Chapter 3: Starting Again

A/N: Yo! Thanks for the reviews! I love you all!

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It has been five extremely long and painful minutes since Naruto 'stormed off'. Ino, still sad, rubbed her pale forehead trying to get rid of her annoying headache.

Naruto, two and some years ago seemed just to be the class clown. He always acted really goofy and was unexpectedly powerful during those blasted chuunins exams. Ino's mind wandered further even though she hated the headache. Naruto now seemed even more mysterious than the Uchiha boy she used to like.

Sighing again, Ino stood up slowly, wiping her tired eyes. The gentle breeze went through her platinum blonde hair and she enjoyed every single second of it. Taking her hand, she ran her fingers through her hair to completely take in the comfort of the wind.

"Naruto-kun," she mumbled looking into the direction where he ran off. Crossing her arms she pouted. It has been a LONG while and he STILL hasn't come back to her.

Then looking into the distance again, she approached the spot he ran off too, hesitating each and every step.

Suddenly, she heard footsteps. On instinct she jumped back and poked out a kunai. She had done this numerous times before. She has received training from Asuma-sensei on being prepared with Shikamaru and Chouji. This instinct of hers would be extremely useful on this mission. For Noratu could appear out of no where.

The footsteps had silenced and all Ino heard was the crackle from the fire and her own soft breathing. But still, her curios nature made her speak, "Who's there?"

The tress moved and the footsteps were heard again. Emitting from the shadows of the rustling trees was Naruto. He looked at her and smiled, "Hello Ino-chan."

She sighed in relief to the fact that it was just Naruto, She didn't want to go ahead and fight Noratu on her own. Looking at his face, she saw he was tired. Plus, his smile made her ponder again.

"Fake," she let slip out. Covering her mouth she turned away, "Ano…"

Naruto came closer to her, "When did you learn how to read my face?" he made her turn to face his intense eyes.

"I don't know Naruto-kun," she said looking at him. He remained in that position looking down at her.

"S-Sorry about before," he finally said breaking the cold ice of silence.

Ino shook her head in reply, "No, its my fault, I shouldn't have been so rude."

Naruto sat down again near the fire. Insisting on her to sit down, he opened his mouth again, "Ino, was I pressuring you when I told you my secret?"

She looked at his eyes, they were soft now and she was relieved. Thinking about his question for a brief moment, she finally answered, "Not really. I haven't seen you in like forever you know. I hardly even knew you. Then you come out of the blue with so much information. I resisted the urge to hit you because I wanted to give you a chance. Later I end up becoming like a close friend to you. You even treated me to ramen," she let a small smile land directly on her face; "We became friends like that Naruto-kun. I didn't mind really, it was better than spending time with others. You were…fun."

Naruto slowly took in every word she said. Scratching his head he replied, "Oh." Looking directly into her pale blue eyes he knew what to say.

"Maybe….Maybe we should start again," he stated standing up.

Ino did the same. She smiled sweetly at his attempt to repair the confusion that settled in her heart.

"I'm Uzumaki Naruto, future Hokage and lover of ramen," he said giving out his hand.

"I'm Yamanaka Ino," she said taking his hand, "I love flowers and I hope to know you better," finishing it with a shake of the hand in hers.

"Ino-chan? Well we should get back to the mission at hand," he smiled and began to walk forewords.

"Yeah," she replied following him from behind.

Soon they were deep within the forest heading west towards the next village hoping to find more clues to the infamous Noratu. It had been only two days, but it already seemed like a week.

Ino looked at the back of Naruto's head wondering if he was to speak. Suddenly he stopped which caused her to crash into him, "Ow Naruto!" she yelled out fuming.

BAM

SMASH

BOOM

"Ow!" Naruto yelled out coming out from within the smoke, "That last explosive tag attached to your arm was very unnecessary!"

"Sorry, but you deserved that!" she said and then helped pick him from the ground.

"Ok, sorry for stopping!" he brushed off the dirt and faced her, "I just wanted to say that I was hungry."

Ino froze at this comment, thinking that he actually meant something serious, a vein popped on her head and she whacked him again sending him flying.

"Oh shit," she said realizing what she had done. She chased him as he flew, but then suddenly lost him, "Where the hell is he?"

"Yo Ino-chan," a voice said from behind.

Surprised, she punched who was behind her, looking, she realized she hit Naruto again, "Oops sorry."

Naruto slowly got up rubbing the four bumps on his head. Looking at her he smiled, "Its fine, I shouldn't have sneaked up on you like that."

She smiled and blushed slightly, his smile was so cute, and the bumps made him look funny too. Suddenly she had the greatest urge to ask millions of questions. Her first inquiry was, "How are they?"

Naruto tilted his head, "What do you mean by they?"

"You know what I mean," she pointed to his head, "Kyuubi and Hikari-chan."

"Oh," he smirked meaning that a plan just entered his mind, "Why don't you meet them yourself?"

Ino froze at picturing a huge demon fox and some girl. But then again, Naruto spoke to them all the time, so they wouldn't be that bad, right? Hesitating on her answer, she finally decided to use her mind jutsu to meet them

"Ok," she went into position and used it.

Naruto smirked and then he closed his eyes to see her there.

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It was dark and damp and smelled of socks. Ino stood there as if in the middle of a huge maze confused. Beginning to walk, she suddenly saw Naruto.

"Hey!" she said calling out to him. Naruto smiled his foxy grin and ran up to her.

"This place can get very dangerous if you get lost, follow me," he didn't leave her much of a choice on the following thing, because he grabbed her hand and led her to a room where bright red and white chakra remained.

"Wow," Ino said looking up at the demon fox.

"Yo," the fox said winking at her.

A little creeped out Ino nervously waved, "Hello Kyuubi."

"Kit, your girlfriend here is very polite unlike you."

"Shut up fox! And she is not my girlfriend," he blushed, "She's my friend…"

The little girl approached Ino and tugged on her clothes, "Hello Ino-hime!"

"Hey," Ino said, she was smiling widely, "Oh my gosh you are so cute!" she picked up the little girl and hugged her.

"Thank you Ino-nee-chan!" she smiled too and was then let down.

"So she's the source of that immense chakra in your angel form?"

"Yeah," he picked her up and placed her on his shoulders, "She's like a little sister, very powerful like Granny and Sakura-chan."

The little one nodded and smiled with blushing cheeks.

Ino took in the sights and smiled, then after waving good bye to the two different chakra sources she exited his mind.

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"That was interesting," she said to him.

"Yeah, they're the best aren't they?"

"I guess so. I wonder why the villagers thought you were so evil then, that kyuubi guy doesn't seem so bad!" she then remembered what had happened years ago, "Oh yeah, I forgot about that."

Naruto turned away from her and frowned, "I know he killed so many people, but I'm not to blame right?"

She faced him and looked into his sad, tormented eyes, "Yeah, besides," she raised her fist, "They should be praising the shit out of you for keeping that guy sealed within you! Plus you protected the village countless times!" she then raised her other fist, "If I could I'd beat them into a pulp for treating you so badly all these years!" she then frowned, "But then again, I haven't really noticed you till recently. Plus, along side Sakura I always teased you." She sighed and looked into his cerulean eyes once more, "I'm sorry for that so you know…"

"I know…besides we started again!" he smiled, "I'm glad you're my friend Ino-chan, I can speak to you about anything!"

She then thought of his statement, "Really?" remembering before, she asked him the question she really wanted to ask, "What was this usual dream you were speaking of before?"

Naruto sighed, "Well since you are asking so nicely, I might as well tell you."

They continued to walk further as Naruto took in a deep breath and was to begin telling the story of his dream.

Pre-read by: Mikee1, thank you! You rock! 3

Polls: (so far)

What should the filler be? (I decided to put only one for halfway the story o vote quickly!)

-Sasuke getting high on ramen (humor/general) 2 votes

-Disaster down at Hokage office (humor/general)

-Shikamaru's mission at Suna (Shika/Tema, romance/humor)

-Lee gets drunk…again (Ten/Neji, romance/humor)

-New—An amazing dance-off!

Also I have another idea for an Ino/Naruto it's a Romance/Tragedy. No one dies, just…er rated M for reasons.

Summary: Ino is Sasuke's boyfriend. After weeks of getting to his warm side, she had no idea what she had in store moving in with him. Rated M for abuse, swearing, and Sasuke evilness. Naruto finds her alone next to a river, "What's wrong Ino?"----goes from there.

Now the poll is, when should I submit it?

-Right Away?

-Wait till half way?

-Wait till this story is done? 2 votes

Till next time my readers! Ja ne!