"I still want to hear stories about the Uchiha clan. That's the real reason I came."
Ino said enthusiastically. This reason was reasonable enough, so Tenten bid farewell to the two and left.
Seeing that only she and Ryun were left, Ino began to mentally prepare herself, wanting to find an opportunity to apologize to Ryun.
But then, an old woman led her little granddaughter into the room. She started chatting cheerfully with Ryun, then told him the story of the Uchiha clan from her perspective.
This old woman was just an ordinary person. The Uchiha-related stories in her eyes were all trivial matters.
However, Ryun still recorded them earnestly, not brushing her off just because she wasn't a ninja and couldn't provide simulation attempts.
This gradually calmed Ino, who was quietly accompanying them, and she also became immersed in these warm and interesting past memories.
Gradually, Ino felt she saw another side of Ryun.
If a person could be gentle and patient with an ordinary person they just met, then surely he would also be gentle with her family in the future, right?
Holding such thoughts, Ino didn't even notice herself.
Her focus on Ryun slowly shifted from the story details to Ryun himself, and it lasted until sunset.
Only when someone suddenly patted her head did Ino turn to look in surprise. It was the old woman who had finished her story.
"Grandma, is something the matter?"
Ino was puzzled. The old woman explained with a smile, "Good child, thank you for keeping me company this afternoon. There aren't many patient children like you and Mr. Nojuro anymore."
Ino smiled sweetly and said, "I should be the one thanking you, Grandma. You told us a very good story."
"Don't thank me. If you really want to thank me, then let me see the story belonging to you young people sooner."
"Young, it really is good."
As she spoke, the old woman left, supported by her granddaughter, leaving only Ino whose face had turned bright red.
Fortunately, Ryun had gone to organize the written records, otherwise she wouldn't have known how to face him.
Afterwards, Ryun recorded another old woman's story, and the sky grew completely dark.
The people in the courtyard had dispersed. Ryun washed the brush and tilted his head to ask, "Eat?"
"Eat!"
Ino answered without hesitation. She still had to accompany Ryun in chakra training, and most importantly, she hadn't apologized to Ryun yet.
Although theoretically, the conflict between them had been resolved, Ino felt she still needed to apologize.
Because her apology was to protect their friendship, not to provide a justification for the task's logic.
An hour later, having eaten and drunk their fill, Ryun cleaned up the dishes and chopsticks, then sat cross-legged, ready to begin refining chakra.
Ino thought this was a good opportunity and was about to speak, but Ryun stretched out his hand and said, "Can you still guide me in chakra training today?"
Ino looked at Ryun in astonishment, never expecting that Ryun would still adopt a posture of complete trust in her.
This made Ino, who had been uneasy all afternoon, feel a mix of emotions. Finally, all the feelings in her heart dissolved in a burst of laughter.
She laughed until tears came out, placed her hand on Ryun's, then looked at Ryun with gentle eyes and said, "That's so like you, Mr. Nojuro."
"Me? Did I do something?"
Ryun seemed puzzled, but Ino took this as Ryun's pretense.
As for the reason for thinking this... Ino didn't have absolute proof, but her intuition as a girl told her that Ryun was deliberately trying to ease her mood.
In fact, that was the case. Having spent the afternoon with Ino, how could Ryun not see she was feeling down?
Coupled with Ino's setting of being thoughtful, it was obvious she was still dwelling on the task being exposed.
So what Ryun could do was use his actions to tell her not to worry about these details.
"Fine, don't say it if you don't want to... but I still have to say it."
"You listen well... I'm sorry!"
Ino said loudly, "I shouldn't have lied to you. I won't do it again in the future!"
Although they were just ordinary words, Ino felt much better after saying them. But she didn't know why her face was already burning red.
Perhaps it was because their chakra had already begun circulating within each other's bodies?
Seeing that Ino's face was red to the roots of her ears, Ryun said nothing more and calmly accepted the apology.
Although in his view, Ino was just normally completing a task, and there was simply no question of one owing the other.
Perhaps this was the charm of Ino as a girl. In her friendship with Sakura, Ino was also the one who silently supported and then cleanly withdrew.
The room grew quiet, leaving only the two peacefully refining chakra.
And the interaction between the two was seen by Uzuki Yūgao, who came to carry out her mission after night fell.
At this moment, she felt a little envious of the girl Yamanaka Ino.
Not only envious of the other's situation, but also envious of her personality.
If only she could also have the courage to speak frankly...
Two hours later, Ryun finished his training.
Ino stretched and then exclaimed, "Your growth speed is very fast. You might not need my guidance much longer."
"That won't do. I've heard there are many methods for chakra training, like tree climbing and water walking. I'll still need your guidance then."
Ryun seemed eager for more. Ino looked at Ryun with surprise a few more times, then said suspiciously with a smile, "Do you really want me to keep you company all the time?"
"Eek, you fickle guy, don't you have Tenten?"
"Tenten will probably go on a mission in a few days. She has her own work, I can't trouble her all the time."
"So you come to trouble me instead?"
Ryun looked at Ino, who had an expression like she had him figured out, and said with a smile, "As long as you come, I'll treat you to meals, and then... I'll walk you home every day, and stop by to buy some flowers, how about that?"
Ino's eyes shifted, and she nodded, saying, "That's more like it... Let's go, weren't you going to walk me home?"
Ryun happily stood up. When he returned, he already had a few flowers in his hand, to replace the somewhat withered flowers in the vase.
Of course, he didn't forget to place another tulip on the windowsill. After all, the current Uzuki Yūgao hadn't completed his task yet.
Early the next morning, the tulip on the windowsill had disappeared again, replaced by a small, thin scroll.
Ryun opened it curiously. Inside was a line of graceful handwriting.
But the content left Ryun somewhat puzzled.
"I understand your intention now, but my duty binds me, I dare not forget my origins."
"My task is completed as of today. Unless circumstances change, we shall not meet again."
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