Disclaimer: I own nothing but this story- otherwise Sasuke wouldnt even exsist..lol

Naruto walks down the road, his hands in his pockets and gaze on the ground. The now twenty-two year old jonin, had just heard the one thing he never wanted to hear. He kicks a stone down the road with a huff, 'Maybe I should go just on another trip till it passes' he says in to himself. He stop infront of the book store, the same old poster in the store window for Jiraiya's final book. 'Ero-sennin, what am I supposed to do now' he places his hand against the poster unable to really bring his thought together.

"Well I never figured you for that much of a pervert" Naruto turns to see Ino holding a bag of groceries. "Hey" he removes his hand from the poster "Its not that, just trying to think I guess"

"I figured, I heard about Sakura and Sasuke" She walks up to him and puts her free hand on his cheek "How about you come over, ill make you some dinner, I have a feeling if I leave you alone now you wont be in around for awhile" He just nods and takes the sack from her, she was about to argue that she could carry it but she knew it was useless to argue with him about it.

The two of them reach Ino's apartment. Naruto sets the bag on the kitchen counter "You must be hungry ill make you something" she offers as she washes her hands "You need some help" he offers. She shugs "If you want to I dont mind, what are you in the mood for"

"You have the stuff for curry" he asks, she nods "Yea, you sure you dont want ramen though" she asks curiously, she shook his head "No I promised someone a long time ago that I would eat properly" He couldnt help but thinking of the advice his mother had given him all those years ago with their short time together, ever since he got back from the war he had been eatting better but the rest of the stuff was no big deal for him.

Ino sets out a pot of water to boil then takes out a cutting board, knife, and the veggitables. Naruto takes the knife and begins to cuts the veggies while Ino fixed the rice and browned some meat. About twenty minutes later the two were at the dinner table, each of them with a plate and a cup of sake.

"I hope you dont mind I put some strawberry juice in your sake, I know you dont like it straight"

"Thanks for that"

Ino nodded and the two began to eat. She wasnt sure how to start a conversation with him. She knew he would be depressed when he heard about Sakura being pregnant. 'Hopefully he wont leave the village like he did when he found out they were dating' Ino sighs lightly unsure about how to help her friend. The two had gotten close since the war ended. Where before Iruka or Sakura had to find and cheer him up it was now Ino or Sai. "So you gonna take off this time to" she asks, she knew it sounded harsh but it was honestly on her mind.

He shook his head "I dont plan on it, cant keep running from my problems, esspeacily as a jonin" He takes a drink of his sake "Thanks Ino, as always"

She nods "Its never a problem, after all youve done, its about time someone was there for you"

He smiled a bit at that, he sometimes forgot to let people in, but Ino was the one person who never waited for a invite, she just barged in on her own and didnt leave till she knew what was going on. That trait really helpped after the war ended. She was the only person who was able to help Naruto out of his depression, thinking back on it Ino couldnt help but get angry at her pink haired friend. Everyone knew how Naruto felt about Sakura and she went and told him she got with Sasuke a day after the war ended, and if that wasnt enough the elder told him that they could not let him accend to hokage because of the biju and his reputation. They said It would be to hard on the village if someone were to come after him again.

Ino and Naruto both finishes their meal and Naruto sits on the couch in the living room as Ino does the dishes. After a few minutes she joins Naruto and takes the seat next to him. "What are you gonna do now" she asks.

He leans back into the couch trying to make himself comfortable. "I dont even know anymore" his voice seemed so lifeless.

"Do you have any plans for tonight atleast" she asks him, unsure of what he was going to do. He always had the weirdest reactions to stuff like this, when he found out about Sakura and Sasuke she found him in the old training grounds and when he was told about not being able to become hokage she found him in the founds infront of a couple rocks (Jiraiya's memorial).

"Mind if I crash here, I really dont feel like going home" he asks, it wasnt the first time he asked to stay over when he was feeling down. She nods "You know I dont mind" She moves his arm and placed it across her shoulder then rested her head on his chest. He didnt react, he just sat there, like it was the most normal thing in the world. "As long as you keep me entertained that is" he says in a semi-seductive tone.

"You know one of these day im going to take you seriously then what will you do" there was a bit of laughter in his voice.

'Thats what im hoping for you idiot, why havent you noticed' Ino sighs to herself, she started to develope feeling for the blond male about five years ago, they had been spending a lot of time together and through it all she was amazed at the man she saw. She couldnt help but take an interest, she would push him for information, request to go on the same missions as him, anything she could do to be with him and learn more about him.

"Thats ok, I dont mind being taken seriously" She says in voice relaxed, comfortable in her position on his chest.

"I see, well dont take that back somewhere down the line" he teases, she couldnt help but giggle.

Naruto rubs her arm lightly, to soft skin felt good under his fingertips. 'Shes always able to comfort me so easily, im lucky to have her around' The two blonds sit there for a few minutes just enbracing the silence and simplisity of the space around them. "Hey Naruto"

"Yea"

"Sence im letting you stay here tonight do you mind doing me a favor or two" she asks

He nods "Sure I dont mind, I kinda owe you for always taking care of me"

She traced a new circles on his chest "First will you be my pillow, ever since Sai left me its been hard getting to sleep"

Naruto nods his head "Umm, yea I guess, I dont mind" he waited for a second "Anything else?"

Ino nodded her head and looked up at him "And tomorrow will you spend the day with me?" she asks, she wasnt used to asking for things like that usually they just came to her, but with Naruto as dence as he is, this was the only way to get what she wanted.

"You mean like a date" he asks with a curious and comfused expression and tone.

"Yep" she said in a playful tone. He smiled and nodded "I guess I can agree to that as well" She smiles and lays her head back down. "Good then im content".

Looks forward the chapter two titled- A long night