Along the way, Kairi Shinatokawa and Ino Yamanaka didn't exchange much conversation. One led the way, the other quietly followed.
Still, the one leading the way kept glancing around here, there, anywhere but straight ahead. Yet, bound by her task of guiding him, she would reluctantly tear her gaze away and continue walking forward.
"You don't have to go back so early. I've got plenty of time," Kairi finally said from behind, unable to keep silent any longer.
"Huh? What do you mean?" Ino turned around, eyes wide, clearly curious.
"I mean, you're free to go do whatever you want," he replied simply.
"Really? That's great!" Ino cheered and, without holding back anymore, darted off toward a nearby shop.
Kairi followed behind at a slower pace, watching her energetic figure as she ran off. Truth be told, he had always found the Ino–Shika–Cho trio of Konoha to be quite impressive.
Individually, none of the three clans held much sway within the village. But together, their influence couldn't be ignored. What Kairi appreciated most was that unlike certain other clans, these three weren't steeped in darkness or arrogance. They didn't look down on others because of their lineage or power. In fact, most members of the new generation didn't even know the full weight of their trio's legacy well, except for Shikamaru. With his intelligence, even if no one told him, he would've figured it out on his own.
The Ino–Shika–Cho alliance was rare not just in Konoha, but across the entire ninja world. Kairi believed their continued existence was thanks to Shika's intelligence, and the deep trust that Ino and Cho placed in him. More than that, their skills were naturally compatible.
First came the Akimichi clan's expansion techniques for disruption, followed by the Yamanaka clan's mind techniques for interference and control. That allowed Nara's Shadow Possession Jutsu to hit with near-perfect accuracy. Then, with the target immobilized, the Akimichi would deliver the finishing blow using overwhelming strength. The synergy was near flawless.
On paper, the Akimichi seemed like the most replaceable any ninja with a powerful finishing move could theoretically do the job. But in reality, it wasn't that simple.
The key was in the inheritance. Akimichi techniques weren't difficult to pass down, and even at the early stages, the Expansion Jutsu was already formidable. With that sheer size, a single punch could stagger even an elite jonin. Of course, its downside was its lack of mobility. Without the support of the other two clans, a solo Akimichi was little more than a giant target. But within the trio, its strengths shone.
Now, think about other ninja clans could they promise the same consistency? Even the most powerful ninja couldn't guarantee that their children would inherit their talent. Nor could they ensure their successors would be able to use high-level techniques early on. That would leave any trio unbalanced in its formative years. And if you tried to supplement the team with a fully grown outsider, you'd lose all the synergy.
From Kairi's point of view, the "Shika" the Nara was actually the most unstable of the three roles. It wasn't just about Shadow Possession Jutsu. The Shika was the brains. And brains… well, who could say when one generation might suddenly produce a dud? Not even the Naras were immune to that risk.
That said, at least for now, their inheritance seemed secure. Shikamaru would be an excellent next-generation "Shika."
Choji Akimichi would become the "Cho." And Ino Yamanaka? She was this generation's "Ino" or, in traditional terms, the "Boar."
Yes, the "Ino–Shika–Cho" formation actually translated to "Boar–Deer–Butterfly." Judging by appearances, you'd think the "Boar" referred to the Akimichi, given their size. No one would think to call a delicate girl like Ino a boar. But in truth, the kanji for "Yamanaka" implied the wilderness, and "Ino" phonetically resembled "inoshishi," the Japanese word for wild boar. The previous generation's "Ino," Inoichi, had the character for "boar" in his name as well. And as for the "Butterfly"? That referred to the Akimichi.
It was funny, really.
Kairi thought Ino was actually quite cute at this age. To be fair, he found all the Rookie Twelve endearing when they were little. As long as they weren't causing trouble, kids were always cute. His mind began to wander again.
"Had enough fun yet?" he asked eventually, glancing at the time. More had passed than he realized. Ino had been running back and forth nonstop, bursting with energy.
"I'm good now," Ino said, stopping in her tracks. Only then did she remember they had an actual destination. Even though she hadn't strayed far from the route, she'd gotten completely caught up in playing. A bit sheepishly, she scratched her head.
"It's getting late," Kairi said, pointing at the darkening sky.
"The cake shop is just ahead. We're almost there," Ino replied quickly, face turning slightly red. She marched forward and stopped in front of a store not long after. Sure enough, it was close.
Kairi let out a quiet breath. Finally. He'd been here before but hadn't realized it was a cake shop.
"Wait here," he said.
"Okay." Ino nodded and watched him head inside. Left outside with nothing to do, she kicked at a pebble on the roadside.
Only now, with her legs finally at rest, did she notice how tired they were. The fatigue came rushing in all at once. She didn't want to move anymore. Just a short break…
What's taking so long? Ino stared at the motionless shop front. The wait was making her even more tired, and eventually she slumped down to rest.
After a while, Kairi finally came out holding a box.
He sighed. Turns out he had completely forgotten that custom cakes needed time to prepare. There wasn't enough time to wait for one, so he'd had to pick from the pre-made options.
Then he saw Ino sitting off to the side and paused. Thinking back on how energetic she'd been earlier, he suddenly understood she was finally out of steam.
He thought he heard her muttering something. His eyes narrowed slightly, and he smiled.
"So slow… what's taking him so long?" Ino grumbled as she rubbed her sore legs.
"Tired?" came a voice beside her.
Startled, Ino turned and found a sweet pastry being held out to her. On any other day, she might have turned her nose up at it, but right now, it made her mouth water.
Looking up, she saw Kairi's smiling face.
"…Is that for me?" she asked uncertainly.
"Yeah. Thanks for guiding me around all day," he replied.
"Ugh…" Ino's cheeks flushed. She'd been the one goofing off, and now she was both exhausted and hungry. She accepted the pastry silently and began to eat.
As she nibbled, she asked, "Didn't you get anything for yourself?"
"I'm saving the cake to share with my mom at home," Kairi said, lifting the box. The truth was, he didn't have enough money left to buy anything extra. His allowance was small and only recently started.
"I see," Ino nodded, not pressing further.
After she finished eating, Kairi asked, "Think you've got the strength to walk now?"
Ino stood, stretched her legs, and said uncertainly, "I should be okay."
"Then here, take this." Kairi handed her the box.
Ino blinked, confused. I'm barely standing why is he handing me this? Before she could protest, she saw him turn around and crouch slightly.
He was offering her a piggyback ride.
"It's getting late. Hop on," he said.
"…All right." Ino hesitated, then nodded. Carefully cradling the box in her arms, she leaned onto Kairi's back, wrapping her arms loosely around his neck so the cake could hang securely.
"Ready?" Kairi asked.
"Yeah, I'm good."
He slid his hands under her knees and stood up in one fluid motion.
"Am I too heavy? I can walk if it's a burden," Ino offered quickly.
"Nope. You're lighter than I expected," Kairi said as he resumed walking. His pace remained smooth and steady.
Ino froze, staring at the back of his head. For a brief moment, she saw the image of her father in him. What the heck? Why would I think of my dad when I'm being carried by a classmate? Ugh, stupid brain.
Still, she smiled a little. It was… reassuring.