AN: Alright, here's a story that I've been developing, and I think it's come together somewhat ok. I know, Ino may be a bit O.C, but it fits into the story. Also, it takes place between when Tsunade get's back and the Sasuke Retrieval mission. Hope you enjoy
"Ino," Naruto said, not daring to move. He was staring down three rogue ninja who were all prepared to fight.
"What?" Ino asked, keeping her eyes on the ninja, not risking losing track of them.
"Run. Run as fast and as far as you can," Naruto said, reaching slowly into his kunai pouch, grabbing three kunai to throw. Ino looked over to her temporary teammate. She had a mixed look on her face, one of worry and fear.
"Why?" Ino whined, hoping to change his mind. Naruto just shook his head.
"Ino, this is one of the times when you don't ask questions and just go," Naruto said, detirmined to not let a fellow teammate get hurt.
"Then, at least come back alive," Ino said, worried for Naruto.
"I will, and that's a promise," Naruto said, listening as the platinum blonde ran off. He smiled; now he could really show these ninja what he was made of.
"Well, are you just going to stand there, or what?" one of the ninja yelled out, immediately regretting his words.
"Well, let's just find out," Naruto yelled back, demonic tone filling his voice as crimson chakra covered Naruto's battered and bruised body. He smiled, his elongated fangs showing, striking fear into the ninja who had spoken. The rogue ninja shrugged it off, and charged. How foolish, Naruto thought, knowing they were no match for him in his one-tail form. He charged at the ninja, throwing the kunai which they blocked with their own. He charged up a Kyuubi enhanced Rasengan, and slammed it into the ground just before he met the ninja in a clash, throwing dirt and dust up, obscuring the ninjas' visions, all except Naruto, who pulled out Kunai and sliced through his blinded enemies, killing them. He smiled at his handiwork, before his chakra cloak receded. He collapsed to one knee, panting from exhaustion. He and Ino had battled through an unusual amount of rogue ninja, all in what was supposed to be a simple, quick mission. He'd done most of the fighting, not wanting a teammate to get hurt, and he succeeded; Ino didn't have a scratch on her. In return, Naruto was battered, bruised, and his orange jumpsuit was in near tatters. He stood up slowly before collapsing back to both knees, panting heavily.
"Baka, I thought you said you'd be ok," Ino said, running back from her hiding spot. She'd seen the whole thing, and was a bit curious as to what that chakra was.
"He, I said I'd come back alive, I never promised in what condition," Naruto got out as he panted heavily. Ino rushed to support him as he started to fall back. She placed Naruto's head in her lap as she sat down behind him.
"Baka, if you make me carry you ba-" Ino was cut off as Naruto broke out laughing.
"Don't worry, I've got clones for that Ino," Naruto said as he created a clone with the last of his available chakra. The clone nodded to Naruto, knowing what he was created to do. Naruto soon passed out, leaving Ino with his head in her lap. She smiled; he wasn't a baka, he thought about others, and always put others before himself, just like during this mission when he exhaused himself to keep her safe.
"Alright, we have to get going back to Konoha, it's at least a five day trip," Ino said, helping the clone to pick up Naruto. The three set out, headed for home, tired. If only they had known a certain masked man was observing this all go down, though as they got close to his location, he disappeared, not wanting to give away his plan too early.
Five days later
"Tsunade-sama, I'm worried about Naruto, Ino, and Kukamara's mission. They should've either sent word or been back by now," Kakashi said as he adressed the Hokage in her office. Tsunade turned around from the window to say something, but was interrupted as Shizune broke into the office.
"Tsunade, Naruto and Ino are back! Kukamara's dead and Naruto's unconcious from chakra exhaustion," Shizune panted out, happy that Naruto was ok... somewhat.
"What about Ino?" Kakashi asked, just to make sure that most of the people on the mission were ok.
"She's fine, just exhausted from traveling nonstop," Shizune said, regaining her breath and composure. Tsunade smiled as she stood up and walked around her desk.
"See, Naruto's ok. Though, it is quite a loss that Kukamara died," Tsunade said, remembering the young ninja, "We'l hold a funeral service for Kukamara in twelve days. That'll give Naruto enough time to recover to be at the funeral." Tsunade sighed, that knucklehead was detirmined to kill himself yet.
"Hai," Kakashi responded simply, sunshinning to presumably see his student.
"Shizune, bring Ino here dor the mission report," Tsunade said, plopping into her chair as she looked over the mission files for what was presumably a C-rank mission. Shizune left quietly, heading for Naruto's hospital where Ino was. It should've been an easy mission, no more than a few bandits, so what went wrong? Maybe I should've held the mission until a jonin was available, Tsunade thought, racing through as many possibilities as she could. She heard a quick knock o her door, followed by the platinum blonde kunoichi walking in.
"You wanted me, Hokage-sama?" Ino asked, bowing in respect. Tsunade just nodded, gesturing for her to take a seat.
"Yes, I just wanted to know if you could provide any intel on why the rogue ninja were after the shipment," Tsunade said plainly, a frown adorning her face.
"I don't know, Naruto told me to stay with the clients while he and Kukamara went off to fight the ninja. Kukamara was a bit hesitant about waiting to call for back up but Naruto said that by the time they got here, the rogue's would've attacked, and they charged about 20 rogues. Kukamara was taken down after taking about 7 down, and Naruto cut through them. After Naruto killed the ninja, we finished the mission delivering the shipment, figuring that after we delivered the stuff, they'd leave us alone, however, even afterwards, three ninja that were waiting to ambush us originally attacked us just outside the village. Naruto yet again took on the ninja, though with a weird crison cloak like thing covering him," Ino explained, Tsunade nodded in understanding. So, the blonde took down 16 rogue ninja, probably chunin level, but, then again he did take on the one tailed biju, so it shouldn't be that much of a surprise.
"Ok, you'll be payed for an A-rank mission along with Naruto. Kukamara's funeral will be in 12 days, so take time, and rest up, because afterwards, you, Naruto, Kakashi, and Kiba will be going on a mission, since you four will be the only ones without a mission at that time," Tsunade said, receiving a smile from Ino.
"Umm, can I ask you something?" Ino asked, receiving a nod from the Hokage, "can I train under you? I need to get stronger, that way the next time something like this happens, I can be prepared," Ino explained, receiving a light chuckle from the blonde hokage.
"Well, only if you think you can handle it. I can warn you, if you can't handle intense training, you might as well rethink that question," Tsunade said, receiving a nod from the blonde genin.
"I can handle it, I know I can," Ino said detirmined(I know, I'm making Ino O.C, sorry,).
"Alright then, we'll start right after your mission and the funeral," Tsunade said, dismissing Ino.
"Hai, thank you Tsunade-sama," Ino replied with a bow before exiting the office. Tsunade smiled; maybe Ino wasn't all a fangirl. She was interrupted from her thoughts by a hissing noise.
"Psst, Oba-chan," Naruto's voice called out, causing the blonde to abruptly turn around, finding Naruto in his hospital gown.
"Naruto, what are you doing out of the hospital?" Tsunade asked, a bit worried, a bit frustrated.
"I'm not, this is just a shadow clone. I wanted to let you know I was able to bring Kukamara's body back, and that the rogue's wanted the shipment because of Orichi-teme," the clone said, causing Tsunade to scowl at the name.
"What did Orichimaru want with it?" Tsunade asked. The clone shrugged, hell if he knew.
"Now, why the hell did you take on those ninja?" tsunade asked, ready to pound the clone.
"Why did I take on the Ichibi?" the clone shot back. Tsunade scowled and slammed her fist into the clone's face, dispelling him. Tsunade frowned; this was goig to be a rough week, she was going to need some Sake. She reached for her secret drawer and was almost there when Shizune's voice came over the intercom.
"You touch that Sake and I'll have more paperwork than twenty kage's can handle on your desk, tomorrow morning," Shizune threatened, causing Tsunade to become pissed. No Sake, bad mission, and a funeral; great, just great. She reluctantly went back to her paperwork, throwing out the papers that the council had sent to try and get Naruto stripped of his shinobi position and/or executed.
AN: Alright, did you like it?