I do not own 'Naruto'

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"Okay team." Kakashi called "That's the end of our missions for the day."

Their missions consisted of doing chores that civilians were too lazy to do. It irked both Sasuke and Sakura to no end. Naruto was content, the less killing he had to do the better.

"When are you going to get us a real mission?" Sasuke asked. The Uchiha was past tired of chores.

"Sasuke, we've been over this." Kakashi sighed. "We can only get a higher mission after your team work improves."

"I think it's as good as it's going to get." Naruto mumbled.

"Like you know anything!" Sakura screamed.

Naruto cast the wanna-be kunoichi a glance. It wasn't a glare or flirtatious one, it was hollow.

He's had that look ever since the ANBU took him away. Kakashi realized. I should have done more.

That was a week ago.

Ever since, he wouldn't get into his banter with them. She couldn't take it anymore.

"Hey idiot." She called when she saw him leaving "Why are you trying to be cool, you'll never match up to Sasuke." She spoke. "Especially with the way you dress."

Naruto looked at his outfit in curiosity. "What's wrong with the way I dress?"

It was the first hint of emotion that he actually showed that didn't scare her.

"You should get something more practical." Kakashi spoke in. "Both of you, a pink and red dress isn't helpful in battle."

"But I need to be pretty for Sasuke-Kun." She whined. She turned to said Uchiha "Would you-."

"No."

She turned to yell at Naruto, only to see he had already left.

Naruto had taken what Kakashi said to heart, he refused Sakura's notion.

"Hey, Naruto." A voice called.

He turned to see Ino walking towards him.

"Hello Ino-Chan." He greeted, ignoring her blush. "What are you up to?"

"I just finished team training." She answered "What about you?"

"Same here." He agreed "Now I need to do some cloths sho-"

He never had a chance to finish before his fellow blond started dragging him around.

"I thought you would never realize it." She gushed "As an expert in the field of shopping, I will aid you."

Something told him to just go with it. "Fine."

"Alright, tell me what you're looking for in your outfit." Ino ordered.

"I need something that's loose enough for me to be flexible, but not enough to be baggy and caught." Naruto listed. "It needs to be inconspicuous and still be practical."

"Anything else?" She questioned.

"No, I leave myself in your capable hands." Naruto smiled.

Ino looked at her fellow blonds smile and couldn't help but blush.

"Well, none are more capable than I!" She declared. "We're here."

Naruto looked to see that they were at a ninja only store. It was also one of the stores that kicked him out because of his fuzzy situation.

"Are there any other stores?" He asked his fellow blond.

"What do you mean, this place is one of the best." She stated.

Naruto said nothing else as they walked inside.

The store was full of useful material, he had to admit that. Not just Shinobi clothing, but weapons as well.

"Hello Yamanaka-chan, what can I-" The owner stopped when he laid eyes on Naruto. "I'm sorry, but we're closed for the day."

"What, why?" Ino asked.

"Certain...circumstances prevent me from mentioning it." He answered as he motioned his head towards Naruto.

What is he going on about? Ino asked herself.

Naruto had walked away to study the inventory as soon as he entered, but he had been listening. Another demon hater, another fool. He had only looked up long enough to give an empty look to the owner.

Then he made his way outside.

"Hey, Naruto!" Ino called as she followed behind. "Wait up."

She had caught up with her fellow blond only to see that he was busy. He seemed to be having a conversation with a elderly bandaged man.

When he was done, he turned and came back to her.

"What was that all about?" Ino asked.

"It turns out I won't be needing to shop." Naruto answered. "Everything has been taken care of."

"Oh, well that's good." She replied uncertainly.

They stood there in silence for a moment, neither knowing what to say. Thankfully, Ino's stomach did.

"Would you like to get something to eat?" He asked.

Ino looked at her fellow blond and gained a predatory smirk. She leaned in and placed a finger on Naruto's shirt.

"Are you asking me out on a date?" She asked playfully.

"Yes." He answered calmly.

She was shocked that he was so calm about her reverse play, most boys would be a blushing heap. But she wouldn't give up.

"What would your Sakura-Chan say?" She asked.

"She would insult us, complement the Uchiha who would ignore her, then attack me." He answered as if stating the weather.

Ino took a moment to thank about all she knew about the blond and tried to add it all up. Nothing made sense.

"Alright, let's go."

Naruto placed a hand on her shoulder and pulled her into a Body-Flicker. When he arrived in front of Ichiraku's ramen, she let out a cry of shock and outrage.

"How did you do that?!" She asked. "And why bring me here, I'm on a diet!"

"That's bad." Naruto stated. "You shouldn't diet."

"How else am I going to keep my figure?" She asked, striking a pose.

"Whoo, work it girl." A lady with dango stated as she walked past.

Ino quickly stopped when she realized that she was in public.

"Ino-Chan, we're Shinobi." Naruto stated. "Diets aren't needed when we're pushing ourselves to the limit everyday."

"Tell that to my team." She mumbled. "They only stuff themselves or layabout."

After a bit of an inner debate, she decided to eat a bowl with the blond.

"Hey old man, I've got a new customer for you." Naruto called.

Teuchi walked out to greet his number one customer only to pause. He took one look at Ino and frowned.

"I thought we had a deal Naruto!" He shouted. "Marry my daughter and you can get all the ramen you'd ever want!"

"What?" Was Naruto's only reply. "I never agreed to that!"

"What?!" An enraged Teuchi shouted. "Is my daughter not good enough?!"

"Who make a deal like that?!" Ino asked.

Teuchi didn't get to answer as he slumped over, holing his head in pain. Behind him was Ayame, holding a frying pan.

"A bad father." She whispered. "So, what can I get you two?"

Naruto watched in amusement as Ino devoured her ramen. She had said that she would only try it, now she was enjoying it.

She was eating her third helping when she realized he was staring. It never occurred to her that she may have thrown away her dignity in the manner that she was eating.

Choji would have been proud.

"What, do I have something on my face?" She asked as a light blush was forming.

"Yes." Naruto answered. "Here, let me..."

"What's this?" An unruly voice asked.

The two turned to see two unruly men walk in, both giving Naruto dirty looks. Since they weren't wearing headbands, they were obviously civilians.

"Looks like the demon's trying to put the moves on her." The other answered.

"Hey, I won't have you harassing my customer." Teuchi spoke seriously.

"All right, we just came for some food." One of the men spoke. "That's not a problem, is it?"

"No...sir." Teuchi grumbled. He was still a business man.

The father and daughter walked into the back to begin preparing the food. Once they were gone, the two newcomers turned their attention to the blonds.

"So sweet thing, this boy bothering you?" One asked. The same one that called Naruto a demon.

Ino looked at Naruto, only to see him calmly eating his ramen, as if there was no problem. She decided to follow his example and enjoy herself.

She continued eating as if they weren't there.

"We're talking to you!" The second spoke.

Ino turned and gave the men a glare.

"My date," She emphasized. "Is keeping me happy, I am being bothered by two goons."

The men shared a glance before turning towards the blonds.

"Goons are we, maybe we start acting like it then!" He snapped.

He prepared to smack Ino, only for Naruto to grab his hand and slam it onto the table. He proceeded to pierce the man's wrist with a kunai. Naruto ignored the shout of pain as he pierced all the way to the table.

The second man stood and began drawing his sword.

"Don't move." Naruto ordered the second man. "If I remove the kunai, he will lose a lot of blood, there's just so many veins in the wrist." Naruto stated without emotion as he twisted the weapon. "If you get him to a hospital fast, he'll survive."

Naruto reached into the man's pocket and pulled out his wallet. He tossed it to a shocked Ayame.

"This should cover everything." She stated after counting.

Naruto nodded and left, leaving the kunai in the man's wrist.

It took Ino a moment to realize that he left before she ran after him.

"Naruto!" She called, stopping him. "What was that?"

"He was going to hit you." Naruto answered. "I stopped him."

"Yeah, but you did it like you knew his exact movements." Ino stated. "Since when where you that good? She asked. "What secrets are you hiding?"

Whatever kind of conversation they were going to have was cut short when the man with the sword ran out of the stand. He charged straight for the blonds, his sights set on Naruto.

The blond side stepped the first swing and made some distance.

"What do you think you're doing?" Ino asked in shock. "What about your friend?"

The man didn't listen.

"Die demon!"

Naruto reached towards his back and pulled out the White Blade. He caught the second blow with it and held the man in a power struggle.

"You broke the Third Hokage's law." Naruto stated. "Punishment. Death."

The man was taken back by Naruto and was beginning to become scared.

This wasn't the punching bag that the village had become so used to. Neither was it the fool that he acted. This Naruto was cold, along the lines of a...Shinobi.

He attempted to push Naruto back by adding more force behind his blade, Naruto just countered it. It never occurred to the man that he might not be able to beat Naruto in a Chakra battle.

"I will be your executioner." Naruto stated.

He watched as the blond raised a single finger to his forehead.

"What, do you have loaded fingers or something?"

He was answered by a water bullet passing through his skull.

Naruto noticed Ino gasp as he killed the man then and there.

"You demon, you killed him!" A voice spoke.

They turned to see that it was the man that Naruto stabbed in the wrist. He was holding said limb under his armpit, trying to stop the blood flow.

Naruto turned his finger to him.

The man paled when he saw the results it had on his friend. If it collided with him, he would be finished.

"You broke the Third Hokage's law." Naruto repeated. "Punishment. Dea-"

"Stop!"

Naruto's aim was thrown off by Ino pushing his hand away from his target, luckily he hadn't fired.

"What are you doing Naruto, how could you kill them!?"

Naruto met her gaze and Ino jumped back in shock.

They were no longer the sparkling and mischievous eyes that she had grow used to. They were...empty, like a machine competing it's function.

"He broke a law, punishable by death." He answered, his tone just as empty as his eyes. "I'm doing my duty."

He never broke eye contact with her as he aimed his finger at the fleeing man, he didn't need to. Activating his eyes, he could 'see' the man trying to escape.

He fired.

"How could you do that?" Ino asked, feeling sick.

"It was my duty." He answered as he turned and left in a body flicker.

Ino was outraged, he had just left her! In the middle of their date, he had left her!

She barely remembered that he executed two men. He mind was on the fact that she had been stood up.

Oh hell no.

She would get her answers.

She ran towards the only place that she knew about him being, minus Ichiraku ramen, the training ground.

There she greeted team 7.

"Hey, I'm looking for Naruto." She asked in a huff. "Where is he?"

"Is there a problem?" Kakashi asked.

"He left in the middle of our date!" She declared angrily.

Her declaration was greeted with boisterous laughter from Sakura.

"You went on a date with Naruto?" She asked incredulously. "Finally realize Sasuke-Kun is out of your league Ino pig?"

She was silence when her Sensei stepped forward. "What happened?"

Ino turned her gaze away from the Jounin, unable to answer. She loved to gossip, but this was something she just couldn't speak. It seemed Kakashi understood that since he eye-smiled.

"Here." He handed her a piece of paper. "This is his address."

"Thank you Sensei." She spoke before running off.

"That was weird." Sakura mumbled. She didn't ask Sasuke-Kun for a single date.

Ino looked at the paper over and over, trying to make sure she had the right place.

This is were he lives? She couldn't believe it.

The place Naruto lived was horrible. There was glass from the broken windows all around. Spray tags of calling him a demon and other slanderous names.

Yet the other apartments were completely fine!

"Whatever." She mumbled.

She walked inside, no even bothering to knock.

As soon as she was inside, she noticed she was not alone.

A hand grabbed her by the ponytail in a strong grip. It pulled so hard that it dragged her entire body, slamming her into a wall. She saw a glisten that she recognized as a weapon.

She closed her eyes, waiting for the inevitable.

"Ino?"

She opened her eyes to see a pair of familiar blues.

"Naruto!" She screamed. I was almost killed by the dead last!

"What are you doing here?" He asked, putting his weapon away.

"What am I doing here?" She asked incredulously. "You left me at our date!"

"There were...complications Ino." He stated. "You were there, I assumed it was over."

"You assumed?!" She screamed. "I'm so mad, I could knock your head off!

"You can try." Naruto stated blankly.

Ino was taken back by the sudden change in personality. As if her threat was taken literally, and he would react in kind.

"What happened to you?" She asked nervously. "This isn't like you."

"Like me, like me?" He asked in disbelief. "What do you know about me!?"

Ino pushed herself further back into the wall. She was actually afraid of him.

"What happened to the Naruto that always shouted about being Hokage?" She asked in a small voice.

"I grew up." He answered. "Something you've yet to do."

"Of course I grew up!" She stated, offended by his claim. "Just look at me!"

Naruto did, he gave her a quick once over with his eyes.

"I am." He stated. "I am not impressed."

"What?"

Naruto glared at his fellow blond.

"This isn't a game we play Ino." Naruto stated. "We are Shinobi of the Leaf."

"I know that better than you, I come from a clan of Shinobi while you..." She covered her mouth, shocked by her own words. "I didn't mean..."

"Of course you did." Naruto stated emotionlessly. "After all, the dead last is talking down to a Yamanaka." Ino was afraid, once again. "I took you down in only a second, close to killing you." He stated. "What do you think will happen to you on a real mission?" He asked. "Do you think you can let your team do all the work, or are you still a fan girl that thinks Sasuke-kun will rescue you?

"No." She lied.

"You're weak Ino." He stated. "You starve yourself to keep your so called figure and hardly train from your own explanation."

"You think you're strong?" She asked, gaining her courage. "Where do you get strength?"

"I train everyday to make myself stronger for my village and family name." He continued. "I've tasted the real Shinobi world, it's bitter."

As Naruto ended his tirade, Ino noticed that he had been crying. He didn't seem to be aware of it as the tears fell freely. He actually seemed pretty calm, yet they showed no sign of stopping.

"...That mission with Iruka, was real?" She asked.

"Yes." Naruto answered, tears increasing. "I was taking the Shinobi world for a games, I lost Iruka as a consequence."

"...I don't know you at all." Ino admitted. "I'd like to..." Her stomach silence her with a loud grumble.

Naruto actually smiled at this, which grew into a laughing fit. Ino could only sit there and blush at her body's betrayal.

"If you want to get to know me, I could tell you." Naruto offered. "Over dinner, my treat."

"Two dates in one day?" Ino asked, gaining a smirk. "You might end up breaking your wallet with my expensive tastes."

"I was planning on cooking." He stated. "Anything you want?"

Naruto cooks, I really don't know anything about him. She realized.

He seemed to read her mind.

"I had to learn to take care of myself Ino, that means cooking my own meals." He stated. "I believe I do a damn good job at it too, but a second opinion would be appreciated."

Ino returned home, her mind heavy.

Everything she thought she knew about her fellow blond was wrong. That much she knew, that was all she knew.

That, and he's a hell of a good cook! She felt ashamed of how she pigged out. He only smiled and offered her more, knowing she couldn't stop. There goes my diet.

Inoichi Yamanaka looked at the contemplative look on his daughter's face. The only time he'd ever seen her that focused, usually involved a boy or cloths.

Yet this was something else entirely.

"Everything okay?" Inoichi asked.

Ino jumped, never noticing him. If he had been an enemy...

"Daddy, do we have any Jutsu for split personalities?" She asked. "And some training equipment?"

Review

Sorry about the wait and shortness. Next will be longer, the wave mission. Definitely sooner.

What do you think of the pairing?-Guy with broken mind with girl that messes with minds.-Don't know about harem.