"How is it, is it not good looking?"
Sakura carefully inquired, Ino hesitated to speak.
Normally she would loudly laugh at her friend, but now Nojuro Ryun is here, after all she still needs to preserve some face for her friend.
Sakura also understood Ino's concern, tentatively shifting her gaze onto Nojuro Ryun.
Ryun seriously observed Sakura. At this moment she was wearing a goose-yellow kimono, had thick plush snow boots on her feet, and a pink bow decoration on her head.
To be honest, Sakura's fashion sense is not bad. Her current appearance, aside from being a bit extravagant, cannot be considered ugly, but the problem is the person she wants to meet is Sasuke.
Sasuke would definitely not like Sakura's current appearance, but should he be the one to say this?
After a moment's thought, Ryun slowly spoke.
"If I were you, I would choose more plain attire, even changing into training clothes would be better."
Ino looked at Ryun in surprise. Based on her understanding of him, Ryun is someone whose emotional intelligence and conversational skills are maxed out.
As long as he is willing, he can definitely make the person across from him happy.
But looking at Sakura's pale face and eyes full of anger now, Ryun was clearly intentionally making her angry.
This did not seem like Ryun's style.
"It seems your friend has terrible fashion sense, Ino."
Sakura, just as Ino expected, got angry. She also started sizing up Ryun up and down. After noticing Ryun was only wearing the most ordinary clothes, she then realized she had been fooled by Ryun's demeanor just now.
Ryun seemed to be just a very ordinary boy, only a bit more handsome, and completely incomparable to Sasuke!
"Forget it, I won't argue with you. Follow me, let's go to the Uchiha house."
Sakura, for Ino's sake, held back her mocking words, turned and walked forward humming a song.
Ino then stood on tiptoe and whispered in Ryun's ear, "Why didn't you make her happy?"
"Why should I make her happy?" Ryun asked knowingly. "Do you think I'm very good at pleasing girls?"
Ino gave Ryun a meaningful, half-smiling glance and said, "If you don't know how to make girls happy, why do you always make me... and Tenten so happy?"
Ino originally only wanted to say herself, but worried that would be too obvious, so she quickly brought Tenten into it.
"I get along well with Tenten because we share common interests, and she is also my benefactor."
"As for you..."
Ryun slightly lowered his head. Ino felt a bit flustered seeing him get closer, but this time she lifted her chin and did not retreat.
She also wanted to hear what reason Ryun would give.
"Because Ino, you are a good girl. I see you as my best friend."
Ino's cheeks quickly turned red, as if she didn't hear the latter part, only hearing Ryun praise her as a good girl.
So much so that Ino was now somewhat at a loss, not knowing what to do.
"You two, are you coming or not? Also, don't show off your affection in front of my house, you damn pighead Ino!"
Sakura's slightly roaring voice came, clearly she was truly angry.
Ino then seized the opportunity to catch up to Sakura, leaving Ryun behind. She really didn't know how to face Ryun now.
As for Ryun, he followed the two girls unhurriedly. He was thinking about what might happen after meeting Sasuke.
The best outcome would naturally be Sasuke needing money, and everyone completing the transaction smoothly.
The worst outcome would be Ryun buying Uchiha land angering Sasuke's currently very sensitive pride, leading to the deal falling through completely.
If that happened, Ryun's plan being hindered would be a minor issue; he might even have to move.
He doesn't want such trouble now, at least he needs to focus on growing stronger before the Chunin Exams.
The three walked further and further into a remote area, passing the street where Ryun's house was located, and finally arrived at the Uchiha clan's gathering place located in a corner of Konoha.
Although several years had passed since the Uchiha clan massacre, and many houses here were vacant, the Uchiha clan's lands were still empty and devoid of people.
After all, the incident was too big, and the Uchiha clan's location was too remote; no one was willing to move here to live.
Of course, now it seems, it might also be that Uchiha Sasuke did not agree to sell the land here. He had the right to decide whether the Uchiha family's land property was to be handled.
Sakura and Ino slowed their pace.
Even though it was daytime, this place still gave people a creepy feeling.
The two who were just noisy were now holding hands, drawing warmth from each other.
But obviously, relying on themselves was not enough. Sakura naturally thought of the boy behind them.
"Um, Nojuro, right? Can you walk in front?"
Sakura took the initiative to speak. Ino tried to stop her but it was too late.
"Alright."
Ryun calmly agreed, taking big strides to walk ahead. Ino, however, said worriedly, "Ryun, you don't know ninjutsu. Should I walk in front?"
"Eh, he looks older than us, how come he can't use ninjutsu?"
Sakura asked puzzledly. Ino's expression changed slightly, unsure whether to say it.
Even though Ryun had already learned to use chakra, he was ultimately an ordinary person not even qualified to attend the Ninja Academy. Would saying it make Sakura look down on him?
Ryun did not have these concerns and said calmly, "I'm just an ordinary person, not a ninja."
"Eh..."
Sakura looked at Ino with a face full of confusion, as if asking: Why did you fall for an ordinary person?
Ino didn't want to say anything more. She rolled her eyes and reached out to twist her friend's arm. The two girls started bickering quietly again.
This sound, in the current eerie environment, instead seemed somewhat pleasant, at least it was the sound of young people's laughter.
Ryun walked ahead and soon arrived in front of the gate of the Uchiha family mansion.
Just looking at the messy, uncleaned ground in front of the gate and the sealed notice even posted on the door, Ryun suddenly realized something.
"Miss Haruno, may I call you that?"
Sakura's shoulder twitched, and she quickly said, "You'd better call me Sakura. Miss Haruno... it sounds like I've become an adult."
"Alright, Sakura... are you sure Sasuke lives here?"
"Of course. He is a child of the Uchiha family. If he doesn't live in the Uchiha house, where else would he..."
Sakura's voice grew softer and softer. She suddenly also understood why Ryun asked that.
Sasuke indeed is the sole remaining master of the Uchiha family now, but he is also an orphan.
So is it possible that he actually lives in that series of single-occupancy apartments Konha has established for orphans?
Sakura's face turned somewhat unpleasant. Ryun sighed softly and was just about to turn around.
But then he heard a whooshing sound approaching, its target precisely Ryun's back.
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