Sigh. I really should be studying for my final exams. But I couldn't get this out of my head so I can't concentrate anyways. Its a lose-lose situation so I figured out I might as well give in. I just feel I'm gonna regret doing this later on.

Anyway, this is my first NaruIno fic. I like the pairing because… I like blonds. Shallow isn't it? Ahaha… I like them both individually too. I share the same birthday and characteristics with Ino; I'm not vain though. While Naruto is the best orange clad blond since Super Saiyan Goku! Ahaha… I love ramen too.

I hope I haven't wilted your interest yet. I'd like to talk some more… but you'll get bored. Ahaha… Let's begin.

After returning from his Sage Training in the realm of the Summoned Frogs, Uzumaki Naruto walked the busy streets of Konohagakure where people everywhere were rebuilding their homes. Barely a week ago, Akatsuki rampaged through the village like a mad bull. Lives were lost and hearts were broken but the spirit got stronger; even more persistent in living the life for those who perished.

Naruto felt the pained aura emanating from every person he passed along. He was pitifully glad he wasn't alone in mourning for the loss of a cherished somebody.

"Ero-Sennin…" he thought as tears were mounting in the base of his blue eyes; he closed them shut, "You're invincible! You should've kicked ass!"

Today was supposed to be Jiraiya's birthday.

For the first year traveling together, he gave his master a poster of a half-naked beautiful woman. Naruto had to wash his clothes from the Sannin's extensive nosebleed. The second year, Jiraiya told his apprentice to stop celebrating his birthday and giving him presents because he feels old when he does.

"Eh?!" the teenager bellowed annoyingly, "Ero-Sennin! You are definitely old! You can't hide it like Oba-chan!"

"Stop calling me that!" the older man said angrily but quickly regained his composure after being stared at by random people on the streets, "Ahem, I refuse to mimic Tsunade! Because when do I try that Jutsu to make me look young… All the pretty young girls will come after me!! NYAHAHAHAHA!!"

After laughing like a maniac, he placed his fist on his chin and continued with an unusual depth in his voice, "Surely you don't want that, Naruto? There won't be any left for you! And you might do something stupid because of your jealousy!"

"Err…" Naruto stared at him with his trademark squinty eyes and dumb look on his face. With his long arm, he reached for his bag and took out a small box while Jiraiya was observing him intently; curious. The blond opened the box and held up a bright red silk fabric. "So… You don't want this lingerie I got for you?"

"Ha!" the Frog Sage's nose was spurting blood downwards, "Where'd you get this?!"

"Since you took all my money for that 'research'. I just took this from the clothes line of the lady you were talking to the whole week."

BAM!

"You ingrate! You shouldn't be doing stuff this!" Jiraiya shouted as he massaged his sore hand. Naruto's head sure was hard.

The two of them kept on bickering until the sun had set and the night crept in. At that moment, Naruto thought that all of his remaining days were fun like this one. He thought that his father-figure, Jiraiya, would always be there for him. The perverted Hermit was the closest thing to a parent Naruto ever had.

But Akatsuki had to come and ruin it all.

Uchiha Sasuke was a member of Akatsuki.

"Forget about Sasuke" Jiraiya said while sitting on the hospital window, "He joined Orochimaru on his own. Only a fool would come after him."

At that time, his promise to Sakura seems to weigh more than anything else. If Sasuke had any shred of decency, he would have intervened or at least warned Konohagakure. Yet he didn't. His rival had really turned his back against everything that catered him. Sasuke didn't give a damn.

Looking back… He was indeed a fool. Jiraiya was gone.

Naruto wasn't looking where he was going; too preoccupied with his intertwined thoughts until he felt a soft bump. With his reflexes, Naruto didn't fall. However, the person in the purple ensemble who bumped into him did. And flowers scattered all over the street.

"You idiot!"

Enraged at the sight of fallen flora, Yamanaka Ino picked them up with haste, terrified of the flowers being trampled on. It took Naruto a while to come to his senses, thankful that Ino didn't knock him out of it. He bent down and tried to aid her as well. As he was closing in to Ino's right side, Naruto saw her from the corner of his left eye; Ino was trying hard not to cry.

"Ino-san! I'm so sorry!" the golden blond said, "I'm so very sorry I hurt you! I was spacing out and-"

She was just too tired to get angry, "No… no… I'm not hurt." She waved off his apology and smiled as she stood up. "I was just… Its because…"

She looked down and gave out a sigh, "I spent hours on my Ikebana…"

"Ikebana?" he was taken aback by the unfamiliar word.

"Flower Arrangement, Naruto-kun." And again with the pained expression. "I tried so hard… to make it extra beautiful… But, I can't… I'm really good at Ikebana, y'know… Its just… Recently, I couldn't…"

"Ino-san?" he sincerely asked. There the young woman met his eyes. He looked like he was a puppy. When did he get this cute? He really did grow so tall. His hair is longer too. And blue… his eyes is so blue.

"It was supposed to be" she turned away to avert from his gaze, "for Asuma-Sensei."

"Ah… I'm sorry." Quickly remembering that she lost her teacher too. Naruto felt a connection, something he always looked for in a friend. That's the reason why he feels close to Gaara and Sasuke. He talked to Shikamaru but he had a lot of things to do… and he kept telling him that its troublesome to talk about it. Chouji would just eat his heart out. Sakura couldn't really relate. Iruka-Sensei was just too optimistic.

"No, Naruto-kun…" she looked up at him and gave him her most charming smile, "I should be thanking you. You beat the creepy ninja with five hearts with that Jutsu of yours… By the way, how is it going?"

"Its still the same as you saw it" he replied and scratched the back of his head, "I didn't have the time to smooth the rough edges yet…"

"You must be…" she looked at him with a soft expression on her face, "A whole lot stronger now huh? The same level as Jiraiya-sama."

"And I'm still a genin…" they both laughed.

"Are you still bitter about that?"

"A bit…" Naruto lied and Ino sensed it. She smirked and raised an fine eyebrow. "Alright… I'm bitter about it a whole lot… happy?"

"I am now. Thanks, Naruto-kun." She held his arm and dragged him away.

"Ino-san! Where are we going?!"

"Call me Ino, Naruto-kun" she looked back and giggled at his helplessness. "I need your opinion on my new Ikebana since you broke the first one!"

"But I don't know anything about it, Ino…"

"Just tell me if you like it or not!"

"Fair enough, I guess" As he allowed the kunoichi to take him at her home. Its nice to be invited. Its nice to be asked for something that doesn't endanger his life for once. And its really nice to be dragged by a pretty girl.

Ha! Finally, I have solidified the manifestation of my abstract thoughts!! Maybe now I can study in peace. TT Anybody great at Organic Chemistry here? Ahuhuhu…