Chapter 2 ... Attitudes

Female shinobi's must know that the male shinobi isn't all about killing, though it really can't be helped in the ninja profession. The male shinobi must prove to their partners that they also have a caring and compassionate side among other admirable qualities.

From this point on, the male shinobi should have already been introduced to the kunoichi and so should now strive to prove that they are desirable. This can be done with several visits to the female ninja and general conversation should be pursued, as well as attempts to fit in personal subjects such as birthdays, likes and dislikes, hobbies, etc.

With enough research, the male shinobi should attempt to mold themselves to be more desirable from the knowledge of the kunoichi they're pursuing. For example, should the female ninja like using water techniques, it'd be a good idea for the male shinobi to take up swimming -if this example holds true to you, you are a lucky man! If you play your cards right, you and your chosen may be practising water techniques under sun, surf and bikinis!

However, it's not enough to just mold some likes and dislikes to gain some middle-ground between shinobi and kunoichi, but some more... base personality aspects as well. Being supportive or a generally chivalrous nature are both aspects that are smiled upon!

Actually, the latter personality traits should be put into practise with all women and not just kunoichi. Even civilian women can be very aggressive should the male shinobi prove to be impolite.

Naruto scratched his head at trying to discern the meaning of the word 'chivalrous'. However, at seeing the approach of his female teammate -which also happens to be the same kunoichi he's pursuing, he pens the word under 'nice', puts away the book and gives a hearty greeting just as she passes him.

"Hey Saku-URK!"

-WHAM-

"Oh, geeze! Sorry Naruto!"

Whoops, looks like Sakura still hadn't gotten over what he'd done two days ago.

DISCLAIMER: In Soviet Russia, you own Naruto. Over here, Naruto owns you.

Single Ninja on the Town
By Arkhe
Chapter 2 : Attitudes
Subtitle - Ino in Full Bloom.

Naruto had been trying to approach Sakura throughout the day, but hadn't been successful. Thanks to his ill-thought ploy, she still reflexively hit him each time he announced his presence to her today.

So Naruto had thought up a very cunning plan that would surely catch Sakura's attention and he could show her how nice he can be!

---

An interlude in training was announced and the team was getting ready to move out on their own. Sasuke had shot down Sakura again and now comes Naruto's request to eat out with him...

"Let's go out today, Sakura-chan! Just me and y-URK!"

-WHAM-

Sakura turned around to address Naruto the usual way. Said male was belted across the face and the sheer force had him drag his face along the dirt until he came to a stop at her feet. The pink-haired genin was just about repeat how she preferred Sasuke over him, like she did every other day, when she'd realised something was amiss...

Naruto had been belted and had come to a stop at her feet... Meaning that she had belted him from several feet away. In fact, she apparently still standing a few feet away from herself.

The Sakura-clone gave a wave before disappearing in a puff of smoke. The real Sakura immediately recognised it as a doppelganger using transform and turned her attention back to Naruto lying at her feet. He slowly craned his neck to look up at his chosen girl.

"Well, got your attention, didn't I?" He grinned weakly as various gravel fell away from his whiskered face.

The stunt had caused Sakura to laugh aloud whilst shaking her head.

"Oh Naruto..." She shook her head. Only he would do such a thing to catch anyone's attention... Then the thought had caused her to think about the last couple of days and her expression turned a little somber. "I've been hitting you for no good reason over the last couple of days, haven't I?" She offered him a helping hand up.

"Eh, you know how to keep me in line." Naruto admitted getting to his feet with Sakura's aid.

The comment cause her to smile. But suspecting the stalling, she went to cut through the chase. "I'm still not going out with you Naruto."

"Well, I don't really feel like going out anyway." He shrugged.

She gave him an odd look. "Oh? So what do you feel like then?"

Naruto shrugged again and went over to the bridge railings and pulled himself to sit on top of them. "How bout to just talk?" He suggested.

"Just talk?" She scoffed, following to lean on the rails opposite to Naruto. "And just what will we talk about Naruto? Birthdays? Blood types? Favourite food?"

"March 28th. Type O. And pickled plums." He'd recited, looking over to the flowing water beneath him.

Sakura blinked.

"What?"

Naruto turned her way and shrugged. "Your birthday's on March 28th. Your blood type is O. And I'm not sure about your favourite food, but you used to bring pickled plums lotsa times at the academy before you started only on salads and weird fruity diets." He made a face at the last one.

Sakura was more than a little surprised. He'd just about gotten all of it right! She was starting to feel a little creeped out that he'd gone so far as watch her all the time. "Are you some sort of stalker or something?" She asked, already beginning to push off the rails and make some space between them.

"Nah." He jumped off from where he sat. "I just mostly listen to whatever you say to the jerk, 'cause, you know, we're a team and stuff."

Sakura rolled her eyes, but couldn't help be taken aback. He probably knew much more about herself from just watching her than what she knew of him! And the extension of what she knew about him was him graduating at the bottom of the academy, his love for ramen and his goal to become Hokage!

Displeased at this thought, Sakura furrowed her brows and turned away from her blond teammate.

"You off now Sakura-chan?" He asked, a little disappointment seeped into his question as he strode up beside her. "Don't wanna talk anymore then?"

Deciding that it probably was the best course of action, Sakura agreed. "Well, I'll be seeing you at training again after lunch, Naruto. Now if you don't mind, I think I'd like to have something to eat before then." She said whilst starting to wander away, him following her of his own accord. "You ought to get your ramen while you can." She said just as she passed the street he'd need to turn into to head to Ichiraku.

"See you later then, Sakura-chan!" Naruto bade farewell and began on his way.

"Oi Naruto!" Then a few moments later, her voice calling him from a little further back. "I like pickled plums but it's not my favourite!"

The blond genin grinned in response and then disappeared around the fence.

---

Naruto visibly grimaced, his face set in determination. He'd been rereading the second chapter again but this time, had a dictionary scroll on loan from the local ninja library -which was odd, because someone felt they needed to create a dictionary in a scroll with a search function, which (though minorly ninja affiliated) still should not have been put among ninja literature.

He was just about to locate the elusive word 'chivalrous', when someone had interrupted his thoughts.

"Never would've thought I'd find you reading, Uzumaki."

Naruto looked over and found it was Yamanaka Ino, seated a few seats away, who'd addressed him. With her only being remotely connected to his love interest, he didn't really pay her much mind.

"Yeah, well. I got to study." He said, before turning back to his research.

"You!-? Study?-!" Ino snorted, failing to stifle a chuckle. She couldn't picture Naruto and 'study' in the same sentence.

He'd given her a dry look and pulled out his dictionary scroll for closer scrutiny. Upon seeing the dictionary scroll, the Yamanaka daughter stopped, completely mistaking it for a ninja dictionary scroll -one that has explanations for all associated ninja terms.

"Well, I'll be darned! You really are studying, ain'cha?" A disbelieving smirk played on her features.

"Mm hmm." Naruto nodded, only half paying attention to the platinum blond.

"So, what're you looking at?" She leaned over to see what he was reading so intently.

Naruto snapped the scroll shut (effectively halting his progress in learning what 'chivalrous' meant yet again) and closed the manuscript Jiraiya had peddled on him.

"Err..." He faltered. "It's nothing really... You know, ninja hush-hush stuff."

His choice of words had Ino laugh out loud. "Ninja hush-hush stuff...!-? Hahah!" Then she'd playfully tapped the side of her nose, conspiratorially amused.

Naruto flushed embarrassed at his ridiculous choice of words. Even he had a standards towards this kind of stuff!
Quickly trying to turn the situation his way, he turned to the Ichiraku owner and ordered a bowl of miso ramen and a bowl of prawn and pork ramen.

"No thanks, Naruto." Ino declined loudly, when she heard him order. "I'm on a diet. Don't order for me."

"Wasn't for you." He rolled his eyes at her assumption.

The female of Team 8 huffed and looked away with as much dignity as she could muster; ending their interaction.

It wasn't long before Naruto's orders came up and he'd readied his chopsticks. He was about to dig into the miso, when he'd caught Ino glancing longingly at his lunch. Noting with surprise that she had only ordered tea for herself, it came as a surprise to both of them what at what he did next.

He'd had the cook pass his bowl of prawn and pork over to Ino.

When Ino denied ordering anything, the cook had pointed in Naruto's direction, who'd given her a friendly salute before starting to dig into his miso.

Feeling indignant at Naruto's charity, the kunoichi brought over the bowl and placed it back next to him.

"Look Uzumaki, I can't eat this stuff. It'll ruin my diet for the week!" She complained.

"Hey hey! Just eat it, okay? I mean, we're going back to training afterwards, so you'll need as much energy as you can!" He tried to rationalise his decision.

Ino was about to rebuke when her stomach beat her to it.

-growl-

Naruto none too discreetly grinned into his bowl, before bringing more noodles to his mouth.

Defeated, Ino took a seat next to Naruto and daintily started on her meal. Before her own chopsticks could raise the noodles to her mouth however, she'd taken a notice of Naruto's manners and gave him a mortified look.

"Do you have to be so sloppy?"

He looked up, noodles still in mid-inhale.

"Hrmphl?"

"And don't talk with your mouth full!"

The blond boy swallowed, albeit quieter, then proceeded to scratch the back of his head with a broad grin.

"Hehe, sorry, Ino." He timidly laughed.

She responded with an approving smile, before returning her attention to her own bowl.

A companionable silence set in as each sedately went about enjoying their meals their private thoughts. It wasn't long before Naruto finished before pondering on another order when Ino decided then and there to speak aloud on the formings of something she couldn't pin in her mind.

"You know Uzumaki..." Ino stirred the contents of her bowl. "You're alright."

She didn't mean for it to have a wistful tinge, but she certainly hoped he wouldn't take it the wrong way. She didn't know what to make of it herself, really.

"All Hokage's got to be good guys, right?" He warmly smiled in response.

Though not looking at him, Ino caught the smile he gave her and she couldn't help but smile into the broth herself.

"Well, I'm done." He stood whilst giving a light stretch, getting ready to return the scroll. He was worried about the Ninja Library's policy, where if their books were to disappear, the book gets a trip out for the day before Librarian ANBU track it down. Frankly, there was no other method to loan books and they followed the strict rule that 'if you couldn't sneak it out, you don't deserve to read it'. So far, Kakashi had the longest running record of 7 years on the first signed edition of Icha Icha Paradise, Volume 1.

His fine is still rising.

"Anyways, places to go. A ninja's work is never done!" The orange-clad rookie yawned.

Then he'd paused as he suddenly remembered something. "Hey Ino! Do you remember what Sakura-chan usually likes to eat?" He asked curiously.

The blond girl tilted her head cutely and responded after thinking it over. "Anmitsu, I'm pretty sure."

Receiving a blank look, she went on to explain exasperatedly. "It's that sort of jelly and syrup. Sometimes it's got fruits." She gestured, her pointed finger making a circling motion.

Naruto's mouth curved into an 'o' shape and he nodded, digesting the information and vaguely remembering a relevant dish from the recesses of his memory.

"So why'd you want to know that? You aren't going to prank her, are you?" She gave the boy an accusing look.

Inwardly, Naruto grimaced. He'd never do such a thing to his beloved Sakura-chan. He was about to reply, but ever quick on the uptake, thought better and instead tapped the side of his nose.

"Ninja hush-hush." He fought back a grin.

"Ninja hush-hush?" Ino said dryly. She smiled but she found the joke to be wearing thin. Naruto wasn't the mysterious type at all, so this little bit of oddity was very clashing.

Folding her arms, Ino went on to ask half-jokingly. "And I suppose you aren't going to tell me where you're going, considering training doesn't resume for a while yet?"

"Definitely ninja hush-hush!" He laughed not even giving his answer a thought through.

This time, the reply hadn't been taken so well.

"Ninja hush-hush?-! Pffft!" She held up a fist menacingly.

Realising his error too late, Naruto held up his hands and tried to apologise profusely as Ino advanced on him all to no avail as she threateningly closed the distance between them. Right when she got within striking distance, he'd lowered his head and closed his eyes waiting for the hit to come.

When none came, he'd cautiously open them to find Ino's fist was still held out towards his forehead, her face decked with a cheeky grin. Then she'd playfully gave his head a tap.

"That's for flinching." She giggled.

Appreciating a good joke -even on him, Naruto laughed too.

Then they both exchanged farewells and he exited. It was only some minutes after that Hinata entered. She'd scanned the establishment but didn't find the person she was looking for.

"Oh darn." She sighed.

The timid girl was about to exit when Ino called out and pulled her over.

"Looks like you were looking for someone, huh?" Ino asked.

"Y-yes, but h-he's not here anymore." The white-eyed girl sighed.

"Him, huh? Who were you looking for?" Ino asked curiously.

The Hyuuga-heiress blushed and stammered some excuses, but Ino reviewed the time she was here and made an educated guess.

"Were you looking for Naruto?" The blue-eyed girl asked. Naruto had been the only male patron she knew that came in today.

Hinata squeaked and looked away hurriedly, her face turning a deeper shade of red than it currently was.

"You ARE looking for Naruto!" Ino exclaimed in surprise. "You just missed him!"

"O-oh..." Hinata wilted.

Ino's eyes lingered on Hinata's expression and she'd quickly made some connections. Thinking that it was too good an opportunity to pass up, the platinum blond then proceeded to order a bowl of ramen for her friend.

"Well, there'll be other times, right?" Ino said handing the bowl over.

"I guess. I will be training with him on Friday." Unable to decline, Hinata accepted the offer and began motions to eat.

"Friday, you say? I can help you out if you want!" Ino volunteered enthusiastically.

"O-oh?" Hinata realised too soon that her polite nature had just invited someone into her alone with Naruto time.

"Yeah! I'll make sure nothing goes wrong!" The Yamanaka daughter jabbed a thumb at her chest. "You can count on me!"

"B-but that's n-not neces-" The poor Hyuuga girl tried to reassure her friend that she'd be fine, but unfortunately had been interrupted and the topic was shifted.

"Hey!" Ino tactically interrupted, snapping her fingers just as she recalled something she'd forgotten. "Do you remember when Naruto painted the Hokage monument? That was hilarious! The old fogies up there are so serious, it was finally time someone did something about it!"

Hinata blushed and replied that she thought it was humorous too. Though Hinata started reluctantly, it wasn't long before both girls ended up laughing and blushing at some of their memories concerning a certain orange-clad loudmouth who, with each story shared, was seemingly becoming capable of reaching such great heights.

When the two girls finally parted ways, Ino had reflected on what little she did know about Naruto incomparison to the vivid pictures Hinata appeared to paint the blond boy in. She had to accept that he was no Sasuke, but surely if Hinata saw something and Ino herself caught a glimpse of...

Quickly forcing that line of thought out of her mind, Ino turned back on the safer pretense of Naruto's aid earlier. Rationalising that she wasn't one to just accept charity out of the blue like that, Ino promised herself that she owed the hyper-active ninja a favour. As a result, her training that day was visibly lacking, but she had already kept in mind ways on how she could pay him back.

---

Jiraiya pulled his head back down into the booth he was seated in and started writing again.

"Lucky little brat! A few more years and he's going to have a following! Just like his old man!" Then Jiraiya growled as his pen increased speed as it tore through page after page. "And I never get that kind of attention without paying for it!"

After a few calming breaths, he put away the notepad and began writing in a leather-bound book.

Single Ninja on the Town - Amendments.
Amended Chapter Two ... Attitudes

The following are a few key notes for several desirable traits:
-Be sure to train hard. A little dedication is also a little impressive.
-Smile often but don't over do it. You must keep it sincere.
-Keep a scroll, book or newspaper around often. Reading is the sign of intellect!
-Be sure to keep track of the conversation. It will bite you in the ass if you don't.
-Make sure to be open to suggestion and be sure to try to treat it as an order. Most suggestions usually are.
-Be polite. Think before you talk. If it's vaguely insulting, rephrase your words. Quickly! Before they hurt you!
-Apologise for anything and everything if it's even a miniscule to their liking!

Oh, and if the mallet (or other incredibly large blunt object) is retrieved, know that it is in the male shinobi's best interest to just simply take the hit. Trust me, it's a lot more safer in the long run than not to. Unless sharp, instant-killing objects are wielded, then it's better to run away (which is usually the follow up to whether the ninja ran away from the blunt objects).

The following catalogs a list of objects which denotes 'should receive a beating' and followed by the list 'best to run away from'. All labeled without an asterisk should try to kept away from groinal regions, though there are some exceptions to keep the danger from escalating.

knee
slap
grab
brass knuckles
club
two-by-four plank with a nail
...

End of Chapter 2 ... Attitudes.
Next up!
Chapter 3 ... Training.
Subtitle: Clash of the Tenten!

Author's notes:
Actually, the scene with Ino was a little longer. Then I realised that I nearly written a Naru/Ino, so I rewrote it. Heheh. Anyways next up is Tenten!
Oh yeah, partly true story in there. I know a guy who's borrowed a book from a library. Around 10-16 years and still going! It's not particularly a great book, he's just embarrassed to take it back. XD

Apologies for people waiting on Fox05b... It's nearly here!

Uploaded: November 1st, 2005.
First Revision: February 7th, 2006.
Second Revision: August 4th, 2006.