(Welcome to my next chapter, readers. Hope you enjoy the next bit I have for you.)
Above Konoha Naruto was riding Soreth through the sky, while the dragon was having fun, "Good, boy, Soreth. Keep the speed up!" Naruto told his partner.
Soreth nodded as he picked up the speed and continued to fly around before flying higher until they could see the entire village from up above.
"Now dive!" Naruto ordered, as Soreth did a nosedive.
The dragon continued to dive downward before he began to pull up and flew across the ground before landing safely, "Yes! Another successful flight run, Soreth!" Naruto cheered, as the dragon roared with joy.
"Well, boy, what say we head home?" Naruto suggested. Soreth agreed, and as the two were about to head off, Ino came over.
"Naruto!" she called.
"Ino, hey." he greeted back.
"I'm glad I I caught you flying over here. I need your help with something."
"What could I do for you?" Naruto inquired.
"Well, I need you to help teach me in a particular field."
"What field?"
"This field." Ino said as she threw her arm back and sent her fist forward. Naruto looked as a shot of fire was launched from his fist and nailed a nearby boulder.
Naruto looked at the boulder and back at Ino in wonder, "Ino, you're a firebender?"
"Apparently." she answered.
"When did you?"
"About a few days ago. I was training with Chouji and Shikamaru, but those two slackers were irritating me and I ended up firebending. Almost barbequed those two in the process." she said sheepishly.
"Whoa. So then does this mean?" Naruto continued, as Ino knew what he was thinking.
"Yes. Apparently there's firebending blood in my family." she replied.
"And you want me to help you control your firebending?"
"Precisely. Asuma-sensei insisted I find someone to teach me how to control it otherwise he'll request we don't do missions until I can manage it. And who better to teach me than the Avatar himself. That is if you don't mind." she said.
Naruto smiled, "Not at all. I wouldn't mind showing you the ropes. I've already taught Sakura how to earthbend, so teaching you to firebend shouldn't be so hard."
"So you'll help me?" Ino asked hopefully.
"You bet." he answered.
Ino smiled and hugged Naruto, "Thank you, Naruto. Thank you!" she thought to herself, 'Oh, yes. I'm not about to lose to Sakura. She may be an earthbender, but I'll master firebending and show he my fire can be as strong as her earth. And Hinata may be a waterbender but I won't let her one up me because her element's supposed to be stronger than mine.'
"Well, we should get started right away," Naruto turned to his dragon, "Soreth, I could be here for awhile. You can head on home."
Soreth nodded before flying off, leaving the two teens to themselves, "Ok, Ino. To understand firebending you need to learn how firebending originated."
"I'm listening." Ino sat down and listened as, Naruto told her of the origin of firebending that happened after the events of Avatar Wan, about the Sun Warriors, and the Fire Nation itself.
When Naruto finished he spoke to her, "Well, Ino. Your thoughts?"
"Everything sounded so amazing. But I can't believe Fire Lord Sozin and Fire Lord Ozai led the Fire Nation into so many years of fighting for an unjust cause."
"I know. Roku may not have been able to stop Sozin from what he started with the hundred year war, but Aang put a stop to Ozai allowing Zuko to lead the Fire Nation into a time of peace."
"I just can't believe under the rule of those two all firebenders forgot the true way to firebend and relied slowly on rage." Ino gasped.
"Yeah. But I'm going to teach you the proper way to use firebending. Learn well, and you'll become a true powerhouse in your squad and not just in terms of your Ino-Shika-Chou combo."
"I'm ready to begin." Ino spoke.
"Then let's get started." Naruto instructed.
For the afternoon, Naruto was teaching Ino some ways to control her firepower while also teaching her some moves he himself learned under Mako's teachings in firebending.
Ino was doing her best to concentrate and not do something like set the forest on fire. The most she'd accidentally set on fire was a bush, but Naruto quickly used waterbending to put it out. As Naruto was instructing her, Ino felt like she was bonding with Naruto better than before.
Soon Naruto and Ino stood opposite sides of each other, as Naruto spoke, "Are you ready?"
"I am." Ino answered seriously.
"Then come at me with all you've got." Naruto instructed.
Ino nodded, as she and Naruto went at it in hand to hand combat before unleashing firebending attacks with their moves. With every attack Ino threw Naruto was countering, but some attacks took him by surprise.
'Fighting using only firebending against her is a good exercise for me as it is her.' Naruto thought, as he used his own firebending against Ino.
Ino was dodging Naruto's shots, while launching some of her own, 'I can do this. The fire in my heart burns brighter than the sun!' a fiery aura surrounded her.
Naruto's eyes widened, "Please tell me that's firebending spirit and not flames of youth."
Ino charged at Naruto fighting harder than ever, while Naruto himself was fighting twice as hard. The two suddenly found themselves at a grappling stalemate.
The two were consumed by their firebending spirits they looked like one massive fireball. Suddenly their fiery auras vanished and the two released one another from their grapples and bowed their heads in respect.
"You did well, Ino." Naruto began.
"Really?" Ino asked, while feeling flustered.
Naruto nodded, "You keep practicing like that and you'll be a hell of a firebender."
Ino smiled, "I owe it all to you, Naruto. Thank you for teaching me."
"My pleasure."
"And as a thank you, please allow me to treat you to dinner." she offered.
"You wanna buy me dinner?" Naruto asked.
"Of course. It's the least I can do for you after all you did for me today."
"Well, since you put it that way I'll take you up on that offer."
"Great. Pick me up at seven?" she asked.
"Sure." Naruto nodded, as Ino left to get ready. He smiled before heading back home himself.
Later at seven, Naruto had picked Ino up, as the girl took Naruto to a nice place for a good meal. They sat in the cafe at a table enjoying their dinner.
"Thanks for this, Ino. Nobody would've ever done anything like this for me when we were even younger."
"That's because they never took the time to get to know you for who you really are not because of what you have, Naruto."
"So you also found out the truth about me being more than the Avatar?"
"I did. And I promise you I don't think any less of you. Just because you have a demon's power in you doesn't make you one, just like having Raava in you doesn't make you any different."
Naruto smiled, "Thanks, Ino. You and the others really are some of the best friends I could have."
"Likewise." Ino agreed, "So what's next on your Avatar duty?"
"Well, nothing specific yet. But I heard Future Industries is going to be needing some supplies, and since among us in the village I've actually been to there and Republic city my squad is likely to get the mission."
"That should be a nice, a chance to visit the city you spent a number of years visiting and training at." Ino said.
"It sure is. There's stuff there you won't find here."
"Such as?"
"Well, there are the probending matches. I've been dying to see one of those again."
"Maybe you'll get your chance." Ino humored him. Naruto smiled at Ino who smiled back as the two continued to enjoy their dinner.
Later on, Naruto and Ino were standing on a building roof looking up at the night sky, "Beautiful isn't it?" Naruto asked, as stars blanketed the whole night sky.
"It sure is," Ino agreed, as she looked at Naruto, "Thanks for joining me for dinner, Naruto."
Naruto looked at her, "Anytime, Ino. Anytime." the two smiled at each other as they leaned in closer before their lips met and kissed passionately. Naruto's and Ino's arms wrapped around each other to hold one another close as the moons light shined down on them.
(And there you have it. Don't miss next time where Naruto goes back to Republic City and the rest of Squad Seven see exactly where Naruto partially grew up in.)