This is a story I'm writing to set a background for another story I'm writing. So it's a prequel! Both are ShikaxIno, but it is not going to be until the sequel where you'll see any actual lovin'. I like long drawn out relationships that barely happen until they happen XD. Anywhoo, I haven't written anything it about a year so I am more than a little rusty so I beg for forgiveness.

I do not own Naruto

Ino the Girl: Scenes of Youth

Chapter One

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Inoichi looked down at the long scroll and read the mission report. Again. The mission of which his wife of five years had died on. It had been a week since an ANBU wearing a dog mask had appeared at his door, apologizing for his loss and passing him this scroll. The funeral took place two days after.

It had been hard explaining to Ino who was four that her mommy had not been hiding in the long box. That her mommy was asleep and she was going to be away for a long, long time. Ino had of course thought that five minutes was a long enough because after just after five minutes she had gleefully waddled over to the coffin and started pounded on it, chanting that "it twime to wake up sweepy head!" No one knew what to do. No one wanted to explain that her mother was never going to wake up, not even the ANBU who were 'bravely' backing away. . .

But then Ino stopped pounding, her eyebrows furrowed and eyes closed. And when she started sobbing the ANBU were long gone. Inoichi had walked over to the coffin, and hugged her thinking like everyone else she had sensed something was wrong. And in a way he had been right.

"Daddy?"

Her voice was low and hoarse and he could barely hear her even though her head was now on his shoulder.

"Yes princess?"

"I couldn't find Mommy in that box Daddy. I could not feel her. . ."

This could pose a problem, Inoichi had always hoped Ino would develop her mental powers, but at five? Showing empathic abilities? And as he pondered his daughter over the scroll containing the situation that had killed Mai his daughter appeared in front of him, a huge toothy grin appearing between dirt smudges that covered her entire form. Instantaneously her appearance drew his attention.

"Princess! What happened!?" Had she fallen? Had a bully pushed her? Was she bleeding? Inoichi scooped her into his arms before sprinting for the front door. Fully intending on getting Ino≈who was giggling against his chest≈to the hospital

"Daddy! I was selling flowers!" Well that was good, she wasn't hurt Inoichi took a deep breath, inwardly relaxing. She had only. . . been selling flowers to strangers!

"What? You-but. . . THAT'S DANGEROUS!" He held his little girl under her armpits, suspending her in midair. "Ino, what did I tell you about talking to strangers?"

"That all strangers are mean bad guys and can -tww-thrweatin' me cause I'm cute like a button. . ."

The raised eyebrow (where had she learned that?) that accompanied her ad-libbed quote (he had pronounced threaten properly) clearly stated that she didn't believe his wise words.

"Ino, sometimes people do really bad things, and until you get to know someone you can't tell if they are a bad person or not. And because your small, mean people will think your gonna be easy to hurt."

Ino Didn't look convinced, her bottom lip sticking out with a pout even when she opened it to retaliate.

"Daddy, how I gonna get to know people if I don't talk to them!"

Inoichi clamped his mouth shut, realizing that telling his daughter to spy on them might not be a good idea. Maybe. . . no. . .hmm. . .

"Ok, sweetie. I see your point."

Ino's eyes crinkled questioningly. What pointy thing? "But I don't want you talking to people who are big, it makes me worry." Was he trying to come to a compromise with the four-year-old?

"So no talking to big people?"

Ino eyes were giving him a lazy stare, reminding him freakishly like Shikaku.

"Yep, and that means no selling flowers at the shop." So in the end it seems as though Inoichi Yamanaka has become the victor agai-

"That's ok Daddy, that's not where I was selling flowers. Wait. . . what?

"Daddy! let's go to the park!" And so the once again grinning three year old grabbed hold her father's left index finger before dragging the stupefied man out the door.

End

I know this was short, It would have been longer but meh. I have the next two chapters all done, but I want some reviews before I post them.

Ja!