Wow you guys are amazing! I'd like to give a shout out to nitroslk, for the amazing help and support. As long as my notifications keep blowing up, i'll keep cranking these chapters out. (You should also read the AN The bottom) So without hesitation, CHAPTER 3
(REWRITE NOTE) Yes, Naruto has the Rasenshuriken mostly worked out before he comes back to Konoha, he also has some control over the 9 tails chakra, somewhere around 6 tails without going completely feral. Anywho, there are a lot of changes to this chapter that I think will help build the NaruIno relationship up a bit more. Also don't forget to read the AN at the bottom please!
Chapter 3: Catching Up
Naruto had finished his training with Kurama and was putting on the finishing touches to his Rasen-shuriken when he looked up at the sky and realized what time it was. "Shit I'm going to be late." He thought to himself as he bolted for his small apartment. Once there he took a quick shower, got dressed and shunshined about a block away from Ino's house. As he walked up to the front door, he heard arguing coming from the other side and he thought to himself, 'oh hell, this is going to be fun.'
***While Naruto is making his way through the village***
Ino looked at the clock. Shit. She needed to get ready. She picked out her favorite black dress with little bits of glitter sprinkled throughout. She took a few minutes to curl her hair, turning her signature bangs into curly ones that laid in front of her left eye. She looked in the mirror after she put on a short pair of black wedges. To say she looked drop dead gorgeous was an understatement. She made her way down the stairs into the living room when her father stopped her.
"Where are you going?" Inoichi asked
Ino turned around. "Oh. Naruto was going to take me somewhere tonight."
"LIKE HELL HE WILL. You aren't going anywhere with him. What possessed you to even Suggest letting him take you out?!" Inoichi questioned. Ino's mom walked in, hearing The back end of her family's conversation.
"Why are you yelling Inoichi? Who's taking our daughter out?"
"Dad" Ino tried to interrupt.
"The demon boy thinks he can take Ino out."
"DAD! HE IS NOT THAT DEMON! NARUTO-KUN IS HUMAN JUST LIKE US!"
"Who do you think you're yelling at?" Her parents yelled back.
"If you would listen to me so I can explain!" Ino yelled.
The room was quiet as Ino took a deep breath. Inoichi and his wife stood there, both giving looks that would kill.
"I'm going to keep it short because he'll be here soon to get me. Yesterday Naruto-Kun returned, not that you would care anyways, but he called everyone from our class into Lady Tsunade's office. The first few minutes there were okay, he had gone over a little of what he went through in his training with Jiraiya, and the successes of his trip. But then he decided to drop the bomb on us that Sasuke and Jiraiya-Sama are dead. From what Naruto-Kun told all of us, CONFIRMED BY THE HOKAGE, , Sasuke Killed Jiraiya and then the Kyuubi took over until Sasuke died. When Sakura heard this, she blew up at him and ran off without saying anything to anyone. I was the only one to stay behind and be there for him. I took him out for a bit and then he further explained some things." She glares at her parents. "some things that the Hokage will know soon, if she doesn't already."
Her parents sweat-dropped.
"what did he tell you?" Inoichi asked.
"I'll repeat myself again. He is not the 9 tailed fox. He only contains him. As a shinobi yourself you should know that the kunai is not the same as the scroll. What some of those villagers, SHINOBI, and INSTRUCTORS did to him-" she tears up. "I've seen his scars... Both physically and mentally. His chest and back... Arms and wrists... Mom, dad. You have to understand...before he left with Jiraiya-sama, he didn't even know how to build a tent Much less how to cook! The Instructors at the academy shafted his lessons. And when they weren't, he was in the hospital. I can replay the whole memory to you if you don't believe me." Ino said.
Inoichi put his hand on Ino's forehead, reading through her memory. He saw everything. The whole conversation and the sight of the scars flooded his mind. After a few more moments, Inoichi pulled back and looked at his wife.
"She is telling the truth." He says to his wife, who sat in silence for the next few moments.
Inoichi turns back to Ino, "I want to talk with him before you two leave. And you will wait outside." With that comment Naruto finally knocked on the door.
"Be nice to him." Ino said, glaring at her father as she headed to the door.
She opened the door and motioned Naruto in, " I've gotta wait outside, My father wants to talk to you. Mom is in there too, but I wouldn't expect her to say anything." She says with much disdain in her voice.
"Don't worry about me, you know I've dealt with worse." He says as he heads toward the living room where Inoichi sat in a chair to the right of the couch where he was asked to have a seat.
"I'm going to make this clear brat. And I'm going to say this once, so pay attention. I don't like you. I don't plan to like you. You're very lucky that I'm even allowing this 'night out' as she calls it. If I so much as suspect anything impure with my daughter, I'll have your head put on a spike by the village gates. Understood?" Inoichi finished with a very intimidating glare.
Naruto glared back at him. " I don't care what you think of me, and honestly not sure why you would hold such a grudge against me, when right now, we have the same interests here. Your daughter's BEST interests."
"Time will have to tell with that. Regardless. You of all people gave me a good answer." Inoichi says as he stands up and holds out his hand. "Have her back before midnight" He says as Naruto gets up and shakes his hand. With a final squeeze of his hand, Inoichi left Naruto with a chilling image of what would happen if they were late.
Naruto then showed himself out the door to a patiently waiting Ino while her father sat in his chair seething. "What does that demon want?"
"Do I even want to know about what he said to you?" Ino said as she took Naruto's arm and started to walk with him.
"I'm positive that you would be pissed off if I told you. He refers to me as the 'D' word." Ino looked at him in shock. "You can go through my memories if you don't believe me, but just know I'm going to have to resist the urge to knock his ass out if he says it again." Naruto warns.
"Kami⦠Even my own father.. Did my mother say anything while he was talking to you?"
"No. She stood there with a sad expression, almost disappointed in him."
"That doesn't surprise me. She's never been one to stand up for anyone, much less herself." Ino says with a sigh. "They've been like that since I was a baby."
"I honestly thought your home life wasn't that bad. Honestly I thought it was miles better since you had parents. Is it wrong that now I have the idea that having no parents is better than having ones like yours? Even as ninjas, don't see the difference between kunai and it's sealing scroll?"
"It gets pretty intense every once in a while, usually when mom just wants her space and tells dad to go take a mission." She says as Naruto looks on. "So where are you taking me, Naruto? This doesn't look like the way to that ramen stand you love so much.
"Well there is a new diner.. At least new to me, that's just down the road and a few streets over from Ichiraku's. I figured we could go there and try the food there. I heard they had some really good chicken and shrimp alfredo"
"Oh you are talking about Kirana's! That place opened up a few weeks ago. They've got some of the best food I've ever had." Ino says happily.
"Well then I guess I picked a good spot to eat then! TO KIRANA'S!" Naruto yells while pointing his finger in the air, causing Ino to giggle a little. It was good to finally have the village's original blonde loudmouth back.
After a few minutes of walking later, the blondes reached Kirana's diner, walked in and sat down. Not more than 5 minutes later, Their orders were being taken. Ino ordered a small bowl of shrimp alfredo, while Naruto decided on a large bowl of chicken alfredo.
"I'm impressed, you chose a place that doesn't carry ramen, and you actually choose something that isn't just noodles in broth." Ino smirks.
"Hey, I know how to eat more than just ramen, I just choose not to because it is cost effective and allows me to save my money for supplies and rent." Naruto said. A few seconds of silence and Naruto spots Hinata and Kiba walking in.
"Hey Kiba! Hinata! Over here!" Naruto shouts, Motioning for Kiba to come towards their table.
Kiba was first to speak after walking over to meet the blondes.
"Naruto! How've you been?" He asked as he walked over with Hinata on his arm. " I know it's only been a day or so since you came back, but we didn't really talk."
"I've been fine actually, I'm just here taking Ino out tonight." Naruto responded.
"You mean you actually got a date with Ino? How did you land this one?" Kiba jokes.
Ino spoke up saying, "Actually I asked him!"
Kiba and Hinata's mouths dropped. Kiba then playfully saluted, "I salute you Naruto, the luckiest guy I know."
"W-Wow Naruto. I'm happy for you. It's good to see you again." Hinata said.
Naruto spoke up after a moment of silence. Naruto's question was burning in the back of his mind. So he decided to ask.
"So Kiba, Are you and Hinata..."
"Oh yeah.. I guess you didn't hear..well the answer to your question is yes, Hinata and I are together. Tonight is actually 8 months since we got together." Kiba explained as Hinata blushed.
" Ah! Well, congrats.I'll have to invite you out for a drink or two when we both get some free time. I wish you two the best!" Naruto said, while Ino just smiled.
A few seconds later the couples split and then Naruto and Ino's food came. Naruto devoured his bowl of alfredo as Ino finished hers. Naruto left the money to pay the bill and a nice tip for the server.
They left the diner and started walking around the shops. Naruto had taken the liberty of getting Ino a stuffed Toad. Minutes later they wound up at a small field of wildflowers, Naruto sat down against a tree, while Ino laid across Naruto's lap, looking up at the stars while holding her stuffed toad. Naruto had picked up a purple wildflower and tucked it into her hair.
"I don't think I've said it yet, but you look beautiful Ino-chan," Naruto said.
"Why thank you Naruto-kun. I don't get to hear that one very often, and even if I do, someone rarely means it" Ino replied while blushing.
After a while of looking at the stars and the moon, Naruto and Ino were heading back towards the Yamanaka residence arm in arm. Once they got to her door, Naruto gave Ino a hug and started to turn away. Ino then dropped her toad by the door, Grabbed his arm, and pulled him back to face her once again. Naruto was taken by shock when Ino pecked him on the lips.
"Ino-Chan... Did...did you just-"
"Yes I did. But I need you to figure something out first."
"What's that?"
"You need to figure out if you're mentally ready to be in a serious relationship with me." She said, looking into his eyes, arms wrapped around his neck.
Naruto nodded "I don't see why I wouldn't be ready to have you." He said.
"I can still see something is bothering you. Your eyes are the gateway into your mind, and while you have been showing that mask of confidence, I can tell right now that you are scared. If it had to do with anything that happened on your trip, you know i will listen to you, but for now." She paused. "I think you should go talk to Anko. She's a lot like you, she'll understand that mess that's inside your head and be able to help you cope with it better than you are now."
Naruto was surprised that Ino knew that he was wearing a mask. Not many really knew about his mask and those who did never said anything. "I-Thank you Ino. I'm glad that you are going to be here for me. It means a lot to me." Naruto hesitated for a moment before giving Ino a kiss on the forehead.
Ino blushed at this, and after a few moments Ino picked up her toad and walked inside. Once she was inside, Naruto then started walking home. He was happy. Probably the happiest he'd been in a long time, but he still had some work to do for himself."
Ino walked into the living room and started to head upstairs when she heard a cough. Her father was sitting in his chair. "Wow, back a whole hour earlier than I instructed. Didn't expect the demon child to follow that direction." Inoichi says as Ino does her best to ignore him and heads up to her bedroom.
(END CHAPTER 3)
Okay so this chapter was relatively easy to write. I felt that if Hinata never wound up with Naruto, she'd be with Kiba... I dunno, just something about those two... Also I know my pacing kinda sucks and it seems like Naruto and Ino were rushed, but it's just how I write. Anyways, Thank you all for the support and advice, Keep the R&R's coming!
REWRITE: Wow, I changed quite a bit in this chapter. Instead of using the overused "Sakura's mother being the hateful one" I decided to give our two lovebirds a more difficult challenge that is closer to home. This is the first of a few major changes to this story so far as I begin to rewrite everything I have so far. Please keep reading, I promise it's going to get better! Don't forget to Review, Share this story with your friends, and leave a follow and favorite!
Next chapter: Apologize.
