"WOOHOO~! Go Princess FUUN!" Naruto's popcorn flew over the people in front of him for the untold time. His eyes wide with amazement as the princess tore across the screen her sword blazing with power.

"SHANNARO! SHUT UP NARUTO!"

"Hey shut up!"

Memories: Chapter 10: Tensions

"We're watching the movie baka!"

"Moron sit down!"

"Mendokuse…"

"Sit your butt down, Naruto-baka!" Ino laughed pulling her excited friend back into his seat before his head joined his popcorn, courtesy of Sakura's fist. His excitement was understandable as this was only the second movie he had ever seen. Moving pictures and special effects regressed the troubled teen back to an excited ten year old, watching Sunday morning cartoons. It warmed Ino's heart to see it, as the stress of their life lately had really bogged the man down.

There were a few times she had seen the same smile on his face and she was very happy to say she was the one to put it there. The time the two spent together, and occasionally with Hitomi was a time where all masks could be dropped and they could be who they really were. It was hard to explain other than an relaxed casually intimate setting. Nothing more than touches to shoulders or hands with the occasional hug would come about, but the material they would talk about was something the two normally would shy from exposing. It made them closer than lovers, the more outgoing part of her would think, and she still hadn't worked up the courage to kiss him again. It was true, after Shikamaru's interruption the two blonde genin had not been as close since, though the action had often been on her mind, and dreams, more times than she would care to admit. She idly pulled Naruto back into his seat, intertwining her hand in his comfortably, half to keep him from bouncing up again and the other just to feel him next to her. It worked on both levels and for the rest of the movie he remained calm and focused on the movie(And to her as well, much to her delight).

The finale of the movie brought much relief to the harassed people of the movie theater crowd as their torture was over. Such was the rush that the Shinobi decided to wait out the stampedes. It took several minutes and the credit rolled on, Just as the group of Ninja began to depart, talking about the action of the movie, a voice broke over the entire room.

"Oi Naruto-kun!" Naruto and the others froze and turned only to see Koyuki's face upon the screen as she grinned and waved.

"Koyuki… hime?"

"Hey Naruto-kun! I begged my director to let me send this as part of the copy to your theater !" She stepped back and pulled out a letter. "I heard you saved your village! Good job, Mr. future Hokage! Tsunade sent me a picture. You're quite the man now, not certain if I can call you a little boy anymore! If you ever get tired of being Hokage and want to try your hand as a daimyo come and see me! I'll have a spot in my bed waiting for you." Yukari winked then blew the camera a kiss and the screen faded to black. Silence reigned in the auditorium until the snap of metal was heard.

"…" Naruto was stunned even to the unhealthy amount of killer intent next to him.

"Wow. Seems like you have an admirer, Naruto…" Sakura's voice was down right hostile as she crumpled the seat before her.

"…"

"…THAT HUSSY!" Ino growled out her grip on Naruto's arm tightened.

"…"

"Mendokuse blondes."

"Can I have your popcorn Shikamaru?"

_-_-_-_

"I can't believe there's some Hime, a Hime, that wants Naruto-baka." Ino huffed as she and Sakura walked up the winding stairs for their apartment. It had been almost three months since the Yamanaka heiress had been placed upon the most bizarre team in Konoha's long history. She, and thusly Naruto, had been spared the fate of D rank missions since Sakura was still a Chunin, but her time in the squad was very beneficial to the blonde female. Keeping up with the male in their team had increased both of the women's stamina and levels, both needed their approaching exams. Team seven's teamwork made her cringe at how badly suited she and Shikamaru and Chouji were as teammates.

She fit the new roll of team seven's scout, once held by only Naruto's massed Kage Bushin spamming, and also envoy, gratefully taken over from Sakura, whose crude, straight laced diplomatic training she had pulled from watching Tsunade. Of course the few times Naruto was forced to handle the talking it usually had a certain method. Insult said annoying politician/royalty/ninja. Find their weakness and offer assistance, be so warm and nice that they cannot dislike you, make them friends for life. Ino often struggled to understand how a lowly Genin like Naruto could become the best of friends with the Daimyo (of more than three separate countries), four of the five Kage (He had a grudging respect from Iwa's, however Naruto looked too much like his father for them to feel comfortable.), and many leaders of countless villages and groups. If Ino felt like negotiations were going sour, she turned to the tried and true method of allowing Naruto to use what he called Jiji-iiyou Uzumaki-shiki, Taking what he learned from the Sandaime and adding his own… touch would be too light a word for Naruto.

"I guess that's another one." Sakura huffed, cutting the blonde's thoughts back to her, as the pinkette opened the door to their apartment. Ino looked at her pink haired roommate questioningly and Sakura continued. "This would make two Hime, one Ninsou, Hinata, maybe Temari-san and that one girl from rice. God only knows how many from the village or elsewhere when that pervert dragged him around the world. I swear if he wasn't so clueless about it all he'd be up to his knees in women, the perv."

Ino looked beyond a little put out. She hadn't known about this part of her best (male) friend. She had for the last month also spent as much time as she could spare in the company of her giant blonde crush. Even if they did nothing more than drink tea and talk at his apartment or work in her families store tending the plants they cultivated. It had been nice, and his presence around her was so comforting and safe she had let down some of her barriers. So to find out now that he had this pseudo… HAREM was just as much confusing as it was distressing.

"I cannot believe this!" Ino said for the umpteenth time.

"Geez Ino, if I didn't know any better I would swear your in love with that moron." Sakura's voice was mostly teasing but even then there was a strange tremble that made Ino freeze both at the dig's close mark and the fear that if Sakura found out about her feelings of the other blonde, it would drive a wedge once more into their friendship.

Ino took a breath, trying to conjure up a façade to counteract her face's betrayal of her feelings. When she had it the Yamanaka heir turned to her friend with a calm expression.

"Why are you so nosey? It's not because you want him, is it?" Ino would have rather felt satisfied as her friend turned red and stammered at the accusation, yet the victory felt hollow. That blush meant that maybe Sakura hadn't completely given up on their fellow teammate.

Ino was worried, because despite how close they had become, she was most certain the male of their trio still only had eyes for Sakura.

_-_-_-_

Like a click of a shutter that day passed along with winter months. As if one moment she was there worried about Sakura's feelings and the there she was taking an momentary glimpse of Sakura and Naruto as they conversed happily with one another whilst she battled with a Naruto clone. However no matter how much her mind thought time had jumped forward, her body felt as if the hours dragged on for years. A hollow ache in her chest would envelope her when she found the two close together or when Naruto would inadvertently (or so she thought) flirt with their rosette haired teammate. She barely dodged the lazy swipe of the clone.

Ino looked back again, only to see Sakura virtually in Naruto's lap reaching for a scroll the man was holding from her. The grin on both Naruto and Sakura's faces proved it was all a game. That chill froze her movements and the ache made her falter. So it was not a surprise when, to everyone's displeasure, a gasp was followed by the sound of the clone breaking through her defense and giving her a rather solid rap to her head. She crumpled to the ground stunned.

"Ino-chan?!" Strong arms lifted her turning her in a daze of lights. Two smaller hands began applying a cool balm to her pounding head, soothing the pain and clearing her vision.

"Geez, Ino-chan. I thought you were better at this." The disappointment in his voice was probably all in her head, but hearing it from him just made her want to cry. She tucked her head against her chest and tried to rein in how upset she felt.

"Sorry…" She murmured. Naruto looked at her as she sat despondently in his arms then looked to Sakura. Understanding the glance, Sakura moved back out of the way so Naruto could talk to their fellow teammate alone.

"What's wrong, Hime-chan?" He asked softly. Every now and then when she would get upset and pout he would call her Hime-chan, it made her feel special the first time she heard it but now she wondered if the way she was acting reminded him of one of those other women. It stung.

"I'm worthless." And she felt that way, she was impeding their chances of getting Sasuke, she was the slow one now. She was in the way.

"Don't you DARE say that!" He growled out with so much anger, Ino forced herself to look, to make sure she wouldn't be looking into red eyes. To her relief they remained their storm blue, but now she couldn't dare look away. She was caught as those beautiful eyes bore into hers with a frightening amount of intensity that left her breathless. "You are worth more to me than … than…" He searched for something, something to prove to her he meant it. After a moment it came to him. "More than even being Hokage." That was almost beyond her comprehension and made her start.

"Your lying." She said, but the fact he would say such a thing, even false was making he smile.

"I, Uzumaki Naruto, swear upon my life, honor, and ramen that what I say it true." He said earning a laugh.

Sakura looked on as Naruto talked Ino out of whatever funk she was having. It seemed the two had completely forgotten about her and the fact that Ino was nestled quite comfortably in his arms. Sakura frowned as Ino laughed, her arms going around Naruto for a hug the big man accepted easily, his smile one that seemed lately reserved only for Yamanaka Ino. A smile she, Haruno Sakura, use to be able to give him as well.

_-_-_-_

"Did you HAVE to knock down the entire side of the house!? I TOLD you I could have taken over the guard and gotten what we wanted without tearing down the ENTIRE building!!"

Naruto sighed for the countless time as once again the girls began another argument.

"Oh so a guard who us SUPPOSE to be outside GUARDING, coming in and snatching up the most important document the lead bandit was carrying isn't SUSPICOUS, IS it?!"

"Girls…" He tried to reason but they ignored him, sadly enough to his relief. Last time he had been called on to settle the matter he had hurt Sakura so much she refused to talk to him for the rest of the day. Yamato had gone on ahead (read: ran away) to report to Baa-chan so with nothing left to do and fear for causing further tension, Naruto did the best thing he could think of. With his tail between his legs, Naruto escaped as fast as his legs would carry him from the scene.

"See what you did billboard brow!? You ran off Naruto-baka!"

"Me!? It was YOUR screeching that did it, PIG!" And then Naruto was out of hearing range.

_-_-_-_

A cool breeze fluttered the noren of the shop as the sun began to set over the tree line. The warmth and scent of ramen wafted from the lit insides casting the shadows of two figures as they ate in near silence. Sai, complete in his Anbu garb, finished his bowl to look over with Techui to see Naruto picking at his first bowl with a look of contemplation. For the umpteenth time the man raised his chop sticks about to chomp down on some of his now cold and congealed noodles when his gaze drifted off into the distance and his hand lowered. The darker haired Anbu caught eyes with the graying ramen cook and the two shared a look before Techui cleared his throat catching the attention of the blonde. The sudden attention faltered the older man for a moment.

"Er… is everything alright Naruto?" He asked. Naruto shook off his stupor at once and up came his smile.

"Yeah otooji, I'm good." He finally took a bite trying to ignore their stares. The other men winced as the blonde choked on the tasteless gloop. "YUCK!"

"Naruto, your not fooling anyone." Sai remarked as the other ninja forced himself to breath. "It's often written that one would feel better if they talk about it." Techui nodded to the pale boy in agreement.

"We're all men here, you can tell us." The Ramen chef's warm voice forced the frowning tension on the container's face away replacing it with a small happy smile.

"Well it started when Ino took over Sai's old position…" Naruto began.

_-_-_-_

Ino was looking for Naruto. He had vanished after her and Sakura's last blowup. It wasn't fair she bemoaned. Why did forehead have first dibs on the only guy she had ever really connected to, and in a way had shared something that would connect them forever. She absently rubbed her stomach. The pink haired little minx then has to run his feelings into the dirt with her insecurities and when she, Yamanaka Ino, try and pick up the pieces get all bitchy at her for taking 'advantage' of their teammate.

It was getting out of hand and she was getting sick of fighting Sakura over visiting or hanging out with Naruto during her off hours. In fact the last fight they had in the apartment had started a cold war. They refused to talk to the other unless Naruto or Yamato was around, and any action that annoyed the other would start fights that would go on for hours. It was ridiculous. It's why she was out of the apartment. She was tired of Sakura waiting for her to mess up so they could argue. With the day off and free of Sakura there was only one person in her mind she wanted to see. Given it was nearing mid day, lunch would be starting soon, and Ayame had mentioned that Naruto would be stopping by today.

"Oh… it's YOU." Sakura's voice broke over her. Ino's back stiffened as she grimaced and turned to her once again former friend.

"Just leave me alone Sakura. I'm in no mood." The blonde female remarked walking towards Ichiraku.

"…ura-chan and Ino-chan have been fighting recently because of it…." Ino stopped, Sakura bumping into her hard.

"What the hell Pig?!" Snarled the rose haired teen.

"Shut up Sakura, Naruto's talking about us!" Ino ignored the face of her rival above her as she couched and looked around the corner at the trio of males.

"… And now everything seems strained. Ino-chan and Sakura-chan can't even look at each other without getting into an fight. Every time I try and end it they want me to take sides and if I do the other one gets upset. Yamato-taishou said it would fade over time, but it's really effecting our missions and when we're around each other. Taishou said if things don't improve we'll be sitting out this Genin exam for certain."

"It's not surprising, they both seem rather strong willed." Added Sai as he looked to Naruto thoughtfully.

"I don't know what to do anymore, Techui-otooji. I wonder if Ayame-Oneechan would know what I could do." Both girls bristled at the thought of Naruto going to Ayame for romantic help. Thoughts of the older more supple Ayame seducing their teammate had Sakura reaching for her gloves and Ino's eyes alight with an unholy fire.

"I'm certain Ayame-chan would have an idea what could help, however she is off getting supplies." Techui smirked. "However I think it's pretty obvious, and I for one wish I was as lucky as you." At the boy's questioning look Techui filled him in. "Those girls have feelings for you Naruto-kun."

Ino and Sakura paled. They looked to the other denials and accusations ready to be shouted at one another when Naruto's voice even as quiet as it was cut through the air.

"I refuse to believe that." Sai and Techui turned, startled, towards the other male in the shop. Outside Ino and Sakura blinked at one another in shock then looked back inside. His head lowered and his shoulder bowed conveyed the message better than when he spoke. While the man sitting at the table was the 17 year old Gama Sennin, in spirit however was the 11 year old academy student. The boy who had stood aloof and alone for all those years. Ino recognized the look from the memories she had shared with Naruto, while Sakura remembered the look from the moment she had begged him to return Sasuke. "Sakura… she has liked Sasuke forever. I doubt that will change."

"You idiot." Sakura murmured under her breath.

"Then Ino-chan… I think she has gotten over Sasuke…"

'Damn straight.' Ino thought indignantly

"But I did something, I know you know about it Sai…" Naruto's frame trembled with barely restrained emotion. "I hurt her, Otooji. More deeply and so much farther than I think she even realizes." Ino was aware of Sakura's eyes burning a hole in the back of her head but refused to look at her for fear of missing anything said by Naruto.

"Naruto…" Ino uttered softly, stunned by his disbelief and his pain.

"I care too much about them than to ruin their lives… More than I already have." With that he paid his bill and wandered away leaving four very confused and worried people in his wake.

***_-_-_-_***

Next Chapter: Chapter 11: Taka

Author's Notes:

Some might know why I have Naruto saying this, and I must say for Naruto this is a little OOC and Mature than Kishimoto's. It will be explained in time, but not now and not even in the next three chapters. However everything has a reason and should be explained by the end.

This is the one and only connection to the movies/anime series I shall ever have in my story. To be honest I have only seen a few of them and none of the filler episodes so my knowledge of anything other than two princess' and a priestess and a few other possible interested females along the way.

I do apologize for the lateness but there was many weeks where I would merely sit there and stare at this fic waiting for something to strike me. Nothing really came up for the longest time. The curse of even numbered chapters apparently doubles when you reach double digits. This was ridiculous. However I am happy to announce chapter 11 is flowing much greater. Not so many if any memories in this and the next chapter shown, but memories of the events leading to the present are talked about. Well time to go back to eleven and finish it up.

TRANSLATIONS:

Hime: Princess (I could be wrong and the filler anime brought in two making there three princesses but I digress this is the only part they play so it matters not)

Ninsou: Priestess. Sakura seemed pretty pissed off when someone agreed to children with a certain priestess. I doubt Sakura would forget it.

Jiji-iiyou Uzumaki-shiki: Old man manner of speaking, Uzumaki style. Using what he learned from the Sandaime and putting his own twist to things. Sandaime always seemed to want to teach people their flaws, and then help them over come them. It was his fatal flaw with Orochimaru, and the whole reason Naruto lived the way he did.

Noren(暖簾) are traditional Japanese cloth dividers, hung between rooms, on walls, in doorways, or in windows. Noren are traditionally used by shops and restaurants as a means of protection from sun, wind, and dust, and for advertising space.

Otooji: Uncle. To me Techui fit's the Uncle roll for Naruto well, Like Iruka (who for some reason I haven't brought up at all in this story. I dunno blame Kishi for not making him more apparent recently) fit's the older brother, Kakashi and Techui fit the uncles. Both have other obligations but they will watch out for their younger charge to the best of their abilities. The man had a lot to loose by aiding Naruto. Techui could have also been shunned by the village, his store boycotted, and his daughter treated poorly. All in all he did alright. I'm sure having the Hokage coming to his shop every now and then didn't hurt in the matter either.

Onee-chan: Big sis[ter]. The chan at the end of Onee means she's held in a much more familiar and loving way. And while I have no doubt Ayame and Naruto love each other on a brotherly sisterly level I am certain that the first time Naruto called Ayame Onee-chan she either thought he was absolutely adorable or incredibly rude. Given her reactions to seeing Naruto in canon I am certain it's the former.