Jiraiya glanced at Naruto with narrowed eyes. He knew very well that Naruto was trying to manipulate him into smoothing things over with Ino’s parents.

But he just laughed it off, and didn’t take it too seriously.

To him, Naruto was just a cheeky little schemer. While he didn’t approve of his immature approach to relationships, he wasn’t about to interfere.

After all, Jiraiya himself had never chased fame or fortune, and he only lived as he pleased. In the end, this was Naruto’s personal business.

…

The next day.

After Naruto woke up, he washed up quietly, and was just about to eat breakfast when someone knocked on his door. This time, he didn’t hesitate before opening it directly.

"Have you had breakfast?" The person standing there wasn’t Ino, but Sakura.

She wore a white short-sleeved top that clung to her curves, paired with denim shorts that accentuated her fresh, youthful charm. With her hands behind her back, she stood at the doorway in a coquettish manner, her eyes crinkling with amusement.

"What's wrong? What are you so happy about?" Naruto asked as he opened the door, yawning as he turned and walked back inside.

"There's been some progress on the experiment you mentioned." Sakura said with a smile as she changed her shoes at the shoe cabinet in the entrance. The moment she bent down, her white legs stand out even more.

"Really?" Naruto was so excited that he didn't even look at her legs for once.

"Really! Why would I lie to you? The information is all in the lab." Sakura moved toward the couch and was about to sit down, but was pulled back by Naruto.

"Let’s go check it out now!”

Sakura: "…Thank you so much, can't you let me have a drink of water?"

"Drink at the lab. The water there tastes better. Stop stalling." Naruto dragged Sakura out directly, "I want to see it now."

Hearing this, Sakura was stunned for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay."

At the entrance, she bent down to put her shoes back on, but then paused. She suddenly stood up again and glanced at Naruto, who had also changed his shoes, then pointed at him calmly and said, "Recently, I've figured out one thing. Some people may not be able to be together openly, just like you and me."

"Some people are meant to be together. Like…"

"You and Ino."

"Why are you saying this all of a sudden?" Naruto was a little confused, ‘Why did this person suddenly stand on Ino's side?’

There was no sadness or joy in Sakura's tone, only calmness. So, he didn't think Sakura was having an emotional outburst, and it looked like she was just narrating a serious matter.

"No reason." Sakura tilted her head slightly and thought for a moment, "It just suddenly occurred to me. I don't envy Ino, I just want you to be happy."

The door of the apartment was half open, and the sunlight from the corridor shone in. Dust motes floated lazily in the air, as if time itself had slowed. Naruto stood frozen in the entryway, staring at Sakura as half of her bathed in golden light.

For a moment, he felt both touched and confused. Originally, he just wanted to deceive the girl's heart and did not make any grand promises.

Naruto knew he wasn’t a good person, and he rarely spoke in absolutes, always leaving himself room to backtrack. He thought that was enough, and that he could just manage things as they came.

But sometimes, he would be moved to the point of guilt, like now. Or like in the past…

"I will." He finally said with a smile.

"Good." Sakura’s eyes curved into crescents.

The walk from the apartment to the laboratory was not long, and Sakura quickly reverted to her usual self, chatting and laughing as if their earlier conversation had never happened.

Naruto also seemed to have forgotten what had just happened and didn't mention it a word. The two of them walked while talking and laughing.

…

In the laboratory.

Naruto stared at the experimental data, and looked at it again and again, then finally looked at Sakura. The latter had a smile in her eyes, and after hesitating for a moment, she finally spoke, "I took some fragments of White Zetsu's flesh and blood for experiments, and the results were indeed different. The cells show high adaptability, and there is a basis for transformation."

Naruto’s eyes lit up as he understood what she’ saying. This meant that his plan, that was born out of pure conjecture, had room to work.

‘White Zetsu weren’t human. Since it could be altered, then...’

For some reason, even though he knew he couldn’t take on the entire Otsutsuki Clan yet, he felt no fear. If anything, he was dismissive of them.

But that time shouldn't come so soon, and he still has a lot of time to prepare before that. It's definitely not enough to rely on Sakura alone, and he needed more allies.

At this, his thoughts turned to the Land of Snow and the Land of Lightning, and he wondered when the Yondaime Raikage would die. If that happened, Yugito would be able to take over smoothly.

Once the technological barriers between the Land of Snow and the Land of Lightning broke down, combined with Sakura’s expertise, the efficiency would skyrocket, and the Otsutsuki Clan will no longer be problem.

Some things just needed time. Naruto had already meddled enough in the Land of Lightning’s affairs, and any more would be overkill. If he were to use Sasuke’s identity to show off in public again, it would be downright stupid.

He wasn’t stupid, nor are Kumogakure’s people, nor is Sasuke. So, after using it to clear Yugito’s name, that identity had to be retired.

The one time in Kirigakure was an exception. He knew that Mei also knew that was not his true identity. And after a few strong drinks, the truth had come out.

"You don't have enough manpower now, right? And you don't have much time to do these things, you..." Naruto suddenly said.

"Of course it's not enough. There are too few Medical-nin in Konoha, and I'm so busy." Sakura spread out her hands and admitted bluntly. After all, there was nothing to hide.

"This research took up almost all of my available time, which was squeezed me dry."

Listening to Sakura's complaints, Naruto raised his eyebrows slightly and just patted Sakura's head. He did not say anything to continue the conversation, but openly changed the subject, "It's already noon, let's have a meal."

Sakura: "…"

After knowing Naruto for so long, his shamelessness didn’t surprise Sakura. She just raised her head, and answered with a smile, “Sure.”

After lunch, Sakura had something else to do in the medical division, so she didn't stay for long. After paying, she left in a hurry.

Naruto strolled leisurely toward his home, carrying a bag of takeout food. Watching the bustling street, he couldn't help but narrow his eyes and the corners of his mouth raised slightly.

Finally, things were taking a turn for the better, and his mind naturally drifted to what he should do next.

After all, as he once said, how could he sleep soundly if the world wasn't in chaos?

Although he was thinking about this, he didn’t actually need to intervene anymore. The world would become chaotic on its own anyway, and with the few nudges he had already given, it was already more than enough.

All that was left was to wait until things start to unfold one after another.