Naruto: I, who didn't want to be hacked to pieces, saved the ninja world.

A hint of joy flashed in Tian Tian's eyes, but her expression was still somewhat sad as she pouted and said.

"But compared to you, Aoba, you're still far behind."

"People are different. Tian Tian, ​​you can't compare yourself to me. You should compare yourself to yourself yesterday. That's how you can see your progress."

Bai Yunqing earnestly advised him that he was cheating and therefore couldn't be compared to him.

After he obtained the Throwing Technique Mastery scroll, it can be said that his throwing technique skills were already at the top of the entire ninja world.

In the realm of throwing techniques, he claims to be the strongest. Even if he were standing 800 miles away, he could kill someone if he had enough strength.

"Really? Since I've made such great progress, will there be a reward?"

Tian Tian suddenly leaned close to Bai Yun Qing Ye, her face full of hope.

"Uh... what kind of reward do you want?" Seeing the expectant expression on the other party's face, Bai Yunqingye couldn't refuse, but he hadn't prepared anything.

Looks like I'll have to prepare some candy for practice from now on.

"Hmm..." Tian Tian made a thinking expression.

"Does Sister Xiyan and the others have a mission today?"

"Yes, I should be back tomorrow."

"How about Qingye come to my house for dinner tonight?" Tiantian blinked her big, watery eyes, making it impossible for Baiyun Qingye to refuse.

"If this is the reward you want, I'm fine with it."

"Then it's settled. Let's practice a little longer."

Tian Tian didn't give Bai Yun Qingye another chance to speak, and happily took out a few shuriken to practice.

The time is approaching evening.

Baiyun Qingye and Tiantian walked side by side on their way back.

But just as the two walked through the park, they were drawn by a noisy argument and instinctively turned to look.

Several boys were seen surrounding two girls. One of the girls, a pink-haired girl, was squatting on the ground, burying her face in her hands and crying. The other girl, a blonde, was standing in front of the crying girl, arguing with the boys surrounding them, and it seemed like they were about to come to blows.

Judging from the hair color and the phrase "wide forehead," these two are probably Sakura and Ino when they were young.

"Aoba, should we go help?"

Tian Tian tugged at Bai Yun Qing Ye's sleeve, asking for their opinion. If the two of them were to fight, these kids wouldn't be a match for them.

Shirokumo Aoba hesitated. If it was a conflict caused by Sakura being ostracized, he remembered that Ino had resolved it herself.

But the scene before them was clearly beyond the control of Ino and her two friends.

Just then, the pink-haired girl's scream suddenly rang out.

An older boy pushed Ino aside, ripped the red ribbon off Sakura's head, and let out a loud laugh.

Without any further hesitation, Baiyun Qingye rushed forward, catching even Tiantian, who was standing to the side, off guard.

He won't be able to sleep tonight if he doesn't teach these little bastards a lesson.

Having already refined his chakra, Shirakumo Aoba easily defeated the group of unruly children with just a few punches and kicks.

Especially the one who started it, he's still under his feet, his face bruised and swollen, it'll probably take a long time to recover.

Shirokumo Aoba snatched the red ribbon from his hand. If he remembered correctly, it was Ino who gave it to Sakura as a token of friendship, and it must have held great significance.

After retrieving the ribbon, Shirokumo Aoba loosened her grip.

The moment the white clouds and green leaves touched the ground, the other person scrambled away as fast as they could, crying out things like "Dad," "Mom," and "Save me."

When Shirokumo Aoba looked at Ino and Sakura, they were also looking at him.

Both of them looked somewhat dazed. Bai Yunqingye thought they were frightened by his violent demeanor just now, and felt a little embarrassed for a moment.

After handing the red ribbon to Sakura, he took Tenten and left.

In this incident of a hero rescuing a damsel in distress, the two parties didn't exchange a single word.

Until the two had moved a distance apart.

"Sakura, that ribbon is dirty, how about... I get you a new one..."

"No...no need, I think this is fine..."

……

Chapter 18 Three Mothers

White clouds and green leaves.

The five people were already seated around the dining table, with Shirokumo Aoba and Uzuki Yugao sitting on one side and the other three on the other side.

At this moment, the five of them were performing a strange pre-meal ritual.

Shirokumo Aoba was also forced to join in.

"I'm starting!"

This was the first time the five of them had sat down to eat together, but the atmosphere at the table was very lively. They chatted away, completely forgetting the good habit of not talking while eating.

Baiyun Qingye's smile never stopped.

This was the first time the three girls had ever tasted food cooked by Baiyun Qingye herself. They would occasionally exclaim in surprise or offer a word of praise, and each of them had a smile on their face.

After a satisfying meal, the sky had completely darkened. After the clouds dispersed, the sky was filled with stars, their silvery light reflecting off the snow-covered courtyard.

Now, five people are crammed into this tiny kitchen.

Tenten, Ino, and Sakura, who hadn't helped with cooking before, volunteered to help.

Then they squeezed together.

How could such a small plate be cleaned by five people like an assembly line?

After washing the dishes, the group lay down on the sofa, each looking completely relaxed.

"Qingye, why don't you tell another story?"

Ino couldn't help but suggest that this was the perfect time to listen to a story.

Tenten and Sakura also chimed in to agree.

However, she was rejected by Uzuki Yugao.

"It's getting late, you should go home..."

"Let's stay a little longer."

With hope in her eyes, Tian Tian lowered her voice as if pleading, "Sister Xi Yan, we won't be able to play together for a long time, and I don't want to go back so soon."

"Yes, Sister Xiyan, please let us stay a little longer."

Seeing the three little girls begging Uzuki Yugao, Shirokumo Aoba couldn't help but feel speechless.

This is his home, shouldn't we ask him that?

"Aren't you going to go back? Are you going to stay overnight?" Bai Yunqingye couldn't help but complain.

"It seems... it's not entirely impossible."

Ino's eyes sparkled. "I've never spent the night outside before in my entire life."

“Yeah, I haven’t done it either.” Tian Tian’s eyes lit up.

"Me too."

Sakura also timidly raised her hand.

Then all three of them turned to look at Bai Yun Qingye, eagerly awaiting her reply.

Even Uzuki Yugao's beautiful eyebrows furrowed slightly; this wasn't the first time she'd done this.

In the past, because she needed to take care of Bai Yun Qingye, she often stayed overnight. Whether she stayed overnight or not, she naturally did not need Bai Yun Qingye's consent.

She frowned, thinking that these three little girls were far too precocious. They weren't even in ninja school yet, and they were already thinking about spending the night at boys' houses.

"This……"

This left Baiyun Qingye speechless.

After hesitating for a moment, he asked in return.

"I have no problem letting you stay overnight, but the problem is with your parents. How are you going to explain that?"

"If I don't come home at night, I might get grounded."

"ah!"

As expected, Tian Tian immediately exclaimed in surprise upon hearing this, then her expression turned somewhat disappointed.

"I told my dad I came out to practice throwing techniques..."

"Pfft!"

Ino would never miss an opportunity to mock Tenten, since the other girl always monopolizes Aoba.

Tenten, naturally, couldn't stand Ino's mockery. She pouted and said somewhat unhappily, "Does that mean you can stay overnight?"

"Hmph, I'll tell my mom I went to play with Sakura. As long as I tell my mom I'm staying overnight at Sakura's house, it'll be fine."

Ino's voice was filled with a hint of joy; this was her victory.

"Me too, I just said I stayed overnight at Ino's house."

The two best friends exchanged a glance, their joy evident in their eyes.

"You, you all..."

Tian Tian was so angry that she couldn't speak. She realized that she should go home now, but looking at Ino's smug face, she couldn't help but feel angry.

As bystanders, Shirakumo Aoba and Uzuki Yugao felt a bit numb. They noticed that whenever Tenten, Ino, and Sakura got together, their IQ seemed to drop significantly.

This seemingly false excuse would be easily exposed if Ino's mother, Rino Yamanaka, and Sakura's mother, Mebuki Haruno, simply compared notes with each other.

However, there's no need to wait for a future standoff.

"Ino!"