Dream Walkin'

A/N: This fic idea came to me when I had this particular song by Toby Keith stuck in my head for THE ENTIRE DAY. Normally, I hate when that happens, but it happens to be one of my favorite songs, so I let it slide, and actually got a fun fic idea out of it. On a personal note, I'm a fan of many types of music, and country is one of them. "Dream Walkin'" is actually a great song, so look it up on Rhapsody, iTunes, or where ever you look for music. This will start out as a one shot, but, I may also write more. Depends on my mood.

Konoha - Naruto's Apartment - 07:30 hours.

Naruto Uzumaki started to stir when his alarm finally went off. He sleepily looked over at the bedside table to find a single yellow rose in a sake bottle vase, sitting by his clock. Under the bottle was a small piece of paper. He lifts the bottle and pulls the paper out,, seeing only a few words written in purple lipstick. The note read, "Thanks, I had a great time." There was no signature, but hhe knew who wrote it.

"Ino," he whispered to himself, then looked at the clock again. "Shit," he cursed, "Baa-chan's going to be pissed." He quickly got himself ready and left his place, headed to the Hokage's Tower.

Hokage's Office - 13:00 hours.

"What's got you so distracted?" Tsunade asked of Naruto, who had jjust set a mission report on the pile to be filed.

"Huh?" Naruto's face showed a look of shock.

"You just marked a genin team to receive s-rank pay for catching Tora," the hokage remarked. Naruto rechecked his work, and sure enough, he had.

"Honestly, that cat should be an S-rank."

"While I don't disagree, Come on, Naruto, what's got you so distracted?"

"I hope you have a while, Baa-chan."

Flashback - Previous Night - 21:00 hours.

Naruto stood with his back to the bar in the newest club to open up in Konoha. He and Sasuke came here after Sakura told the Uchiha that she had to pull a double shift at the Hospital.

During the final days of the war, Naruto had faced Sasuke one more time. It seemed that one one would get the upper hand and the two fought for what felt like hours. It only ended when the masked man that everyone thought was Madara Uchiha interfered, attacking both of them at the same time. So, much like they did with Shinnou of the Sky nation, the two teamed up against a common enemy. After the battle was won, the two were too exhausted to continue to fight, so they started talking. A couple of days later, both Naruto and Sasuke walked into the allied camp in triumph.

What happened later was a mess, to say the least. Sasuke's attack on the Kage summit, as well as his attack on Killer Bee had left him a wanted man, but Tsunade, after a long conversation with the two, came up with a plausible cover story, saying that Sasuke was working undercover against both Orochimaru and Akatsuki, sending them information on a regular basis, through Jiraiya's spy network; a story that was corroborated by Naruto, who was Jiraiya's apprentice. She then explained that Sasuke's actions were his only means of maintaining his cover.

Now, Sasuke's on a probationary period, and Naruto's working to learn the ropes of becoming Hokage, as Tsunade has named him as her successor. Sasuke and Sakura moved in together. Naruto had tried to pursue a relationship with Hinata, but his attempt was shot down before it even had a chance to start, thanks to Hiashi. Even though it was now common knowledge that Naruto was Minato Namikaze's son, the Hyuga clan head had signed a bethrothal contract, engaging Hinata to Kiba Inuzuka.

"What's on your mind?" Sasuke asked his brother from another mother, "Still ticked about Hinata?"

"Not much I can do about it now," Naruto answered, "Besides, I have a lot on my plate right now, with learning how to work as Hokage. Baa-chan is working me to the bone, but I think I already have the answer to the paperwork."

"Shadow clones?"

"You know it, Teme." The two continued to talk while Naruto looked around the bar. He noticed Ino having a rather animated conversation with someone. He guy looked like a civilian, and Ino looked pissed. "Wonder what's got her so steamed?"

"My sharingan lets me read lips," Sasuke explained, "He asked her out for the purpose of getting her drunk and in her skirt."

"Prick," the toad sage responded, and watched Ino walk out, still in a rather bad mood, "Sasuke, I'll catch up with you and Sakura later. I'm going to see about Ino."

"Good luck, Dobe."

Konoha streets - 20 minutes later.

"Ino," Naruto said, walking up behind the blonde girl, "Are you ok?"

"I've been better. I should have known that civie guy was after me for my body." She turned around, facing Naruto, showing that she had been crying, since she left the club. "I have the worst luck with guys."

"I saw you there," he replied, "Why do you do this, Ino?"

"Because I swore that I wouldn't lose to Sakura, both as a ninja, and in love."

"So this is a rivalry thing? Ino, Not everything is a competition. Yeah, I can see having a rival as a ninja. The rivalry can drive you to become stronger, better. But competing in love is another thing. What is really important is finding someone who makes you happy. I still have a rivalry with Sasuke, but that's only because it drives us to become better ninjas. When he and Sakura got together, I was happy for them, as my friends."

"What about you and Hinata?" Ino asked as they started walking together.

"Will never happen. Hiashi had her engaged to Kiba before she was even born. He just recently activated the contract."

"That has to hurt."

"I've had better news, that's for sure. Baa-chan's been keeping me busy a lot lately, so I really haven't had time to think about it."

Ino looked over at Naruto, and really looked at him. "Where did this wisdom come from?"

Naruto slid over closer to Ino and put an arm around her shoulder. "You don't need to compare yourself with Sakura," he tells her, "You are your own woman, and need to find someone that makes you happy. Not to try to beat her."

She then turned and put her arms around his neck. Naruto's arms slid down around her waist and the two, following what their bodies were telling them, enveloped each other in a kiss that spoke of both passion and longing. When they finally broke, if only for the sheer necessity of air, they looked around to find that they were by Naruto's building. "Want to come up?" he asks her.

End Flashback.

"When I got up, I found out that she had left earlier in the morning," Naruto explained, "She took the shades I got from Bee, my sage cloak, and just left."

"And it looks like you'll be going crazy till you see her again," Tsunade responded, "Why don't you take the rest of the day off, and find her. If I know her, she's probably at the flower shop."

"Thanks, Baa-chan." Naruto then bounded out the window, while Tsunade yelled at him to use the door.

Yamanaka Flower Shop - 13:30 hours

Ino Yamanaka stood behind the counter of her family's flower shop, bored out of her mind. No customers had come in all day. She sat down in the chair behind her, and felt the cloak hung on the back. She then heard the bell at the door sound, and said, "Welcome to Yamanaka Flower Shop. Can I..."

"Help me?" Naruto asked, "I think you already did." Ino then bounded over the counter and dove right into Naruto's waiting arms.

End.

Secondary A/N: I suck at writing Lemons, so I don't. I leave it implied. If you want me to continue this story to tell the story of Naruto and Ino's relationship, let me know by reviews.