The Year Of The Dog

Chapter 3: Yondaime's Cloak/Playing With Flowers

A/N: First to say, I am very sorry for updating as soon as I could. But since it is my spring break now, I can. Anyway, here's chapter 3. Please keep reviewing anyway!

Shizune led Naruto to a big store room which was behind the Hokage's Office. She switched on the lights in the room. The room was painted white, and had a carpeted floor, with a crimson and gold design. There were shelves with metal frames, and loads of boxes stacked together. Naruto was amazed at how much there was in the room. Shizune had finally reached the back of the room, with a shelf marked 'Hokage Personal Items'.

"Here is what you wanted, Naruto-kun." Shizune said smiling. The black-haired woman bent down, and picked up a very long box, with the kanji for '4' on it. She carefully removed the lid, and then removed the red plastic bag inside. Inside the bag was a long white cape with a fire pattern on the bottem, with golden tasils. It had the kanji, 'Yondaime Hokage on it. Naruto just stood there, with his jaw hanging out.

"So this is the Fourth's cape?" he asked.

Shizune nodded. "Uh huh. After he died from sealing the Kyuubi, his body was found, and this was recovered from it. And it's been here ever since." She held it up to the light where it could be seen much better. The blond genin smiled. This is exactly what he need. Shizune quickly replaced the cap inside the bag, then back into the box, and handed it over to Naruto.

"Okay, remember what I said. This thing is very fragile. Make sure you don't tear out a single strand. And have it back to me by the end of the party. If you can't, I'll need it back the next day as soon as possible, okay?"

Naruto put on his trademark grin. "Thanks Shizune-san! Thanks a lot! I owe you one! Naruto walked back into the streets with the box under one arm. He was so excited. He was gonna go to the party as the village's biggest hero. But he remembered one slight error. His 'whiskers' on his face. Anyone would spot him immediatly. He was either gonna use a Henge No Jutsu or some facial cream that would hide it. He decided on the jutsu, since it would last longer, and cream would probably rub off. Naruto ran home and quickly placed the box on his bed. It should be alright for now...I've got about 2 days until the party...he thought.

Now, he asked himself, what now? He had gotten everything he needed, so what to do? He knew Ero-Sennin would be doing his "research", and boy, he didn't want to get involved with that stuff. He went outside, with his hands behind his head. "Ah great. So now what? Maybe I can help out someone." He said out loud. He thought about it. He was no good at cooking so he couldn't help out Hinata, and decorating really wasn't his thing. His thoughts got interrupted by a familiar female voice.

"Hey Naruto! Gimme a hand her please!"

Naruto turned around to see none other but Yamanaka Ino. "Hey, Ino. What's up?" He ran over to where she was standing.

Ino sighed. "Can you help me carry these boxes of flowers to Konoha Grand Hall please? I was gonna ask Shika-kun to do it, but "something" came up with his dad."

The Kyuubi container raised an eyebrow. "Shika-kun? You mean Shikamaru..." Ino blushed slightly at this.

"Whatever!" The blonde kunoichi snapped. "Just help me out here please?" Naruto just nodded and began picking up several boxes.

"Follow me." Ino said as she picked up her load of boxes and started to walk. Naruto followed here.

"So Naruto. Tell me, how was your trip away with one of the Legendary Sannin?" Ino asked starting conversation. Naruto cracked a smile. "Well a lot happened. I learn a lot more techniques, and improved my strength and stamina by a WHOLE load! I think I might be able to beat Kakashi-sensei, but he can still outwit me. Plus, I have Orochimaru and that Akatsuki..."

"Aka-who?" Ino said confused.

The blonde genin started to talk about Akatsuki. The group of a dozen or so missing-nin. Including Uchiha Itachi, Sasuke's older brother. Naruto told some of what Jiraiya had said to him. Ino was amazed at what she had been told.

"Sasuke's older brother? Well, I guess that explains where he got that attitude from..." She started to look kind of sad. Naruto carried on about a few tales he had with the sannin, which cheered the kunoichi up a little. Soon after around 10 minutes of walking and talking, they had reached the front entrance of the Grand Hall. It was a huge building with a pattern of red and yellow bricks on the front with two huge doors.

"Okay, we're here. Thanks Naruto-kun, you saved me a lot of bother." Ino said smiling.

Naruto gave her an eyebrow. Why did she just call him Naruto-kun? The only other person which called him that was Hinata. "It...was..er..no problem." He replied with still a confused look on his face.

Ino blushed a bit. "Well, I tell you one thing, you have grown a lot handsomer." She caressed his cheek with her forefinger. "Hm. I was right. Your blue eyes do show up more now." The Kyuubi container was going red like tomatos here. "I wonder...?" The blonde kunoichi said. Naruto was confused. Then suddenly, Ino wrapped her arms around Naruto's neck and kissed him. He tried to back off, but he found himself melting into the kiss. He wrapped his arms around Ino's waist. She then broke the kiss for a second.

"Wow, Naruto-kun, I never knew you were such a good kisser. I bet Sasuke wouldn't have let me kissed him." Ino exclaimed. Naruto thought. Sasuke? With out the '-kun'? What hell could be going on?

"But Ino--mph" Naruto was cut off with Ino giving him another kiss. He melted in this one,and moved her body closer to his. He started to caress her back, as the kiss started to get passionate. Ino's tongue caressed his lips, and Naruto finally gave in to her. Her grip around the blonde genin grew tighter, and she started to play with some spikes of his hair. Now Naruto was completly lost. The kiss made him forget everything around him, and he was in eternal bliss. He wanted nothing to end this moment, but then he heard Sakura's voice and face appear in his mind, and broke the kiss with hesitation.

"I'm sorry, Ino. But no, I can't. I'm in love with Sakura." Naruto was a bit sweaty. Ino caressed his face again.

"I'm sorry Naruto. It's just.." She began to sob a little. "It's just you remind me so much of Sasuke and I know you'll bring him back one day..."

Naruto got a bit mad here. "Oh so that's it? I'm just a replacement for that "pin-up" boy you go mad over when he never cared or showed any sympathy for you or anyone else? Open you eyes, Ino. How could you? I thought you and I were friends..."

Ino fell to her knees and started to cry. "I am so so sorry, Naruto. I really am sorry...I thought...I thought..." She literally burst into tears here. Naruto started to feel sorry for her, but his ego pulled him back a little. He bent down and gave Ino a small hug.

"It's okay. I do forgive you. We are friends, all 9 of us. I promise I will get him back. You like Shikamaru right?"

The blonde kunoichi raised her head. "Uh huh.."

"Spend time with him. He's a great guy. Quite the guy at figuring things out, a bit annoying but alright I guess." Naruto smiled a little.

Ino gave a small smile. "Thanks, Naruto. You really are a kind, caring person. I'm sorry about all those years ago." She gave him a small kiss on the cheek.

Naruto got up and gave his trademark grin. "It's alright." He kissed her back. "I forgive you. I better go now. Cya later."

"Yeah, cya." Ino said wiping her eyes.

With that, the Kyuubi container was off. The blonde kunoichi stood up. She had just seen Uzumaki Naruto, a boy who she had mistreated so many years ago, in a different way.

Chapter 3 is done! Keep those reviews coming! By the way, this is still gonna be a NaruSaku, I'm gonna include a little InoShika also. I'd just thought I'd add this little NaruIno scene for a laugh.