A/N: This is mostly just a blended idea from the Harry Potter series, the Marriage Law and throwing it in to Naruto. I thought it might be fun. Plus I'm on vacation right now, so I figured I have time, why not? Everyone in the story is about 17 or 18; I figured that seemed like an appropriate age to start off with.
Also this chapter is more of a flashback and background knowledge idea, just so things don't get too confusing as the story moves on. Please let me know if it's confusing or if something seems awkward. Sorry that the beginning has a little bit angst in it, but I promise it will get better!
Please no flames and reviews are appreciated! Also this is my first fic and I would love for some advice! Thank you very much!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and its related characters/places, this written strictly for entertainment value.
The war between the Hidden Leaf and Orochimaru's forces had finally come to an end a few months ago; a final battle had settled it all, resulting in Orochimaru's death, as well as many other more cared for shinobi. It had been hard on the village, many had died, and the village population had suffered greatly, both from civilian and shinobi deaths. The Rookie Nine had survived, all but two. Sasuke and Choji; the latter died in battle against a fearsome Sound ninja during an attack on Konoha, he died protecting the ones he loved and his memory was treasured by all. Sasuke on the other hand dies at the hands of the Hokage herself, he had been in the way during the last battle, and Tsunade got rid of him.
Despite the loss of loved ones, everyone, villagers and ninja alike, had banded together to help rebuild Konoha to its former glory. They succeeded, the streets were refurbished with new brick and concrete, the tall majestic crumbling outer walls had been restored to its powerful standing and the homes of the people had been rebuilt of newer stronger material to last for decades to come. Everything seemed fine and dandy, there was no more war, the city was fine, but the population numbers and the morale of the people were low. There were hardly any people in the village to function as a whole working community.
With this dilemma on the Hokage's plate, Tsunade was forced to do something desperate. For as they say, desperate times call for desperate measures, right? But what was she supposed to do? Pair up each and every shinobi with another? Crazy…but maybe not too crazy... If she could find the right people to make some fort of survey perhaps that would help, it wouldn't be too bad, there were hardly thousands of people to look through, plus she could always employ the help of some housewives to help her. Nope, this wouldn't be too bad at all; she could do this, after all this was the Hokage's duty, to make tough decisions like this. It would all work out in the end, right? Right.
It all started while she was walking down the newly repaired streets of Konoha, on a simple delivery for the flower shop. No big deal, Ino did this often enough for her parents. Plus she owed them big time, not because she did anything wrong, on the contrary, they let her move out of the family home. At the mere age of seventeen! Of course there were some limitations, but they were oh so worth getting away from the overprotective father who claimed that his 'darling bundle of joy' was too young and 'fragile' to be living by her lonesome. But after some pouting and doggy eyes at her father, Ino convinced her father to let her live on her own.
She now had a small apartment with two bedrooms, a conjoining bathroom as well as a small kitchen and living/dining area. It was perfect. It also wasn't very far from both her jobs and her home. Things were changing for Ino, and she liked the feeling it brought her. A feeling of freedom, to do whatever she pleased whenever she wanted to; if she felt the need to clean, she cleaned, the need to sleep, she slept. Her life was brimming with hope and joy for she was now the complete ruler to live her life the way she wanted to. What with nothing holding her down and all, she was free to do what she felt she wanted. As Ino walked into the restaurant the flowers were for, she pondered her past with interest.
You see, things had not been easy for Ino; her father refused to let Ino into battle and so was forced to sit out and be considered a coward. She grew angry at her father and decided to become a medic at home instead, so that she'd be useful to her comrades and fellow villagers. She trained with Tsunade and Sakura day and night until she became as skilled as any other medic. She promised herself that she would be useful to her people and it was her honor to do so. Choji and Shikamaru weren't so much as on the fronts as they were needed more at home, to help defend the village. Ino had no worries about them. They met up often enough, Choji being the glue that kept the team ten together. They stayed a tight knit group until the last year of the war.
Choji had been called upon to go to the front lines. He was no longer needed at home within the safe boundaries of the walls. Ino and Shikamaru fought to keep him home, insisting that he was needed at home more, but the Hokage refused and demanded that Choji go to the front lines and fight for his village, as it was the noble and honorable thing to do. Ino and Shikamaru gave in to her demands and sent off not only their teammate, but also a beloved friend. Ino grew busy with her medic training and Shikamaru fell into the world of strategy, soon enough, they grew apart. They had lost the glue that held them together. It wasn't until Choji's funeral, only a mere month after he left, came along that they saw one another.
Flashback
It was a sunny day, one with clouds and the sweet scent of flowers drifted through the air. Of course things weren't always what they seemed to be, as many ninjas were taught from the very beginning of their training. Today was a terrible day. The people of the city mourned for the loss of one of the most beloved citizens of Konoha. It was there where two distant shinobi meet to say good-bye to their fallen friend.
"Hey", Ino had said quietly, "are you doing okay?"She reached up and rubbed the stiffened muscles of her friends back.
"What do you think? I just lost the only friend I knew." Ino flinched from the harsh words her fri-, no, not friends anymore, her… her fellow villager.
She mustered up all of the gentleness in her voice and spoke softly. "Shikamaru, I'm still your friend, right? I'll still be here for you. You know that."
He turned towards her with a glimmering fierceness in his eyes and said the cruelest words Ino had ever heard, "No, no you're not. You've never been there for me or Choji, you were, no are, nothing but a troublesome slut who craves for all the attention in the world. Jumping from one man to another, disgusting. I can't stand to look at your face, for when I do, I feel nothing but disgust and pity towards your imbecilic existence." With that, he shoved his back away from the girl and walked away; not even bothering to stay and watch his best friend's ashes be thrown to the wind.
That day Ino cried for both of her lost friends.
End Flashback
She hadn't seen or talked to him in almost a year. Actually, eleven months and seventeen days since he left her crying on that fateful day. Of course she had her girlfriends to talk too, Sakura and all them, but sometimes she still missed the lazy bum who would sit and listen to her petty issues.
"Oi, are you the one that has the flowers? I've been waiting forever!" The shop owner ran out and said," Ino? Haven't seen you in forever, thanks for the flowers, figured the place could use something that smells good." So, Kiba was the owner of the small diner. She had heard Sakura say that he was opening something or other.
Ino giggled, "Of course it's me! Who'd you expect, Neji to carry flowers through the town?" She set down the flowers by a small table near the entrance," Sorry about being late, I was thinking, daydreaming, whatever you want to call it."
Kiba laughed, "Of course, wouldn't expect anyone but you to bring the flowers, "He picked them up and started to place them in the small vases on each table," So, I'm having an opening for friends tonight, everyone's coming from the old days, do ya wanna stop by? It'd be fun, you don't have to spend a dime, and it'll be free since you guys are all my friends and the like."
Ino smiled, she had nothing to do tonight, so why not? "Sure Kiba I'll be here, what time is it? What do I need to wear?" Kiba chuckled, "Umm, say about seven, Hinata is planning most of this for me, I think that's the time. Whatever you want to wear, just no street clothes, if I can't 'em, you can't."
"Okay then, I'll you around seven!" With that Ino ran out the door and to the shop to tell her mother that she was going out tonight. It wasn't a that simple though on the walk back, a crowd had gathered by a local meeting place, Ino being the curious girl she was, walked over to the fountain to find that there was a survey being handed out to every shinobi between the ages of seventeen to twenty six, and it was demanded, by law, that it had to be completed by the end of the day.
Well, Ino figured, might as well get one while it's hot. She grabbed the sheet of paper and glanced at the questions. It seemed like any other survey she had took before, so she figured she'd take it home and do and then turn it in before she went to Kiba's opening night. She'd go home pick out an outfit, take a shower do the survey and be on her way, no big deal right? After all what harm could a little survey do?
A/N: So do you like it? Let me know what you think! Please and thank you very much!