Naruto walks down the street from Sakura's apartment, his hands tucket away in his pockets his gaze on the ground. 'How can she still be so nice to me, I kill the man she loves and take off for six years but shes still so kind to me, I dont deserve it' Naruto stops and looks back at the hokage faces, 'Dad, how can I even begin to make it up to her, I did my part to bring peace to the shinobi world, but now how d I bring peace to the wave of emotions in my heart' He sighs and turns around again walking toward the center of town, Shiro would need some new clothes, he was already outgrowing his old ones. "Hey Naruto whats up, you look a little down" a familiar female voice spoke out to him, he looked over to see Ino, he was outside the flower shop. "Im fine, just thinking is all" He walks over and kneels down picking up the potted plant that she was about to move inside "Let me help" "Thanks" she opens the door as he moves the plant inside and sets it down next to the others like it. "So you like being back" Ino asks as they continue bringing in the plants. "Its ok I guess, not how I expected it to be thats for sure" his voice was solmn, its was calm and soothling, not a tone the blond girl was used to hearing from him "I see, how was catching up with Sakura" Naruto's movements stopped for a moment. "It was..." he paused unsure of what to say "It was normal I guess" he continued moving everything in till they were done "Thanks for your help Naruto it usually takes forever" "its no problem I was passing by anyway" Ino lockes the shop door then turns to Naruto 'So where you headed" she asks curiously "I need to pick up some clothes for Shiro, wanna come along, your probably better at picking matching stuff then I am." Ino looked at him wide eyed for a moment before nodding "Yea sure".
The two blonds made their way toward the village center, theres was a shop Naruto knew to go to for kids clothes and he would have then put the Uzumaki crest on it, just like the one he wore on his back. "So Shiro huh, the little boy that was with you earlier I take it" Ino asks, Naruto nods "Yea, hes outgrown all the things he has, I probably should have done this alot sooner really" he laughs a little embarrased that it took him this long to actually go out and do this. Normally he would have brought Shiro along but the young boy wouldnt sit in the store for more then five minutes before throwing a fit about how boring it was and how he wanted to leave. "So is he like your son or something, I mean he looks like you, around the eyes anyway" Naruto shook his head. "No hes my cousin, his mother died two years ago when a biju attacked their village. I took him in shortly after" Ino looked at the ground, regretting her question "Oh I see, poor little guy" Naruto could only nod in agreement. They stopped infront of the shop, Naruto opened the door and let Ino in then followed in behind her, in truth it was his first time here, sure his old clothes were from here but he was never allowed inside, the third just got them from here and gave them to him.
The blond duo went through the racks, Naruto had taken out a mesh shirt, he knew Shiro always wanted one, he always talked about how cool it made Naruto look and he wanted one just like it. A small smile game to Naruto's faces thinking back on it. Ino soon joined him a blue and back jacket in his arms along with a pair of black shorts. She held them out to him "Will these work, he has black hair right, so they should look good on him" Naruto nodded "Yes he does, I think this will look great on him, thanks for your help Ino, your a life saver." Naruto walked up to the clerk and asked him to place the Uzumaki seal on the back, the clerk took the jacket and left the counter, naruto turned to Ino "The village has changed alot huh" he says his normal lively tone starting to return to his voice. Ino nodded "Yea it has, you know the villagers have been awaiting your return, its already speard like wildfire that your back" She walks up to the counter and leans up next to him "So how is everyone" he asks his gaze finding its way to the ceiling "Their ok. Shikamaru finally got up and became a jounin as well as Sakura, Kiba, Shino, and myself" "Oh is that right" Ino nodded "Neji and Tenten are married now, they have a baby girl named Hannah, she turns two next month" "Wow so they got together huh, must be nice, im happy for them" "Yea they arent the only ones, Lee got himself a girlfriend, shes about two years younger then us, I dont know how she puts up with him though, Kiba and Hinata got together about two years ago, and Shikamaru has something going on with Temari from Suna" Naruto sighs a small smile on his face "So Hinata and Kiba huh, thats good to hear" Ino looked up at him slightly confused "Oh? how so?" her voice was laced with a curious tone. "Its just after the incident with Pain, I wasnt sure how I would confront Hinata once I got back, it should be a little easier now" "Oh, yea that makes sence."
The clerk comes out with the clothes, Naruto pays him and puts the clothes in a sack before leaving the shop with Ino. "So how that your back, gonna try to hit it off with Sakura" she had a hint of slyness to her voice. Naruto just shook his head "No, over the last few years I realized alot of things, I dont deserve her after what ive done, besides I know that her heart, it always has and always will belong with Sasuke" Ino looked down the ground, it wasnt the answer she was expecting. His voice was so stern she could hear it, he had finally just given up on the pink hair medical ninja. "yea but hes out of the picture now, why not give it a shot" Naruto just shook his head "No, im content the way things are, I can say it now, I just loved her, plain and simple, nothing more and nothing less" "Naruto" Ino's voice was felt sorry for him, she could tell he had been through a lot since the war, what had time done to her bright and cheery friend, the one who never gave up, who fought with all he had, the man who stood tall no matter what the odds and was never afraid to speak his mind. Where was that Naruto, the one who stood before her now seemed beating and down, as if he had lost himself somewhere along the line, he was solmn, and so very distant. They stop infront of Sakura's apartment building "You wanna come up, I mean you should see Shiro in these and I bet Sakura wouldnt mind the visit" Ino nodded "Yea sure, I guess I can hang around for a bit".
The two blonds walked up the steps and into the apartment. Sakura was in the kitchen and Shiro was sitting on the couch drinking a glass of milk. "hey little guy im back" Shiro nearly jumpped out of seat, he ran straight to Naruto and wrapped him around his waist "Welcome back Naruto-nii!" The small boy looked up at Ino then at Naruto "whose your friend?" he asks in a small tone "this is Ino, she works at the flower shop remember" the boy put a finger to his chin then nodded "Yea" he gaves Ino a wave "Hello Ino-onee-chan" Ino smiled down at him, he was so cute with his messy black hair and familiar blue eyes. "Hi there Shiro" Naruto handed Shiro the bag of clothes "Why dont you go try these on for me" Shiro took the bag and ran off toward the bedroom. Soon after Sakura came around the conner "Oh hey Ino, I didnt know you where here to" Ino nodded walking over to join Sakura "Yea, I saw Naruto and town and he asked for my help, I just came along to see if I did a ok job" "With what" Shiro answered that question when he came custing out of the bedroom in his new clothes "These are so cool and their a perfect fit, awesome" his voice was full of excitement "thanks Naruto-Nii" he says in a warm down, Naruto shook his head "dont thank me, its Ino who picked them out" Shiro turned to Ino and bowed his head "Thank you I really like them" Ino only smiled "Sure its no problem, they look good on you Shiro" Sakura nodded in agreement "Yea they really do" she theb turned to Ino "Why dont you stay for dinner Ino, I havent seen you much lately and itll be fun with one more" Ino nodded "Sure but you have to let me help make it" Sakura smiled with a nod and the two made their way back into the kitchen. Naruto and Shiro took a seat on the couch. "So naruto-nii are you and Sakura-san really close" Shiro asks curiously "yea we used to be, im hoping we can be again to, she was a great friend to me, a very important person."
-(With Sakura and Ino)-
"So whats the deal forehead, its not like you to ask me to stay" Ino asks as he peels potatoes. Sakura sighs "I dont know, its just weird having Naruto here, I dont know why, I just kinda have this weird feeling" Ino nodded "I know what you mean, he seemed really different when we were walking earlier" Sakura turns on the stove and puts a pot of water on the boil. "He told me he was sorry" Sakura's voice was quiet "about what" Sakura stood there for a moment looking in the water "About now being able to keep his promise" Ino nodded her hear in understanding "I kinda figured as much, it seems like it still haunts him, having to kill Sasuke I mean" Ino didnt want to tell her about the talk she had with Naruto on their way here. "yea. Im not sure how to snap him out of it. In a battle like that he was kill or be killed, Naruto tried his best not to resort to that, but in the end, he had to do it" Sakura voice had started to shake "I wish I could have comforted Naruto back then, when he came back to us with Sasuke. I could tell he was in pain about it, I could see it in his face, but I didnt do anything" tears starting forming in Sakura's eyes "I stood their stupidly crying about Sasuke when Naruto was hurting far worse then I was." Ino walks over and puts her hand on Sakura's shoulder hoping to ease her nerves. "Sakura its ok, its in the past now" Sakura shook her head "It'll never be in the past, atleast not to Naruto, Sasuke almost killed him, I about lost them both, then like a idiot instead of being happy about atleast one of them returning to me, I started to cry over the death of a man who tried to destory everything I held close" Sakura wipes the tears from her eyes but soon new ones formed unable to stop.
"Sakura, im sure Naruto has put it behind him already, if he hadnt, he probably wouldnt have returned to the village" Ino didnt mean to sound harsh but it was the truth and they both knew that. "I know that, I know but" In her mind Sakura saw the scar, the one she had seen only once, the one close to Naruto's heart, the one that Sasuke gave him that night. She wiped the tears from her eyes and took a deep breath, she straightened up then turned her attention to the now bowling water. "but what Sakura" Ino looked into Sakura's emralled eyes, trying to get her answer "its nothing never mind lets just get dinner ready" Ino nodded and returned her attention to the vegetables 'Sakura'
-(20 minutes later)-
Ino walks out into the living room to see Naruto teaching Shiro the ninjutsu hand seals, the small boy had a smile on his face as he copied the hand signs the older blond had shown him. "Ok you two time to eat" Shiro looked up and nodded then both boys stood "Ino-onee-chan will you sit next to me" Shiro asks as they walking into the small dining room that was connected to the kitchen. Ino nodded "Sure why not" the boy ran to the table and got into his seat. "Smells great girls" naruto says taking the seat at the end of the table near Shiro. "Thanks, its nothing speacial though." Ino says taking her seat. Sakura was the last to sit. Naruto turned to Shiro who nodded and both boys put their hands together. "Ittatakimasu".