A blonde ponytail was the first thing that caught Narutos attention. And, seeing as he only knew one person who sported one like that, he knew immediately who it was. "Hey, Ino-chaaan!", he greeted the Yamanaka girl as he sat down next to her.
"Hey, Naruto.", she greeted him, and then opened her mouth to say something, yet no words came out.
Naruto looked at her expectantly. Ino looked as if she wanted to say something, but was conflicted about actually saying it. A few awkward moments passed, where Ino did nothing but look around the booth, actively trying to NOT look at Naruto, breathing in heavily a few times, before she turned around and looked him right in the eyes.
"I wanted apologize for slapping you."
"Huh?", Naruto asked, dumbfounded. Ino was actually apologizing? Naruto was almost tempted to step outside and look up to the sky to see if it was turning green or something. That was really an unexpected thing to hear.
"I've been thinking. I've been naive. When you touched me... down there... I wasn't ready. I didn't think you would do that. But that's what's going to happen anyway, right? So I want you to teach me everything. How about I come with you to your place after the mission?"
Naruto nearly fell over from his chair. Was Ino really suggesting what he thought she was suggesting? Could that really be? Narutos mind was boggled, and he just stared at Ino in blank amazement for quite a few moments.
His lack of answer however made Ino jump to a conclusion. "You don't wanna teach me this? I... I see.", she said, sounding sad and disappointed.
"Ah, no no no, it's not like that. It was just unexpected.", he said, and it was true. He really hadn't expected that Ino would be willing to go that far a mere day after he had convinced her to train that kind of stuff.
"What is so unexpected about that, you said you'd train that kind of thing with me!"
"Yeah, but I'm really happy you want it, too. After all, I think you're really pretty, Ino-chan.", Naruto complimented her.
Unbeknown to him, Ino had never really got a compliment like this before. she blushed furiously. "R-really? I-I mean, of course. You don't have to tell me that!", she yelled at him, trying to preserve her image.
Naruto shrugged. "I just felt like it. Plus, I mean it.", he said.
It took Ino a while to regain her composure. "W-well, how is it? Do you want to train with me later on?", she asked him.
As if there was a need to ask. "Yeah, sure.", Naruto grinned.
"Don't think I like you or anything, okay? I'm doing this for Sasuke-kun, you are just a tool for me.", Ino said defensively.
Just in that moment, Sakura walked into the booth. "Huh, what's wrong with you, Ino-pig? You're really red-faced...", she commented immediately.
"So what, forehead-girl? Mind your own business!", Ino snapped back.
Just before the two girls would start a fight, Kurenai appeared and seperated the two. "Now now, no arguing here, girls. We're just here to have lunch, not fight each other.", she told them.
After the team and their sensei had eaten in complete silence, Kurenai payed the bill and adressed her team.