After a short walk, Shorai arrived at Konoha Hospital.
The spacious reception floor was quiet at this hour. Soft light spilled across the polished tiles, while a lone receptionist sat behind the desk, reading a magazine with one hand resting beneath her chin.
Shorai approached in his naturally hushed way of walking.
Before he reached the desk, he noticed the familiar cover of the magazine.
A newer Heavenly Lotus catalogue.
"Good afternoon," Shorai said, clearing his throat lightly to make his presence known.
"Good afternoo—ah?"
The receptionist raised her brown eyes, blinked once, then looked down at the open catalogue before looking back at him.
Shorai's brow furrowed slightly.
"I would like to ask about a friend," he said. "Whether he is awake, and whether I may speak with him briefly. If not, I would at least like to know his current condition."
Her gaze remained on him.
"He was hospitalized unconscious," Shorai added.
"Oh. Wait a moment."
The woman leaned forward slightly.
"You seem rather…"
"It is all right." Shorai raised one hand. "People have been confusing my appearance with that model lately. It has become rather bothersome."
"Aww…"
Her expression fell for a moment, though her eyes narrowed with renewed interest.
"I can see why. You look very similar to him. Aside from the eyes and hair colour, of course. But those can be changed."
"If only I were so lucky," Shorai replied with a faint smirk. "The fame. The money. The attention."
Then he released a quiet sigh.
"But I think that would be too much for me, ma'am. Those things can easily rot a person from the inside."
"Hm."
She studied his face for a few moments longer.
"That may be true," she admitted. "Sorry. I got carried away."
"No harm done."
Shorai offered a polite smile.
"Then, about my request. I am looking for a boy named Uchiha Sasuke."
The moment he spoke Sasuke's name, something changed in her eyes.
Her posture became more formal.
"Visitors are not being allowed into that room at the moment," she said flatly.
Shorai nodded once.
"I understand."
The receptionist looked down at her records, then back at him.
"You are listed as a known friend. I cannot give you details."
Her finger paused against the page.
"But his condition is stable."
Shorai remained still.
"There has been no change," she added quietly. "He is still unconscious."
'Still unconscious.'
The words settled heavily in his chest.
For a brief moment, he thought of Sasuke lying alone in a hospital room, trapped somewhere beyond reach after facing his brother.
Shorai's fingers tightened at his side.
Then the practical part of his mind returned.
'A week. Perhaps two.'
'Enough time to stabilize the stillness state. Then Water Release. Wind assistance. The pathway transition.'
The thought brought no relief.
Sasuke deserved to wake safely—not remain unconscious merely because the timing suited Shorai's training.
He exhaled slowly.
"Thank you for the information," Shorai said, bowing his head slightly. "I will not disturb his recovery. Knowing that he is stable is enough."
"You are welcome."
The receptionist's gaze remained fixed on him.
Shorai's eye twitched almost imperceptibly.
"I should go."
He turned toward the hospital entrance.
As he moved away, he noticed a young nurse approaching the desk from the side corridor.
"Who was that young man?" the nurse asked quietly.
The receptionist lowered her voice.
"Someone who looks very much like that Heavenly Lotus model."
"Really?"
"He said he was not."
"Maybe he said it intentionally."
Shorai increased his pace.
The moment he stepped outside, he used a short-range Shunshin.
—
In his room, Shorai looked at his watch.
4:30 p.m.
'An hour and a half.'
He considered his options in silence before setting an alarm for twenty minutes past five.
Not enough time for a serious training session.
Enough time to listen to his body.
He began with a light physical warm-up, moving through controlled stretches and familiar forms until his breathing settled. Then he sat cross-legged on the floor and closed his eyes.
The Soul Space simulation had shown him the direction.
Not force.
Not acceleration.
Stillness.
He let his awareness sink inward.
The lingering patterns of Lightning and Wind chakra remained familiar beneath his skin—restless, sharp, always inclined toward movement. Usually, Shorai pushed through that feeling. He accelerated it. Refined it. Forced it into the next stage of speed.
This time, he did not.
He let the chakra settle.
His breath slowed.
His shoulders loosened.
The sharpness gradually softened into something lighter.
Something quieter.
A thin current moved through his pathways, not like Lightning striking outward or Wind rushing ahead, but like water resting beneath ice.
The sensation lasted only a few minutes.
Then—
Peep.
Peep.
Peep.
Shorai opened his eyes.
The same feeling of relaxation had returned.
His chakra flow had not changed completely. It remained imperfect, fragile, and temporary.
But it felt more comfortable.
Less violent than the lingering tension left by Swift Release practice.
Shorai looked down at his palm.
'A compatible state.'
Not Ice.
Not yet.
But the beginning of a way back.
He rose, showered, then changed into his usual black and white outfit with turquoise details.
When he checked the time again, it was nearly five forty-five.
—
The Yamanaka flower shop was warm with evening light when Shorai stepped inside.
Ino's mother stood behind the counter, arranging flowers into a glass vase.
The moment she saw him, a small smile appeared on her lips.
"Ino," she called gently. "Shorai-kun is here."
A few seconds later, Ino stepped into view.
Shorai stopped.
For a brief moment, his thoughts vanished.
Ino walked down the stairs with her high blonde ponytail swaying behind her. She wore a white floral dress marked with dark-blue accents at its edges. Large blue lotus patterns decorated the fabric, while a deep-blue sash rested securely around her waist.
Her small white shoes, patterned in the same blue, made a soft sound against the floor.
Then her azure eyes met his.
Her smile deepened the moment she saw his expression.
Shorai blinked once.
For an instant, his mind returned to a similar moment in this very room, at this very spot.
"Ino…"
"Yes, Shorai?" she asked, looking pleased with herself.
"You keep surprising me," he murmured.
A small smile touched his lips.
"You look wonderful. I am… actually lost for words."
"He-he."
Ino's face brightened with pride as she closed the distance.
From behind the counter, Mrs. Yamanaka watched with a quiet, knowing smile.
"Young ones," Inoichi called from deeper inside the house. "Have a good time. Do not be late."
"Of course—"
Shorai's reply was cut short when Ino took his right arm firmly and guided him toward the door.
"We will not be late," Ino said brightly.
Then she pulled him out of the shop.
—
They walked side by side through the evening-lit streets.
"You look very happy, Ino," Shorai said, glancing down at the arm she still held before looking at her smiling face.
"Why would I not be?" Her smile reached her eyes. "Especially when I can see that genuinely lost expression of yours."
She leaned a little closer.
"Very satisfying."
"I suppose that is only natural for ladies."
Shorai smiled warmly.
"I do enjoy your choice of clothes. You truly dressed to impress."
Ino's face warmed faintly.
"I am glad you like it."
She looked ahead for a moment.
"I like this style too. Not only because you said you liked it."
"He-he."
Shorai chuckled.
"What?" Ino asked, turning back toward him.
"I do like what I see, Ino."
His tone was calm, but genuine.
"Thank you for going the extra length for me. This balance of casual elegance and feminine charm suits you very well."
His eyes met hers.
"Still, surprise me with your own preferred style from time to time."
Ino giggled.
"Then I definitely will."
They continued walking as the restaurant came closer.
"You said this was going to be a special kind of occasion," Ino said after a moment. Her curiosity had returned. "What did you mean?"
"Yes."
Shorai's expression softened.
"There are people I would like you to meet. People I will be spending a great deal of time with."
Ino raised one brow.
"We will not be alone?"
"My special associates," Shorai replied mysteriously.
Ino's grip on his arm tightened.
"They are my teammates," he added in a quieter voice near her ear.
"Involved in that special unit?" Ino asked.
Shorai nodded once.
"Let us keep the details between us for now."
His voice became more serious.
"This is part of my honesty. They agreed to meet you."
Ino studied him quietly.
"You really enjoy acting mysterious, do you not?"
"Perhaps."
"Last time, you said you were in a specialized unit under the Hokage."
"I am."
Before Ino could ask more, Shorai stopped.
"We are here."
—
The two-story barbecue restaurant was already alive with evening conversation.
A staff member guided them upstairs to a table near the window, where three people were already waiting.
Tetsurō noticed them first.
A knowing smile spread across his face.
"Almost late, Professor."
He sat with one hand resting on the table and the other against the back of his chair. He wore a deep-red buttoned shirt over a black undershirt. His brown hair, usually tied into a short ponytail, was combed forward neatly around his face.
"He is not late," Kaito said flatly.
His light-brown hair had been brushed back, and he wore a white shirt with pale-green patterns resembling wind currents along the sleeves.
"It is exactly six," Shorai said without changing expression.
His gaze moved across the table.
"Kaito-san. Tetsurō-san. Yūgao-san."
Yūgao gave him a gentle smile.
Ino's grip on Shorai's arm became slightly firmer.
Yūgao wore a similarly styled white dress with deep-purple accents, a matching sash at her waist, and subtle lotus patterns woven into the fabric. Her long purple hair was partly tied back, giving her an elegant, composed appearance.
"This is Ino Yamanaka," Shorai said.
His eyes moved briefly toward her.
"Ino, this is Kaito-san."
"It is nice to meet you," Kaito said politely.
"Tetsurō-san."
"Lovely sight," Tetsurō said with a playful smile. "Good choice, Shorai-kun."
"And Yūgao-san."
"What a charming young woman," Yūgao said warmly. "Come. Sit with me."
Her eyes gleamed faintly.
"I am interested in knowing what made you fall for this young man."
Ino blinked, caught off guard by the relaxed atmosphere.
Shorai leaned closer to her ear.
"Where did the confident woman I know disappear to?"
He spoke softly.
"They are not bad. Some merely enjoy teasing more than others."
Ino glanced between the three operatives, then at Shorai.
A small smile appeared on her face.
She moved to sit beside Yūgao.
Without hesitation, Shorai took the seat on Ino's other side.
Tetsurō gestured toward the empty place beside him.
"You can sit here, Profess—"
"I am good here," Shorai replied flatly, already seated.
Tetsurō's grin widened, but he said nothing.
—
"Ino-chan, your dress is lovely. A very good choice," Yūgao said, drawing Ino into conversation.
While the two women spoke, Tetsurō turned his attention to Shorai.
"You came in the same clothes you always wear."
He shook his head in mild disappointment.
"For a special occasion, you should have chosen something different."
"I did not have time," Shorai replied calmly. "And I have not updated my collection recently."
He glanced down at his outfit.
"Besides, it is a habit to wear clothes suitable for combat. They remain presentable enough."
"Right," Ino said suddenly.
She turned toward him with a knowing look.
"You did not dress for the occasion at all."
Shorai's expression stiffened slightly.
"You do have that masquerade outfit," she added. "The dark one."
"Hm."
Shorai's strained smile froze.
"It did not cross my mind."
"Of course it did not," Tetsurō said, releasing air through his nose. "Details like that are important. How unfit for an acting old man to let such an opportunity pass."
Kaito's expression shifted.
"Wait."
He looked directly at Shorai.
"The white-haired young man from the masquerade. The one wearing that dark attire."
Shorai nodded once.
"That was you."
"I see."
A rare, thin smile appeared on Kaito's lips.
"It did suit you. I remember the image."
"He is usually mysterious enough already," Ino said, glancing at Shorai. "Though he is trying to be more honest lately."
Tetsurō leaned forward.
"So he is honest with you, young lady?"
His eyes shifted toward Shorai.
"He has spoken about it before. His intentions toward the person he dates. The person he wishes to know deeply and become best friends with."
Ino blinked.
"He said that to you?"
"I shared my views," Shorai said, smiling faintly. "Kaito-san and Tetsurō-san know more than Yūgao-san."
Yūgao's eyes rested on Ino.
"From what we have seen, his words and actions have aligned so far."
Her gaze shifted toward Tetsurō for a brief moment.
"He is not bad. Unlike how some men tend to behave."
Tetsurō raised a brow.
"Indeed. Men outside this table can be remarkably ungentlemanly."
He adjusted his sleeve with exaggerated dignity.
"Fortunately, no one here is indecent. Our Professor is an acceptable example."
"Acceptable?" Shorai repeated.
"A very acceptable example."
—
Kaito's expression became more serious.
"What has Shorai told you about his position and duties since you became genin?"
Ino went quiet.
She reached for Shorai's hand beneath the table.
"He told me that the Hokage selected him for something special," she said carefully. "A unit, perhaps. He told me it was not ordinary."
"Close enough," Kaito said.
His voice was calm, but direct.
"It is not an easy position. It is not free of risk."
Ino's fingers tightened around Shorai's hand.
"I figured as much."
Her eyes lowered for a moment.
"My parents told me some things too. Not details. Only that it seemed serious."
"It is," Tetsurō said.
For once, no teasing remained in his voice.
"But he is our comrade."
His eyes moved toward Shorai briefly.
"A reliable one."
Then he looked back at Ino.
"He is as safe with us as we are with him."
Yūgao nodded.
"He has a good head on his shoulders. He understands limits."
Her expression softened slightly.
"He does not do more than is needed."
Ino released a quiet breath and looked between the three of them.
"You are trying to reassure me."
No one answered immediately.
Then Ino's eyes settled on Shorai.
"This is my choice."
Her grip on his hand became firmer.
"I am already getting used to his flaws."
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"Some are even becoming charming."
Shorai's brow rose slightly.
"Your open side still needs work," Ino added, looking at him knowingly.
"That is not quite—" Kaito began.
"Oh?"
Yūgao looked between them with open interest.
"This is more than a crush, then?"
Her eyes moved from Shorai to Ino.
"And what was that about becoming best friends?"
Shorai was quiet for a moment.
Then he answered calmly.
"It is part of my view of a strong and happy relationship."
His gaze moved toward Ino.
"I want to know her. The same should be true in return."
He paused.
"To openly share what is close to one's heart without criticism, judgment, dismissal, or ridicule."
His voice remained quiet.
"To not walk on eggshells around the person you want to share your life with."
He looked briefly at Yūgao.
"That is the goal, Yūgao-san."
Yūgao's expression shifted.
For a moment, surprise crossed her face.
Then something more distant.
"How strange," she murmured.
A brief sadness touched her eyes.
"To open one's heart to someone close to you. Someone you want to share your life with."
Ino noticed it.
Before she could ask anything, Tetsurō clapped one hand lightly against the table.
"Ladies. Gentlemen."
He smiled warmly.
"We are here to celebrate a special occasion. Let us not sit around looking gloomy."
He leaned back.
"Let us eat. I am starving."
"Right," Shorai said.
He lifted a hand to call for a staff member.
—
The food arrived soon after.
As the evening continued, the table grew louder.
Tetsurō teased Shorai whenever the opportunity appeared. Kaito made occasional dry remarks from behind his drink. Yūgao and Ino spoke about clothing, flowers, Heavenly Lotus designs, and the difficulty of maintaining elegance while living a shinobi life.
Slowly, Ino became more comfortable.
She spoke more freely about her clan, the flower shop, and her mother's sharp eye for fashion. Her laughter became easier. Her shoulders lost the tension she had carried when first entering the restaurant.
Shorai watched quietly.
For a while, he simply let himself enjoy the sound.
By the time dinner ended, the group had become something warmer than a gathering arranged for reassurance.
They had become company.
—
Outside the restaurant, they exchanged their farewells.
Tetsurō stretched his arms over his head.
"Good dinner."
"It was," Yūgao agreed.
Kaito gave Shorai a brief nod.
"Tomorrow."
"Tomorrow," Shorai replied.
Then he turned toward Ino.
"Shall we?"
Ino smiled and took his arm again.
The two of them walked through the calm night streets toward the Yamanaka compound.
"They are an interesting group," Ino said, resting lightly against his arm.
"Was it enjoyable?" Shorai asked. "At least?"
"I enjoyed it."
Her expression became gentler.
"Now I know what your squad looks like. What they sound like."
She looked up at him.
"They care about you. A lot."
Shorai smiled faintly.
"I am the only genin among them. I am still working to prove that their trust is deserved."
Ino laughed softly.
"There it is again."
"What?"
"That hardworking version of you."
She squeezed his arm.
"Keep being yourself, Shorai-kun. That part of you never becomes old or unenjoyable."
Her eyes brightened with amusement.
"Especially when that Tetsurō guy calls you 'Professor.'"
She covered her mouth as a quiet laugh escaped her.
"I can only imagine how you lecture those grown men."
"Ha-ha."
They stopped before the entrance to her home.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Ino stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him.
Shorai returned the embrace.
"Good night, Ino," he said quietly. "The Fifth has placed a great deal of trust in me. There will be more work. More training."
He held her a little closer.
"But I will keep making time for us, as I promised."
He paused.
"Your birthday is coming up."
"Mhm."
Her voice was soft against his shoulder.
"I know you will not disappoint her."
She remained there for another moment.
Then she spoke again.
"Shorai-kun?"
"Ino?"
He looked toward the softly lit doorway of her home.
A brief pause stretched between them.
Then Ino loosened her hold.
"Never mind."
She stepped back with a small smile.
"Good night, Shorai-kun. I will be waiting for our next date."
"Me too, Ino."
Shorai's smile softened.
"Me too."
He watched her turn, open the door, and disappear into the house.
For several seconds, Shorai remained outside, staring at the closed entrance.
'Is she beginning to feel it?'
'The weight. The burden that follows me.'
He released a slow breath and checked his watch.
9:40 p.m.
'Tomorrow, the new regimen begins.'
His eyes turned toward the quiet street ahead.
'Tonight, only a small exercise.'
'No chasing progress. No forcing a breakthrough.'
'Just enough to keep the rhythm.'
Then Shorai turned and walked toward his apartment.