Here is the next chapter. I apologize for taking so long to update. I had work and I had to deal with personal ordeals. And on top of that, I had a canoe trip on the Yukon River and I have been away from home for three weeks. I hope you all enjoy this chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto does.

It has been two days since Kakuzu was killed and Hidan was contained. Ino was in the flower shop assisting the customers and seemed to be happy helping them. She just finished helping with an older gentleman when she heard another person come in.

She greeted, "Welcome to Yamanaka Flowers, how can I…?"

She saw that it was Shikamaru at the entrance and she smiled at him before saying, "Oh Shika, how can I help you today?"

Shikamaru returned the smile before he answered, "Actually, I'm here to repeat my question from last time."

Ino knew what he was going to ask but she decided to tease him a bit, she asked coyly, "What question?"

Shikamaru knew she was doing but he played along anyway, "You know what."

Ino asked, "Perhaps, you can ask again?"

Shikamaru smirked at her attempt to look cute mostly because it was working.

So then he asked, "Would you like to go out with me tomorrow evening at 7?"

Ino smiled again and answered, "I would love to, Shika. What should I wear for it?"

Shikamaru smiled as well and then answered, "Something formal."

Then he walked over to her until he was standing opposite Ino with the counter between them. He motioned for her to come a little closer and then Ino curiously leaned over the counter to know what he wanted. He leaned in closer as well until his forehead was touching hers and their lips were barely a millimeter apart.

Ino closed her eyes to feel his lips again but she only heard him whisper, "See you tomorrow, Ino."

Then he pulled away and kissed her forehead instead and then walked out of the shop.

When Ino realized what happened, she huffed slightly but she couldn't prevent her rapidly beating heart and the blush on her cheeks. She sighed while tucking loose strands of her hair before she felt something in it. She carefully picked it out and saw that it was a flower; a gardenia. She was surprised because gardenias only grow on the outskirts of Konoha and the shop was currently waiting on a shipment for gardenias.

She had briefly recalled a memory of her father giving her mother a bouquet of gardenias for her birthday. She had asked her father they meant and he had explained that the receiver of the flowers is being told that she is lovely. She smiled happily and placed the gardenia back in her hair again as an accessory. She didn't even know if he knew its meaning but she didn't care; it was so romantic. For the rest of the day in the shop, she couldn't stop smiling.

Elsewhere in the training grounds…

Naruto was studying a few scrolls of fuinjutsu while his clones were working on different types of other wind techniques and they even are going over some water techniques as well. Kakashi was with another clone working on different strategies that had been used during previous wars and quizzing him through it to see if he remembered it. It was a sigh to behold; so many clones learning many things at once. It may not have looked like it but they had been out there since six in the morning and Kakashi was actually on time. Kakashi explained to Naruto that he had been neglectful as a teacher so he decided to make up for lost time by teaching him many things that he learned to Naruto and help him with many different subjects all at the same time. Kakashi was glad that Naruto decided to listen to the lesson on strategies; it shows him that he was willing to learn.

Kakashi then said to the clone he was working with, "Good, you're learning to plan ahead instead of planning in the process. Now dispel yourself and I want the original to go over taijutsu."

The clone replied, "Okay." Then he dispelled himself and the real Naruto gained the memories of the clone.

Then he murmured, "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu." Then he left the clone to continue with practicing his calligraphy; Kurama had informed Naruto that the Uzumaki clan was formidable in fuinjutsu and he wanted to get it right.

Then Naruto had seen that Hinata was with Kakashi, he greeted her with a smile, "Hey Hinata. What are you doing here?"

Hinata replied, "Hello Naruto-kun, Kakashi-sensei had asked me earlier this morning to come help you with training taijutsu as your sparring partner."

"Oh really? You don't mind?" Naruto asked.

Hinata shook her head and answered, "No, I don't mind. I think we'll help each other grow stronger."

Naruto smiled and then said, "Alright, let's go."

They both got into their stances while Kakashi was observing and then he shouted, "Go!"

Both young Chūnin sprinted towards each other and engaged in combat. While Naruto was taller than her, she was fast and precise. They both wouldn't give each other the chance to get a hit. It wasn't until Hinata found an opening and then struck him in the chest with an open palm. Naruto staggered a bit but then he smiled at her before attacking again.

They kept at it until Naruto commented, "You have gotten stronger Hinata. But show me just how much."

"Okay…" Hinata replied before she suddenly jumped backwards and then she shouted, "Hakke Kūshō!"

She threw her palm out and a stream of chakra flew towards Naruto that he had to dodge it. But then she suddenly close to him catching him off guard and then she shouted, "Hakke Rokujūyon Shō!"

Then she proceeded to hit at his tenketsu, striking at his chakra points. That was the first time that Naruto had seen her use the same technique that Neji had done to him during his first Chūnin exam. But luckily, he knew how to counter it. He activated Kurama's chakra and reopened his tenketsu. And then came at her more fiercely. But by the smiles on their faces, they were having fun. Kakashi had noticed throughout the spar that they have great chemistry and he knew that they were closer due to them hanging out together by chance; he saw them talking together. Then an idea crossed his mind and then he had a mischievous gleam in his visible eye.

He was sitting down on the ground and then he subtly did a snake handsign, slammed his hand on the ground and then murmured, "Doton: Tsuchi Nami no Jutsu."

Then suddenly the ground was forming waves at the exact moment Naruto was charging forward for an attack. He didn't know what happened before the waves in the ground caused him to lose his balance and trip over his own feet. He couldn't stop himself; he fell forward and bumped into Hinata, which caused them both to fall over to the ground. While this was Kakashi's intention, he didn't quite expect the result of it.

Naruto was a bit confused as he felt two things that were round and soft in his hands. He squeezed them but then he suddenly realized to his embarrassement and Hinata's; he had his hands on Hinata's breasts. This caused Hinata to blush profusely and when he realized what he was doing; his face turned a bright red.

The he hastily got off of Hinata and exclaimed, "Hinata, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to do that! I…"

But he cut himself off by seeing that Hinata was unconscious was still blushing. He quickly went to Hinata, held her in his arms and tried to gently wake her up.

He murmured, "She might hate me when she wakes up."

Then he heard Kakashi comment, "Naruto, I know that you were training with Jiraiya-sama for nearly three years but I never thought that you would be this bold towards a young lady like Hinata."

Naruto became flustered and blurted out, "I wasn't trying anything! It was an accident!"

Naruto continued to try to wake her up while Kakashi was smiling underneath his mask; proudly witnessing his handiwork. While Naruto was trying to wake Hinata up he had to tell Kurama to stop laughing at him.

It was around one o'clock before Hinata woke up again; she realized that she was sitting at the base of a tree.

"I'm glad that you're awake," Hinata turned to her right and Naruto was sitting beside her.

She also saw that all of his clones had been dispelled and Kakashi was nowhere to be seen. Hinata blushed immediately because she had remembered what had occurred over an hour ago.

Then she heard him say, "I'm really sorry about before; it was an accident. I tripped over my own feet and couldn't stop myself in time. I'd understand if you would hate me for that. If you want to hit me or slap me…go ahead."

He faced Hinata while closing his eyes, expecting a hit to his face but nothing happened. He opened one eye and saw that she was smiling kindly.

She replied, "I'm not going to slap you nor do I hate you, Naruto-kun. It was an accident, like you said. And I know that you'd never do anything like that on purpose. You are a good person, Naruto-kun."

For some unknown reason, Naruto blushed and had a strange fluttering in his chest but to him it wasn't a bad feeling. He smiled back and replied, "You're a good person too, Hinata. And you have gotten stronger too. Next time we should do this again, is that okay?"

Hinata nodded her head and then answered, "That's fine but it would have to be after Neji-ni-san trains with me. He had helped me train in taijutsu; he's on a mission so he won't be back until later."

"Great. Then would you like lunch, we could go somewhere else, any place you want," Naruto proclaimed.

Hinata asked, "Are you sure I'm not troubling you with that?"

"It's fine, besides I'm starving. Aren't you?" Naruto asked.

Hinata answered, "Well…a little."

Naruto got up grom the ground and then said, "Well, let's get going."

He held out his hand to her for her to grab onto. She smiled and then she held his hand so he could help her up. Then they walked back into the village while Kakashi peeked from behind his book while he hid in a tree, displaying an eye-smile towards the two Chūnin before returning to his book.

The Next Day…

Ino had asked her mother if she could have the day off so that could find a new outfit for her date that evening. Of course, she couldn't avoid her mother fast enough when she started teasing about her and Shikamaru. He had said that she had to dress formally so she hopes that she could find the right outfit for this date. Throughout the whole day, she went to every clothing store she's ever been to. But after trying on so many different dresses and formal outfits, she hadn't the one outfit that would be deemed "perfect" to her. It was already two in the afternoon before she felt like giving up. That was until she had happened to spot a dress on display through store front window. It was a black sleeveless dress that seemed to stop just above the knees and it seemed to be elegant enough for her. So she went in, tried it on and it fit her perfectly and she loved it. With her mind made up, she paid for it and then practically sprinted back to her house to get ready.

Later that evening…

Shikamaru was outside of the shop waiting for Ino to come out. He was wearing a black suit and his hair was loose; which was something rare for him to do. If he was honest with himself, he didn't know the first thing about dating and he was extremely nervous. He really wants this date to go well, since it's truly their first step to become more than friends; he can't mess this up. Then her heard footsteps behind him and he turned around to see Ino; which had left him speechless.

Ino was wearing her black dress with strappy black sandals. Her hair was styled so that it was wavy as it fell past her shoulders and down her back. And around her neck was a black choker with a red rose pendant; a gift for her birthday last year from him. She in turn was equally stunned; she had thought that he looked handsome.

When he had snapped out of his stupor he cleared his throat and then said, "Hey Ino. You look…"

He seemed to be struggling to find the right word to describe her. But then after seeing her smile up at him, he said, "Stunning…"

Ino continued to smile and she blushed at his compliment until she replied, "Thank you Shika. You look very handsome tonight as well."

In response to her compliment, he rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment and then mumbled, "Thanks…"

Then he held his arm out for her to take which caused her to smile. She looped her arm through his; he relaxed a bit before he led the way to where he was taking her. They walked for a few minutes in the street until they ended up at a restaurant; one where Ino had wanted to go to but never had the chance. She was pleasantly surprised that she asked, "Shikamaru, we're going here?"

He nodded his head and answered, "I remembered that you had said that you wanted to come here. So I had made reservations yesterday and now we're here."

Ino then affectionately squeezed his arm before they walked into the restaurant. The waiter escorted them to an assigned table and then they took their seats. As they were waiting for their food, Ino went into an animated discussion about what she was training with her father as of late and what she does at the hospital while Shikamaru would just listen and add his own thoughts. Then it came to the point where she mentioned Kurenai.

She said, "At the hospital, I had seen Kurenai-sensei, I had wanted to say hi but she walked out before I could catch her. I wondered if she was alrught." She paused to take a bite out of her food, when she saw that Shikamaru was in deep thought.

She gently called out to him, "Shikamaru, are you okay?"

He brought his eyes to look up at her quickly and then replied, "Yeah, I'm alright, sorry. I was just thinking about what you said about Kurenai. She's not sick or anything; it's something much more important."

Ino was curious but she didn't ask because it wasn't really her business.

But then Shikamaru asked, "Can I tell you something, Ino?"

Ino nodded her head as she was intrigued on what he was going to say so she listened closely.

Shikamaru kept eye contact and then said to her, "The reason that Kurenai-sensei was in the hospital is because she is pregnant."

Ino gasped in shock and asked, "She is? Then the father is…?"

Shikamaru nodded his head and answered her unfinished question, "Yes, it's Asuma's."

Ino was speechless for a few seconds before Shikamaru spoke again, "Asuma had told me before he died, he had asked me to take care of his child. It's a big thing to ask of someone, to watch their child and help take care of him or her. I said I'd be the child's teacher but…"

Ino saw that he looked somber as he trailed his sentence and then she smiled sadly while she slid her hand across the table and placed it on top of his to hold it.

Shikamaru looked up at her and then she said to him, "You will be a great teacher to the baby. You're intelligent, brave, you care about your friends and you always have been great at teaching others. I believe you can do it."

She gave him a reassuring smile and then he gave one in return.

He squeezed her hand and replied, "Thanks Ino, I'm glad that I have you to support me."

Ino replied, "I'll always support you, Shika, and I'll help you in anyway I can."

Then she teased, "I mean how will you help take care of a baby without me to guide you? You'd be totally helpless with a baby."

The she heard him laugh, not loudly but it was a bit surprising because he usually just chuckles.

When he calmed down, he replied, "You're probably right about that, I think I'd be lost on how to even hold a baby."

Ino smiled and then proclaimed, "I'm glad that I was able to cheer you up a little; I know that its been hard for you. If you need to talk to someone, you know that you can always talk to me."

Shikamaru agreed, "I know that Ino and I appreciate it; I really do."

They smiled at each other and they continued to eat their dinner and they talked more. Soon afterwards, Shikamaru suggested that they walk around the village. So then they walked around the village in comfortable silence and then Ino softly took Shikamaru's hand and held it until Shikamaru held it firmly. They continued to walk hand-in-hand through the village until they stopped at a park bench and sat on it.

Ino saw that it was a beautiful night; the moon was full, the stars were twinkling brightly and it was peaceful all around. Ino glanced at Shikamaru and he was relaxed as well.

Ino looks up at the moon and comments, "The moon looks beautiful tonight."

Shikamaru looked at her noticed that the moonlight shining on her, making her appear angelic.

He blushed before murmuring, "Yeah, you do…"

Ino heard what he had said and she blushed as well at his sudden compliment and she also saw that he looked good in the light as well. She smiled up at him and then leaned into Shikamaru, placing her head in the crook of his neck. He initially flinched in surprise but then he slowly relaxed and then he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and placed his head on top of hers. They sat there in content with each other's presence and did her favorite activity together; star-gazing.

Soon, Shikamaru and Ino walked towards Ino's home at the and they stopped in front of the entrance holding each other's hand.

Ino turned to him and said, "I had a wonderful time Shika; it was amazing that you took me to the restaurant."

Shikamaru half-smiled and then asked playfully, "Amazing enough for another date?"

Ino then coyly answered, "Maybe. Aren't boyfriends supposed to continue with dates?"

Shikamaru looked surprised, he asked, "I'm your boyfriend?"

Ino gently let go of his hand and then planted a short, sweet kiss on his lips before answering, "With how many kisses we've shared before this date, yes, I'd say you're my boyfriend."

Shikamaru smirked before suddenly bringing her closer to him with one of his hands around her waist and one at the back of her neck. Ino laughed softly before leaning upwards and then he brough their lips together in a fiery, passionate kiss. When he released her, she felt weak-kneed and breathless. Then they both smiled and laughed and he let go of her. She slowly pulled her hand out of his grip and then she whispered, "Good night, Shikamaru."

He smiled at her and repeated the sentiment, "Good night, Ino."

Ino went through the entryway of the shop, opened the door to her house that was located behind the shop, let herself in and then softly closed the door. She had her back against it and then she stared up at the ceiling in a happy daze and she couldn't stop smiling; she really did have a great time.

She dreamily called out, "I'm home…"

Ino's mother was in the kitchen finishing up some cleaning and she saw that her daughter was happy.

She replied, "Welcome back, Ino; you seem happy."

And then she asked, "Did your date with Shikamaru-kun go well?"

Ino only nodded before saying, "Good night, Mom…"

She smiled as she watched her daughter go up the stairs to her room and thought, "She must've had a nice date to be so quiet; she would usually talk with me for hours if something had interested her."

At the same time, Shikamaru was walking home and he had a similar smile on his face. He thought to himself, "It was a nice date."

He stared up at the sky and then he suddenly thought, "But now I have to think of other activities for our other dates."

But then he cracked another smile that showed his teeth before proclaiming aloud, "How troublesome…"

The next day somewhere underground…

Orochimaru was sitting up in his bed; trying to endure through the pain he's currently feeling because he had reached his limit on his current body. Kabuto had stepped out to prepare stronger medication for him. He was currently wheezing and coughing up blood.

When suddenly, a bright, blue-white blade had gone through the door and then pierced Orochimaru's wrists as he tried to somewhat block it.

He thought, "The nature of this chakra… but I've never seen this type of change in chakra form before."

He called out, "Who's there?"

As an answer, the door was sliced to bits revealing Sasuke with his sword in his right hand and the chakra blade in his left hand.

Orochimaru proclaimed, "I knew that you would come for me."

Sasuke replied, "I have nothing more to learn from you. Even here before you, I think I can become heartless."

The curse mark was partially covering his face from his neck and his Sharingan was activated. He stepped into the room, while slowly pushing the blade through Orochimaru's wrists and it caused him to move it away from his head.

Sasuke stated, "Orochimaru, you are weaker than me. There's no longer any need for me to give you my body."

Orochimaru vehemently rebutted, "You have some nerve; you're still an Uchiha fledgling!"

Sasuke chuckled slightly before saying, "If I hadn't been a fledging, you would've had no chance at me, right? You were observing me to appraise tis 'fledging' in the forest during the Chūnin Exams, so you had put dibs on me. You thought that you had me bound to you with this curse mark."

He paused for a few seconds before adding, "I want revenge; I was ready to give my body if it meant I could attain my goal. You just wanted the Sharingan, right? But Itachi didn't work out; that's why you came after me. Isn't that right, you who they called a genius and became a Sannin? But in the end, you turned out to be what they call on the streets, 'just an ordinary prodigy.' You couldn't even live up to the Uchiha name, much less surpass it. Even the best prodigy is only ordinary against the Uchiha name. What you did… disgustingly trying to approach the powers of the Uchiha by drowning yourself in drugs and trying to overcome your body… It seems so shameless and comical to me, who possesses that name."

Then he glared at him before stating, "And what's more, I don't like the way you do things. You hopped from one hideout to another one conducting experiments, toying with countless lives… Saying you were trying to unravel the mysteries of this world, you continued to toy with others for your own stupid and selfish reasons."

He tensed his shoulders as he had a brief flashback of the night of the Uchiha Massacre and of his brother.

He glared more harshly before exclaiming, "You make me sick!"

Then he jumped onto the bed and was about to strike him down, but then something had come out his mouth. Sasuke turned around and saw a grotesque image of Orochimaru's head on a white body of a snake with it being made of snakes.

Sasuke then said, "A snake with white scales; so that is your true form."

He chuckled, "You conducted experiment after experiment so you could move on body to the next and that's how you ended up?"

Orochimaru growled, "Now Sasuke-kun, give me your body!"

He had lunged his head forward and struck at Sasuke but he dodged it. The snakes that make up his body had detached themselves to attack him as well but he just sliced their heads off. This continued until he stepped back and then fully activated the curse mark. This caused his skin to turn a light gray, his hair had turned a pale gray, the sclerae of his eyes turned black and black cross-like marking appeared in the middle of his face.

The snakes were ensnaring him as he said, "A snake that slithers on the ground can only dream of flying through the air. You wanted it so badly that you went after the fledgling in the nest. But then you became targeted as prey instead…"

Suddenly the snakes were all cut apart, leaving Sasuke standing with appendages similar to wings protruding from his back.

He continued, "By the eyes of a hawk soaring high above the sky."

Orochimaru then shouted in fury, "Sasuke!"

Soon afterwards however, Sasuke was standing beside a cut-up snake body that lied in it's own blood completely motionless. This was the sight that Kabuto came upon and realized that Orochimaru was dead. Sasuke had walked out of the room and went past him as if he didn't just kill an S-class missing shinobi And then he turned and went along the tunnel.

But then, without turning his head, he answered Kabuto's unasked question, "Orochimaru is dead; I merely just absorbed all that he was."

After that, he continued to walk down the tunnel and had walked out of the hideout. This was Orochimaru's demise while Kabuto could only look on in shock.

I know that the date was totally cheesy but I was in the mood for something totally romantic for the two of them. And I personally thought it was funny with Naruto and Hinata. But let me know what you all think and feel free to leave a review. Any rude comments will be deleted. Thanks!