Ino had to leave soon but the picnic date she was having with Naruto was heavenly. Naruto was great fun to talk to, debate with not to mention laugh with. She was really enjoying this.

"Ino, you have to get going don't you? Don't you have medical jutsu class with Baa-chan?"

Ino sighed; she was hoping he would forget…

"Yeah…"

Naruto grinned, "You wished it never had to end huh?"

Ino smiled, "Yeah, I really had a great time today Naruto."

Naruto nodded, "Me too Ino."

He began to clear up but Ino stopped him.

"Ino? Something wrong?"

Ino took a deep breath, "Naruto, did you say yes to this date because you like me or because you couldn't say no?"

Naruto's eyes softened, "Ino…I do like you but-"

"Not like how I like you right?"

Naruto nodded his head, guiltily, "I'm sorry Ino."

Ino shrugged, "At least, my first date was a great one. So really, I have to thank you Naruto."

Naruto looked at her, seeing her obviously sad expression.

"Ino…"

"Do you like anyone?"

"Huh?"

"Is there someone you like?" Ino asked.

"No…"

"So you don't like Sakura?"

"No, I'm over her already and-"

"Temari?"

"She has a boyfriend!"

"Tenten?"

"She's got Neji"

"What about Sasuke?"

"Are you nuts? Why would I like Sasuke?"

"Well your first kiss was with-"

"THAT was accidental. THAT does NOT count. Anyway, Sasuke was a guy, I think it would take a long while for her to start liking guys unless she was gay the whole time…"

That statement made them look at each other before erupting into laughter.

"OH MY GOD! HAHAHA! NARUTO!"

"WHAT?! HAHAHA! IT'S VERY POSSIBLE! HAHAHA! IT TOTTALLY EXPLAINS WHY SHE HATED GIRLS BEFORE!"

Soon enough, they calmed down. Ino wiped a tear from her eye, "Man, that was good. Haha."

Naruto grinned, he was glad he got that smile from her. He hated seeing her sad.

"Hey Naruto, does that mean I'm free to like you?"

Naruto blinked, "What do you mean?"

"I mean, is it okay for me to fall for you and make you feel the same?"

Naruto was speechless, "Ino…I'm not that great…"

"You are!"

Ino took Naruto's hand in hers and looked at him with sincerity in her eyes as she spoke, "You're kind, funny, sweet, caring- the list is endless! Naruto, you're practically perfect!"

"But I'm not-"

"You are, in my eyes." She told him.

Naruto couldn't believe what he was hearing, in front of him was someone who loved him but then it came to him, would she still love him if she knew his secrets?

"Look Ino, I-"

He was cut off with Ino cupping his face and pressing her lips to his.

She tasted sweet, oh-so sweet.

Damn, Naruto wondered if he should kiss her back but he didn't like her in that way. It would have been wrong to do so.

The gentlemen in him told him to stand down.

But the animal part of him told him to fuck it and just kiss her back.

The girl had soft, full lips!

Ino pulled away then before Naruto could decide, "You didn't feel anything?"

"I…I don't know what to say" Naruto said, honestly.

At his answer, Ino smirked," Wow, I made the Great Naruto speechless. I should get an award."

Naruto grinned at her, distress forgotten and laughed.

"Hinata!"

Hinata turned to see Sasuke running toward her.

"Yes? Is something the matter Sasuke?"

"I wanted to know…"

"Yes?"

"Just how close are you and Naruto?"

Hinata blinked in confusion before finally smiling.

"Naruto and I have known each other since we were 3."

Sasuke's eyes widened.

"I used to really really like Naruto but soon enough, I saw how infatuated he was with Sakura-san so I let it go and now we're no longer awkward around each other. I realized that I'm happy with the friendship I have Naruto."

Sasuke frowned.

If that was the case…why did Sai ask me to keep Hinata away from Naruto as much as possible if they were just friends?

"Sasuke? Why did you ask?"

Then, out of nowhere, a flashback came to Sasuke.

Flashback

Sasuke was on the swing and Itachi was pushing him.

In the flashback, Sasuke looked to be 5 whilst his brother looked to be 10.

"Sasuke-kun! Itachi-kun!"

The two Uchiha boys turned to see a small pale girl running toward them, her midnight blue hair flying in the breeze. She was dressed in a pale lavender kimono that matched her Hyuuga eyes nicely.

"So you have finished studying?" asked Itachi.

Hinata nodded her head excitedly.

"In that case, Sasuke let Hina-chan have a turn."

Sasuke pouted, "But I wanna swing some more!"

"This is Hina-chan's house and you're playing on HER swing so let the girl have a turn."

Sasuke frowned but get off and when he did, he was met with a peck on the cheek.

"Thank you Sasu-chan!"

Sasuke blushed whilst Hinata got up on the swing.

"Come on Ita-kun!"

Itachi chuckled at her eagerness and began to pull the swing backward.

End of flashback

"Sasuke!"

Sasuke blinked, pulled back to reality. Hinata's worried face stared back at him.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine"

"Are you sure?"

" Yeah...look, I need to go…sorry."

With that, she rushed off, leaving Hinata alone, bewildered.

What the heck just happened?

THE NEXT DAY

Team 7 was called to the Hokage's office.

"Team 7, this is a C rank mission. You are required to escort Prince Akira and Princess Akiko home. Failure to bring them back safely is not tolerated. His father is counting on you."

The genin and Kakashi nodded. The doors behind them opened and the said nobles entered.

They had long, fiery red hair. Akira's hair was tied in a low ponytail whilst his sister wore her hair down. They were dressed in identical red and yellow kimonos. When they saw Naruto, their eyes widened.

Naruto put a finger to his lips to tell them not to reveal him and keep quiet. They gave him a slight nod in return but Sasuke had noticed this exchange.

Kakashi didn't and began to talk to the twins telling them Team 7 would insure their safety whilst Sakura drooled over their obviously expensive kimonos.

What was Naruto hiding?

How does he even know these foreign royalty?

Sasuke was determined to find the answers to her questions.