Chapter 23: Yamanaka Inoichi: it’s too soon!

(T/N: There is now a p.atreon for this work, and any new work I add will be dropped there first. check it out for an early release of up to 30 chapters edited smoothly. https://www.p.atreon.com/INeedRest)

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What was the most important thing about being a ninja?

Some people say it was strength because strength guarantees successful mission completion.

Some think it was intelligence. In cases of similar strength, the smarter ninja tends to survive.

And now, the Third Hokage instructed Iruka to tell the students:

The most important thing for a ninja...was loyalty.

Damn it.

For the entire first week of the ninja academy, Iruka didn't teach anything about being a ninja's duties.

He only did one thing.

He extolled the wise and great Third Hokage in exhaustive detail, listing his achievements one by one, and recounting his countless legendary stories.

To this end, the academy even gave everyone a biography of Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Under such a brainwashing campaign, the students who originally had a great impression of the Third Hokage...

Instantly had this favor raised to the next level.

Especially hotheads like Naruto and Kiba, who treated the Third as an idol.

And Colt, after listening to it for ten minutes, couldn't take it anymore.

Although for political reasons, it was reasonable to bolster his prestige.

But it was too much to call himself the strongest Hokage of all time.

Colt directly asked Hinata to keep an eye on Iruka and then fell asleep.

...

"Colt-san, Colt-san."

The sleeping Colt opened his eyes in a daze, and his posture was slightly dazed, not yet fully awake.

Letting the eyes of Hinata and Ino beside him shine.

The day after school started, Ino abandoned the glorious Ino-Shika-Cho tradition and sat directly next to Colt.

This made the boys in the class envious and jealous.

The two prime ladies of the class had just fallen into his clutches.

The point was, that Hinata and Ino were still so cute.

This was even more depressing.

After stretching, Colt gradually woke up.

The Will of Fire was indeed terrifying, not inferior to the legendary Sun Wukong.

He, whose spiritual attributes were comparable to an Elite Jonin, couldn't bear it, and every time he heard it, he couldn't help but want to sleep.

Fortunately, Iruka had already said that from next week, the ninja academy would begin official instruction.

He didn't have to endure such torture anymore.

At noon, the students took out their own bentos and started to enjoy lunch.

And Colt, under Hinata's careful care, didn't need to prepare his own lunch at all.

Every day Hinata prepared a hearty homemade lunch for him.

Looking at Colt who was eating so deliciously, Ino was very envious.

What she envied was not Colt, but Hinata.

If only she could make a lunch for Colt herself, how great would that be?

With such thoughts in mind, for the first time, Ino didn't go home with the two of them after class but hurried back by herself.

...

"Mom!"

Before entering the door, Ino shouted.

"What's wrong?" Ino's mother, Yamanaka Hana, looked at her fiery daughter with some doubts.

This gentle mother was unaccustomed to her speaking in such a hurry.

"Mom, I want to learn cooking!"

Yamanaka Hana was even more surprised when she heard Ino's words.

Her daughter was the princess of the family and had never lifted a finger for chores.

Especially cooking, which was simply a servant's work - how could she let her daughter learn such things?

"Oh Mom, don't think about it, I must learn it quickly!"

Ino was a little anxious and urged again.

"Okay, then come with me."

This time Yamanaka Hana didn't say anything. Girls being able to cook was good, it would help them capture their husbands' hearts better in the future.

It's just that she didn't expect the process would be so difficult.

In one night, Ino didn't even make a qualified omelet.

She didn't understand how her daughter, who was obviously very talented in flower arranging, was actually a cooking dunce.

Looking at the unidentified black substance that could no longer be called an egg in the pot, Yamanaka Hana said in a complicated tone:

"Ino, I think you should focus more on more meaningful things."

"No!" Ino was still not discouraged, "I must cook qualified dishes, and let Colt..."

Speaking of this, she felt a little embarrassed, sticking out her tongue playfully.

Yamanaka Hana pondered and suddenly understood why her daughter was acting so strangely.

Although she was young, it was good to meet someone she liked.

With a chuckle, Yamanaka Hana patiently guided her daughter's cooking.

At dinner, Yamanaka Inoichi looked a little perplexed looking at tonight's dinner.

"Hana, did you cook tonight's dinner?"

Yamanaka Hana glanced at her husband angrily, "Do you dislike it? This is what your precious daughter made."

Yamanaka Inoichi's eyes lit up.

What did Ino make? No wonder it looked so fancy.

He had to taste it.

Picking up a piece of vegetable, Yamanaka Inoichi ate it without changing his expression no matter how bad it was.

It turned out unexpectedly...

not bad at all?

Other than being a little oversalted, there was nothing wrong with the texture and taste.

"How is it, is it delicious?"

Ino looked at Yamanaka Inoichi expectantly, waiting for his evaluation.

"Very good! Our little Ino is so smart, and it tastes this good the first time she cooks."

"It would be better if the seasoning was a bit lighter."

Hearing this, Ino nodded happily, and Yamanaka Inoichi was also inwardly moved.

In his heart, his daughter must be learning how to cook for him.

Yamanaka Hana looked at her husband's sentimental expression, and naturally understood what he was thinking, smiling secretly to herself.

She didn't tell the story of the afternoon until they went to bed that night.

...

"What?! You said Ino was only learning to cook for some stinky boy?!"

Yamanaka Inoichi couldn't believe it, and instantly felt his heart break.

It had only been a few years, it was still too soon, right?

Yamanaka Hana covered her mouth and chuckled, "Dear, I only know that the boy's name is Colt, and I don't know anything else."

"You can go and see for yourself when you have time. What kind of brat has such great charm to make such a big change in our Ino."

Yamanaka Inoichi nodded vigorously and memorized the name.

He too wanted to see which stinky boy dared to steal away his precious daughter's heart.