Trio’s Journey: Second Chance

{Chapter Five}

"Uzumaki Chill day!"

{Kyosuke and the Yamanaka Heiress}

The week had been grueling for Kyosuke, Kenji, Shin, and Naruto Their days were consumed with relentless training, honing their skills in taijutsu, kenjutsu, and shurikenjutsu

While also expanding their ninjutsu arsenal learning two different ninjutsu scrolls that were D or C rank for all of their elemental nature

Fire Element (Katon):

1. Fireball Jutsu (Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu) - A large, powerful fireball that can incinerate targets

2. Phoenix Flower Jutsu (Katon: Hōsenka no Jutsu) - A series of smaller fireballs fire

Water Element (Suiton):

1. Water Bullet Jutsu (Suiton: Teppōdama) - Fires condensed water bullets at high speed

2. Water Clone Jutsu (Suiton: Mizu Bunshin no Jutsu) - Creates clones made of water

Wind Element (Fūton):

1. Gale Palm (Fūton: Reppūshō) - Creates a burst of wind to blow away enemies or enhance projectile speed

2. Air Bullet (Fūton: Shinkūgyoku) - Shoots condensed bullets of air at high velocity

Earth Element (Doton):

1. Earth Wall Jutsu (Doton: Doryūheki) - Creates a defensive wall of earth or stone

2. Mud Wave Jutsu (Doton: Doryūsōdan) - Sends a wave of mud to knock enemies off their feet

Lightning Element (Raiton):

1. Lightning Current (Raiton: Kaminari no Nagare) - Channels electricity through the ground to shock multiple targets

2. Shock Net Jutsu (Raiton: Dengeki Ami no Jutsu) - Creates an electrified net to trap and paralyze enemies

In addition to these elemental techniques, the brothers had perfected essential skills like Body Replacement Jutsu, Basic Clone Jutsu, and Chakra Walking, ensuring their foundation was rock-solid

By the weekend, they all decided it was time to take a break

Naruto returned to his usual antics, pranking villagers and causing chaos wherever he went

His laughter echoed through the streets as chunin and jonin alike chased him, shouting in frustration

Kyosuke, dressed in a sleek black shirt with red accents that contrasted his fair skin and messy red hair, and the Uzumaki clan symbol proudly displayed on his back, strolled through the village

A ninja pouch was strapped securely to his right leg, and his demeanor was as warm and inviting as ever

He greeted everyone he passed with a smile and a friendly wave

Most villagers returned his greeting warmly, though a few cast wary glances his way, still recalling the incident from a couple of months ago

Kyosuke brushed it off — he had learned to move past the judgment

As he wandered, his thoughts drifted to Ino

"I wonder how she's doing." Kyosuke thought

Ever since he'd found her crying that day, something about her had stuck with him

She was always so confident and outspoken at school, but that moment of vulnerability had made him curious

Had she overcome whatever was bothering her?

They spent time together every day at school and during lunch, but Kyosuke realized he had never asked her directly

His wandering led him aimlessly through the village until the enticing aroma of grilled dango wafted through the air, pulling him from his thoughts

He stopped in front of a small stand selling the sweet skewered treat

"Why not visit her with some grilled dango? She might appreciate it." He thought

With that thought, Kyosuke purchased two batches of grilled dango — one for himself and one for Ino — and made his way toward the Yamanaka Flower Shop

The flower shop was easy to spot, nestled between other village storefronts

Even with his knowledge from his past life, navigating the village could still be tricky at times, but he was getting the hang of it

Kyosuke approached the shop and glanced through the window

Inside, he spotted Ino sitting at the counter, her elbow propped up on the table as she tapped her fingers lightly in boredom. The sight made him chuckle quietly

"She's so responsible for her age, running the shop and knowing the meaning behind every flower — most people don't realize how impressive that is." He thought

He pushed open the door, the small bell above it jingling to announce his arrival

Ino sat up straight immediately, her bored expression replaced with a warm, professional smile

"Welcome to the Yamanaka Flower Shop! How can I—" She stopped mid-sentence as her pale green eyes widened in recognition

"Kyosuke? What are you doing here?" she said, her tone surprised

Kyosuke walked up to the counter, the bag of dango in his hand

"What? A guy can't visit a friend's shop?" he teased lightly

Ino tilted her head, giving him a curious look

"You're not the type to wander into a flower shop. So, what's the real reason?" Ino asked

Kyosuke chuckled

"Well, I was wandering around, saw the shop, and thought I'd drop by." Kyosuke said

Ino gasped dramatically, her hands on her hips

"You were spying on me? That's rude, you know!" Ino said dramatically

Kyosuke smirked

"Hardly spying. Just making sure you weren't asleep on the job." He replied slyly

"You're impossible." Ino laughed, shaking her head

She untied her apron, revealing her outfit underneath — a vibrant lavender dress with white floral patterns that complemented her blonde hair and pale complexion

It was vibrant yet refined, perfectly contrasting with her apron

Kyosuke froze for a moment, staring at her. A single thought ran through his mind: "Holy crap… she's beautiful."

Her pale complexion and light green eyes were striking, and her blonde hair seemed to shine in the light streaming through the shop window

It was baffling to him that no one seemed to notice how stunning she was

Her presence alone practically screamed "heiress" or "princess."

"Hey! Are you even listening?" Ino spoke as she snapped her fingers in front of his face, breaking his train of thought

Kyosuke blinked and quickly shook his head

"Huh? Sorry, I zoned out for a second. What were you saying?" Kyosuke replied politely

Ino raised an eyebrow, slightly taken aback by his calm response

Usually, boys who spoke to her stammered or fumbled over their words, intimidated by her confident demeanor

"I said, thank you for the dango, It's sweet of you to bring me something." She said with a smile

He leaned on the counter slightly, tilting his head

Kyosuke lifted the bag of dango and placed it on the counter

"I figured you could use a break. You look like you've been stuck here all day." Kyosuke said

Ino blinked, taken aback

"Is that… grilled dango?" Ino asked, slightly surprised

"Sure is, I got a batch for myself and thought, why not share?" Kyosuke confirmed, untying the bag and handing her a skewer

Ino hesitated for a moment before taking the skewer, her cheeks tinged faintly pink

"You didn't have to do that," she muttered, though her tone was softer than before

"I know. But you looked like you needed it, So, how's business been? Aside from the earth-shattering rush of customers, of course." Kyosuke said with a shrug, taking a bite of his own skewer

Ino snorted

"Oh, you mean the two people who came in this morning? Yeah, it's been thrilling. Okay, I'll admit, this makes the day a little better." She took a bite of the dango and sighed contentedly

"See? I'm not entirely useless, so, do you usually run the shop alone? Seems like a lot for someone our age." Kyosuke teased

Ino waved her hand dismissively

"Nah, my mom and dad handle most of it. I just help out when they're busy or if they need an extra pair of hands. It's not that bad, though. I kind of like it." Ino said

Kyosuke raised an eyebrow

"Really? You don't get bored sitting here all day?" He asked

Ino shrugged, twirling the dango skewer in her fingers

"Sometimes, yeah. But I like knowing I'm helping my family. Plus, I get to learn about all kinds of flowers and what they mean. Did you know that certain flowers can symbolize loyalty or strength?" She asked

Kyosuke chuckled

"I didn't, but I'm guessing you've got a flower for every personality type, huh?" Kyosuke said

"Of course, hmm… for you, I'd say… maybe a sunflower." Ino replied confidently. She eyed him thoughtfully

Kyosuke blinked

"A sunflower? Why?" He asked, his tone filled with curiosity

"Because you're cheerful and warm, but also a little too persistent for your own good. Sunflowers are stubborn — they'll turn their heads to face the sun no matter what." Ino said matter-of-factly

Kyosuke laughed, scratching the back of his head

"I'll take that as a compliment. What about yourself? What flower would you be?" He asked

Ino thought for a moment before smirking

"Obviously, I'd be a rose. Beautiful, elegant, and with just enough thorns to keep people in line." Ino spoke in confidence

Kyosuke pretended to consider this

"Yeah, I can see that. But I think you're forgetting one thing." He asked

"Oh? And what's that?" Ino asked, raising an eyebrow

"You're also the type of rose people admire from afar but are too scared to get close to, they're afraid of the thorns." Kyosuke said with a grin

Ino blinked, caught off guard by the comment

For a moment, she didn't know how to respond

"Well… maybe they should stop being cowards, then," she said, regaining her composure

Kyosuke chuckle

"Fair enough. So, what do you do for fun when you're not running the shop?" Kyosuke asked

"Hang out with my friends, of course, we go shopping, talk about boys — " Ino said, twirling her hair

"Talk about boys, huh? Should I be flattered or worried?" Kyosuke interrupted with a teasing grin

Ino rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her smile

"Don't get ahead of yourself. Anyway, what about you? What do you and your brothers do when you're not training?" Ino asked

"Mostly more training, but sometimes we just mess around. Naruto's got this talent for pranking people, and it's hard not to get caught up in it." Kyosuke admitted

Ino shook her head, laughing

"I can't believe you put up with that. I'd lose my mind." Ino said in between laughs

"Yeah, well, he keeps things interesting, and speaking of interesting, this has been a lot more fun than I expected." Kyosuke said

Kyosuke hesitated for a moment as he turned back to Ino, who was still standing behind the counter with a curious expression

He rested his elbows on the counter, leaning forward slightly

"Hey, Ino," he began, his tone softer than before

"Yeah?" she asked, tilting her head

"Can I ask you something?" He asked

Ino raised an eyebrow

"Sure, what's up?" She replied

"Well…" Kyosuke paused, scratching the back of his head as he searched for the right words

"I was just wondering how you've been since that one time. You know, when I found you crying in the park." He continued

Ino's expression froze for a moment, her cheeks flushing slightly

"Oh… you mean that," she said, looking away as she fiddled with the edge of her apron

"Yeah,you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to. I just… I've been thinking about it. I wanted to make sure you're okay." Kyosuke said, offering her a small smile

Ino sighed, leaning against the counter as she looked down at her hands

"It's embarrassing, you know? I was crying over something so stupid." Ino said

"It wasn't stupid." Kyosuke said firmly, his voice gentle but unwavering

She glanced up at him, her lips pressing into a thin line before she let out a small laugh

"I broke a vase. That's all it was. A stupid vase. It was one of my mom's favorite ones. I was trying to arrange flowers in it, and I slipped. It shattered all over the floor, and I just… I felt like I ruined something special. Like I disappointed her." Ino said

"Did you tell your mom about it?" Kyosuke asked

"Yeah, she wasn't even mad. She said accidents happen and that it wasn't a big deal. But I still felt awful. I wanted to prove that I could handle things, you know? That I wasn't just some clumsy kid." Ino admitted, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear

Kyosuke's expression softened as he listened

"I ended up crying like a baby in the park. And then you showed up and probably thought I was ridiculous." Ino said, a small smile tugging at her lips

Kyosuke shook his head

"I didn't think that at all. Honestly, I thought it was brave of you to even admit how you were feeling. Most people would try to hide it or act like it didn't bother them." He said honestly

Ino blinked, caught off guard by his words

"You really think that?" Ino asked

"Of course, and look at you now. Running this shop like a pro, handling everything like it's no big deal. If anything, that incident just shows how much you care. It's not a weakness — it's strength." Kyosuke said with a grin

Ino stared at him for a moment before letting out a quiet laugh

"You're really good at this whole pep talk thing, aren't you?" Ino said

Kyosuke shrugged, a playful glint in his eyes

"I try. But seriously, Ino, don't be so hard on yourself. You're doing great. And if another vase ever breaks, just call me. I'll help you clean it up." Kyosuke said

Ino rolled her eyes, though her smile didn't fade

"I'll keep that in mind. Thanks, Kyosuke. You're… not so bad, you know?" Ino said quietly

"Not so bad? I'll take that as a glowing review." Kyosuke teased

The two of them shared a laugh, the tension from the conversation melting away

As they settled back into their playful banter, Ino couldn't help but feel a little lighter, as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders

Thanks for letting me hang out." Kyosuke said, finishing his skewer

Ino smirked

"Don't thank me yet. I might put you to work if you stick around too long." Ino said, teasing him with a playful expression

"I'll take my chances, but I should probably get going before you start assigning chores. See you at school?" Kyosuke said, standing up straight

"Yeah, thanks for the dango, Kyosuke." Ino said, her smile softening

As he left the shop, Kyosuke couldn't help but feel like the day had been a little brighter

He glanced back once, catching Ino's reflection in the window, and smiled to himself

"She really is something else," he thought as he walked away