Chapter 401

The Shinobi World had been at peace for a year. Aside from Kara, Kamui's clone, and the Tenseigan clone, everything else seemed insignificant in the eyes of the Five Great Shinobi Villages.

Only Kara and Yoichi's two clones posed a genuine threat to the entire shinobi world.

With Kara remaining dormant and Yoichi not stirring up any trouble, peace prevailed across the lands. Even in remote regions where disturbances arose, small squads of shinobi were dispatched to swiftly quell them.

Since consuming the Jōnin Pill, Inojin's strength had skyrocketed. His immense chakra reserves and physical enhancements quickly secured him the top spot at the Academy. While a few individuals could achieve great power with minimal chakra, at the Academy, where the differences were not too vast, chakra quantity was often the deciding factor in battle.

Inojin, capable of unleashing dozens of jutsu, could outlast his opponents through sheer endurance.

This sudden surge in power also boosted his popularity at the Academy. Fortunately, his friends did not harbor jealousy, and he no longer dwelled on his parents' situation.

Although Inojin initially wanted to intervene, he eventually realized he had no real way of changing things. After some time and persuasion, he learned to let go, choosing not to involve himself any further.

After noticing this shift in her son, Ino felt relieved. With his maturity growing, she also started considering revealing her relationship with Yoichi.

Since she planned to marry Yoichi after Inojin's graduation, a sudden announcement would likely shock many. Ino preferred to introduce the change gradually, allowing the eventual wedding to go unnoticed.

Sai had already moved out of the house. While he never made an official statement, he spent most of his time either on missions or at the Hokage's office or within the Anbu headquarters upon returning to the village.

He only visited home to check on Inojin but never stayed for long.

In his place, Yoichi frequently spent the night by Ino's side.

Tonight was no different.

Lying completely bare on top of Yoichi, Ino's body was covered in a thin sheen of sweat from their recent exertion. Her heart pounded in her chest, and it took her a while to recover.

As the lingering pleasure faded, she suddenly snapped back to reality and hurriedly asked, "Wait, wait—Yoichi-kun, do you think Inojin heard anything just now?"

She had been quite loud, completely forgetting that Inojin was also in the house. Only now did she realize her mistake.

Yoichi reassured her, "It's fine. I used Yin-Yang Release to block the sound. He's sleeping soundly."

He then added, "Ino, you don't seem as busy lately. Have your missions decreased?"

"Sort of," Ino replied. "So, I've been thinking about taking a short trip. What do you think about inviting Sakura along?"

She suddenly lifted her head to ask.

She had wanted to visit the Land of Hot Water for quite some time—not just because of her promise to Yoichi, but also because she needed a break.

From the unexpected disaster with the mysterious beasts to the present, more than two years had passed. She had spent all that time perfecting the village's barrier system without ever taking a real rest. Now, she wanted to enjoy herself for a bit.

She had even secretly prepared the outfits for the trip, including a pair of thigh-high stockings—one black and one white—that she had bought in secret.

"Invite Sakura?" Yoichi raised a brow. "Wouldn't that be awkward for a trip meant for just the two of us? Besides, she has a daughter."

Although he appeared casual, deep down, he had long entertained certain thoughts about the treasured wife of his old friend. However, the closer he got to his goal, the less he wanted to rush things.

"Sarada is a concern too," Ino admitted. "If we're gone for more than three days, Sakura probably wouldn't feel at ease. I'll ask her when the time comes."

Unlike her, whose partner was always away from the village, Sakura still had responsibilities at home. But precisely because of that, Ino wanted to take her along.

Konoha Hospital was far more demanding than the Barrier Team, after all.

Yoichi sighed, "I thought it would be a trip for just the two of us. If Sakura comes along…"

"Don't be like that, Yoichi-kun," Ino cooed sweetly, snuggling against him and pressing her soft curves into his arm. "There will be plenty of chances for us to travel alone in the future. Sakura's been looking so visibly exhausted lately—maybe a short trip will help her relax."

Yoichi had only been pretending to oppose the idea. After a bit of coaxing, he agreed.

That said, he didn't have high hopes. Sakura was similar to Hinata—both had strong personalities but prioritized their families above all else.

Even when Sarada was in the village, Sakura rarely left for extended periods. The last time she went on a trip, she had only left for half a day, returning home by nightfall.

Before long, Ino dozed off in Yoichi's arms.

But Yoichi remained awake. He opened his ability panel and exchanged points for a new skill—Dream Master.

...

Early Morning

When Sakura woke up, her mind lingered on the dream she had the night before. She muttered under her breath, "Ugh… why did I dream about that again? And with Ino's man, no less…"

Lifting her blanket, she found herself blushing fiercely.

She quickly got up, changed the sheets, took a shower, and opened the windows to air out the room. Only then did she feel somewhat at ease.

"Am I getting too lonely? But… why didn't I dream about Sasuke-kun instead?"

The thought crossed her mind, and she blushed even harder. Slapping her cheeks lightly, she scolded herself, "What am I even thinking? Time to make breakfast. I've got work at the hospital today."

However, she had already wasted some time upstairs. By the time she came down, she found Sarada already preparing breakfast.

Feeling guilty, Sakura quickly apologized, "Sorry, Sarada, I overslept a little today."

"It's okay, Mama," Sarada smiled. "You work so hard every day. You should rest more. I have it much easier at the Academy compared to you."

Before Sarada could even finish speaking, Sakura wrapped her in a tight hug. "Sarada, you're such a sweet girl. Mama loves you so much!"

"The soup! It's going to spill! Mama, come on!"

The mother and daughter enjoyed breakfast together before heading out separately—Sakura to Konoha Hospital and Sarada to the Academy.

It was a relatively light day at the hospital. No emergency operations, no minor skirmishes—only a handful of injured shinobi needed treatment.

After making her rounds in the ward, Sakura returned to her office just before noon.

She glanced at the time and was about to open her bento when she heard a knock on the door.

"Come in, the door's—" Her words cut off as she saw who entered.

"Ino?"

She was surprised, but more than that, she felt a twinge of guilt and anxiety.

The dream she had last night… she hadn't even dared to face it.

And now, here was Ino, standing right in front of her.

"What brings you here, Ino? Is something wrong?"

"Of course there's something," Ino smiled. "I know you're always busy, so I came during lunch. Let's eat together, Sakura."

She walked up to the desk, tidied it a bit, and then took out her own bento box.

It was from Yoichi's restaurant—nutritionally balanced, delicious, and hygienic, all top-quality.

Once they sat down, Ino finally got to the point.

"Sakura, how about taking a short trip to relax for a couple of days?"

(End of Chapter)

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