There had been no word from patrolling Anbu and Chunin on team seven since they left gate 28 into the forest of death, he was watching for a messenger hawk or fidgeting with the seal on his wrist nearly constantly. She knew he trusted them completely. Having seen his team in action once or twice she knew they were efficient and quick but like any father who let their children stay over at a friends for the first time he couldn't help but worry about them. His hair blew in the evening air as he looked distantly towards where his girls could be fighting and dying, it was a heartbreaking scene, but she knew when he needed her, she would be there. Until then, this was his burden. His trial.

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Fakers!

Chapter Nineteen: Trials

By

Hibiki

"The characters ain't mine. I don't know kung fu, and I have an obsession with a singing computer program. I'm an otaku. Sue me and I'll make Miku yell cutely at you while I try and find two pennies to scrape together as a beat." -Hibiki

AN: A little more 'Memories' like this chapter, but after the insanity that was 18, I can't help it. 18 was just too weird even for me.

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The first day of the second exam was filled with the fiasco that had become known in the village simply as 'The Stud-en-ing'. It wasn't even a damn word but everyone was saying it. He had went with five men to a far flung training field, some of these men had been there during the 'Great Naruto Glomp' a few days back, one was even the husband of one woman who joined into said hunt that followed the GNG. It must have been some epic battle, the village was in a flurry. Ten hours later only he left (Apparently the four ladies were better disguised than she thought or people were truly retarded in this village), and in the company of two beautiful women! It CONFIRMED their beliefs, that Naruto's abilities were a true legend. For his member could only be 'The One'. Ino could already see the new name adding to the already long list for Naruto in the bingo book. For Naruto and her, it was simply the Oiroke training day. So chaotic it was, that when they arrived home, their 'long night' melded into the second day.

And what a second day it was. She decided she would use all that excess energy he had and keep him… 'occupied'. Her hope was he would be so exhausted by the end of it he wouldn't be able to move let alone think about what could be happening out at TG-44. It was selfish, it was unfair to the girls risking themselves, but she could honestly she needed it almost as much as him. The past week had been one of the most terrifying and every moment she had with him made her feel alive and thankful for it. So she made the day for her and him alone, clothing very optional. What she learned from that day was most, if not all, of this bingo book entry… was entirely true, though she could admit she was very biased on that point. He wore HER out, and then some. One minute her man would be so forceful he had her a slave to the pleasures he was giving her, then the next minute he would turn around and make love to her so tenderly she cried from the intensity of his worship to her body. He'd run his hands and mouth over her body pleasing her only for her to do the same, dueling one another in the sexual arts till they lay unable to find the strength to move in the evening. She doubted she could handle another day of this, let alone take the chance the Haru triplets wouldn't get to the tower while they were caught up in their own pleasure. One moment screaming his name, the next naked on the floor before his girls. One day was risky enough and how far she was gone that day, there was no way for her to be careful if an all day sex fest happened again. So, like any time she needed help, she turned to the one woman always there for her. If for nothing more than a day to sleep in. Her man's stamina would be the death of her, but lordy what a way to go.

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"Wow, Chigusa-okaachan! I didn't know you knew any jutsu! That was cool!" Chigusa blushed a little at the attention her pseudo son-in-law was giving her as she ran her fingers under the flowers. To Naruto's amazement the petals began to slide open and the aroma of the blooms ushered from the plants to fill the shop with their pleasant fragrance.

"Well, it's not all that known anymore but, in the early days of the second shinobi war a former Kusa nin married into the Yamanaka line. Because of his former allegiance he was forever banned from active duty. Back then the Yamanaka clan were rather poor and small, so when the Kunoichi became pregnant with Ino's grandmother, they worried about how they would support themselves. Using techniques he had developed in Kusa, they started the store you stand in today. Those techniques are passed down in the Yamanakas as part of the clan. Even for those who never gain the bloodline, or married into the clan like I did."

"Oh…" He looked intrigued but his face tempered now. She didn't live with mind readers for the last twenty five years and not learn a thing or two, and right now the man before her was looking very indecisive.

"Have you given any thought about what we talked about that night?" When Naruto had set up that crib in Ino's old room Ino had stayed down talking to her dad about things while Chigusa had followed him up cradling Hotaru's things. As he cleaned up the crib Chigusa brought up a question that had remained with him since.

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Running his polish soaked rag over the wood of the crib he smiled as it's original gleam came to bear.

"So Naruto-kun, does this mean you and Ino have something you want to tell us?" Ino's mother watched as the young man, despite the pain he had shown earlier, now smiled as he worked on the crib before him.

"Umm. No, we… haven't had se… I mean I'm sorry, that's not proper… I know how Yamanaka-san might feel about that." He trailed off when Chigusa began laughing. When she calmed down enough, though the smirk never left her face, she answered his unasked question.

"You do know me and Ino's father were in each other's pants long before we even started dating, right?"

"Eh?" Naruto couldn't picture straight lace Yamanaka Inoichi jumping the gun and having relationships before marriage. Given how the man acted at times, he thought him more traditional than Hyuuga Hiashi.

"Yup, you see as the male heir in a clan, Inoichi was to find someone of lower nobility to have her marry into the clan, but high enough to keep the prestige of clan up. He was all set to marry some prudish daughter of a noble low in the daimyo's succession, despite having never met her before. Then one day after a bad mission he came into a bar where I worked. He was rude, so of course I treated him like a prick until his team left. I thought I had seen the last of him, but there he was the next night, and the one after that. Over and over, we bickered and argued whenever I passed by. I began to wonder what was it he hated about me so much to keep coming back. It was as if he had come in every day just to piss me off it seemed. After a month I was so angry with him, so tired of fighting, that I was ready to just quit or have my boss kick him out… When it happened."

Naruto was watching her intently as she sat down on the bed beside him.

"One day I was there waiting for him to come in so we could get into it like always, when he just didn't show up. At first I was so happy, he had given up his little grudge or whatever he had, but as the night rolled on I just couldn't concentrate. It made me think about how gotten use to him just being there, and then when he wasn't, how much I missed him." She shook her head in thought. "It pissed me off so much, that he would miss our fight like that. So like an idiot, after work, I tracked his ass down. When I did I was shocked to find him looking so sad. I wasn't certain if I wanted to even mess with him, but that temper I am sure you've seen in my Ino came out and I started into him. So stunned by the fact I had found him just to bitch at him he let me yell myself out.

When I finally ran out of steam he just sat there looking like I had grown a new head before he asked me two questions. 'Why are you even here and why spend all that time looking for me?' I blurted out the first thing in my head. 'I missed you.' I couldn't believe it, for a month I had wanted him to leave me alone and the moment he does I couldn't stop thinking about him. But his face, I'll remember that look till the day I die. That was the first time he gave me that smile. His whole face lit up, and before I knew it the moron kissed me. I actually punched him so hard I had him flat on his back from shock. I thought I was in so much trouble, a civilian hitting a clan heir like that, but he just started laughing. Something about it struck me and before I knew it I was kissing him, one thing led to another and well. That was our first night together. After a few months he demanded they let him date me instead, the other woman be dammed, well the rest is history. So, no, I 'deflowered' your girlfriend's father long before he got close to marriage. Good thing too he sucked at sex until we got a bunch of times under his belt."

"ah." Naruto shook his head, some things were best not to think about.

"Hmm, sorry I'm sure hearing about two people going at it like…" and you could see the words in Naruto's head just blaring 'lalalalalala' to keep any more thoughts of the two elder Yamanakas sexual moments out. "Hmm. Where was I, oh yes. It seems to me you have something planned for my daughter, if this crib is any indication." He was silent for a moment then smiled softly

"To be honest, I would like to. I could see her as my… wife. I like the thought. To BE her husband, for real not those stupid rumors. I love her, Chigusa-okaachan. I can't fight how much I've grown to love her since that night. I'm can't help but want her, but are we rushing things? After how messed up things were for us before, I don't want to do anything that might hurt her."

"That's a very sweet and noble thing, but in love, it's not about being noble. Not really. I wanted Inoichi, all of him, to make him no one else's. That's a very selfish desire. I know about Shizune, Naruto, so I don't know if I can be any help here, but I think you have a shot. Just think it over. We've been through so much in the last few days, it could be so easy to either want to rush things like this or hold off."

"Shizune and I… we knew it was never going to happen. The few things that did happen, are as far as it would ever go. She could have gone on with her life never once looking back at any time. Before Ino, she was really the only one I would be willing to talk to about it all. I'll always love her, but it's changed. Ino gave me something more, and it grows every day. When she said yes to buying this crib, it made me think of what we could have, of what we could make together. Just imagining putting our little girl or boy into this bed, where their big sister can watch over them, the feeling I get is… I can't even think of a way to SAY it! It would be… my greatest wish." Chigusa smiled softly at his words.

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"Yeah." He looked at the flowers he was fiddling with, not wishing to look at her. "Did.. Did you mean the things you said two days ago? About not letting me…" Before he could finish Chigusa swept him up into a motherly hug, her hands rubbing his back softly.

"Not a single word of it. I'm so sorry, honey. I didn't mean to upset you." She felt horrible. "I tease… It's… It's just how I say, I love you… I guess I'm still good at making men worried about how I feel about them." She mumbled more to herself than him but to her surprise his arms came up around her and he hugged her back.

"Thank you… Mom." Her eyes welled with tears as his voice spoke that three letter word.

"No, thank you." She hugged him tighter. "Son." After a few moments she let him go, carefully wiping her eye free of any signs of her happy distress. It wouldn't do for him to see it and worry about her. He had enough on his plate as it was. "So, it's a little early, but I think it's safe to let you learn these jutsu. Would you like to? Their pretty harmless in combat but it will help if you want to make an arrangement one day. Perhaps for a special lady when you ask for her hand?" His face broke into a smile much like the one she had fallen for all those years ago as he nodded. Her Ino was lucky. This man was definitely a keeper.

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Despite how happy he was when he came home to her, and how passionate he had been during their lovemaking, she soon found herself laying alone in their bed, with him watching the forests off to the north, waiting hoping for a sign from his girls.

She slid out of bed, and waited at the sliding door watching him. After many minutes he turned and held out his hand. She took it letting him pull her into his lap.

"Should I be this worried about them? Was Kakashi or Asuma ever this worried about us? Am I even cut out for this? I'm scared Ino. What if I failed. What if they weren't ready for this? How can I be this way when one day I'll be sending people I know out to missions they will easily be killed on."

"When that day comes, remember this day Naruto. I want my baka to remember that he has every right to be worried and scared. Because even when you are the Hokage, you will have to let the people you love take these risks. Like me. There might be a mission where my expertise is needed and you'll have to let me go. Even if I am your wif-lover, this nation will depend on you to do what is best for it. That is the why Tsunade had you take on a squad before she continued your training."

"I know. When I realized that I would be sending the girls there a few months back I realized why Baa-chan did what she did. It doesn't change the fact I am worried about them."

"That is something you should never change. Ninja are not tools. I doubt you could think that if you tried, my loveable ba… Naruto your seal." His eyes darted down as hope filled him. The seal was blinking red. They had made it in.

"You want to come?"

"I wouldn't mind, I'll be there anyway for the elimination rounds tomorrow." There was a tug.

"Hold on, thank god we decided to keep our clothes on."

"He thanks god, I feel ugly now."

"Ino…" He kissed her softly then gathered his chakra.

[POOF!]

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The scene they found was not encouraging. The three girls, two supporting one, were covered in cuts and bruises. Their outfits were torn showing shallow cuts all over them but what worried the two Jounin the most was the amount of blood flowing from the side of the center sister.

"HARUKA!" Naruto captured her as the other girl's collapsed in exhaustion. Ino rushed over to him, her hands instantly covered in the classic medic suture/scan jutsu.

"Sen…sei. How'd… you know it was… me?" The injured girl remarked as she smiled through the pain as Ino began probing the wound for slivers of metal. His words caught the scratchy lump in his throat as he held her against him, his eyes moving between his panting tired girls.

"Because… you are all my darling students who their sensei knows very well. And is very proud of."

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They had rushed to team seven's designated room, laying Haruka upon the bed as the now unconscious girl was worked on diligently by Ino. Though harsh, what Ino was doing was against the Chunin Exam regulations, all injuries sustained in battle must either be treated by someone in the team or the team must withdraw from competition. They are suppose to be rendered no aid until the end of the elimination round. It was why Sasuke and Naruto were allowed to complete their fights despite both being under seals sustained by their battle against Orochimaru.

However it was easily seen Haruka would not survive if left un attended in that manner though her sisters had done their best to stop the bleeding. Harumi had ever had a transfusion going when they made it to the tower. Ino refused to let the girl die, as a former medic nin, the urge to heal was still ingrained into her, and this girl was a special case.

It would take them long into the night to make certain she would survive it, but Futowari Haruka was apparently a fighter, and despite all the trauma and still tenuous repair work, she followed her sisters as they made their way to the main hall, where Tsunade and the rest were waiting for the Eliminations.

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Futowari Haruka

The computer finished randomizing the first name and Naruto's hand clenched. His face grew taut as he realized his still heavily injured Genin was going in with the worst odds. The other girls all seemed pale too as they looked to their sister.

VS

Ino's frown deepened as she watched the girls and their Jounin sensei. With 15 other genin, and that wound in her side would limit the girl far too much, if she pushed even a little, she could easily rip open her side and that would kill her. She had already gone above the approved limit in healing her as she did, but she doubted anyone here would be upset, and frankly neither she nor Naruto would care if they were punished. Haruka's life was more important than some stupid exam. She only hoped the opponent would give the girl a chance to surrender.

Futowari Haruna

"What?" Naruto's stunned whisper echoed in the silent room.

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So. Chigusa accepts Naruto. Naruto gets the bleep fucked out of him, and Haruka is injured badly. With just a day left Ino and Naruto work on healing them, despite rules, they keep Haruka alive. Forcing herself to the elimination round Haruka is picked first… to face her sister.

Yeah this was a odd one, not too funny, but I had fun writing it because of the fluffy Mother Son scene. And it really makes me want to write a Inoichi: Chronicles chapter about Inoichi and Chigusa's first month of knowing one another. Me and my gal met like this. Only I was Chigusa and she was Inoichi. I dunno if I can ninja it up or not.

Speculation For Fakers!: Marriage in Naruto and Naruto: Fakers!

Some of you might ask, will Naruto join the Yamanaka clan since Chigusa taught him the jutsus? Some have asked for Naruto to reveal he is a Namikaze. I'll let those who asked that know now, I've always been more of a stickler of the older traditional Japanese method of marrying into the wife's family if she is the last of her line, like Kushina was (I assume). In Naruto I've never seen anything to support either the more traditional or more western adaptations, and that's really the only reason I can tolerate Naruto Namikaze, because he is an Uzumaki to me and it would be beyond rude to me to forget his mother, and her family by just up and changing that suddenly like I have seen in a few. Since Ino is the heiress to the main line, should she wish to remain so Naruto would thus marry into her family and take her surname. Yamanaka Naruto. If they wished to consider Naruto as part of a clan and is the heir to the Uzumaki of Uzu no Kuni/Namikaze-Senju of Hi no Kuni lines since there are other Yamanaka's she would marry into Naruto's family and someone, like Sanko or a closer blood relative, would become the next heir. Ino would become Uzumaki Ino. That is to say any child Naruto and Ino might have could take any name under them, and continue that line, even be a Yamanaka though now of a much lower branch. As in, while ½ Yamanaka the child's blood would be less pure than that of a second branch Yamanaka. Odd semantics and many things I assume I understand. It's a rich culture and hard to truly get the little bits but I try. I've probably beaten this out of proportion by fitting my naïve American ideals upon it. But it's how I swing. Left and low…. Wow that sounded bad. never mind

Anyway this was postponed by some things happening in RL like the fact next week I will be in Vegas at a business convention so updates though I will try and keep writing will not happen until I get back next Friday. I'll try and get out as much as I can before then. I don't really have much in the way of path for this story… kind of why it has flown so well, I don't try and divert it onto something else.

Next Chapter: JANKEN