Dynasty of Earth and Sky, part 1

by Kyoto141092

Naruto feels lost. His great battle is over, but what will happen now? The great Uzumaki must find a new goal...before a new goal finds him. But before that can happen, he needs to sort out his feelings on a few things. / Naruto X Kurotsuchi-Ino. / yes there will be lemons. Yes, lots of fluff. But after a little while there will be action a plenty!

1. Prologue

So your (hopefully) favorite writer is back and bearing a new story. This one was actually started a while ago, however, recently I put up a poll. I wanted to know what girls everyone anted to see Naruto paired with. Really, at the time I was just curious, BUT! I realized after a few days that one of the top choices had already gotten highest rating. So without further adieu, I revamped my old story and added in some plot seasoning. (And took out a c*** ton of personal lemons)

The result was this! Well, we'll get to the story later. First let me say that this is a pseudo Harem. Naruto gets two girls in this story, but no more...actually that a lie. He gets a third one at the VERY end. And there will be a sequel, but not sure when I'll start on that. Right now I'll be posting this one chapter at a time. One every 5-7 days probably. But who knows if it gets a lot of attention I might put more into it?

So, oneward brave readers!

And no ,I don't own any part of Naruto.

Prologue

Two years had passed since Naruto defeated Madara Uchiha and saved the shinobi world from the endless Tsuko no Me. Since then he had gone on, not only to become Hokage, but also to seal the great alliance between the five lands. The will of fire was strong with the people of the shinobi world. But things didn't return to normal...how could they. This had never happened before so they were left to find a new normal.

But normalcy is hard to find when nothing is familiar. This was something that Naruto was finding out for himself. He stood, in his Hokage's cloak and his black and red jacket. His hair was long now. He'd kept it short for a while. It had been a nice change, but he had felt himself wanting to grow it longer of late. So now it was shoulder length. Naruto's blue eyes, with their slit pupils gazed over the village from the top of the Fourth Hokage's monument. His eyes had never gone back to normal after that last battle. He idly wondered if that was to be expected. After what he had seen...

But he had to remind himself to be positive...after all there was a wedding planned. That's right. Sasuke and Sakura were finally...after Kami knows how long...tying the knot. Naruto was left feeling rather depressed. Not that he was feeling jealous over Sakura choosing Sasuke. He'd gotten over that years ago. It was just that he didn't have anyone in his own life at the moment. No one to hold close while he watched the sun set in the blazing sky. Girls had caught his eye on occasion. They were many very attractive girls around and many of them were nice ones. But he didn't feel the spark like he had first had with Sakura, but that spark was never kindled by his pink haired crush. Then a few years later Hinata had confessed her feeling for him on the battlefield, defending him from Pain.

He hadn't felt that feeling in his chest for anyone since then. A long agonized sigh escaped Naruto as the sky was painted with purple, reminding him of her eyes and hair. His sigh did not go unnoticed.

From behind him a low voice spoke, "Not feeling well Naruto?"

He smirked. It figured that the crafty fox would find him sooner or later. Naruto asked, "How did you find me Kurama?"

The fox seemed put out, "That's obvious, your scent is as familiar to me as my own. Though out bodies may be separated I could find you across the sea."

That was true, but the Kyuubi's keen nose was only half of it. Even though Naruto and the Kyuubi had separated, they still remained linked. Their chakra was one and the same now.

"What is weighing on you Naruto? The wedding...or the upcoming journey...or is it something else hidden in your head that I can't see?"

Wind ruffled his hair and Kurama's orange fur as he thought on how to answer. Naruto asked, "Is there anyone out there for me...?" His voice sounded ironic, "Will I ever find my destined one...my mate? I feel like I've been injured but I don't know where..."

"Your lonely Naruto...You've been like that for a while now. Why don't you ask Tsunade to take over your duties for a while so you can adjust to your new life for once. Not a month has gone by that you haven't been drowning in paperwork."

Naruto smirked, "And what would I do? Go to the wedding...have a good time. I used to be the prankster king of Konoah remember...but I can't dredge up the fun I used to have back then."

The fox's next words struck home for Naruto, "You lack purpose now. Your great battle has been won. The scars have healed and there is peace. What can you do alone?"

The smirk fell from Naruto's face as Kurama padded up beside him. His diminished form almost seemed to glow in the light from the setting sun. "I can't help you there...I feel the same way. My tale has ended, but I will live for countless centuries still. That is why demons have always courted conflict. It distracts us from our boredom."

The Hokage turned his head to look at the fox, "Tell me Kurama...What is the meaning of life?"

"I could not begin to answer that question...It is one even the oldest never discover answers to. But you are still very young...you're only nineteen. I feel sad for you to be thinking such morbid thoughts at your age."

Naruto grinned, "Yeah...? I just want to have someone...some girl...by my side. You know like my parents were always together."

"Well you're not going to find any girls up here...go on walk about like you used to. Maybe you'll find entertainment along the way...I know what you're thinking Naruto." Naruto looked away. He had been thinking that Kurama might be right about that...if people would treat him like a normal person instead of an idol.

"Stop moping already! My patience wears thin. Go find something else to do besides weigh on my thoughts."

Naruto stood muttering, "Ungrateful demon..." He took a running jump off the top of the monument and flashed to the village square. He had his teleportation marks scattered throughout the village, giving him ease of movement. The dust of the street whirled around him as he appeared in a flash of yellow, orange, and black. Naruto stood to his full height and looked around. There were still plenty of people around at this hour. All of them recognized the Sixth Hokage. Most people stopped whatever they were doing to bow to him. It made him damned uneasy. Like there was some VIP behind him at all times, breathing down his neck. He made a mental note to change into less conspicuous clothes once he was out of sight.

The opportunity came soon enough. He quickly stepped into an alley and pulled out his quick change scroll. His Hokage's outfit was replaced in a cloud of smoke by a dark orange shirt and light combat vest in black. As well as black pants. His katana, which he hardly used, was at his hip. Naruto tucked his scroll away and stepped out of the alley.

It was almost dark now and no one else recognized him as he headed down the street. After he had been walking for a few minutes he heard the sounds of a party in progress. Not realizing it, his signature foxy grin appeared around his lips. He mentally said, "Camouflage complete..." Naruto tracked the party to a large bar on the south side of the village. Inside he saw people dancing as well as a bar with people drinking. "This looks like as good a place as any." He walked into the bar, opening the door as...unobtrusively as possible. Thankfully no one even noticed. Naruto made his way to the bar and sat at one of the stools. The seats to either side of him were empty.

The bartender looked up and almost choked seeing the Hokage sitting at his bar. Naruto put a finger to his lips, grinning and winked. The older man nodded hesitantly and asked, "So...uh..what can I get you...sir?"

Naruto said, "One large sake please." The bartender practically flew to get the bottle. He was back in a flash and was pouring the sake for him. Naruto smirked, "You can leave the bottle." The man gave him a slightly concerned look but didn't say anything, already going to attend to other customers.

Naruto sipped the sake. It tasted vile but it didn't bother him that much. Besides he liked the slightly relaxing feeling it gave him..."Well after a few bottles." He slung back the glass in one go and looked around. There were a couple people he recognized. Tenten and Hinata were sitting at a corner table with Kiba and Ino. Naruto watched them out of the corner of his eye. Tenten and Hinata looked very tipsy. Either that or Hinata was embarrassed enough to go completely red in the face. Naruto guessed that it was the latter. Just then he felt the bar shift and Shizune took the seat next to him.

She looked weary and slightly drunk. Naruto snickered to himself seeing the assistant, who was so vehemently against drinking, almost under the table as it were. Shizune must have caught sight of his whisker marks because she suddenly when still. Almost as though she had just remembered that she left an explosive tag on granny's sake bottle. She slowly craned her neck to the right, looking at him. Naruto said, without looking at her, "Evening Shizune."

Her jaw dropped open and she asked in a harsh, only slightly slurred whisper, "What are you doing drinking Naruto sama. Your under aged!"

Naruto smirk widened, still not looking at her. He whispered back, "I'm Hokage too, Shizune chan."

Before she could reply they both heard the voice of the far more inebriated Fifth Hokage saying, "Shizune! Get over her with the next round will you!" Naruto said, "You better go..." Shizune took his advice and quickly paid for another bottle of sake before heading back to Tsunade. Naruto poured himself a second large shot and then drank it. It burned like the will of fire going down. Naruto ignored the unpleasant taste and poured another glass.

ooo

ooo

It had been about an hour since Naruto had entered the bar and he had just finished his first bottle. The volume of the bar was increasing as more people entered, many of them shinobi Naruto recognized. He smiled widely. His shoulders were starting to loosen up.

Across the bar Ino sat drinking from her shot of sake. She was saying, "You know Kiba...I bet your all talk. You could never beat a girl like me at a drinking contest! I learned from the best. Tsunade!"

Kiba snorted, "Yeah right Ino..." He dragged her name out ending it with a hiccup.

Ino pointed, "See, your practically in the barrel yourself!" Hinata sipped slowly from a glass of sprite. Her cheeks were red with embarrassment. It was too much being in here like this.

Kiba said, "You know what Ino! I'll show you who the best shinobi in the room is! You see that dark guy over there with the sword?" They looked where he was pointing. There was a tall man with blond hair and a katana sitting at the bar. The seats to either side were empty and so apparently was his bottle. He was tuning it lazily on the bar as he chatted with the barkeep.

Ino said, "Ok big boy! Let's see if you're as tough as you think you are." In Ino's current state she probably wouldn't have made it to the bar had it not been for Hinata's supporting hand. Kiba was more stable as he had significantly less to drink by that point. A moment later they plopped down either side of the man.

ooo

Naruto smelled Kiba approach. Then he felt a hand on his shoulder. Kiba said, "Ok my friend, Let's have a drinking contest. My fellow jonin here doesn't seem to think I can beat you...what do you say?"

Naruto couldn't help but chuckle, Kiba seriously hadn't recognized him. "Sure Kiba...Let's have a drinking contest. The looser has to help Shizune with paperwork tomorrow!" Kiba didn't register the fact that Naruto knew his name for a full minute. Then it sank in. But not before he had already agreed to the terms. However he was not the one to breach the subject of the "dark man's" identity.

Ino and Tenten both shouted, "Naruto?!"

Everything in the bar stopped like someone had press the mute button on the party. Everyone looked around for the Hokage. Naruto sighed muttering, "There goes my nice peaceful drinking contest..." He chucked again. He glanced behind him to where Tenten and Hinata stood. Naruto winked at them. The lavender eyed Hyuuga fainted.

Tenten barely managed to catch her. Ino, grinning, clapped, "Nice going Naruto... You still got it."

He shrugged. It was getting uncomfortable with the stony silence of everyone else in the bar looking at him. Naruto swiveled on his stool. He said loudly, "The party resumes in 3...2...1...go!" As if on cue everyone slowly started again. Naruto thought, "Hey that actually worked...damn! I should have tried that before now. Just order everyone to act normal."

Turning back to Kiba Naruto asked, "So how about we get started?"

Kiba, having adjusted to the situation said, "Your on fox boy!"

"Oh...you first...dog breath." The barkeep brought two bottles of Sake. And so the contest began. Naruto watched Kiba knock back the first shot. He followed after. Then Kiba took the second. Naruto did the same. The dog boy had a hard time holding the glass on the third one. It was obvious to Naruto that he was already drunk, well before he had walked over. Naruto decided to end it quickly. He poured himself six shots in a row.

At the end of it he could feel his shoulders fully relax. The weight that rested between his shoulder blades seeming to lift. Ino grinned lopsidedly at Kiba. She asked, "Can you keep up Kiba?" By now everyone at the bar had crowded in to watch. Kiba gazed sullenly at his still mostly full, bottle of sake. He seemed to be making up his mind. Naruto thought, "I might be just a bit mean tonight..." Before anyone could call the contest Naruto took his opponents bottle and knocked the whole thing back.

Kiba's eyes popped open wide, as did every other person who was watching. Naruto thought, "This ought to start some rumors. he he." The last drops of sake dripped out of the bottle and Naruto set it on the table next to his own. He then jumped off his stool and pulled out his wallet. He paid the bill. Then he grinned widely. He said in a normal voice, "Sorry Kiba, but...I'm immune to alcohol." He patted Kiba on the shoulder as he heard a thump from behind him. He turned around. Ino had fallen off her stool and was sitting up, rubbing at her eyes.

Naruto sighed. He turned to Tenten, "Can you get Kiba home after Hinata chan wakes up?" Tenten nodded. Naruto bent and pick Ino up. She managed to protest, but it was barely audible in the crowded bar. Naruto said, "I'll take Ino back to her place. She's not walking anywhere."

ooo

Outside, the night was lit by a half moon. Naruto adjusted his groaning female burden and headed towards the market quarter. The Yamanaka house was above her families flower shop. As he walked he kept thinking that he still hadn't managed to forget his lonely feelings, even at a crowded bar with friends. He wondered if he would turn into a less pervy version of Jiraiya when he was older. That thought disturbed him more than he wanted to admit.

Naruto came to the door to Ino's house. He rapped hard on the door. Then a minute later he did so again. He heard footsteps a moment before the door opened. Naruto looked up into the stern face of death.

The stern face of death stared right back at him. Death had blond hair, blue eyes, and was wearing a white T-shirt and shorts. Naruto smiled up at death, who remained unmoving. Eventually the specter spoke, "Lord Hokage...to what do I owe this honor?"

Naruto answered casually, "Ino-chan had too much fun at a party for her own good. I thought I'd bring her home since I don't know where her apartment is."

Inoichi, a.k.a Death, growled. It sounded rather similar to a disgruntled bear. "Kiba was supposed to bring her back two hours ago..."

Naruto felt he was getting nowhere. He looked up at Inoichi. His own expression starting to resemble an exasperated parent who was forced to deal with a stubborn toddler. "And if I was Kiba she would have been here then, but you're lucky I was at the party at all. Now would you either take her or tell me where she actually lives?"

Inoichi's expression changed to disappointment. He took his daughter's limp body from Naruto and ever so silently, shut the door in his face. Naruto shook his head... Some people thought they were so scary.

ooo

ooo

Cold air brushed at Naruto's exposed skin as he woke up. He stayed still far a moment before sitting up with a groan. His bed seemed too big for him. It didn't stay warm. The reason why was clear in his mind, but he supposed it was just because he was lonely. He lamented the fact that he had this huge house all to himself.

The morning was cool and crisp as Naruto made his way to the Hokage's tower. He had his usual meal of ramen. Naruto had neglected to shave this morning so his jaw was dusky. He nodded to people as he made his way through the village. He passed Lee and Guy sensei as they ran on their morning routine. The two green beasts nodded to him as they passed.

ooo

Naruto sat at his desk, where Tsunade had once sat. It was stacked neatly with papers. Naruto grimaced and pulled out his pen. "Time to get to work again."

An hour later Shizune walked in. She had bags under her eyes. Her hair was a mess and she used one hand to cradle her head. Naruto took one look at her and said, "Go home for the day Shizune chan. That's an order."

She mumbled, "No I have duties to attend to. You can't do all of this by yourself." Naruto gave her the hard stare. Shizune gulped in trepidation.

He was dead serious, "You have the week off now shoo! You look awful, and stop by the store and get something for Granny's headache on your way." The assistant nodded slowly and left.

A voice from behind him said, "That was well done kit."

Naruto glanced behind him. "Good morning Kurama." The fox jumped down and strode around the room, adjusting his size for the room.

"I heard that you have a contest with the Inuzuka boy...Kiba last night."

Naruto nodded as he scanned a mission report from squad 14. He smiled thinly, "Yeah, but it wasn't exactly a fair contest. I can't get drunk and he was already stumbling. There was no chance of him winning."

"Hmph...modest as ever." The fox used one of his tails to open the office door. Before he left he said, "Your contest is making news already and most people haven't even woken up yet." As Kurama exited the office Naruto sighed. This was going to be a long boring day for him. While outside the his office rumors were probably flying about him being an alcoholic. Yet another day in the life of the youngest Hokage ever.

Naruto continued to work at his duties until just before lunch when he had his first audience of the day.

ooo

Shino and Hinata entered the office. Naruto looked over his diminished stack of paper work. He said, "Good day you two. Kiba still sleeping off the contest I guess."

Hinata nodded slowly. Her fingers pressed together as she explained, "Um...Kiba kun is in trouble with his sister for going out drinking. He might be out of the hospital tomorrow."

Naruto scratched the back of his head, "Well that's too bad. Anyway you guys can find someone to take his place for the mission right?"

Shino asked, "Is there a list of those who are available?" Naruto nodded and opened a drawer on the desk. He kept a list of all the shinobi in the village by squad.

Pulling out the list he flipped through to those who had already finished their current missions. He sighed, "Well, Choji is available and so is Neji and Tenten...if Tenten is sober this morning. He rattled off the names of a dozen less well known shinobi. Shino nodded, "We will go find Neji then."

Hinata stuttered and asked, "Um...Naruto sama...I was wondering what happened to Ino last night. She seemed...very...drunk."

Naruto shook his head, both at her question and at the honorific she used. "First, stop calling me sama...it make me feel old. Second, I didn't know where Ino-chan's house was so I had to take her to her parents home... They were under the impression that Kiba was supposed to bring her back."

Hinata nodded, her face looking away from him. "Well...Naruto...kun... Kiba asked Ino out on a date. I don't think Ino was enjoying herself so she started drinking...one thing led to another..." She didn't want to say that they had all started talking about their crushes and that Ino made a snide comment of..."preferring Naruto to the smug pup of the Inuzuka clan." That had set things off and a full scale argument had ensued as everyone except herself, got drunk. She didn't drink. Most people knew that, so they only tried to get her drunk twice.

Naruto waved them away, "You don't have to say anything else... I can guess what happened... Anyway, you two have to find Neji and get your mission started." Both of them bowed and left.

ooo

ooo

The sixth Hokage walked down the street, dressed in his best disguise clothes, but he had already been spotted. His keen ears picked up many whispers. He couldn't quite make out what people were saying, but as usual it was something about him. Naruto just kept walking. Soon he would come to his own house on the other side of the village. He turned a corner and stopped. Shizune was leaning up against the fence, about two hundred feet from his house. She turned her head to look at him. She exclaimed, "Naruto...I need to talk to you."

He shrugged, "Ok, go ahead and say it."

Shizune walked toward him and glanced around. Then she whispered, "I heard a rumor that you stole Kiba's date, Ino Yamanaka, last night at the party."

Naruto chuckled. "Kiba was so drunk that he could barely stand. Ino was even more drunk. She couldn't even do that much. I told Tenten to take Kiba home and I took Ino home myself. I don't see that as stealing his date...besides...what does it matter anyway?"

Shizune said, "As Hokage you have an image to keep up. And that doesn't work if there are wild rumors flying around about you!"

He continued walking past Shizune, "I don't see how that's a problem. Even if the rumors were true, granny Tsunade has plenty of rumors about her and most of those are true."

The Hokage's assistant rushed after him saying, "But Naruto! Your seen as the hero of the world. And your equivalent of the chief Kage of the five lands. You can't afford to have those kinds of thing flying around about you!"

This wasn't going to convince him of anything. He had never paid much attention to what people thought of him, besides earning their respect. He had always strove to be respected. But keeping up false pretenses and addressing stupid "civilian" rumors was the least of his problems. Naruto said, "I'm not going to worry about a bunch of civilian house wives gossiping about their Kage being a womanizer any more than I would if the rumors said I was an alcoholic. If you're really worried about them then...you...can take care of them." With that he strode away from Shizune. The assistant feeling very much as though she had understated the rumors.

ooo

ooo

As Naruto entered his apartment he could tell someone else was inside. He walked through the house till he came to the living room and connecting kitchen. He didn't so much as look to see who was waiting for him. He turned left into the kitchen nook. As he did so he asked loudly, "So...What are you here for Mr. Yamanaka?" Naruto collected a bottle of soda before returning to the living room and taking an empty chair across from the cough. Inoichi was Ino's father and also a prominent member of both Leaf village intelligence and the interrogation unit. He was a generally sever looking man in Naruto's experience. And more to the point, he was fiercely overprotective of his daughter.

Inoichi grumbled, "I heard some interesting rumors that don't exactly match what you told me last night when you brought my daughter home. I would like to know the truth."

Naruto saw the quiet anger that boiled just below Inoichi's calm exterior. This was quickly turning tedious. "I want you to know that what I told you last night was the truth, but if you think I'm lying, that's your problem."

Inoichi insisted, "Even the strangest rumors are based in truth."

Naruto shook his head, "I don't know what you're getting at. I heard a rumor that I somehow stole Kiba's date and since the two of us were having a drinking contest...I suppose that someone could say that I got him drunk on purpose. But truth is, he was already drunk and was Ino too, so if there is another rumor that I haven't heard that started in the past...ten hours, please tell me."

Ionichi leaned forward. His gaze was intense as he asked, "So it's all lies? All the rumors are completely untrue?"

Naruto shrugged. He really didn't know what the man was getting at. He sighed, "Listen, I'm not master or rumors. I just have good hearing and a wise assistant who told me about one rumor she heard. I don't know any other rumors at the moment, so I have no way of know how true they are."

Inoichi leaned back, "So you have no interest in my daughter." This blunt statement caught him off guard.

Naruto stayed silent for two full minutes before roaring, "THATS WHAT THIS INTERROGATION WAS ABOUT?!" Naruto's whisker marks darkened. He thought, "He comes in here and waits for me. Then when I come in he starts questioning me. He insinuates and prods at me, like there is some horrible story going around about me and Ino. And he does this just to see if I'm interested in her! Bullshit!"

ooo

Inoichi found himself lifted off his feet and being dragged out of the house. He kicked and thrashed, but Naruto was more than strong enough to keep him under wraps. He dragged the Yamanaka out of his house. Once on the doorstep he said, "Don't you ever put me in that situation again! If you want to know if I like your daughter...just ask!" With that he sent Inoichi flying with a kick to the rear.

Before he could land the door to Naruto's house was already closing. The impact jarred the breath from him. He quickly stood up and brushed himself off. Rubbing his tenderized rear, he headed home, still without any real clue if Naruto liked Ino. Inoichi made a mental note of two things. The first one was to be straight forward with their young Hokage. Naruto didn't take well to people tricking him in his personal life anymore than in his office. And second one was to never get in the way if Naruto tried to hit something or someone. He had enough chakra to put him through a few buildings with just a finger.

The door to his house opened and he stared into the pretty yet agitated face of his wife, Ina Yamanaka. She asked, "Back so soon..." He nodded slowly. She sighed and stepped aside to let him in. He entered and walked to the couch where he sat down. His wife took the seat across from him. She immediately asked, "So how did it go with the Hokage?"

Inoichi looked dejected. "I made a mistake using my interrogation technique on him. He's either way too smart to fall for it, or he's wise to my tricks after watching me work. And he was really calm until he realized that I was feeling out his feelings for Ino. Then he threw my ass out." Inoichi adjusted himself in his seat. "And he kicks hard."

Inoichi asked, "How is Ino?"

Ina dead-panned, "How do you think? She's mortified that she went on a date and got blind drunk and that the Hokage carried her home...She still refused to come out of her room." Ina frowned, "Besides that, how do you think that it would make things better if Naruto liked her. She would be even more mortified because she embarrassed herself in front of someone who was interested in her." They sat in silence for a while.

Eventually Inoichi said, "I just thought that it would make her feel better after her break up with the Nara boy. After he dumped her for that Sand village girl she was depressed for weeks. Then I'm sure she only accepted Kiba's proposal to go to that party together as a date because she was feeling sorry for herself and for him."

Ina looked thoughtful. "You know...I did hear that Kiba Inuzuka got himself paralyzed a few days ago or something along those lines, you know, for trying to ask Hinata Hyuuga out." That made sense to both of them. Ino had never shown any romantic interest in Kiba and they were both glad. The Inuzuka boy had a reputation for being a womanizer.

As they sat there, they both heard a knock at the door. Ina stood and went to answer it, with Inoichi just behind her. Tenten was at the door. As it opened she said, "Hey it's Tenten. Is Ino there, I need to talk to her about something." Ina nodded and let her in. Tenten came over to visit often when she was a genin and later as a chunin. Now as a full jonin she didn't come over to their house, but visited Ino at her apartment.

Tenten skipped past them. Inoichi commented to his wife, "She looks awfully cheery about something..."

ooo

ooo

So there be the frist of yon chapters to come. And I know, some of you were expecting the other pairing first. Those of you who did can hold your horses. I lake to call this plot.

Heheh, Not really, Any this Kyoto is always happy for reviews. So remember to do that!

And questions are welcome!