As Chizhao reached the entrance of the shop, she saw Ino meticulously tending to the flowers, as if each bloom held her tenderness and effort.
Chizhao called out her name, full of joy: "Ino!"
Ino looked up from the vibrant flowers, her eyes instantly catching sight of Chizhao and Sakura slowly approaching.
Her face first showed surprise, then bloomed into a radiant smile. She gracefully rose from the flower bouquets and went forward to tightly hug Chizhao, who was enthusiastically waving at her.
"Chizhao! It feels like ages since we last saw each other! How have you been?" Ino's voice was filled with the joy of a long-awaited reunion.
"I'm great! Sakura and I bought some things, and then we came to see you on our way back."
Ino then turned her gaze to Sakura and teased, "How rare, for Forehead to actually drop by to see me?"
"Of course, I'm just accompanying Chizhao. Don't be so self-important, Ino-pig!"
Wait, have you two really become so antagonistic towards each other because of Sasuke?
The atmosphere seemed to become a little tense due to this small argument. Chizhao quickly intervened, standing between them:
"You two, stop fighting. You used to be such good friends, why are you hostile to each other now?"
"Hmph!"
Both of them snorted and turned their heads away, but Chizhao's words had just made their feelings complicated again.
That's right, they used to be very good friends.
Why had they become like this, unable to tolerate each other?
Sakura pursed her lips, her gaze falling on the flowers at her feet.
Ino's hand, which was holding her arm, also tightened a little unconsciously.
They say a triangle is the most stable shape, but when it comes to emotions, a triangle is the most unstable, and even the easiest to break.
It was like Sakura and Ino both wanted to be Chizhao's best friend, worrying that they might be the overlooked one, and also afraid that they might be the one left behind.
That's why they were so eager to show their presence, so eager to be more outstanding than the other in everything.
To ease the atmosphere, Chizhao gently turned Sakura and Ino towards each other, raised their hands, and placed two exquisite gift boxes in their palms.
"These are gifts I just bought. I thought they were perfect for you two."
"And when I saw them, they were both nestled together, just like you two used to be."
Accompanied by Chizhao's gentle voice, Sakura and Ino each opened the boxes in their hands.
The flower brooches inside shimmered with a delicate light under the sun. The lifelike colors combined with the faint floral scent of the flower shop momentarily made them feel a little dazed.
Sakura inadvertently looked up and saw Ino. They exchanged glances, then shyly looked away.
"What's wrong? Don't you like them? I bought one for myself too."
Raising the other box in her hand, Chizhao, seeing their silence, worried that perhaps the style she chose was too old-fashioned and scratched her head in annoyance.
"No! I love it!" Sakura excitedly clutched the box in her hand.
"Me too, I really love it!" To express her emotions, Ino unconsciously raised her voice a few octaves.
Chizhao then happily put her arms around both their necks, smiling brightly: "That's great then!"
"Listen up, Sakura, Ino."
Both of them looked up at her, and she smiled brightly, rubbing her head between them:
"When we're together, we're a flower bed; when we're apart, we're individual flowers. So no matter where you are, never just stare at others and neglect yourselves, understand?"
The sunlight spilled over the bouquets outside the flower shop, the water droplets on the petals reflecting the figures of the three, and a faint fragrance permeated the surroundings.
The scene of the three meeting in a sea of flowers in the past reappeared before her eyes.
Ino's encouraging words echoed in her ears again.
Sasuke's proud back also flashed before her eyes.
A hint of regret quietly spread in her heart.
That's right, she had always cared about what others thought of her.
She had always been chasing after others' backs.
This was… just like living for others.
Sakura got up from Chizhao's embrace, subtly wiping away the moisture from the corners of her eyes, and chuckled: "Chizhao, are you an idiot? Why say such cheesy things?"
"Huh?"
"Yeah, it's really a headache."
Ino's eyes were slightly red, but she still feigned composure and tossed her hair.
Chizhao immediately froze in embarrassment, at a loss for what to do. But the next second, a warm embrace tightly enveloped her, and Ino's pleasant voice came from beside her ear: "Thank you, Chizhao. I will cherish this little flower."
Sakura was eager to pin the brooch on her clothes, but after many attempts, she couldn't succeed, even accidentally pricking her finger.
"Sakura, why are you still so clumsy? Let me do it."
Ino came from the other side, seriously helping her pin the brooch, which made Sakura involuntarily show a shy smile.
"Thank you, Ino."
"It's just a small thing… no need to thank me."
Watching their relationship gradually ease, Chizhao also showed a relieved smile.
They were both such good friends to each other.
After leaving Ino's flower shop, Chizhao and Sakura had an extra bouquet of brightly blooming flowers in their hands. They bought some groceries together and then waved goodbye at the crossroads.
The glow of the setting sun illuminated the path home. Chizhao gazed at the clouds in the sky, her heart peaceful and light.
In the evening, she and Grandma Huizi prepared a lavish dinner while chatting, the aroma of the dishes wafting under the soft spotlight.
During this leisurely time, Sasuke's departing figure from earlier that day suddenly flashed through Chizhao's mind.
Her fingers, gripping the bowl, unconsciously tightened slightly, and her expression became heavy.
"Chizhao? Are you alright?"
Snapping back to reality, Chizhao gave Keiko a reassuring smile: "I'm fine, Grandma."
After speaking, she quietly finished her food, cleaned up her bowl and chopsticks, and returned to her room.
Lying on the soft bed, Chizhao stared blankly at the ceiling, the various events of saving the Uchiha clan flashing through her mind.
She had fabricated a lie.
And Sasuke was the victim of this lie.
Every promise she made to him filled her with unease.
Perhaps she should discuss with Shisui-nii when to let Sasuke know the truth.
But would that affect Itachi-nii's plan to infiltrate the Akatsuki?
Chizhao turned over and sat up.
Regardless, letting Sasuke know that his clan members were still alive was a crucial turning point for a series of subsequent events.
Moreover, the final direction of this world was already unpredictable due to her interference, so she had to treat it with caution.
Taking out the tempered film from her card holder, Chizhao's brows furrowed slightly.
She wondered what other uses this thing had that she hadn't discovered yet.
But so far, she could indeed rely on them to survive in the Ninja world, and perhaps they could provide unexpected help for future events.
Thinking this, Chizhao put them back into her card holder.
She turned off the room light, climbed into bed, and pulled the covers over her head, plunging into darkness.
She would go find Shisui-nii tomorrow.
He should have better suggestions.