Thinking-about-it: So the next chapter even though I haven't had many reviews. Please review. I only ask because I need to know what you think. Tell me which parts are rubbish and which parts aren't.


"Hey Kotetsu, still here I see" a slow, soft, and seductive voice came into the man's ever-so-alert ears. He jolted up, producing a kunai from his arm, holding it in a defensive position across his chest.

"Who's that?" he yelled scared. This was not good. He'd just been given guard duty, again, and he'd forgotten to stay alert, instead had got drunk. Again. Damn Tsunade and her lousy timings. Couldn't she have given him a day off after that bloody mission?

"Please, what kind of a ninja are you?" that voice. He knew that voice from somewhere, that flirty, seductive, soft and slow voice. Damn his alcohol affected brain, he shouldn't have celebrated that bet he made with Shizune so much. It affected his thinking.

"Alright, I give up. You're either from Konoha or from Suna. Temari-san if that's you come out now! My head hurts" he informed the wind, his exhaustion concealed

"I'm sad that you've forgotten me Kotetsu."

"Oh come on, just show yourself and be done with it already. If you wanna kill me then go right ahead. Just stop this thing already" yelled the annoyed Jonnin. Dang it to hell, the hot springs were so much better. So were Jiraiya's books.

"Alright, you useless bum. Can't you play around? I haven't seen you in six years and this is how I get a heartfelt welcome" said the voice. It was so close; he felt the person's breath on his neck.

"Play around? PLAY AROUND? It's bloody two in the morning!" Kotetsu yelled his cool composure completely lost.

"I don't know why she promoted you to Jonnin level" said that voice before something rose from the ground….. wait that wasn't a something, that was a woman. A blond woman

"Done gawking now?" Ino asked impatiently tapping her foot against the cobblestones.

"Ino? Ino Yamanaka? Oh thank God" Kotetsu yelled and enveloped the woman into a bone crushing hug.

"That's all very nice Kotetsu, but can we stop hugging now?"

"…..hehe" the man laughed nervously.

"Mind telling me why a Konoha Jonnin was mental while on guard duty?" Ino asked as Kotetsu stepped back

"Temari-san does that a lot, and so did you. I just knew it'd either of you, but really didn't expect you back. Thought you were taking a ten year long break"

"Well I decided to shorten it. I need to go now. Need to report to Tsunade."

"Well best of luck, she was in a crappy mood when I got Guard Duty" Kotetsu said sourly, thinking about the ridiculous punishment his leader had given him. And the equally ridiculous reason behind the punishment.

"Kotetsu…"

"Yeah?"

"Do you always grope the people who walk through the gates?" Kotetsu flushed deep red and walked off to his post mumbling curses.

"I'll meet you in the bar tomorrow at night" Ino yelled giggling as she saw the man trip on his feet.


"Are you done playing yet?"

"Impatient aren't we?"

"Shut up mom, I'm hungry, sleepy, and cold. Let's go to some hotel now" the kid yelled his annoyance making his face look like a little fox.

"Come on Kaito, let's go home" Ino said picking up the boy in one hand and her bag in the other.


"MOM!"

"What is it?" Ino yelled from within the bathroom.

"I'm hungry" Kaito muttered pouting, as he banged on the door. Ino sighed and dried herself off, before stepping into her cloths. It was time she faced Konoha, with Kaito in tow. After a fast breakfast of some rice balls, Ino and Kaito stepped out of the hotel, ready to face whatever Konoha threw at them.


"Sakura, tell dad I'm leaving. I got some training to do. Bye, oh and breakfast was lovely" Akira yelled as she made her way out of the house.

Sakura sighed. It had been six years since she had got married to Naruto and Akira Uzumaki still refused to call her 'mom'. Well, she had two, three year olds who called her mom and she was seriously not complaining.

"Morning Naruto. Did you sleep well?" Sakura asked Naruto as he stumbled into the kitchen

"Yeah. Akira went to train?" he asked not bothering to hear his wife's answer. Damn Tsunade and her crappy moods. Did she have to hit so hard?

"Does it hurt that much?" Sakura asked seeing Naruto slightly massaging his left cheek.

"It doesn't pain, Bushy takes care of that. It just hurts" Naruto said, scowling at the thought of facing his team. I mean, he was just smiling to himself and talking about the women in the hot springs, and she had to slam her fist into his mouth, yelling at him not to joke around. Even Sakura didn't mind. Well not so much as to actually beat him up for a good forty minutes.

"Don't worry, she'll be all happy with you now. I need to go to the hospital, got an important surgery that I left half way through."

"How come? Who is it?"

"Raido, got completely thrashed by some stone ninja. The process needs a break of twelve hours, or else the poor guy will go bang" Sakura said and placed her empty cup down. "Drop Yume and Yuki off at the Hyuuga's, before you do anything else" Sakura said hurriedly after pulling up her long hair into a ponytail, kissing Naruto goodbye, and then ran out the house towards the hospital.

"Damn I only got a kiss" he muttered, and got up to wake his two, three year olds.


"Kaito, remember I told you about this big scary lady?" Ino and Kaito were in front of the Hokage tower. And Ino was trembling. Kaito nodded and hugged Ino's leg for comfort as he remembered the stories his mother told him about the big scary lady.

"Well just don't be scared of her." Ino said and walked into the tower, dragging Kaito along. When Ino made her way through the tower, all activity stopped, as the occupants in the halls looked on with surprise as the Ex-ANBU commander made her way through the office after six years of absence.

"Shizune, can I go in?" Ino asked the dumbfounded woman. Shizune nodded, and opened the door to let Ino and the boy in.

"Tsunade-sama, someone's here to see you" Shizune said walking into the room. Ino and Kaito stayed outside waiting to be called in

"Is it important?" Tsunade asked not taking her eyes of the file in her hands

"I guess…. So will you see them?"

"Throw them in, and get back to the hospital to help Sakura. Raido's surgery isn't done yet" Tsunade said sighing as she threw the file on her table. Damn those missions, wait, no, damn those idiots taking those missions

"Alright. I'll come back later" Shizune said and walked out the door. Once outside she motioned for Ino and Kaito to go inside.

"Finally, I hate being stared at" Ino huffed and marched into the room Kaito doing his best not to look scared.

"Oi Tsunade-hime, what the hell is up with you?" she asked loudly as she walked up to the desk, banging her hands onto the shiny surface, trying to catch the woman's attention.

"Who's the kid Ino?" Tsunade asked looking at Kaito. The boy was short, had long, red hair, deep blue eyes, and a seal below his right eye. He was dressed in a light brown sleeveless t-shirt, black shorts and looked like he was about to wet them.

"You knew I was here?" Ino asked her eyes going wide with disappointment

"I know everything, especially when you try idiotic stunts like last night. Kotetsu came to me immediately. So who's the tiny brat?" Tsunade asked again smirking

"Damn that man." Ino muttered closing her eyes. She opened them a minute later to stare at Tsunade smiling brightly "This, my dear leader, is my son, Kaito. Kaito meet Tsunade-sama. The big scary lady I was telling you about"

Kaito peered out from behind his mother's leg and stared at Tsunade. Then he jumped up clapped his hands, laughed, ran up to her and hugged the stunned Hokage. Tsunade looked quizzically at Kaito before giving him a hug.

"Kid I really appreciate this gesture of affection, but what the heck?" Tsunade asked after setting Kaito on the desk. She looked at Ino who was trying her best not to gawk.

"Ok what's up Ino?" Tsunade asked quite confused by the younger blond

"Nothing, how come you haven't yet asked me why I'm here."

"You got bored of running all over the country, and wanted some kickass suicidal missions again" Tsunade stated firmly as she took a swig out of her sake bottle.

"….How'd you know that?" Kaito asked as he saw his mother bang her head on a wall close by.

"I… have my ways kiddo." Tsunade looked out her window "Kaito go outside for sometime. Your mother and I need to talk" Tsunade said picking up Kaito and ushering him out the door.

"Who's taken my post?" Ino asked the minute Kaito was out the office

"Do you want it back?" Tsunade raised her eyebrow slightly. Ino just looked away and nodded faintly.

"Well you gave it to Sai, but then he preferred to being only Jonnin, so Kiba took it up." Tsunade said

Ino nodded, and walked towards a window. She looked out at the scenery of Konoha, and sighed heavily. Man she shouldn't have left. Everything had changed so much, the academy had been relocated, and that was the worst she could see from her spot at the window.

"Hime, how are the rest?" she asked her voice barely audible

"Fine…... Doing well. Most are Top Jonnin, except for Kiba and Shikamaru. Kiba is ANBU commander, and Shikamaru stayed back at chunin level." Replied the slug mistress as she made her way to the younger blond.

"Good for them. How's Akira?"

"BAA-CHAN! GIVE ME SOMETHING TO DO" and Ino fell after seeing the face of her ex-husband pop up in front of her face.


"Couldn't you have been a bit more subtle?" Tsunade asked as she helped Ino sit up. The blond now sported a large bump on her head, as well as a pair of very scary looking eyes focused on Naruto.

"Hehe….. ah, well … that is….. I .. er, I am sorry?" he asked trying his charm on the woman in front of him. Damn, he should have heeded Shizune's warning.

"…If that ever happens again, I will personally make sure you can't have sex. Ever" Ino threatened, glaring at him. Naruto gulped and nodded eagerly. Anything, he vowed, anything as long as she stopped being angry with him.

"Alright, now you can ask him yourself" Tsunade said as the silence became uncomfortable. Ino looked at Tsunade, then at Naruto, and then smiled brightly

"Well how is Akira?" Ino asked patting the seat next to her. Tsunade nodded in approval and took her place behind her desk, as Naruto sat in the seat next to Ino's.

"She's fine, she's a chunin now. Looks more like you than ever- somebody's at the door" he said and jumped out of his seat

"Wait Naruto, I want you to meet someone. Kaito, come in" Ino called, catching hold of Naruto's sleeve in the last second. The door opened and Kaito stepped in, looking at his feet.

"Naruto, meet Kaito, my son. Kaito, meet Naruto, your…um… my ex-husband"

"When did you get married?" Naruto asked surprise filling his face, completely missing Ino's slip-up.

"Mom's not married." Kaito growled as he folded his hands and pouted.

"Nice hair kid." Naruto said eagerly squatting next to Kaito. Kaito looked at Naruto, then glanced at Ino, then glared.

"I am not a KID" he yelled turning his nose in the air, as if sniffing.

"You remind me a lot of Sasuke, doesn't he Ino?" Naruto asked glancing at Ino. She looked amused, mischievous even.

"Who in Sasuke's family had red hair Naruto?" she asked suddenly, Tsunade raised her eyebrow when she said this.

"….. Who is his father then?" Naruto asked his stupid look appearing

"Are you seriously kidding me? You haven't figured out as yet?" Ino asked her jaw falling on the floor

"She never told me who my father was." Kaito said his voice softening up a bit. At that Naruto looked at Ino sharply. Glaring at her he stood up, and walked up to Ino and said softly "I never knew my father, don't do that to him."

"I don't intend to Naruto. Kaito will have to figure out who his father is. It's not my place to tell him. If he wants to find his father so badly, then he will. If not then….." Ino said standing up. Kaito looked up with a smile and hugged her tightly.

"Why can't you just tell him?" Naruto asked confusion written all over his face

"I'm going to be independent, a fighter. Like mom told me my dad is. I wanna be like him. So she gave me this mission" Kaito said and looked into Naruto's eye, before clapping his hands and exclaiming "And I'm this close to finding him" he gestured with his fingers

"Well, Ino what do you want to do about that position?" Tsunade asked a few minutes later. Changing the topic apparently was a good idea, as Naruto's attention diverted completely from the topic at hand. Kaito sighed and walked out. He would look for this sister of his. Aki- something.


"Excuse me, but can you tell me where I can find the eldest daughter of Naruto Uzumaki?" Kaito asked at the ninja academy. A man with a weird ponytail sighed

"Troublesome."

Kaito fell.

And he ranted.

Then he got up. Nobody brushed him off like that. Not this lazy looking man with a pineapple for a ponytail. Nobody.

"Are you done?" Shikamaru asked bending down to Kaito's level. He shouldn't have taken this route to Hokage tower. But noooo, his legs just had to take him this way.

"Don't answer anybody like that" Kaito yelled in Shikamaru's face. The chunin simple straightened up and walked off. Not before muttering a "Training Ground 9"

Kaito huffed, and started towards the mentioned training grounds. That must have been that lazy Shikamaru, mom told me about a few days ago, and he thought smiling. Not a bad guy. Not a bad guy at all.


"Hey what's your name?" Kaito asked a girl who was drinking some water. He was in training ground 9, and she was the only one there. The place was beautiful, full of every flower imaginable. And the varying smells from each of them made it hard to concentrate on anything. Boy was he thankful his mum had taught him about flowers. That girl looked like she knew nothing.

"Why do you wanna know?" she answered back rudely. Who the hell was that red head, coming into her Training Grounds without permission; and on top of that disturbing her training? Nobody did that. Not even that idiot from her class would do that. Stupid boy

"I'm Kaito. Are you Akima? We have the same mum." Kaito said, deciding to ignore the anger in the blond's voice.

"First off my name is Akira, not Akima. And my mum left Konoha six years ago. So don't be stupid."

"OI I'm not being stupid. If your mum's name is Ino Yamanaka, then you're my half-sister" Kaito said sitting down, scowling.

"So who did she get married to?" Akira asked failing to sound concerned.

"Why does she need to be married to get a kid huh? Is it that hard to believe that she might have had a child without a marriage?" Kaito asked heatedly. Seriously, what was it with these people? I mean it wasn't hard was it?

"Why you so pissed off? You still have a mum, and a dad. Whereas I have only a dad, no mom" Akira replied annoyed. This kid was taking too much of her time.

"You are stupid you know. I don't have a dad" he said softly, trying to start over.

"When did mom return?" Akira asked sensing his attempt to start over. Kaito looked at the girl and got up. She was going to cry, he knew it, and she did; all Kaito did was hug her tentatively.

"She wanted to see you first, and she did. Even before she announced her presence to the guard, she was at your window for fifteen minutes, deciding whether to wake you up or not. She'll come by, she promised. She'll never break her promises; I know that" Kaito mumbled firmly to her. Akira nodded slightly, and hugged him back tentatively as well.

"So I guess this is the first time we hugged huh? Friends?" Kaito asked stepping back slowly. Akira chuckled softly shaking his outstretched hand


"My position? I don't want one. All I want are good, I mean good, missions…. Oh and my house." Ino stated decisively, as she walked around the room.

"…..About that Ino, um….. Well you see….. Somebody's living there" Naruto said nervously. Damn if he knew Ino was coming back so soon then he wouldn't have let Akira do things to that place. How was he supposed to make an entire wall appear all of a sudden?

"What did Akira do to that place?" Ino asked narrowing her eyes.

"You must understand Ino, she was very angry. Very angry. I promise to get it repaired soon-"

"Cool it sunshine. Me and Kaito will repair it. Now what has she done?" Ino asked chuckling

"She tore apart the front entrance" Naruto said meekly.

"Alright then, I'll need your help too. A hundred kage bunshin per day" Ino said and started to leave

"I'll have your status restored in a few days, a week's time at the most. You're free till then." Tsunade called out to her. Ino looked back and nodded slightly before leaving.

"I'm the father right Tsunade?" Naruto asked quietly

"I think so"

"I have four kids now, heh I wanted a large family, I've got one, a completely messed up one" Naruto mumbled walking away, leaving Tsunade shaking her head pitifully.


Kaito and Akira were chatting when a kunai came tearing through the field, passed an inch by Akira's ear and landed by Kaito's feet. They jumped apart a kunai appearing in their hands.

"MOM! Come out NOW!" Kaito yelled throwing his kunai at some bushes to his left. Ino stepped out giggling, the kunai in between her fingers. She threw it back straight at Kaito. He stumbled back trying to dodge it, but the kunai came an inch close to the bridge between his eyes and stopped.

"That's a cheap trick!" Kaito yelled untying the invisible thread attached to the kunai.

"Run along little kid, you're sister and I need to talk." Ino said and pushed Kaito. He sighed and walked off. Seriously, why couldn't he stay at any conversations?

"Stupid people"

"Hey Akira…" Ino said softly turning towards her daughter. Akira looked straight at Ino, not knowing what to do.

Ino seeing her discomfort moved up to her and hugged her tightly, softly sobbing into her daughter's hair.

"I'm sorry honey, I really am. Remember I promised you I'll be back? I am back. I'm back for good now" Ino sobbed into her hair.

"You didn't watch me become a genin, you didn't watch me become a chuunin, and you didn't train me like you did Kaito. You didn't do so much in my life. All of that Sakura did. She did all of that, even though she isn't my real mother. Even though she is somebody my dad married. WHY? WHY DIDN'T YOU STAY? DID YOU HATE ME?" Akira asked her voice rising to a shout. Ino only hugged her, never letting go.


Thinking-about-it: this is to thank all of those who read through this. And for who reviewed the last chapter.