Ino didn't know how long she had slept when she felt someone gently pushing her.
"Ino-neechan. Ino-neechan, wake up."
Who is it? She was sleeping soundly and felt a bit annoyed, but she still remembered she was at the Hyuga Clan's house.
She thought it was already dark, so she opened her eyes, only to find Hanabi squatting beside her right hand, gently pushing her with her two small hands.
"What's up?" This was Hinata's younger sister, and Ino often visited, so she was quite familiar with Hanabi.
Hanabi put her hand to her mouth and whispered, "Ino-neechan, can you do me a favor?"
Ino smiled, lightly tapping her with a finger. "I knew it wouldn't be anything good. But since you're so cute, tell me, what is it?"
Hanabi pulled out a report card and handed it to her. "The teacher needs a parent's signature."
Ino: "...?"
What kind of relationship do I have with you that you want me to sign?
She wanted to refuse, but seeing Hanabi's pitiful expression, she ultimately couldn't say no.
"Alright... let me see."
Hanabi's grades weren't bad. In the five subjects of Theory, Training, Understanding, History, and Practice, her Training and Practice were perfect scores, Theory and Understanding barely passed, and History was a failing grade.
These grades were by no means poor, but for the prestigious Hyuga Clan, not getting a perfect score was a disgrace to their ancestors. These grades would at least warrant being hung up and beaten for two days.
Hanabi clasped her hands together, pleading, "Recently, I feel like my Gentle Fist has improved, so I didn't review my lessons. That's why... I don't want to tell Father, and I don't want Sister to worry. The teacher needs a signature from an elder in the family, so, so... Ino-neechan, only you can help me!"
It wasn't a big deal. Ino looked over the report card twice.
She pouted, then waved her hand at Hanabi, who quickly handed her a pen.
Ino swiftly signed Hinata's name!
Having been classmates for so many years, she was very familiar with Hinata's handwriting. Who in her previous life didn't know how to mimic a signature?
"Take it. And don't fail any more subjects in the future." Ino closed her eyes, preparing to continue sleeping.
Hanabi pulled her again. "Ino-neechan, sis? Sis, you're like my real sister, there's still something else. The Ninja Academy teacher wants a parent to come to the Academy..."
Ino sat up with a start, staring directly into the little girl's eyes. Well, well, the signature was just a cover-up; you were waiting for me here, weren't you?
Hanabi wanted her to use the Transformation Technique to turn into Hinata and act as the parent, but Ino refused.
A signature was easy to deal with; the Academy teacher wouldn't fuss over that. But transforming into Hinata to receive a scolding was a different matter entirely.
The Village was only so big; they'd run into each other eventually. If she ever let something slip, it could turn into a big problem.
Under Hanabi's persistent pleading, she decided to go to the Ninja Academy herself, without using the Transformation Technique, but as herself.
Soon, they arrived at the Ninja Academy.
"Ino, why are you here?" Iruka looked behind her twice; there was no one.
Only after confirming again did he realize Hanabi had called her to receive a scolding.
"Hahahaha, Hinata and I are very good friends, so her younger sister is like my younger sister. Iruka-sensei, whatever you have to say, saying it to me is the same."
Ino was quite confident.
She had worked at the Ninja Academy for over a month under Tsunade's orders. Couldn't he give her a little face?
Even if he didn't consider their camaraderie during those days.
I know the First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Hokage. I've met the Second and Fifth Mizukage, dealt with the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Kazekage, and interacted with the Fourth Raikage and Third Tsuchikage. I've met so many important figures in the Ninja World; there's no reason for you, Iruka, to make things difficult for me, right?
After Iruka learned that Ino could represent Hinata's opinion, he scolded her to the point where she doubted her existence.
Well, he didn't give her any face at all.
"Can the prestigious Hyuga Clan bully classmates?"
"Can having a Jonin as a backer allow you to do whatever you want?"
Iruka babbled on and on.
Ino glanced at Hanabi out of the corner of her eye.
The little girl hung her head pitifully, apologizing.
I'm sorry, I made you come here to be scolded, but I really had no other choice!
Ino couldn't do anything either and just had to listen.
Actually, the situation was nothing new.
It was no different from the students who bullied Sakura back then. Hanabi also saw another Kunoichi being bullied and immediately stepped forward. The difference from Ino back then was that Hanabi hit without restraint, giving the bullying girl a thorough beating, leaving her with bumps all over her head.
She had been practicing Gentle Fist for so many years; children from ordinary families, no matter how tall or strong, couldn't beat her.
At the Ninja Academy, or rather, within Konoha Village, the information between the upper and lower classes was completely asymmetrical.
The Uchiha Clan had been annihilated for so many years. When Sakura and Sasuke formed Team 7, Sakura still called Naruto "uncultured" and "without parents." Sakura didn't even know about Sasuke's family situation, so these children naturally didn't know about the Hyuga Clan's status in Konoha Village.
After several fights, the conflict deepened and eventually reached the teachers.
Both sides received criticism and education, with blame equally distributed. Now, Ino was here to take the blame.
"I'm sorry, Sister, I'm really sorry!" As they walked out of the school gate, Hanabi kept bowing and apologizing.
Ino didn't know whether to laugh or cry, only sighing, "Thank you, but please don't come to me with such unlucky things next time."
As compensation, on the way home, Hanabi offered to treat Ino to dango.
"Those are things for you kids to eat. I'm already an adult; save your New Year's money."
Ten minutes later.
Ino licked her lips; the dango was quite delicious...
Hanabi adopted a grown-up demeanor. "All you adults, every single one of you, are... hmm?"
She tapped her chin with her finger, unsure how to describe it.
Ino didn't stand on ceremony. If you're treating, I'll eat.
As they were eating, a Kunoichi came around the corner; it was Anko Mitarashi, whom she had seen a few days ago.
This person was a famous glutton in Konoha Village, eating dango and red bean soup daily. It was said she had been eating it for over ten years and still hadn't gotten tired of it.
"Anko-neechan, come join us." Since she saw her, she definitely had to greet her, Ino said, waving.
Anko Mitarashi was two years younger than Kakashi and ten years older than Ino.
It was clear that this Kunoichi, with her "voluptuous" figure and penchant for fishnet clothing, had instinctively walked over.
Hearing Ino's voice, Anko Mitarashi looked up and saw her favorite dango. She immediately cast aside her worries and pounced over joyfully like a large wolfdog.
"Boss, give me a plate too!"
Eating dango, Anko's mood improved considerably. After hearing that Hanabi was treating, her animated expression was almost too much for Ino to bear.
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