Choji, ever the gentle soul, beamed with genuine happiness for his friends. "I'm so happy for you both," he said, his voice warm with sincerity. "You make a great couple, Kakashi and Ino. I can't wait to see what the future holds for you."

Ino's smile faltered slightly as she heard Shikamaru's comment. She shot him a playful yet slightly annoyed look and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Hey, Shikamaru, watch it," she said with a mock scowl. "I'll have you know that Kakashi and I are equal partners in this relationship. Besides, someone has to keep him in line, right?"

Shikamaru raised his hands in surrender, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "Hey, hey, I was just teasing," he replied, his tone apologetic. "You know I'm happy for you both. You're a great team."

Ino's irritation melted away at Shikamaru's sincere words, and she gave him a playful punch on the shoulder. "Yeah, yeah, I know," she said with a laugh. "Thanks, Shikamaru."

With the tension diffused and laughter filling the air once more, Ino settled into her seat, grateful for the support and camaraderie of her friends.

As Tsunade processed the news of Kakashi and Ino's engagement, a flood of memories washed over her, bringing with them a bittersweet nostalgia for days gone by. Among those memories, some of the most cherished were those spent with her dear friend and former teammate, Jiraiya.

She couldn't help but recall the memories with Jiraiya.

In the midst of her reminiscence, Tsunade couldn't help but imagine what Jiraiya's reaction would have been to the news of Kakashi and Ino's engagement. She could almost hear his booming laughter and see the mischievous twinkle in his eyes as he offered his congratulations in his own unique way.

"Ah, Tsunade-hime, it seems our young proteges have finally found happiness together," she imagined Jiraiya saying, his voice filled with affection and amusement. "They make quite the striking couple, don't they? Reminds me of us in our younger days."

Tsunade couldn't help but smile at the memory, the warmth of Jiraiya's presence enveloping her like a comforting embrace. Despite the ache of his absence, she took solace in the knowledge that their bond would always endure, transcending time and space.

With a sigh of contentment, Tsunade turned her attention back to the present, her heart filled with gratitude for the memories she shared with Jiraiya and the joy she felt for Kakashi and Ino's happiness. As she offered her congratulations to the newly engaged couple, "Well, well, it seems like the pieces of the puzzle have finally fallen into place," Tsunade remarked, her voice laced with a mixture of playfulness and genuine happiness. "I always did have a feeling there was something more between you two."

Her words carried a hint of knowing, as if she had suspected their deepening connection long before they had even realized it themselves. Tsunade had observed the subtle interactions between Kakashi and Ino over the years, and she had seen the way their bond had grown stronger with each passing day.

"As your former Hokage and a sensei , I couldn't be happier for you both," Tsunade continued, her tone sincere. "You make a formidable team, and I have no doubt that your love will only continue to strengthen as you embark on this new chapter together."

"Thank you Hokage-sama. Me and Ino appreciate your words very much" Kakashi said with close eyes smile

As Ino's mother learned about her daughter's engagement to Kakashi, her initial reaction was one of surprise, followed by sheer delight. She couldn't contain her excitement as she enveloped Ino and Kakashi in a tight embrace, her eyes shimmering with tears of joy.

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