Yamanaka Ino's crush on handsome guys was well-known.
Her long-standing favorite had been Uchiha Sasuke.
It was worth noting that her best friend and rival, Sakura, also harbored feelings for Sasuke. This rivalry fueled Ino's determination not to lose to the girl she had once helped overcome her insecurities.
Thus, a Sasuke-centric rivalry took shape.
However, Ino's affection for Sasuke was primarily based on his looks. His cold demeanor was decent, but it didn't stir her heart.
Until today, when she saw Minato.
A single glance at his handsome, gentle face struck her heart like an arrow.
Unlike Sasuke's forced coolness, Minato possessed a calm, steady, and reserved aura that was utterly irresistible to a girl like Ino. In that instant, her heart skipped a beat, and she was utterly captivated, instantly forgetting all about Sasuke.
Ino felt like she had fallen in love.
Stealing a glance at Minato, she noticed his curious gaze drifting toward her. Her breath suddenly grew warmer.
"Tell me! Who is that guy!"
"That's—"
Naruto's face twisted in discomfort. "His name is Namikaze Minato. He's currently living with me, and... he already has a girlfriend."
"I don't believe it!"
Ino turned to face Minato, her hands clasped behind her back in a coquettish pose.
"Um—Nice to meet you. I'm Yamanaka Ino, Naruto's classmate. What's your name?"
Minato nodded gently. "I'm Namikaze Minato."
"Ah, what a lovely name~" Ino said, clasping her hands over her heart with a radiant smile.
Yet for some reason, the name felt strangely familiar.
Shikamaru froze in place, his pupils trembling violently. He glanced toward the Shadow Rock, then at Minato, his face a mask of existential doubt.
"Um—Minato-kun, do you have someone you like?" Ino asked, pursing her lips and gathering her courage.
"Yes," Minato replied with a nod.
Not just one, but more than one!
Ino lowered her head in disappointment. If he already had someone he liked, then Naruto's claim that he had a girlfriend was likely true. He probably already had a partner.
Unlike the dejection she'd felt after being rejected by Sasuke, this time her heart felt like it had been twisted, leaving a hollow, oppressive feeling.
Ino felt as though her romance had ended before it had even begun.
"I see... I'm sorry for being so forward—" She bowed slightly to Minato, her voice tinged with embarrassment.
"There's nothing forward about it," Minato replied. "I think being direct is perfectly fine."
Minato spoke gently, nodding slightly at the three of them. "You're Naruto's friends, aren't you? I'm sure he's caused you plenty of trouble at school. Thank you for taking care of him."
"Not at all—" Ino quickly waved her hand, feeling puzzled. Why is Minato talking like Naruto's parent? Could he be some distant cousin?
Just as she was thinking this, Shikamaru suddenly reached out and gently tapped her shoulder from behind.
Ino turned to see Shikamaru pointing at the Shadow Rock.
Following his gaze, she froze.
Her eyes darted back and forth between Minato and the Shadow Rock, a twitch at the corner of her eye.
Wait a minute... Namikaze Minato—isn't that the Fourth Hokage's name?
As the heir to the Ino-Shika-Cho clan, she might have been momentarily blinded by Minato's good looks, but she still knew the Fourth Hokage's title.
Ino glanced awkwardly at Minato. "Um—if you don't mind me asking, what's your relationship with Naruto?"
"You could say we're father and son." Minato didn't hide anything, speaking softly. "I'm from another world. The me in this world was the Fourth Hokage, and Naruto's father."
At his words, Ino and Shikamaru's mouths fell open. Choji stared blankly at Minato, the bag of chips in his hand clattering to the floor.
Shikamaru reacted fastest.
Although inwardly shocked, Shikamaru figured the village elders must be aware of Minato's presence, and he'd also noticed the curious glances from passersby.
His mind raced, and he chuckled, turning to Ino beside him. "Should I call you Mrs. Namikaze or Mrs. Uzumaki?"
"Ahhh! Don't say that, you bastard!" Ino's face flushed crimson. She'd finally felt a spark of attraction, only to discover it was her classmate's father.
With that thought, she delivered two solid punches to Shikamaru's arm. The blows landed with such force that Shikamaru grimaced in pain.
Minato also looked embarrassed, lightly scratching his cheek with his index finger.
My son's classmate?
I feel like I've seen this kind of story before in my past life...
"By the way, Ino, didn't you like that Sasuke guy?" Naruto asked, eyeing her suspiciously and mentally bracing himself.
I treat you like a classmate, and you're trying to become my mother?
"Well... Sasuke's just good-looking. His aura and everything... it just can't compare to Minato—the Fourth Hokage."
Ino shrugged nonchalantly, her eyes darting to Minato, her heart still harboring a mischievous thought.
To be honest, after meeting Minato, she felt Sasuke was just a kid, his aura nowhere near Minato's. The illusion had been shattered.
"Just call me Minato," he said.
Minato waved his hand gently. "I'm only eight this year and haven't officially succeeded as Hokage yet."
"Succeeded?"
Shikamaru's eyes flickered, catching the hidden meaning in his words.
Minato spoke with such confidence, as if he could become Hokage at any moment if he chose.
Not competing, not nominated...
Could he already be a candidate?
His strength must be formidable, at least enough to deter the higher-ups from making any rash moves.
Otherwise, why would they allow a visitor from a parallel world to roam freely?
Though they were the same age, the difference was staggering.
Shikamaru's mind raced, quickly piecing together the truth.
But what concerned him most was how Minato's appearance would affect Naruto.
In the past, people had always looked at Naruto with indifference and distance, but today something different was in their gaze.
Although Naruto still appeared his usual boisterous self, he wasn't as loud and rowdy as usual.
Quietly following the Fourth Hokage, he seemed more composed than ever, exuding a sense of relaxed confidence and self-assurance.
Is this the change parents bring?
That guy had it rough from the start—
But what will happen to Naruto after the Fourth Hokage leaves?
Never having something is completely different from gaining it and then losing it.
Shikamaru worried that once Minato was gone, Naruto might become deeply depressed, even unable to bear such loneliness.
If that were the case, the Fourth Hokage's appearance might not have been such a good thing after all.
On the other hand, he also wanted to see it.
With the Fourth Hokage personally mentoring him, what kind of growth would Naruto undergo?
Would he become the next Yellow Flash?
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