A/N: next chapter of Narugirls Ramen Mix! Woohoo! Ah, first thang first, I hope y'all got a happy Eid Adha, a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year! Next yeah, just to point out that uh, the title sure ain't clickin' with our current season but oh well fuck dat, in Narugirls Ramen Mix, I decide their season lol (haha, I'm such a selfish egoist lol) anyway, this one is with Ino and enjoy ppl! peace! holla!

Disclaimer: Kishimoto owns most of it, except the story, ya heard?! aite, we cool then... enjoy the fic ppl.

Sizzling Summer

By: UncleT

That day was hot, hotter than any other days, it was summer. A certain blond was one of the many people who couldn't handle the hotness. This blond was lying on the balcony of his apartment, wearing only a white shirt and an orange short. His face was covered by a white towel, completely drenched in sweat. Not only his towel though, but so did his body. From head to toe, he was covered in sticky sweat.

"Haaaa… I can't take it anymore… what the hell is with this weather anyway, dattebayo?" the blond whined and sighed.

That day, he didn't get any mission or any special training. He could have gone training, but the hot weather made him think twice. Without training, one of his last activities are either hang around Ichiraku Ramen stand or ask Sakura on a date; but both would be unbearable under the hot weather.

At Ichiraku's place, it would be even hotter as it serves hot food, not to mention the steam. It would be excruciating. To ask Sakura on a date would also be devastating. In this hot weather, her anger would be tripled if not quadrupled than usual and the blond would really end up in hospital, which he didn't really like.

"Haaaa… what can I do, dattebayo? Is there anything I can do, dattebayoooo?! It's hot… I'm bored… Oh God… now I wish I knew some Suiton Jutsu… Haaah…" the blond whined again.

When silence reined once more, he decided to get up before the sun's heat would cause him a third degree burn. He went inside and headed to his small bathroom. He washed his face and decided to walk around for a while to find anything interesting.

A few minutes later, he was on the hot, dusty street. He changed his clothes but the style stayed the same. He wore a new white T-shirt and changed his usual orange pants with a blue one. Instead of his hitai-ate, he decided to just wrap a small towel around his forehead. Not only he could wipe his face, but he could also prevent some sweat from crawling down his face.

He's been strolling around for a good half an hour until he stopped near a more-than-familiar place. He thought for a second before entering the small two-storey house in front of him.

"Irrashaimaseeen" someone greeted the blond as he stepped foot inside.

"Yo…" the blond waved a hand as he greeted back casually with a small grin painted on his face.

"Naruto?! Well, well, talking about surprises… It's rare to see you in my shop, Naruto…" a blonde girl said behind the counter, astounded.

"Yeah… I know, I was bored out of my mind…" he replied, his grin turned wider.

"Ooh? So are you saying that you'll go to my shop only when you're feeling bored? My, how thoughtful of you…" the girl said sarcastically.

"Hahaha… you know that's not true… beside, do you know how far is this place from my house?" Naruto asked the blonde girl behind the counter, who seemed pouting a little.

"Hmm, let me guess… 2 BLOCKS AWAY?? Come on, Naruto, it's not that far…" the girl snorted.

"Busted… Hehehe… Well at least I'm giving you a little visit, can't you act like you're happy to see me?" Naruto smirked.

"Well I could… but right now I don't feel like it… Ehehe, sorry, Naruto…" the girl slipped her tongue playfully.

"Heh, must be the heat, eh, Ino?" he asked playfully.

"One of the many…" she replied, turning her face away.

"I see… Want to talk about it?" Naruto asked her as he moved toward the counter.

"What do you mean?" Ino asked hesitantly as she glanced at him from the corner of her eyes.

"Well, I bet it's about a certain someone's love life, correct?" Naruto asked pointing a finger at her, his hand formed a gun and he leered.

Ino's cheeks turned a shadow of pink and Naruto's smirk widened. "Bulls eye…"

Ino quickly denied although she was blushing harder. "N-no! T-that's not even close! Baka!"

"Oya? Then why are you blushing, I.no.cha.n? Naruto teased Ino, but she's not Sakura's rival for nothing. After Naruto teased Ino, a punch went flying right beside Naruto's cheek, giving him a small scratch. "Heh?"

"I told you. It's not that. Am I making myself clear?" Ino said coldly as her eyes glinted evilly at Naruto, who nodded nervously, "Y-yeah… Crystal clear…"

"Wow…Note to self, must restraint yourself when you're with Ino too… she can be quite scary…"

"So? What else do you want? If you're here only to bug me, I swear you'd end up somewhere you won't like…" Ino stated as she crossed her arms.

"Heh? Ah… Well, it's true that I came here just because I was bored… I just… want to talk to someone… I guess…" Naruto said showing his palms defensively.

"Talk to someone? Why me?" Ino arched an eyebrow out of pure surprise.

"Well it could be anyone, really… I don't know, I guess since we live near each other, you'd automatically be the first in my list…" Naruto explained accordingly, he rubbed his chin philosophically.

Ino looked at her loud friend straight in the eyes before sighing. "Oh well, I guess it can't be helped since I'm bored out of my mind too…"

Naruto mentally cheered up and he grinned happily after Ino motioned him to sit on a chair beside the counter. Naruto nodded smilingly and walked toward the chair. They went silent for a minute before they both broke it.

"Ano sa…" both blonds locked eyes for a second before turning away abruptly.

"Y-you first…" Naruto quickly said, he could feel his cheek turning red.

"Uhm, right… uh… Can I ask you something? Y-you don't have to answer it if you don't want to…"

"Okay… Shoot…"

"Uhm, why do you like Sakura? I mean, she would never like you, no offense by the way… But why would you keep on liking her if she always rejects you?" Ino looked away out of embarrassment for asking that question.

Naruto pondered for a minute before answering, "I don't know… I guess it's because I can't help but to keep on liking her? Sure she'll never reply to my feelings, sure she'll always reject me, sure she won't even look at me that way… but still, I can't help but to like her…"

Ino's facial expression saddened after hearing Naruto's reply, "I see… So in the end it is no good for me…" she said the last part softly, almost in a mutter.

Naruto however caught her muttering and asked without hesitation, "What? What's not good for you, Ino?"

She turned red for saying what's on her mind out loud. She covered her mouth soon after and backed away from her blond friend. Naruto waited and waited for her to speak, but she never did. Feeling he got to do something to break the ice, he stood up and walked away from the counter. When she noticed Naruto's actions, she turned his way and stretched an arm, a tear dangerously on the verge of falling down her pink cheek.

"N-Naruto, wait! I-I didn't mean to…" she faltered but stopped when Naruto stopped as well and looked around. "… Naruto?"

Naruto kept looking around the area for another second before he bent down to his left and took a flower. He stood once more and walked back to the counter. By the time he stood in front of the counter, Ino had already lowered her arm and stared at him in confusion. After looking at her in the eyes for a split second, Naruto gave the flower he just took to Ino.

"Here… I don't know what's bothering you, but if you don't want to talk about it, it's alright, it's your choice and your problem, I don't have the right to butt in… So, I thought the least I could do is to comfort you and give you this flower… I guess… although it's originally a flower from your own shop so I guess I should pay for it, huh? But then again…"

Naruto grinned sheepishly as he tried to explain his logic about whether he should pay for the flower or not, Ino unconsciously formed a smiled. Naruto noticed, he stopped rambling and smiled back.

"Now there's the Ino I know… Hehehe…" he said with his foxy grin and had his arms crossed behind his head after he gave the flower.

"Teehee… Thanks Naruto…" she replied with a wider smile after she took the flower, her tear disappeared from the corner of her eye.

"You're welcome…" Naruto replied but his stomach suddenly growled. He instinctively grabbed his stomach and smiled sheepishly.

Ino giggled and tried to suppress the urge to laugh at him. "Geez, Naruto… You're really something…"

"Eh? Uh, thanks… I guess… Oh right, what about some ramen? You hungry?" Naruto asked Ino, who eyed him for a second but nodded after.

"Un! I'd love to… But it's your treat okay?" she said to him as she took his arm and guided him toward Ichiraku Ramen.

"Eh?! M-my treat?! B-but…!" Naruto tried to protest but to no avail as Ino kept on walking down the street happily with their arms interlocking each other.

"Oh shush Naruto, it's a date now… So you as the guy, should be the one paying… Now let's go!"

Both blond walked under the ray of the summer afternoon sun and the fresh breeze, a flower was left lying at the counter, watching two blonds going further away toward the horizon. The afternoon sunrays shined the flower shop and reached the counter. It shined the flower on the counter, making it sparkle brightly.

A/N: well there u are, hope ya enjoyed it, and sorry if ya didn't haha... anyway, Next would be Temari! Until then, fellas, holla!