I don't own Naruto or any of its characters, I'm just a fan I enjoyed the anime but I love the fanfics even more, they made me fall for the whole franchise.

Chapter 51

I don't know how to feel, did calling Madara, Hashirama, and the sixth path stupid garner me this kind of punishment? Was my goal in this match really to just do my best to not snap at a certain somebody? He was giving me that goofy smile to show the big-time stress he was in, I instead glared at him.

'I don't care how much he brightens my day.' Was my mental strategy going forward from now on, I was just going to ignore him and try to murder him with my bare hands. I made a face that Naruto dreaded with his life force, my livid one. The one he met the day he sent a clone with me to jog, not telling me he was walking around going into stores and asking for the best gifts to give.

'Someone precious to him.' Why is everything becoming some kind of revelation? The day Naruto left me with a clone, I was disappointed in him but I also understood he was an orphan, there were some things he just didn't understand about proper behavior, so he just does them sometimes, thinking it's okay.

I always thought Hinata behaved more like a mother to Goldie-Kun back in the academy. They spent so much time together and then they got into some crazy situation with Naruto as the one to end up getting punished, the most boggling part was that Hinata was the one doing it.

'But he would still go and cry to that same girl.' I sighed and looked forward finding myself where the Hokage made his speech, the ring I would be using to fight Naruto Uzumaki. He was still up there in the stages looking down at me, he had a look of concentration in his eyes. Eyes squinted and nose wrinkled upwards making his cute whisker marks come up, he looked like a little lion cub with that thick mane of Golden hair behind him and a fierce one at that.

'I don't care if he is brightening up my day.' I balled my fists, he was brightening up my day. I can't stay mad at him for too long I know that. My father has had times when wouldn't hear my voice for 2 week while he begged and groveled. My mother always bribed me into forgiving her at the end of the day or most recently she would tease me about the boy now jumping over the railing.

I watched him descend, 'he was so badass.' He liked to say occasionally and I always thought that he was. He had his left leg bent to be just a little bit behind its pair, his right leg was straight and both his hands up followed behind accompanied by his hair waving so much like a sea of gold. It always mesmerized me how hair could be so Golden.

I snorted when he landed, his right leg on touch down slid wide with his left coming into a 45-degree bend. Both his hands came down to touch the floor before he spun backward it would have been cooler with a cape, I thought when he stood with his turn and faced me.

"It's official, my day is brightened." I mumbled shaking my head at him while he approached me in a walk. That was from one of our games the princess and her ninja. Which was silly since the princess and her prince both had great hair.

'He loves his princess gale movies, maybe that's why his so romantic and charming like a prince.' And he just did his 'super ninja landing' in front of everybody in the room. Kiba was the only one to react and that was a raised eyebrow and a nod of some kind of approval.

The look in Naruto's eyes scared me, it told me He was scared that he might lose something precious to him because of something he felt no wrong about. I think I am finally starting to understand what that look meant

I am precious to him, I sighed. I wasn't angry with him anymore I just wanted to understand what was going on with us. He reached me and stood about 3 feet away, locking gazes with me. The proctor cleared his throat, I didn't care why I simply stared back at the blonde's face only wanting answers from him and nothing more.

"You have been………" he began but Naruto interrupted him. "I am sorry for the other day." Naruto interrupted the proctor making the man choke on his words and enter a coughing fit. "It was an urgent matter." He said nervously but he still kept eye contact, his hand already twitching to rub his head.

"You will explain everything to me?" I asked him, my voice even revealing nothing to him about my emotions. He nodded quickly thankful for the chance to explain himself.

"You can continue Proctor-San." I told the man, Naruto snickered probably thinking something along the line, that I am bossy and dismissive of things that don't interest me including people. Lucky for him he added that it was a 'characteristic worthy of a queen.' or he would have met that side sooner, the proctor cleared his throat again.

"I've never felt this way before Ino." Gekkō choked again with the second disturbance, you can imagine his struggles of trying to pull an angry face with all that coughing going on. I looked at Naruto and felt hurt by those words. He flinched seeing the look in my eyes, looking like he would back down but it didn't last a second before he resolved himself.

"I" Naruto had a sword placed on his neck and he gulped, Gekkō Hayeta succeeding in pulling that angry expression he was struggling with earlier.

"You what." I didn't mean for my voice to come out so demanding and loud I could spy we had an interested audience in the form of the rookie 9 the rest had their own random emotions hidden from me at such a distance. Naruto's eyes were still locked on mine even with the blade on his neck before he spoke.

"I fell in love Sunshine." He couldn't even tell me that with a straight face, a big ass grin spread across his visage with that sentence alone making him so happy it made me a little happy. My eyes involuntarily went to Hinata who took a step back as If punched in the stomach, She was so red I could see her from here looking ready to faint like he was talking to her instead.

'He shines so brightly when his happy.' I couldn't help but think that he was so stupid to show me that happiness. I sighed looking at our audience. 'Was this rigged too?' I wondered looking to the Hokage who sat there interested in the happenings in the ring.

"Thank you. Proctor you can continue." I ended it there, they couldn't know Hinata was the girl they were actually looking for. They had to keep believing it was me I don't know what is going on here but I need to find out, I want to find out and if I can at least protect you Goldie-Kun, I'll be there to protect that honesty of yours.

Gekkō sighed withdrawing his blade from the gutsy ninja. The blonde is something else, Naruto Uzumaki is the most fearless person I know. I unconsciously grabbed onto my pendant's blue diamond, I couldn't believe I was going to lose him so soon.

"This match is the first match of the preliminary rounds……." The proctor paused watching Naruto and then me to see if we were looking to speak over him again. "The fir(cough cough) first(cough cough cough.) (clears throat.) the first contenders' Naruto Uzumaki of Konohagaru vs Ino Yamanaka of the Yamanaka clan. Hajime!!" Gekkō jumped back looking relieved to have gotten that sentence out of the way.

"Don't think I am taking it easy on you!" I Jumped back, my words making Naruto's eyes widen in shock, probably having forgotten we were still in the Chunin exams and we all want to be Chunin.

I've never really thought about how I would fight Naruto before. It never crossed my mind, then again fights don't usually cross my mind. Mind games were a good start but he was just as slippery with his words, able to lead a conversation or take it over.

"Wait! What. We are FIGHTING?!!" Naruto cried out in shock, what did he think I was gonna do, bring out a table and chairs, put him in handcuffs, and start interrogating him? I am gonna strangle the so-in-trouble blonde, it does not mean just because I am not mad anymore somebody did not have to pay for damages.

'Maybe it's a blessing in disguise.' That was quite a nice revelation and I grinned, maybe those fools do listen sometimes. I rushed him I just felt like I could get away with everything so would you look at my shock when he turned around and ran away?

"Aghhh!! Naruto come back here!" How can he start running away, he looked back at me at my shout. I don't know what he saw on my face but he ran faster, now actually out running me to the point he almost ran into me from behind when he made a lap and caught up to me.

He immediately jumped back when he saw his mistake. This was so stupid I'm here asking myself how to defeat this idiot and he was busy running away from me.

"This is a match Naruto, and I don't plan on losing come fight me like a man." I was getting angry and we both knew that. The comments coming from Kiba were not helping.

"Stop running around and be a man, fight your chick bro!! Hahahaha." That was Kiba being Kiba he had this grin of entertainment on his face only someone who was enjoying what they were watching could pull.

"Shut up mutt, what do you take me for an abusive partner!!" Naruto screamed back and I slapped my forehead in exasperation I heard many people groan at his words which were in plain words stupid.

"Genin Naruto Uzumaki, please refrain from wasting everybody's time with your love affairs," Gekkō told Naruto who looked at the man with a glare, he wanted to say something when another voice shouted out.

"Kick his ass Ino-Pig!!" Did I groan, why Sakura, why? I drew Kunai's and threw them at him the first he dodged leaning to the left and the other he dodged leaning to the right. He looked at me seriously before pulling that face again as he thought of a solution.

"Do we have to fight?" He finally asked and I blinked at his question. Gekkō opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted again, choking on his words and entering a new coughing fit. "I asked Ino-Chan." Yes we were supposed to fight, yes I wanted to beat the crap out of him and yes I felt bad for feeling like that but he had to know I was hurting.

"Yes Goldie-Kun we have to, I want you to fight me like you would fight Hinata try your best so I can try mine." I gave him a small smile taking a battle-ready stance. "You are the nicest person I know even if you win and I come out bloody I won't ever hold anything against you, we will still be cool." I had to quickly wipe a tear about to escape my eyes, again I looked to Hinata and saw her looking in my direction, I know she is blind but she looked so hurt like she saw my pain.

I can't even be mad at her either, she looked so worried and ashamed with her hands intertwined in front of her face big eyes glossing over making her black eyes look like a night filled with stars. Nobody ever wanted to see little Hinata sad, she is like that little bunny you save and nursed back to health.

'Well, until she wasn't.' I shook my head at the random thoughts clouding my judgment for my opponent who was now looking between me and Hinata with big worried eyes because of the eye contact we made.

I dashed at him quickly, it wasn't my intention to make him drop his guard but seeing the opening I took my chance. I dropped down and performed a slide tackle. My fighting style is a little rough so I wear thick bandages to protect my skin.

I don't have a fighting style I'm more of a trickster when it comes to how I fight. I am a bad girl kind of brutal, hair pulling, shoving, scratching, name calling I fought to my advantage and I wasn't bothered by it.

Naruto jumped over my form, I thought I had him when I revealed the ninja wires wrapped around my hands ready to get tied around his legs but his jump was revealed to be a front flip which he in his landing turned into a roll. I placed my hands on the floor and turned around finding myself in a sprinter starting position only for a second before I ran at him again.

My arms were in front of me as I ran, with the ninja wires still wrapped around my hands. Naruto looked to finally make up his mind with the determination I saw shining in his eyes, taking a stance and standing his ground.

"Come! show me what you got!" That was his battle cry to me. I glared forward in concentration and when I reached him, I made my move. My arms came up and then swerved left twisting the ninja wire in one knot before coming down to wrap it around his outstretched arm.

He pulled his hand back and the other shot forward, I finally met that brick wall Sasuke and Hinata referenced when talking about sparring with the Golden blonde powerhouse. I was sent back with the breath knocked out of me and I rolled back a few feet in tumbles and turns before stopping on my stomach breathing deeply trying to regain what a moment ago I had lost.

"Are you okay?" I heard him ask my downed form with no worry but concern in his voice. I raised a hand and gave a thumbs-up to answer him. I pushed myself up with my hands and stood back up, that was a heavy hit.

He took his stance once more ready for me to attack. I took a deep breath and brought the wires in front of me and began circling him slowly. He stalked me with his sharp bright blue eyes, I had to outsmart him, another hit like that and I'm done for.

'It really is like a wall.' I chuckled a little before breathing in and then out. "Is that the best you got, you hit like a girl." I taunted making him bristle at the accusation.

"Ha!!! You lying, I saw your face, you definitely felt that and you can't get mad!!" He quickly added before he continued. "You said I should do my best so you could do your best." He defended himself and I groaned hearing Sakura snickering probably finding the situation funny even though she didn't understand it fully.

"Quick! somebody call the Uchiha Police we have an abusive partner beating his girlfriend! Hahahaha." Naruto glared up at Kiba in anger at his words looking ready to run up there and beat him up. I just saw another distraction if you asked me, I capitalized and ran at him, a second later he turned back to me panicked, and ducked under my roundhouse kick.

He stood up quickly grabbing my outstretched leg with both his hands and placing it against his shoulder. I found my left leg raised to my head straight up into a standing split and I blushed in embarrassment at the position I found myself in with the person breaking my heart.

"Go! Naruto you dog owowowowowwww. Ouch!" Thank you Sakura, I couldn't have been more grateful for her slapping him behind the head and stopping the howls he was about to make.

"You have nice thighs Ino-Chan." He said giving the leg in his grip a squeeze making me more embarrassed and that quickly turned to me wanting payback. I drew a senbon needle and brought it down at him but his head moved so fast he had the senbon between his teeth grinning at me a second later

"I know you can do better than that." He told me and I smirked my lips already inches from his were quickly locked to his own. Making his eyes widen and he moved away releasing my legs that I quickly brought back around to kick his face which he jumped back from.

"No snappy remark, Cat caught your tongue." I asked smirking even forgetting my situation but quickly the smirk crashed and burned when I found him looking up at Hinata. She is blind and yet he looked almost scared that she might have seen that. I heaved a sob at the pain that gripped my heart. It isn't fair, I love him too.

'Why do I have to go through this pain?' The tears fell on their own and no amount of trying could stop them. So I fought them with my hands wiping away with my palms and trying to make it look like I was okay.

I could tell a lot of people were confused about the happenings in the arena, especially my academy classmates. Hinata might be the only person in the audience who knew what was going on.

"Sunshine I…" I raised my hand and shook my head, I don't want to hear anything right now. For now, I need to calm down and think, I need to remember why I am not turning this into a scene. I looked over at the Hokage whose face was underneath his Hokage hat, with me unable to see it

'A breath, yes first a breath, I need to control my emotions.' I took a deep breath in and blew it out. I took another in and another out my eyes closed to block out everything in front of me. It was a little harder than I expected it to be.

"Let's just fight okay." From there on the atmosphere was somber, everybody now knew something was going on or at least most of the rookie nine could tell. All my attacks were landing and I didn't stop, he also didn't stop me or move away. My wide right hook which was so telegraphed because of my emotions still landed like a devastating attack.

I felt my knuckles ache from the contact, but it never slowed down the next attack that came courtesy of my left hand. It was loud, wince-worthy, and impactful, the slap made a lasting impression as a five-finger imprint of an open palm rested on Naruto's cheek which he didn't budge from.

I kicked his leg, with the end of my shoes, and continued kicking any semblance of planning and plotting gone replaced by pain and heartbreak, I began crying again just barely able to hold back the sobs.

What do I do now, I lost him already or did I never have him in the first place? I began punching his chest wildly all the while tears stream down my face like a river. I couldn't breathe from my nose anymore it became hard, I had to do it with my mouth. 'In out, In out.'

"If you want I can forfeit." Naruto said unable to face me, he had a nosebleed from the right hook I delivered and I sighed in defeat. All those hits and a nosebleed is all I gave him? I can't fight him not today. I came close to him and brought my hands up, he didn't flinch away as my hands were placed on either side of his neck softly caressing the length and looking him in the eyes.

'Don't go.' I begged him with my eyes, showing him how much I didn't want him to leave. He looked back at me and explained himself, his eyes telling me a story of a desert where everything was on fire meeting a desert where everything was wet.

A clear bright blue sunny sky meeting the ocean deep and falling in love with it. I smiled softly up at him he was happy, I think I could live my life knowing he was happy. I wiped the blood from his nose with a thumb and wiped it on my thigh bandages.

'You must be careful.' I conveyed and he nodded, though he looked confused by why I looked at him so meaningfully.

"Then let's end this." I told him and he nodded solemnly, I took a step back, quick to keep my emotions even once more but I sniffed every once in a while. I took a step back and prepared myself, I could see people were now looking for some kind of final meeting, one final clash to make everything okay.

I took a deep breath through my nose and released it through my mouth. I had a mission to complete. I don't know what Gold—Naruto wants to be when he is older, I don't know how he has so much money or what secrets the Hokage was withholding from him but I've decided to find out.

"Do you know what my dream is Naruto?" He looked hurt that I called him by only his name and that made my bitter heart feel a little better at the pain he felt. I hated that, I did not want to be someone I am not.

"T and I." He replied softly voice sounding so unlike himself, instead of loud and free his voice came out quiet and restrained. I took another breath.

"That's right! I will one day become director of that division." I exclaimed I don't know why but I didn't want to see him hurting anymore it made me feel that much worse. I sniffed once more rubbing my eyes.

"When that day comes I am putting you on a wooden chair in handcuffs and I'm gonna torture you for all of this." It was meant to be a joke but instead, he looked to almost brighten up at hearing he would get punished for what he was doing to me.

"I forfeit." I said after a second and Naruto looked down in sadness, Hinata looked down as well like she was right there with us in the ring going through the same feelings. Her hands were balled on the railing in a tight grip with her blind eyes concentrated on us.

"Ino-Chan, you don't have to." Naruto whispered in sorrow, I was not a fighter, my team and I showed the world we could not just collect information but survive in the wild as well that seems like the quality needed to be a Chunin, strength was not everything.

"This tournament phase is not my cup of hot chocolate Naruto. You know what I am into, just do your best in the next round okay, I-I l-love you please don't follow me." The last 7 words were so heavy on my tongue they came out as whispered words, I saw him ready to take a step toward me but I shook my head and turned around making my way outside the arena away from everybody around.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was playing dirty, there are things he is hiding not just from me but Naruto as well. Kakashi Hatake seems willing to talk about the Uzumaki clan I can try to get the information from him but for now, I need to go scream into a pillow.

«««««"»»»»»

Naruto stood there in the middle of the arena and watched Ino leave the room through the door previously used by the Hokage. He was feeling horrible, there was nothing more to say. He didn't have to talk, Ino had already figured it out it was that observatory skill of hers.

Ino can pick up on things here and there like puzzle pieces but the day she decides to put them together even if they are not complete she will always see the picture and know what the missing components were.

'I'm sorry Sunshine.' Naruto thought with sadness wearing him like a cloak. He didn't even hear when Gekkō announced him as the winner or how Kiba shouted about never having seen a live soap opera, he simply watched her go, walk through the door and let it close behind her.

Did he lose someone precious to him for loving Hinata? Was the thought that traveled through his mind over and over at lightning speed to take up every single second of his brain function.

'Ino.' Naruto's mind was devious as it decided now was the perfect time to flashback to the days they played and laughed at the park, their first day at the academy and how he left her a blushing mess with the kiss he gave her, how cute she looked in her panic when she heard he was an orphan. He remembered the talks they had during their jogs and how she could always give him a million-watt smile.

The blonde balled his fists and turned back to the stairs marching his way toward his fellow leaf genin the air around him screamed don't fuck with me right now and most of not everybody listened only Hinata came up to him and just stood there staring at him. Her fingers poking each other and her eyes never staying locked with his for longer than a second.

I love you so so much, Hinata mouthed to the blonde looking ready to hug him but she knew she didn't have to when he gave her a small smile that Hinata thought had many meanings from what she felt in his emotions. I love you more he mouthed back to her out of everybody's eye view and although she did not see his mouth movements but the emotions that enveloped her was even better.

Hinata moved in and hugged the blonde feeling the turmoil in his heart but then her eyes widened when she felt the Hokage's interest in her spike so abruptly. The same kind of interest he was showing Ino the whole match. She broke the hug and looked Naruto In the face, again quite blind to her surroundings.

'Why can't they just leave him alone.' Hinata thought with her hands balling and her chakra spiking, could the third not see Naruto was hurting? And yet his intentions for Naruto were so easy to read due to the foul interest he had in her, an interest that spoke of backstabbing, cheating, and manipulation.

'I will always protect you Naruto-Kun.' Hinata hugged who now just stood there shaking and fighting back tears. He always said Hinata was the only one allowed to see him cry and although she couldn't see tears she knew he was not going to let them drop in front of people. Hinata felt his emotions wailing and crying he didn't want to cause Ino pain.

Authors notes

Those are the first match up Ino Vs Naruto it was mostly in our beautiful Yamanaka heiresses POV just so everybody knows that Ino in this story is also sweet and loving and supporting and incredible very much so I feel your pain Naruto I feel like I was the one dumping her instead of you... that's some fucked up shit... next chapter next fight and no this is the longest fight here maybe two more fights of the same length but the rest will fit well... with the changes in line ups what can we expect of the exams will Lee fight gara or will it be Neji, maybe Tenten or maybe Hinata everything is so intense here someone could die...

200k words dang we moving up in the world... I think the pace is good story wise...

Enjoy