I Do Not Own Naruto!

To Protect and Endure

Story by Kyoka Suigetsu Totsuka

Chapter 11

"Ji-chan!"

It was yet another unusual morning for the Sandaime Hokage. His peaceful morning ritual of three cups of hot tea and a nice smoke in his office was becoming sparse and few in between. Before the water could even boil, the old man was greeted by the bouncing heels of his ever-energetic grandson. The little ball of sunshine had shattered the foggy morning peace in an instant, and the Hokage could only light his pipe with a sigh, surrendering to his desk and another long day ahead.

"Naruto," started the raspy voice of the elder, "Please, slow down."

The boy settled a little, grinning at his grandfather. "Sorry, but I need to show you something!"

Clearing his throat, Hiruzen grunted, "What is it today?"

"I think I've figured it out!"

Naruto ran behind the Hokage's desk, happily grinning as he laid his work on the wooden table. Sarutobi tried to get a head start on understanding the seals before him, but perhaps it was the early morning or his complete lack of caffeine, but seeing the complicated contraption on his desk made him want to hurl. Quietly sighing, he relented to let the boy explain himself.

"I've been studying the qualities of chakra, particularly my own." Naruto finished laying out his display of papers and turned to face the Hokage. "I didn't understand how memory could be transferred between my clones and myself. It implies that memory could be stored in chakra, or at least could be experienced through chakra, but more importantly, in today's case, it implies a connection between one person's chakra over separated distances."

Hiruzen nodded, "Yes, there is a connection between one person's chakra. No matter how far apart two portions of the same chakra source are, one reacts to the other despite the distance. It is the entire basis of the Kage Bunshin as well as many long-ranged jutsu." He puffed on his pipe before continuing, "My sensei, the Niidaime, studied this phenomenon thoroughly. He discovered that one person's chakra is always connected, regardless of distance, which is why no matter how far a Kage Bunshin could be from the original, the original can disperse it at will."

"Exactly!" Naruto excitedly pointed to the two pieces of paper on the desk. "These two pieces of paper are made from a special kind of wood. Tenzo-nii got them for me. They are similar to the chakra nature testing paper, but instead of reacting to the elemental natures of the chakra, they merely absorb the chakra into it. When you use chakra to touch this kind of paper, the chakra is absorbed into the point of contact – the absorbed chakra imprints a mark. You can basically write on this paper with chakra."

The Hokage nodded, "I see."

"These two pieces of chakra absorbing paper are lined edge to edge with a single storage seal, stretched from corner to corner. It functions the same as the Chakra Battery I invented a while back – it only stores chakra." Naruto then held up a blank, paperless scroll. "This paper is meant for this scroll, which is also specially made. The roll in the middle was engraved with a Chakra Expansion Seal, the same one I use in my Security System. When the special paper is rolled into the scroll, they combine their functions."

"How so?" asked the old man intrigued.

"The Chakra Expansion Seal activates the Storage Seal on the paper, and it forms into a sheet of chakra that lays on top of the paper, not touching the paper – but hovering a millimeter above the paper. It basically forms a layer of chakra on top of the paper – like a hovering blanket – and the expansion seal holds it in place as a sheet. This is a very simple form of chakra shape manipulation, shaping the stored chakra into the same dimensions as the paper."

"All right, I'm following you so far."

Naruto smirked, "Now I'll roll this paper into the scroll, making the system complete." He then took out another scroll, "This second scroll is identical to the first. They both share the exact same dimensions with the exact same seals applied to them, and each storage seal contains equal amounts of chakra inside them – they are twins. Lastly, the chakra I sealed inside the storage seals is a mixture of my and Kaka-nii's chakra, 50/50. Now watch."

Naruto opened both scrolls and they both activated with a soft glow of blue over the white blank paper. Unseen by the pairs of naked eyes, a thin layer of chakra covered the chakra-absorbing paper, just floating a millimeter above the paper surface.

"These two pools of chakra are connected and react to each other." Naruto drew a sharp breath as he dragged a finger along one piece of paper, "So when I drag my finger along the piece of paper, I am pushing the layer of chakra into the paper, imprinting the paper with the trail of my finger. Basically, I am writing on it with chakra, and when I write on one, its twin reacts in the same way."

Hiruzen watched in awe as Naruto drew a smiley face on one scroll and an identical smiley face manifested on the other scroll.

"This is a Communication System!" exclaimed the boy loudly, "Whatever I write on one scroll will immediately appear on the other scroll! I've done many tests with these. Even if one scroll is closed when I write on the other one, the chakra reactions are sent to the other scroll like memories. The next time I open the closed scroll, the same writing will appear immediately."

The Hokage watched as Naruto closed one of the scrolls before adding a hat to the smiley face of the still-opened scroll. When he opened the closed scroll again, in an instant, a hat appeared on its smiley face.

"This system transfers and stores messages between two scrolls in real-time. It functions similarly to Kage Bunshin – two separate chakra systems using the same source of chakra reacting to and replicating the effect of external stimulus." Naruto smiled at the stunned old man. "These two scrolls are for me and Kaka-nii, which is why the chakra sealed inside them is a mixture of ours. As long as the chakra mixture is unique, they will only react to each other."

"So," managed the Hokage, "If you make a pair of these scrolls with my and your chakra, they will only react to each other because of the unique mixture. The fact that your chakra is also in other scrolls won't matter because the mixing of chakras would have fundamentally changed the chakra's nature. Writing in your and Kakashi's scrolls will not also send a message to your and my scrolls."

"Yes, exactly. Mixtures of chakra are unique, including the ratios of chakra mixed. Kaka-nii and I can have more than one pair of these scrolls, just as long as the mixtures are different. This prototype contains a 50/50 mix of our chakra, so if I make one with a 60/40 mix, it will be unique enough to make another scroll."

"Conversely, if you make ten of these scrolls and they all only contain your chakra, writing a message in one of these ten scrolls will show up in all ten scrolls."

"Yes, that's right."

"N-Naruto, do you realize what this means?"

"Wait, I'm not done!" Naruto pointed to the scroll, "Look what happens when I deactivate the Chakra Expansion Seal. Once the chakra is not being held in place by the expansion seal, the storage seals will automatically absorb the chakra back into them, including the chakra absorbed into the paper. So once the system deactivates, whatever is written on the paper will be erased." The Hokage's jaw slacked. "So, this one piece of paper can be reused over and over again. There will be no trace of what was written on them either."

Hiruzen placed his hands on the boy's shoulders and looked him in the eyes. "Naruto, do you realize what you've done here? This could revolutionize our entire communication system. Forget about messenger ninjas or delivery birds! This will become the new way of communicating on missions. Teams miles away from home could contact us in real time! This will change absolutely everything!"

Naruto stared at the old man as he continued to babble.

"Had we had something like this during the last war, we would have outmaneuvered every other nation. We would be able to plan far-flung logistics that the enemy would never even dream of being able to do! Recon missions would become instantaneous! Our spy network could expand tenfold! And none of our spies would even need to report in person – all they'd need is one of these scrolls. Their chances of being discovered would basically drop to 0%!"

The boy chuckled and nodded.

"The things Shikaku could do with this! Or Jiraiya! Oh lord, the things your father could have done with this!" Sarutobi was giddy as he shook the boy, "Do you know how long it takes for information to get back to us from our farthest outposts?! It can take up to a week! Now it can be done instantly! This is amazing!" The Hokage was tempted to just place his hat on Naruto at that moment. "How? What inspired you to make this? What prompted this?!"

Naruto rubbed the back of his head. "Umm, actually, I invented this so I could send messages to Ino-chan."

"Huh?"

"Yeah, we spend most of our mornings and afternoons apart, so I wanted to figure out a way for us to talk even when we're apart." Naruto smiled sheepishly, "I never realized how helpful this system could be for the village. I guess you're right, it can be used in a lot of ways!"

Hiruzen could only stare at the boy.

"I guess that's why Kaka-nii looked so excited about this when I showed him." The boy chuckled, "I thought he was just happy for me."

"Y-You made this just so you could chat with Ino-chan during the day?"

"Uhm…" muttered the boy before nodding, "Yeah."

Hiruzen felt his jaw drop.

"Her birthday is tomorrow." Naruto grinned, "I was cutting it a bit close. It took me forever to think of the right gifts for her." He smiled up at the Hokage, "Do you think she'll like it? I made a pair of scrolls for us already! Mine is yellow and hers is purple, the same colors as our chakra colors."

"I'm sure she'll love it, my boy."

"Great!" Naruto bounced on his feet, "Now I have two presents for her! I can't wait to show her!"

The Hokage didn't even hear about the second gift and just stared at his potential successor. Sarutobi wondered if he could just arrange a marriage between the two kids. If Ino inspired his grandson so much, their relationship must be protected at all costs. What could be next? Cellular regeneration because Ino got a papercut? The ability to fly because Ino wanted to get to the Academy faster? The possibilities were endless! What about when they reached puberty?! What about when they finish puberty?! Could a contraceptive seal be in the works?! Would that even be possible?!

"Ji-chan, are you all right?"

Between his Security System making the entire village of Konoha and every one of their teams virtually indetectable and defended by Genjutsu, his Genjutsu Blades enhancing their entire fighting force to a terrifyingly effective degree, and now his instantaneous Communication System granting Konoha instant communication regardless of distance, Naruto had practically guaranteed their victory in the next war.

"Ji-chan?"

"Naruto," muttered the old man.

"Yeah?" asked the boy tentatively.

"Ji-chan is going to buy you as much ramen as you want today." A grin appeared on the old man, him feeling years younger, as if a decades-old weight had been lifted from his shoulders. "Extra toppings and drinks, as many bowls as you want."

"Really?" asked the boy brightly.

The Hokage nodded, "Anything you want!"

"Thank you, Ji-chan!"

September 23rd, Ino Yamanaka's birthday, and a day forever ingrained into Naruto's mind. Ever since his best friend first invited him to her birthday party, that particular date had been poking at him daily, like a countdown to an explosion. She had told him two weeks before the day, happily giggling at him as if she did not just stun his world. He only had two weeks to figure out a gift for his princess, and he barely made it in time.

Ino's birthday landed nicely on a beautiful autumn Saturday, and for the first time, Naruto found himself standing by the imposing gate of the Yamanaka Clan Estate. It was not the biggest stronghold in the village, but it was one of the oldest, dating back to the founding of Konoha. It sat next to the Nara Clan Home and across from the Akimichi Compound. Stone walls lined the large property, each panel painted with the Bush Clover. Ino had told him that it stood for Positive Love, but upon the tall walls, it looked more like a war banner.

Naruto imagined that back in the days of old, many war counsel would have taken place within those walls, but now, with flowers lining the entrance that held a large banner that read YAMANAKA INO'S BIRTHDAY PARTY, it looked more like a fancy resort.

"Naruto-chan!"

Emiko Yamanaka pushed her way through the guards at the gate and rushed to him, pulling him into another warm hug. The boy had since grown used to his surrogate aunt's affections, having seen her multiple times since their meeting. He really liked his Emiko-obasan. She would always bring nice treats and snacks for him and Ino whenever she would walk Ino to the park. For some reason, Ino would always seem annoyed at her mother's presence, but Naruto found himself looking forward to seeing the warm lady.

He returned the hug, smiling against her sweet-smelling kimono. "Hi, Emiko-obasan."

She pulled back and knelt to his height, but he noticed that he was already taller than her knelt height. "Oh, you look so handsome today." Naruto smiled sheepishly, looking down at his new clothes. His Ji-chan had bought him a formal yukata for the occasion. It was blue and lined with white along the edges. It felt comfortable enough, but it was soft and delicate enough to feel hindered by it – he'd never be able to run or fight in it. "Ino-chan will be very happy to see you! She's been waiting for you the whole morning."

Naruto's eyes widened, "I'm not late, am I?"

"No, not at all. Ino-chan has been waiting for you since she woke up. It's the first time you've visited our home, after all."

He smiled, "I'm excited to be here."

"Sweetheart, you can visit anytime you want."

Emiko pulled Naruto into her home beyond the guarded gate, and it looked like a different world. Sure, the outside was lined with some flowers, but the inside was like another flower field. Aside from the narrow path they were on, edge to edge was filled with flowers. It was a cascade of colors that covered the bright green stems, decorating the gigantic courtyard like a painting.

The winding road led them through two other gates, leading into the main house, and the garden never stopped. It was as if the compound was built around the flowers and was secondary compared to the natural beauty. Naruto wondered if any Yamanaka Clan members had ever been born with pollen allergies – it would be very unfortunate.

"Here we are, Naruto-chan!"

The party was much more than what Naruto had expected. He had his own birthday parties before. The ANBU Barracks had been decorated with balloons and tassels, and his siblings had prepared a meal that could feed hundreds, but never had his been so over the top.

The entire main house was covered in decorations, ranging from balloon bundles to even more flowers. Most people were mingling in the courtyard of the main house, but activities clearly led into the home. There were lines of food stalls and game stalls – it looked like a small festival. More surprising was the number of adults around, which was most people present. There were only a few children his age he could see, and he'd met most of them before.

"Hey, Naruto!"

Emiko smiled and gestured him forward, and Naruto ran off with a smile.

"Hey, Choji!" He ran over to the Akimichi heir who was wrapped in his own yukata, munching on a skewer of meat. He grinned at his friend. "It's good to see you!"

"Same!" Choji grinned back, "There is some good food here today! These skewers are amazing! Let me show you around the goods!"

Before Naruto could reply, someone pulled Choji back. "Choji, at least let Naruto breath before pulling him away." Shikamaru, dressed in his own clan colors in a yukata, yawned as he held onto Choji's sleeve. "Hey, Naruto. What's up?"

"Hey, Shikamaru," Naruto chuckled, "Why are you so tired? It's still morning."

The Nara shrugged, "Autumn days make me sleepy."

"Don't worry," Choji added, "Winter days, spring days and summer days also make him sleepy."

He chuckled again but looked around. "Where's Ino-chan?"

"She's making the rounds with Inoichi-ojisan." Shikamaru pointed with his head, "She's almost done with my parents."

Naruto looked over to the most crowded group in the courtyard and only saw a bunch of tall adults. Stretching his chakra, he sensed a familiar signature in the middle of the group. He smiled, wondering if Ino was enjoying herself. She was surrounded by a lot of people, everyone towering over her. He wondered if there was a way for him to rescue her away, but under the watch of so many people, he doubted it.

But it was a new goal to work towards.

"I know you want to see her, but she still has plenty of people to greet," added Choji. "You'll see her once she's done."

Naruto nodded.

All the other children were gathered in one place, so Naruto looked at the next familiar face. It was Haruno Sakura, dressed in a very pretty pink kimono. She even had a pink blossom decorating her pink hair, and it was one of the cutest images Naruto had ever seen. From between Shikamaru and Choji, he smiled at her, and her face started to match her hair and kimono.

"Sakura-san!" he exclaimed happily, walking closer to her, his friends following along. "It's good to see you again!" Her face now almost blended in with her hair and clothes. "You look very pretty today, like an actual cherry blossom!"

Sakura's lips trembled, but she managed to give a shy smile. "H-Hi, Naruto-san. You look very nice, too."

He grinned, "Sakura is just the perfect name for you."

The girl blushed to her roots but made him ponder his actions. It was definitely not a hot day, so it was not the heat. Perhaps Ino was right about him. Did his words or actions make the girl uncomfortable? Perhaps he was being too familiar? He didn't have enough information to deduce, but decided to retreat for the moment.

He offered a small smile. "Sorry, Sakura-san. Ino-chan told me I shouldn't talk like that to you," he muttered scratching his head, "Or any other girl."

"I-It's okay," she added, waving him off.

"Ino-chan and you are pretty much the only two girls my age I've talked to before, so I never know how I should act. I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable."

"No, you didn't!" exclaimed Sakura, waving both hands. "Y-You're very sweet! I-I'm just not used to boys talking to me like that. It's fine. You're very nice, Naruto-san."

His eyes brightened and his smile grew, "Really?" he asked, "That's a relief. I'm glad you think so. I would like us to be friends, so the last thing I want to do is offend you."

Sakura looked away shyly, "I'd like to be friends, too."

"Great!" He turned to Choji and Shikamaru, "I made another friend!" He turned back to Sakura, his eyes wide in joy, "This means I can call you Sakura-chan, right?"

"S-S-Sure, I guess so." Sakura stammered under the stares of Choji and Shikamaru, now a shade of red that was darker than her hair, "A-Anyway, I have to go find my parents. I'll see you all later, okay?"

Naruto nodded happily, "Okay, see you later, Sakura-chan!" He watched her run off, her pink hair bouncing with every step. It was indeed very cute – she looked like a lost puppy running through a blossoming field. He turned back to the boys, grinning, "Making friends is easier than I thought!"

Choji watched blanking, munching on his food, but Shikamaru sighed. "I don't get you, Naruto." Naruto turned to his friend confused. "Sometimes you're like a genius, but sometimes you're just an idiot."

"Huh?" he asked, "An idiot? How?"

Shikamaru sighed, but Choji intervened, "Naruto is not an idiot." The Akimichi patted Naruto's shoulder, "You're just too nice for your own good. It also seems like you can't lie, or you're just too honest."

"And you have no idea the effect you have on some people," added the Nara.

"Ino-chan keeps telling me that, but I still don't get it."

Shikamaru sighed, "I'll explain it to you later. For today, just save all your nice stuff for Ino and you'll be fine." Naruto nodded. "Don't be stupid today, okay? Only compliment Ino. Even if you think another girl is pretty, keep it to yourself." He stared into Naruto's eyes, fully awake. "Never, I mean never let Ino hear you compliment another girl today. That is the biggest mistake you can make today."

Naruto gulped and nodded, "All right, but this seems needlessly complicated."

"Of course, it is," mumbled Shikamaru, "Anything to do with girls is overly complicated. They are just so troublesome." The Nara glanced at Naruto, "You're the one who seems to like being friends with them, so it's all on you."

Naruto scratched the back of his head, "But how come you two know so much about this stuff?"

Shikamaru sighed, "Because we grew up with Ino and our mothers."

Choji nodded, "Yep, you'll learn soon enough."

"Hey, who are you?"

Naruto heard a loud voice break into their conversation and he looked over to see an Inuzuka Clan member. He bore the unmistakable traditional tattoos of the infamous clan, and twin red fangs on his cheeks. He also had a small puppy resting on his head, and he and his puppy wore matching yukatas, both in red.

"Um, hi!" Naruto smiled and waved awkwardly, "My name is Uzumaki Naruto."

"Oh," replied the boy, "I'm Inuzuka Kiba."

Naruto smiled at the puppy who seemed to have just woken up, yawning on the boy's head before looking at him.

"And this is Akamaru. He's still very young, so he's still sleeping everywhere." Kiba looked at Naruto, "I don't think I've ever seen you at these things before!" The Inuzuka stepped closer to them, hands in his pocket. "I don't think I've smelled you before at the Academy either." He leaned closer to Naruto, sniffing him. "Are you the son of some lord?"

Naruto backed away a little, "No, I'm just Ino-chan's friend. I only met her this year, so this is the first time I've been to her birthday parties."

"Huh, okay." Kiba shrugged, "We don't get a lot of kids our age at these things. For some reason, all our parents have these huge parties on our birthdays and only invite their friends." He looked around, "I think I've seen or smelled most of these people here before, but I have no idea who they are. They just show up at most of these clan parties."

"I guess being the clan heads of Konoha means they have a lot of friends," answered Naruto, also shrugging.

Shikamaru sighed, "Kiba is in the same class as us. It's a little weird, but most children of clan heads in Konoha are the same age as us." He yawned, "Me, Choji, and Ino are the same age and in the same class. Kiba is also in our class, but he also has an older sister Hana." He pointed over to a pretty girl, at least a few years older than them, standing by the drinks. "She's the Inuzuka Clan Heiress."

Naruto nodded along.

"Over there is the Hyūga," Shikamaru continued, making Naruto glance over, seeing the infamous white eyes of one of Konoha's most powerful clans. "You see that girl at the front with all the adults?" Naruto nodded. "She's Hyūga Hinata, the Clan Heiress. She's also in our class."

"She's the one girl in our class that never talks." Choji started a new skewer as he spoke. "I don't think I've ever heard her voice clearly. Even during attendance, she whispers to Iruka-sensei."

Kiba joined Naruto's side, "And over there, under the tree." Naruto glanced over in that direction, "You see that man in the sunglasses and the kid in the sunglasses? That is the Aburame Clan Head and his son, Aburame Shino. He's in our class, too."

"He also doesn't talk." Choji wiped his mouth a little, "All he does is sit in the corner and stare at bugs on his desk."

Kiba shivered, "Yep, a looooot of bugs."

Choji finished his last skewer before adding, "Sasuke isn't here, but he's in our class, too. So, basically, every clan heir or heiress is in our class." He shrugged, "I've never thought about it before, but it is kinda weird."

Shikamaru shook his head, "Don't go there, Choji."

"There are a lot of civilians here, too," said Kiba. "I think Sakura and her parents are normal civilians." Naruto glanced over and quickly found a head of pink hair, standing next to two adults who must have been her parents. "We used to see Ami and her friends here, but I guess they're not hanging out with Ino anymore." He shrugged, "Which is kinda better because they're really loud when they're together and you never have any idea what they're talking about."

Shikamaru nodded, "Yep, they're just worse in groups."

Naruto smiled at the Nara, "I don't think they're as bad as you keep saying."

The Nara rolled his eyes, "Join us for one day at the Academy and I guarantee you'll change your mind."

"Whoa!" exclaimed Kiba, "Look!"

A murmur settled the crowd as the Hokage walked in, tailed by a tall man and a beautiful woman. Naruto didn't know his grandfather was coming as well, but he understood, as his Ji-chan was technically the Sarutobi Clan Head along with being Hokage. The tall man looked familiar, and Naruto assumed him to be Sarutobi Asuma, his Ji-chan's son. He had never met the man when he was still hidden in the ANBU, but seeing him now, Naruto saw little resemblance between the father and son.

He wondered why his Ji-chan didn't mention he was coming as well. They talked about this party the entire day yesterday over ramen. The old man had tested him on his etiquette and manners for hours but never mentioned coming along.

"Who's that woman with them?" asked Kiba.

Choji shrugged, "No idea."

"Probably the Hokage's son's girlfriend or something," muttered Shikamaru. "They always use these occasions to introduce people to potential partners."

Kiba grinned, "Hokage-sama is so cool." He turned to the boys, "Did you guys know Hokage-sama is called the God of Shinobi? They also call him the Professor! He knows every single jutsu in Konoha!"

Naruto grinned, breaking from his thoughts, "Yep, he's the strongest!"

Kiba looked excited, "One day, I'll also be the strongest and I'll become Hokage myself!"

"Hey, you want to become Hokage, too?!" Naruto asked with a grin, "Me, too! It's always been my dream!"

"Ho, ho! A rival!" exclaimed the Inuzuka with a grin, "I'll have you know I'm pretty strong! I'm the second-best fighter in our class! You better be good yourself, or I'm leaving you in the dust!"

"We'll see about that!" Naruto smiled happily, feeling a sort of kinship with his new friend. "I'm pretty strong myself!"

"You better be!" Kiba happily smirked, standing closer to Naruto. He then looked around, "Are your parents here, too?" he asked, making Shikamaru wince.

Naruto shook his head, "No, my parents are dead. I'm just here as Ino-chan's friend."

Kiba backed away with a flush, "I'm sorry! I shouldn't have asked!"

"Don't worry about it," Naruto said with a smile, "You didn't know."

The puppy on Kiba's head seemed to bark at his owner, and the boy lowered his head.

"Hey, I'm serious. It's okay!" Naruto grinned, "Come on, what else can you tell me about these people?!"

Kiba grinned, "Oh, a lot!"

"Happy birthday, Ino-chan."

Ino smiled and gave a deep bow, "Thank you, Hokage-sama. It is an honor to have you here for my ninth birthday."

Sarutobi Hiruzen genuinely smiled at the girl. It had been at least a few years since he had last seen her, and it was clear she had matured. She now had the manners and grace befitting the Yamanaka Heiress. Seeing her now, he couldn't help but imagine his grandson standing next to her.

It had become very clear to the Hokage that Naruto and Ino shared a special bond. This girl had somehow wormed her way into the boy's heart and had completely taken over his mind – fitting of her Yamanaka heritage. Naruto had invented some of the most groundbreaking Fuinjutsu ever created in the history of the Elemental Nations just to make this girl happy. She had been an inspiration to him, and together, they had practically secured the future of Konoha.

Knowing Inoichi and Emiko, and how much they loved Naruto, Hiruzen pondered the possibility of proposing an arranged marriage. Ino was already nine years old and Naruto was very close behind. Given that most arranged marriages were made in the womb, they were already well behind – he had to make haste.

The son of the Yondaime Hokage, future Clan Head of the Uzumaki Clan, and if fate willing, the future Hokage of Konoha sounds like more than a good match for the Yamanaka Heiress. In due time, they could represent the new generation of Konoha.

Yes, Sarutobi liked the thought of that.

"The honor is mine, Ino-chan."

The arrival of the Hokage attracted most of the attention away from everyone else, and the Clan Heads of Konoha found themselves isolated for the first time for the day. It was not exactly subtle, but they slowly migrated toward one another. A toast of sake once every few steps, and before long, the Nara, Akimichi, Hyūga, Inuzuka, and Aburame leaders surrounded a small table, pretending to admire the flower arrangements.

Shikaku sipped on his cup, resisting the urge to down the rest of it. "Isn't this a pleasant day," he muttered, silently sighing at his company. "Perfect day for a council meeting, it seems."

"Cut the bullshit, Shikaku!" Tsume was whispering, but her whispering was a bark. "Who is that kid over there?!"

The Nara glanced over despite the obvious, "I believe that is one of Ino-chan's friends."

"I'd appreciate your swift honesty, Nara-dono." Hyūga Hiashi muttered quietly as he elegantly sipped on his drink, his white eyes pulled thin in a subtle glance. "We are not exactly an inconspicuous group. If there are any secrets we are required to keep, please let us know now."

Chouza sighed, "It is a secret, but not one that can be well kept."

"Obviously," muttered the Nara, "We all recognized him the moment we saw him. There aren't many blonde spiky-haired, blue-eyed boys running around Konoha these days. The resemblance is simply too strong to be a coincidence. The moment the boy is allowed his freedom around the village, everyone will know who he is."

"Indeed," came the dull voice of Aburame Shibi, "There is scarcely a difference between him and his father. If I recall correctly, Minato even had a similar yukata he wore to these events."

"So, what?" snarled Tsume, "The Hokage decided to hide my friends' son away from the village for years, but now that he knows he can no longer hide it, he lets the boy out?" Her slitted eyes narrowed, "What have they been doing to him all these years? Kept him in a cage? Why was he hidden from us in the first place?"

"I assure you, Hokage-sama had his reasons." Shikaku finished his drink, "Feel free to ask him yourself later, but I agree with those reasons. He's done everything in his power to protect the boy, and he's raised the boy well. Hokage-sama basically adopted him as a grandson and he's grown into a well-adjusted and polite young man."

"We were angry as well, Tsume," added Chouza, "But after we met the boy, we knew Hokage-sama has done well."

The Inuzuka glared at her peers, "How long have you two known about him?"

"Only a few months," answered Shikaku, "Call it serendipity, but the boy and Ino-chan are best friends. They met each other by chance and have been inseparable ever since. It clued us in on his existence, and we've managed to get to know him as the parents of his friends."

"Does Hokage-sama plan to reintegrate him into the village?" asked the Hyūga.

"The fact that the boy is here today is a huge hint." The Nara sighed, "Look at them over there." They all glanced over, seeing their children mingle. "Clearly, Hokage-sama wants our children to befriend the boy. They're all the same age and before long, they will be the new faces of Konoha. This is just the first step. I'm sure we will see him more often around the village and our children."

Tsume sighed, "It does look like they get along well. My son certainly looks like he's made a new friend."

"Will he join the Academy?" asked Hiashi.

"The boy is already quite skilled," answered Chouza, "Far too skilled for the Academy."

Shikaku nodded, "I'm sure the Hokage has been training the boy, or at least has overseen his training. There is no possibility of him allowing the son of Minato and Kushina to waste his potential." He smirked, "We may be looking at a future powerhouse, my friends."

Chouza smiled at Shibi and Hiashi, "Perhaps you two should introduce your children to the group as well. It seems Shino-kun and Hinata-chan are the only two kids not mingling over there."

Shibi nodded silently.

"Perhaps I will," answered Hiashi, "My daughter is the same age as the boy."

Shikaku chuckled and downed another cup, "Don't get any funny ideas, Hiashi. Ino-chan has basically claimed the boy for herself." Chouza smiled as the rest of the group looked surprised, "That boy has all of Minato's charms but also all of Kushina's social awareness. He is a clueless charmer and if we leave them be, we'll hear wedding bells in a few years."

Tsume chuckled, "Now I really want to meet him."

Ino looked absolutely stunning.

It took another hour, but the army of greeting lords and leaders had finally subsided, and Naruto was rewarded with the sight of the birthday girl. His best friend had her hair pulled into an elegant, but also intricate bun, golden and bejeweled. Her natural beauty was only enhanced by the slightest hint of powder and shading, and she completed her transformation into a goddess with her golden, flowing kimono. She appeared to float over the Yamanaka flowers and when she turned to look at him, her smile could have split the heavens.

For the first time in the day, Ino managed to escape being the center of attention and made her way to her friends. Naruto returned her smile as she ran over to them, preparing to unseal his presents for her. He hoped she'd be happy. They were all gathered here. Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba, Sakura, and himself were all waiting for Ino, ready to congratulate her.

"Happy birthd-"

He did not get to finish his greeting as Ino proceeded to wrap her arms around his torso before swiftly carrying him away – Ino had become quite strong, he thought.

"What the hell?" Naruto heard Kiba exclaim as he saw Shikamaru shake his head.

Naruto watched the fading faces of his new friends as he was taken away, his legs leaving the ground as Ino sped up, seemingly determined to escape the lingering adults that infiltrated her special day. They soon left the windy morning light and Naruto saw ceiling tiles. They were indoors and were passing so many different hallways, Naruto couldn't possibly focus.

Though, as Ino held him, he was rewarded with her delightful aroma, a subtle sweetness, delicate and fleeting. He wanted to stay in that moment longer, but after hearing a door slam behind them, Ino stopped and they dropped to the ground.

Collecting himself, Naruto turned around until he found a panting Ino. She was resting against a bed filled with at least a dozen teddy bears, each a different color and dressed in different shirts. The entire room smelled of the same subtle sweetness as Ino, and looking around, he saw that each wall was decorated with a purple wallpaper marked with yellow flowers.

Realizing, he smiled at her, "You have a nice room, Ino-chan."

Still panting, "Geez, that took forever!" She grunted as she stopped leaning against her bed, "Tou-chan promised it would not take as long this year, but it took an hour! I've already met all these people last year, so why do I have to greet them again this year?!"

"I'm sure they'd want to meet you again," Naruto muttered softly as he sat down next to her, "You're the Yamanaka Heiress after all."

Ino huffed, pulling Naruto closer by his arm. "I hate having these parties. For once, I just want to have one with just my friends!"

He chuckled, "I'm pretty sure you just left all your other friends behind, Ino-chan."

Ino blushed and yelled, "I've been wanting to see you all morning!" She hugged his arm, "I've barely seen you this entire week! I had to go to our home alone every evening after class. I love it there, but it's lonely without you!" She pouted, "I missed you."

Naruto felt his heart pound against his chest, but powered through. "I'm sorry, but I was busy making you your birthday present." He smiled as her eyes widened, "You only gave me two weeks' notice. I barely had enough time to finish!"

"What did you get me?!" she asked excitedly.

He untangled himself from her and moved to sit in front of her, their knees touching. "I made you two things!" He grinned as he tapped his arm, unsealing two scrolls and one box. "They both required a lot of research and new theories to make, so I almost didn't have enough time. I just finished these scrolls yesterday."

Ino clapped her hands in glee, "Yay, what are they?"

"These scrolls are made in pairs." He smiled as he handed her the purple one, "This purple one is yours and this yellow one is mine. They are for us to use when we're apart!" Ino blushed as Naruto held onto her hands as she held the scroll. "See this seal here?" he asked, pointing to the roll of the scroll, "Add some of your chakra into it. Don't worry about the amount. I already filled 90% of it with my chakra, so you only need to add that lasts 10%."

"All right," she muttered as she channeled her chakra through.

Naruto smiled as he felt her purple chakra complete the seal, "Great, now do the same for this one."

"Okay," she whispered with a nod, focusing on sending her chakra into his scroll. "There, done for both."

"Now the seal is complete and is unique. Each of these scrolls has a precise mixture of our chakra inside them, and will react to each other no matter how far away we are from each other."

Ino tilted her head, "I don't get it."

Naruto smiled and backed away to the far side of the room, "Open the scroll."

She opened it and found a blank scroll. "There's nothing written on it."

He opened his scroll as she looked at hers, and he began to write. He watched as her eyes widened, looking between the scroll and up at him while he wrote. He smiled as she smiled, and his smile grew when he saw her blush red. Looking down at his scroll, he saw his words: "You look incredibly beautiful today, Ino-chan. Even more than usual."

"Whatever I write on my scroll will appear on your scroll, and it's the same vice versa." Naruto tapped the roll of his scroll, "If you want to erase what's on the paper, just the seal on the roll, and the chakra would be absorbed back into the seal."

Ino watched as his message vanished, but her face was still flushed. She wrote back, "Thank you, Naruto-kun. You look very handsome, too."

He grinned, "Thank you, Ino-chan!"

"So," she muttered aloud, "We can use this to talk whenever we want?"

"Yep, at instant speeds! Whenever you're at the Academy or home, just whenever we're not together, you can use this and we can communicate!" He returned to her side, sitting down close to her. "We can talk about whatever we want, but because all our messages can be erased with just a tap on the seal."

Ino looked up at him, "You're so amazing, Naruto-kun."

"Not yet, I have one more gift!" Naruto got on his knees and gave a box to Ino. "This is another gift I made. It's easier to make than the scroll, but I think I like it just as much."

Ino slowly opened the box and found a pair of silver rings.

"These rings were also made as a pair. I sealed my chakra into them already, so you don't have to." Naruto grinned as he held onto Ino's hand, "Let me put this on for you." He watched her eyes widen and her face glow as he slipped the ring onto her index finger. "A Chakra Expansion Seal has been engraved on this ring, so when you channel chakra into it, a layer of my chakra sealed into the ring will cover your entire hand."

"It feels warm," she whispered, still staring at him.

"Now, when I wear the other ring."

"No!" she interrupted, "Let me put in on for you!"

Naruto was confused, but shrugged, "Okay, sure." He waited for her to shakily slide his ring onto his finger, "But the concept is the same for mine. When I send chakra into the ring, a layer of my sealed chakra forms over my entire hand, too. So when I do this," he said as he gently tightened his hand, trying to close his palm.

Ino's eyes widened again, "It…It feels like you're holding my hand!"

"Yes!" Naruto laughed excitedly, "Isn't chakra manipulation just the coolest thing ever! I can make so many cool things like this!" He squeezed his hand tighter, "Now we can hold hands whenever we want, wherever we want. It doesn't even matter how far away we are. I can be in Kumo for all we know and these rings will still work the same." Ino stared at her hand, blushing to her roots. "These rings will be connected together forever!"

"Forever?" she managed to whisper, "Do you mean it?"

"Yeah, these will last forever!"

"So, if I never take it off," she added, "You'll never take yours off?"

He grinned, "Of course, I'll never take mine off."

She moved her hand and closed her fingers, feeling them intertwine with his through chakra. "Promise me you'll never take it off."

He stared at her and smiled. "Sure, I promise!"

"I also promise," she whispered, looking down at her hand, "I'll never take mine off either."

He grinned and squeezed her hand warmly, "Cool, so we're now connected forever!"

She smiled shyly up at him, "Forever. Don't forget you promised me forever."

Chapter 11 – End

Well, here's more fluff and more development! It seems the kids are always one step ahead of the Hokage!

Well, I hope you all liked this chapter.

Please leave me a review! Those really help me write faster!