Normal text – "Naruto"

Thought text – 'Ino'

Jutsu/Bloodline – Rasengan

The Hero and The Florist

Chapter 6

[Naruto PoV]

Naruto and Tsunade arrived at the Council Meeting Hall where it was Tsunade that kicked the doors off their hinges. "WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING TRYING TO REPLACE ME?! I GO INTO A MERE WEEK COMA AND YOU TRY TO USURP ME?!" The Fifth Hokage shouted, getting the attention of everyone, especially the Feudal Lord and Danzo.

'Of course, Princess Tsunade would wake up just as I put my plans into action. And what's the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki doing here?' The old war hawk thought with disdain, gripping his cane harder.

The Feudal Lord on the hand spoke up verbally. "Lady Tsunade, while I'm overjoyed you've woken up and appear to be in perfect health, I'd ask you to calm down. This meeting was only called because your village needed leadership and stability. Now that you are awake and well, I don't see any reason to continue this meeting." And was ready to stand and leave when Naruto decided to step forward.

"I would like to speak with this council, if I may." The young hero asked as politely as possible despite being as angry as he was.

"And who might you be, you look awfully familiar…" At this, Naruto clenched his fists tightly, which Tsunade saw, and decided to speak up, letting Naruto calm down, getting an idea as to what he wanted to talk about.

"This is Naruto Uzumaki, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and the young man who defeated Pain." She said as she took her seat at the table.

"Indeed? Very well then, proceed young man." The Fire Lord stated, clearly having heard of his accomplishments.

"I wish to know why it is that this council deemed it necessary to hide my parentage from me… when I look so much like my father… The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze?!" The male blonde desperately trying to keep his cool and not release some of the fox's chakra.

Everyone in the room was shocked and went wide-eyed, some didn't know what he was talking about, but everyone was clearly able to see the resemblance…

Danzo, being the cunning old war hawk, he was, decided to speak up. "While you do indeed resemble The Fourth, where is the proof of your claim?"

Tsunade just sighed. "I have the proof: DNA tests done 16 years ago. I can verify this once the files are recovered, should they have survived. For now, you'll have to take my word, not only as Hokage, but as a Medic Ninja." Then looked at Naruto, "as for why we kept it from you. It was to protect you… Your mother and father had a lot of enemies. Here within the village" She paused sending a glare to Danzo, who glared back "and many outside the village, Hidden Stone and Cloud being two that come to the top of my mind. All of which would have sent assassins to kill you."

Naruto nodded, accepting that answer. "Then will you tell me who my mother was." he said in a tone that clearly didn't leave any room for argument.

The last remaining Sannin braced for the backlash from Naruto and the council. "Your mother's name was Kushina Uzumaki, also known as the Red-Hot Habanero, or as her enemies knew her, the Red Death." The entire council gasped at that reveal, Tsume Inuzuka, The InoShikaCho trio, and other friends of Kushina, in particular, looked at the young man in front of them, who looked stunned.

"You…mean to tell me… that I have a clan, and I've been lead to believe, my entire life that I was just a civilian…" Naruto, clinging his fist tighter, his bangs covering his eyes.

Inoichi spoke up then "Not only that, he has been the Heir to the Uzumaki clan and it's been hidden from us? Many of us were friends of both Minato and Kushina! We would have taken him into our homes as family!"

"I do not know why this was not made public knowledge… Danzo?" The Hokage looked at the Foundation operator as did everyone there.

"There was no proof of his heritage-"Tsunade interrupted by slamming her fist into the table. "Bullshit! Sensei knew! he had his own wife be the midwife to help deliver Naruto! You just wanted to keep him from gaining strength, hoping to claim him into your organization that should have been disbanded years ago at the command of the third Hokage, when he was at his lowest and turn him into an emotionless weapon!"

The Feudal Lord looked at Danzo. "Is this true? I do believe I agreed with Hiruzen to have The Foundation disbanded."

Danzo was fuming, he contemplated using the Sharingan he stole from Shisui to get him out of this sticky mess but with Hiashi Hyuga there and could see through the genjutsu and dispel it, he would be in an even sticker mess. "It was necessary for the safety of the village." That was all he had to say.

"Danzo Shimura, for insubordination, I am hereby calling for your arrest and full investigation into what dealings and missions your organization have done illegally." The Feudal Lord commanded.

"Anbu! Take this swine to Ibiki!" Tsunade commanded and two Anbu appeared and grabbed onto the war hawk. But Danzo resisted.

"If you think I will go quietly, you are mistaken" As disappeared in a puff of smoke via the Teleportation Jutsu. "FIND HIM! Naruto can you use Sage Mode to find him or Hiashi with your Byakugan?" Tsunade asked in her commanding voice.

Hiashi just activated his bloodline and attempted to locate the now criminal with no success. "I'm sorry Lady Hokage, he is out of my field of vision."

Naruto was still too angry to respond and just shook his head 'no' knowing if the Hyuga clan head couldn't find Danzo, he couldn't with how long it took to go into Sage Mode. But just then Sakura ran into the tense environment looking winded as if she ran all the across the village.

"Lady Tsunade! Envoys from the Hidden Cloud are here with a message from Lord Raikage!"

"What?! Lead the way Sakura! Naruto, come along, we'll talk more later." Tsunade yelled clearly irritated at everything seemingly happening at once. At this Naruto just nodded.

As they left Inoichi felt sorry for the young hero, he grimaced as he thought about what his wife, who was close with Kushina, would say when she found out. Not to mention Ino, how would she react that her romantic interest was the son of a Kage and heir to a near-extinct clan.

[Ino's PoV]

Ino had decided to wait for Naruto while he went with Lady Tsunade to the emergency council meeting, one she knew her father would be in attendance, therefore the shop would have been closed since she was out with Naruto. During which time, Shizune and Ino had an interesting chat.

[Flashback]

"So, I hear you and Naruto have been getting close this past week…" Shizune started not really feeling comfortable talking about it but it was better than waiting in silence and good to avoid what was likely on the platinum blonde's mind.

Ino nodded as she had a dreamy smile. "I only hope that he asks me out soon, it's like we've been friends forever and we just have this spark… I lose track of time when I'm with him. It's like we're in our own little world whenever we're together."

Shizune could clearly see the girl was completely in love. She knew Naruto would be happy when they became an item. "Well, just be patient, I'm sure he'll ask you soon. I can tell he feels the same by the grin he always has this past week."

"I know, just frustrating when I know that the only man I want is him… Sasuke was just a stupid fangirl crush… but Naruto… my heart rate quickens, I feel whole when I'm around him, and when he's not, like now… I feel like a piece of me is missing. I know without a doubt that I love him… and not because he's a hero now or anything like that… I'd be lost without him." Ino said in the same dreamy state, her fist clinked over her heart knowing full well she was most likely blushing, but she didn't care. She knew she was in love with her fellow blonde.

Shizune just giggled softly. "Yep, you're in love Ino… I'm happy for you two… but you know that he will still likely keep his promise to Sakura and bring Sasuke back right?"

Ino sighed and nodded at that. One of Naruto's best, and worst traits was that he always kept his word… even if it involved someone who abandoned their home… and promise to another girl…

[Flashback End]

She was pulled out of musing when a rather busty blonde, looking a few years older than her, and said bust that could very well rival Lady Tsunade's, came into the tent with two dark-skinned teens her age. They had the forehead protectors that labeled them Cloud Ninja.

One of the teens was a girl with shoulder-length red hair, piercing yellow eyes, her bandana-style forehead protector, a katana strapped on her back and her body language was that of a girl with a quick temper but was calm unless provoked.

The other teen was a boy around the same age, with a standard style forehead protector, short spikey white hair, dark eyes, a lollipop stuck in his mouth, and like his companion, he had a Katana strapped to his back.

The Blonde busty woman spoke up. "I was told that the Hokage could be found here… I have a message from my Lord Raikage. Where is she?"

"Lady Tsunade is in an emergency council meeting, I can send for her and she should be back fairly quickly." Shizune replied, immediately on her guard in the presence of the foreign ninja.

"Please do, this is an important matter that I require an answer to right away."

Shizune was just about to ask Ino but Sakura came into the tent, instantly turning to leave when she saw Ino still there. "Sakura, can you please go to the Council meeting hall and let her know we have envoys from the Raikage with an important message."

"Yes, of course, Shizune, I'll be back with her as fast as I can." Replied the pinkette knowing the urgency of the matter at hand and ran off.

"Please wait here, we are still rebuilding after we were attacked just last week, and our ninjas are on high alert." Shizune requested and the three Cloud Ninja nodded in understanding.

[Normal PoV]

After 10 minutes of running across the village, Tsunade and Naruto arrive at the tent and walk in with their guards up, the former having an aura of authority, speaking to the 3 foreign ninjas "You three must be the Raikage's messengers. What do you have for me?"

The Blonde stepped towards the Hokage and gave her the scroll and respectfully stated. "Lady Hokage, please read this and give us a reply as soon as possible."

The redhead just glared at the two blondes, the male clearly standing protectively in front of the female blonde, while her teammate with a lollipop in his mouth was looking around nervously, most likely overthinking everything.

While Tsunade read the scroll, Naruto whispered back to Ino. "Hey, you ok?"

"I'm fine, they haven't done anything other than wait for you and Tsunade to get back. What about you? Are you ok? You seemed so upset when you left and even more so when you got back…" Ino said as she put a hand on his shoulder.

"I'll tell you later, right now isn't the best time… something tells me this message isn't exactly a friendly house call." He said ready to pounce at a moment's notice.

After a few minutes, Tsunade's eyes widen. "That damned idiot! What was he thinking joining the Akatsuki!?"

All three Teens were shocked at her outburst, but it was her apprentice that spoke first. "W-who joined the Akatsuki…?" asking and hoping that she was wrong.

"Don't tell me…" Naruto gapped with Ino doing the same only voicing what they were all thinking. "Sasuke…"

"Yes, Ino, Sasuke Uchiha has joined the Akatsuki and attacked the Raikage's brother… He is calling for a Five Kage Summit as well as calling Sasuke to labeled as a Missing Ninja which, as much you three might not want to hear it, should have done a long time ago." The last Sannin said sullenly.

Sakura just fell to her knees, crying into her hands. Naruto growled slightly but sighed agreeing with Tsunade, he knew the only reason Sasuke had so much freedom was because she was holding off on labeling him as such for him and Sakura. Ino looked indifferent, a week ago she would have broken down crying like her best friend, but now that she's moved on and completely in love with the village hero, she didn't know how to feel.

The Cloud Trio looked at the three teen ninja's "If you have any info on Sasuke Uchiha, give it to us! He killed our Master!" The redhead shouted, forgetting she was in the presence of the Hokage.

"You will get your info, but do not shout at these Ninja. One is my apprentice, one is the heir to the Yamanaka clan, and the male there is the hero of this village that defeated the strongest of the Akatsuki." She said in a threatening tone that promised pain if they pushed any farther, then turned to her subordinates. "Unfortunately… I have no choice. Sasuke Uchiha is hereby an S-classed Missing Ninja… with a Capture on sight order and to be delivered to the Raikage as requested in this scroll. I'm sorry Naruto, Sakura, but your pursuit of your former teammate is now over. It's out of my hands now."

Surprisingly Naruto calmed down and nodded. "If he's joined the Akatsuki and attacked one of their Jinchuriki, then you're right." He paused looking at the shocked looks on everyone from the leaf in the tent and the cloud for figuring out that their Master was a Jinchuriki, wondering how. "However I request permission to accompany them in hopes to aid them in saving their sensei." This shocked everyone, even more, Ino held onto him more, as to say she didn't want him to go, and the rest of the leaf in the area that he asking permission to assist the Cloud, but Tsunade knew why… She knew that Naruto still missed Jiraiya greatly as wished he could have saved him rather than going off to chase Sasuke. The cloud was surprised because he said "save" at this the redhead lost her temper and threw a punch at Naruto. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN SAVE! YOUR UCHIHA KILLED LORD KILLER BEE!" However, Naruto caught the punch, looking her dead in the eye. "Karui, calm down now. You're going to cause an international incident." The busty younger blonde said in a calm but firm voice, which caused the now named Karui to gulp and mutter a "Sorry Samui" and lower her fist after being let go. Samui turned to the Male blonde. "You there, what is your name and what did you mean 'save'?"

"It's Naruto Uzumaki, and I said 'save' because the Akatsuki are after people like me and this Killer Bee… they are after Jinchuriki and need them alive to extract the tailed beasts sealed within."

"NARUTO!" Tsunade couldn't believe he'd let a village secret like that in front of the foreign ninja that could very well be enemies in the near future.

The Cloud ninja just gapped at him for the same reason, but Karui quickly recovered and got a hopeful look in her eyes "Omoi did you hear that?! We might still be able to save Lord Killer Bee!"

The White-haired Cloud Ninja, now identified as Omoi was just as ecstatic but then started over worrying. "Yes, but what if we are too late. What if while we're standing here talking, Lord Bee is being tortured, and having his energy sucked out of him, crying out asking where we were, and cursing our names as they kill him after they were done!"

"YOU IDIOT!" the redhead shouted as she clobbered him over the head "Don't jinx us before we even start looking!"

Samui just sighed and facepalmed "So uncool, I apologize for my team."

If Sakura wasn't still crying she'd be laughing at how much she and Karui seemed alike. A thought not lost on her close friends. 'Jeez, those two remind me of Sakura and I… only I don't overthink things and go to the worst-case scenarios…' Naruto thought out.

Having recovered from her shock, Tsunade returned to her Hokage state of mind. "As you wish Naruto. However, you will have to wait until after the summit. The Raikage demands it be held in a week's time in the Land of Iron, and I am allowed to bring two bodyguards and you will require the Raikage's approval to assist in Sasuke's capture. Therefore, I am going to assign you and Kakashi as my escorts. Get ready. We leave as soon as the Cloud get all our info on the Akatsuki and Sasuke."

"Yes, Lady Hokage." Naruto turned to Ino with a sad smile. "Looks like my news will have wait till I get back… I promise I'll come find you the second I get back."

"You better be careful and come back safe… I don't know what I'd do without you." The Yamanaka Heir, failing to keep the worry and affection she has for him out of her voice.

The blonde hero pulls her into a tight hug. "I don't know what I'd do without you either - mph!?" He, Sakura (who had finally stopped crying), Shizune, and Tsunade all looked surprised as Ino interrupted him by kissing him full on the lips.

"Something to give you more instinctive to come home..." She said with a full-blown blush.

Naruto just stood there in a daze, only dumbly nodding thinking 'D-did…Ino just kiss me…?' before snapping out of it and smirked. "Oh, don't you worry… When we get back, I'll tell you everything, during a real date…" Whispering the last bit into her ear, low enough that only she could hear it before kissing the young florist back, leaving her in a full-body blush and dreamy look on her face. He then turned to go get ready for a long trip, not knowing he'd be facing Sasuke much sooner than he thought.

End of chapter