Ryun nodded and said, "Then is there anything else you need in your room? You can temporarily take some things from my place to use."
As he spoke, Ryun intended to get two more new sets of bedding for Ino.
Ino looked blankly at Ryun, who was about to walk out of the room, and only then did she realize that Ryun had misunderstood her meaning.
She quickly hugged Ryun from behind, her burning hot little face pressing against Ryun's back.
"That's not what I meant—I mean, I want to stay by your side."
"Just—like Sakura!"
Poor Sakura, she had been used as a shield countless times today already.
"So that's how it is—"
Ryun deliberately drew out the sound, turning around to look at Ino. His half-smiling expression made Ino realize that he had deliberately pretended not to understand just now to tease her.
She fiercely stomped on Ryun's foot, but Ryun remained unmoved. He simply lowered his head and whispered in her ear, "Making a decision like this, are you prepared?"
"Prepared, prepared for what?"
Ino averted her gaze, pretending not to understand.
Ryun straightened up and said, "If you're not prepared, let's forget it. Your father will worry."
"Who cares if he worries? And you—do I have to spell it out for you?"
Seeing that Ino was about to explode emotionally, Ryun finally gave up the idea of teasing her and said, "Alright then, I'm going to take a bath too. Wait for me to come back."
"Mm—"
Ino's voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz. She only breathed a sigh of relief after Ryun left.
She curiously looked around Ryun's room, paying attention to every detail.
When she saw the flower arrangement on the bedside table, the one she had made just yesterday, she sat down on the bed and smiled shyly at the flowers.
Ino waited and waited, but Ryun still hadn't returned.
This made her a bit impatient; she wanted to go look for Ryun, but then remembered he was still in the bath.
Thinking she might run into Ryun with his fiercely muscled physique, Ino immediately sat back down guiltily, choosing to continue waiting.
She lay down on Ryun's pillow, smelling the familiar scent, and slowly closed her eyes.
As for why Ryun was taking so long to appear, there were actually two reasons.
First, he had run into Anko. Anko had had a few drinks with Yūhi Kurenai today, and while she was scrubbing Ryun's back, she talked about Kurenai's recent situation.
Second, after dealing with Anko, Ryun used his sensory ability and discovered that Yamanaka Inoichi had come again.
He stood in front of the door, hesitating for a long time, afraid to knock, seemingly worried about disturbing Ryun, yet also seeming to hope his daughter would come out.
This time, Ryun did not intend to have another minor conflict with Yamanaka Inoichi.
This morning's events were just a small tactic of first suppressing and then elevating. If Inoichi wanted to take Ino away now, Ryun wouldn't refuse him. He actually had no ill feelings towards Inoichi. A good father who deeply loved his daughter, who in the original storyline even made a righteous sacrifice—how could Ryun dislike someone like that?
What Ryun hadn't expected was that after hesitating for a long time, Yamanaka Inoichi actually turned and left.
This was no longer simply about acknowledging the relationship between him and Ino; it was completely entrusting his daughter to him!
Then Ryun couldn't disappoint Yamanaka Inoichi's expectations.
When Ryun returned to the room, he was surprised to find Ino asleep.
This was actually fine; if she had been awake, he would have had to coax her to sleep anyway.
As for the things Ino was anticipating, those could wait for another time.
But since Ino was already lying in his bed, he should collect a little interest.
He lay down beside Ino, holding the sleeping girl, using her as a sweet, fragrant pillow.
At the same time, Ryun didn't play favorites. He opened the Yin Seal and infused Ino with Yang Release chakra, continuing to help charge Ino's True Spirit Seal.
When Ino opened her eyes again, what she saw before her was Ryun's strong and powerful chest.
Her mind buzzed blankly; she instinctively checked her body, and only after confirming everything was fine did she glance at Ryun with a mix of relief and disappointment.
Then she realized her body had changed.
The life force emanating from the True Spirit Seal gave her the illusion that she had grown taller and bigger just from sleeping.
Ino naturally understood that all of this was the result of Ryun's hard work throughout the night, and her heart was filled with gratitude and warmth.
So, while Ryun was still asleep, she quietly got up, went downstairs, and pulled out all the stops to make him a hearty breakfast.
Finally, feeling as guilty as a thief, she ran towards the Yamanaka house, hoping to get back to her room before her family noticed.
Unfortunately, Ino's expectations were doomed to fail, because early in the morning, her mother and grandmother were already sitting in her room waiting for her. This caused Ino, who had climbed in through the window into her own bedroom, to immediately show a fearful expression on her face.
"Ino, where were you yesterday?"
"Did you stay overnight at Ryun-kun's house?"
"Ino, how many times have I told you—"
Seeing her mother, Yamanaka Rino's, voice gradually rising, Ino quickly explained, "I just got too tired practicing a new jutsu and fell asleep. If you don't believe me, you can try it yourselves!"
After saying this, Ino struck the pose for the Mind Body Switch Technique.
Seeing this, Yamanaka Rino nodded, signaling Ino to perform the jutsu on her.
This time Ino didn't hesitate; she activated the Mind Body Switch Technique. She wanted to prove her innocence.
Then Ino's consciousness entered Yamanaka Rino's body, standing together with her mother's consciousness, staring wide-eyed at each other.
Ino didn't try to seize control of her mother's body, so Yamanaka Rino could still see what was happening outside.
They saw Ino's body sway for a moment, then stand up again with a somewhat dazed expression, making a peace sign at her mother.
This scene greatly shocked Yamanaka Rino and Yamanaka Mayu. They didn't yet know that Inoichi had obtained the Twin Heart Method technique, because Inoichi himself hadn't successfully mastered it yet.
Seeing this, Yamanaka Rino and Yamanaka Mayu exchanged glances, feeling they had wronged Ino.
Yamanaka Mayu chuckled, playing peacemaker: "Since it was because of training, staying over there occasionally is fine. I heard Ryun-kun's new house is quite big."
"Now that everything is cleared up, Ino, go take a bath first, then we'll eat together."
Yamanaka Ino breathed a sigh of relief, thinking she had passed the test.
But when she was halfway through her bath and Yamanaka Rino walked into the bathroom, Ino knew she had been too naive.
She covered the True Spirit Seal, screaming for her mother to get out, but this time Yamanaka Rino was adamant about examining her daughter's body.
Helpless, Ino could only use the newly learned Formless Wave to subdue her mother, then quickly put on her clothes, rushed out of the house, and went back to Ryun's home.
Looking at Ino, whose face was streaked with tears like pear blossoms in the rain, Ryun was momentarily at a loss.
But then Yamanaka Rino and Yamanaka Mayu, who arrived shortly after in a furious rage, made Ryun realize what had probably happened.
"Ryun-kun, can you let our daughter out?"
Yamanaka Rino spoke calmly and looked very dignified.
But in reality, she was a fierce kunoichi; it was only after becoming Yamanaka Inoichi's wife that she had developed her current personality.
Faced with Ryun, this guy who might have harmed her daughter, Yamanaka Rino could barely restrain herself from attacking.
Ryun looked at Ino, who was clinging tightly to him, then at his mothers-in-law outside the door, and decisively made his choice.
"If you can come in, Auntie, then I won't stop you from taking Ino away."
"If you can't, then please don't interfere with Ino's freedom in the future, at least not her freedom to come to my place."
Yamanaka Rino remained silent, simply rolling up her sleeves and gathering chakra in her fists and feet.
Then she used the Body Flicker Technique and charged towards Ryun, her fist seemingly about to land on him.
But the next second, she was back where she started, still facing Ryun's yard, still beside her mother-in-law, Yamanaka Mayu.
"Rino, why are you spacing out?"
Yamanaka Mayu was puzzled. Hadn't her daughter-in-law been about to attack?
"Ah, sorry, I was just a bit—"
Yamanaka Rino didn't explain and prepared to strike again.
But this time, she couldn't move at all, as if frozen in place.
Only then did Yamanaka Mayu realize something was wrong. She quickly assumed the stance for the Yamanaka clan's secret technique, aiming at Ryun.
Seeing this, Ino tried to intervene, but Ryun gently patted her head, signaling her to stay quiet.
Several recent simulation experiences had taught Ryun that he now had the capital to be assertive.
Since that was the case, Ryun would naturally reserve his patience and gentleness for the girls by his side.
And when facing the older generation, Ryun's choice was to display his strength. Fortunately, they also believed more in this approach.
"Mind Body Switch Technique!"
Yamanaka Mayu's Mind Body Switch Technique shot straight towards Ryun, but Ryun simply extended a finger and gently tapped.
That intangible mental energy was then controlled by Ryun's more powerful mental energy, suspended in mid-air, unable to advance or retreat.
At the same time, Ryun's mental energy transformed into a voice that merged into Yamanaka Mayu's mental energy. He said with a smile, "Grandma, I truly like Ino. She has already tested me with the Mind Body Switch Technique, so there's no need to trouble you to test me again."
"If you don't believe me, you can ask your granddaughter."
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