Fearless

Chapter 8

Ino kept her breathing level as she fell into a familiar crouch, slowly inching closer to the deer she and Naruto had been stalking. They had arrived at the Forest of Death just before sun rise, and they had been hunting since. Ino chanced a glance to the sky, sun light flittering through the trees. It was almost noon now. She waited for Naruto's signal before pouncing on the helpless doe, kunai knife dancing between her finger tips. A lone howl erupted through the forest, startling other wild life and forcing the doe to lift her head from her grazing spot. Ino pounced before the doe could run, sliding the blade of the kunai cleanly across the animal's throat. Warm blood covered her fingers as she gently laid the carcass down on the grass, looking up as Naruto moved closer. Pride shined in his sapphire orbs as he crouched across from Ino, his lips twisted upwards into an almost feral like grin.

" Mate did good," he praised, watching as Ino cocked her head to the side for a brief moment, looking him over.

Ino hadn't realized just how attractive Naruto had become. He was shorter as a genin, loud and obnoxious. She had always thought his hair to be to bright his eyes to dark, and his skin to bronzed. Even as a child he carried a wild air about him, nothing compared to the Inuzuka clan, but it was still there. When he had returned from his three year training trip with Master Jiriaya, he had grown a few inches, standing taller than she. His hair had remained bright, yet it was longer and enhanced his boyish charm. His sapphire colored eyes weren't as dark, a lighter shine coming into them. He was still loud, still obnoxious, but he had grown, even if it was only an inch in her eyes. Comparing those to boys to this man before her, Ino could only pick out a few similarities. He was taller now, standing at six feet three inches. His hair had remained as golden as the sun, the ends reaching his brows and covering the nape of his neck. Hair that Ino had once thought to be distracting, now it only aided him. He was a distinguished shinobi, easily identified by his hair. His sapphire blue eyes that were once to dark to be called gems, held this shine, as if a fire was lit that refused to die. His shoulders were broad, muscles toned with precision, held power that could easily kill an enemy without a thought. His bronzed skin only pronounced the scars on his cheek, telling the world he was a jinchuriki, and he wasn't afraid for anyone to know it. Yet sitting across from him now, blood smeared across his cheek, flecks dancing along his bare chest, Ino could truly say he was wilder than any Inuzuka she had come across, he was a feral animal that wouldn't hesitate to rip your jugular from your throat with his bare teeth.

Most kunoichi would have been afraid by this revelation. They would have shied away as they watched this man skin the deer, turned away with an uneasy stomach as he gutted the animal. However, Ino wasn't known for being frightened easily. She had trained beside four males, learned from Morino Ibiki as well as Mitarashi Anko. She wasn't entirely sane in her own mind set either, yet she refused to be frightened by this man she had grown to care about, even if that thought was foolish.

" Why do you think Naruto is a lost cause Sakura? He never gave up on you. He found Sasuke and brought the stubborn fucker back! Why can't you have a little faith in him?" Ino shouted, knowing Naruto was preoccupied with the last Uchiha. Both males were using her training room, allowing the women a moment of peace to speak alone. Sakura's fists clenched at her sides, her anger obviously controlling her body now. God to his word, Sasuke had returned later that evening when both Naruto and Ino were awake. He claimed he merely wanted to spar and Sakura wished to speak with the Yamanaka.

" I believe in Naruto. I know he'll come back when he's ready. It's you I don't believe in!" Sakura's words rang loudly through Ino's ears, disbelief coloring her features as she stared at the woman standing four feet way from her.

" You think you're so talented that you can figure out the working of Naruto's mind? I've been on a three man cell with him for years Ino, and I still don't understand him. The only one who can even come close is Sasuke. They have this bond no one can break. They are tied together for eternity," Sakura's voice softened as she turned her jade colored eyes away from ice blue, unable to look into them any longer.

" If anyone should have been requested to help Naruto, it should have been Sasuke, not someone who barely understands him."

Ino shook the depressing thoughts from her mind, pushing herself to her feet. She was determined to prove the rosette woman wrong as she slowly began to gather firewood to cook the deer with. Naruto's slit like eyes followed Ino's every movement, watching as she moved with the grace of a predator. Her footsteps were measures, quiet, barely leaving an imprint. Her body was fluid, her movements were careful. She was everything he desired, cunning, strong, graceful, the perfect mate. The simple slice against the doe's throat had been what entranced him. The few specks of blood that sprayed her cheeks only seemed to enhance her beauty. She was stunning normally. Her platinum strands cascaded down her spine, ending just above the curve of her rump, an ethereal waterfall that seemed to taunt him. Her ice blue eyes were usually cold, guarded. Yet he had seen them when her defenses had been weak, saw the passion she hid from others. Her ivory skin was soft to the touch, pulled taut over toned muscles that rippled with controlled strength. However when she appeared free, uncaring of her appearance, that was when he saw her to be truly gorgeous.

Her platinum strands would be tied back loosely, strands framing her high cheekbones, bones that looked as if they could cut if one were to step to close. Her ivory skin would hold a sheen of sweat, proof of her hard work, her dedication to this life she had chosen. However, it was her eyes that always trapped him. Her eyes looked wild, untamed for the first time since he met her, that night. The crimson blood, a stark contrast compared to her ivory skin, only drew more emphasis towards her eyes. Naruto was truly mesmerized by his mate, something he hadn't thought to be possible. Slowly he stood to his feet, moving quietly across the moss covered earth until he was only a few inches behind her. He inhaled her scent quietly, a smirk curving his lips as acai berries drifted to his nostrils. She was bent forward, reaching for another piece of word, unaware of the feral shinobi that was standing so close behind her. Naruto extended his arms, his large hands gripping the slender curve of her hips, the delicate bone only covered by a pair of black shorts, only an inch long. Ino didn't tense, so familiar with Naruto's touch she knew that callous that decorated his hands from memory.

" Did you need something Naruto?" Ino questioned softly, straightening her spine until her back was parallel to his chest. Naruto chuckled softly in her ear, lowering his chin to rest upon her shoulder as he nuzzled just behind her ear.

" No, I just don't like my mate being away from me for to long," Ino couldn't help the chuckle that escaped her lips as she glanced towards the sky, flecks of blue peeking through the green of the leaves.

" I was only a few feet away from you, gathering wood to cook the deer," she stated, feeling as he shook his head, his hot breath blowing warmly against the column of her throat.

" I don't like not having my mate in my arms for to long. This is where she belongs," he stated softly, knowing this may anger the woman before him.

Ino sighed, slowly allowing her body to relax against his embrace as she thoughe over his words.

" You're an odd one Namikaze Uzumaki Naruto, truly an odd one. But I suppose that's to be expected," Ino finally spoke, allowing her eyes to drift shut as they stood in the clearing for a moment longer before deciding to start the fire to cook their deer. Ino watched as the muscles of Naruto's biceps rippled with controlled strength as he turned the meat to brown the other side. She was amazed, watching as he cooked. Naruto felt her eyes on his body, glancing up to see Ino's eyes. He knew she was thinking of something, could tell by the guarded look that fell over her eyes.

" What is Mate thinking of?" Naruto questioned quietly, watching as Ino glanced from the flames dancing to Naruto's curious face. She offered him a ghost of a smile, shaking her head slowly.

" Nothing to worry about, just old thoughts," she answered. Naruto nodded in understanding, extending a piece of the cooked deer meat for his mate, watching as she ate, carefully nibbling a piece.

Naruto was nervous. What if she didn't enjoy his cooking? His eyes were transfixed to her face, watching her with care.

" You did a great job on seasoning this Naruto," Ino praised, aware of his anxiety. She watched the relief wash of his features as he moved around the fire to sit beside her.

" I'm glade my Mate likes it," he answered. Ino watched curiously as his eyes darted towards the corner of her lip. She cocked her head to the side, curious as to what could hold his attention.

" Is something," she stopped as he lowered his head, his pink tongue darting out to lick her chin, up to the corner of her lip.

" You had juice," was his only explanatio before Ino smiled softly once again, leaning forward a bit more and pressing her lips to his.

She knew agreeing to help the Kyuubi's jinchuriki would be difficult. She was aware that no one truly understood Naruto, especially not her. However, she wasn't going to walk away when she had come this far. Tomorrow, if she hadn't made any progess after today, she was going to try something else, maybe that would help him. For now, she would enjoy the affection he was offering her, allowing her body to relax in his arms as he kissed her more soundly.

A/N: There's a bit of a back story behind Sakura, and the next chapter should hold Naruto's change back, but that won't be the end of it. Anyway, I love feed back people, let me know just what you think of this story. And just a heads up, this fic will be updated daily, if not I'd lose interest in it and stop writing it. Enjoy.