In Konoha, This Naruto Has Decided To Take It Easy

Chapter 374 So This Is What Kissing Feels Like

Chapter 374 So This Is What Kissing Feels Like

Support me at Pat reon

remove the *

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Will you come with me?" Ino’s words pulled Naruto back to reality, and she looked very nervous.

"Yeah." He agreed almost instinctively.

Whether it was meeting the old lady or even the Shinigami, as long as Ino asked, he’d say yes first. As hesitating would only lead to defeat.

As for whether he’d be walking into a trap, that was another matter altogether.

"Really? You’re so good to me." Ino looked truly moved by how readily Naruto agreed, her eyes turning red as if she was about to cry.

"Why are you giving me that card?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"You said I’m a ‘good person’."

Ino: "… Would you rather I call you a pervert instead?"

“Not really.” Naruto lifted his hand, revealing his oddly pale skin despite all the time he spent outdoors.

Ino also found this a little strange. But when she thought about how Naruto usually liked to lounge around at home, she couldn’t help but wonder if he did the same during missions.
If that was true, then it was Konoha’s loss for producing such a rare genius… an absolute prodigy with zero motivation.

If Ino knew that he was really slow in carrying out his missions and always tried to get someone else to take the blame, she’d probably drop her jaw in shock.

After finishing their meal, they found a tavern and had some sake, but they didn't drink too much. The tavern’s warm lighting and cozy decor set the mood for intimate conversations.

Their gazes met and melted into each other, drifting apart before coming back together, like winter snow turning into spring water, gently blending into one.

On the table, small dishes accompanied clear sake. They sat side by side, with a little space between them on tall stools by the bar, creating an intimate yet peaceful atmosphere.

"You asked me last time…" Ino was already a bit tipsy, and buried herself in his neck like a puddle of water, giggling softly, "If I missed you… do you want to know the answer?"

"Of course."

"I didn’t miss you at all." She murmured dazedly, with her eyes barely open.

"Oh." Naruto had a tolerance to alcohol. He supported Ino and occasionally responded to her like coaxing a child, while plotting how to drag Choji out to witness some ‘public displays of affection’ later.

As for Shikamaru, that’d be a no-go, as this guy is too smart and will see through his plan early. He’d either ditched him or brought Choji along to share the pain.

He sipped his drink slowly, not too much. With a limp girl lying on his body, his mind gradually wandered, thinking about Jiraiya, the Land of Rain, and then to Obito.

Ino, meanwhile, dozed off, clinging to Naruto like an accessory. Her mind was hazy and she felt like she was dreaming.

At one moment, it felt like she was asleep, and the next, images of her successfully developing the communication device flashed through her mind, an odd mix of absurd and magical scenes.

She sobered up a little and opened her eyes dazedly. Feeling like she was lying against a furnace, she instinctively rubbed her face against the warmth, seeking more comfort.

Naruto’s clean, warm scent filled her senses, mixed with a faint trace of alcohol. It was intoxicating enough to almost make her lose her sanity. She blindly reached out, her hands wandering, only to have Naruto gently push them back.

Naruto, deep in thought, glanced down at her, frowning slightly. He was so absorbed in his thoughts that he forgot that Ino was still tipsy. He quickly pulled her upright.

"You're drunk. Let’s get you back to the flower shop."

"I'm not drunk." Ino opened her eyes, tilted her head back and said stubbornly, "I want to eat takoyaki."

"Mm, mm, we’ll get takoyaki tomorrow." Naruto replied, already lowering his head and packing up, getting ready to take Ino home. If they stayed out too late, her parents might start to worry.

"Not tomorrow! It's the day after tomorrow!" Ino squinted her eyes again.

"Yes, yes, the day after tomorrow." He played along, and finally helped her up, carrying her handbag and putting it into the seal space.

Ninjutsu certainly made life easier. At least now, he only had to focus on getting Ino home without awkwardly juggling her bag in one hand while supporting her with the other.

On the way, Ino couldn’t stay still, so Naruto ended up giving her a piggyback ride. On In the cold night air, he walked steadily down the streets of Konoha, his steps so firm it was hard to believe he had been drinking.

Ino inhaled the scent of his neck, her thoughts growing muddled. Suddenly, she jumped off his back, wrapped her arms around his neck, and spoke to him in a half-conscious and half-dazed state.

"Let's kiss."

"You're drunk." Naruto gently rubbed her face and sighed, "Why drink so much when you’ve never had alcohol before? Even if I paid for the drinks, you didn’t have to drink yourself into oblivion."

"I'm serious." Ino’s face was flushed red and she looked up at him stubbornly, "Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't be willing to do this. So, will you or not?"

The street was almost empty, with old trees swaying in the cold wind.

The streetlights were dim, and in her drunken state, Ino pulled off her red hairpins, letting her thick, golden hair cascade down. In the night breeze, her hair swayed gently.

She stood right in front of Naruto, squinting her eyes and tilting her head up, looking like she was ready for him to do whatever he wanted.

This time, Naruto couldn’t keep his cool anymore. Watching her under the streetlamp, feeling the cold wind mix with a sudden surge of heat, the alcohol he drank earlier surged through his system all at once.

"Screw it! I can't care about that anymore!"

He lowered his head and leaned in slowly. It felt like taking a bite of cold jelly on a hot summer day, refreshing at first but soon melting into a gentle warmth. Ino's body suddenly stiffened, and her brain went numb as if she’d been electrocuted.

She didn't know what kissing felt like before. She only felt that what she read in the book was superficial, and the words didn't give her the depth. But in the moment, she realized the descriptions in the book were indeed too shallow, lacking the intensity of the real experience.

Her mind went blank, the world seemed to spin, and her heart was beating like a drum. The back of her head felt numb, like it had been hit by a hammer, and then it slowly swelled up with a prickling sensation.

Facing Naruto's overwhelming presence, all she could do was take it in. She was exhausted and panting, and her heart was beating wildly under the influence of both alcohol and adrenaline.

After what felt like forever, they finally pulled apart under the tree.

Ino opened her eyes slightly, gazing at his clean, sharp features, and couldn’t help but smile. She finally understood… kissing was about seeking each other’s lips, driven by instinct, blurring the lines between them until it was hard to tell who was who, or where the world began and ended

Under the streetlight, in the hazy glow, Ino looked at Naruto’s eyes, now filled with suppressed emotions. She suddenly understood something, and her face flushed even more. Sobering up quickly, she stammered out.

"I… I can’t… At least not now… If you really can't help it..."

"When are we going to visit your grandmother?" Naruto interrupted her.

"Huh?" Ino came back to her senses, only to find that the other person's eyes had regained clarity, leaving her dumbfounded.

"I asked when we’re going to see her."

"Oh, oh! Let me think... the day after tomorrow." She said, her mind a little confused, ‘Was he really not going to push this any further?’