Chapter 43 43: 6 Years Of Nightmares.

"Hmph! Don't get me wrong! If Keiko hadn't asked me, I wouldn't have let you, you little brat, into my house!" "I know, I know!" Along the way, Kaito and Yamanaka inoichi bickered while Ino laughed beside them. The setting sun cast long shadows as the three walked together. When they arrived at Ino's house, Keiko Yamanaka had already prepared a large, delicious dinner to celebrate Ino and Kaito's graduation from the Ninja Academy. At the dinner table, Kaito shared jokes and stories from his past life—jokes from YouTube and other media—which made Keiko Yamanaka laugh endlessly. The more Keiko looked at Kaito, the more satisfied she became, constantly placing more food in his bowl. Haiyi, sitting nearby, was visibly jealous. He rolled his eyes and smiled, "Kaito, now that you've graduated from the Academy, you're considered an adult! How about a little drink?" He gestured toward the bottle of sake beside him. "No way! Kaito's still too young to drink!" Keiko Yamanaka interrupted before Kaito could say a word. "That's right, Dad! If you want to drink, go ahead—but don't drag Kaito into it. Didn't Mom already tell you no drinking today?" Ino added. Whoosh! Whoosh! Inoichi felt like two sharp arrows had pierced his heart. He sighed inwardly. Before even marrying off his daughter, he'd already lost control of two family members. He could already picture his bleak future as a father-in-law. "Uncle Inoichi, I won't drink while I'm still young. But when I'm older, I'll share a glass with you anytime." Kaito spoke with a warm smile, casually tapping his fingers twice as he spoke. The gloom in Inoichi's heart vanished instantly. He looked at Kaito with approval. "This kid is really something." "Alright then! No drinking—just eat more veggies! You're still growing, you know!" he said, cheerfully placing more vegetables into Kaito's bowl. "Thanks, Uncle Inoichi!" Kaito grinned. Ino and Keiko exchanged puzzled glances. What just happened? Weren't these two at odds just moments ago? Still, the four enjoyed their meal well into the evening. It was close to 8 o'clock by the time it ended. After returning home, Kaito poured himself a cup of herbal tea. Not long after, Inoichi snuck in stealthily. "Kid! Give it to me! I can't be away from home too long!" "Alright, alright, here you go." Kaito pulled a fat stack of cash from his pocket like he was bribing a child, then peeled off two bills and handed them over. Inoichi's eyes widened at the stack of money. "That's got to be at least 200,000 or 300,000 Ryo." But he didn't act on any greed. Though he often squabbled with Kaito, he had long since considered him family—his future son-in-law. He'd seen firsthand how much Kaito cared for Ino over the years—more than even a father's love, in his opinion. Knowing Ino would one day marry, he felt relieved it would be someone like Kaito. Living next door made things even more convenient. Truth be told, Inoichi had understood his own feelings for a long time—he hadn't been cold to Kaito because he disliked him. He was just bitter that someone had been interested in his daughter since childhood. He looked down at the 200,000 Ryo in his hand, then smiled. "Alright, I'm heading back! If I stay out too long, Huizi will get suspicious!" With a casual wave, Inoichi disappeared. Kaito shook his head. His future father-in-law really was something else. He walked to the window and looked up at the bright moon. He thought to himself, Naruto should be out stealing the Scroll of Seals by now, right? There were only a few jutsu in that scroll that Kaito was interested in. Given his current status, if he ever wanted to study techniques from the Scroll of Seals, Hiruzen Sarutobi wouldn't refuse. Five years ago, after separating from Tsunade, she had told Hiruzen that she intended to take Kaito as her apprentice for his safety. Though Hiruzen hadn't summoned him during all this time, Kaito knew he was being watched. The Third Hokage knew full well that he and Hinata had been training behind the Hokage Rock. In fact, Kaito often sensed someone observing them in secret. He guessed the reason Hiruzen didn't summon him was to let him graduate without causing a stir. As for learning the techniques in the Scroll of Seals, there was no rush. Once Tsunade became the Fifth Hokage, getting access would just be a matter of asking. After finishing his usual night training, Kaito turned off the lights and fell asleep. Tonight would be a turning point in Naruto's life. --- The next morning, Kaito walked down the street with Ino on his back. He could smell her faint fragrance, and his heart felt calm. They passed by familiar shops and neighbors, slowly disappearing into the distance. As soon as they were gone, people on the street started complaining. "Finally! Those two graduated!" "I'm free! No more lovey-dovey nonsense every day!" "It's been six years! Six! How many six-year stretches do we even get in life? Thank God that nightmare is over!" --- When Kaito arrived in the classroom, it was already chaotic—just like yesterday. Almost everyone was there, eager to make a good impression on their assigned jonin instructors. --- (☞゚ヮ゚)☞ Support me by sending powerstones. More Powerstones = Bonus Chapters. Win Win.