Sakura said, "Do you remember when I said you were a beautiful cosmos, and I was just an ordinary eupatorium, but you said I wasn't even a flower yet, that a bud was more fitting?"
"I remember."
Sakura took out a red ribbon: "You said it would be a pity if my bud withered prematurely, so you gave me your ribbon. You said I would blossom into a flower even more beautiful than a cosmos."
Ino nodded. The original Ino had indeed said that. Now, recalling it, she felt the scene was rather ambiguous. She remembered Sakura's face turning red back then.
"Ino, I've always believed what you told me back then. I've walked all this way, still believing how wonderful it would be if it were true, how wonderful it would be to blossom into a beautiful flower. I've always wanted to be like you. I've made you my goal and reached this point. It's thanks to you that I can stand here."
Sakura's tone grew increasingly firm. She straightened her arm and handed the red ribbon to Ino: "I know it sounds a bit ridiculous to say this now, but I still have to say it: I will never lose to Ino again! If I want everything to be meaningful, then I must surpass you! Ino, this ribbon… I'm returning it to you!"
Ino looked at the ribbon in Sakura's hand. This ribbon symbolized their friendship, as well as various other miscellaneous things.
She sighed softly. Although she didn't know how long Sakura's passionate enthusiasm would last, facing Sakura's resolute gaze, she still reached out and took the ribbon.
After speaking her mind, Sakura turned to leave.
Ino called out to her: "Wait, wait for me for a bit, don't leave. I'll be right back."
Five minutes later, Ino returned. She gestured for Sakura to kneel.
Sakura instantly got angry. What are you going to do?!
"Just a half-kneel is fine. There needs to be a bit of ceremony. Never mind, squatting is fine too."
Unsure what she was up to, Sakura hesitated greatly before squatting down.
Seeing that the height was about right, Ino, with lightning speed, placed a straw hat on Sakura's head.
"Returning a ribbon means it's over? Don't be ridiculous! Our bond cannot be broken with just a few words, Wide Forehead. This is my favorite straw hat. Remember what you said today. When you reach the pinnacle of your life, when you surpass me, then return it to me!"
Ino brought her right index and middle fingers together and poked Sakura's forehead: "From your expression just now, it seemed like you wanted to have a duel with me? You're far too behind. Next time!"
Accompanied by a pleasant laugh, Ino left the garden with light steps, leaving only a bewildered Sakura.
Sakura first rubbed her forehead. That poke was quite hard, and she felt a strange sense of familiarity. Who had poked her like that before?...
She belatedly noticed the straw hat on her head, and then felt something unusual inside. Flipping the hat over, she unexpectedly found a scroll with the character "Water" written on it.
Sakura opened the scroll. This time, she recognized the handwriting; it was Ino's own. Upon closer inspection, she discovered that the scroll contained methods for developing Water Release Chakra nature transformation, and at the end of the scroll were some of Ino's insights and experiences.
"Ino, you…" Knowing that the scroll in her hand was absolutely priceless for a common Ninja, Sakura felt a complex mix of emotions. She remained silent for a long time, only fully erupting about ten minutes later.
"Who gives a girl a straw hat?! And a broken one at that! You hateful Ino! You're driving me crazy!"
Despite calling it a broken straw hat, she carefully put it away. She wanted to prove herself, then surpass this guy, and then, according to their agreement, return the straw hat to her!
Ino left alone, observing her surroundings the whole way, looking for opportunities to cause trouble and earn pot points. As she passed a patch of shade, she suddenly stopped.
A young man stood in the shadow of the trees. Upon seeing her, he bowed.
"Young Miss."
"Fu-ge." Ino didn't put on airs as the head of the main family, but politely nodded in return.
The person who came was Fu Yamanaka, a Root Ninja and the deputy of Konoha Advisor Danzo Shimura.
Just by his surname, one could tell he was from the Yamanaka Clan.
Fu Yamanaka was nine years older than Ino. According to Inoichi, Fu Yamanaka had the strength of a Jonin. Danzo's other deputy, Aburame Torune, had a lower presence. Fu Yamanaka was second only to Danzo in Root, a typical figure with real power.
"The battle between Young Miss and Uchiha Sasuke was very exciting. Lord Danzo is very pleased. This is your reward." Fu Yamanaka was concise, and after stating his purpose, he handed Ino a scroll with the character "Wind" written on it.
This time, Ino didn't pretend to be a novice, but spoke in a very formal tone: "Please thank Lord Danzo for me. My father always told me that only Lord Danzo could lead everyone to make Konoha great again."
Even the twelve-year-old Kakashi was a Jonin, so Ino speaking some more mature words now was not uncommon in this world full of slaughter.
There was a ten-year age difference between them, and an even greater disparity in strength. There was nothing to say beyond official business. Fu Yamanaka nodded slightly and disappeared into the shade.
Ino didn't go looking for trouble. She turned a corner and went home.
Someone just gave you a training scroll, and you're going to wander around without even looking at it? Not learning is a problem of comprehension, but not studying at all is a problem of attitude. When Ino's strength was weak, she had to show respect to Danzo.
Back home, Yamanaka Rino was cooking. Ino greeted her and returned to her room.
In her room, she opened the scroll Danzo had given her. As expected, it was a training scroll for cultivating Wind Release Chakra nature transformation.
Judging by the handwriting, it seemed to be some of Danzo's own insights.
Danzo's act of sealing the bridge was indeed foolish, but that was mainly because he hadn't used the Reverse Four Symbols Sealing. It was a one-time move, and he had no experience using it, unaware of how long the skill's wind-up was. He also didn't expect Uchiha Obito's and Uchiha Sasuke's Mangekyo to be so overpowered, allowing them to easily dodge with a single back-jump, turning the sealing of the bridge into a big joke.
In fact, Danzo's strength was not weak. His Wind Release Ninjutsu could cut through Susanoo, making him a solid Kage-level expert.
The Yamanaka Clan collected many Ninjutsu scrolls and training scrolls, but a Kage-level expert would not be captured by Konoha Village. For the same Chakra nature transformation development, a Kage-level expert and a Jonin would approach the problem with different perspectives and ideas.
The scroll Danzo gave Ino was very valuable to her.
However, she currently had no intention of developing Wind Release Chakra. Besides Water Release Chakra, she had a higher affinity for Earth Release Chakra. Developing a second or third Chakra nature was a bit early for her. She planned to continue studying Water Release in depth.