I, Your Father, Carry a Big Stick

After making a show of cutting ties with the posse she had formed over her past two years at the Academy, Ino made herself at home with Wu's group. Sakura was also present, so each of the seats at their lunch table was now filled: Wu, Kaia, and Naruto on one side and Sakura, Hinata, and Ino on the other. Though Naruto felt a little uncomfortable being surrounded by so many girls, he was content so long as he and Sakura were sitting at the same table. As for Wu, he couldn't care either way, so even when Ino acted as though she was now the group's leader, he just shut off his brain and let her prattle on, only speaking when prompted to do so. Despite her bravado, Wu could tell that Ino was forcing herself. Cutting ties with people she had known even before the Academy wasn't as easy as she made it appear. She was secretly afraid that she would be kicked out of Wu's group and find herself without any friends, so she was doing her best to maintain a confident front. Fortunately for Ino, Wu didn't care if she was the biggest bitch in the world or even more bashful than Hinata. So long as she made an effort, he would at least tolerate her existence. After all, if she aggravated the others enough, there was a chance their training group could dissolve on its own. He would still be stuck with Kaia, but she was fairly easy to get along with as she, more or less, obeyed him without question. With school ending without any other notable incidents, Wu returned to the Sarutobi Estate with Kaia, Sakura, Hinata, and Ino. The latter took the lead, never shutting up for more than a few seconds at a time, but it didn't really matter as their destination was the same... ... .. . "Is this seriously all you do? Standing like you're about to poop while practicing Chakra control...?" After seeing what Wu had Sakura, Hinata, and Kaia doing, Ino couldn't help feeling like she had made a grave mistake. She had expected Wu to have a secret training regiment developed by the Third Hokage. Standing atop a log and squatting down until their legs gave out just seemed like a convenient excuse for Wu to touch their bodies. Maintaining a blameless expression, Wu calmly explained, "Strengthening the body and improving your Chakra Control is the foundation atop which all other techniques are derived. Chakra is the aggregation of a person's physical, spiritual, and mental energies, so what could possibly be better than training that promotes all three?" Furrowing her brows, Ino muttered, "You say that...but how does letting you stare up at our butts help promote anything? Like, I get what you're saying, but this just seems so...suspicious..." Shaking his head, Wu flatly replied, "Then just don't get up on the log. I already showed you the Tree-Sticking Exercise and explained the idea of spreading your Chakra through the ground. If you want to sit on the side and stick leaves to the soles of your feet, be my guest. However, before you complete this training, you simply aren't prepared for anything more advanced." Perking up slightly, Ino remarked, "So there is more to it. Tell me, what comes after we master sticking to things? You should have at least one or two super-secret Ninjutsu, right?" "..." Though he was tempted to tell Ino to leave, the truth of the matter was that Wu had, in fact, prepared a technique for the girls to use. Watching Hinata perform the Gentle Fist had given him all kinds of ideas, so instead of answering her with words, Wu extended his hand, surprising Ino as the air around her seemed to 'harden.' While keeping the visibly trembling girl firmly in place, Wu's expression and tone flattened as he explained, "Chakra can flow through virtually any medium, be it the ground beneath your feet, the water in a lake, or the air around you. Once you master diffusion and hardening, the only thing that can limit you are your reserves and Chakra Control." As the technique he was performing was incredibly taxing on his reserves, Wu released the teary-eyed Ino from his grasp, preempting her outburst by pointing out, "If your body was stronger, you could have easily broken free from such a technique. Do you think your tears will stop your enemies from killing you?" Though she was briefly cowed by Wu's words, Ino's jaw began to visibly quiver, eventually culminating in her shouting, "You're a real jerk...!" before storming off toward the nearby treeline. She needed to vent her emotions, and she didn't want Sakura, or anyone else, to see her crying. Exhibiting no remorse for his actions, Wu turned to the stunned Sakura and Hinata, asking, "What? It's infinitely better she hears these things from me than someone who genuinely wishes her harm. The duties and responsibilities of a Shinobi include hunting people down and killing. Our enemies will not show us mercy, so lessons like this are a kindness that won't be afforded to you in the real world. Remember that." Turning away from the duo, Wu forced his expression to soften as he said, "Come, Kaia. Let us continue where we left off on Friday." Completely unaffected by Wu's apparent cruelty, Kaia smiled broadly and replied, "Yes, Aniki~!" in a spirited tone. As Kiba had demonstrated during Wu's first day, the Inuzuka Clan could be fairly cruel to one another. They lived a rigidly hierarchal lifestyle, so Kaia didn't even question the method Wu used to 'discipline' his packmates... ... .. . After calming to the point her tears were no longer flowing freely, Ino stared off into space with a listless look on her face. The technique Wu had used against her made it impossible for her to breathe, so she was suffocating for the duration of his explanation. She 'knew' Wu wouldn't kill her, but that didn't make the situation any less frightening... Having been spying on Ino with her Byakugan, Hinata waited until the former had calmed down a bit before approaching her hiding place, her voice soft, gentle, and caring as she asked, "Are you okay, Ino-chan...?" Taking a moment to wipe away the remnants of her tears, Ino forced herself to smile as she replied, "Yeah, I'm okay. It'll take a lot more than that to break my spirit. I'm just pretending to be upset to make Wu-kun feel sorry for what he did." Blinking in surprise, Hinata briefly considered pointing out that Wu didn't appear to feel even remotely guilty for his actions. Instead, she sat down next to Ino, an awkward silence lingering between them before she softly whispered, "I don't think Wu-kun is a bad person...he just..views things differently than the rest of us..." Rolling her eyes, Ino hugged her knees and replied, "You don't need to make excuses for him, Hinata-chan. Wu-kun 'is' a jerk. He's just a jerk for the right reasons. I know he was trying to scare me so I would take the training seriously, but that doesn't make him any less of a jerk..." Unable, or, more accurately, unwilling to argue with Ino, Hinata just gave a faint smile. She knew that Wu was only being a 'jerk' because of the way Ino was behaving. Wu was very patient and understanding if you worked hard or seriously asked for his advice. He would even explain things more than once if you didn't understand his initial explanation, so it didn't feel fair to regard him as a jerk. He was just...earnest... Feeling awkward due to Hinata's silence, Ino bounced to her feet, her smile regaining a bit of its confidence as she said, "We should probably get back. I'm tempted to get Wu-kun into trouble with the Hokage, but I don't want him to kick me out of the training sessions just yet. Until I can catch him in that same technique, I'm not going anywhere." Extending her hand to Hinata, Ino's smile cramped when the former didn't immediately accept her assistance. Instead, the pearl-eyed heiress just stared at her outstretched hand for several seconds, seemingly oblivious to Ino's good intentions... ... .. . Though things were noticeably awkward for the first few days, Ino never complained a second time about the 'efficacy' of Wu's training. She would sometimes get frustrated, but that was mainly due to her 'need' to be the best in the group. Sakura's impressive and improving Chaka Control gave her a massive advantage when it came to sticking to the log. Ino refused to play second fiddle to a girl that had required her rescuing several times in the past, so she was at her wit's end trying to catch up. Fortunately, instead of interfering with the group's progress, Ino's fiercely competitive nature spurred the others to train harder. Friendly competition was a powerful motivator, so Sakura and Ino were improving rapidly while Hinata continued at a slower but steady pace. Her goal was different from the two rivals, so she didn't feel as much pressure to improve. As for Kaia, well, she was just having fun... ... .. . "Wait, are we really going to train? I thought that was just an excuse we gave our parents so we could hang out together?" Having never witnessed how serious Wu was about his training, Kiba was surprised when the former dragged him, Naruto, Shikamaru, and Choji out to his usual spot before asking them to demonstrate their regular routines. Narrowing his eyes slightly, Wu replied, "We're supposed to be preparing ourselves for a career as Shinobi. The Academy already consumes a lot of our time, so we must train hard when the opportunity presents itself. Don't you want to get stronger...?" Scratching the back of his head, Kiba replied, "I mean, yeah? Of course, I want to get stronger. But I already do a bunch of training back at the Clan Compound. At least give me my weekends off..." "..." Shifting his attention from Kiba, Wu passed his gaze over Naruto, Choji, and Shikamaru, his expression and tone hardening as he asked, "Do the three of you feel the same way...?" Smiling awkwardly, Naruto replied, "Come on, Wu. We can still train while having fun. No need to be all serious." Though it was only noticed by Shikamaru, Wu's right eye twitched when he heard Naruto's words. Ever since Naruto had learned about his mother and began receiving a bigger allowance, he no longer exhibited the same sense of 'urgency.' He still tried his best to prove himself at the Academy, often challenging Sasuke to spars, but that was primarily to try and show off in front of Sakura... Surprising the group of boys, Wu reached up to massage his forehead and eyes, muttering, "I need a minute to process this..." Then, without waiting for the group's response, he abruptly sat down, continuing to conceal his eyes as he fought hard to suppress his rage... Feeling awkward and concerned for his friend, Naruto tentatively inquired, "Hey, are you okay? Wu...?" Before Naruto could make the grave mistake of shaking Wu's shoulder, Shikamaru placed his hand on the former's shoulder, shaking his head as he softly yet firmly asserted, "Just leave him be, Naruto. When people say they need time to process, you give it to them. Come on, let's go sit in the shade." "But..." Shaking his head a second time, Shikamaru pulled Naruto along, Choji and Kiba following soon after. His father had advised him to keep an eye on Wu since the latter first appeared at the Academy, so Shikamaru could tell when the usually affable boy was genuinely angry. Thus, while the others were more than a little confused, he made a mental note to never intrude upon Wu's training unless he was serious about joining in... ... .. .

After calming down and reminding himself that it wouldn't be particularly wise of him to beat up his 'friend' just because he wanted to play, Wu rose to his feet, exhaled a sigh, and said, "Sorry about that...this week hasn't been the easiest..." in a voice just loud enough for the other boys to hear. Never one to overthink things, Naruto immediately regained his smile and answered, "It's no problem, Wu..." before realizing he should probably be at least a little concerned, asking, "Want to talk about it?" Returning a smile of his own, Wu mused, "That depends...do the four of you really want to hear what it's like dealing with four girls every single day? Let me remind you that one of them is Ino..." Answering on behalf of the group, Kiba groaned, "Yeah, that's a hard pass from me..." Releasing Akamaru from his grasp, Kiba bounced to his feet, asking, "So, what now? I feel a little guilty, especially after the effort you've put into helping Kaia-chan get stronger. If you're still down for it, I'm willing to join you and train for a bit." Taking advantage of Kiba's words, Naruto hopped up and shouted, "Yeah! Let's do this...!" as if he wasn't the one who had nearly sent Wu teetering over the edge just minutes prior. Surprising the two boys, Wu shook his head, answering, "Maybe next time. In hindsight, I realize that my actions were pretty selfish. I should have discussed the specifics with each of you before inviting you here today. Leaving things vague and open-ended was a mistake on my part..." Though he did want to train, there was no way in hell Wu was going to help people who believed they were in a position to pity him. Even if all four similarly aged boys were to team up against him, he would trounce them without effort. Thus, unless they expressed a sincere desire to train in the future, he would never again invite them to accompany him. As neither boy was particularly known for their intellect, Naruto and Kiba accepted Wu's decision at face value. Shikamaru also didn't say anything, though he clearly wanted to, while Choji just munched on a bag of potato chips. The latter had better grades than Naruto and Kiba, largely thanks to Shikamaru, but he was unquestionably the most simple-minded of the group. He barely even spoke... ... .. . After the debacle near the beginning, Wu showed the guys around the manor and let them into his room. Then, they just hung out together for the better part of six and a half hours. Wu and Shikamaru mostly played Shogi, Kiba and Naruto played with Akamaru, and Choji engorged himself on the snacks provided by the manor's servants. It was an exceptionally slow and monotonous day, but at least Wu got in some Shoji practice. He lost every single game, but each defeat was a stepping stone toward his first victory... ... .. . "Begin." Hearing the sound of her father, a fairly tall man with long, nearly black hair and fierce features, Hinata grit her teeth. Across from her, standing nearly a full head shorter, was her younger sister, Hanabi. She was only four years old, but her mastery of the Byakugan and the Gentle Fist had earned her the recognition of the Clan Elders. Since her sister didn't move, Hanabi, a 104cm tall girl with fair features and long brown hair that cascaded down the sides of her face, charged forward. Their father had informed them that this was a very important match, and Hanabi took it seriously. Surprising both Hanabi and the middle-aged man, Hiashi, Hinata didn't immediately back down or backpedal. She had a vexed expression on her face, but she was able to bat away each of Hanabi's strikes as if she were swatting bugs out of the air. Wu's training had helped her strengthen both her core and legs, so she was as firm as a heavy boulder as she deflected all of her sister's attacks. Realizing she couldn't break through her sister's defense, Hanabi backed away for a moment and asked, "Since when did you get so strong, Hinata-neesama? Is it due to your training at the Hokage Manor?" Interrupting the discussion before it could begin, Hiashi's face hardened as he said, "Enough idle chatter. Continue." Regaining her seriousness, Hanabi spread her legs a little further apart, a tense atmosphere permeating the courtyard where she and Hinata were fighting. The veins around her eyes began to bulge, causing her quite a bit of discomfort, but she retained her focus as pale blue light began to emit from the tips of her index and middle fingers. Moving nearly twice as fast as before, Hanabi began targetting Hinata's arms rather than aiming for her body. For an ordinary person, focusing on such a small, fast-moving target would result in tunnel vision. Members of the Hyuga Clan, however, had their Byakugan. Though there was a small blind spot near the back of their head, they could see 'everything' within a given area. Hanabi's maximum range was only thirty-two meters, but that was exceptional, considering she was only four years old. Despite the pain in her fingers and forearms, Hinata continued to block her sister's attacks without committing to any counters. She did launch the occasional feint, but her movements were noticeably telegraphed, at least from Hiashi's perspective. Hanabi was so focused on her attacks and dodging that it never even crossed her mind that Hinata was holding back. Spotting a gap in Hinata's defense, a triumphant smile bloomed across Hanabi's face as she attempted to take advantage of it. The moment she lunged forward, however, Hinata stepped back for the first time, resulting in Hanabi briefly stumbling forward. At that exact moment, Hinata could have easily landed a counter, but she simply didn't have the heart to hurt her little sister. Out of sheer panic, Hanabi caught herself and immediately launched a 'counter.' Hinata's hesitation had created another opening, but before Hanabi's fingers could impact the Tenketsu beneath her diaphragm, the elder Hyuga abruptly twisted her body, spinning around Hanabi's lunge and ending up behind her. Seeing Hinata fail to take advantage of yet another opening, a profoundly exasperated sigh emanated from Hiashi's throat. It was clear that Hinata had improved tremendously in a fairly short period, but she still lacked the 'decisiveness' necessary for the leader of the Hyuga Clan. Interrupting the battle, Hiashi's expression and tone hardened as he said, "That's enough. Both of you, come here." Ceasing their battle immediately, Hinata and Hanabi rushed over to their father, both bowing slightly once they reached him. The Hyuga Clan was the most 'traditional' within the village, so manners and respect were very important. Gesturing with his right hand, Hiashi said, "Raise your heads..." Both girls immediately complied, but Hiashi didn't speak. He had yet to make up his mind on the Hokage's proposal as, despite his stern demeanor, he didn't want either of his daughters to suffer. He had already sacrificed too much for the sake of the Clan and village...too much, but never enough... Forming his resolve, Hiashi met Hinata's gaze and said, "Tell me about this boy, Sarutobi Wu. What manner of person is he? What are his values? His dreams? His ambitions...?" Taken aback by her father's questions, Hinata didn't immediately respond. The truth was that she didn't really know Wu that well, only that he was a very earnest and studious person. He also took his training 'very' seriously and encouraged others to do the same... Recalling the words Wu had said to her near the start of their training, Hinata eventually replied, "I don't know much, but I know he believes in 'mastering oneself.' He is constantly trying to improve and does his best to encourage and support others. As for his dreams and ambitions...I'm not sure. I believe he just wants to be the best 'him' he can be..." Nodding his head, Hiashi responded with a curt, "I see..." before falling silent. He didn't doubt his daughter's words, but it was difficult to believe she was talking about an eight-year-old boy. Most boys his age just cared about playing around and having fun with their friends. It was generally only after they had become Shinobi and were forced to face the reality of their 'chosen' path that most boys began their journey to becoming men... Deciding to be honest, the reason he had conducted the 'test' in private, Hiashi opened his eyes and revealed, "There is a good chance one of you will be engaged to Sarutobi Wu in the future. Be sure to steel your hearts for when the time comes." Hearing her father's words, Hanabi was equal parts surprised and curious. Hinata, however, opened her mouth slightly as if she wanted to speak but couldn't find the words. It didn't show on her face, but she suddenly felt like her entire world was on the verge of collapse... Meeting Hinata's gaze, Hiashi could feel his throat tightening but forced himself to say, "Due to his status, Sarutobi Wu cannot marry the heir of a founding clan. If you find this arrangement disagreeable, prove yourself worthy of becoming the next head of the Hyuga Clan..." Without waiting for either of the girls to respond, Hiashi raised his hand and said, "Return to your positions. This is not your final bout, but know that, henceforth, your every action will factor into the decision of myself and the Elders..." Having been taught never to question her father's decision, Hanabi gave an affirmative nod before returning to her position. Hinata did the same, but her movements were dull and lifeless. Her Byakugan was active, but she seemed to be staring off into space, not even bothering to put up her guard. While Hinata didn't hate Wu, she had never once imagined that they might be engaged. Marrying him meant giving up her pursuit of Naruto, but defeating Hanabi meant consigning her little sister to being engaged to a man&mdash;a boy she didn't even know. Wu might be one of the better options for a political marriage, but Hanabi's young age meant she might not even be able to attend the Academy or experience a 'normal' childhood... Though he waited several seconds for Hinata to get into her form, Hiashi eventually slipped his hands into his sleeves and said, "Begin." in a calm, almost chilling tone. Instead of immediately rushing toward her sister, Hanabi looked to her father for confirmation. Hinata clearly wasn't ready to begin, so it didn't feel right to attack her. Unable to meet his daughter's gaze, Hiashi closed his eyes and repeated, "Begin..." in a slightly softer tone. This time, Hanabi rushed toward Hinata, but there was very little intensity to her attacks. More surprisingly, Hinata was able to weave and evade most of them with minimal movement. Having never witnessed such a scene, Hanabi's pearl-white eyes widened before she began accelerating her attacks. Her hastened pace seemed to snap Hinata out of her daze, but the older girl didn't immediately retaliate. There was an extremely unwillingness in her eyes, but veiled beneath the conflict was a compassionate glimmer that could be repressed but never extinguished. Just as the tempo of the fight reached the level of their usual sparring, Hinata surprised Hanabi with a sharp counterattack. The palm of her left hand struck the smaller girl directly in her chest, but the force behind the blow was virtually nonexistent. As a result, Hanabi was able to bounce back and continue her assault unabated, her expression now serious as the veins around her eyes thickened. Hearing the sound of a collision, Hiashi opened his eyes to a scene he had once thought impossible. Hinata was evading each of Hanabi's attacks by a hair's breadth before immediately launching a counterattack. There was no power behind the blows, but they were swift and precise, each finding its mark on Hanabi's body. Yet, despite her clear superiority, it was Hinata who was knocked back in the end, her guard lowering at the last moment to allow Hanabi's attack to impact her lower abdomen... ... .. .

With the initial introductions out of the way, Wu was given the unique opportunity to witness Saizo's forging process. Customers were typically forbidden from entering his smithy, but Saizo had been in the process of instructing Tenten on the basics of Blacksmithing. She had a passion for the art, so while he hadn't planned for her to follow in his footsteps, Saizo couldn't refuse his daughter's desire to learn. Compared to her father, Tenten's craftmanship could only be described as terrible. However, considering she was only nine years old, turning ten in a few months, that wasn't particularly surprising. Saizo had developed his craft over twenty-seven years, so the dango-haired girl still had a ways to go and much to learn. Fortunately, her ability to use Chakra gave her quite the advantage as, despite her young age, she had no problems handling a hammer or working the forge's bellows. She even considered them a form of training, the 'correct' mentality, from Wu's perspective. The only problem with Tenten's passion for forging, weapons, and Shinobi tool production, at least according to her parents, was that she prioritized it over things like making friends. She had brought over others before Wu, but they couldn't appreciate Tenten's passions nor her desires to become as powerful as her two role models, Senju Tsunade and her mother, Liling. Most children were content with playing around and enjoying their youths, so outliers like Tenten ultimately found themselves ostracized or forced to compromise just to fit in. Instead of giving in to peer pressure, Tenten chose the 'correct' path by focusing even more on her passions. She did start to look down on some of the other children, especially girls her age, but, unlike Tenten's parents, Wu didn't see any issues with this. In his mind, the exceptionally should not be shackled by the mediocre, so if Tenten's classmates weren't willing to make an effort, they 'deserved' her derision. While Wu didn't express his opinions aloud, it was clear to both Liling and Saizo that there was a bit of chemistry between him and their daughter. Perhaps it was not in the romantic sense, but it was apparent to them that Wu appreciated their daughter's efforts. Thus, when it came time for Wu's scheduled departure, the duo insisted he stay for lunch, accompanied by the promised ice cream. As fate would have it, Wu really liked ice cream. ... .. . With nothing else planned for the day, Wu meandered through the streets of Konoha, memorizing the layout of the buildings and taking note of their inhabitants as he made his way back to the Sarutobi Estate. Though it had been a few months since his arrival in Konoha, Wu still didn't understand the purpose of gathering together so many people in one place. The average person was weak and lacked the will to improve themselves, so it seemed like a tremendous waste of resources to gather them together in the name of 'prosperity.' How could a society be viewed as 'prosperous' if the majority of its members leeched off the efforts of a few, extraordinary people? What was the point of anything if the mundane continued to propagate in peace while the competent succumbed to the burden of their 'expectations' and 'responsibilities?' Recalling the nightmare he had a few days prior, Wu wondered if he, too, would one day find himself shackled by mediocrity. The girls around him were trying to improve, but Wu could easily imagine them squandering it all the moment they achieved their initial goal. The truly exceptional did not need a penultimate goal to aspire toward. They improved themselves because self-mastery was the most worthwhile of all pursuits, vesting the pursuant with infinite opportunities for further growth... Interrupting Wu's contemplative reverie, the former noticed an elderly woman carrying a wicker basket filled with fruits and vegetables, a kind smile on her face. Wu generally wouldn't bat an eye at someone clearly in the twilight years of their life, but this granny stood out like a sore thumb due to the form of another person overlapping her. To the people around her, she appeared like any other old lady, but in the eyes of Wu, she was a young woman doing her best to blend in. Having witnessed an identical phenomenon when Kurenai attempted to surprise him with the Transformation Jutsu, a technique that allowed the user to transform into people, animals, and even inanimate objects, Wu immediately narrowed his eyes in suspicion. He was fairly used to seeing older women pretending to be young, but this was the first time he was witnessing a young woman pretending to be decrepitly old... Though a Shinobi in his position might have tried to detain the woman for questioning, Wu simply observed her for a few seconds before returning to his musings. He was technically a resident of Konoha, but ousting spies was the duty of Konoha's Detection Division and Barrier Team. There was a good chance both groups were monitoring the woman, so apprehending her risked jeopardizing an ongoing investigation... ... .. . Seeing Wu briefly observing their target before going about his business, a man wearing a cat-like mask and a beige cloak muttered, "He really is a perceptive boy, isn't he?" Responding to the man's words, another, wearing a dog mask, nodded his head and mused, "It's almost uncanny. The real question is, why didn't he make a scene? He clearly noticed our target..." Shaking his head, the man wearing a cat mask replied, "Who knows? Just include it in the report to Lord Hokage. If he deems it worth looking into, the teams observing that boy will take action." Offering a curt nod, the man wearing a dog mask abruptly vanished from his position. He hadn't explicitly been given an order, but matters related to the security of Konoha were to be reported upon as soon as possible... ... .. . As Wu neared his destination, the region of Konoha where most of the wealthier clans were located, he was stopped by the appearance of a familiar girl with short, platinum blonde hair, teal eyes, and a naturally haughty expression. He immediately recognized the girl as Ino. What surprised him was the fact she was wearing a muted green tank top that exposed her abdomen, form-fitting white shorts, leggings, and a pair of high-quality Shinobi sandals. A stark contrast to her usual, excessively girly attire. Failing to notice Wu's presence, as she had grown complacent after several hours of waiting, Ino was equally oblivious to the fact that her quarry had immediately turned around and made a detour. Wu could guess what she wanted based on her outfit, and he had absolutely no intention of wasting the remainder of his weekend pandering to some wannabe princess. After entering the Sarutobi Estate from the back entrance, typically reserved for servants and branch members of the Sarutobi Clan, Wu immediately made his way over to his usual training area. Because of his arrangements with Naruto, Kiba, Choji, and even Shikamaru, this was the last weekend he had to himself for the foreseeable future. Thus, even if it was for a day and a half, Wu intended to make the most of his remaining time alone... ... .. . With the weekend passing in the blink of an eye, Wu found his path to school blocked by the same blonde he had avoided two days prior. Wu had actually anticipated this, but Ino's outfit, once again, caught him off guard, as she was now wearing a red t-shirt under a white tank top, dark blue shorts, purple leggings, and a completely different pair of expensive sandals. It gave her a somewhat boyish appearance, but it also exhibited at least a budding desire to 'get serious.' Without beating around the bush, Ino, standing with her arms crossed and a clearly annoyed expression on her face, asked, "Where were you on Saturday? I waited for six hours outside the Hokage's mansion, and you never showed up. Didn't you say you were free in the afternoon?" Instead of refuting Ino's words or making excuses, Wu nodded his head, admitting, "I was. However, I don't recall making arrangements with you, so why did you wait for six hours?" "You...!" Raising her right fist, Ino 'really' wanted to punch Wu but ultimately reined in her anger. It was easier for her Ego to assume Wu simply hadn't known she was waiting than to accept that he might have avoided her, so, after a moment of silence, she revealed, "My Tou-san finally gave his permission. I wanted to surprise you last Saturday, but I guess you'll have to wait until this afternoon to see what I'm capable of." Adopting a faint smile, Wu replied, "So it would appear..." before quickly adding, "Nice outfit, by the way. It's a marked improvement over those dresses and skirts you wore previously." Though she had secretly been expecting one, Ino was slightly surprised by Wu's abrupt compliment. If she was being completely honest, she felt a little insecure wearing such 'casual' clothing, but, after a lot of thinking, she realized that the opinion of her 'friends' didn't matter nearly as much as she pretended they did. Only nine graduates per year were permitted to become fully-fledged Genin out of the gate, so, with several other heirs and heiresses in her class, it wasn't difficult to guess which nine would be chosen. If not for her inordinate effort, even Sakura would be passed over for someone like Kaia... Upon realizing that her 'friends' would no longer remain as such once she graduated, Ino began looking even further into her future. The traditions of their Clans dictated that she would inevitably be teamed up with Choji and Shikamaru, forming the infamous Ino-Shika-Cho Formation. Hinata, Shino, and Kiba were virtually guaranteed to form another team, so, by process of elimination, the final squad would consist of Wu, Sasuke, and Sakura. Kaia might replace the latter, but Ino doubted it as Kaia was the next in line to oversee the Inuzuka Clan's kennels. Not wanting to lose out to Sakura, of all people, Ino's teal eyes exuded an intensity that hadn't been present previously as she smiled in response to Wu's compliment. The latter immediately noticed this, his smile becoming marginally more sincere as he mused, "It appears your outfit isn't the only thing that's changed..." Though she felt gratified by Wu's remark, Ino snorted in response, retorting, "Why do you know?" before turning around as if she was going to walk away. Instead, she waited for a few moments before looking back and asking, "Why are you just standing there? We're going to be late if you don't get your act together." Resisting the urge to take off running, leaving the temperamental blonde in his dust, Wu just smiled before falling into step with the beaming brat. She seemed pleased by the fact he was listening to her, but the truth of the matter was that Wu simply couldn't be bothered to antagonize her... ... .. . (A/N: Since a lot of people have been asking, I've decided to explain my thoughts on the matter. You see, not even I know who will be in the harem, as I never limit my stories to what I 'want' or 'expect' to happen. Most of my stories focus on the characters, the world around them, and how their actions shape the plot. In other words, Wu could end up with just about any heroine, as, if you haven't noticed, he doesn't really care about any of them. He isn't aiming for anyone, so the only way someone can end up in his harem is if they actively pursue him or if they are placed there due to developments within the plot. It's that simple.)

Chapter 18: I, Your Father, Have Had Enough...