Chapter 130 The Arrival of Graduation Exam Season
Ring ring~~~
The not-so-clear bell rang at the ninja academy, and with the familiar sunset, the day's classes came to an end.
"What's the rush?"
Naruto watched his classmates leave in a hurry, and a helpless smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Well, graduation exams are coming up soon, so I just want to go home and sleep a little longer."
Shikamaru shrugged, but a different kind of light flashed in his eyes when he talked about graduation.
"Hmm, Shikamaru, you're still so lazy.
Not everyone thinks like you, only about sleeping and stuff."
Ino slung her backpack over her shoulder, walked to the middle, and upon hearing Shikamaru's words, couldn't help but retort.
Well, I guess so.
Shikamaru didn't argue, but leaned back slightly, looking at the blackboard that was tinged orange by the setting sun.
"Seriously, shall we go home together tonight?"
Ino sighed helplessly and then said.
"Huh? Where's Sakura?"
Shikamaru was a little surprised, because Ino usually goes back with Sakura.
"Her parents came to pick her up today because of her graduation exam tomorrow."
Ino answered, while tugging at Shikamaru's pineapple-shaped hair.
"Ouch, be gentle."
Shikamaru rubbed his head and then nodded.
"Alright, let's wait until there are fewer people before we leave."
Unlike the lazy Shikamaru, Karin watched Ino warily, her body inadvertently moving closer to Sasuke.
"Hello...."
Sasuke called out softly, but Karin pretended not to hear.
"Karin, your hair is poking my eye."
Sasuke raised his hand to brush aside the red hair that was blocking his view, then tilted his head back speechlessly and saw a red head through his nostrils.
"Huh? Really? Hehehe."
Karin stated that she was only worried that Ino was trying to seduce Sasuke, and definitely not that she was taking advantage of Sasuke.
Sasuke: Heh.
"Naruto-kun, let's go."
Hinata watched the crowd thin out and tugged at Naruto's sleeve.
"Okay, good."
"Everyone, let's go! Do your best on the exam tomorrow, and we definitely need to graduate!"
Then Naruto took Hinata's hand and left.
"Tch," Sasuke muttered, though he had expected this day to come, the feeling was still strange.
Even though they were all members of Konoha's F4, I felt a huge barrier between myself and the other two.
Hmm, it smells sour and rotten.
Karin nudged Sasuke, then gave Ino a defiant look.
"Sasuke, let's go back too."
Sasuke nodded, then got up, slung his backpack over his shoulder, and walked away with a red-haired cat in the sunset.
"Shikamaru, don't stop me!"
Ino looked at Karin, who turned around and made a face at her, and felt like she was being mocked.
"Um, actually I didn't pull you."
Shikamaru looked speechlessly at Ino, who was pulling him along, and thought to himself, "What a drama queen."
Are you an idiot?
Ino looked at Shikamaru, whose emotional intelligence had dropped to one-tenth of his IQ, and covered her forehead speechlessly.
"By the way, Ino, do you really like Sasuke?"
Shikamaru asked unexpectedly.
To be honest, aside from Ino's deliberate actions, Shikamaru didn't really sense any affection from Ino for Sasuke.
Especially after Karin arrived.
Although Ino was competing with Karin alongside Sakura, she mostly took the initiative to back down.
Ino stiffened for a moment, then chuckled awkwardly.
"Of course, Sasuke-kun is so handsome, who else would I like if I didn't like him?
I can't possibly like a lazybones like you."
Ino looked at the ceiling in the upper left corner and said.
"Yes, Ino makes a good point."
Choji ate his potato chips and nodded in agreement.
After all, in his opinion, Ino was always chasing after Sasuke and showing him concern, so how could she not like Sasuke?
"hehe."
Shikamaru put the book away, smiled slightly, a strange look flashing in his eyes, and then slung his backpack over his shoulder.
"Well, let's walk back together after so long."
The setting sun shone through the window, illuminating Shikamaru's face.
"Yay!
We'll have a big meal when we get home tonight!"
Choji said happily.
"Long time no see?"
Ino looked at Shikamaru's profile and repeated in her mind what Shikamaru had just said.
Yes, it seems like it's been a long time since I went home with Shikamaru and Choji.
Thinking back to her useless best friend, Ino felt a headache coming on.
If Sakura had put in a little more effort and charged in like that red-haired guy, she wouldn't have been killed so badly.
Is it easy for me?
I finally wanted to help my best friend out, but she got destroyed the whole time.
Even though they have Naruto's sister's support, we arrived early, so wouldn't it be better to act quickly?
As a result, Sakura didn't dare to go all out with her attack and was scared away by Sasuke several times.
Furthermore, Ino suspects that Sasuke may have found out about Sakura's bad comments about Naruto.
Although it was just a rumor and Naruto didn't seem to care much, Sasuke does care about Naruto.
Unfortunately, now that her best friend is most likely out of the running, Ino doesn't have much of an idea left to help her out.
As for taking down Sasuke himself.
If Ino had put in some effort at the beginning, it might have been possible.
But at that time, Ino had to be concerned about Sakura's condition, after all, they were best friends, and Ino's feelings for Sasuke were only based on his looks.
Sasuke isn't the only handsome guy.
Ugh, what a hassle.
Oh well, we're about to be divided into classes, I wonder how Sakura will fare.
Ino hadn't considered the possibility of being assigned to a team with Sasuke or Naruto, since the Ino-Shika-Cho trio had always been grouped, especially since they were the children of their respective clan leaders.
Just thinking about it makes me so angry. Why did my teammate have to be a lazy bum and a glutton?
Although the lazybones is quite clever, the foodie has an unusually large amount of snacks.
Shaking her head helplessly, Ino slung her small schoolbag over her shoulder and headed towards the classroom door.
Outside the door, Shikamaru lazily crossed his arms, leaning against the wall, waiting with Choji for Ino to come out.
"It's so slow."
Shikamaru looked at Ino as she came out and muttered a soft remark.
"None of your business!"
Ino tapped Shikamaru on the head.
How could anyone say a girl is slow in front of her?
Honestly, that's not gentlemanly at all.
Shikamaru scratched his head and exchanged a glance with Choji.
Indeed, women are such a hassle.
"Let's go, let's go."
Shikamaru left the wall that made him feel comfortable, put his hands in his pockets, and walked home with the two of them.
Tonight is sure to be exciting, after all, tomorrow is the graduation exam.
If I don't do well, I can only go back to being an ordinary villager who only knows a little bit of taijutsu, instead of becoming a ninja.
Even if they didn't pass the exam, some of the skills they learned at the ninja academy still helped them somewhat throughout their lives.
After all, having chakra makes entering the factory far more advantageous than for an ordinary person.
Thumb.
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End of this chapter...