Hello everyone! This story is being re-written from a story I (attempted) to write seven years ago, it has changed slightly. If there are any constructive criticism/recommendations for this story that would be awesome! Also, if you see any errors I didn't notice, please tell me. I apologize for any OOC-ness that is glaringly obvious. I hope you enjoy!
"Of course, today just has to be the one day the clouds decided to leave," she muttered.
Annoyed was an understatement. This was the first time she managed to drag herself from her family's flower shop to go train in a WEEK. While she would get sweaty by training anyway, getting sweaty by walking outside was incredibly irritating. Glancing over to the side after catching the sound of shuffling feet, she noticed him a couple of paces behind her.
"Ne? Hey Shika!"
Her tone exhibiting the happiness she couldn't otherwise show. From his features, it appeared though Shikamaru was just as exasperated as she was from the heat.
"Hey, Ino," He greeted. "Troublesome..."
He groaned as sweat started to bead at his forehead. Silently agreeing, she rolled her eyes, and continued on to the training grounds with Shikamaru.
Several hours later found them laying beneath a large shade tree, exhausted and drenched in sweat. With lungs still trying to catch up from training, she sluggishly turned her head towards her cloud-watching partner.
"So Shika, what are your plans for this week?"
"I have a mission escorting the Kazekage's siblings around Konoha, why do you wanna know?" He looked from the side of his eye at the blonde he grew up with, and seeing her smile, frowned in confusion.
"Troublesome..." he muttered.
"Ne, Shika you're considered a genius, and all you get to do is escort people," she giggled in response to his exasperated sigh.
When he moved his eyes to look at the clouds, she let herself stare at her childhood friend. 'Oh man, why did Shika have to become so dreamy,' she internally sighed, beginning to daydream about a certain genius right beside her.
After half an hour, she was interrupted from her fantasy by Shikamaru groaning in annoyance and standing up. Blinking, she got up too, and stretched out her sore muscles. Picking up her supplies, she turned to Shikamaru and began to walk beside him. While she was usually a chatterbox, today she was quiet, contemplative.
"Hey Shika," she started when her apartment was in view, "do you wanna go eat sometime this week? When you don't have to work?"
She hoped she sounded nonchalant, and not as nervous as she felt.
"Yeah, I guess. I'll bring Choji and we can go to that barbeque restaurant he's been wanting to try." He replied as they neared her house.
'Damnit, Ino! You pushed too fast!' she thought inwardly groaning.
"Sweet! Whenever you're available is fine! I'll go talk to Choji later," she responded smiling at him as she reached her door.
"Bye Shika! Have fun with your mission!" she teased before closing her front door.
'Well, Ino,' she thought to herself, 'at least you didn't completely embarrass yourself.'
The next day she decided it would do her a world of good to restock the kitchen. Since she usually ate take-out, her kitchen mainly consisted of canned food and large containers of water. Being older had its rewards, one of them being she got to choose what to eat.
Dressed in civilian clothing with makeup lightly applied to her porcelain face, she left her hair down, hoping it wouldn't be too much of a bother. On the way to the market place, however, she noticed her pineapple-head of a friend walking with three other people. Getting closer, she decided it wouldn't hurt to at least say hello.
"Hey Shika," she said as she came up next to the group.
"Ino, what are you doing in the market? You don't cook." He looked at her with a slight frown, confused.
"Ne, Shika I figured I would learn." She shrugged, and looked over at the odd couple looking at her strangely, well, at least she thought so.
"Hello Temari, Kankuro. It's nice to see you again," she said, bowing slightly.
Smiling, she looked back to Shikamaru, and said her goodbyes. As she walked away, hips gently swaying as she went, she could've sworn she heard something that sounded suspiciously like an appreciative whistle from behind her.
'Most likely from Kankuro,' she thought giggling, and continued with what she originally set out to do.
Throughout the next few days she focused on training, mostly trying to create more efficient ways to use the clan's jutsu on the battlefield without becoming a hindrance. She worked on her accuracy, stamina, and agility when she decided to give up on her original idea.
You can't exactly practice or perfect a mind control jutsu by yourself, you know. After running a few laps, she decided to take a breather. She was just beginning to breathe normally when she heard someone land in front of her.
"Hey Ino-chan! How are you?" the cheery, but serious voice could come only from the Hokage himself.
"Hello, Hokage-sama. I'm well." She replied formally. She didn't get to have special treatment just because she grew up with him.
With a sigh, he countered, "Ino-chan! What have I told you! You can call me Naruto! Anyway! What are you doing?"
"Ok, Naruto-san. I wanted to try and perfect my mind control jutsu, but I can't without help, so I wanted to become better at other things I'm lacking." She finished, blushing in embarrassment.
She knew wasn't the strongest kunoichi anymore of their generation, hell, look at Sakura-chan.
"I can help you Ino, I need to get away from all that paperwork for the day, anyway," he shuddered thinking of the stacks of papers on his desk.
Straightening himself, he began to train with Ino, helping her with her abilities. It surprised Ino how serious Naruto could be, and how he didn't seem to judge her for her inability to do certain things.
The day to try the new Barbeque restaurant came all too quickly for her. She had just finished her morning training session with Naruto, and even though she felt as if she was getting stronger, she was still completely worn out.
"If not for the fact that I know this will help me eventually, I would hate you for this, Naruto." She squinted her eyes at him in a tired attempt to look angry.
Chuckling, Naruto came over to her and began helping her up to walk her home.
"You don't have to walk me home, I can do it myself, you know," she muttered five minutes into walking.
Internally, she hoped he wouldn't let go, and chastised herself for even mentioning that.
"…But thank you Naruto-sama."
"As Hokage I must make sure everyone is safe, right? Plus, you're a friend, Ino-chan. And I can tell you're exhausted." He grinned down at her, his height being a full head taller than her.
Having regained some strength by the time they reached her house, she extricated herself from his grip, and opened the door. Turning her head, she smiled at Naruto, and invited him to some ramen after she showered.
"I have to go back to the office, but thank you Ino-chan!" He smiled back, said goodbye, and headed towards his office.
'Ne, maybe I should take him some for lunch?'
She quickly yelled for him not to make plans for lunch, and with a reply of confirmation, she made her way to the bathroom.
When her long blonde hair was finally dry, she applied light makeup to her eyes and cheeks. Earlier she had set aside an outfit that was much more casual than what she wore to train, and though it was decidedly on the plainer side of her closet, it still enhanced her natural beauty. Quickly braiding her hair, she checked to see if she had her essentials. Money? Check. Extra hair ties? Check.
'Well if I needed anything else, I can't remember it.'
Checking the time as she walked out the door, and making sure it was locked, she continued to Ichiraku.
'Okay so its 11:15 now, if I can get to Ichiraku in about ten minutes, get the food in twenty, I might just make it to Hokage tower.'
She walked faster, determined to get Naruto some ramen for lunch in time. Thankfully, it seemed like Kami agreed to her plan, because she made the trip faster than she expected.
'That's odd that Ichiraku wasn't busy at a time like this, though… Ne,' she shrugged to herself, attempting to keep the four take-out containers full of ramen upright while going up the stairs.
Reaching the door, she paused, fixed the containers, and firmly tapped her knuckles twice onto the door. Hearing a slightly muffled 'come in,' she turned the knob, and walked into the office. Seeing stacks of paperwork, she laughed out, "I could've sworn I heard Naruto's voice in here, must be a ghost."
"Oh, ha-ha Ino, very funny," the grumbling voice of Naruto came from behind the mountain.
Giggling, she sat the ramen on the seat, and began to shuffle around papers until there was room for Naruto to eat. Setting three of the containers of ramen down in front of a salivating Hokage, Ino sat back, and began to organize the paper work that Naruto couldn't seem to work through fast enough.
"Naruto, you should see about getting a little help with this paperwork, this is crazy," she exclaimed to the preoccupied blond in front of her.
"I know," slurp, "Ino-chan," long slurp, "could you help me until I find someone else?" he pleaded before he resumed eating using his slurp technique.
Raising an eyebrow, she lightly sighed, "yes I can help Naruto-san, I'll look at my schedule to see which days I can come up."
Looking at the clock she realized she still had at least three to four hours before the team was meeting up for dinner. Grabbing the fourth container, she took the second pair of chopsticks and dug into it, she was more famished than she thought. Setting down her empty container, she glanced around at the crowded desk. With a shrug, she figured she might as well start her new side job right now.
Three hours and half a desk of paperwork later, Ino glanced up the clock after reading the last few sentences of a pack of paperwork that had been thirty pages too long in her opinion. Looking over her notes of the document, she added a comment about the last page of the paper.
She glanced over at Naruto, and snickered at the look of boredom that dominated his features. Standing up, she placed the documents and her notes in a pile beside Naruto for him to look over.
"All right, I have to go now. If you have questions about the notes I added write them down, and I'll look over it tomorrow after we train." She stated while gathering what little items she brought with her.
"See you in the morning, Naruto," she smiled at him and closed the door.
Ducking into a nearby bathroom, she checked her appearance for any problems that needed fixing. Feeling pleased with herself, she walked out of the bathroom and walked to the barbeque restaurant. Looking around the restaurant, she saw Shikamaru stand and wave to her, signaling her over. Smiling excitedly, she quickened her footsteps.
'Maybe I can still flirt with Shika?'
Inwardly giggling in anticipation, she made it to the booth, and stopped short of her seat. Looking over at Temari and Kankuro, she managed to school her features into a more pleasant expression.
'Of course, the one chance I get to flirt with Shika and he brings these two.'
Trying to keep the disappointment out of her voice, she greeted the sand siblings with a small smile.
"Hey Choji, how are you?"
Ino asked smiling in mild amusement while leaning over to give him a small kiss on his cheek. Giggling in response to his excitement over the barbecue, she settled into her seat. She sat beside Kankuro which, to her rapidly decreasing luck, put her in front of Shikamaru.
'And she just had to sit next to him, too, didn't she?'
Ino mused, her mood darkening as she watched Temari run her hand down Shikamaru's arm in a seemingly innocent caress. Thanking the heavens for good timing, Ino was relieved when the food was brought out. Immediately grabbing the chopsticks, she gazed down at the steaming plate of barbeque chicken that smelled incredibly delicious.
"Itadakimasu!" is repeated around the table as heads are bowed before they begin to nudge their food with their chopsticks.
Firmly gripping the chicken, she leans slightly, and is greeted with a beautiful taste when the saucy meat touches her tongue. Briefly closing her eyes in her enjoyment, she is greeted with the unappetizing site of Temari leaning into Shikamaru, and whispering into his ear.
Glancing over to Shikamaru's face, that had become emblazoned with a dark blush, Ino looks back at her food dismayed. Twenty minutes passed with Ino only answering direct questions, with eyes never leaving her plate. She finished her meal quietly, and left after a cheery attempt at goodbye.
Only when she reached outside did she realize she forgot to pay her portion. Inwardly groaning, she got the money, and went back in. She was almost to the table when she heard Temari's laughter.
"Temari, did you have to be so obvious? I didn't tell you about her crush on me just for you to be obnoxious about it. I haven't had the chance to tell her I'm already in a relationship with you."
She could hear the irritation in his voice.
'Ahh, okay, so that's why he's been avoiding me.' She sighed.
"She was so pathetic about it! As soon as she seen you blush it's like she shut down. How pitiful. She's probably heading home to cry!"
Temari cackled, not noticing Ino as she walked up. Setting down her portion, she looked at Shikamaru with a raised eyebrow, and promptly retreated to the safety of outside. Disregarding any sounds of what could have been Shikamaru yelling for her, Ino leaped onto the nearest roof, and made her way home from there.
It had been almost a week since Ino began ignoring Shikamaru. She mainly trained with Naruto now, but she managed to train with Choji when Shikamaru was busy. If Shikamaru wanted to talk to her, well, that was his problem.
"It's not even the fact that I had a crush on him that makes it hurt, it's what Temari said to begin with that's the problem."
She gazed over to the blond-haired man sitting next her, silently asking for advice. He glanced over her form, still breathing heavier than normal from the spar they had twenty minutes ago, her eyes clouded with pain.
He spoke softly, "it will be okay Ino-chan, some people are just mean. I'm sure Shikamaru feels bad about it." Jumping to his feet, he offered Ino a hand.
"All right, how about I drop you off at your place, pick up some ramen, and we meet up at Hokage tower for an early lunch? Then we can finish off the day's paperwork, and maybe train some more." Naruto asked lightly.
'You're a good friend, Naruto-kun.'
She thought softly smiling, then answered, "that would be great, Naruto."
AN: I decided to edit this one a little more as I went through it again. My friend had a heart attack that I use "block" format *rolls eyes* and demanded it be fixed. Whatever, it doesn't bother me.
Either way, thank you to everyone enjoying this story! If you have suggestions on what I can do, scenarios I can put them through, anything, tell me. Please. I am a reader first and foremost, so anything helps.
Thanks ^^