
"I'm heading home."
After saying this, she turned and started walking away in a huff.
"Do you know the way?" Naruto jogged a couple of steps to catch up.
"Sorry, I remember it very clearly." Ino didn't want to pay attention to him and quickened her pace, as if trying to shake off an annoying person.
"You might forget, you know? There are always people like that." Naruto said, completely undeterred as he followed her, "For example, someone who forget their own birthdays."
Snap, Ino stopped abruptly and lowered her head.
"How did you know today was my birthday?"
"I looked it up." Naruto walked in front of her, blocking her path with his body, "I thought you'd be really busy on your birthday, especially since it's also the fireworks festival."
"So what?" Ino asked, "You, you pervert, were you just hiding here to hold Hinata's hand?"
"That was an accident." Naruto grinned sheepishly, "I just ran into her by chance, I went into the forest to catch a dog."
"Really?" Ino raised her head and glanced at him with some dissatisfaction. When she saw that he was dirty and covered with grass, her frown finally eased.
"What were you doing catching a dog?" Ino muttered.
"Don't you like dogs?"
"You're lying! My mom told you that!"
"Oh, you heard that?"
"Don't treat me like air, okay? I was standing right next to my mom and heard her leak the secret to you with my own ears!" Ino puffed out her cheeks, looking completely annoyed.
"I can give you this dog," Naruto said, "But it's a bit naughty. It might steal things like underwear and panties. It might even take them back to its previous owner, which is me."
"Roar!" Kyubi growled softly, clearly displeased, as a low rumble emanated from his throat.
"Oh, and it's a bit fierce too."
"… I don't want a dog as perverted as you!" Ino couldn't help but take a step back.
"Ino, you're blushing."
"I won't blush because of that!"
"By the way, I've seen your panties. But don't get the wrong idea, I just accidentally saw them while helping you fold your clothes. I didn't do anything weird at all."
"Pervert!!!" Ino glared at him with contempt, "You're the only one who would do something like freezing the bathwater!"
"That's kitchen water."
"Who would believe that? Pervert!"
"Anyway, it's still early. Do you want to move on to the second half of the birthday party?" Naruto extended his hand to Ino, while holding the weakened, dog Kyubi in the other arm.
Just as Ino was about to reach out, she suddenly remembered the moment when he had shielded Hinata, and immediately retracted her hand.
"Hmph, I can walk on my own."
But after taking just a few steps, Ino's stomach let out a loud growl.
The surroundings were a pitch-black wilderness, so silent that only the chirping of insects could be heard. Small fireworks burst in the night sky above Hokage Rock, bringing a fleeting moment of brilliance.
Ino was so embarrassed she wanted to find a hole to crawl into.
"Didn't you eat anything on your birthday?" Naruto asked with a bit of amusement.
"Hmph!" Ino glared at him with a red face, "You can't eat too much before putting on a yukata. If your stomach gets too full, you can't tighten the waist sash. The sash wraps around the waist and chest, so how could I possibly eat?"
"If you take even a small bite, you might have to throw it up. Even water has to be sipped carefully."
"It must be tough when your birthday coincides with the festival." Naruto said.
"It's really too much trouble for everyone to celebrate separately, so I just celebrated them together." Ino said, "I don't mind. Every year around this time, my mom will accompany me to the fireworks festival."
"You're unexpectedly considerate."
"Isn't that a very normal thing?" Ino couldn't help but retort.
"Let's go get something to eat. Some of those food stalls might still be open." Naruto suggested.
Ino hesitated for a moment.
She was indeed a little hungry, but...
"The waist sash is still tight."
"Just take it off." Naruto said simply.
"Are you stupid?" Ino suddenly blushed and glared at him, "If I take it off, the whole outfit will fall apart."
"You're not wearing anything underneath?"
"Of course I'm dressed properly!" Ino quickly covered her chest, "You'd better not have any more bad fantasies in your mind!"
"My mind is completely blank."
"You're not allowed to have a blank mind either! Idiot!" Ino was getting frustrated. She felt it was extremely difficult to deal with this person in front of her.
"Come here!" Ino finally relented, beckoning Naruto over.
"What is it?" Naruto noticed they had moved away from the path and were now hidden among a few trees. At this time, even if someone passed by, they would not be able to see them at all.
"The sash is too tight. Help me... help me undo the clasp." Ino's head had been completely turned away, her face flushed and her eyes misty, as if she was doing something scandalous.
"My mom usually helps me with this. I can't undo it myself."
"Okay." Naruto was also a little tempted, and threw Kyubi directly to the ground, "My hands are a bit dirty."
"It's fine... I mean, I'll need to change anyway tonight." Ino's voice was a little trembling, leaving Naruto with her back, "Anyway, just hurry up."
"Mm."
Naruto reached out and put his hand on Ino's waist. Ino was very nervous, her whole body was trembling slightly. Naruto steeled himself and slipped his hand between the layers of her sash.
After fumbling around inside for a while, Ino, though tense, remained silent. Finally, she heard a metallic knock and the innermost waist sash loosened.
"Phew~!" Ino breathed a sigh of relief, looking like she had been saved.
But then she noticed the sudden silence around her. She turned her head sharply and saw Naruto staring intently at his hand.
"Don't act like you're reminiscing, you pervert!" Ino stepped forward and twisted the inside of Naruto's arm.
"Ah! It hurts!" Naruto quickly clamped Ino's hand against his ribs.
"Let go!"
"Not unless you forgive me."
"Fine." Ino said through gritted teeth.
Naruto released her, but she still gave him a hard pinch. Ino looked like she had won, her eyes sparkling with mischievous triumph.
"I know what you're thinking." She said.
"Then please marry me immediately."
"Wha-?! What are you saying?" Ino backed up several steps, looking at him with disgust, "That sounds so gross."
"You're breaking my heart."
"Hehe, don't be discouraged. Maybe in the future, there will be an idiot who wants to marry you." Ino, her small-patterned yukata, clasped her hands behind back, leaned forward slightly, and smiled with a sense of triumph.