Feelings!?

Watching Ino turn and enter the Yamanaka Flower Shop, Naruto leaned his head against a large tree, thinking that he truly had more money than he knew what to do with.

Did she misunderstand something?

Idiot?

Naruto shook his head, looked at the brightly lit flower shop for a moment, and then turned to leave. A bit of barbecue didn't mean much to him now.

A mere drop in the ocean? Not quite.

The system transferred all the savings amassed from Kado's illegal shipping business over the years, amounting to about eight trillion Ryo.

Even Naruto was shocked by the sheer number of zeroes. Back when he was poor before transmigrating, he'd never dreamed of this wealth. But, unfortunately, it was a wealth he couldn't flaunt, like wearing fine clothes in the dark. For now, he could only show off by splurging on barbecue.

*Yamanaka Flower Shop*

Ino handed a cat back to a middle-aged woman dressed in elegant attire. The woman, Ino's mother, Yamanaka Riino, wore a long grandmother-green dress with a stylish red headband.

Holding the cat in one hand and stroking its soft white fur, she asked, "Ino, that boy was Naruto, wasn't he?"

"Um... yes," Ino said, trying to sound indifferent but eventually nodded. "I just happened to run into him. He took on the mission to find the cat."

"I see." Riino nodded calmly. "I don't mind if you date him, but..."

Riino lowered her gaze and looked at her daughter. "Naruto is different from others. I don't want you to end up heartbroken if you're misguided."

"Mom, what are you saying?" Ino said, flustered. "You misunderstood! There's no way I'd like someone as annoying as Naruto!"

"Ino," Riino looked at her daughter gently. "The Yamanaka family crest is the purple bush clover. Do you remember its meaning?"

"Strong growth, positive... and... positive love," Ino hesitated.

"It's just some advice," Riino said, turning upstairs. "Rest up, Ino."

"Okay, Mom."

After getting ready for bed, Ino lay there, staring at the ceiling, her mother's words lingering in her mind.

If her mother hadn't mentioned it, she wouldn't even have thought about it. Naruto? There was no way she'd ever like someone like him.

He's always lazy and likes to cause trouble. Although Naruto's been improving recently, something about him still feels irritating.

They had never really gotten along since childhood.

But...

Ino covered her eyes with her hand, remembering that moment in the bamboo forest. Her neck felt a slight warmth, causing her to feel restless as her heart filled with chaotic, vine-like thoughts.

*Ichiraku Ramen*

The half-curtain at the entrance lifted, and Teuchi looked at the visitor, then tossed ramen noodles into the pot.

"The usual, Naruto?"

"Yes." Naruto hesitated briefly, swallowing the words "Give me the most expensive."

Soon, a steaming bowl of ramen was in front of him.

"The Chunin Exams are coming up soon, right?" - Teuchi asked with a smile.

"Really?" Naruto blinked.

"Yeah, all the teachers from the Ninja Academy who come to eat ramen have been talking about it," Teuchi said.

"Are you going to participate? Give it your best!" Teuchi added, passing over a side of tempura. "On the house. Keep at it, young man!"

Seeing Teuchi's sincere smile, Naruto smiled and nodded. "I will!"

The Chunin Exams were close to the genin graduation date, though it was often more of a formality. Most surviving genin with sufficient mission experience would eventually become chunin.

For new graduates like Naruto's class, however, becoming a chunin was a lot more challenging.

Naruto also knew that he was probably just tagging along in the Chunin Exams. Families like the Ino-Shika-Cho trio and the Hyuga clan of Konoha had their own status.

Becoming a chunin required more than just the jonin's recommendation; it often depended on the Fire Country nobles' approval.

The Nara clan, a long-standing ally of the Third Hokage, had strong connections with many of these nobles due to their extensive deer antler medicine trade, not just within Konoha.

Returning home, Naruto sank into his new bath, thinking about the upcoming Chunin Exams.

In the original story, Naruto had charged in recklessly, only to come out with little more than injuries. Since he knew he couldn't earn the chunin title, he'd focus instead on maximizing his advantage.

The Chunin Exams were like a mirror, exposing all of Konoha's hidden secrets.

Issues like the Hyuga family's branch-house slavery, the Uchiha massacre, the few remaining Uzumaki... all these secrets were bound to be revealed.

Leaving the village crossed Naruto's mind, but his Jinchuriki status made that nearly impossible—he couldn't escape as Sasuke had.

Besides, Nagato had the Rinnegan and still couldn't establish a nation to rival the Five Great Nations. Could he, alone, accomplish it?

Only Uchiha Madara had ever stood against the entire shinobi world. For now, staying in Konoha and moving cautiously was the safest option. Traveling would have to wait, perhaps disguised as a mission.

At least he wasn't short on money. If he could connect with the gold exchange, he could have others handle what he couldn't do himself.

If he were to revive the Uzumaki Clan, he'd need to both find scattered clan members and... start a family.

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