In Konoha, This Naruto Has Decided To Take It Easy

On the way back, Ino was unusually quiet. In truth, she wanted some comfort from Naruto, even if it was just a few useless words, but she didn't want to be the one to ask for it.

Naruto, on the other hand, rested his arm on the train window, watching the passing scenery. He silently grumbled to himself about how outdated the technology in the Land of Fire was.

In comparison, the Land of Snow already had advanced trains, while the Land of Fire was still using steam engines. Whether it is technology or people's livelihood, both felt simple and backward.

"Ino."

"I'm here." Ino raised her head hurriedly when she heard Naruto suddenly calling her.

Her heart started beating faster for no reason. The wind from the wilderness blew in from the car window, carrying with it the scent of grass foam.

She herself didn't know why, but every time he called her name seriously, it felt like her heart had been suddenly burned.

Perhaps it was because she rarely heard him speak that way. From childhood to now, countless subtle memories had piled up. Even the smallest thing, when accumulated over time, could weigh as much as a mountain.

It was like whenever she saw a beautiful mountain, a beautiful river, or a large, flourishing tree, she would think back to the sound of cicadas in that summer. The boy in the white short-sleeved shirt, with a smile so bright it could outshine the sun.

Back then, she didn't understand what the best summer meant. And by the time she figured it out, she was no longer that carefree girl.

"After we get back, let's rush to build the communicator. Next time we visit, we can set one up for your grandmother." Naruto suggested, "What do you think?"

"Were you quiet just now because you were thinking about that?" Ino suddenly felt touched.

"What else would I be thinking about?" He looked at Ino, somewhat bewildered.

"Wishing your grandmother a long life? Time won't wait for anyone. What we can do is speed up what we're sure of and not wait until later to regret it."

"But the village's higher-ups…" Ino hesitated.

"Which higher-ups? I am the higher-ups." Naruto said, tapping his fingers on the train window with a smile that was brighter than the sun. Half-joking and full of confidence, he added, "I call the shots in Konoha."

Ino couldn't help but laugh when she heard this. She stood up, leaned across the small table, and hooked her arms around his neck. Using the scenery outside the window as their backdrop, they shared a passionate kiss.

'Thank you, my man.'

The summer that vanished never returned, and the once carefree people had grown up. The only thing that hadn't changed was that they were still together, her man continuing to fight through the thorns and brambles.

In a world that wasn't so friendly, they stood on the decaying ground, kissing each other with raised heels.

The long journey made them drowsy, and they soon found themselves resting on the table, eyelids heavy with sleep. Before reaching their destination, Ino was the first to wake, her heart pounding.

This happened every time. Her fear of oversleeping always made her wake up early, almost like she had a premonition. And each time she woke, her heart would be racing.

Seeing Naruto was still sleeping, slumped over, Ino silently complained in her heart, 'How can he sleep so much? He's like a pig!'

But then, she suddenly remembered something.

She remembered a time when she was working in the Hokage's office doing menial tasks, and Tsunade, bored, had struck up a conversation with her. Ino had complained about how Naruto was always lazing around at home, which made Tsunade pause.

Ino recalled the strange expression on Tsunade's face, which changed several times before she finally frowned and said something that left a deep impression on her.

"Kakashi's mental health records also showed that he was depressed and apathetic for a period of time. That was after all the members of Minato's Team, except him, had perished."

"He may have been weary of the world."

Thinking of this, Ino was startled and thought to herself, 'Could it be? I had heard that people with depression often had little to no interest in that aspect.'

'But this guy in front of me usually never hid his lustful side. He was just a bit lazy. If anything, it seemed that he was far from being weary of life.'

Just then, the train jolted, waking Naruto. Noticing Ino staring at him, he looked puzzled.

"Is there something on my face?"

"Are you weary of life?" Ino asked mysteriously.

Naruto: "…"

"Just answer me!" She urged, clearly eager for an answer.

"What do you mean?" Naruto was completely lost. He had no idea how Ino's brain circuit worked and why she kept coming up with one thing after another.

"Then, are you... lustful?" Ino asked in a different way.

Hearing this, Naruto's expression suddenly became serious, and he shook his head and said solemnly, "I don't have many virtues, but one thing's for sure… I'm upright and not pervy at all. If you don't believe me, we could share a bed sometime, and whoever makes a move is the pervert."

"Pfft, as if!" Ino didn't understand the exact reference, but she knew this guy was up to no good.

"Tsk."

Ino had originally wanted to say something a little more provocative to test Naruto, but the train had suddenly arrived at the station, so she had to drop the idea. However, she could already guess that Naruto's needs in that aspect were definitely higher than the average person.

Naruto had no idea what Ino was thinking, he simply thought she was playing some kind of test game.

Was he weary of the world? Not at all. In fact, he quite enjoyed his current life.

It's just that, having seen the world from a higher perspective, with a clearer understanding of its future and nature, he saw things others didn't. The more he knew, the less joyful he became.

Sleeping was mostly because he was bored, but it also served another purpose: to grow taller. Money could be earned later, and strength could be slowly built up, but there is only one chance for height and growth of little Naruto.

Even when he occasionally felt detached from the world in his drowsiness, he quickly shrugged it off: Damn, with so many beautiful women in the world, who had time to dwell on such thoughts?

By the time they returned to the village, it was already dusk. Ino gave Naruto a serious reminder.

"For the next while, I'll focus on researching Chakra communication devices. It might take around half a month or longer. If anything comes up, just contact me directly."

Both Naruto and Ino had their own communicators, each using the updated 12.0 version. Even if they weren't in Konoha, they could still reach each other anytime.

Aside from the fact that distance is proportional to the lead time, the communicators seem to be performing pretty well.

"Got it." Naruto took advantage of the moment when no one was around and gave her a quick kiss.

"Hmph, don't push your luck."