Itachi dashed off the top of the building he was on to chase after Ino, hm so it seems there's no rules to this race, he mused. Not that he had raced anyone before or played any games when he was a child, so he couldn't be sure. He decided that since she had a head start to gain an advantage against him, then it would be alright for him to gain an advantage of his own.

He was faster than her, and with time he would eventually catch up, but she was already by the Administration building, and he had no idea what other abilities she wielded in her arsenal next to her mind techniques. He made up his mind to slow her down with a distraction, therefore, he conjured his crows summons to engulf Ino and force her into a halt until he had passed her.

"HEY THAT'S CHEATING!" he heard her call out to him as he passed her by. Cheating? But she didn't state any rules… are there prevalent rules that I should be aware of? He thought to himself. Perhaps he should have joined in on all those games the other children were playing when he was a child, but he always saw them to be a waste of time that wouldn't add to his skills. Now he wishes if he had joined in at least once, if only to understand the workings of a race. How could he have predicted that he would need this information many years later…

Itachi thought back to what she said, 'Race you to the top!' those were her words, and so the only objective given is to get to the top and one prevalent rule he knows of, is that in the shinobi world you achieve those goals by whatever means you can. Itachi ascended the monument and was content with having won fair and square… in accordance with her words anyway.

He waited for her at the top, satisfied that he had been victorious. What was it they said at the bar? That he remained undefeated… well even if this was a friendly race, this remains true. Ino emerged atop the mountain looking irritated, but Itachi wasn't fazed by her temper nor her claim, "That's totally cheating!" because he played by the only rule she stated, which is to get to the top. "You didn't mention any rules, besides you had a head start. It was only fair" he said smugly, knowing she wouldn't be able to counter this, but she appeared to become more peeved at his sound argument as her eyebrows began to knot.

This was a familiar sight to Itachi; Sasuke would always bunch his brows into a knot when Itachi didn't have time for him, or if he failed at perfecting a jutsu during training. There wasn't much he could do when Sasuke was pouting like that but seeing that look of disappointment on his brother's face had bothered him. He always wanted to see his brother happy, and that knot on his brow being there was far from it, so he poked his forehead to unknot it. The outcome was instantaneous, and Sasuke would perk up and smile straight after. Since then, Itachi would poke his forehead to undo those knots and restore the happiness onto his brother's face.

Itachi involuntarily walked up to Ino as her eyebrows creased to undo those knots. He was driven by the nostalgic recollection from the sight of her annoyed expression, and he couldn't help but poke that look away to bring back the one that he preferred. Well, it wasn't the one he preferred but at least he managed to undo that knot.

Sasuke tsked as Naruto rushed to find Itachi without him. He was hoping to make quick work of finding him using that idiot's sensory abilities, but now he would have to do it himself. His Rinnegan had enhanced vision that would allow him to spot anyone anywhere if he stood in a high enough vantage point. Only one place comes to mind that can provide a good view of the entire village, and that was the top of the Hokage Monument.

Sasuke opened a portal to the top of the Monument, and as soon as he had stepped out, he spotted the person he had been seeking and he was… being affectionate with the Yamanaka?!

Sasuke stared blankly at his brother who was returning a similar look.

"…"

"…"

Naruto had now appeared as well, "DAMN IT! How the hell did you beat me here! I thought I had you for sure!" he yelled, but no one was paying attention to him as Sasuke and Itachi were still heavily engaged in what appeared to be a blinking contest and Ino seemed to have been feeling the intensity of their stares as she was looking apprehensive.

Naruto looked at Itachi.

Then at Sasuke

Back to Itachi.

And then back to Sasuke once more.

"Uh… what's going on here?" he leaned in and whispered to Ino, who stared at him stunned like a deer caught between headlights. Naruto jerked back and yelled, "Seriously! what the hell is going on here?"

Itachi broke his eye contact with Sasuke and turned to Naruto saying, "Ino is upset that I beat her in a race to the top of the mountain" as if this explained everything…

"Okaaaay…?" Naruto droned questioningly, reluctantly accepting that explanation as he scratched his head looking confused, then looked back to Sasuke, "What's up with him?"

Sasuke decided to let the whole situation go for now, "Itachi, if you are done here, we need to speak to you" to which Itachi responded, "Don't be rude, Sasuke." at which upon hearing Sasuke had turned a bright shade of red at being spoken to like a child and Naruto snickered at Sasuke getting scolded, then said "Trust me, Itachi… that's him being nice", to which Ino was now laughing at and agreeing with as well. This behaviour is normal? Itachi thought, "Yup, I've never seen him this nice before" Ino said, and Sasuke did something that he hadn't done since he was a child… he was pouting.

Naruto's eyes widened in glee as he pointed it out, "See! You're totally doing that pouty thing now!"

Sasuke was getting frustrated at the whole interaction, "Can we just go now?" he pressed, and Itachi turned to Ino and said, "Thank you for helping me out again" and Ino said shyly, "Don't mention it, I actually had a lot of fun." He smiled at her and walked towards his brother and Naruto, who were both staring at him blankly after hearing the exchange.

"…"

"…"

"Shall we?" Itachi asked, and Sasuke opened a portal for them to walk into.

The trio stepped out of the portal and landed in the garden of the Uchiha estate. Itachi and Sasuke walked silently inside, took off their sandals, and sat in the main room across from each other on the tatami mat, as Naruto who had been trailing behind them followed suit and sat in an adjoining position to them both.

The brothers were engaged in another glaring stand off and the tension in the room was sending chills down Naruto's spine, what in the world is going on here? He thought to himself, and Kurama supplied, [something must have happened before we arrived at the top] and Naruto responded, 'what could have possibly happened in a few seconds to create this kind of icy tension?' The Uchiha brothers seemed to be engaged in some form of a silent conversation that was being communicated through their stares.

Naruto stuck his head in between their line of vision and spun his head about to look at them both and then said, "Uh… guys? Did something happen?" he asked, and the brothers responded simultaneously, "No", leaving him even more confused at what is going on. "So, what is it that you needed to speak with me about?" Itachi returned their attention to why they were back at the estate in the first place. "Oh right!" Naruto said excitedly, "Congratulations! Commander Uchiha-Sama" Naruto said, trying on the honorific for the first time and smiling at Itachi. Itachi returned a warm smile Naruto's way and said, "Thank you, Naruto" and Sasuke let out an exhausted sigh and said, "Yeah… Congratulations" and Itachi nodded in acceptance and responded to his brother with, "Thank you, Sasuke. Was this all you wanted to say?"

Naruto chuckled and said, "Actually, there's something else…"

Naruto had explained that Sasuke and himself had still been ranked genin, about the bell test and what Kakashi had said to him, and that they wanted to become Jonin, but the decision rested with Itachi now.

"I see" Itachi responded, "Very well, I will speak to the Hokage about your promotions and come up with appropriate recommendations for testing." Naruto grinned feeling he was so close to the next step towards becoming Hokage. However, Sasuke had something else on his mind as he now asked, "What were you doing with the Yamanaka?"

Sasuke had been replaying the sight of Itachi standing close to Ino as she was looking stunned at him and clasping her forehead… did he do it to her too? Sasuke wondered. Why would he? Why Ino… how does he even know her and when did they get so chummy? Something isn't making sense here. It has only been a few days since the official announcement. Itachi had been stuck in the estate with only him and Naruto for company before that, so when did he get acquainted with her? Did she do more than just probe his mind at T&I? No that can't be it, Sasuke was present during that session.

Itachi was never the social type, of this he was certain, but somehow, he was being friendly with one of the most confident and socially outgoing people he knew. Ino Yamanaka was the last person that Sasuke expected to be Itachi's first new acquaintance…

Itachi didn't react, but Naruto was taken aback by Sasuke's question. He didn't understand what was wrong about finding Itachi with Ino, did Sasuke have a problem with her or something? Well, that had been his initial thought until Itachi supplied Sasuke with a question in return, "Sasuke, you seem very upset by learning of my new friendship with Ino-" he's on a first name basis with her too?! Sasuke thought as he continued to listen to Itachi's reply, "-do you have feelings for her?"

"…"

"…"

Naruto and Sasuke deadpanned at Itachi's question.

"…"

"…"

Sasuke has feelings for Ino? Naruto was trying to absorb this information as another person crossed his mind in an instant, Sakura…

"Is that it!? is that why you've been staring at him like you're about to send him back to the pure lands!" Naruto barked at Sasuke and went on a massive outburst, and Sasuke was staring at him with eyes as wide as saucers.

"You love Ino?! When the hell did that happen anyway!? And what about Sakura you bastard! Do you know how long she's been in love with you!?"

"Naruto" Sasuke said calmly trying to end his rant, but Naruto wasn't listening and went on…

"Why the hell did you string her along if you were in love with Ino this whole time?! YOU REALLY ARE AN ASSHOLE YOU KNOW THAT?!" He yelled with a clenched fist raised at Sasuke.

"Hey, loser" Sasuke said again in his nonchalant tone in an attempt to stop the rant again, but Naruto was still going about it even louder, and Itachi was listening with a blank expression on his face and taking in what Naruto had been saying to discern if he had been correct about his assessment on Sasuke's feelings towards Ino.

"You better clear things with Sakura! She's been waiting for you to get back ever since you poked her forehead two years ago, and now you're telling me you're suddenly IN LOVE with Ino!? You're such a jerk!" Naruto was now yelling directly into Sasuke's face and his spit was raining all over the irritated Uchiha who in return now bellowed, "Stop spitting on me you idiot! Will you shut up already and listen!" Naruto looked dumbfounded at Sasuke losing his temper, but he now sat down and said, "Fine! Talk you jerk! You want me to listen, well I'm all ears! I'm listening!"

"Just shut up already!" Sasuke yelled again, "I'm not in love with Ino!"

"Then what is your problem?!" Naruto barked back

Sasuke and Naruto were locked in a death stare now, before Sasuke tsked, got up, and walked away frustrated.

Naruto looked at Itachi and said, "Itachi, I'm sorry about his behaviour, please just leave him to me" Itachi nodded with a hint of a smile, as this made him recall a similar moment. Naruto got up to chase after Sasuke.

"Teme!" Naruto called out to him as he found Sasuke headed towards the Uchiha training grounds, "Bastard, wait up!" but Sasuke continued to sprint away in frustration, and Naruto increased his pace to catch up to him.

When Naruto caught up to him, he was met with a fist to the face. "What the hell was that for!?" he barked at him, but Sasuke was sending a second fist his way, and this time Naruto blocked it. "Look I came to tal-" Naruto's face was sent sideways as Sasuke landed his kick and succeeded in getting the blond riled up enough to retaliate as he yelled "BASTARD!" and came at Sasuke with his own punches.

Sasuke received a wild blow to the jaw from Naruto and he was smirking as he saw the blood he had just wiped that had been trickling down the side of his mouth. "Aghhh!" Sasuke charged back again, and they were both blocking every punch and kick they were throwing at each other, when Naruto grabbed the Uchiha by the waist to slam him to the ground.

[Naruto… The Uchiha appears to be going easy on you] Kurama remarked, and Naruto responded, 'Yeah, can't this bastard ever just talk… Why does it always have to be with his fist' Naruto remarked. He conjured a few clones to hold Sasuke down as he yelled "Just tell me what's wrong" but Sasuke switched places with one of the clones and got right back to throwing punches and kicks.

"What's the matter, afraid I'll kick your ass?" he said smugly to keep the fight going as he had now dispelled the clones. "Sasuke, I'll fight you if you need me to, but I can tell you're trying to avoid whatever it is that's bothering you-" Sasuke was getting irritated and clearly wasn't ready to talk yet, "You talk too much" he jabbed, and came at the blond again.

Naruto gave in and engaged into the fist spar… If this is what Sasuke needed, then he'll punch him and let him sulk until he was done with it already.

After many minutes of exchanging fists and kicks, Sasuke and Naruto were now lying on their backs and panting from exhaustion. They laid in silence for a while until Sasuke finally said, "It was easier for him…"

Naruto turned to face his best friend and asked, "Huh? What was easy?" and after another moment the raven-haired man said, "Itachi was always alone, but it was somehow easy for him to… You saw him too" and Naruto now understood what he was on about.

Naruto smiled at him, "It could be easy for you too, you know. You're the only one standing in your way" he remarked, and Sasuke knew he was right as he said nothing in return. "After all this time, she never gave up on you either…" Naruto continued and Sasuke grimaced as he was thinking about how undeserving he still was, "Whatever it is that is going through your stubborn bastard head right now, you're wrong" and Sasuke cried a little too loudly, "How do you know?!" and the blond was chuckling now, "Because, I know you… You deserve to be happy too, Sasuke. You're a bastard, no doubt, but you're a bigger bastard to yourself. Don't you get tired of being miserable?"

That last question really hit him harder than any of the punches Naruto threw at him. Yes, he did get tired of it, but how was he supposed to just let go of the past and move forward? "Just try at least… you owe yourself and her that much. Man, Teme you're supposed to be the smart one, but honestly sometimes you can be even denser than I am" Naruto chuckled again. "I don't know how to let go yet…" Sasuke said in a solemn tone, and Naruto said more firmly, "You just do it" like it was so simple. Was it really that simple? Sasuke turned to look at his friend who was smiling reassuringly at him and it suddenly filled him with realization.

"Just let go, huh…" Sasuke repeated, and Naruto nodded as he got up now and extended a hand to help Sasuke up as well.

Sakura had just returned from the hospital after a long and exhausting day. She was tired from the bell test from earlier, and when she returned to the hospital, she had a pile of paperwork to get through to finalize the report about opening a new research wing. Naruto had been trying to help explain how his healing abilities worked in his own 'Naruto' way and Tsunade started the initiative to advance their knowledge in medicine to restore limbs and other body parts more effectively. The research wing would be entirely devoted to this and would change the shinobi medical world as they knew it.

I could sure use a bath, she thought as she entered the bathroom and turned the tap to prepare it, when she heard a knock at her door. She turned the tap off again and went to see who was at her door at this time of the night. "Coming" she called out, and as she proceeded to the door, she heard another knock. "I'm coming" she called out again.

She opened the front door to her apartment into a slit to peek at who had been outside and was surprised to see it was, "Sasuke?" she said in astonishment, "Is everything ok?"

Sasuke gave her a simple nod and asked, "Is this a bad time?" in his infamous nonchalant tone. "No, what's up?" she asked as she now opened her front door wider. Sasuke's eyebrows creased as if he was hesitant about something he was clearly considering. He sighed and said, "Let's go" and she was looking confused, "Where are we going?" she asked, and he answered "On a date"

Sakura froze…

Author's Note:

Double post today! What do we think of ItaIno so far?

What would Sasuke do without Naruto, I wonder...

Next Chapter:

Sakura gets what she's always dreamed of...