This entire chapter is from Ino's perspective, let me know what you think.
...
Ino slowly opened her eyes, her vision was blurry, slow methodical beeping crept its way into her ears, she felt….comfortable, soft sheets where covering her gentle frame, the air smelt fresh and full of flowers, she slowly stretched her legs downwards, they felt like they hadn't moved in ages…. Something clicked, it all came back to her in a rush, the war, seeing the village again….the debris that had once been her house….. The mangled frame of her mom pushed against a wall, a root piercing straight through her chest. She bolted up straight and started screaming, ripping her hands forwards to try tear the image out of her eyes, something grabbed her and pulled her back down, she tried her best to fight against it but her struggle was in vain, what little strength she had left in her body was no match for whatever held her back, she felt herself falling into the bed, falling back down into that black abyss, but again she felt something pushing back, holding her above the void, this time it was more gentle though, it felt warm, like a blanket being wrapped around her, she opened her eyes again, but they had not been able to adjust to light just yet, she could make out the outline of a figure, a golden fox curiously looking down on her, she didn't have the strength to wonder anything more as she passed out again. But something felt different, the dark void was still surrounding her, trying its best to find a way to overwhelm her again, but it couldn't get any entrance, her blanket surrounded her and protected her, shimminering a brilliant gold.
Ino was running down a dark corridor, something was chasing her….something terrible, she could feel its eyes on her neck, the eyes of a predator, fierce and determined to get its prey, She bolted as fast as she could never daring to look back, for the second she did it would be all over, She kept running until the corridor opened up to a large field and in the center of the field grew a lone tree, she ran for everything she had, she knew if she could just reach the tree she would be safe, she felt the wind brush her forward as if edging her on, 100 meters….50….10, she had made it, she touched the bark and the creature behind her vanished, she took a deep breath and looked up at the tree as it slowly shifted and changed, a human face emerged from the bark, one she recognised…. One she had seen a thousand times before, "My little Ino…..why couldn't you have saved me, you just left me to die"
"MOM! No….i tried….i i"
The face swirled up in rage and started screaming, "YOU LET US DIE"
INO crumbled down onto her hands and knees…." No...mom.."
She felt sharp teeth on the back of her neck, the creature had returned to take its prey.
A soft glow began to resonate around her, The creature let go and cried out in pain, it felt like a weight had been taken off her shoulders, she looked up, she was still in the field, although where the tree once stood now a flower shop had taken its place, still and beautiful, a bright golden circle had sprung up around her and the shop, The creature walking around on the outside of it, it gently touched its paw forward towards the barrier, a blinding flash and the creature was gone. Ino stood up and slowly walked towards the flower shop, she opened the door...the bell rang…. She opened her eyes.
The creature watched on from the shadows, something had taken its prey away from it, But the creature was relentless, it would not give up its chase, it lay down and began its weight, if there was one thing it had, it was time.
…
The laugh of a young woman filled the air " ahahaha, it's taken notice my love"
"Indeed it has beautiful" said the man picking her up in a embrace and swinging her around.
She loved it when he did this, she leaned down and gently locked lips with the charming gentlemen infront of her.
"When can we do it! I want to go now" she squealed still in his arms.
….
She entered the flower shop, the bell rand, she opened her eyes, staring directly back at her where a pair of mirror blue pools, It took Ino a while to understand what was happening, She breathed out.
"Ino, are you ok"
"...where am i"
The blue eyes backed off and finally Ino could see the entire face come into view, it was a face she recognised, Slight whisker marks running down the cheeks, Blond messy hair falling down from his forehead, a skew nose….. "Naruto…..where am I"
Naruto stepped back and looked at Ino with relief clearly showing on his face, He smiled at her, she didn't understand why but that smile warmed up something inside of her.. "Your in the hospital Ino-san"
Ino slowly lifted herself into a Sitting position and looked around her, as she did so the sheets fell down onto her lap, she looked around and saw the room was empty except for naruto and the machines in the background still beeping, As she turned towards the blond Ninja she noticed his face had changed to a bright crimson and his mouth hung open slightly, she couldn't help but laugh seeing that image, it was as if he was transfixed, "Naruto, are you ok?"
Naruto turned around to stare out the window almost instantly, "Ummm, ah, well ino san, see your sheet, well your cloths um…."
Ino sat there trying to make sence of the jumble of words pouring out of naruto's mouth, It was almost as if he was trying to communicate with her. "Naruto Spit it out".
Naruto inched even closer to the window, insuring it was wide open so there was ample escape room, "Your chest...its not covered"
Ino stared at naruto's back quizzically, What was he talking abo….. Inos face turned bright crimson, matching and even possibly exceeding the shimmer of even narutous, she looked down and shrieked out, grabbing the covers infront of her and pulling them up so fast she almost rolled out of the bed.
Ino saw her doors burst open as Sakura rushed inside, "What's wrong! I heard a scream"
Sakura Looked towards Ino sheer delight filling her seeing her friend up and awake, than she noticed the embarrassment on her face and Ino tightly holding the blankets up to her chest, she slowly turned her head towards the window and saw naruto who at this point was 4/5ths of the way out and seemed to be mentally preparing for his strategic escape.
"NARUTOOOO!"
He was almost home free….he had gotten cocky, there was no way she could catch him in mid jump…...oh boy was he wrong, The first sign his well planned out escape route had gone balls up was the feeling of his shirt hooking on the window sill slowing down his freefall.
The next was the hand closing around his ankle with the force of a thousand tons of concrete Suddenly reversing his direction and momentum back towards the window.
The third and final horseman of the apocalypse or so it seemed was the visage of absolute terror the look of revenge burning in the eyes of a pink haired "nurse".
"GIVE ME ONE REASON NOT TO PUNCH YOU STRAIGHT INTO TSUNADES OFFICE RIGHT THIS SECOND" Screamed the pink haired visage.
Ino couldn't help but laugh at the scene that had just unfolded in front of her, The greatest Ninja in the world helplessly pulled back through a window a look of absolute shock and disbelief as his valiant escape plan had failed.
"Relax Sakura, I just got a fright when I woke up and saw naruto looking down at me, nothing happened"
It looked for a second like sakura was about to argue but than she brightened up as she realised her best friend was awake again, she ran over to her and embraced her in the biggest hug she could muster.
"I'm so glad you're awake, At one point…..well it doesn't matter now" Said sakura as she quickly brushed a tear from her eye and pulled Ino into another hug.
Ino returned the hug with one hand making sure to keep her sheet up with the other.
Naruto put his hand behind his head and smiled at the two of them, "Im glad your feeling better as well Ino-kun"
All 3 of the friends sat down and started chatting, Sakura explained that Ino had been unconscious for almost 2 days and they couldn't seem to find anything wrong with her, so they were going to run a few more tests before she would be allowed to leave, Sakura Stood up to leave as she had other patience she still had to deal with but promised to come back later.
As Ino lay in the bed watching sakura walk out she looked back at Naruto who still had that goofy smile on his face, "so….guess we finally have something in common Naruto"
Naruto looked up at Ino
"Where both orphans" she said cooly, looking up at the hospital ceiling and trying to fight the tears welling up in her eyes.
She felt his hand gently grab hers.
Nothing was said after that, really there was nothing to say….
Ino slowly drifted back off to sleep, her hand closing around Narutos.
….
Ino Awoke in a cold sweat, Nightmares had plagued her sleep, She dreamt she was sitting in her flower shop surrounded by the gold circle but she felt uneasy, like the predator was still out there.
She looked around and saw her room was empty, slight disappointment filled her as she had been hoping to see a mop of blond hair looking back at her, Can't expect him to always be here I suppose she thought to herself, Outside her window the morning sun was only just starting to rise, She got up out of bed and got dressed, she didn't care how many more tests fivehead wanted to run she was getting out of here, She stood up to leave and wondered not for the first time where she was going to go, her home had been destroyed. She had to start somewhere though so she opened her door and made her way to the front of the hospital, She couldn't believe how busy it was still, There were beds in the corridors as every room was overflowing, nurses and doctors ran about everywhere tending to people's wounds.
She quietly snuck off out the front door before anybody noticed and tried to pull her back in, the sun felt amazing on her face as she left the sterile wards behind her, She needed to find someplace to stay for a bit, just until she could sort things out and get back on her feet, normally she would gone to Sakura's place but she wasn't in the mood to receive a lecture on ditching the hospital, Maybe Hinata would let me stay there for a bit she thought, before remembering the look of loathing and jealousy Hinata had given her when she realised Ino was hitting on Naruto, She decided against Hinate as she wasn't in the mood to be poisoned in her sleep over some jealous feud, She carried on walking through the town without really watching where she was going, instead daydreaming about what kind of poison hinata may chose and if she would be able to identify it before it's too late.
She decided maybe it would be best to just rent a hotel room for the first couple of night to get herself sorted out.
She spent the rest of the day Inside showering and putting away what meager possessions the clean up team had managed to scrounge up from her home and brought to the hotel, it wasn't much, 2 bags of clothes and some photos, She packed the cloths away and left the photos in the packet, she wasn't quite ready to look at them yet, the sun was starting to set when her stomach rumbled, she laughed at how hungry she actually felt, she hadn't eaten the entire day, Ino jumped out of bed and made her way outside, With the Small amount of money she had left after paying for the hotel she wasn't exactly going to be eating like a princess, she made her way to the ramen stand, As she stepped inside the smell filled her nose and she realised just how hungry she actually was, she looked at the menu and smiled when she saw a new item had been added, The Naruto special, I think i'll have this please, she looked up and Ichiraku smiling back at her,
"You wouldn't happen to be Ino would you?"
Ino looked up in shock "How did you know my name"
"Naruto is constantly talking about" said a female voice from behind the stove, "Kinda hard not to notice, I think the phrase was Blond Bombshell, If i remember correctly"
Ichiraku and his daughter laughed at Inos expense as she blushed slightly.
"You wouldn't be able to drop something off for me would you Ino, I'll give you your meal on the house to compensate you"
Ino looked up at the ramen guy, she wasn't really in a financial stable enough situation to turn down offers like this she smiled at him "sure"
"See the thing is Naruto hasn't come to eat anything today and knowing him he's probably been so busy helping out he hasnt had the chance to, so I was wondering if you could drop off some ramen for him"
"Umm, sure, but I have no idea where he lives" said Ino softly
"He will be out at the training fields, He's always there at this time trying to get some more work in"
"..ok it's a deal" Said Ino with a smile on her face, She grabbed both take-away ramens and left the store heading towards the field
Ichirakus daughter eyes him slyly, "Hasn't come in to eat today hy, Maybe my memory is a bit hazy cause I remember a Yellow head of hair scoffing down 3 bowels only a few hours ago"
Ichiraku Laughed softly "Naruto told me how her entire house was burnt down, She would never have allowed me to just give her the food for free"
"Always the romantic old man" laughed his daughter
….
Ino slowly walked towards the training field holding the takeaway, She really thought it was so sweet how old man ramen cared so much for Naruto, She had always wondered why Naruto loved that place so much, when she looked at the menu it was clear, everything was so cheap, Only now that she was in the same boat did she realise that naruto probably never had someone to make food for him, and needed to make what little allowance he was given last.
It was getting dark as she arrived at the training fields, But all was quiet, noone was here, she tentatively called out "Naruto", But got no response, she walked further in, standing at the tree line and tried again "Naruto!" this time she heard a response….if you could even call it that, more of a loud snife and snore mixed together, she looked up and located the source of the sound, there between 2 trees was a crudely constructed hammock, old ramen takeaway boxes Littered the floor around it, and sleeping in it at what Ino presumed must be the most uncomfortable position he could possibly have achieved with less than half his body actually in the hammock and the rest leaning dangerously over to the right was her blond haired Ninja, She laughed as she walked up to the trees, One swift kick to the base was all it required to tip the already precariously positioned ninja out of the hammock and onto the floor.
'THUD' A few moans could be heard as well as some very enthusiastic grumbling, "You think it would be easier to stay inside those things, frikin hell"
"AHEM" Ino cleared her throat loudly, Before she knew what had happened Naruto was on his feet with a kunai in his hands and a soft glow permeating around him, the second he realised who it was he was on his feet smiling and laughing, the Kunai vanished.
"INO! How did you get here!" he said putting his hand on her shoulder
Ino was was lost for words, the second he put his hand on her shoulder her entire body felt warm, comfortable, protected, it took her a few seconds to compose herself,
"Aaa, well, Ramen guy was worried you hadn't eaten so he sent me to give you some.."
She hadn't even managed to finish her sentence before Naruto's face Lit up as he saw the ramen, she laughed at how comical it was.
"Man old man ichaku is the best" said naruto brightly.
Ino looked around again "Naruto….why are you sleeping in a hammock outside"
Naruto put his hand on his head and started laughing "I just like the fresh air Ino, you know the night sky…."
Inos demenor changed almost instantly "Don't lie to me Naruto, I thought we were better friends than that"
Naruto's eyes drifted downwards "Im sorry Ino-chan, It's just people have enough problems now a days, I try to avoid adding to them."
Ino realised what was going on "Naruto, how long have you been living out here"
"Since the battle I suppose, But I mean it's really no big deal, I like it out here, It's cool and quiet and right next to the training grounds" Naruto said softly putting a fake smile on his face.
"So let me get this straight" said Ino, a soft rage beginning to fill her.
"You save the entire village from pain, You give everyone some of your chakra to protect them in battle,AND THAN YOU SAVE THE ENTIRE FUKEN WORLD AND THESE MORONS CANT EVEN MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A FUKEN ROOF OVER YOUR HEAD AS A THANK YOU!"
Ino had absolutely lost it at this point, She was prepared to Storm her way into the Hokage's office and demand she come sleep outside in the rain and give her place to naruto.
"It's really no big deal Ino, Everyone has a lot on their plate at the moment, and i'll make some more money when Bachan starts handing out missions again" Said Naruto Brightly.
Ino stopped in her tracks, How can he be so happy, he's given everything for these people, and in return they've left him homeless…
"Besides i'm use to it" laughed Naruto, "There were tons of time I couldn't afford to pay my rent for a month or two as a kid, sleeping outside really isn't as bad as people make it out to be"
Ino felt her heart skip a beat, she remembered all the times she'd made fun of naruto for being dirty and scruffy in class, It dawned on her it was probably because of that. "Naruto….i"
"Ummmm Ino, can we eat before it gets cold, I'm starving" said Naruto brightly
Ino looked at the scruffy Ninja Infront of her, His big eyes looking longingly at the ramen in her hands.
Ino couldn't help but smile when she saw that look on his face, "Ok, but not here, Let's go back to my place so we can at least sit at a table"
Naruto agreed following his nose and stomach more than anything.
Ino unlocked the door to her hotel room and walked inside, she turned around and saw Naruto waiting at the entrance "well come on in doff, Dont let all the warm air out"
She set some plates on the table and dished up for them both, The broth tasted delicious as it hit her mouth, she remembered this was probably the first real meal shed had in days, They both sat in silence as they eat, each to focused on the meal at hand to think about small talk.
They both finished and sat back in their chairs smiling "wow, that was delicious, I can see why you like it so much"
"Thank you so much for dinner Ino" Said Naruto smiling, "It really hit the spot" Naruto got up and took both their plates to the sink to wash up.
Ino jumped to her feat and went to go help "Don't be silly Naruto i'll do that"
After Dinner the two Ninjas sat on the couch talking about their days and laughing at how Sakura would probably be losing her mind trying to hunt down Ino to perform more tests on her, Before long Ino's Head was drifting off, she lay her neck against naruto's shoulder and passed out in seconds against the warm comfort he provided.
Naruto slowly lifted up Ino and Lay her on her bed, He found a sheet and stretched it over her before heading to the front door, He looked back just before walking out "wow...you really are beautiful".
Naruto slowly made his way back to his hammock, a fill belly and a great evening adding to his mood, He couldn't quite remember when last he had had such a good meal.
….
ManThisIsWeeby