Retirement?
What?
No…
Naruto scratched the back of his head as he ruffled his blond mane that looked so much like his father's now. He let out a small yawn as he stared at the setting sun over the horizon in Konoha. He was in his apartment, same one he's had his entire life now. Just as bare as it has been for years now, minus a few books scattered on the floor here and there. It wasn't messy per say if you were thinking in the manner if messy correlated with dirty, no it was messy but very clean. He was sitting on his window still on the poorer side of the slums, right next to him was another building and right under him was an alleyway. The twenty year old was hitting his reenlistment year. Ninja's that went into the military get to retire or reenlist after 10 years of service, after the first initial reenlistment it get pumped down to every four years.
The reason the first one was so long was due to the fact that your military applications spent ten years training you to be within their ranks and they expect ten years paid back for it, after that it was all overtime and your village is all the more grateful. The reason so many Nin usually stay Nin for life is due to the fact that they know nothing else. That and a hard life of constant adrenaline packed with lots of memories, bonds, and funerals tent to make someone readjust to normal society that much more difficult. Going from someone who spit fireballs the sizes of houses to someone that herded cattle and mended grass didn't sound that appealing to anyone. So Ninja that didn't reenlist were quite rare if they didn't have some incurable disease or were no longer able to operate as a Ninja.
The blond exhaled the cigarette in his mouth and went back to holding it in between his right index and ring finger. He was shirtless, due to the fact that he was in the privacy of his own home albeit currently displaying to anyone who would look up in his direction. The thing was it was summer in Konoha and it may not compare to Suna but it got pretty fucking hot. He was in his blue Jounin pants with his taped up feet that were currently free of their blue sandals. The wind picked up and took his plume of smoke exiting his lips high into the sky. His blond hair moved slowly with it as well.
Staring at the giant fireball descend further into its sleep he pondered really going through with it. His goals of being Hokage were no longer in his agenda, he achieved everything he was trying to be by becoming Hokage. He was well known, his presence now demanded acknowledgement and he became powerful, so powerful he was respected and feared by all military applications around the world. He was so known people in Suna all the way to the Mist came up and shook his hand. He was on everyone's hit list, labeled to be so strong people were to run away on sight if an enemy were to encounter him. These were the reasons he wanted to become Hokage, but now that he accomplished it all without having to put the robes on, he found it pointless to done those garments now. In all his time as Ninja Naruto has come to realize all ranking up meant anymore was just the same shit with an albeit busier schedule and longer field times.
He was getting tired of the same retrieve this item, protect this person, steal this weapon, assassinate this man, etc, etc, etc. It was as if his life was like one of those quest board games some kids down the road loved to play in which they constantly got their heroes to go on quests in exchange for becoming stronger and richer. It sounded nice but Naruto had become so bored with it. He never thought he'd get tired of donning his head band and going out to make his people proud. If anything he's done that and then some.
Destroyed a cultist group help bent on world destruction? Check.
Single handedly stopped a pierced up psycho that destroyed and killed half his village, then got him to restore everything and bring back everyone back to life?... Check.
Was proclaimed by the world to be the hero of the Fourth Shinobi war by all over the world? Check.
Stopped Obito and Madara? Check and Check.
'I did it for her… I just wanted to see her smile, laugh, hell even get angry at me like she used to… it didn't matter.. no I just wanted her to live… that's all.. that's also why'
Obito's final words sinking into him as his blue ball of energy sunk further unto his torso. The man appeared as if he was seeing the past as he dug his chakra to his breaking point and yanked out his heart, the blond could have sworn he saw a brown haired woman with purple markings on her face hugging and burying her face into the back of Obito's torso before everything went white. The blond just wished he'd die with as a content expression as that man did that day. He may have been scorned by the rest of the world for his actions but the blond will give him respect none the less. He perfectly understood what the man felt like and sympathized that all he wanted to do is built a world where the person he loved the most would be back in his arms. Wherever that poor soul ended the blond hoped he was back in the arms of that person.
Shaking his head off he took another drag of his smoke and shivered with ease at the nicotine calming his nerves. Back to the subject at hand and the impressive resume he's stacked on, that earned him the highest honor his village could bestow on one of their Ninja. He was proclaimed with the title of 'Hero of the Will of Fire' by his very own Hokage. It came with an emblem and several other distinguished medals and accolades he earned in the war. Needless to say he was a well-respected veteran.
Lately though he had been recalling his time with his old mentor who rest his soul was no longer among the living. The two year trip around the world was quite possibly the best time of his life and if he could do anything revolving time travel he'd go back to those days. The sights and sounds of the world, he wanted to go see them again. Not just the rural end of areas he was forced to take on missions but actually travel down a city or village without the nagging pestering of work behind his head. Not needing to constantly look over his shoulder for fear of being compromised, he just wanted that same nostalgic feeling he did when he traveled with Jiraiya. In two years he had the option to do just that without being labeled AWOL and be hunted down by his own people. Which no doubt they would, Naruto was as a high end merchandise as the forbidden scroll.
Retirement huh?
He decided then and there that, that is what he was going to do. He was fed up with it all; being a ninja had become mundane cycle of repetition. He loved Konoha but just longed to see more, travel the world until something catches his fancy. There was really nothing hindering him to this place anymore anyway. His teammate was back behind these walls, albeit he could no longer be a ninja due to his last battle with Naruto. The blond warned him, it was after his fight with the two Uchiha's that Sasuke found it fit to put an end to the dispute over who should be Hokage. At the time he had recently just finished getting burned by Madara's eyes and the blond knew if the man strained anymore chakra he could severe his chakra system.
The stubborn proud dumb ass paid no heed and went all out. He really should have known the outcome as Naruto cut through him after finally getting fed up with holding back for the Uchiha's sake. Needless to say he was inoperable as a Ninja. Many people were pleased by that news seeing as Sasuke didn't have the best track record with other people. The blond questioned the man's sanity when he woke in the hospital days later and was told the news, all he did was laugh while holding the biggest shit eating grin afterward. He told the blond that he just found it ironic how karma worked considering all he did to obtain that power only for it to be stripped. The man couldn't even activate his Sharingan anymore; he was put at ease when the nurses told him he could still pass on the genetics needed for it.
As for his other teammate, she threw herself into work for some reason. After the war the amount of casualties was unprecedented, she was working around the clock hour after hour. After that fiasco finally dimed down and the blond had a normal conversation with her, he found out she volunteered to be the head medic at their hospital. Meaning her days hopping from tree to tree to the next mission were behind her. Naruto hinted at her or more suggested Sakura should talk to Sasuke. He never caught the solemn look she gave him when he brought that up. The reason he did was the fact that he felt all that hard work he did to bring that man back and never resort to killing him despite all the opportunity needed to be paid back somehow.
It was bittersweet really, he knew the end result of his promise to Sakura that day would mean she would be with him but to see her happy especially as a kid back than was all he ever wanted. It didn't happen as quickly as Naruto thought it would have, he at least thanked her for not just jumping on the Uchiha's bones first thing when he got back. It was like she was trying to prove a point that she longer had feelings for him by not giving in so easily but that was just wishful thinking on the blond. He never resolved the issues pertaining to their feelings and where they stood with one another afterward either, but the blond merely assumed those feelings were just his imagination, that woman only ever loved one man after all.
Needless to say the blond doesn't keep much in contact with his old team. Sakura was no longer an active duty Nin who no doubt avoided him like a plague, Sasuke was a civilian now, and Kakashi did his own thing, he dropped in time to time though just to see how things have been. His village achieved peace, everyone was moving with their lives and no threats of great cataclysm seemed to be surfacing any time soon.
Retirement…..
Yes indeed.
/
"You wanna be a Jounin instructor?!"
"Yeah what's so surprising about that?"
"Naruto just the other day I was prepping your papers to go to Anbu headquarters"
"Yeah well I wanna be a team leader instead"
The blond Hokage rubbed her temple as the Uzumaki sat across from her with a bored expression, legs crossed lazily like a man and head tilted to the side. The reason the Hokage wanted Naruto in the Anbu so bad was due to the fact that it was last requirement he needed to become Hokage, she thought she was pretty clear with him on that the last time she saw him. The reason being a future Hokage could understand what he/she asks of his/her soldiers when they make whatever call was needed. For a future Hokage to understand the dark side of things.
"Naruto all this is doing is slowing you're progress for my seat, I know it will look good on your resume that you taught fresh Genins but Anbu is the path that will-"
"I don't care I'm telling you forthright that I don't want Anbu and it's my right to decline under the Ninja code. What I want is transfer over to the Jounin teaching division and get assigned a team"
The hard blue eyes clashed against Tsunade's brown, both eyebrows forward, teeth clenched, and both restraining not to hurt the other. With a defeated sigh the Hokage slumped in her seat and once more rubbed her temples this young Ninja would be the end of her she swore to god. Sitting up again on her seat she rummaged through her desk pulling out a sake bottle and a set of papers, she reluctantly gave what would have been a great Anbu operative papers for a more bumped down prestige. It was odd really most that become instructors become so reluctantly and because their orders told them to do it.
There wasn't any hesitation with the signing as Naruto did so quickly and poised as soon as he was done he stood up. Awaiting his briefing, Tsunade took a shot right from the bottle and slammed the stamp of approval so hard the desk actually gained a couple cracks from that small action. The blond knew she would be pissed, if he went the other route it was only a couple months before it was officially proclaimed he would be Hokage. This small action means he'll have to complete his contract with the teaching division which ran about a year to two and then he would have to go through the Anbu anway.
"All the Jounin instructors will be here tonight at 2100, form there you can get you pick of the mil from the graduates"
With a nod the blond turned around and began making his way out.
"Naruto"
The blond stopped at the door and merely turned his head over his shoulder.
"Care to tell me why you suddenly wanted this at least?"
"…"
"…?"
"Figured I'd pass it along before…."
"Before?..."
"Nothing never mind, just thought it was an experience I just had to go through is all."
"Right"
The Hokage let out in almost a whisper as she heard the click of her door and stared at the place he stood with a leer. Something wasn't right here and there was something he wasn't telling her. That much she was certain, while cupping her face with her palm and tapping her cheek with her index finger she could only wonder just what that could be.
Naruto gave a half impish grin to all the people that greeted him as he walked along Konoha's roads. He had his hands in his pockets and was deep in thought as he headed nowhere in particular. At the end of the day he just couldn't break it down to her and tell her his real intentions. He didn't know how'd she'd react, he was not a man to be afraid of most things but her disappointed face was one of them. He had two years to break it to her hopefully not on the exact same he plans on doing it.
/
The Jounin instructors were chatting it up in the Hokage office all over there conversations left and right. The alcohol loving woman shifted through various papers and thanked her Chunin assistants as they ran in and out of the office with document after document. The place was abuzz with wonderment on what their subordinates would be like, if they would get some from well-respected clans or students that were showing prestige. Amongst that group was a nervous Yamanaka known for her interrogation skills and odd ball Ninja techniques. Ino had grown tall over the years, well taller than the typical Konoha female. She wore the classical Jounin get up and flat jacket, with black sandals and crossed her arms as she tapped her foot impatiently. The clothing did wonders to hide her well-endowed bust but her big rear a certain pink haired witch liked pointing out was not as lucky. Her long blond bang still covered her right eye and her greenish blue turquoise eye looked determined.
She couldn't believe she got accepted into becoming a Jounin instructor after volunteering six months ago. She thought for sure they forgot about her application but was shocked when she received her new orders a week ago. She was ecstatic at finally achieving one of her goals but nervous as all holy hell, she did not want to fuck this up. Over a little off to her right was an old pal she would have never guessed would want to be a teacher. Kiba brunette sporadic mane bristled every time he laughed with a couple of other female Jounin. One thing that hadn't changed was that he was still a hound when it came to the opposite sex.
She remembered hearing from her father how Kiba's mother was yanking her hair out when the boy wouldn't pucker down and select a mate already. Shamelessly running after young tight tale left and right, merely doing the act but not conceiving results for his efforts. She wanted grandchildren and his playboying around wasn't exactly yielding results. The woman sweat dropped at the remembrance of that but none the less tried not to laugh at the man's antics. He was always a horn dog, but give a horn dog a great body and great charisma, and you get a horn dog that gets it in. Kiba like everyone donned their Jounin attire, people stopped talking briefly and that made the Yamanaka curious as she looked over to the source of the disruption.
Walking in was Konoha's knight in shining amour himself as he walked in and nodded towards all the dumbfounded looks presented his way. Many wondering what a man of his caliber was doing here of all places. Soon the whole place irrupted in whispers in wonderment of what the hero was doing here. The blond ignored them and looked around. Ino must have been staring to long because their eyes intersected and locked. Her greenish blue locked with his deep blues and he smiled while waving at her. She hadn't seen Naruto that much lately, always on a mission or ten. Every little get together he never shows up mainly because of that fact. This was the first time she's gotten a good look at him in probably over six months give or take. He looked a LOT like his father albeit with three whisker marks on each cheek, yes everyone knew he was the son of the fourth.
"Ino Yamanaka we I'll be damned never took you for one to do this, figured you'd stay with the interrogation department"
She must have been in a daze because the blond was standing right in front of her. Normally when it came to most men Ino was relatively the same height standing around 5'7 to 5'8 but Naruto was solid 6'0 tall.
"Well this was always something I wanted to do and you only ever get one shot at it so I figured why not"
The blond returned warmly, Naruto slightly surprised by the warm and not witty snide remarks he remembers Ino always using. Now that he thought about was Ino always this so femininely. If you'd be walking down the street and you saw this female walking by, the only thing your head would say was 'Woman'. He must have been caught because when he came too, she had a cocked eyebrow and smirk on her thin glossy lips.
"Distracted by something Uzumaki?"
See, that's the Ino he knew, a fully grown woman, that knew what she had and had no shame in knowing what she had. A complete blond bombshell that broke hearts left and right.
"You could say that, it's not often you see hair so silken white with blond"
He said chuckling running his fingertips through the bang that covered her right eye. Normally any other man, like say that Inuzuka over there, did that sort of action and she would have rewarded them with a nice hard kick through the groin. The fellow blond in front of her though just kept it so classy and gentlemen like the action never even popped up in her head. Besides she was far more patient with men than a certain pink haired brute.
"Flattery gets you nowhere Uzumaki dear"
"Oh all I was doing was stating facts"
'oh he's sweet' she thought as she actually let out some laughter from her lips.
This must have finally alerted Kiba of the new presence and his acknowledgement was rather boisterous as it always was with most of his people.
"NARUTO! Buddy good to see ya man how long's it been?"
"Kiba"
The blond stated flatly as he patted the Inuzuka's back as he got him a bear hug. Both men pulling away he could see the dog's hair had gotten sporadic and spikey all over. His big shit eating grin hadn't changed a bit over the years and he had the same red tribal markings on each cheek.
"Hey man don't tell me you signed up to teach?"
"Heh yeah, it's why I'm here"
"Shit they got you? Figured they'd place you in the spec ops considering you got the best track record here"
"Nah signed up to do this actually"
"Really, well this is great we got three of us representing our graduating class now, how about some rounds just the three in celebration what you too say?"
Both blondes sighed inwardly as they gave awkward smiles to the outspoken Kujo. They agreed since they had nothing better planned. Ino was now a Jounin instructor, regardless of the team she gets passes or not she was now in the teaching division so her interrogation duties were over. Naruto likewise had a now more brisk schedule to work with and he had to something with his free time other than training. Kiba was definitely curious about what Naruto had been up too and all the recent crazy adventures he'd been on since then. Maybe share some war stories over some beers like they were later tonight.
"Alright, Alright settle down on this sheet are all the graduates, each one of you will pick three"
They all nodded as it was the standard for a Nin team.
"Ok in typical fashion, normally we all pick from this bundle of sticks and the one who draws the red end gets his or her pick"
Again everyone nodded.
"However in traditional fashioned the most suited among gets first pick, that would be the one with the most prowess amongst you Ninja that being said Naruto Uzumaki you may chose first"
Again everyone saw it fit he would, albeit with a bit chagrin. Normally this meant that the rookie of the year was chosen right off the bat and since the rule that the dead last had to follow that person was abolished since Tsunade took over, they were picked hands down.
Naruto crossed his arms while standing in front of the Hokage's desk with all pictures and names on display of the graduating class. Finally finding his mark he merely pointed at the paper and tapped it.
Her name was Hizu Hyuuga.
Had the most amounts of absents in class, was very disrespectful to superiors, had a tendency to get into a lot of fights, never committed to work assignments. Had the lowest marks in her overall score and barely passed on whim. Had failed the test once prior this year and was apparently flipping off the camera in her photo.
She was branch member of the Hyuuga.
The dead last….
/
"Man the looks on everyone's face"
The Inuzuka said as he guzzled down his beer, Ino crinkled her nose as she was on Naruto right hand side and right next to the wall. The man in question merely gave a small smile as he downed his whiskey. Both blondes appeared to like hard alcohol over beer. The girls on Kiba's left side giggled when he told them something in hushed whisper. So much for just the three of them both blondes thought as they asked for another whiskey with coke each.
"Hey Naruto bud throw in a good word for me will ya I almost got this in the bag"
The blond quirked an eyebrow at him as he shot back the drink and let out a breath of content when his chest felt inflamed in that punch only alcohol could kick. Ino now turned her back to the counter but remained in her seat as she looked at Naruto quizzically wondering if he'd really do it. They both stared at each other with cocked brows and as if they could read the others thoughts Ino nodded at her fellow blond as she drank her vice with just as much gusto as Naruto did.
"Alright, but you're buying on the house"
Kiba felt his brow twitch as both blondes shared a smirk, figuring it was a blond thing. He grudgingly was about to decline when he saw the rack the two girls carried behind him and apologized to his wallet. The brunette hadn't fucked girls with breasts as big as they did yet and his dick was leading him down a tar pit trap that would be the pitfall of his currency.
"Deal"
Sometime passed after those words were said.
"Really! Kiba did that?"
"Yup, he fought off this Akatsuki guy, saved me from my prison and saved the entire team"
'Bullshit' Ino harshly whispered into Naruto's ear as she laughed into it when her forehead touched the side of his head. It was evident the drinks were finally starting to affect her but the restrained laughter within Naruto also told you it was also fucking him up. He lost count of what whiskey glass this was but he pounded away none the less. Kiba puffed out his chest as each girl ran their hands down his torso in some showmanship of bravado. It wasn't long before he convinced the girls to come back to his place and gave a thumbs up behind him towards Naruto as he exited with them one on each arm.
"That mutt is so full of himself"
The only female left in the bar muttered as she yawned and raised her arm above her head to crack her back. Naruto unconsciously licked the rim of his glass while staring over at her. For some reason the woman just seemed to glow and entrance the senses, she did that before he was inebriated now imagine it now that he actually was.
"Distracted by something Uzumaki?"
Again she playfully smirked as she drank yet another glass, this one being the last since the guy paying for them left. Naruto smiled back and knocked back his ambrosia with earnest.
/
"You know I hate acts of chauvinism when a man thinks he has to walk a woman back to her house"
"Oh, I thought I was heading this way simply because it was on the way and I enjoyed the lovable company I didn't want her to leave so abruptly"
"Yeah, Yeah stud keep swinging your words around and make it sound pretty"
Ino slugged him one in the arm playfully, she was sure the man was used to worse. So much so that if it had been someone she knew he would have been catapulted into the next town over in Suna. Naruto stood on a catwalk that connected to several other apartments.
"You know you didn't have actually have to walk right to my door, you could have taken a hike at the last street over"
"Hmm"
"So that being said you probably want to spend the night?"
She smirked an all knowing grin at him as she opened her door with a click. The sound of its hinges the only thing resonating along with a couple dogs barking into the night in the distance. It must have been well into 2 or 3 in the morning now and the sounds of crickets were in abundance. The moonlight hit the top of her head so well and it made her blond hair appear white under its glow. She had really pretty blond hair. The blond in question cracked a smile as he wasn't going to lie.
"May I?"
"Oh always the gentleman and putting the girl on the spot huh?"
She never gave him a plain answer and merely walked in, the way she left the door open however let him figure it out. They were both slightly intoxicated but not to the point where they didn't know what they were doing, just to the point where they didn't give a fuck what they did. The blond walked inside and closed while locking the door behind him. The apartment was tidy and clean, something he'd expect from Ino. The carpet carried her tastes of lavender as it was a deep purple in terms of contrast. She had the standard issue of living equipment more so than he ever did. All he had was a small tea table and a bed for his room at his place. Her balcony was something for the eyes she had a beautiful flower bed that covered it all. It was nice to see some things never changed.
"You before you go believing all the rumors of me being a wanton slut, which I'ma be straight with you I perfectly can be and trust me babe I'm damn good at it, there hasn't been another man in here in over a month and that man was my father"
Naruto couldn't stop the small chuckled that escaped his throat as he joined Ino in taking off his flat jacket. He laid his over the couch she had in front of the TV in the living room and turned around to see her take her top off revealing a tasteful seducing purple looking bra. That did well in emphasizing what her chest was already pronouncing to the world. The blond questioned her current actions as she walked up to her and squished those mounds against his clothed skin. Pouting slightly at that, before the blond even knew what was going on, he felt his shirt be removed faster than he could ever do it himself.
With a whistle she traced his tan bronze skin up with her index fingers giving appreciation to his fine physic as it indented with every ab. A man with a face like the fourth and a body like this, all while being the hero of the war, how was he not being tide down by every piece of vagina the world over. Now she once again brought their chests together and she couldn't help but be pleased at how fast he could feel his heartbeat accelerate. When you could make a man as gorgeous as this specimen get his blood going like this, it just further upped your confidence as a woman. Nothing was said for a long while and the only lighting was the moonlight that held the room in a small glow.
"Now Mr. Uzumaki didn't I say I could play the part so well?"
Naruto felt his brow twitch slightly and brought his left hand to fold over her bang behind her head so he could see both eyes.
"What you meant the one where you're an angel"
'Oof'
Ino leaned over the couch with her arms folded as she cupped her chin with her hand. Naruto blinked several times as he came to the realization that he was flat on his back on the couch legs sprawled.
"You know Naruto you're a real lady killer"
"Am I?"
"Oh don't be modest, you know for a fact you are. If I'd have known Sakura was throwing away such great treasure all the time back then, I would have been more than happy to take it off her shoulders"
Naruto for a brief second gained a glint in his eyes at the mention of the name. The other blond smiled apologetically if she stepped over any unknown territory with that mention. Her mind was put at ease when all Naruto did was prop his elbow and admire her features like she was doing his, Kiba may have been a well-known playboy but this man was a downright heartbreaker. Before Naruto could react yet again he felt something soft hit his face with a small 'omph'. Peeling the object off his face he found out it was a pillow before looking back up again.
"Distracted by something Uzumaki?"
/
/
/
A/N: Alright Ima be frank I feel like a whore…. Why? Because whenever I write anything for Naruto nowadays I feel like I'm just doing it for the views many authors on the Naruto filters are pissing me off with this only continuing for this many reviews and constantly asking everybody to please suck their dick (lick pussy, alright girls I know you write too calm down). So these days I feel myself grudgingly doing it before saying fuck it and dropping it all together.
HOWEVER
I'ma let ya'll in a little secret…..
I fucking love reading about Naruto and Ino together, I am a sucker for this pairing just as much as I am for Naruto and Sakura. Which is why this story will be a three way (yes pun is intented) between Naruto, Sakura, and Ino.
I haven't read a descent story concerning these three in a long time and figured it was time I stepped in. I'm keeping relatively short probably 5 chapters tops, I hope I can finish it all in that span of time anyway, I don't like romance stories that drag on some plus ten chapters. Cuz at some point it starts to feel like you're listening to two friends who are together constantly go on and on about their relationship and each other and blah ba-blah blah blah. Keep short and sweet, that's the trick to good romance fiction, just do that shit, fuck.