Dream Walkin'
Chapter 3
A/N: I'm going to be telling a lot of story through flashbacks today, so I hope you enjoy.
Hokage's Office – Time: 08:30 Hours
"Heard the party went well," Tsunade stated, looking right at Naruto, "As a matter of fact, Hiashi said it went 'swimmingly'."
"It was OK," Naruto replied, "He asked me to speak about Kiba and Hinata's engagement, and I did, for the most part."
"For the most part?"
"You know that they're both very close friends of mine,, and I'm happy for them. However, isn't the idea of arranged marriages a little outdated?"
"You do realize," the blonde kage mused, "If Uzushiogakure still existed, you'd probably be in an arranged engagement. Your father may have been the Fourth Hokage, but your mother was from the Uzumaki clan, a noble clan from that land."
"She was sent here to be Kurama's vessel," Naruto remembered.
"Truth be told, she was sent here to escape the destruction of Uzusiogakure. Kurama was just a convenient excuse." Naruto just nodded as Tsunade continued her explanation. "Minato, on the other hand, while a talented shinobi, and eventually the Fourth Hokage, wasn't from a prestigious clan, but his family was well known for their use of seals, and space time jutsu. The Namikaze family hadn't reached clan status when Minato died." The busty sannin paused, then asked again, "How'd the party go?"
"Well," Naruto sighed, leaning back in his chair, "I hope you have a while, because this is going to be a long story."
-Flashback-
Konoha – Ino's Apartment – Time: 17:00 hours.
Naruto knocked on Ino's door. He wondered if he was wasn't dressed for the occasion, choosing a white shirt with black pants, and his sage's cloak. In his hand was a bouquet that Ino's mother had helped him put together, which consisted of several pink tulips with an orchid and 2 roses, 1 red and 1 yellow, in the center.
"Coming," Ino's voice stated from the other side of the door. A minute later, Naruto's jaw dropped at the vision in front of him. Ino was wearing a dark purple, off the shoulder, dress that had a slit in the side, going from her ankles to her hip, showing a good amount of a very shapely and toned leg with 3 inch silver heels. Her long blonde hair was done up with two chopsticks holding it together, but still had a ponytail flowing over her left shoulder, and her trademark bang still covered her right eye. "So, do you like it?" she asked.
Still dumbfounded, Naruto couldn't speak
"Naruto?" Still nothing
"Breathe dammit!" This shocked Naruto out of his stupor
"You look amazing, Hime," the future Hokage told his girlfriend, "I hope there's no rule against a guest looking better than the bride to be."
-Flashback Pause –
Tsunade could barely contain her laughter. "So," she said, "Let me get this straight. You, Naruto Uzumaki, the man who could look the Kyuubi in the eye without flinching…" She couldn't even continue from laughing so hard.
"Damn near hyperventilated," Naruto deadpanned, finishing her statement, "I knew Ino was beautiful, but that dress threw me for a loop. All I could think was 'I'm dating a goddess'."
-Flashback Resume-
The pair walked calmly through the village. One thing Naruto noticed was the looks he got from the villagers. Gone were the hateful glares of his childhood, replaced with nods of approval at the young man and his date.
"You noticed it too?" came the voice of the Nine-Tailed Fox in his head, "You've genuinely gained their respect."
"Somehow, I think Ino has something to do with these looks," Naruto responded to the biiju, "I still can't get over how gorgeous she looks tonight."
"I like this vixen, Naruto," Kurama continued, "She's lively, gorgeous, and genuinely cares. I think Kushina would greatly approve of her. I heard her last words, and she did say to find one like her. Ino is more like Kushina in personality than the rest of the vixens you know."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Kurama," Ino's voice chimed in, causing Naruto to look over at her, "You hadn't said anything in a while, so I figured Kurama had something to say."
"I definitely like her," the fo- stated then cut the connection.
Hyuga Main Hall – Time: 18:00 hours.
The party was getting into full swing when every head turned and jaws dropped. Hiashi quickly composed himself and went over to greet the newcomers.
"Naruto, Ms. Yamanaka," the clan head said with a slight bow, "Welcome, please enjoy yourselves. Naruto, if you could, we would appreciate it if you'd say a few words when the time comes."
"He's got some nerve," Kurama thought
"You've got that right," Naruto replied, then gave Hiashi a calm smile and said, "Sure."
It's at this time that Kiba walked up with Hinata. Given the Hyuga's almost dogmatic adherence to tradition, the pair was dressed in a more traditional attire. Kiba's outfit was in black with highlights in both red and white, while Hinata's formal kimono was white with lavender flowers. "Hey, man," the Inuzuka heir greeted his long-time friend and rival, "Glad you two could make it. Ino, you look great."
"Yeah, she threw me for a loop tonight," Naruto answered.
"Threw you for a loop?" Ino asked, "You were so stunned that if I had been an enemy shinobi, you'd be dead."
"What can I say? I knew you were beautiful, but seeing you tonight just made me wonder if you were actually a goddess." He then turned to Kiba and Hinata, "Anyway, I'm happy for you two. I hope you have a great marriage."
"We were kinda worried, till I ran into Sasuke the other day," Kiba remarked, "One thing, though, I have to wonder why neither Lady Tsunade nor the 3rd ever thought to use Shadow Clones to do the paperwork."
Naruto just had to laugh, as did Ino. "I have no idea, man," Naruto responded, before turning to see Hiashi now beating his head against a wall.
"So THAT'S how Minato did it," the Hyuga head cursed, "He always had plenty of time for Kushina back in the day."
-Flashback Pause –
Tsunade got up from her chair and slammed her fist into the wall, shouting, "Minato you sonofa…" She then gives a sigh and thought, "Like father, like son. Naruto, you're turning out like him more and more."
Naruto looks at the wall clock. "It's time for lunch," he told his teacher and surrogate grandmother, "Why don't we go get something, and I'll tell you more,"
Konoha Streets – Time: 12:00 hours.
Naruto and Tsunade had causally walked out through the village. As they rounded one turn, Naruto heard a pair of familiar voices.
"Seriously, Forehead," one said, "Thanks for your help today. I told Guy and Lee, in no uncertain terms, 'NO EXTREME TRAINING', until their muscles completely healed. Did they listen? NO! They were out there just this morning trying to carry boulders up Hokage Mountain. Idiots."
Naruto looked in the direction of the voice, and saw Ino and Sakura. Ino looked like she had been through one of Guy's training sessions. "Ino-hime, Sakura-chan," he called out to them.
Hearing Naruto call out to her, Ino looked and saw not only Naruto, but Tsunade as well. She nudged Sakura and the two moved over to join the current and future Hokages. "What brings you two out of the office?" Ino asked, taking hold of Naruto's arm.
"Just getting some lunch," Tsunade replied, "And Naruto apparently heard you talking."
"Why don't you join us?" Naruto inquired.
"Not Ichiraku's, I hope," Sakura stated.
"Actually, we're going to get barbecue," the future Hokage replied, "Besides, if I know your two teammates, Hime, that's where we'll find them."
"Shikamaru and Choji?" Ino noted, "What do you need with them?"
"I need to set up a group of advisors, once I'm Hokage," Naruto explained, "And Shikamaru's on my short list with 4 others."
"Who else is on your list?" Sakura queried, now curious.
"Shino, Sasuke, Neji and You, Sakura."
Ino looked at Naruto, "And what of me?" She then felt herself being swept up in his arms as he brought her in close. Her face flushed as she felt his breath on her ear.
"I always value your advice, but you're in a more important position as you are now," he whispered in her ear, making her weak in the knees.
"Naruto was also telling me about the party last night," the Fifth Hokage noted, as the grou started walking again, "And I must say, Ino, I'm impressed with you already."
Konoha – BBQ – Time: 12:15 hours.
The group had caught up with Shikamaru and Choji, and strangely enough, Temari, at the restaurant, where Naruto laid out his plan for his advisors to Shikamaru. The Nara had, in typical fashion, said it was troublesome, but agreed anyway. After that, they were lead to their table, where Tsunade asked Naruto to continue the story, with Ino adding to it in places.
-Flashback Resume-
After the scene with Kiba, Hinata and Hiashi had finally passed, Naruto and Ino had gone around the room, mingling with all their friends, when Sasuke and Sakura came up to them.
"I see you're doing alright, Dobe," the Uchiha smirked.
"Good to see you out and about, instead of having to actually send an ANBU to have you meet me somewhere, Teme," Naruto sniped back, before the two gave each other a brotherly pat on the shoulder.
"I figured someone would make a scene here, Ino," Sakura mused, "I never thought it would be you, though."
"We figured it'd probably be Naruto," Sasuke added, only for the aforementioned blonde to give his best friend a glare.
"Give me time, Teme," he replied, "Hiashi asked me to speak later."
The raven haired Uchiha smirked, "This should be good."
"Oh it should," a certain fox thought in Naruto's mind.
-A Couple of Hours Later-
Hiashi had gathered everyone around Hinata and Kiba for a few words concerning the coming nuptials. Of course, he decided to take up quite a bit of time himself making comments about the contract and how it would bring the two clans closer together. All Naruto heard, though, was "Blah Blah Blah," or "Eat Me, Namikaze", or some other comment because Kurama wouldn't quit heckling the Hyuga in Naruto's mind. It took all the strength he could muster just to keep from cracking up at the snide comments the fox was making. Ino started wondering why her date was biting down on his top lip, and had to listen to what was going through his mind, and then had to fight to keep from laughing herself. This was picked up on, not only by Sasuke and Sakura, who had been standing right beside the pair, but also by Neji, Tenten, and Shikamaru.
"Naruto, would you say a few words?" Hiashi asked of the young future kage. Naruto had to, at least, try to compose himself before going to the front with Kiba and Hinata.
"Lord Hiashi, I hope you don't mind, but since Kiba and Hinata are both close friends of mine, I figured I'd speak a bit more candidly, besides, I never was one for formality anyway," Naruto began, "Kiba Inuzuka, Hinata Hyuga, you've both been great friends to me, and to all of us here," he signaled out to all the members of their group, "We've all been through a lot together, from the academy, to the mission to retrieve Sasuke, to Pain, and eventually the war. I, and the rest of us are all happy for you, and hope you all have a very happy marriage."
"And plenty of kits, as well," Kurama chimed in in his head.
"That's it, I'm cutting you off for the night," Naruto thought, severing the link with the fox, before turning back to the couple, and saying, "Sorry, the fox wanted me to tell you the same thing. Guys, raise your glasses, To Kiba and Hinata."
-Flashback Pause-
"So the fox was heckling Hiashi in your mind while he was speaking?" Tsunade could barely, again, contain her laughter, "I didn't know he had a sense of humor."
"At times, he can be the sultan of snide," Naruto noted, "I'd hate to see him giving a roast. Wait, no, I'd love to see that. Maybe if we decide to give Hiashi a roast, I can let Kurama do it."
"You know," Ino added, "I'd pay good money to see that. A biiju roasting a clan head."
"Aside from that, the party was fairly routine," Naruto continued, "We mingled, there was some pretty decent music, and we got to dance a bit."
"Which is where Ino and Naruto decided to really make a scene, if I recall correctly," Sakura teased the still new couple, "Seriously, though, that tango you two did on that dance floor was so sexy that everyone had to gather around and watch."
"Oh?" This got Tsunade's attention.
"I never knew that Jiraiya taught you to dance like that," Ino nudged Naruto in the ribs.
"He taught me a lot more than just jutsu," Naruto said, a little sad, "He was my godfather, my sensei, and my greatest role model. Not saying he turned me into a pervert like he was, but he helped me become the man I am."
"Hear hear," the slug sannin replied, raising a sake bottle, "he was a great friend, and will be missed for quite a long time."
The four continued to talk for a while, over their lunch, and soon it was time for Naruto and Tsunade to return to the Hokage's office. Naruto turned to Ino, and gave her a long kiss before returning with his teacher to the duties he would soon have to take on himself.
END Chapter 3