"Ino-pig, what are you doing standing by the window?" a voice that was slightly irritating sounded from behind Ino.
"You guys chat, I'll go clean over there. Bye, Ino," Hinata, the little girl, seized the opportunity to escape, carrying her small bucket and scurrying away.
Integrating memories naturally meant inheriting the original Ino's interpersonal relationships.
Sighing, she realized that her relationship with the girl behind her, who was full of resentment, was indeed complicated.
With a large forehead, wearing a pink high-slit cheongsam and green shorts, this was the legendary Haruno Sakura, the crucial bet in the saying "Win and become the Shadow of Fire, lose and marry Sakura," and the one skilled in using "Summoning Technique: Naruto."
Ino, including her previous self, had an extremely complex attitude towards this Haruno Sakura. Recently, she had been so busy that she hadn't figured out how to handle this altered friendship.
For now, she could only respond with her usual attitude.
She snorted, her tone disdainful, speaking in a condescending manner, "Big forehead, you're so annoying! I remember telling you not to appear beside me. Go find your Sasuke brother."
Her voice was full of sarcasm.
Ino was frustrated. After her transmigration, she had lost all interest in the cold-faced Uchiha Sasuke, but this plastic sister behind her was still full of hostility, even thinking that Ino was playing hard to get to attract Sasuke's attention.
As for the romantic fantasies of the love-struck Haruno Sakura, Ino could only write the word "admire" or "submit," not knowing how to explain, nor having any way to explain.
Clearly, the previous Ino had taken great care of Haruno Sakura, encouraging her, playing together, and even helping her stand up to bullies. It could be said that their relationship was in great shape. But then? As soon as a handsome guy appeared, this love-struck girl behind her turned against the previous Ino, and their friendship ship sank swiftly and decisively.
If the two had completely turned against each other, it would have been easier to handle. But Ino had seen traces of friendship in many of her previous self's thoughts.
Even after turning against each other, that Ino still considered Haruno Sakura a friend.
What Haruno Sakura thought, however, was unknown.
"What are you looking at? Are you looking at Sasuke?! How cunning!"
"You actually scored 95 today? I'm so mad! You must be trying to attract Sasuke's attention. I've completely seen through you!"
Ino tilted her head to the side, not wanting to engage with her.
Whether you called the girl in front of her insecure or someone who would do anything for love, Ino didn't want to have too much interaction with Haruno Sakura. She was still pondering who to pin the blame on next; she didn't have time to play romantic games with a 12-year-old girl. She was busy.
"Go away, big forehead, don't bother me."
"Ino-pig, you must be trying to sneak away!"
Ino was thoroughly annoyed. Seeing Haruno Sakura persistently pestering her, demanding that she swear to the heavens to forever give up pursuing Sasuke, Ino, who had no feelings for Sasuke, couldn't possibly make such a vow that completely contradicted her previous self's wishes. To outsiders, such a sudden change in personality would seem too abrupt, raising all sorts of questions. "You must swear! Hurry up!"
"Say it, give up Sasuke forever, say it, say it now!"
Ino had a vein popping on her forehead. The reason she was standing here cleaning the windows was to wait for a "fated person," but now that Haruno Sakura kept pestering her, she was getting annoyed.
"If you're not kind, don't blame me for being unkind. Since you're so proactive, you can take the blame for what's coming next." Suddenly, she pointed out the window, her face filled with panic, "Ah, look! Sasuke's hurt!"
"Where? Where?" Haruno Sakura pressed against the window, anxiously looking around. Without warning, Ino kicked her in the butt from behind.
"Tch, a flat-chested, flat-butted brat," Ino muttered dismissively before strutting out of the classroom. She headed to the rooftop to call Shikamaru and Choji, who hadn't even gone to the field for training, and the trio skipped class to go eat barbecue.
"Barbecue? Right now?! Awesome! Let's go, let's go!" Choji jumped eight meters high in excitement. If Ino hadn't grabbed him by the collar, he might have leaped straight off the rooftop.
He probably wouldn't die from the fall, but such an enthusiastic display was a bit too much. Skipping class should be done with some discretion—no need to make it too flashy.
"Shikamaru, come with us," Ino said. In her memory, Asuma Sarutobi, the Jonin who wrote "My Father, the Hokage," had once been so overwhelmed by Choji's appetite that he had to kneel and apologize to the barbecue shop owner. She figured the money she had on her wouldn't be enough, so she had to bring Shikamaru along. "Ugh, what a hassle," Shikamaru sighed, guessing her intentions. He looked at the clouds in the sky, leisurely exhaling like a retired old man.
Not all teachers were as diligent and responsible as Iruka. The teacher in charge of teaching the girls household chores and Mizuki-sensei in the distance acted as if they didn't see anything, letting the three of them swagger away without a care.
If nothing unexpected happened, these three would become the 16th generation of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, the heirs to their respective clans. The alliance between the three families had lasted over two hundred years, stretching from the Warring States period to the present, even longer than the history of the Hidden Leaf Village. The Yamanaka clan, known as the "Ino," specialized in intelligence; the Nara clan, the "Shika," handled medicinal herbs; and the Akimichi clan, the "Cho," managed logistics and supplies. Together, the three families boasted over a dozen Jonin, mastering a vast array of ninjutsu and secret techniques. Their combined strength was no weaker than that of a small ninja village.
With the Senju clan no longer existing, the Uchiha clan reduced to the "Laughing Four," and the Hyuga clan in a state of decline, the Ino-Shika-Cho trio had become one of the top ninja families in the shinobi world.
As long as it wasn't a matter of principle, the village wouldn't do anything to them. Skipping class? That was hardly worth mentioning.
"I'm so mad! Ino-pig actually got first place in the exam. I have to work harder! Ah! If I can reclaim the top spot, Sasuke will definitely notice me! Hoo hoo hoo! I'm so embarrassed! I'm so mad! Ino-pig actually dared to kick me!"
Haruno Sakura crawled out of the bushes, still fuming over Ino's "flat-chested, flat-butted" comment. How could she say that? She felt she had some curves! Thinking of Sasuke, her face immediately turned into a lovesick expression.
Exams, Sasuke, Ino—her thoughts kept jumping between these three words.
"Huh? What's this?" Haruno Sakura had keen observational skills. It didn't take long for her to discover a somewhat tattered scroll hidden beneath a patch of soil in the grass.
She opened the scroll.
"Ah!" she exclaimed in surprise, then quickly covered her mouth and glanced around to make sure no one had noticed her. Only then did she carefully examine the words on the scroll.
"Do you want my treasure? If you desire it, I can give it all to you. Go and find it! I've left all my treasures there!" The handwriting on the scroll was bold and powerful, accompanied by a map. The signature belonged to someone named Hashirama Senju.