Ino's POV
Every morning before heading to the training clearing, Ino paused for just a moment at the foot of the east bridge. Not for the scenery—though the morning mist rolling off the trees was beautiful—but to think.
These days, her thoughts always circled back to Kaizen.
He was… different. Calm, sure. Wise, definitely. But there was something else. Something that made her chest tighten when he glanced her way or nodded in quiet approval after a sparring session.
She liked him. Everyone knew it.
And unlike Hinata, Ino wasn't shy about it.
She tossed her hair over her shoulder with a small smile. Yeah—Hinata. Sweet. Quiet. And clearly interested in Kaizen too, even if she hadn't said a word out loud. But Ino had seen the looks, the soft blushes, the way Hinata hung close to Kaizen during water-walking drills.
Ino didn't mind having a rival. It made things more exciting.
But that wasn't what her mind was chewing on this morning. No, it was someone else. Someone she hadn't spoken to in over a week.
Sakura.
Her fingers clenched for a moment before she relaxed them.
They'd been close once. Almost inseparable.
Until that day.
Third-Person — On the Path to the Clearing
Hinata was already waiting when Ino reached the trail through the forest.
"Good morning, Ino," she greeted with a polite dip of her head.
"Morning, Hinata," Ino replied, her tone light.
They walked together, the canopy filtering golden light through the trees. The sounds of birds and distant village chatter filled the silence between them. Then, Hinata spoke, her voice quieter than usual.
"Ino… do you know a girl with… pink hair?"
Ino blinked. "Sakura?"
Hinata nodded slowly. "Yes. I… I think she's been following us. Or maybe just you."
Ino's eyes narrowed. "Tch… makes sense."
Hinata gave her a questioning look.
Ino sighed. "We used to be really close. Best friends, even. I used to invite her to hang out with other kids from the neighborhood—tried to help her come out of her shell. And for a while, it worked. But then…"
She glanced up at the leaves, voice sharpening.
"After I started hanging out with Kaizen and the others, Sakura cornered me. Said I shouldn't be near him—especially not Naruto. That I should be like the other kids and stay away from him."
Hinata's brows pinched, lips thinning.
"I told her that was garbage. I'd been around Naruto for two days by then. He wasn't what people said. Loud, sure. Annoying sometimes, yeah. But he wasn't cruel or evil. He was a good person."
"And Sakura?"
"She said that's what her parents told her. That Naruto was dangerous and a bad influence. We argued. Voices rose. It got ugly. And after that day…"
She paused.
"We just… stopped talking. I didn't try. And she never came near me again… until now, I guess."
Hinata walked in silence for a few seconds before saying, "Let's talk to her."
Ino blinked. "You serious?"
Hinata nodded. "If she's still watching… then something's keeping her here. She didn't say those things to me, but I heard them now. And I want to understand."
Ino hesitated. Then gave a sharp nod. "Alright. Let's settle this."
Sakura's Confrontation
They found her near a split in the trees, half-hidden by a bend in the path. Sakura flinched when their eyes met.
"Ino…" she whispered. "And… Hinata."
Ino crossed her arms. "You're not subtle, you know."
Sakura looked down. "I didn't mean to spy. I just… I didn't know how to talk to you after what happened."
"You could've tried," Ino snapped. "Instead of watching from the shadows like a creep."
"I thought you hated me," Sakura said quietly.
Ino stepped forward. "You told me to stay away from Naruto. You said my friends were dangerous. And now you're tailing me through the woods?"
"I didn't mean—" Sakura started, then stopped. Her hands trembled. "I was scared. My parents… they said Naruto was cursed. That he'd bring trouble. They told me not to talk to him. And then you… started spending every day with him. With Kaizen. With the others. I thought I'd lost you."
Ino stared at her for a moment.
"Look, I don't know what kind of fear your parents have, but I've seen Naruto for who he really is. Loud, clumsy, and annoying, sure—but loyal, honest, and stronger than people give him credit for."
Sakura looked between the two girls.
"I didn't know," she said softly. "I just… listened to them."
Hinata's voice was quiet, but clear. "Then don't listen. Look. See for yourself."
Sakura's lip trembled slightly.
"I wanted to. I just didn't know if I was still welcome."
Hinata gave a small smile. "That's up to you. But… you can come with us. Kaizen doesn't care about clan or rumors. Only effort."
Ino sighed. "We're not making this easy for you. But… if you're serious, and you want to try—then yeah. You can come."
Sakura nodded, wiping her eyes. "Okay."
And so, the three walked side by side, not as friends just yet—but no longer strangers either.
Arrival — The Stranger
The forest opened into their usual clearing. The morning light bathed it in gold.
Shikamaru and Choji were seated near the stream. Naruto was standing with his arms crossed, curiosity written across his face.
Kaizen stood a few paces away, his posture calm—but focused.
Opposite him stood a new figure. Small, like them, but quiet. Dressed in dark, neutral colors. A hood obscured much of their face. Neither tall nor short. Not clearly male or female. Just… still.
Kaizen's head turned slightly as the girls approached, his gaze moving calmly across Ino, Hinata—and then, briefly, to the girl he didn't yet know. His tone was neutral and welcoming.
"You're just in time," he said simply.
The hooded figure beside him shifted but said nothing.
The others—Naruto, Choji, and Shikamaru—stood nearby, equally curious. No one said who this newcomer was. No introductions. Just the soft breeze brushing through the leaves and the weight of something new settling over the group.
Whoever this person was… their presence had meaning.
And soon, that meaning would unfold.