"Why did he disappear now of all times? I threw this party for him. He's the reason we're alive. I have to find him. Where..."

She suddenly noticed him on a bench just a few blocks away from her house, with such a sad expression it almost made her cry. It was so unlike him. So hard to believe that Naruto could not be smiling. She loved that smile. She had to put it back on his face. And fast.

"Naruto?"

He quickly looked up, startled. "Hey, Ino!", he smiled, but it was fake. Ino could tell immediately.

"OK, spill."

He was stunned for a second. Had he been that easy to read? He motioned for her to sit next to him, and as she did, he sighed and turned to her.

"You got me, heheh. Well, it's just that I wish Ero-sensei and my parents could be here. I miss them, I miss them a lot. With all the battles I wasn't even thinking about that. I'm alone. I don't have anyone to be there for me. I don't want to be..."

Ino grabbed him without thinking and pulled her to herself. He was speechless.

"Baka, you're not alone. You have all of us. Sasuke and Sakura love you as if you were their brother. Everyone respects you. We all fought this war to protect you. You will never be alone."

He hugged her back and they sat in silence for a few moments.

"Hey, the pizzas arrived. Let's go eat, Naruto."

"Oh yeah, the pizza!" and he was gone in the blink of an eye. Ino smiled to herself, and got right behind him.

Naruto rushed in, only to find everyone else sitting at the table, not eating. There was one whole pizza left on the table. Ino followed shortly after. |

"We figured you two would be hungry when you got back, so we left you some", Hinata told them.

"Some? You left the whole pizza! Thanks, guys!"

As she and Naruto sat at the table, the others got up and went to the living room.

"Hey, where are you going?"

"We all ate, and we figured you guys would want some privacy" , Sakura winked at Ino.

Both went as red as a strawberry, and Ino shouted insults at Sakura, who was laughing in the living room along with the rest.

"That forehead... Oh, there are no more clean plates. Just wait a second while I wash these, ok?"
She went to the sink and started washing the dishes. As she finished washing the last plate, she felt a presence behind her and turned around. She came face to face with Naruto, his expression unreadable.

"Is it true? That you don't like any of the guys?"

She didn't know how to answer. Lie, or say the truth?

"Answer me, Ino."

"Why are you asking me that all of a sudden? What has gotten into you?"

Just a little while ago, she said he'd never be alone. True, he had his friends, he was now a hero. But if he didn't tell her now, he'd truly feel alone forever.

"Because I like you."

Ino nearly dropped the plate at his statement. She stared at him with eyes wide, mouth agape, and as much she wanted to reply, she couldn't. She felt as if she was paralyzed.

He continued.

"But I know you only see me as a friend. You deserve much better, I can't give you all that you want and deserve."

She composed herself, came closer to him and put her hand over his mouth.

"I would choose you over everything else."

Not it was his turn to be speechless. She closed the distance between them and kissed him lightly. He pulled her closer, so that there was no space between them and kissed her passionately.

Sounds of clapping and wolf whistles were heard again, and it snapped them out of their daze.

"Can't wait to see little Uzumakis running around!" , Sasuke shouted, smirking.

Now it was their turn to blush scarlet, as everyone laughed.

Who would have thought it would turn out like that? Life looked much better for Sasuke and Naruto. They weren't going to be alone anymore.