AN: YO! Been a while since I wrote in this but school wipes you out every day at first, and I've been sleeping.

Hope you guys liked last chapter, I know the fighting was kinda rushed, but still. I wanted to get the point across that Hayate was still childish and excitable, most likely a recently appointed jounin. Also, I apologize for spelling mistakes in Japanese words, if there are any. Its hard to notice them when even spelled right, Word marks it wrong, and I'm too lazy to add most of them to its dictionary.

Wave Arc starts here.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, if I did, Sasuke's hair would be raped by male ducks every episode.

Chapter 6 –

"This is Whiskers, I am pursuing target, requesting head-off. Can you comply? Over."

A voice crackled over the radio set on his ear and neck. "Rose here, I am 50 meters to your 1:00, ready for interception. Over."

Another, uncharacteristically annoyed voice sparked to life in the blonde boy's earpiece. "Troublesome… I'm too far away right now, looks like it's up you two."

"Roger that, Shade. We'll take care of it." Ino, codename Rose, replied. She had been given the name by Naruto, actually. He reasoned that it was perfect for her, as a rose was beautiful and sought after, but the thorns they hold are quite dangerous, and can kill you if you get caught in a bush of them. Ino had blushed discreetly for both sides of the comment, and thanked Naruto for the name with a rare smile.

Naruto ran after their target. He was a fast little bastard, but Naruto had been training with Lightning chakra every day since their test 3 weeks ago. The past few days he had even been going around with a constant Gravity Seal on his black muscle shirt to train his strength as well as speed.

Naruto didn't release this seal, he knew he was catching up to their target with it on. Seeing a flash of faded blonde and a barely noticeable dark purple blur, he put on a burst of speed, making as much noise as possible to change the course of the fleeing adversary.

A yelp not far away told him Ino had encountered the monster, and raced off toward her. He broke through into a conveniently placed clearing, he saw Ino, three scratch marks on each cheek. A moment later, he saw the imposing figure of the enemy rear back and jump at his teammate, pulling for another strike.

Reacting more than thinking, he released his Gravity Seal, and jumped forward. The claws on the monster sliced his neck, a steady trickle of blood beginning to fall. Before he could to anything about it, however, the target struck out once more, this time latching onto Naruto's jacket with two of its appendages, and cutting at everything it could reach with the other two. Naruto, finally having enough after getting his face, neck, and hands about as cut as can be without losing flesh, whipped out two Chakra Tendrils and wrapped them around his attacker, pulling him off and suspending him in midair.

Ino looked at Tora, the Fire Daymio's cat, as it spat and hissed in Naruto's Tendrils. It seemed even more agitated around him, but that was expected. Naruto had told his team after the first weak of his tenant. Shikamaru had finally gotten his answer to several questions, and was quite satisfied with the information.

Ino, however, had been slightly less sedate about it. She had cringed, and stepped back when he told her, honestly scared for her life for a moment. Short enough to be an expected reaction before reason took over, but long enough to make Naruto's face fall.

-FLASHBACK NO JUTSU-

Ino looked at him, but all she saw was the shadow of the Kyuubi behind him. This didn't last long, though. She looked into Naruto's eyes, eyes filled with sorrow that only losing a precious person can cause. Ino blushed. The thought that she was one of the jinchuriki's precious people overrode her fear long enough to see something else in the illusion it had created for her. The giant fox was behind bars, a key on a heavy chain around Naruto's neck. Ino smiled warmly. He was the jailer, not the criminal.

Naruto looked up, startled by the arms wrapping around him. Ino had her face buried in his shoulder, crying silently for his burden. "Naruto… You're just that. Naruto. You're not the Kyuubi, and you never will be." She pulled back slightly, just barely enough to look him in the eye. "We'll all be here for you if you need us, so no more secrets, got it?"

Naruto grinned, and returned the hug. "Okay, Ino. I promise I'll always tell you if something is wrong."

Ino stepped back, leaving the embrace. "Good. Now let's get back to training!"

-FLASHBACK NO JUTSU, KAI!-

Ino blushed at the memory, watching the scratches on Naruto's face heal almost instantly, the large one on his neck taking slightly longer to close up.

Naruto spoke into his mic. "Sensei, the monster is in possession. And if we have to catch this thing a seventh time, I WILL kill it."

"I agree, Naruto, but there's not much we can do about it right now. Meet at the Hokage Tower. Out."

Ino and Naruto began walking back to the village, where Shikamaru joined them. Ino suppressed a giggle at the sight of the bird that was sitting in Shika's hair. Naruto pretty much ignored it. He knew how spiky hair makes for an attractive nest for birds.

It finally left the lazy genin when they entered the Hokage Tower, but not before sending the Sandaime's secretary into a fit of laughter.

A single word was uttered before they entered the office, which was, indeed, the command to enter said office.

Hayate was there already, as was Iruka and, of course, Sarutobi Hiruzen. Once the trade-off with the Fire Daymio's wife was complete, Hiruzen was about to reach for the D-rank mission pile, when Hayate, of all people, started to throw a hissy fit.

"Hokage-sama! Don't you think these civilian chores are too tedious for such skilled genin? Ino is the best explosives artist and trapper of all the current genin, and most of the chunin! Shikamaru is most certainly the best strategist under jounin rank! I would bet an A-rank mission's pay that Naruto could beat anyone in his graduating class, and I don't know anyone below jounin that knows more about ninjutsu or fuuinjutsu than him. Hokage-sama, please, I request a higher level mission!" He finished with a bow.

Team 12 couldn't believe it. Not only had their sensei just praised them highly, but while it was all most likely true, it was inappropriate to act that way in front of the Hokage. Naruto decided to diffuse the situation. Being on the Sandaime's good side was always useful for him, so he decided to play it.

"Old man, Hayate-sensei is right! Over the past week, we have completed every D-rank you give us with such high marks, that a few villagers have been telling me that they were going to request us personally next time! While I am flattered, doesn't that show that we are ready for something better? Just a little better, like a C-rank?"

Iruka was about to scold his former student for addressing the Hokage that way, when Hiruzen laughed. "Well, if you all feel so strongly about it, why don't I give you what you want? A C-rank escort mission to a town in the Wave Country. You can come in, now." That last bit was directed at the door, which soon opened.

In walked Tazuna, a short, drunk man with a sharp beard. "These are my escorts? Looks like a bunch of weak kids, and the tall one doesn't look much better."

He was suddenly lifted into the air by two hands wrapped around his shirt, Hayate and Naruto saying simultaneously, "WHY YOU-"

That was as far as they got, though. Ino had them both floored with a knock to the head, sighing at how similar her teammate and sensei were.

Tazuna, slightly scared of the girl who was not afraid to pummel her sensei, shut up immediately.

Hayate was the first to regain composure. "Right, Tazuna-san, team, meet at the Village gate in an hour. Pack for two weeks." And with that he shushined out of the office.

Shikamaru left Naruto and Ino first, his home being in a different direction.

"Hey, Naruto, think you can help me pack? It would really suck if I had to bring a giant backpack for everything, and you are the resident seal master." She had hoped to butter him into helping her, but it wasn't necessary.

Naruto shook his head. "Sorry, Ino, but I can't be qualified as a seal master until I invent my own, original seal. But I will help you." He finished with his signature grin.

Ino smiled, before leading him to her home. He knew where it was, already; it sat on top of her families flower shop. She brought him upstairs to her room, and began rummaging around for her camping gear. He took in her room. The walls were white, and adorned with pictures. Ones of her at several ages with her family, a few of her and Sakura, and their team photo was hanging by the door. Naruto smiled at the photo, Shikamaru was looking off to the right somewhere, he himself was waving his Chakra Tendrils around menacingly, the effect ruined by Hayate holding up four fingers in pairs behind his head, intending to make it look like he had fox ears (this was after Naruto had told them of his burden), but Ino was the only normal one in the frame, looking right at the camera, smiling gently. Her bed was made, purple blankets and pillows ready to be used, plush toys nearly covering the thing. Her dresser, painted white with a purple stripe down each side, had several explosives and kunai on it, and a single, elegantly framed photo sitting on it. It was of Ino and him, sitting at Ichiraku Ramen, after he had convinced her to try it.

"I'm kind of glad you forced me to try Teuchi's ramen." Ino startled him out of his thoughts. "I think I started falling in love there."

Naruto grinned. "Yeah, the look on your face when the noodles hit your tongue was proof of that."

Ino smiled. He didn't quite get it, but that's okay. Hell, she didn't even get it.

20 minutes later, Naruto had shown her a few basic storage seals, and she now had her sleeping bag and things tucked away in her one of her utility pouches. She thought back to how Naruto had told her that she should wear two, and that way she would be able to carry all of her explosives and traps. It had been a godsend during their last sparring match. She still lost, but at a much lower margin.

After stating that he always carried a month's worth of supplies with him, they decided to just wait at the gate for their sensei and Tazuna. Shikamaru was already asleep against a post.

Ino had noticed in her room how warm he was. It was a soothing, sedative warmth that just emanated from him, and she wanted more of it.

Naruto sat down next to the open giant door, and closed his eyes. He suddenly felt an unfamiliar weight on his lap, and looked down. Ino was laying on his lap with her back to him, trying to cuddle deeper into his arms. He smiled. This wasn't the first time she had put herself in close contact with him, and after seeing all of the plushies in her room, he figured she must not like to feel alone. Wrapping his left arm around her waist, he pulled her closer and started stroking her silky hair. For the life of him, he still couldn't identify the smell. Her hair has this salty scent, with an undertone of what he associated with the rivers around Konoha, but mostly it was this thing he couldn't describe. He loved it.

Ino was ascending to heaven, at the moment. Not only was she getting an extreme dose of that intoxicating warmth she loved so much, but he was holding her even closer and petting her hair! This continued for about a half-hour, before they were interrupted.

"Okay team, all up! We're moving out." Hayate said, kicking Shikamaru in the foot to get him up.

Ino, a bit reluctantly, stood from her seat and took her position, seeing Naruto do the same.

The blonde jinchuriki was silent the first few minutes into the walk, before passing a very special tree, and let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. Before he even realized he had said it aloud, everyone around him heard him say in a quite voice, "Farthest I've ever been… Thought I'd feel more excited."

Ino looked at him with a sad face, before making a mental promise to talk to him the first time they stopped for the night. Cheering up a bit, she stepped carefully around the puddle in the middle of the road.

AN: MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! If any of you remember the next scene in the canon, your seriously pissed at me right now. As you probably guessed by now, this will be a NaruIno fanfic. Idk why, but I really like that pairing. There will be no lemons until after the timeskip I have planned (sooner than you think, i promise. there WILL be lime before that, though so be patient!), and I am still on the fence about the CRA. Downside is, I had this great idea for a bloodline, too, but that would, by fanon, automatically put him under the CRA. Soo….. yeah.

bit of a lag in upcoming chapters, as i am preoccupied with other sotries, as well. Ja ne!