So, here's a new chapter! it is rather small, but it was the best place to cut the chapter off. I should probably say, that this chapter is not for Ino haters. Though her final part in the story i cannot say, i would not expect any Ino bashing ( or, really, much bashing of anyone) at the moment. I for one, do not think that just for a story to centre around a certain person, that other people have to be continually bashed( though I'm guilty of reading said stories anyways, cause lets face it, i like them.)

I do not own Naruto, or much of anything really.

that having been said, enjoy!

"So you're really going through with this?"

Naruto and Sakura were walking down a street in the pre dawn minimal light, travel bags weighing down Naruto, while Sakura's were mysteriously absent.

They turned towards the voice, though they both knew who it belonged too.

"Yes Ino, we are."

The girl sighed head drooped, and her long unbound blonde hair curtained her face from all others.

"I'm going to miss you two, Forehead and the ramen boy. It's like; you were always there, up front and center. Things won't be the same you know."

She looked up, straight into Sakura's eyes.

"I always knew, you know."

Naruto, sensing the privacy of the conversation wandered forwards a respectable distance and took deep interest in his bag straps.

"I always knew, from that day, that you were acting. When you first arrived, you lived free of the masks, but I knew you had doubts. That day, the day you declared us rivals, you were trying to protect me from something. I don't know what, but I know that you have never been even remotely interested in Sasuke Uchiha. You sighed a lot, which I know means your either bored irritated, confused or upset. Your act may have fooled others, but not me Sakura. Not your best friend. I knew calling you on such would solve nothing, so I waited, I played the part just as much as you and I waited for the day we could once again be free of masks."

No words were needed from sakura, they hugged and all was clear and peaceful once more. Ino was crying, and a single tear slip down Sakura's porcelain cheek, and solidified into a Purple star Sapphire, about the size of a cordial bottle top. She skillfully weaved an unknown silvery substance into a long chain and looped in round her once and now again best friend's neck. They hugged once more, and Both Sakura and Naruto started walking.

"Oh"

Sakura turned back.

"I like your hair."

"So how long are we going to be gone anyways? Everyone seems to know but me."

Surprisingly, it was Genma who asked this, seeming much more like the student then the teacher he was supposed to be.

"Oh! I'm SO SORRY Genma-san. It's just, Everything Lately seems to center around Saku-chan here, and Naruto-kun is usually with her, and I'm usually there to create Havoc, and I guess, the excitement just forgets to invite you to these things. So, you usually aren't there when the info gets shared."

Anko was gloating. After years of being left out of things in the village, now she was the one in the know.

Naruto laughed, but after seeing Genma's (very manly) pout, good naturedly gave in and, laughingly said.

"These trips have no time limit. Anko-sensei attained permission from the Hokage to incorporate a village-less training schedule into our team's schematics. So, we are free to come and go as we please, not held down by location as our peers are. At the moment, it is expected to take about a weeks travel to the mysterious Tama, then we are expecting to spend a few weeks there, training, gathering Sakura-Chans possessions and anything else we decide to do, but, as I said, we have no definite time limit."

Genma nodded, while Anko and Sakura just kept talking about Dango. It was Normal for Naruto to show his hidden intelligence when with only the other members of his team, but Intelligence or not, Naruto was still the funny, laughing, happy boy they all knew.

"Actually, I'm a little confused myself. Where exactly is this Tama? I have traveled extensively" here Anko broke into a low murmur "did anything I could to get away from those judging bastards in our village" before continuing in a normal tone "and I have never come across a Ninja village that resembles the illusive Tama you speak of so fondly."

Sakura Smiled.

"In Tama, We take things quite literally."

And after that mystic sentence, she would say no more on the subject, merely smiling, amusement glittering her eyes, whenever she was asked.

SO, there it is. I hope knowone is disappointed. I tried to make this chapter more "character inclusive" because lets face it, i sometimes ignore the characters other then my main one, But I'm making a conscious effort not to, so that has to count for something.

1) I tried to show that Naruto is not the "Dobe" that the actual series originally made him out to be, but I'm not sure if it worked.

2) I have no idea if a purple star sapphire is actually possible, but it is here. remember, Sakura is a Tama wielder ( also, she still has those clan abilities that she refuses to talk about, and keep in mind they were the abilities that forced her into seclusion until she could control them.) So a Purple star sapphire is well in her control to create. It was meant to signify they renewed friendship between the two.

Reviewers!

i would like to thank

sweep14

jghetrick

softball91

hillwise

WhiteTiger1992

I would like to know where the readers would like to take this story. Pairings, what happens to people, ect.

and, if its not too much trouble, could you please review? thank you.