Chapter 2 – Unexpected Friend

DISCLAIMER: I still don't own Naruto they still belong to Kishimoto… for now ;) Just kidding!

So here you go!

"Oh crap! I totally forgot Ino's birthday and what happened 3 weeks ago! Maybe if I get her some really good gifts quickly then she won't get angry with me and demand more money from me! Yeah that sounds like it will work." Naruto said as he was sat to the side of the restaurant to avoid being seen. Suddenly he jumped to his feet and sprinted down the streets of Konoha's shopping district while he remembered the incident that he caused 3 weeks ago.

3 weeks ago

Team 7 had just arrived back from a mission in Kumo and they had all decided to treat themselves to ichiraku's delicious ramen, after much persuading from Naruto of course, and being so full of excitement Naruto rushed off from Sasuke and Sakura who just sighed at Naruto's impatience.

"He never changes does he, Sakura?" Sasuke started.

"No he doesn't and probably never will but if he did he wouldn't be Naruto anymore, you know?" Sakura replied as her eyes followed their blond comrade and friend.

"Your right he may be a complete knuckle head but he is completely innocent."

With Naruto.

'Ok so I'll have some miso ramen with Naruto fishcakes and extra pork! Haha I can't wait!' Naruto thought to himself while running through the streets. However he was so lost in his thoughts he didn't notice the giant flower pot with feet that he was headed straight towards. He only realised too late as he smashed straight through the pot and toppled over to the side. He looked up from the floor and began to apologize.

"I'm so sorry I was lost in my thoughts and I wasn't look-"

"NARUUUTOO" He heard a very angry female voice cut him off. He saw that it was a blonde girl completely covered in soil from inside the pot. As she stood up all of the soil fell to the ground.

"Ahhh! Ino I'm so sorry I wasn't looking where I was going and I'll pay for that huge pot too!" Naruto said as he was on his knees bowing to Ino.

"Naruto! Do you know how much that flower pot costs?!" Ino said as Naruto stood up.

"No but I'll cover it okay!" Naruto continued.

"Okay then! Hand me 17,000 Ryo and you can go!" Ino said while holding her hand out. Naruto's jaw hit the floor in disbelief. "Oh you do have that kind of money don't you Naruto?!"

'Why so much for a stupid pot anyway' Naruto thought. "Ino you know I don't have that kind of money!"

"Well you've gotta pay or I'll get in so much trouble!"

"Okay well I've got a few A-ranked missions coming up so once I get enough I'll let you know. Okay see you later, Ino-"

"Oh No you don't, Naruto!" she shouted as she grabbed him by the back of his collar and pulled him to her holding up her fist to intimidate him.

"Hey Ino!" Ino turned to see Sakura and Sasuke but she didn't lessen her grip on Naruto at all.

"Oh hey Sakura, Sasuke" Sasuke looked down to the smashed up pile of dirt and pot then looked back up to Ino and Naruto. "Let me guess: Naruto smashed up your flower pot and it was probably really expensive, right!"

"That's right, how'd you know?" Ino asked.

"Well Naruto can be quite predictable so I guessed." Sasuke laughed.

"Oh Naruto when are you ever going to open your eyes when your running?" Sakura asked.

Naruto looked back at Ino who know had a devilish grin on her faced when she turned back to Naruto. 'I have a good idea!' She thought to herself.

"Naruto, how about a deal between us two?" She asked him before continuing. "How about I only asked for a small payment now and in return you get me really amazing birthday presents for my birthday 3 weeks from now?"

Sakura instantly faced palmed with Sasuke quietly laughed to himself. Naruto continued to look at her before he started with.

"How much do I need to pay?"

"Oh I'd say about… 4,500 Ryo. Sound good to you?" She asked.

"Ok you got yourself a deal!" He outreached his hand to shake hers. "I'll save up extra hard so I can get you the best birthday presents ever!"

"Great I'm looking forward to it!" She said as they shook hands.

Naruto got out Gama-Chan and pulled out the 4,500 Ryo he needed and gave it to Ino who smiled and walked off the way team 7 came from.

Naruto sighed and turned to Sasuke who was laughing quite a lot.

"Hey what's so funny Sasuke?!"

"You're never going to remember her birthday and even if you do you won't be able to please her with whatever you buy her, she can be real stubborn you know!"

"I swear I'll remember and I'll get her the best gifts ever so you can shut it! Anyway let's go to ichiraku's now." Before either Sasuke or Sakura could answer Naruto started sprinting down the street to his favourite ramen stand.

"He just doesn't learn, does he?" Sakura said to Sasuke.

"No he doesn't. We best keep him out of trouble then!" Sasuke replied.

End of Flashback.

Naruto found himself inside a jewellery shop looking for gifts and as his eyes scanned the shop for potential gifts he eyes came across a particular necklace that was silver with a small metal bouquet of roses with silver stems and golden petals.

"Alright Ino is all about flowers so if I can buy this and a few other things I'll be set!" Naruto said to himself.

He went to the counter and paid for the necklace and continued searching individual shops for more gifts.

Meanwhile at the BBQ restaurant

"That idiot I bet he got lost on the way here!" Kiba said to Sasuke and Sakura who have been sat down at the table opposite Ino for about 10 minutes.

"Kiba." Shikamaru started "I know Naruto and he isn't so stupid as to forget where the BBQ restaurant is."

"Yeah but I bet he forgot to get Ino anything for her birthday." Tenten Interrupted. "He probably forgot it was her birthday at all today. He's probably looking for a gift right now."

"So Naruto might be forgetful but he's still a great friend, right Sasuke?" Sakura stated.

Sasuke nodded. "He may be clumsy and forgetful but he's caring and energetic although this may be seen as negative his energy has brought many positives to most if not all of us."

"Yeah so if he has forgotten your birthday presents try to not be too harsh on him ok Ino?" Shikamaru said.

"Yeah fine, whatever." Ino said.

"Wow this just screams 'Ino' I just hope I have enough for it then I'll be done shopping!" Naruto said as he took down a purple strapless dress that had small black roses around the hem and a black rose broach that was hanging up outside the shops entrance.

"I'll take this dress please" Naruto said to the shop clerk.

"Ooh very nice young man, that'll be… 2,000 Ryo"

"Perfect I have just more than enough, I'll take it!" Naruto said in excitement.

As Naruto left the shop with 5 gifts in a bag and the dress in a box he noticed Konohomaru staring at him in confusion.

"Hey Konohomaru what's up?" Naruto quickly asked.

"Hey I'm just wondering who all these gifts are for? Have you got a girlfriend now Naruto!" Konohomaru eagerly said.

"No stupid these are for Ino, it's her birthday today."

"So… are you and Ino going out?!" Konohomaru said in a slightly frustrated tone.

"How stupid are you no way am I going out with Ino!"

"Good." Konohomaru said under his breath.

"What was that?" Naruto asked as he started walking back to the BBQ restaurant with Konohomaru to his left.

"It was nothing! But I was wondering if I could join the party you're going to. I can pay for my own food."

"Hmmm. Well you can ask Ino when we get there." Naruto happily replied. "I'm sure she'll say yes!"

Naruto and Konohomaru arrived at the BBQ restaurant after about 5 minutes of walking and entered the restaurant.

"Ahh it's about time you showed up, Naruto I was beginning to think you'd forgotten my birthday!" Ino chirped as she saw the boxes he was carrying.

"Yeah Naruto where were you? You were following me and Sasuke weren't you?"

"Yeah but I had to go to the bathroom." Naruto explained.

"But there is a bathroom at this restaurant." Kiba Scoffed.

"Shut it Kiba! How was I supposed to know that?"

"Well maybe if you weren't a complete idiot!"

"Oh yeah?!" Naruto said as Konohomaru approached Ino.

'I don't wanna sit next to Ino so hopefully Konohomaru will for me!' Naruto thought as he watched Konohomaru start to talk to Ino.

"Hey Ino! Happy Birthday! Is it ok if I join your party?" Konohomaru asked politely.

"Sure Konohomaru, the more the merrier!" Ino said as she smiled at Konohomaru.

"Thanks Ino!" Konohomaru said as he sat at the end of the table.

'NOO! Now I have to sit next to Ino. I'll be lucky if she doesn't rip out my guts!' Naruto mentally shouted as he sat down next to Ino. 'Although she does seem quite happy.' Everyone talked as they waited for the food to be cooked. Tenten started with.

"So Naruto looks like you didn't forget Ino's birthday after all."

"That's right Tenten, I wouldn't forget ever!" Naruto said with a smile.

Tenten smiled and said "Glad to hear it and will you be getting this many presents for me on my birthday?!"

Naruto look bewildered, as if he had forgotten something 'Damn! When's Tenten's birthday?!'

"Sure thing Tenten!" Naruto lied with a smile as Tenten smiled back.

'Phew I can't do this I don't know many people's birthdays so we need to change the subject! Fast!'

"Foods done!" Chouji shouted from the other end of the table.

'Great shout Chouji!' Naruto thought in relief. Everyone began to place BBQ pork on their plates and started to eat. After Chouji had had his 3rd helping of the pork that was left over Sakura started.

"Time for the presents!"

Ino was handed huge piles of boxes containing great presents one of them was a bracelet from Sasuke and Sakura and one of them was a pair of earring's from Shikamaru and finally came Naruto's presents. He handed Ino the bag that contained 5 small gifts and the bigger box that had the dress in it.

"Wow Naruto this is beautiful!" Ino said as she opened the gift with the necklace with the metal rose bouquet at the end.

"Yeah I thought you'd like that one since your all about flowers!" Naruto said to Ino's compliment. Ino gave him the necklace before she turned the other way for Naruto to put it on her. Once he had she turned back and looked at her new necklace. "But that isn't even the best one!" Naruto said, almost sounding enthusiastic. He waited until Ino had opened all the other smaller gifts with a proud look on his face.

'Naruto has actually given me the best gifts so far. I would never have guessed Naruto would have put some thought into this.' Ino began thinking when she was suddenly snapped out of her thoughts.

"Hey Ino! What are you waiting for? Open it!" Naruto said.

"Hm? Oh yeah. Ok!"

Ino undid the purple ribbon that wrapped the pink box and slowly lifted off the lid. She gasped at what she saw. She pulled out the beautiful purple and black strapless dress. Sakura, Hinata and Tenten Gasped. They couldn't believe Naruto would buy something so elegant and beautiful, something that would please and girl. In a way the three were jealous.

"Now isn't that just the best gift ever!" Naruto proclaimed happily.

"Naruto…" Ino said quietly.

"Hey what's the matter? Don't you like it?" Naruto asked in confusion

"This is amazing, Naruto! I never would have imagined that you would be the one to get me some of the best gifts for my birthday. You're totally unpredictable!"

"Hehe." Naruto modestly chuckled while scratching the back of his head. "I just saw it and I thought it looked like it would suit you, so I bought it."

"Thankyou." Ino said as she briefly hugged Naruto. Naruto blushed slightly before she let go and he then realised Sasuke saw him blushing as he quietly began to laugh. 'Hey! What's he laughing at! Oh no I think he saw me blush! I best ignore him for now' Naruto thought to himself.

10 minutes later everyone left the BBQ restaurant and went their separate ways home. Naruto was the last left outside the restaurant and he couldn't help but notice everyone had someone to leave with. 'Sasuke and Sakura, Hinata and Kiba, Shikamaru and Chouji' He chuckled a bit at the last one until he heard his name called.

"Naruto, What are you still doing here?" A happy Ino called to him.

"Oh hey I thought you left already?"

"No I went to the bathroom while everyone left. How come you're just standing around here anyways?" Ino started smiling. "You're not waiting to walk home with me are you Naruto?"

Naruto blushed heavily and began to panic. "No, No I was just… thinking! I didn't even know you were still here so-"

"-Relax Naruto I was kidding!" She laughed as he calmed down. "Anyway, unless you wanna walk the opposite way to your home just to walk with me then I'll see you around" Ino said as she began to walk away. "Thanks for my gifts Naruto!"

Naruto Nodded and smiled. As Ino waved and turned away Naruto turned to walk home he couldn't help but think how stupid he must have looked when she was flirting with him. 'I'm such and idiot!' He thought as he arrived home and crawled into bed waiting for the new day to arrive.