DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO (I'VE RUN OUT OF THINGS TO SAY IN THIS PARENTHESIS THING YET AGAIN HAHA, BOTTOM TEXT)
Ch.33 - If Looks Could Kill
The day in Konoha was a pleasant departure from the incessant rain that had plagued the village recently. The sun shimmered in the sky, adorned with scattered clouds. A gentle breeze rustled the purple curtains, revealing Ino lying in her bed. However, her outward appearance belied the turmoil within her, as her expression spoke volumes of her inner melancholy.
Ino had been feeling somewhat despondent lately, ever since the aftermath of their battle with Kimimaro. Memories of the fear that had gripped her during that encounter resurfaced vividly. Mixed emotions tugged at her heart. On one hand, she felt grateful to have emerged alive from the ordeal, and she was relieved that none of her teammates had suffered any harm. On the other hand, she couldn't help but be disappointed in herself. Ino's sense of inadequacy gnawed at her, as she saw herself as more of a liability than an asset to her team.
She had refrained from confiding in her parents about her inner turmoil, not wanting to burden them with her concerns. Although she put on a façade of being fine, Ino found it difficult to muster the motivation to leave her bed.
"What's the use... Perhaps I'm not cut out for this..." Ino's thoughts echoed in her mind. Her eyes welled up with tears, but she fought to hold them back upon hearing footsteps approaching her room. Composing herself, she made it appear as though she hadn't been on the verge of tears moments ago, just as a knock sounded at the door.
"Sweetie, can I come in?" Noriko's voice floated through the door.
"Uh... S-Sure thing, Mom," Ino replied, and Noriko opened the door slightly, peering into the room.
"You have a visitor," her mother informed her, fully opening the door to reveal Naruto standing behind her.
"Hey, Ino," Naruto greeted her with a foxy grin. "C-Can I come in?" he asked, his nerves betraying his unfamiliarity with entering a girl's room, or any room that wasn't his own, for that matter.
Ino nodded silently, allowing Naruto to enter her room after receiving her permission. Noriko, sensing the need for privacy, left the two blondes alone.
Naruto's gaze swept across the purple-infused room, taking in the purple bed, sheets, dresser, table, curtains, and various other purple elements. He also couldn't help but notice the immaculate tidiness of the room, and his nostrils detected a hint of vanilla fragrance. It was undoubtedly a girl's room, Naruto concluded to himself. Realizing that he had drifted off into his thoughts, he hurriedly sought a topic of conversation to divert attention from his unintended moment of introspection.
"Your room is, uh... purple, Ino," he stated, inwardly berating himself for stating the obvious. "Of course, it's purple, you idiot. She has eyes, duh... Stupid, stupid, stupid... Think of something to say quickly," Naruto scolded himself mentally.
"Yeah... Purple is my favorite color, after all, though it might be a bit too purple, now that I think about it," Ino replied. Naruto was relieved by her response, as it provided him with a starting point.
"Well... it doesn't look bad. It actually looks nice, and your room smells nice too," Naruto added, grateful for the compliment he could offer.
"So... How are you feeling, Ino?" he inquired, but as the smile gradually faded from her face, she fell silent for a moment before responding that she was feeling better.
"I'm feeling much better, Naruto. Thank you for asking," she replied. Skepticism crept into Naruto's expression as he raised an eyebrow. He couldn't shake the feeling that Ino was keeping something from him, and he was determined to uncover the truth.
"Are you sure? Something feels off... I just can't put my finger on it," Naruto persisted, his intuition nudging him.
"No, really, I'm fine, Naruto," Ino insisted, forcing a smile.
"Nah... I don't buy it. It seems like you're not telling me something. I can sense it in my gut," Naruto asserted, patting his belly for emphasis.
"That's just the ramen you ate for breakfast," Ino retorted.
"Nope! I had onigiri for breakfast, hehe," Naruto grinned, inwardly pleased that Ino had taken note of his dietary variation.
"Seriously, Naruto, nothing's wrong," she maintained her stance.
"Hmmm... You know I'm not going to drop this question until you tell me the truth. Come on... You can tell me, right?" Naruto insisted, his determination unwavering.
And then, Ino's composure crumbled. Tears welled up once more, cascading down her cheeks. Naruto watched as Ino cried, witnessing her tears for the first time. He felt at a loss for how to respond but recalled the warmth Ino had shown him during their time at the inn. He remembered the solace he had found in her presence. Naruto knew what he had to do, despite his hesitation.
Anxiety coursed through Naruto as he contemplated placing his arm around Ino's shoulders to offer comfort. He worried that his actions might be misconstrued as perverted or creepy. Apart from supporting her body during her use of the Shintenshin no Jutsu (Mind Body Change Technique), he had never initiated such physical contact before. This situation was different. Yet, he couldn't ignore his desire to assist Ino in her time of need.
Taking a deep breath, Naruto summoned all his courage. Slowly, he placed his arm around her shoulder, gently rubbing the side of her arm in a soothing manner. Ino's sobs gradually subsided until she was no longer crying.
Naruto felt the need to break the silence. Just as he was about to speak, he heard Ino's voice softly utter, "Thank you, Naruto."
"F-For what, Ino?" Naruto inquired.
"For this, of course. What else?" she replied.
"Oh... Well then, uh... No worries, Ino. I know you would do the same for me, like you did back in Mori no Kuni (Land of Forests)," Naruto reassured her.
"Yeah," Ino murmured in agreement.
"So... Do you want to talk about what's been bothering you?"
"Yeah, but can we stay like this a little longer?" she requested, and Naruto agreed, understanding the significance of their connection in that moment.
- Minutes Later -
Now seated side by side on the bed, both blondes remained in close proximity. Ino's eyes still bore signs of recent tears, and Naruto's shoulder bore the remnants of her emotional release. "Go ahead, Ino. I'm here to listen," Naruto encouraged her.
"Okay, here it goes... I honestly feel like I'm more of a liability than an asset to our team... I couldn't assist you back at the ranch, I barely contributed during our mission to save the Daimyo's family, and I proved to be easily overcome in the Land of Forests. I-I... can't help but feel like a lost cause," Ino confessed, her voice quivering as tears continued to fall, landing on her hands placed on her lap as she sniffled.
Naruto gently placed his hand on top of hers, their eyes locking in an earnest gaze. "None of that is true," he calmly asserted.
"It is," Ino countered.
"No, it isn't," Naruto rebutted.
"Yes, it is," Ino insisted.
"Says who?" Naruto challenged.
"Says me," Ino replied.
"Well, I beg to disagree. It was a team effort, and you played your part. You ensured Shino's safety, you helped me get out of a tough situation back when I was on top of that speeding carriage with Asuma-sensei, and you helped execute our plan against Kimimaro alongside Shino. Give yourself some credit, Ino," Naruto countered, his conviction unwavering.
"I-I... I don't know. Though I guess you have a point. Though we narrowly succeeded at the ranch and in Mori no Kuni (Land of Forests)," Ino admitted, considering Naruto's words.
"Who cares?! I'm alive, Asuma-sensei is alive, Shino is alive, and YOU'RE alive. That's what matters, and that's something to be proud of! We'll only get better and train harder, right? After all, those were your words to me," Naruto reminded her.
Naruto's words struck a chord within Ino, putting things into perspective. She had become so consumed by what had transpired that she had lost sight of the present and the future. Ino realized that there was still much she could do to prevent similar situations from recurring.
"You're right," Ino finally acknowledged.
"Darn right I am, dattebayo!" Naruto exclaimed, his enthusiasm brightening Ino's mood. She rested her head on his shoulder and expressed her gratitude.
"Thank you, Naruto. This means a lot to me," she whispered.
"Don't worry about it, Ino. What would you ever do without me..." Naruto teased, mimicking her previous statement from their time at the inn. Ino, however, responded by pinching his sides, eliciting a yelp of pain as Naruto rubbed the afflicted area.
"OWWW! What was that for?!" Naruto protested.
"That's for copying me. Only I get to say that, understood?!" Ino asserted, her gaze fixed firmly upon him.
"Oh, come on! You get to own phrases now?!" Naruto grumbled, but Ino's glare silenced any further protest. Gulping nervously, he reluctantly agreed, fearful of the consequences.
"Y-Yes, ma'am. I won't copy you again," he conceded sheepishly.
"That's what I thought. Now that you've managed to get me out of bed, what's next?" Ino inquired, curious about their plans.
"Asuma-sensei told me to check on both of you. He said we won't be going on missions until you and Shino are feeling better," Naruto answered.
"I see. Speaking of Shino, how is he?" Ino asked, concerned for her teammate.
"He's doing fine. I dropped by his house earlier to visit him. We had a conversation, though I'm not sure if he's feeling down as well. Though I'm guessing he's a bit sad due to what happened to us lately," Naruto informed her.
"Hmmm... I'm relieved to hear that he's doing okay, but I hope he won't be too bummed about it. So... do you have any plans for today?" Ino questioned, leaving Naruto curious since she hadn't divulged their destination.
"Nah... Why?" Naruto inquired, perplexed by Ino's request.
"I was hoping you could accompany me for a bit," Ino responded, her tone carrying a hint of excitement.
"Sure, but where are we going?" Naruto's curiosity piqued as he realized Ino hadn't disclosed their destination.
"Ah ah ah... I can't tell you that because it's a secret. So, shut up and just follow me," Ino playfully commanded, a mischievous glimmer in her eyes. Naruto let out a sigh, knowing that resisting her playful determination would be futile. He nodded, surrendering to her mysterious plan as he followed her lead.
- Minutes Later –
"Ughhh... We've been walking for ages now... Are we there yet?" Naruto groaned, his impatience getting the better of him.
"It's only been ten minutes, Naruto. Don't be such a baby," Ino retorted, rolling her eyes playfully.
"sigh Fine... But is the blindfold necessary?" Naruto questioned, feeling a bit uncomfortable.
"You kept peeking earlier, which is why I had to resort to using a blindfold. NO PEAKING!" Ino emphasized, reminding him of his previous attempts to spoil the surprise.
"This place better be worth it..." Naruto muttered under his breath, reluctantly accepting the blindfold.
With Ino leading the way, the two blondes continued their walk, not venturing far from the village itself. Naruto stumbled occasionally, his lack of vision causing him to lose balance. However, Ino held his hand, preventing any potential accidents. After a few minutes, they emerged from the forest, finding themselves in a picturesque clearing.
"You can take it off now," Ino instructed, her voice tinged with excitement. Naruto gladly removed the blindfold, his eyes widening at the sight before him. A vast meadow of flowers stretched out, with a towering tree standing at the far end, guarding some sort of entrance.
"What do you think?" Ino asked eagerly, awaiting his reaction.
"Where are we?" Naruto replied, momentarily caught off guard by her question. Ino pouted, slightly disappointed by his lack of response, but she proceeded to inform him of their location.
"This is my secret hideout, and you still haven't answered my question," she said, pointing her finger at him while resting her hand on her hip.
Taking in the beautiful surroundings, Naruto couldn't help but appreciate the serene ambiance of the place. It felt peaceful, and he found himself curious about the reason behind Ino bringing him there. With a questioning expression, he voiced the inquiry that had been nagging at him.
"The place looks amazing, Ino, but why are we here again?" he asked, genuinely intrigued.
"I'm getting there. Come with me," she beckoned, leading the way toward the entrance they had spotted earlier. As they stepped through the entrance, they found themselves in a hidden area behind the massive tree, concealed by lush foliage. The space was adorned with numerous pots, each housing different varieties of flowers. Sunlight filtered through the foliage, providing just the right amount of illumination, while rainwater was able to reach the flowers. Ino approached a box and began rummaging through it, producing two watering cans and a bucket. She handed them to Naruto, and he understood what was expected of him.
"I want you to..." Ino said before she was interrupted by Naruto, "Fill up the watering cans with water and the bucket with soil, got it," Naruto interjected, a smile spreading across Ino's face. She was pleased to see that Naruto was becoming more familiar with gardening tasks.
"But is there a nearby water source?" Naruto inquired.
"There's a stream just ahead in the meadow. You won't miss it," Ino assured him. Naruto nodded and set off on his task.
"Oh, and while you're at it, could you pick some flowers along the way? I want to replace the ones in the vase in my room," Ino added.
"I'm guessing they should be purple too, right?" Naruto teased, remembering Ino's fondness for the color.
"Even better!" Ino exclaimed, confirming his guess.
With Naruto's departure, Ino busied herself tending to the wildflowers in the hidden area. It had been a while since she last visited, and while most of the flowers remained vibrant, some had wilted and needed replacement. She diligently trimmed the surrounding weeds and vegetation, ensuring that the wildflowers had ample space and nutrients. Soon enough, Naruto returned with two clones, each carrying a watering can and the bucket of soil.
"I'm back. Where do you want these?" Naruto asked, holding out the supplies for Ino to direct.
"So... what flowers did you get me?" Ino inquired, excitement bubbling within her. But then she realized her choice of words, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
"Ohhh! I got you these hydrangeas, lilies, some purple hibiscus, these verbenas, and I forgot the name of these, but they looked pretty," Naruto replied, presenting the final bunch of flowers.
As Ino looked at the flowers in Naruto's hands, her eyes widened. "Don't touch those!" she warned him abruptly.
"What?!... Why?" Naruto asked, taken aback by her sudden caution.
"It's wolfsbane. They're poisonous, so be careful," Ino informed him.
"Ohhh... So that's what they're called. Now I remember. Don't worry, I don't have any open wounds, so I'll be fine," Naruto assured her.
"Okay... That's good to know, at least. Just be careful around certain flowers. Anyway, come here and help me get rid of these weeds," Ino requested, shifting their focus to the task at hand. Naruto complied, joining her on the ground to assist.
As they worked, their conversation meandered, covering plans for the coming days and various topics of interest. Naruto shared his intentions to train with the Katon: Moeru Ken no Jutsu (Fire Release: Burning Fists Technique) and explore the archives for further study. He also expressed a desire to delve into the realm of ninja tools beyond kunai and shuriken. Ino remembered Asuma's advice during their last reassessment test, urging her to diversify her arsenal. She had begun doing so by learning the Katon: Hinotama no Jutsu (Fire Release: Fireball Technique) and the Katon: Hi no Naka ni Kakureru no Jutsu (Fire Release: Hiding in Fire Technique), but she felt the need to expand even further.
Together, they completed the task of weeding, clearing the area for the flourishing flowers. Now, it was time to water them. As they carried out the task, Naruto couldn't help but notice the wolfsbane he had picked earlier, raising a question in his mind.
"Hey Ino," Naruto called out.
"Hmmm?" Ino responded.
"Should I get rid of these flowers, just to be safe?" Naruto asked, holding up the bundle of wolfsbane.
"It's probably best to dispose of them, just in case," Ino advised.
"I see... But you have to admit, they look pretty, don't they? Kinda like the phrase 'if looks could kill' with how beautiful and dangerous they are," Naruto mused, considering the potential use of the flowers for poisons and such. This sparked an idea in Ino's mind, realizing their potential value.
In excitement, Ino dropped her watering can and hurriedly approached Naruto, squishing his face between her hands. "You're a genius, Naruto! A genius, I tell you!" she exclaimed, inadvertently covering his face with mud. Confused and mud-covered, Naruto asked what was going on.
"Huh?" he uttered.
"You're right! These flowers could be useful. I might be able to expand my arsenal with them. Thank you, Naruto! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Ino expressed her joy.
"Don't worry about it, Ino. But, uh... could you please stop smearing mud on my face?" Naruto requested, realizing the state of his face. Ino blushed and quickly stepped back in embarrassment.
Clearing her throat, Ino thanked him once again. "Oh, uh, thank you for that, Naruto," she said.
"Don't mention it," Naruto replied with a foxy grin.
"Though... Do I get a reward?" Naruto asked.
"A reward?" Ino repeated, curious.
"Yeah, a reward... maybe a favor," Naruto offered.
"Okay, what is it?" she asked.
"It's embarrassing... Can I whisper it to you?" Naruto requested, though Ino hesitated since they were alone. Naruto insisted that he would feel more comfortable whispering it, and with a sigh, Ino reluctantly agreed.
Leaning closer, Naruto quickly smeared mud on Ino's cheeks. Shocked by his actions, Ino looked at him, noticing his laughter.
"WHY YOU LITTLE!" she glared at him.
"Haha, two can play that game! What are you going to do about it?" Naruto teased, realizing Ino's growing anger. Naruto gulped, realizing he was in trouble, and quickly ran away, with Ino hot on his heels. The two blondes engaged in a playful game of cat and mouse.
(A/N: Fluff fluff fluff, oh how I love it! I missed writing these again HAHAHA. I hope you liked this chapter, a refreshing change for these two blondes HAHAHA, anyway I don't have much to say, sorry if I haven't updated TDG (The Dating Game) yet, I will soon enough. That's all, show me some love and RnR if you'd like, take care, and cheers! ^^)