A/N: Hey guys! I'm back with another new chapter. Before we get into it, I want to provide some context about this chapter. As I stated in my Author's Note at the end of Chapter 3, I wanted to write a filler chapter that would focus on the friendship/rivalry of Sakura and Ino. This chapter takes place during the three-year timeskip while Naruto is away. It was inspired by the flashback scene from the episode of Shippuden when Ino and Sakura were partaking in the Chunin exam, specifically when they are reminiscing about their training with Lady Tsunade while Naruto was away from the village.

I apologize for the lack of action, but I promise that will be coming in the next few chapters, starting with the second bell test. I'm not very good at writing fights or action, but I will try to give it my best effort. In any case though, I hope you guys enjoy this filler chapter!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, any of its characters, places, etc. All rights belong to Masashi Kishimoto.

Chapter 4

Ino and Sakura had just finished a long and grueling day of training and studying with Lady Tsunade. Three months had passed since Ino had come to request that the Godaime train her in medical ninjutsu as well. Having successfully passed the test of healing an octopus, the two rivals were now on top of the Mohawk Fish Market, watching the sun begin to set just over the horizon.

"So what made you seek out Lady Tsunade to learn Medical Ninjutsu?" Ino asked her friend out of genuine curiosity.

"To be honest with you Ino, it was Naruto. When I saw him in the hospital a few days after he had returned from the failed attempt to bring Sasuke back to the village alive, he was covered from head-to-toe in bandages due to several chakra burns and wounds he sustained during the fight. I felt like such a horrible person because I had to depend on Naruto yet again to bring Sasuke back for my own selfish reasons. I was so sick of being a burden to other people, not being to hold my own in a fight without having to count on others to do it for me. That's why before he left, I promised Naruto that I would train hard too. I want to be able to stand by his side and support him in any way I can. He has had to shoulder enough of other people's burdens by himself in the past and I don't want to lose another teammate like we did with Sasuke." Sakura replied.

"Speaking of which, I don't mean to bring up any painful memories Sakura, but how have you been since Sasuke's passing?" Ino inquired, still greatly concerned about her friend.

"Losing a friend and teammate is one of the hardest things I've ever had to endure. I locked myself in my bedroom and cried for hours, but not because I lost the person I thought I loved." Sakura responded.

"Thought you loved? I don't understand what you mean by that Sakura." Ino said.

"Ino can you honestly tell me what attracted you to Sasuke?" Sakura asked.

"Well, let's see. He was good looking, the top of our class, um…." Ino was cut off, as she couldn't think of any other positive attributes or qualities to praise her former crush. "Just where are you going with this Sakura?" Ino inquired.

"Like you and most of the other girls in our class Ino, I liked Sasuke because I thought he was handsome and talented. When Iruka-sensei announced that Sasuke and I were going to be placed on the same team, I felt like I was on cloud nine. Over time though, I came to realize that Sasuke was nothing more than a friend and teammate." Sakura responded.

"I'm still not quite sure I follow." Ino said, clearly confused.

"The night Sasuke was planning on leaving the village to go to Orochimaru, I confronted him in a desperate attempt to convince him to stay. I even admitted my own feelings for him, but Sasuke simply brushed me off as just another annoying fan girl. It wasn't until after his death that I truly began to understand what love is. I had been so blinded by a schoolgirl crush that I ignored the one person who had been supporting me unconditionally along." Sakura replied.

"Judging by the way you were talking about him just now, it sounds like you're in love with Naruto." Ino insinuated as she saw Sakura's cheeks begin to turn red in embarrassment. "Wait! You really do love him Forehead, don't you?" Ino asked.

"There's no point in me trying to hide it because I know you'd just keep egging me on until I told you the truth." Sakura said, letting out a groan in disgust. "Yes. I have feelings for Naruto. During the few days before he left to train with Jiraiya-sama, he helped me overcome the pain I had been feeling. Whether it was eating meals together or playing a prank on some unsuspecting villager, every moment I spent with Naruto erased a painful memory once sketched in my mind of Sasuke. That baka has spent so much time putting other people's happiness above his own, which is why I want to do the same for him. When he returns from his trip in a few years, I'm going to tell him how I feel." Sakura said.

"I'm happy for you Sakura." Ino said.

"Thanks Ino. Promise that you'll keep this between us for now." Sakura said in a pleading tone.

"Uh sure, but I don't see why you're so worried though. Afraid that someone's going to steal your man?" Ino asked teasingly.

"Pig!" Sakura growled.

"Ease up would ya Forehead. I'm not gonna get in the way of you and Naruto. You do know that there is someone else who has a thing for him too right?" Ino asked.

"Well if it isn't you, than who the hell are you talking about?" Sakura snapped back.

"And to think people say Naruto is clueless. Do I really have to spell it out for you?" Ino asked.

"Pig! If you don't tell me who it is, I'm going to…." Sakura was cut off as Ino began to wave her hands in the air.

"Alright, alright! Jeez Forehead, for the girl who had the top grades of our class, you sure aren't very bright. The girl I'm talking about is Hinata. Don't you remember that she's had a crush on Naruto for years?" Ino asked.

Sakura facepalmed at her own idiocy. Not only was she suddenly beginning to feel her blood boil a bit, but she felt her own nervousness and uncertainty creeping up on her. Sakura's mind began to race a mile a minute. 'Shannaro! How could I forget about that? What am I going to do? Will Naruto still feel the same way about me when he returns?'

'Hinata better stay away from our Naruto-kun!' Inner Sakura shouted in agreement.

'Not now Inner.' Sakura shot back.

"If you're done talking to that Inner personality of yours Billboard Brow, I might have a suggestion for you." Ino said.

"How did you know I was talking to Inner?" Sakura inquired.

"I could tell by the look on your face. Plus you have a bad tendency to keep your true thoughts and feelings hidden inside." Ino replied.

"Fair enough. I'm all ears Pig." Sakura said.

"Alright, when Naruto gets back from the three-year trip he's on with the super pervert, make your move as fast as you can." Ino exclaimed while pumping a fist in the air.

"Really? That's you big idea Ino-Pig? I could have gotten better advice from a fortune cookie." Sakura said sarcastically.

"Just hear me out Forehead. Hinata has always had confidence issues, especially around Naruto. Haven't you noticed the way she stutters whenever she tries to talk? Not to mention, Hinata blushes like mad or faints from the slightest touch if Naruto lays even one finger on her. Thank god he's too oblivious to notice that she's into him." Ino said nonchalantly.

"Let's just hope that last part doesn't apply to me as well." Sakura said.

"Relax Billboard Brow. We both know that Naruto has always had a thing for you. You already have that going in your favor. Not to mention that your a lot more confident about yourself. Even if Naruto isn't the sharpest tool in the shed, you can always put it in terms he'll understand." Ino said as she slammed her right fist into her left palm.

"I suppose you're right. Thanks for the advice Pig." Sakura replied, giving her friend a small smile.

"Anytime Forehead." Ino said.

"So how about you? Anyone special that's caught your eye?" Sakura inquired.

Ino let out a deep sigh before replying. "Ugh, not yet. I used to have a thing for Shikamaru, but that's pretty much been shot to hell seeing he's always with that girl from the Sand."

"You mean Temari-san?" Sakura asked.

"Yeah. Ever since Naruto knocked some sense into her nutjob brother during the Sand-Sound Invasion, no pun intended, I've seen her here a lot more often. Now that our villages are part of an alliance, Shikamaru said that he was ordered by Lady Tsunade to be Temari's escort whenever she's here. Every time she goes back to the Sand though, he won't shut up about how glad he is to be rid of that 'troublesome' woman. Even if he doesn't like to admit it, I can tell Shikamaru has a thing for her. No other girl has been able to get that lazy bum off his ass to do things as easily as Temari can." Ino said, trying to hold back her laughter.

"Good point. What about your other teammate, Choji?" Sakura asked.

"Choji is a sweet guy, don't get me wrong, but I don't see him as good boyfriend material. Besides, with the rigorous training that my dad is subjecting me to in learn our clan's jutsu and learning medical ninjutsu from Lady Tsunade, I think I have enough on my plate to worry about. I'll keep my options open, but right now I really want to focus on my training to be a better kunoichi so I can stand toe-to-toe with Choji and Shikamaru." Ino replied.

Sakura nods as she goes back to watching the sunset.

'Wherever you are Naruto-kun, I hope your safe. When you return in two years with that old pervert, I'll be ready to stand by your side. Not only as your friend this time, but hopefully as the woman you have always believed I could turn into.' Sakura thought to herself, as a smile began to form on her beautiful face.

XXXX

Meanwhile in a distant village somewhere in Lightning Country, a certain blonde knucklehead let out a loud sneeze.

"You alright brat?" His perverted sensei asked.

"I'm fine Ero-Sennin. Just had this weird feeling that someone was thinking or talking about me." The blonde jinchuuriki responded.

"Alright, just try to keep it down. I'm trying to gather research for my next book." Jiraiya said.

"Uh, Ero-Sennin. I think it might be too late for that." Naruto said, pointing to a group of seething women that had appeared behind them.

Both the jinchuuriki and his perverted sensei ran for dear life. As they struggled to maintain a comfortable distance between themselves and the pack of angry women chasing after them, Naruto swore that he would never allow himself to be caught around his master ever again when he was conducting his research. That is when a devious thought came into Naruto's mind. 'Oh I'm going to make you pay for this Ero-Sennin. If I don't, then I'll sure as heck let Baa-Chan and Sakura-Chan do the honors when we return to the village in two-years time. Kami knows how much they both despise perverts and the last thing I want to do is be on Sakura-Chan's bad side.'

End Chapter 4

Alright guys, that's all I have for now. Hope you all enjoyed the banter between Sakura & Ino. Thought I would also include the bit about Jiraiya and Naruto at the end to add a little humor to the story for a change. The next chapter will be Naruto's return, so keep your eyes peeled for when that comes out. See ya next time!