Chapter 28: A Hero's Day Off

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

Naruto looked over at the Hokage with a satisfied grin and said: "Team Zero huh?"

Tsunade nodded and said:

"You two are going to be working together on a two-man squad from now on, Ino you will go on the same level missions as Naruto and are expected to train constantly to maintain your form and of course deliver this level of performance on the battlefield, Is that understood?"

Ino nodded and saluted Tsunade as she replied: "Of course Lady Hokage."

Tsunade smiled and said: "The battles ahead will be difficult but know that no matter how hopeless the situation may seem there are those who will come to your aid. Good Luck."

Ino and Naruto walked from Tsunade's office through the streets of Konoha, after a few minutes of silence Naruto's facial expression reflected annoyance. Ino immediately noticed this and caught his eye and said: "Naruto is something wrong?"

Naruto sighed and said: "It's nothing too important it's just I've been so overworked recently with all the missions they've put me on, and now they formed our team so I already know they'll be sending us on missions again soon..."

Ino sighed and sat down ona bench and pulled down Naruto in the seat next to her, Ino smiled and began to rub and massage Naruto's shoulders as she said:

"Just relax Naruto... Let's just consider today a day off for us, besides we need to catch up with a few friends..." This comment put a smile on Naruto's face as he tilted his head, the Azure orbs embedded in his eyes locked with hers.

Naruto's grin widened and he looked up into the sky as he said: "I guess it has been a while hasn't it?"

Sakura and the rest of the Rookie Nine were all celebrating at Rosemary park having a picnic, the reason they were celebrating was because everyone had passed the Chunin Exams, everyone in the group was of drinking age in their society so the group of Chunin were all drinking Sake in celebration, at the moment Sakura and Tenten were having a drinking contest as everyone else drunkenly cheered them on, after one drink turned to seven or eight it was Sakura who was victorious, Tsunade's influence on Sakura gave her the upper hand and allowed her to hold her liquor quite well. The group that were drinking consisted of Sakura, Tenten, Chouji, and Kiba.

The group of Chunin were in such a joyous mood in fact that they failed to notice Naruto and Ino approaching the group.

Out of the group a few made the conscious decision not to drink, they knew they could they just didn't want to, among this group was Neji, Hinata, Shikamaru, Shino and Rock Lee. This group did notice the new arrivals which brought smiles to their faces, nobody except Tenten had seen Ino in months, as for Naruto nobody had seen him at all.

Naruto and Ino smiled as Hinata, Neji, Shikamaru, Shino, Chouji and Rock Lee got up to greet them.

Ino was quickly thrown into her own conversations with her teammates as Naruto got caught up in a conversation of his own with Rock Lee and Neji.

Neji smiled and said: "Hey there Naruto haven't seen you in a while buddy, how have you been?"

Naruto smiled and replied: "I've been alright just working my ass off."

Rock Lee flashed a smile and said: "So Naruto the reason we have not seen you is because you were off on some more Training I presume?"

Naruto grinned an almost fox-like smile as he replied: "You could say that."

Hinata, Sakura, and Ino were off to the side, Sakura smiled and winked at Ino as she asked: "So how are things between you and Naruto? I haven't seen either of you in like six months."

Hinata who was present yet not actively part of the conversation listened in, curious to hear Ino's answer.

Ino smiled and looked away as she replied: "Things are pretty good between us we just have been apart for so long... It's good to see him again..."

Sakura smiled cheerfully and took another sip of her bottle of Sake as Hinata merely gazed out in the distance in a deep sigh as she fantasized what it would be like to be romantically involved with her Naruto-kun.

Sakura appeared by her side and offered Hinata her bottle of her alcoholic beverage as she asked:

"Hinata care to experiment?"

Naruto and Rock Lee grinned at each other as they each performed strict Taijutsu sparring, they each had promised at the beginning of the fight that it was a strength alone battle so no ninjutsu and special taijutsu attacks.

Meaning Lee could still use his style but attacks such as "Leaf Hurricane" and "Primary Lotus" were off limits, but so was Naruto's Bloodline Powers, his Shadow Clones, Rasengan, and the rest of his combined Ninjutsu formations.

Lee Smiled as he finally had an oppening, jumping up in the air in a jump kick stance, Naruto grinned and ducked as he grabbed Lee's feet and twirled him around and around until Naruto finally jumped up and slammed him hard into the ground, successfully knocking Lee out.

Fifteen minutes had passed since their spar and Lee was back on his feet, with Naruto standing next to him, Naruto grinned and said: "Sorry about that Lee I guess I got carried away."

Lee smiled and held his hand up as if to stop him as he replied: "No Naruto, do not worry you have taught me that I have much to learn if I want to keep up with you."

Naruto smiled and said: "Just keep sharpening your skills Lee."

Lee Grinned and shook Naruto's hand as he replied: "That I will Naruto."

Naruto and the rest of the group joined together. Naruto smiled and said: "Say Lee care to have a drinking contest with me?"

Lee was almost in shock at the comment as he replied: "B-But Naruto You know what happens when I drink Sake!"

Naruto grinned darkly as he replied: "The mighty Rock Lee backing away from a challenge? I never thought I'd see the day."

Lee was enraged at this comment as he responded in fury: "I Rock Lee never back down from a challenge! Pour me a glass."

Tenten grinned and poured two drinks for the two Shinobi. Fifteen minutes had passed and two glasses became twelve, on the thirteenth shot Lee Had passed out head first on the grass and fallen asleep where as Naruto looked up trashed as all fucking hell as he yelled in a very drunken state: "I am victorious!"

And with his victory cry Naruto Uzumaki passed out.

Even though Ino had a drink or two after seeing Naruto she couldn't help but just smile at what kind of person the overly hyper blonde could be at times.

She hauled the unconscious form of Naruto and said goodbye to their friends as Ino brought Naruto back to his apartment, she pulled Naruto's key out of his pocket and opened the door, not more than twenty seconds after the door was opened it was shut behind her and Naruto was sleeping peacefully.

Ino smiled at how cute he actually looked when calmed down and at peace, she gently kissed him on the cheek goodnight as she closed the door behind her. Making her way back to her place to get some sleep herself...

Hinata stumbled around in a daze, Hinata had let Sakura talk her into drinking alcohol and now she felt like she was somewhere else... Whatever her body was currently doing, her mind was elsewhere, Hinata stumbled around until she ended up in a very familiar place... Hinata looked up and blushed lightly as he thought: "This is Naruto-kun's house..."

A/N: Forgive me everyone I was preoccupied in life and if that wasn't enough I was stuck and had no idea what to do next with the story, I felt Naruto should go on a mission with Ino but not too soon, this chapter was random but I figured a little bit a comedy relief was in order, Review if you care!

Peace! - DemonicLove555