Ino was sleeping soundly, clinging tightly to Rasa, when he suddenly pushed her away.
She blinked her sleepy eyes open, dazed and confused.
Seeing Rasa staring intently at the ceiling, Ino snuggled closer to him like a docile kitten.
She buried her head into his chest, her voice laced with a playful whine:
"Rasa, why are you up so early? Won't you sleep a little longer?"
Rasa reached out, his fingers gently threading through Ino's silky blonde hair, stroking from the crown of her head down to the long locks at the back.
Ino narrowed her enchanting eyes, a smile gracing her lips.
Her expression was one of pure, unadulterated bliss, thoroughly enjoying the loving gesture.
Rasa's hand continued to move slowly through her hair as he spoke:
"I'll just be lying down at Sakura's place anyway. Since that's the case, I might as well wake up early and head over there now."
Ino was squinting, lost in the comfort of his touch.
Suddenly, her eyes snapped open, a thoughtful look appearing in them as she said:
"Sakura is busy at the hospital all day. If you go to her place, she won't have much time to take care of you."
Having said that, Ino changed her tone.
She rubbed her soft cheek affectionately against Rasa's bandaged chest, like a pet expressing its love.
"So, it's better if you just stay at my house."
"Although my Medical Ninjutsu isn't as good as Sakura's, treating wounds like yours isn't a problem for me. Plus, I have way more time to take good care of you."
A faint smile appeared on Rasa's lips.
He reached out and gently pinched Ino's cheek, feeling the firmness akin to a teenage girl's skin, and whispered:
"What I need is a formal identity."
Rasa glanced out the window.
Sunlight streamed in, and his shadow cast on the wall was already missing more than half its head.
He continued:
"I told you yesterday. This world is rejecting me..."
Only then did Ino notice Rasa's shadow, which was missing most of its head.
Worry and tension flashed instantly in her eyes, and her petty calculations were thrown to the winds.
Her hands instinctively clenched the bedsheets as she said urgently:
"Then let's leave right now!"
Minutes later.
Sai was sitting leisurely on the living room sofa, sipping a cup of steaming tea.
Suddenly, he heard light footsteps and looked up to see Ino walking out from the hallway.
Ino walked briskly toward the entryway and began to change her shoes.
She walked slowly to the shoe cabinet and crouched down gently.
Her slender fingers rested on the edge of the cabinet as she bent slightly, first slipping her right foot out of her slipper.
Her perfectly shaped, snow-white foot was revealed, the skin glowing softly in the morning sunlight streaming through the window.
Then, Ino reached for her high heels, carefully slipping her foot into the shoe.
She wiggled her right foot slightly to ensure a snug fit, then repeated the elegant process for her left foot.
From the sofa nearby, Sai watched Ino changing her shoes.
He set down his teacup, the ceramic making a soft clink against the table.
Sai looked surprised as he asked:
"Ino, you're leaving without even eating breakfast?"
In Sai's memory, Ino had never left the house this early since they got married.
Having finished putting on her shoes, Ino checked her appearance in the mirror while replying:
"I have something urgent to handle."
Sai nodded silently.
Although he was filled with confusion, he ultimately didn't voice his questions.
After meticulously checking her appearance, Ino hurriedly pushed the door open.
With a creak, the door swung wide.
Ino walked briskly out without looking back.
Sai sat quietly on the sofa, the crisp sound of Ino's high heels striking the ground echoing in his ears.
The sound grew fainter, gradually fading until it disappeared completely, and the house returned to silence.
In the silence, Sai's brow furrowed involuntarily.
Visible doubt and suspicion gradually surfaced on his somewhat effeminate face.
A few seconds later, Sai stood up slowly from the sofa and walked lightly toward the guest room at the end of the hall.
Standing at the door of the guest room, Sai took a deep breath, his muscles tensing slightly as if preparing for something.
Then, he reached out carefully, gripped the handle, and slowly pushed the door open.
Once the door was open, Sai scanned the room quickly, his gaze locking onto the bed.
When he saw the quilt neatly folded and no one lying there.
Sai's tense muscles relaxed like a deflated balloon.
He let out a long breath, the stone in his heart finally lifted.
Then, Sai walked slowly into the room, closed the door behind him, and began to inspect the room carefully.
Several minutes passed slowly.
Having found nothing suspicious, Sai relaxed completely.
He walked to the edge of the bed and sat down, gently patting his chest as if soothing his recently racing, doubtful heart.
Sai lowered his head, muttering to himself:
"It seems I was overthinking things..."
After saying this, a look of guilt appeared on Sai's face.
He scolded himself internally for suspecting his beloved wife of keeping a man in secret. What an unworthy thought.
It seemed his love for Ino wasn't deep enough.
Half an hour later.
In Sakura Haruno's house, sunlight spilled through the window into the cozy living room.
Sakura had just finished breakfast. She was sitting comfortably on the sofa, resting before heading to work.
Just then, an urgent shout broke the tranquility.
Confusion flashed in Sakura's green eyes.
She tossed her pink bangs back slightly, then stood up slowly, walked lightly to the door, and opened it.
The moment the door opened.
Sakura saw Ino standing there with an anxious face.
Ino's brow was furrowed tight, her eyes full of urgency.
Seeing Ino, a warm smile appeared on Sakura's face, her tone laced with confusion:
"Ino? I rarely see you this frantic. Did something happen?"
Ino nodded urgently, speaking quickly:
"Sakura, it is indeed urgent. Let's talk inside."
Although Sakura was full of doubts.
She politely stepped aside, making way for Ino to enter.
As Ino changed her slippers, her eyes scanned the living room constantly before she asked:
"Is Sarada awake yet?"
Sakura nodded slightly, a bit embarrassed, her cheeks flushing as she whispered:
"Yes."
Hearing Sakura's words, a brilliant smile like spring sunshine appeared on Ino's face as she lowered her voice:
"That's good!"
However, just as Sakura heard this and confusion flashed across her face, about to ask what she meant.
Suddenly, she saw her best friend Ino pull a gleaming dagger from her bosom and toss it lightly onto the floor.
The dagger hit the ground with a dull thud.
Immediately after, a strange man wrapped in bandages appeared out of nowhere.
Seeing this bandaged stranger.
Sakura's face instantly filled with wariness.
Her eyes narrowed, radiating a vigilant light.
Just as Sakura was about to question her best friend Ino.
She suddenly felt her body stiffen, as if bound tightly by an invisible force, unable to move a muscle.
She forced her eyes downward and saw that her shadow had connected with Ino's shadow at some point!
Rasa walked slowly up to Sakura, reaching out to gently lift her smooth, jade-like chin, and then unleashed a powerful Genjutsu.
Instantly, Sakura's eyes became glazed, as if shrouded in a misty fog, revealing a trance-like expression.
Within seconds.
Having successfully hypnotized Sakura, Rasa immediately opened the system interface, raising Sakura's Favorability toward him to 70, then doubling it to 140.
With this, combined with the Genjutsu and the high Favorability.
Even if Naruto came to investigate personally, he wouldn't be able to find any flaws.
After doing all this, Rasa slowly released his hand, then took a few steps back, standing quietly to observe Sakura's reaction.
Sakura blinked, the hazy look in her eyes fading as clarity returned.
When Sakura saw Rasa, panic instantly appeared on her face.
She rushed forward, supporting Rasa, and asked with deep concern:
"Sasuke-kun, how did you get hurt like this?!"
After saying this, Sakura turned her gaze to Ino, speaking gratefully:
"Ino, thank you for bringing Sasuke here!"
Ino narrowed her eyes, a bright smile on her face:
"Sakura, you're too polite. It's what I should do."
Supported by Sakura, Rasa felt her scent and softness.
He took a moment to glance at his shadow and found that it had returned to normal, letting out a sigh of relief internally.
It seemed his deduction was correct.