Disclaimer: I don't own a 'diddly ' let alone the 'squat,' so don't even bother asking man. And now, the long awaited 6th chapter! Enjoy!
~All That Glitters~
Hinata discreetly sighed for the millionth time during their lunch date, and Ino couldn't take it anymore.
"Okay, that's it," she declared, placing her fork down. "Something is clearly bothering you, and I want to know what it is, right now!"
This abrupt outburst startled Hinata out of her thoughts. She blinked back at Ino in surprise.
"Gomen'nasai. I didn't mean to be rude."
"You weren't," assured the blonde, gently reaching out to cover her friend's hand. "But I can tell that something is deeply troubling you. Please, let me help." Ino's clear blue eyes shone with all her sincerity.
Hinata bit her lip and once again glanced down at her untouched food in thought.
"Very well," she finally relented. "I've been noticing a lot of odd... occurrences lately..."
The dark-haired woman then proceeded to tell Ino about Gai and Lee's strange behavior every time they caught sight her. The free ramen she suddenly started receiving from Ayame and Teuchi. Tsunade and Shizune popping up every now and then to offer taking her out for drinks. And lastly, the strangest thing of all, catching Shikamaru staring at her once with an almost wistful grin.
When Ino heard that her jaw nearly hit the floor, and her right eye had developed an almost involuntary twitch.
"So what to you think?" she asked with pleading eyes, her hand nervously trembling in Ino's grip. "Am I just imaging all this? Or do you think something really is going on?"
Ino took a deep, calming breath. If those idiots where making Hinata worry like this over nothing, she was going to skin them alive! The blonde then reached out her other hand and slammed it on the table as hard as she could. The plates rattled for a moment before she released her hold on friend and stood up with her normal fiery resolve.
"Don't worry, I'll figure out what's going on." And with that, she stormed out of the restaurant with determination on her face.
Ino was on the warpath. And any stupid male that got in her way was going to pay. She had already questioned Teuchi at the ramen stand. His response was that 'they were just being nice to their second best costumer' and she should 'leave it alone.'
As the blonde searched the streets for the other idiots making Hinata worry, her mind began to wander.
What on earth was going on? Their behavior was all very strange, but it didn't seem bad though.
It kind of reminded Ino of how everyone had been acting before her surprise birthday party last year. The thought made her let out a small laugh. Poor Hinata had avoided her for almost a month to prevent spilling the beans. It had been an amazing time. All her friends showed up, Sakura had even convinced Sasuke to make a rare appearance.
"Sasuke," thought Ino with a rueful grin. It had been such a long time since she even wondered about him. How odd was that? When she was younger, not a day went by without her dreaming of what their life would be like together. But that intense crush had become nothing more than a fleeting memory now.
And even though Sakura was the one who eventually ended up with him, Ino honestly felt like she was the one who had really won. Before Asuma-sensei died, he made her promise to never lose to Sakura in ninijutsu or love. She was now known as the strongest member of the Yamanaka clan. In many ways, Ino had even surpassed her father. She still missed him and Asuma-sensei so very dearly, but their loses drove her to train harder than ever before. So that no one else would have to suffer like that again.
And contrary to popular belief, she hadn't 'let' Forehead win. She just outgrew Sasuke, and moved on. The person he had become, was not the kind she wished to love. It... was a hard reality to face, after pining for him all these years. But face it, she did.
Sai was not Sasuke's 'replacement.' Oh no. In her eyes, he was his superior.
Yes, at first she had been attracted to him because his appearance reminded her of Sasuke. Ino admits that. She just has a thing for those dark, brooding, mysterious types. But as time went by, the blonde came to the realization that Sai was the embodiment of the man she had imagined Sasuke to be. His cold exterior was simply a facade; a shield, meant to keep others from getting too close. Bit by bit, Ino began to chip away at the surface, until finally... the kunoichi knew that she had struck gold.
*Flashback*
"Ino-chan..." he said hesitantly. "There is something... very special I wish to share with you..."
The blonde instantly blushed and glanced at him in surprise. "I- of course, Sai-kun."
He pulled out a small notebook and opened it to a specific page. Reverently, Sai then held it out for her to view. Ino carefully took the book into her hands.
"It's lovely," she breathlessly responded, flipping through the pages. "But... who is the boy standing with you?"
Sai raised a shaking hand to Ino's face, and gently brushed a strand of hair away. "He was my brother."
"Brother? Was? You mean-"
"And I- want to talk to you about him and my experiences in Root," added Sai with his usual fake
smile. But for some reason, it didn't appear to be as forced as normal. "I wish to share all this with you, because I trust you. Will you allow me, Beautiful?"
Slowly, Ino leaned forward and placed a delicate peck on his cheek.
"Hai," she whispered in reply and lovingly placed her head against his chest.
It had taken a lot of effort, but one fateful day, the dam Sai had built around his emotions finally broke. All the love and passion that he had been holding back, just came pouring out. And he swept Ino up in it like a tidal wave! In short, they were deeply, madly, in love with one another.
Honestly, she wouldn't have it any other way. Ino and Sakura now laughed at how silly they used to act over Sasuke. Some of their old rivalry still remained, but in reality, their friendship was never stronger.
The blonde was immensely proud of all the people she had befriended over the years. Many of whom surprised her, when she thought back to their Academy days. Especially, the relationship she now shared with Hinata. But Ino wasn't that gossipy little child anymore. She had grown a significant amount since then, and so had all her friends. Each member the Kohona Twelve was individually precious to her, and it was well known that anyone who threatened their happiness would pay, dearly.
Yes, Ino had indeed become the bush clover her father had hoped for.
The blonde had been so caught up in her thoughts, that somehow, she had wandered into the Konoha shopping district.
"Ugh... I'm an idiot," the kunoichi exclaimed with an exasperated slap to her forehead. "Okay! Focus, Ino! You're on a mission for Hinata, remember? There's no way the guys would-"
It was then that her sensory skills suddenly picked up a familiar signature. "Shikamaru? What the heck is he doing around here?" she asked out of curiosity and decided to investigate.
As Ino tracked his signal, the blonde began to pick up other ones she also knew. And for a moment, she froze in shock.
"Is this? Holy shit! Gai-sensei, Lee... even freaking Naruto!" thought Ino in surprise. "Why are all of them here? They hate shopping!"
Ino took off at a run when she finally traced them to a single location.
"And they're all here, together? What on-" Ino's jaw dropped wide open the second she read the sign hanging over the establishment.
"A JEWELRY STOR-!" she began to screech, but immediately clamped a hand over her mouth and ducked for cover as Gai and Lee made a sudden appearance. The pair seemed to be guarding the entryway to the store. They were both wearing black suits and sunglasses, causing the occasional passerby to give them an odd glance.
"Perimeter secure, Gai-sensei! Over!" yelled Lee into what appeared to be a headset, even though Gai was sitting in his wheelchair right next to him.
"Excellent work, Lee!" he responded in the same manner. "Over!"
Lee gave him a quick nod of acknowledgment. "Arigato, sensei! No one shall leave or enter without our knowledge!"
This information caused Ino to sweatdrop. How on earth was she going to get past those two yahoos and figure out what was going on?
Just then, luck smiled upon her. Shikamaru chose that moment to slam the door to the jewelry store open so hard that it hit Lee right in the face.
"Ow!" the bushy-browed young man cried, clutching his nose in pain. "That hurt, Shikamaru-kun! Over!"
The brilliant shinobi sighed in irritation. "Why are you two standing out here? I told you to check around and then lay low. You guys aren't being the slightest bit discreet! In fact, I'd say you're drawing more attention to us!"
"This is the main entrance of the building," defended Lee as Gai-sensei nodded in agreement. "It is the best possible location to be on the lookout for our friends. Over!"
"Stop saying, 'OVER!' It's annoying and pointless!" Shikamaru growled, having finally come to the end of his patience.
"Uh, Lee..." suggested Gai diplomatically, when he realized they were now treading on very thin ice. "Maybe we should-"
Alas, the ever oblivious shinobi completely missed his dear teacher's warning. Instead, he chose to salute his friend and say, "Very well, Commander! Ove- oops!"
"THAT'S IT!" After a week of dealing with him, Shikamaru had finally snapped and tackled Lee to the ground.
"Gahh! Man down! OVER! Repeat! Man down!"
The pair tumbled in a cloud of dust and rolled away from the door.
When Gai wheeled over to break up the fight, Ino saw her opportunity and took it. She used every ounce of Asuma-sensei's stealth training to sneak her way past the three distracted ninjas, who were now drawing a rather large crowd, and slid through the open doorway undetected.
She then immediately ducked down behind the nearest glass display case and began to scan the area. It didn't take long for her to locate and identify Naruto. Who was clearly looking at- engagement rings!
And that's when Ino knew, Naruto was planning to propose.
She could barely contain her squeal of joy! But Ino did, because the kunoichi couldn't be caught at this most crucial of moments. For you see, her shopping senses had started tingling. She could tell just by the movements of the seller behind the counter; that the man was trying to peddle their classic, name brand, dime a dozen ring. And the poor blond was falling for the owner's ploy: hook, line, and sinker.
This travesty must not stand!
A crow could then be seen flying pass the window behind her going, "Caw! Caw!"
Ino's hands automatically formed her family's seal and set her sights on the unsuspecting sales person.
"Mind Transfer Jutsu," she whispered and with the hoot of a owl, her consciousness took immediate control.
"I don't know," Naruto sighed as he forlornly stared down at the jewelry case. "I've never been good at this kind of thing... Maybe I should have asked Sakura or Ino to come."
"Duh, should have thought of that earlier, nimrod!" muttered Ino to herself in the man's body.
"Hmm? What was that?" asked Naruto as he glanced back up with a confused blink.
Ino instantly backpedalled with a nervous sweatdrop. "Oh, nothing! Just, yes, female friends are usually good sources of information on this sort of thing."
This caused Naruto blush and quickly avert his eyes. "Well, I kinda wanted to pick it out on my own. You know, so that it came directly from me."
"Oh, hell! That's adorable. I can't stay mad at him now," thought Ino as she let out a wistful sigh. "She'll love whatever one you pick. And it wouldn't mean any less if you allow your friends to help. In fact, it might even mean more. But in the end, it's your decision. We can special order the ring and create whatever design you'd like."
"Really!" exclaimed the blond as his blue eyes sparkled with light. "But wait... that's not what you said earlier. You told me girls are really particular about this stuff and that I should go with what's 'in fashion right now.'" Naruto began to squint at the shop owner in a suspicious manner.
"I- uh, changed my mind!" Ino declared nervously as she made the man grab a pen and a piece of paper. "Come up with something that represents both you and Hinata. The band can be molded into any form you want, and don't feel obligated to purchase diamonds. Just because it's 'the most expensive and traditional stone' doesn't mean you have to. Choose things you feel best represent you both and we'll go from there."
At this point, Naruto's curious look became a rather perturbed glare.
"Shikamaru, Lee, and Gai!" he hissed while raising his finger to... what Ino just realized was a earbud. "Get your asses in here, now!"
Two of the aforementioned skilled shinobi came rushing into the jewelry store, and halted in attention at Naruto's side.
The blond turned to address them, and froze in surprise. "The hell happened to you!"
Shikamaru and Lee stood there looking rather battered and bruised, while Gai was still fighting to get through the doorway with a bent wheel.
"It's not my fault," defended Shikamaru. "Lee-"
"I don't care!" the future Hokage interrupted. "We have an intruder! Find her, now!"
This made Ino jump in surprise. How had Naruto figured it out?
The blond, noticing the owner's apparent confusion, irately explained, "I still have my Sage powers, Ino! I know it's you!"
"Busted," she thought, still in control of the salesman's body. "Forgot he's chakra sensitive now."
Naruto gave her a foxy grin, knowing full well what was coming next.
"Firefox! OVER! We have located- "
"Oh, no," Shikamaru groaned with a facepalm. "This is going to be troublesome!"
Lee then reached down and started violently shaking Ino's lifeless body in an attempt to wake her up. "Ino-chan! You must arise! My friend, are you harmed? Are you in need of medical-"
*WHAM!*
The second Ino found herself back in her body, she let Lee have it with her killer left hook. This sent the bushy-browed man, along with his black sunglasses, flying.
As he lay there twitching on the ground, Ino dangerously said, "NEVER, do that AGAIN!"
Shikamaru rolled his eyes to the heavens. "Ino... what the heck are you doing here?"
"I-uh, well..." The blonde woman then proceeded to explain to the others why she had been searching for them in the first place.
After much explanation, debate, and deep bows of apology to the store owner. The group decided to finish what they had originally come there to do.
"Oh! Forehead is going to be so jealous I got to help you pick out the ring!" Ino squealed, just picturing the look on Sakura's face.
Naruto sweatdropped, imagining it as well. "Hai... but, really. Thanks for your help, Ino. I- just hope Hinata loves it as much as I do."
"Oh, don't worry about that!" dismissed the blonde woman with a careless wave. "Anyway, I had better be off to put Hinata's concerns to rest. It was fun boys! I should take you lot shopping more often!"
The pain filled groans from the men, showed that they did not share her enthusiasm.
"I-Ino!" barely croaked Naruto as she was about to exit the store. "Just remember to-"
The kunoichi merely gave him a playful wink. "Don't worry, honey. My lips are sealed..."
And with that, she turned and headed outside with a smile of content.
As Ino approached the Hyuga Household, Hinata could already be seen rushing through the main gate to meet her.
"Ino!" she exclaimed and ran to her friend. "Did you-"
The blonde woman placed both her hands on Hinata's shoulders. "Everything is fine. Tsunade-sama was right. Gai and Lee are being... well, Gai and Lee. And everyone else is just, trying to make up for their stupidity."
"Thank goodness," said Hinata with a sigh of relief. "But are you sure-"
Ino tightened her grip in reassurance. "Hinata, do you trust me?"
"I- of course!" she stuttered back in surprise.
"Then believe me when I say, that there is nothing for you to worry about. You'll know what's going on soon enough. Simply trust in your friends, and everything else will turnout fine."
Tears filled Hinata's gentle lavender eyes as she responded, "Hai."
The two women then shared a hug, knowing that they would always have each others backs, no matter what life threw at them.
Another of Naruto's special friends knows the secret! As more people find out, the stakes become higher. Will our blond hero succeed in the end? Or will it all fall apart around him?
Only time will tell.
To Be Continued...
Author's Notes: There you have it guys! A brand new chapter! I was really channeling what I like about Rarity from "My Little Pony" for this one because I think she and Ino are similar in a lot of ways. Anyway, hope you enjoyed it!
And now, next time! I'm sure some of you are like, there's very little direct NaruHina in this romance piece! I need it, Mists! Where is it? Well, fret no longer! Because a nice chunk of it is coming up next! As observed through the eyes of... Choji?
"The Art of the Meal" Next time! Expect it some time at the end of January or next month. I'll let you guys know. And as always...
Please remember to read, fav, and review! Feedback helps fuel the muse! Feed the fanfic muse!
Japanese Word Key:
Hai: Yes
Itadakimasu: It's a traditional Japanese phrase that means: "I thank you for the meal."
Otousan: Father (formal)
Tou-chan: Dad (informal)
Kaa-chan: Mother
Oba-chan: Granny
Arigato: Thank you
Kami: God or spirit
Chibi: Short, cute style of drawing
Gomen'nasai: I'm sorry
Gomen: Sorry
Bento box: the Japanese term for a lunch box, or a boxed lunch of some kind.
Shogi: Japanese chess
Kunoichi: Female ninja
Shinobi: Ninja (not sure if it's just used for males though)
Sensei: Teacher
Dattebayo: Naruto's catchphrase in Japanese. It doesn't actually translate to "Believe it!" It's just an exclamation like: Yippee! or Huzzah!