Chapter 13: Ino's Love, Sakura's Jealousy

(Italics: Thoughts/Flashbacks/Dream sequence. Bold: Title and Kyubi's/Demon's/Inner Naruto's/Inner Sakura's Speech.)

Sakura had just finished her weekly training with Tsunade and man was she beat, she was also frustrated at the fact that she had not seen her teammate for an entire month, ever since Naruto went on that mission with Ino he's been acting a little… Different, like the old Naruto but his behavior had shifted along with the crazy training he always disappears to do, she questioned Tsunade countless times on his whereabouts but she had no idea where the blond had run off to as well. She sighed and kept walking on her usual path home as she thought to herself: I hate secrets…

As she was walking a figure emerged from the distance, the figure was wearing black ninja pants, a black t-shirt with a red spiral design on the front, Sandals, and wore a Black Konoha Headband across his forehead, after getting a closer look Sakura realized the figure approaching her was none other than Naruto. But he just seemed so.. Different almost like an entirely new person…

And what was with those eyes of his? Sakura looked closer and saw a fiery purple pupil with three neon green dots rotating around the pupil slowly. Was that a clan Doujutsu? So many questions entered the young Kunoichi's mind but she knew that would have to wait.

"Hey Naruto." Sakura called out with a sweet smile. Naruto upon hearing his name turned around to face Sakura, he smiled and said: "Hey Sakura what's up?" Sakura smiled but noticed that he didn't call her Sakura-chan like he used to… Not that she cared….

Sakura smiled and said: "Nothing much Naruto I just finished my training with Tsunade so I'm pretty tired…" Naruto smiled and said: "That's great Sakura! Funny coincidence too I just got done with my training too." Sakura smiled as she thought: I should have figured…

Sakura leaned against a nearby fence and asked: "Oh yeah? You working on a new technique?" Naruto grinned as he said: "You could say that…" Sakura smiled and said:

"Well Naruto you want to grab a bite to eat? You could even call it that date you always wanted…"

Naruto's reacted a little uneasy at this comment and he put on that signature smile he does whenever he masks his true emotions as he replied:

"I'm sorry Sakura I can't, maybe some other time okay? Anyway I got to go, bye!" And just like that he was gone.

Sakura walked back home with an almost hollow feeling in the pit of her stomach as she thought: Naruto turned me down on a date? Is he really over me?

Inner Sakura sighed and said:

"Sakura you can't really say this is unexpected…" "I mean you did treat him pretty badly even when he risked his life to bring Sasuke back for you…"

Sakura looked a little sad as she thought: But I've been nicer to him! Ever since I asked him to bring back Sasuke for me he's been different…

Inner Sakura frowned at Sakura's ignorance and continued:

"When that happened he sacrificed his own happiness for your happiness, that's how much he cared, and even then you turned him down…"

"I don't think they are many men let alone Shinobi in this world who would go that far without at least moving on romantically…"

"And you already know him and Ino have gotten closer so don't ruin this for her…"

Sakura sighed and a empty look settled in her eyes as she thought: Alright you win…

Sakura thought to herself as she walked through the front door to her house.

Ino got up from bed and began to get dressed, her team wasn't supposed to meet for another few hours but she wanted to get some fresh air anyway, right as she was about to leave there was a knocking sound coming from her bedroom window. She turned around and about five feet away from her separated by a barrier of glass, was Naruto. He smiled and said: "Hey can we talk?"

Ino nodded and opened the window allowing Naruto entry, Naruto sat on Ino's bed and looked her in the eyes as he asked:

"So have you been feeling well since what happened?"

She nodded her head and there was a awkward moment of silence, a moment later Naruto turned to her and said: "Ino if I was stronger I could have protected you…"

Ino sighed and turned to Naruto with an expression of concern as she said:

"Naruto I knew you would blame yourself for what happened… Listen, you protected me… You were there for me when I needed you, become as strong as you want but please don't let me become a burden to you… I mean you are going to be Hokage someday right?"

Naruto smiled and said: "I've been carrying a burden larger than you could possibly imagine my entire life so you don't have to worry about that…"

This comment peaked Ino's interest but Naruto cut off her train of thought as he continued: "And besides the Hokage protects everyone… Especially the ones he holds precious to him…"

Ino blushed at this comment and looked down, she was about to say something but Naruto spoke again:

"Ino growing up I never knew any comfort or love of any form, I had no friends, no parents, everybody hated me or wanted nothing to do with me…

My life always had this void of emptiness… Sometimes I even questioned my own existence, I would sometimes ask myself: "what was my purpose for living?"

He smiled at Ino and said:

"Ever since I became a Genin I've met many people who I consider precious to me… But you Ino are the most precious of all people… Ino when I'm with you I feel like that void is complete"

Neither knew who started it or what had caused it to happen but the next thing the two blondes knew their lips had met and they were embracing each other…

After what felt like an eternity they pulled their lips away slowly, staring into each other's eyes. Ino looked at her watch and it was 10:15 P.M.

Damn she was fifteen minutes late!

Ino smiled and said:

"Naruto believe me when I say I want to stay with you right now but I'm late to train with my squad." Naruto nodded in acknowledgement and asked: "Tomorrow?" She smiled and nodded as she said: "Tomorrow."

And with those words the two blond Shinobi vanished in clouds of white smoke, each going their own ways.

Ino was running in the direction of her squad's training grounds as she thought: Shit!

She finally arrived surprised to see her squad not training without her like she thought they would, but instead they were all waiting for her patiently, she ran up to Asuma and asked: "What's up Asuma-sensei?" Asuma smiled and said: "We have a mission briefing with Lady Hokage, come on we're leaving." Ino nodded and followed her team as a blush rested on her face as she thought about what had happened earlier and what he's said… Then something hit her, she wouldn't be able to see Naruto tomorrow if she was going on an important mission. Hopefully it would be a C-Rank mission or something that could be accomplished as soon as possible… Ino sighed.

Shikamaru was analyzing Ino's strange behavior, but stopped as soon as Ino met his look with a deadly glare.

Well what did you guys think? After Twelve chapters they finally get together, anyway I kind of pieced this together but I read it over and think I did a good job, Did you guy's like the "Naruto/Ino interaction?" Anyway Review if you care, Peace! - DemonicLove555