Ino gulped after the dark chuckling stopped. "What the hell was that?" Ino muttered to herself. The platinum blonde cautiously looked around. Naruto's sewer-like mindscape was dimly lit. There was sewer water up to her ankles. The dark, high was had dripping pipes lining the upper potion of them. "What's wrong with you Naruto?"

She hesitantly wondered through Naruto's mindscape, trying to find where his memories were located. Usually she would appear in a projection where the memories are located or in a person's mindscape that reflected that person's personality, but Naruto just had to be different. The blonde acted so cheerful and optomistic all the the time, so his mindscape should reflect that. Naruto's mindscape didn't match that at all. It was dark and was a sewer; that usually is an indication of a person who's suffered from some form of trauma or depression.

Ino reached a large room after five minutes of was just as eerily lit as the rest of the sewer mindscape. There were bars lining the back. She found herself staring into a glowing, red set of eyes that glared back at her. A wave of fear wracked through her her body as slit, narrowed eyes reguarded her. The red-eyed creature shifter from the shadows and Ino saw it in full light. Sitting before her was the Kyuubi no Kitsune. Ino felt the urge to run from the strongest and most dangerous bijuu but fear paralyzed her body. 'Wasn't this thing supposed to dead?'

"What are you doing in Naruto's mindscape, ningen." The fox growled. His eyes were studying her with a large level of scutiny; Ino couldn't even open her mouth to respond. "What, can you not speak, ningen? I asked what you are doing here?! If our don't answer me, I'll kill you. You look like you could be a nice meal."

"Kyuubi, you will do no such thing to one of my comrads." Ino spun around to see Naruto standing behind her. Worry and anxiety were etched into his features.

"Naruto! Why is the-"

"Ino, leave this instant!"

Ino looked at the other blonde in disbelief. "Are you serious?!"

"Yes, now leave."

"No! The Kyuubi is in your mindscape. You owe me an explanation!"

"I don't owe you anything, especially to you Ino!" Naruto snapped back. Ino looked at Naruto in absolute shock. She had never seen him so serious in her life. His eyes were blazing with anger. 'Maybe I shouldn't have been so demanding and rude.' She thought.

Naruto watched as a shocked expression adorned Ino's face. He looked away from her. "I'm... sorry, I really shouldn't have yelled. I really think you should leave though."

Ino looked down. "I'm… also sorry. I really shouldn't have tried to make you do anything you didn't want to. And for entering your mindscape without your consent."

Naruto looked taken aback at at Ino's apology. He never expected for her to ever apologize to him. "It's… okay."

"So I can't eat her?" The kyuubi asked boredly. Naruto looked at the fox in utter disbelief. "I'll take that as a no." The paused before commenting, "Well I was just asking since comrads usually don't enter each other's minds without permission."

"Kyuubi." Naruto hissed. "She already apologized. She really didn't have to; she could have just left and told Sakura and Sasuke."

"I was just making a point." Kyuubi grumbled.

"He is right though." Ino agreed. "I should have told Sakura no but she sounded so distressed about you. At the time, I couldn't say no."

Naruto sighed. "Look, what's done is done. Now we have to deal with the fallout." He ran his fingers through his hair.

After a minute of silence, Ino broke it with, "I know you don't have to explain anything to me but as a Yamanaka and a person who understands the mind, you really should talk to someone." She paused. "Judging from your mindscape, you clearly have some unresolved issues and other past traumas that should be talked about. I know that must be hard for you but it would good for you. I know you really don't know me or trust me however you can talk to me or my mom. My mom helps ninjas how how have psychological problems."

Naruto hesitated. "I… I know that I should get help but because of how I grew up, I really don't know how to ask for help. I've practically been alone all my life. Hokage-jiji was always busy, Ayame and Teuchi-jiji have their ramen shop, and I didn't have Iruka until I was nine."

Ino looked gave Naruto an understanding look. "I'm guessing its because of foxy over there caused it to be that way for you."

"More or less. A jinchurriki's life is never easy."

"I'm sorry." Naruto looked at Ino with a slightly puzzled expression. "I probably made your life harder when you were younger."

"Ino…"

"I called you baka, dead-last, and loser just like everyone else. I never thought that I was being so cruel when we in the academy. Now that I think about it and how much you must have gone through, I really am sorry."

"It's okay as long as you're sincere. Though I have to ask, how would you know what I've gone through?"

"Some of us heard a few jonin call Gaara that and asked about it. Our senseis explained that their lives were hard because they are seen as the demons they hold, even though it's not their choice. And also about how they're ostrasizsd and treated as tools that can easily be disposed of. That life… must be so hard. I can only imagine how it must be for you here."

Naruto looked at Ino with hesitation. "I really don't know what to say, Ino."

Ino reached out and gently rubbed Naruto's arm. "Say you'll let someone help you, even if it's hard."

"I'll try to do that."

"Alright. And Naruto?" Ino hesitantly asked.

"Yeah?"

"Can we start again? I really want to try and be friends with you. Despite being goofy and dense sometimes, you really are a nice and caring person. At least, that's what I got from Shika and Forehead."

"Thanks Ino, I really would like that."

Ino beamed. "Good. Now I have a favor."

"Aren't you supposed to wait before you call in favors?"

"I should but this one is important."

"Then what is it?"

"Please try and forgive Sakura and Sasuke."

Naruto frowned. "I don't think I can do that. They betrayed me."

"They only did it because they care-"

"I highly doubt that. At least, they don't act like they care. They still call me idiot and undermine my skills as a ninja." Naruto sighed. "Actually, a lot of people still do that to me. I'm so fed up about it too. I guess they don't people understand what that does to a person."

Ino thought about Naruto's words, making a silent plan to help Naruto. "At least, give them a chance. Sakura really cares about you. She missed you during your training trip and used you and Sasuke as a reason to stronger. I know Sasuke feels terrible for nearly killing you. He's got beat through the ground by Anko so he could gain control over the curse mark. He doesn't want a repeat of that ever again."

Naruto groaned as he tiled his head back. "Just let me think about it."

Ino nodded in satisfaction. "Alright."

"Anything else?"

"I do have one more question however it can wait until later. I'm going to dispel the jutsu now."

Naruto opened his eyes and stretched out his arms. He looked around to see Ino next to him doing the same. They were both propped up against tree stumps in Training Ground 7. In fact, he was against the same stump he had been ties to during their real genin exam.

We brought you guys here so there wouldn't be any unnessesary attention drawn to you." Naruto looked to see Kakashi leaning against the stump next to him.

Naruto's thoughts drifted to where Sakura and Sasuke cauld be and what information they could now know. "Did you tell them anything?"

"No but I did tell them that you would explain everything later. I also will repromand them later."

Naruto ran his hand through his hair. "Do you think I should tell them about that?"

"I think you should when you're ready." Kakashi responded.

Ino looked from Kakashi to Naruto. Kakashi had a reasurring look on his face while Naruto looked flat out anxious. "You guys aren't talking about the kyuubi, are you?"

"Not at all." Naruto muttered.

Ino looked at Naruto with concern. "If you have anything else wrong, you can come to me. No questions asked."

"Thanks for that, Ino." Naruto gave Ino a grateful smile.

Kakashi studied Ino and Naruto. 'Since when did those two get close? It must have happened in his mindscape.' "Are you going to tell anyone about the kyuubi?"

"I know I should but I'm not ready yet "

"I think you're entitled to that one." Ino commented.

"Just remember to be careful. I highly doubt you can handle direct confrontation again." A serious look was on Kakashi's face.

Naruto nodded in agreement. "I'll keep that in mind." Naruto jumped up. "I have to go."

Ino looked startled. "Where are you going?"

A look of nervousness crossed his face. "I gotta do something important and apologize."

Kakashi looked concerned. "Do you need any help?"

Naruto gave a strained laugh. "I gotta do this one alone."

The jonin pursed his lips. "If you need me-"

"I know where to find you, sensei." Naruto murmured.

"Then do what you have to do."

"I will. Bye sensei, Ino."

Naruto anxiously stood outside a white apartment door. He had spent the last ten minutes working up the nerve to knock on the door. He forced himself to stop the pacing he apparently started to do. He oncemore-for the twelfth time- raised his enclosed hand to knock on the door. And this time he was successful. Within a minute the door opened to reveal Iruka Umino. The chuunin looked startled at Naruto's appearence.

Iruka quickly composed himself. "Naruto, I haven't seen you in so long. Are you okay? You don't look to good. What's wrong? You can always tell me anything if you need me."

Naruto felt a sting in his eyes before he quickly banished his fears and completely let his guard down. He needed to tell Iruka everything; his brother-figure had the right to know. He honestly shouldn't have kept anything from him to begin with.

"Iruka," Naruto caught his attention with the partially cracked voice he used. Iruka looked at Naruto with worry when he saw the vulnerable expression on the teen's face. "Nii-san we nned to talk. I need some help right now."

(A/N: I'm sorry I kind of rushed it a bit in some places. I really wanted to get to that last section with Iruka. Like it? Hate it? Tell me what you thought. I'll have the next one chapter out next month.)