Naruto: SSS-Rank Romance System

Naruto pulled out the bench; thanks to the carpet underneath, it didn't make any noise.

Ino, being the Yamanaka clan's eldest daughter, was used to such things. While she couldn't be called pampered, her manners during meals still exuded elegance.

"I didn't expect your cooking to be so good."

"Huh?"

"That's a compliment, dummy."

"It's nothing special. Cooking is a basic survival skill for ninjas." Naruto sipped his tea. "So, you're just using the bathroom here to get to the hospital faster?"

"Of course. My mother is working on the paperwork to visit Sasuke," Ino said with a smile.

"The Yamanaka clan still has ties with the Uchiha?"

"Of course. The Uchiha were one of the most powerful families in Konoha."

"Even if only Sasuke remains now, who knows what the future holds?"

Naruto gave an "oh" of understanding.

The Uchiha might be nearly extinct, but with Sasuke still around, their bloodline could continue. Perhaps a few generations later, the clan could rise again.

"Does that mean Sasuke will need to marry multiple wives?"

Ino: "…"

"Isn't that the case?"

"How would I know?! Don't ask me such things!" Ino glared at Naruto and lowered her head to continue eating.

After a simple meal, Ino lounged on the sofa while Naruto went to wash the dishes.

Soon, Ino's mother would arrive with a custom formal outfit for her. Together, they'd visit Sasuke on behalf of the Yamanaka clan.

Since Naruto's home was close to Konoha Hospital, Ino decided to wait here instead of going home to change.

"Ino," Naruto leaned against the kitchen door. "Doesn't this feel like we're living together?"

"Who would live with you?!" Ino retorted sharply from the sofa. "By the way, where did you get this sofa? It's quite nice."

"404 Konoha Street."

The dryer in the bathroom hummed as Naruto poured himself a cup of tea and stood by the other end of the sofa, observing Ino as she curled up cat-like to rest.

The oversized T-shirt she wore looked like a mini-dress, and her snow-white legs crossed gracefully, revealing nothing indecent.

Naruto glanced briefly before averting his eyes, respecting her privacy.

"What book is that?"

Bored, Ino sat up and reached for a book lying at the sofa's corner. Her jade-like hand hovered above it.

Naruto's pupils dilated slightly as he realized what it was: Make-Out Paradise, the latest limited-edition sequel by Jiraiya. Naruto had paid fifteen times the regular price to acquire this collector's item, even coveted by Kakashi.

If Ino opened it now, he'd die of embarrassment.

"Ino!" Naruto suddenly yelled.

"What?!"

Startled, Ino turned to look at him.

"You saw it."

"Saw what?" Ino blinked, then froze as she realized.

"Ah! You!!!" She immediately shrank back, glaring daggers at Naruto while shielding the book.

"What did you see?" she demanded.

"Nothing."

"You clearly said you saw something!" Ino gritted her teeth.

"Uh… I need to use the bathroom." Naruto pretended to head to the bathroom.

"No, you don't!" Ino rushed to block the door. "You're definitely up to something weird!"

"Of course not."

While speaking, Naruto discreetly reached behind the sofa, blindly grabbed the book, and swiftly hid it behind his back.

"Fine, I won't go."

...

Outside, at the street corner, Ino stood in a black dress, straight and elegant. Naruto crouched nearby, looking bored.

"Your mother should be here soon, right?"

"She's always punctual," Ino replied.

Hearing this, Naruto got up and handed Ino a pack of tissues.

"Well, I'll be going now."

"Why?" Ino hesitated but took the tissues.

"It's not appropriate for us to be seen alone together. Though I hate to admit it, I do…" Naruto trailed off, shrugging.

"Anyway… see you next time, Ino."

"Wait! Don't go; it's fine."

Ino reached out, but Naruto had already walked away, waving without looking back until he disappeared.

She stood frozen for a moment, her gaze dimming. While she had said it was fine, she couldn't help but worry about her mother's opinion.

Was it unacceptable for them to stand together, even as friends?

Staring at the tissues, she wondered what it would've felt like if she had grabbed something else.

"Ino."

"Mm!" Startled, Ino looked up to see her mother, Yamanaka Rino.

"What's wrong?"

The elegantly dressed Rino, in a green gown and carrying a black purse, gently touched her daughter's cool forehead.

"You were just standing here in a daze as I walked over."

"I'm fine," Ino forced a smile. "You just took a bit too long, so I got bored."

"Sorry about that."

"Well, you could make it up to me with a dress!" Ino said playfully, taking her mother's arm.

"A grown woman still acting like a child," Rino said, chuckling as she affectionately patted Ino's head.

"By the way, I thought I saw someone with you earlier. A friend?"

"Sort of," Ino replied nervously. "Not really, though—just someone I know well."

"Our little Ino is growing up," Rino teased, leading her daughter toward the hospital.

"Mom, don't say weird things!"

"Was it Naruto?"

Rino's casual remark froze Ino. The older woman smiled knowingly at her daughter's reaction.

"About Naruto, I…"

"Ino, your father and I are open-minded," Rino said gently. "But Naruto… as a mother, I hope you'll think it over carefully."

Ino pursed her lips, saying nothing.

"It's not that I dislike Naruto. It's just that he's too important to the village," Rino explained. "The restrictions placed on him by the village… I don't want you to get hurt."

"Okay."

...

High above on an electrical pole, Naruto gazed emotionlessly over Konoha, his red, fox-like eyes locked onto two shadowy figures atop the Hokage Rock: two cloaked individuals wearing black robes with red clouds.

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