Chapter 76

Naruto's clone walked through the peaceful streets of Konoha, taking in the familiar sights and sounds of the village. The scent of flowers in the air signaled that he was close to their meeting spot—the Yamanaka flower garden. Sure enough, as he approached, he spotted Ino waiting for him.

She looked radiant, standing tall with a confident smile, her hands on her hips as if expecting something. The way she practically glowed told him exactly what she wanted. Her aura screamed, praise me.

Naruto chuckled to himself. He had learned a lot about women from his experiences. Compliments weren't just nice—they were necessary. Even if something was routine or seemingly insignificant, offering praise could make all the difference. He had to pay attention, had to read the situation carefully. One wrong word, one missed detail, and he could find himself in an argument without even knowing how it started.

Among the women in his life, Hinata was the easiest to handle. She didn't demand praise or attention—she only wished to love him unconditionally. But even with her, he had to be careful. If he got too comfortable, she would end up doting on him to the point of making him lazy.

Ino, on the other hand, was different. She thrived on attention and acknowledgment. If he failed to notice something about her—be it a new hairstyle, a fresh set of nails, or even just a subtle shift in mood—she would pout and turn grumpy.

"Ino, what's got you so excited?" Naruto greeted, opening his arms for her.

Without hesitation, Ino leaped into his embrace, wrapping her arms around his neck. Their lips met naturally, as if drawn to each other by an invisible force.

The kiss was filled with hunger, a mix of longing and unspoken emotions. It hadn't been that long since they last saw each other, but at that moment, it felt like an eternity had passed. Holding her close, Naruto realized just how much he wanted her.

Still, he held back, keeping those feelings controlled.

"I guess you missed me," Ino teased, looking up at him with a smirk.

Naruto let out a soft chuckle, wrapping an arm around her waist as they began walking together through the flower garden.

"I did. I like being with you."

His words were simple, yet they made Ino's heart skip a beat.

"You've become really honest," she noted, tilting her head curiously. "Did something happen?"

"Nothing much," Naruto replied, his gaze thoughtful. "I just felt it was the right thing to do."

"That's great," Ino grinned. "Does that mean we're official?"

"Yes."

His answer was firm, without hesitation. Then, as if it was the most natural thing in the world, he added, "I think we should get married once we return from our meeting with the King."

The words left his mouth effortlessly, but the moment they did, Naruto felt a strange sense of relief, as if a weight had been lifted from his chest.

Ino, on the other hand, was utterly stunned. She stared at him in disbelief.

She had expected things to progress between them, but not this fast. From the way things had been going, she had assumed it would take at least another year or two before Naruto even considered marriage.

"Really?"

"It's real, Ino." Naruto met her gaze seriously. "I will propose to Hinata and Sakura as well."

Ino blinked. "Sakura? I thought you moved on."

"I thought I did." Naruto exhaled deeply. "But I also want her. You and Hinata have made me greedy, so I don't want to push these feelings away anymore."

There was an unspoken understanding between them. Ino knew that Naruto wasn't just speaking from emotion—he also felt that leaving Sakura in someone else's hands was too dangerous.

She smirked, crossing her arms. "You're still getting rejected. You may be a hero, but your looks aren't exactly making girls line up for you."

Naruto gasped, acting overly offended. "Hey! What's wrong with my face? I think I look pretty good! Above average, at least!"

Naruto raised an eyebrow as he felt Ino's sharp gaze sweep over him. She was clearly evaluating something, and knowing her, it was probably related to his appearance.

"It's the birthmarks," she finally said, crossing her arms. "They really ruin your face."

Naruto blinked, touching his whisker-like marks absentmindedly. "Huh?"

Ino sighed dramatically, as if she couldn't believe he hadn't figured it out yet. "Naruto, your parents were extremely good-looking. You definitely inherited that, but these marks throw everything off. If you got rid of them, you'd look amazing. Maybe then you'd finally have a chance to seduce Sakura."

Naruto frowned slightly. He had never once considered removing his marks. They had always been a part of him, something he had since birth. But now that Ino mentioned it, he realized that he could get rid of them if he wanted. His new Otsutsuki physiology allowed him to alter his body at will.

"Do they really make me look that bad?" he asked, still unsure.

"Naruto." Ino stepped forward, placing a hand on his chest and looking up at him with an exasperated expression. "I know fashion. You don't. No one else has said anything because looks never came up, and Hinata would never ask you to change. But I care. So, will you do it for me? Or are these marks really that important to you?"

There was a subtle edge to her voice, but Naruto could tell she wasn't being pushy—just honest.

He thought about it for a moment, then shrugged. "I don't mind. I just never thought about it before."

With that, a subtle shift took place. His marks faded away, disappearing as if they had never been there. His features became sharper, his cheekbones and jawline more defined. He had always resembled his father, but now the resemblance was uncanny.

Ino's eyes widened, her lips parting slightly. She stepped back, taking in his transformed appearance.

"…Wow." She practically whispered the word, her hands pressing against her cheeks as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing. "You look so charming."

Before Naruto could react, she threw her arms around him and pulled him into a deep kiss. He chuckled against her lips, wrapping an arm around her waist and holding her close.

When they finally separated, Ino grabbed his hand and pulled him forward. "Now, let's go shopping. I cannot bear to watch you move around without any style anymore."

Naruto groaned. "Wait, you still haven't told me what had you so happy earlier."

"Oh, that?" Ino waved a hand dismissively. "It was nothing much. I just helped Lee get closer to opening the Ninth Gate."

Naruto stopped mid-step. "What?"

Her tone had been so casual that he had almost missed it. His mind reeled at the thought. Lee was already a monster with the Eighth Gate—what would happen if he unlocked a Ninth Gate?

"Tell me the details once we're done," he said, deciding not to press the matter just yet.

Ino nodded, already focused on their shopping trip.

Naruto sighed but smiled. He had learned a valuable lesson about relationships—there was a time for serious discussions and a time for casual, flirty conversations. If he spent all his time talking about power and the future, he would only end up irritating the people he cared about.

He had learned that the hard way after Ino had once snapped at him for talking non-stop about improving the world and gaining more strength. That had been an eye-opener.

Now, he knew better.

So, for now, he pushed aside thoughts of Lee's new power and let himself enjoy the moment. Ino wanted to hear compliments, jokes, and casual banter. And if making her happy meant going on a shopping spree and talking about how amazing she looked in every outfit, then so be it.

Besides… if he was going to seduce Sakura, maybe a wardrobe upgrade wouldn't be such a bad idea after all.

The streets were bustling with activity, merchants calling out their wares, and shinobi moving about on their daily routines. It was the same village he had known all his life, yet somehow, today felt… different. Maybe it was the company.

"Alright, first stop—clothes." Ino declared, her arm still linked with his as she led him toward one of the trendier fashion boutiques in the village.

"Ino, do I really need new clothes?" Naruto groaned, though he didn't resist.

Ino stopped in her tracks and turned to face him with an exaggerated gasp. "Naruto, please. Look at yourself." She gestured at his usual orange-and-black outfit. "I love that you're confident, but you are walking around in a jumpsuit. A jumpsuit, Naruto. You're an Otsutsuki-level powerhouse now, not some street performer."

Naruto blinked. "Hey! What's wrong with my jumpsuit?"

Ino placed a hand on her hip and smirked. "You want the real answer?"

"…No."

"Too bad." She stepped closer and poked his chest. "It makes you look like you just escaped from a training ground. If you want girls to drool over you—besides me, of course—you need a look that screams power and charm."

Naruto tilted his head. "I thought girls liked confidence more than clothes?"

Ino sighed, shaking her head. "We do. But confidence in style? Irresistible."

With that, she pulled him inside the boutique, and Naruto resigned himself to his fate.

The next hour was spent with Ino picking out clothes and forcing Naruto to try them on.

Some outfits were ridiculous, like the fancy nobleman robes that made him look like a feudal lord. Others were just wrong—one outfit was so tight Naruto was convinced it was designed to cut off his circulation.

Then, finally, after much trial and error, they settled on a sleek dark blue high-collared coat with gold embroidery, paired with black pants and a fitted black shirt. The outfit wasn't flashy like his old orange gear, but it had an air of authority.

Naruto looked at himself in the mirror, running a hand through his hair. "Huh… I actually like this."

Ino grinned, standing behind him and fixing the collar slightly. "Told you. Now you look like someone who could actually be married to me."

Naruto smirked. "Oh? Already thinking about the wedding, are we?"

She flicked his forehead. "Of course. A girl has to plan ahead."

Naruto laughed and shook his head. He couldn't argue with that.

After the exhausting shopping session (for Naruto, at least), they found themselves at a cozy restaurant near the village's center. It was a little more upscale than Ichiraku's but not too formal, just the right balance of romantic and comfortable.

They sat across from each other, the candlelight casting a warm glow over their faces. Naruto had to admit, Ino looked stunning tonight. Her long blonde hair was neatly styled, and her outfit—a violet dress with subtle floral patterns—only highlighted her natural beauty.

"So," Naruto leaned back, arms crossed, "how did you help Lee get closer to the Ninth Gate? You kinda slipped that in between dragging me to fashion hell."

Ino smirked. "Oh, now you want to talk about it?"

Naruto chuckled. "Hey, I was busy being kidnapped."

She rolled her eyes but then leaned in slightly, lowering her voice. "Well, you know how Lee has insane determination, right? He's been stuck at the Eighth Gate's limit for a while because his body physically couldn't handle anything beyond it."

Naruto nodded, intrigued.

"So, I had an idea," Ino continued. "Since my clan specializes in mind techniques, I figured—what if the limitation wasn't just physical, but mental too? The mind can sometimes act as a limiter to protect the body. What if I could suppress that limiter temporarily?"

Naruto's eyes widened. "Wait… you're saying you went into Lee's mind and manually lowered his restrictions?"

Ino nodded proudly. "Exactly. I didn't force anything—just helped him reach a deeper level of control. He still needs to train to master it, but now? The Ninth Gate isn't just a dream anymore."

Naruto whistled. "Damn, Ino. That's… actually really impressive."

She beamed. "Thank you, thank you. I'll accept my praise now."

Naruto smirked, leaning forward slightly. "I mean, I was already planning to praise you, but if you want me to make it more dramatic…"

Ino arched an eyebrow. "Oh? Go ahead, impress me."

Naruto cleared his throat, then put a hand over his heart. "Lady Ino, master of the mind, queen of elegance, the most beautiful kunoichi in the entire village, nay, the entire world—your genius knows no bounds! Surely, no other woman could compare to your brilliance and—"

"Alright, alright." Ino laughed, reaching across the table to flick his forehead again. "I get it."

Naruto grinned, rubbing his forehead. "See? I can be stylish and charming."

Ino rested her chin on her hand, smiling at him. "Yeah, you can."

For a moment, they just looked at each other. The teasing and banter melted into something softer, something real.

Naruto reached out, taking her hand in his. "I meant what I said before, you know. About us getting married."

Ino squeezed his hand gently. "I know."

She smiled, but this time, there was a hint of shyness—something rare for Ino. "And… I think I like the sound of it."

Naruto felt his heart skip a beat.

He had faced immortals, fought wars, and carried the weight of the world on his shoulders… but somehow, this—this moment—felt just as important.

Maybe even more.