Yamanaka Inori was Yamanaka Ino's cousin. The two girls looked somewhat alike.
From Uchiha Raizen's perspective, Inori was more beautiful than Ino. She had a lively, cute, and youthful charm all over her.
Especially her small dimples when she smiled—they were very charming and hard to resist.
She was Uchiha Raizen's classmate at the ninja academy.
Beautiful and sweet-voiced, generous in nature, and from the famous Yamanaka clan of Konoha, she was quite talented. Because of this, she was very popular at school.
In comparison, Uchiha Raizen had the handsome face typical of the Uchiha clan, but unlike Uchiha Itachi or Uchiha Sasuke, he didn't have a genius aura.
His talents were average in every aspect.
Also, in the final year of the ninja academy, he focused all his energy on studying the Devil Fruit curse mark, leaving him no time for regular classes. Because of this, he almost failed to graduate.
But even so, Yamanaka Inori really liked him.
Her feelings were not like Ino's obvious affection toward Sasuke in the original story. Instead, her liking was moderate, respectful, and open—never annoying.
Because of this,
Even though Uchiha Raizen spent these years mostly thinking about experiments and kept a certain distance from Yamanaka Inori, he couldn't bring himself to reject her harshly.
In fact,
If he wasn't worried about the inevitable doom that would come to the Uchiha clan, and not fearful about the uncertain future he faced as an Uchiha, he would have accepted Yamanaka Inori long ago.
After all, how could such a charming and beautiful girl not make his heart flutter?
Uchiha Raizen took the heart-shaped lunch box the girl handed him and said, "Thank you."
"No need to be so polite," Inori smiled like a gentle breeze mixed with the scent of flowers in early March. "We're friends, after all."
Just friends, huh?
Before today, Uchiha Raizen wouldn't have dared to accept the girl's feelings.
But now, with the Azure Dragon curse seal and his own safety somewhat guaranteed, he no longer needed to suppress his emotions or worry too much.
"Shall we eat together?"
Uchiha Raizen sat down on the steps by the pond, raised the heart-shaped lunch box in his hand, and his smile was unusually warm and bright.
Inori from the Yamanaka clan was stunned for a moment, almost unable to believe her ears.
Her inner self shouted excitedly inside her body:
"Raizen... Raizen-kun invited me to eat together. Oh my god, I must not be dreaming!"
"Waaah, I'm so happy!"
"I've liked Raizen-kun since the first day at Ninja Academy. I rejected all other confessors, but Raizen-kun was always indifferent to me. I cried so many times behind his back. Waaah, luckily I didn't give up!"
After waiting through clouds, the moon finally appeared.
For Inori, this was the brightest moment in her sixteen years of life.
She controlled the excitement in her heart, trying not to seem too eager. She sat gracefully beside Uchiha Raizen, leaving a long space between them — not too close, but not distant either.
She cleared her throat and said, "Raizen-kun, I'm happy you invited me to eat together, but I only brought one pair of chopsticks, so…"
Uchiha Raizen took over, "So we take turns, you take a bite, then I take a bite."
"?!!"
Inori's bright blue eyes widened in surprise, her body froze. Happiness came so suddenly, it made her dizzy.
"Hmm, you don't want to? Do you dislike me?" Raizen looked at the beautiful girl before him.
The girl snapped back to reality and quickly waved her hand. "No, no, I don't mind, and I definitely don't dislike you!"
As she spoke, her cheeks turned bright red. She bit her lower lip and nervously twisted her fingers.
"I just didn't expect Raizen-kun would suddenly…"
"Sorry."
"Huh?"
Raizen repeated, "Sorry."
"W-Why are you saying sorry?" Inori was confused, her mouth open in disbelief.
"Because I was cold to you before, but actually, I like you too."
Without hesitation, Uchiha Raizen spoke his true feelings.
Yamanaka Inori was stunned again, staring straight into Uchiha Raizen's eyes, as if trying to confirm whether the boy she had liked for years was lying to comfort her.
She even instinctively used the Yamanaka clan's secret technique—Mind Reading.
She sensed no lies. Raizen was sincere.
Tears filled Inori's eyes uncontrollably. She couldn't hold back her excitement and happiness, and suddenly threw herself into Uchiha Raizen's arms, her voice trembling with tears.
"If you like me too, why were you always so distant? Do you know how heartbroken I was every time I saw you avoid me? Boo hoo, you bad guy, bad guy!"
Uchiha Raizen put down the lunchbox, wrapped one arm around the girl's slim waist, and gently stroked her back with the other hand.
"Ah!"
Inori suddenly realized what she had done and said—all her feelings were just spilled out. How embarrassing!
She pulled back from Uchiha Raizen's arms with a soft laugh, her face flushed like the sunset, and her small, shining earlobes burning hot. She turned her head, and her golden high ponytail swung in an elegant arc.
"I... I was just talking nonsense before. Pretend you didn't hear anything!"
Uchiha Raizen smiled.
She really was adorable, little sweetheart.
The feelings of a young girl are always like poetry. He didn't point it out and just picked up the lunchbox, saying, "Let's eat."
He opened the lid of the lunchbox. Inside were rice balls, meatballs, rolled eggs, vegetables, ham, and many other dishes.
It was very rich and neatly arranged. It was clear someone had put a lot of care into making it.
Uchiha Raizen felt a touch of warmth inside.
He had been in the Naruto world for five years. The only two people who truly brought him warmth and comfort were his sister and the girl beside him.
Uchiha Raizen picked up a meatball and put it in his mouth, sincerely praising, "This is really good. I wish I could eat this every day."
Inori's face turned red as she looked back at Uchiha Raizen enjoying the food. The shyness and joy in her eyes were impossible to hide.
"Open your mouth."
Seeing Raizen pick up another meatball and hold it to her lips, Inori obediently opened her small, rosy mouth.
It really was delicious—better than anything she had made before.
It was sweet too, sweet enough to melt her heart.
Uchiha Raizen continued eating.
Like this, they took turns feeding each other, sitting quietly by the pond. Their bodies naturally moved closer until they were touching.
Inori's gaze never left Uchiha Raizen's face. At that moment, she looked like a young woman lost in love.
It took them more than an hour to finish the entire lunchbox.
Uchiha Raizen wiped the grease from the corner of his mouth and helped Inori do the same. Finally, unable to resist, he gently kissed her moist, shining lips.
Inori let out a soft surprised sound, then she actually took the initiative to peck Uchiha Raizen once and proudly blinked.
Uchiha Raizen smiled gently and took the girl's soft, fair hand, standing up as he said, "The time is late. I have to go to the Police Force for duty, and you should also go back and wait for your mission."
He and Inori were both sixteen years old and had graduated from the Ninja Academy four years ago.
Uchiha Raizen did not show the amazing talent like Uchiha Itachi. He followed the normal path and joined the Police Force as a basic member.
Inori's talent was good. She passed the Chunin exam in her first year after graduation, and now she was probably not far from becoming a Jonin.
As a genius of the Yamanaka clan, Inori was very strong in sensing and gathering information. This was very needed in Konoha, so her missions were not easy.
Being able to send loving bento to Uchiha Raizen from time to time in her busy schedule showed how deep her feelings were.
"I happen to pass by the Police Force. Let's go together," Inori said reluctantly. She did not want to part with Raizen at all now.
Uchiha Raizen nodded.
When they reached the entrance of the Police Force, no matter how reluctant Inori was, she had to leave.
Uchiha Raizen entered the building alone.
As soon as he went in, he heard a shocking piece of news: Uchiha Shisui was dead!
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