Dream Walkin'
Chapter 7
Konoha – Hospital - 4 Months into Naruto and Ino's Relationship – Time: 11:00 hours
Today was the day. After several months of training, today would be the day that Naruto would accept the Hokage's hat. However, before all the ceremony and political nonsense he'd have to deal with for the rest of the day, he was going to make sure to check in on Ino and her special case patient, the young kunoichi that they had rescued near Hoshigakure, nearly one month ago.
Ino had poured every ounce of strength and knowledge she had into trying to bring the girl out of her catatonic state, and things were starting to look up. She had made a couple of startling breakthroughs, and had managed to find the place where she had inadvertently locked her consciousness into during her captivity. Unlocking it, though, was another case entirely. The blonde mind-walker had to get a consult from her father, who knew more about the mind than she did, mainly through experience, but she finally figured out the means of unlocking the mental "panic room".
"Hime," the soon-to-be Hokage said, entering the room.
"Naruto-kun, just in time," Ino replied, "I was just about to try to open Akane's mental block, see if I can get her out of her catatonic state."
"Good luck." Naruto then watched as Ino put her palm to Akane's forehead and closed her eyes, concentrating on the task at hand.
Akane's Mind.
Ino was seemingly floating in the mind of the genin kunoichi. She had memorized the path to take to the "Panic Room" of sorts, and soon was right in front of an enormous black obelisk. She put a hand out to it and surged chakra into the construct. It reacted by showing her the girl locked in her own mental prison of sorts, unable to get out. "Shiratori," Ino said, and the obelisk opened up like a massive door, revealing the young girl. "Akane," Ino called out to her.
"Who are you?" Akane asked.
"I'm Ino Yamanaka," the blonde responded, "We're back in Konoha, and I'm the therapist that's been trying to get to you since we rescued you a month ago."
"I'm really back in Konoha? I'm safe?"
"Have been for a month. Your teammates are back too, and have a new sensei. They were worried about you. Even came by to visit several times, when they weren't too tired from Sasuke's training."
"Kenshin and Yahiko are ok? I thought the bandits had killed them."
"No, but they were pretty bad banged up," Ino explained, "The doctors in Hoshigakure did their best to patch them up. Sakura Haruno did the rest when she and Sasuke picked them up."
"Sasuke," Akane began, "Our new sensei is Sasuke Uchiha?"
"On orders from the new Hokage."
"What happened to Lady Tsunade?"
"She's still alive. She just stepped down, and her successor is taking over today. Want to meet him? He's right outside. He also helped in your rescue."
"Ms. Ino," the genin sobbed, "Those guys…" She broke down in sobs as Ino encased the girl in a heartfelt hug.
"It's ok, Akane," the blonde said, comforting the girl, "Let it out. Time doesn't matter in your mind." What felt like several hours passed while the girl let out all her emotional turmoil.
After a long time, Akane finally dried her eyes and said, "What happened to the bandit gang?"
"They got caught up in a storm called Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha. They wiped the bandits out while Sakura and I attended to you."
"Who's the new Hokage?"
"You'll meet him soon. Oh, he's not one for formality, so don't call him 'Lord Sixth'. He's just Naruto."
"Naruto Uzumaki?"
Ino just had to laugh a little. "Funny, isn't it? He always did say he'd be Hokage someday." She then smiled. "Funny, but also fitting."
"You like him, don't you?"
"Like? Akane, I love him. We've been together now for 4 months and it's been the best 4 months I can remember. We can talk about that later, though. I need to get you out of this mental prison before my chakra runs out. These mind walk jutsus are kind of draining." She held out a hand to Akane, who took it and Ino lead her out of the mental block, and back into consciousness.
Back in the real world.
Ino finally opened her eyes. "I'm going to feel this one later," she stated, "But it's worth it. Akane should be coming to, right….about….now." As if on cue, Akane's eyes opened and she sat up in her hospital bed.
"Ms. Ino?" she asked, looking over at the blonde woman sitting by her bedside.
"That's me," Ino answered, "And this big lug beside me," she nudged Naruto in the stomach, "Is Naruto. He'll be taking the Hokage's office today."
"I hope you're feeling ok, Akane," Naruto said to the girl, "You had Ino-hime, your parents, teammates, new sensei, and I worried."
"I'm still alive, so I guess that's something," Akane deadpanned, "But…."
"It's ok, Akane," Ino told the girl, "What you went through isn't something you get over overnight. I'll be around if you need me."
"Where's Kenshin and Yahiko?"
"Probably at training ground 9," Naruto noted, "Sasuke's been training them there for the last month. I have to apologize, Akane. That sensei your team was stuck with after the war should never have had a genin team. He wasn't even promoted through the Jonin trials, but through field promotion in wartime."
"What happened to him?"
"A man named Juugo happened, best as we can tell," Naruto explained, "Your first sensei was killed in the war, by Zabuza Momochi, and this sensei died against Juugo. Well, Juugo's dead now, and your team has a better sensei. As a matter of fact." Naruto motioned for the ANBU following him, "Have Sasuke Uchiha bring his team here, at their next convenience. They'll want to know Akane's awake." The ANBU nodded and left.
"Thank you, Lord Hokage."
"Please, it's just Naruto. I hate to ask this now, but do you plan on staying a kunoichi?"
"Part of me wants to, Lord Naruto," Akane answered, "But I'm also afraid. Our last sensei didn't teach us all that much, which is why we weren't ready for what happened."
"There's no way to prepare for Bipolar Juugo, Akane," Ino informed the girl, "you all were lucky to have survived the fight. Your sensei just wasn't up to par."
"Well, Kakashi, Guy, Asuma and Kurenai did set the bar pretty high in our genin days, Hime. Anyway, Kakashi-sensei trained Sasuke and Me, so he'll be a good sensei to your team."
"I seem to remember you, Sasuke and Sakura each having your own, personal, SANNIN senseis, too, Naruto. Though, truth be told, Lady Tsunade did teach me some medical jutsu, too."
Akane watched the two and just had to laugh at their conversation. "I can see why you two like each other," she said, "Ms. Ino, can Sasuke-sensei really help make us stronger?"
"If anyone can, Akane," Ino told her, "It's Sasuke Uchiha. If you go back to being a kunoichi, know that I'm available if you just want to talk."
"Thank you," the genin nodded, "I'll think about it."
Naruto helped Ino up to her feet and embraced her in his arms. "You're amazing, my hime," he commented, "It's almost time for me to go, Ino. Want to come along?"
"You know it," she answered, and the two disappeared from the hospital in an orange flash.
Top of Hokage Tower – Time 13:00 hours.
Tsunade stood at the edge of the Hokage tower, overlooking the village, and wearing the Hokage's hat. She then removed the hat, turned around, and handed it to Naruto, who now was wearing his Jonin vest, and a white version of his sage's cloak with red flames at the bottom, and the words "Sixth Hokage" written on the back. He accepted the hat, and walked over to the ledge.
"A wise man once told me, that 'one does not become hokage to gain acknowledgment. He who is acknowledged is the one who becomes Hokage," Naruto said to the assembled people of Konohagakure no Sato, "I thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Hokage, and vow, here and now, on my own nindo, that I will do all within my power to protect this village, and most importantly it's people." He then put the hat on his head, to the applause of the people of Konoha.
Standing near the back of the Hokage tower roof, Ino just watched, and applauded herself. "You've done it, Naruto," she thinks, "Your dream has come true."
Hokage's office – Time 15:00 hours.
Ino had gone back to her office to take care of another appointment, and Naruto had finished up the last of the boring meetings for the time being. Just as he sat down behind the desk, a knock came at the door. "Come in," he yelled, and Inoichi Yamanaka came entered with his wife, Reika.
"I almost thought that was Minato standing there for a minute, Naruto," Inoichi laughed, "Congratulations, son. I'm sure Minato and Kushina are very proud of you right now. Lord Jiraiya, too."
"I hope so," Naruto responded, "Thanks."
"Any particular reason you wanted to speak to both of us?" Reika asked of the new Hokage.
"There is," Naruto answered, "I've been dating Ino now for 4 months. It's been the best 4 months of my life. Now, I've never told this to anyone. But becoming Hokage was just one of my dreams. My other dream was something way more personal. I always wanted a family of my own. Inoichi, Reika, I love your daughter. She's someone I can see myself spending the rest of my life with."
"Are you asking what I think you're asking, Naruto?" Inoichi inquired.
"I'm asking you, right now, if you'd have any problems with me asking Ino to marry me. I'm not planning on doing it tonight, but I just wanted to talk to you while things were still somewhat quiet, before I get too busy as Hokage to."
"What can we say, Naruto, but 'welcome to the family'?" Inoichi told the young man, standing up and shaking his hand, before pulling him into a bearhug, "Just take care of her. That's all I ask."
Ino and Naruto's Apartment – Time: 20:00 hours.
Once again, Naruto walks into the apartment he shares with Ino. She was sitting on the sofa with a cup of tea and a magazine. "You did it, Koishi," she said to the blonde man as he sat down by her. She brought her legs up into his lap, and he began giving her feet and calves a massage.
"Maybe," Naruto replied, "Yes, I've finally become Hokage. But more importantly, though, I get to come home to the most beautiful, amazing woman in the Five Great Nations. Being here with you makes it all worth it. Think Akane will be ok?"
"Give her time, Naruto," she advised, "She'll be ok. She's tougher than she looks, or even gives herself credit for. Sasuke came by the office after he and the team went and saw her. He said she was really considering coming back to her team." Naruto just had to smile at the news. He then scooted closer to her on the sofa and she moved over into his lap. Naruto then wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her in closer for a kiss.
"I talked to your parents today, Hime."
"About?"
"Marrying you."
"Hmmm," she hummed, looking into his deep cerulean eyes, "I like the way you think."
End Chapter 7
A/N: I can't help but feel inspired to write more on this fic after seeing some of the pairings in Naruto chapter 700. Seriously, Ino and SAI? HE'S GOT ABOUT ALL THE PERSONALITY OF A CANISTER OF HANDI-WIPES. And don't get me started about Choji and Karui. That one came right out of left field. I still like NaruIno.
NEXT TIME: Announcement and Chunin Exams