Chapter 33: Uzuki Yūgao's Farewell
"I still want to hear the story of the Uchiha clan! That's the whole reason I came."
Ino said with great enthusiasm. The reason was perfectly reasonable, so Tenten said her goodbyes to the two of them and left.
Seeing that it was just her and Akiyama Makoto left, Ino began to mentally prepare herself, looking for an opportunity to apologize to him.
But just then, an old woman leading her little granddaughter walked into the room. She cheerfully began to make small talk with Makoto, and then started telling him the story of the Uchiha clan from her perspective. This old woman was just an ordinary person, and her stories about the Uchiha were all trivial, mundane matters. However, Makoto still recorded them diligently, not once being perfunctory just because she wasn't a ninja who could provide him with a simulation attempt.
This allowed Ino, who was sitting quietly beside them, to gradually calm down and immerse herself in these warm and interesting memories of the past.
Slowly, Ino felt like she was seeing another side of Makoto. If a person could be so gentle and patient with an ordinary person they had just met, then surely he would be just as gentle with his own family in the future?
With this thought in mind, Ino didn't even notice that her focus had shifted from the details of the stories to Makoto himself, and it remained there until sunset.
It wasn't until someone suddenly patted her on the head that Ino turned in surprise. It was the old woman, who had already finished her story.
"Grandma, is something wrong?" Ino asked, confused.
The old woman explained with a smile, "Good child, thank you for keeping me company all afternoon. There aren't many patient young people like you and Makoto-kun anymore."
Ino smiled sweetly. "I should be the one thanking you, Grandma. You told us a wonderful story."
"Don't thank me. If you really want to thank me, then just let me see the story of you young people unfold soon."
"Ah, to be young. It's so wonderful."
As she spoke, the old woman left with her granddaughter's support, leaving behind a beet-red Ino. Luckily, Makoto had gone to organize his written records, otherwise she wouldn't have known how to face him.
Afterward, Makoto recorded the story of another elderly woman, and the sky turned completely dark. The people in the courtyard had dispersed. Makoto washed his calligraphy brush, tilted his head, and asked, "Dinner?"
"Yes!" Ino answered without a second thought. She still had to help him with his chakra training, and more importantly, she hadn't apologized to him yet. Although, in theory, their conflict had been resolved, Ino felt she still needed to apologize. Her apology was for the sake of preserving their friendship, not to justify her mission.
An hour later, after they had eaten their fill, Makoto cleared the dishes and sat cross-legged, preparing to refine his chakra. Ino felt this was a good opportunity. Just as she was about to speak, Makoto held out his hand and said, "Can you guide my chakra training again today?"
Ino looked at him, stunned, never expecting that he would still display an attitude of complete trust in her. This caused the unease that had been building in her heart all afternoon to resolve into a complex mix of emotions, which finally burst forth in a peal of laughter.
She laughed until tears came to her eyes. She placed her hand on his and then looked at him with a gentle gaze. "That's just like you, isn't it, Makoto-kun?"
"Me? Did I do something?" Makoto seemed puzzled, but Ino took it as him just pretending. As for why she thought so... she didn't have any absolute proof, but her girlish intuition told her that he was deliberately trying to soothe her emotions.
And in fact, that was the case. Having spent the whole afternoon with her, how could he not see that she was unhappy? Coupled with her considerate personality, it was obvious she was still brooding over the mission being exposed. So, all he could do was use his actions to tell her not to worry about such details.
"Forget it if you don't want to say it... but I still have to."
"You listen to me... I'm sorry!"
Ino said loudly, "I shouldn't have deceived you! I won't do it again!"
They were just ordinary words, but after saying them, Ino felt a great sense of relief. She didn't know why, but her face was burning red. Perhaps it was because their chakra had already begun to circulate within each other's bodies?
Seeing that Ino was blushing to the roots of her ears, Makoto didn't say anything more and calmly accepted her apology, although in his view, she was just carrying out a mission normally. There was no issue of one owing the other anything. Perhaps this was part of her charm. In her friendship with Sakura, Ino was also the one who would quietly offer support and then gracefully step aside.
The room fell silent, with only the two of them peacefully refining their chakra.
And their interaction was witnessed by Uzuki Yūgao, who had arrived after nightfall to carry out her mission. At this moment, she felt a little envious of the girl, Yamanaka Ino. Not just envious of her situation, but also envious of her personality. If only she could have the courage to be so direct...
Two hours later, Makoto finished his training.
Ino stretched and said in amazement, "You're improving so quickly. It probably won't be long before you don't need my guidance anymore."
"How can that be? I heard there are many other methods for chakra training, like tree climbing and water walking. I'll still need your guidance for those."
Makoto seemed eager to continue. Ino looked at him with surprise, then smiled slyly. "Don't tell me you want me to keep you company all the time?"
"Eek—you fickle guy! Don't you already have Tenten?"
"Tenten will probably have to go on a mission in a few days. She has her own work; I can't trouble her all the time."
"So you're going to trouble me instead?"
Makoto looked at her "I've-got-you-figured-out" expression and smiled. "As long as you come, I'll treat you to dinner. And... I'll walk you home every day, and buy some flowers on the way. How about it?"
Ino's eyes darted around. She nodded and said, "That's more like it... Let's go. Aren't you going to walk me home?"
Makoto stood up readily. When he returned, he had a few flowers in his hand to replace the ones in the vase that had begun to wilt. Of course, he didn't forget to place another tulip on the windowsill. After all, Uzuki Yūgao hadn't completed his "mission" for him yet.
Early the next morning, the tulip on the windowsill was gone again. In its place was a small, thin scroll.
Puzzled, Makoto opened it to find a line of elegant handwriting. But the content left him completely bewildered.
"I understand your intent, but my mission binds me, and I dare not forget my duty."
"As of today, my mission is complete. If nothing changes, we will not meet again."
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