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. Whether I will have Oc's in the fic or not depends entirely on how the story goes.

Chapter 30

"How was the mission?" Sakura spoke up to break the tense atmosphere in the room, Ino was glaring at Naruto to explain, though she wouldn't pose the question and Naruto wasn't gonna be the one to bring it up. Hinata was facing forward blindness had its perks she just had to play it low-key.

"The mission! That is top secret Sakura." Naruto said a bit too quickly jumping on the topic but unconsciously killing it. Sakura nodded in understanding with no further inquiries and the silence returned.

"But! I wasn't told that so I am just assuming." Naruto's laugh was exaggerated. He then proceeded to 'accidentally' drop his mission report on the floor with Ino and Sakura's interests getting peaked by the details of their group's first C-rank taker.

Naruto knew it would spread around the village by this time tomorrow but he didn't know how he should tell Ino what was going on with him and Hinata which Naruto didn't know what to call, so he threw bait in there to get the girls distracted from the awkward atmosphere. Sakura was ensnared in no time but Ino didn't give it a second glance.

"I'm going to the bathroom." Sakura informed the group as she stood up from her sit and quickly swiped the scroll from the floor, planning on reading it there probably. Hinata began fidgeting in her sit before saying something incoherent and standing up and heading to Naruto's spacious balcony.

Ino looked over at Naruto and saw him stealing glances at her before looking away. She really did miss him, a whole month was the longest she's gone without him since their first day at the academy. She loved spending time with him, at first she like most of the girls in her class ran for Sasuke.

Ino had found his character intriguing like a puzzle that came with all the pieces she just had to put together and see the picture, but Naruto?

Ino stood from her position on a chair and moved to the sofa Naruto shared with Hinata a few seconds before the girl relocated to the balcony. She spied Naruto stealing a glance at her and looking away going deep in thought.

"Goldie-Kun." Ino called out to him sweetly as she got in front of him. He turned around to face her, his eyes telling her the whole story. He was scared that he would lose something precious to him because of something he felt no wrong about. Ino didn't understand it but she didn't think she had to.

"Welcome home, I missed you so much." Ino smiled beautifully as she went on to sit on his lap facing him with his legs between her legs. Naruto was different from Sasuke, most of his pieces were missing he had a secret and Ino wanted to share that secret with him to show him that she truly was in love with him by accepting him fully.

"I was a little nervous thinking you might find yourself another girlfriend outside the village." Ino admitted with a little laugh and placed her arms on his shoulders interlocking her fingers behind his head while staring him in the eyes.

"Ino-Chan." Naruto whispered with a gloomy feeling overtaking him. Ino picked up on it, feeling a little scared she scooted closer to him and brought her face to his neck hugging him closer.

"But you are back, and I'm so happy." Ino told him in a whisper against his neck and Naruto let out a small chuckle at the sensation.

"I love you." Ino told him softly while kissing his cheek. Naruto kept silent for a while it was so easy to say those words to Hinata but he couldn't do the same for Ino. Did he not feel the same way? He liked her a lot what was different?

"Thank you." Naruto replied, his voice sounded so hurt to Ino that she smiled because she at least knew he cared. The fact he couldn't repeat those words to her made him sad.

"You're the best Ino-Chan, your the best ever." Naruto told the platinum-blonde as he brought his hands up to hug the girl back and they held each other like that for some time. Ino wondered if Sakura might have been right and Naruto wanted to break up with her, she almost cried at the thought but let his warmth soothe away her doubts and brought him in closer. The hug became desperate as she balled his mane of hair in a fist.

"NARUTO! IS THIS TRUE!!" Sakura came rushing outside the bathroom eyes wide and mouth agape so shocked she was, the scene she walked into was for all intents and purposes not even happening.

"You did not hear it from me." Naruto told Sakura in a warning voice and the girl nodded dumbly wondering how she could confirm the validity of the blonde's report. Ino tried standing up from her position on Naruto's lap but he held her in place.

"Do you mind joining me at the Hokage building, after we drop Hinata-Chan off at the Hyuga compound?" Naruto asked her with a small smile somehow he felt like he was betraying Hinata but he pushed that feeling down and waited for Ino's answer, he got it a few seconds later.

"Eeewwww. Guys get a room." Sakura protested when Ino kissed Naruto on the lips and the blonde returned the kiss.

««««"»»»»

"I can't ruin something so pure for Naruto-Kun." Hinata thought sadly as she stared forward at the Hokage monument. Her Byakugan was active with tears streaming down her eyes as she saw the scene inside the house.

"Naruto-Kun." Hinata whispered in silent tears deactivating her dojutsu as she stared forward seeing only darkness. Hinata could feel Ino's fears and insecurities she could feel Naruto's doubts and hurt, her emphatic nature wouldn't allow her to be the cause of heartbreak, she knew all about them.

'I have to keep Naruto at a distance.' Hinata thought sadly. The day's events showed her that although she had his affections he still belonged to someone else, someone Hinata felt would make Naruto happier than she ever could. Only if she knew nobody made Naruto Uzumaki happier than she did or maybe she did, she just didn't believe it because she never found herself good enough for him

««««"»»»»

"Why exactly are we leaving the comfort of wave country and traveling to Sunagakure?" The individual who asked this question was draped from head to toe in a light fabric, light brown. Headpieces consist of a head wrap and cloth neck covers to protect against harsh weather.

"We. Are only here as a protection detail, Gato-Sama is the one on business." Another responded clothed in the same style as the previous man he, unlike the others, had a star pin on his chest, the other two behind them with the same attire grumbled but didn't say anything.

"It's so hot man." The man complained once more and the group sighed, the guy was somehow making it hotter than it already was with all the hot air he let out complaining with no solution to hand. The least he could do was shut up instead of helping the desert kill them faster.

"Look Odama head, if you open your mouth again you better be calling out your so-called ultimate jutsu or I swear!" The man at the back spoke fuming at 'Odama head'.

"Tststs what's it called again Flying Thunder God Big head smash." The man laughed at his own joke and there we saw his identity with a missing molar it was Danko the one on his left laughing as well revealing a missing canine still nameless.

Odama grit his teeth but he couldn't go attack Danko because of the weight on his shoulder. The weight was a carriage he carried along with the rest of the three men with him.

"Stop bickering and March it's hot in here!" Gatō peaked his head out of the window in his position in a luxurious carriage in a white vest and a hand fan in his hand imported from snow country.

"We have arrived Gatō -Sama!" The man opposite Odama said in attention everybody there looked at him with disdain a 'fucking teacher's pet' they all thought.

"Good work Rasen, unlike these hood rats you will go places in life." Gatō gave the man a nod as they settled the carrier down in front of Suna's gates.

Being surrounded by desert offers the village a natural deterrent against invasion, as few foreign powers would be willing to endure the sandstorms and water scarcity common to Suna. Sunagakure itself lies in a fortified valley behind cliffs of rock, with the passage in and out of the village restricted to a single cleft between two cliff faces, making the area very hard to attack from the ground.

Gatō stepped out of the carriage as two Suna shinobi came out, they already had a sensor identify them as civilians from their low chakra reserves.

"State your business." The standard attire for Suna shinobi consists of blue or black uniforms underneath flak jackets of various shades of beige to better blend with their natural environment and include shoulder guards. Headpieces consisting of a head wrap and cloth neck covers to protect against harsh weather are popular with Suna shinobi.

Both shinobi approaching Gatō's entourage wore exactly the same making them faceless individuals in the eyes of the 5 men.

"Gatō-Sama is a businessman seeking to invest in Sunagakure." Rasen spoke for his boss who he didn't know was just a frontman at this point due to having his empire swiped with his consent, Gatō simply nodded at Rasen's words.

"Papers and identifications." The Suna nin on the left requested and they handed them over, nothing was forged and they were all original. The fact they belonged to no hidden village had them enter the village in 15 minutes flat.

"Rasen get one of these hood rats to find me a hotel the most luxurious around, make sure they have conditioning in there." Gatō instructed not willing to waste his breath on the rest of his protection detail. Rasen saluted his 'Boss' and looked to who to send.

"Bestie!" Odama called his friend with a brilliant smile practically begging him with his eyes not to send him while his eyes indicated to his back at Danko. Rasen nodded winking at his best friend.

"Danko go find Gatō-Sama a hotel room, we will be waiting here in the shade." Gatō nodded it was a good idea, he was already burning to stand in the open sun.

"W-what why me, I don't even know suna." Danko complained eyes narrowed at the favoritism in broad daylight he looked over at his own best friend hoping the man would back him up only to find the man missing from his position and already moving to the shade as he conversed with Rasen trying to butter him.

'Mango you traitor' Danko thought with betrayed eyes and a tear of defeat coming into his eyes.

"Fine!" Danko shouted like a kid and stomped his way to the biggest building around not knowing that would be the Kazekage tower right in the middle of the village so so far away passing many hotels in the process, he was shy to ask the people hidden under head wraps.

"Gatō-Sama, a chair for you sir." Rasen was a prepared man, he seemed like a bum sucking up to Gatō but he had the goal he wanted to be the right-hand man of the rich businessman.

"Good." Gatō sat down under the shade of a tree and looked around the village The buildings inside seem to be made of clay or stucco, which would help to keep the buildings cool.

Gatō at first was skeptical of his 'mission' to Sunagakure by his young boss he thought the boy just wanted to punish him but when Naruto Uzumaki told him of Suna's financial problems Gatō understood the plot.

Suna was in dire need of financial aid and couldn't push away possible solutions, what Gatō is meant to do is what he did to Wave. A warning from the young boss said he shouldn't push his luck this was a hidden village any stupidity would be dealt with the ninja way through a lot of torture and then a slow death.

He would be investing in real estate, providing Naruto with the layout of the village, in other words, making Creed industries a household name in Suna and finding him some ninjas of interest who could fit well with his plans for the future which Gatō was not privée too the blonde told him that much to his face.

Get himself an audience with the Kazekage and work a deal that will have Gatō bringing in missions, and customers with wealth which Gatō had many of while Wave could start trading with the place water, seafood, and so on.

Every port there was under Naruto's name now and the only bridge too. Gatō thought the boy's foresight was too broken. He might not be a ninja but his wealth is well known in the elemental nations and that alone is the reason Naruto kept him alive as a frontman who already had a raptor as a wealthy man.

"Gatō-Sama we have people approaching us." Gatō looked up putting his thoughts to the back of his mind and watched as the man approached.

"Gatō-San from Gatō industry's?" The man asked and Gatō nodded showing no outward emotions as his useless detail stood ready to 'protect' him but he would rather put his life in these useless rats' hands than deal with Shinobis again.

"I am Baki a Jonin of Sunagakure." The man introduced himself sternly. Baki is a very tall man. He has two distinctive, red markings on the right side of his face the only visible part of his head, with the rest being covered by his turban-like headgear and by a sheet hanging from it on the left side of his face. He dons the standard attire of a Suna-nin, completes with a forehead protector and flak jacket.

"How can we help you Baki-San." Rasen said and Odama kept wondering where his friend got so assertive and dependable.

"I was ordered by Kazekage-Sama to be your guide around Suna for the duration of your stay. We have had word that you wish to invest in the village." Baki informed them of his purpose in the area and Gatō couldn't help but think the blonde had been right he said something like this might happen due to Suna's desperation.

"Good, good yes that will be excellent, but first we need a place to rest the journey was very tiring." Gatō spoke on his own now and Baki nodded in understanding as he prepared to lead them when.

"Help! Help somebody help me! MaMAAAA!" Everybody looked at the voice and found Danko running for his life as he was chased by sand the man's defense maneuvers were the only thing keeping him alive. Every time a part of him got caught in the sand he simply removed it, he was only in his underwear at this point and the cloth around his head.

"Come back here and bleed for mother." A boy with a gourd said smiling with blood lust.

"GAARA!" Baki shouted at the boy and he stopped looking at Baki with angry frantic eyes.

Gaara has fair skin, green eyes, and short auburn hair. He lacks distinctive pupils or eyebrows, He has black rings around his eyes. the kanji for "love" is carved on the left side of his forehead, and his hair is parted for it to be kept visible.

Gaara wears a black body suit with an open neck, t-shirt-like sleeves, and almost full-length leggings. With this, he wears a white cloth over his right shoulder and the left side of his hips. He has a wide leather band from his left shoulder to his right hip with which he carries his sand gourd and around which he wraps his forehead protector.

"What" His voice was so gruff and hoarse he gave Gatō and his entourage shivers. Danko reaching the rest of his travel buddies immediately ran behind Rasen and placed him between himself and Gaara.

"I'll be reporting this incident to the Kazekage." At Baki's words, Gaara tsk'd and walked away throwing the newcomers a dead look before moving on.

"I apologize for that he was just playing a prank." Baki lied and nobody believed him but they let it go.

"Follow me and we will find you a place to rest." Baki began leading the way and Gatō stood up finally using his legs to travel since they snuck out of wave, his mansion now under Naruto Uzumaki's name would be their base of operations.

Danko still in his underwear gained a lot of eyes but most only looked at him in pity they understood the man got away with his life and that was all that mattered many others never got the opportunity.

Odama noticed this and wondered why they behaved like it was a common experience that scared them but that fear had become dull.

««««"»»»»

"You can't be serious?" Kiba gasped in what you could only describe as utter disbelief, so strong was his disbelief it gained an intent. That intent went on a killing spree of any of his colleague's beliefs and lost as others seemed interested.

"I swear! The jonins got the full reports and I heard it from a source." Sakura replied, her source could have only been one boy with blue eyes, a big smile, and her best friend's 'Golden boy'.

"Oh yeah whose your source!?" Kiba yelled and the older generation of genin and some Chunins looked their way.

"Shhhhhhhh!!!!!!" Amy shushed Kiba

"Shhhhhhhh!!!!!!" Sakura shushed Kiba

"Troublesome. Sh sh uuuuuuwaaahhhh" Shikamaru managed to get a quickly rushed 'shush' in before he got bored of the moment and managed to understand we're the whole conversation was going with millions of interactions but one conclusion, he never gets that wrong.

"Pluututtttttt munch pluutluuuutlhu" Ohh choji Shikamaru looked at his 'best friend.' The only person he can never read or understand not because it's hard but because he doesn't bother.

'Choji is just a follower, he believes the stories about Ino-chika-Cho so doesn't believe he can do anything without me and if I'm not around he would seek out Ino and then sensei.' Chikamure deduced this from many interactions he had with the Akamichi heir. The only conversations Choji ever brings up are about their parent's past and legacy, but since the team placed Choji has thought of it as fate.

'We're not our parents Choji.' Shikamura tried to tell him with his mind because with his mouth it would be too troublesome the questions would be infinite. Shikamaru knew Choji was not the type to stand tall on occasion. He would look for him for guidance and Shikamaru would offer it just because having a death in his consciousness would be too 'troublesome'.

"Kiba you're making a noise." Shino is a very straightforward guy. You could paint him red and he will tell you yes logically he was a red person now, spoke it like it is. Shikamaru knew how it would end but why not get a smile in there at being right, the joke was well plotted with many smokes and mirrors.

"Troublesome." Shikamaru sighed looking up at the clouds the only inconsistency in his life.

He only saw plain gray the most boring thing in the world, he would never go watching paint dry.

'I hate D-ranks!' Shikamaru thought with a yawn and a pout that barely last a second on his face before he got unmotivated in keeping it.

"That's all you ever say." Amy grounded out in a growl and Shikamaru sighed, why were all girls like his mother couldn't he just be free

'Shikamaru just wants to chill man.' The lazy Nara thought in the third person.

'I wish I was a cloud, unbothered.' After another yawn Shikamaru tried to sell Sakura out it was obvious Naruto was her source.

"I heard Naruto came back Sakura." Shikamaru bothered to make something coherent while faking a confident smirk like he already knew the answer and you just wanted to confirm it.

"Don't be stupid Shikamaru, I haven't even seen Naruto yet. It's like what 9 am" Sakura grumbled pouting in the process and Shikamaru narrowed his eyes.

When Shikamaru was younger he bothered to socialize, and that is when he met the blonde. He always bragged, he always sold, he always worked, Shikamaru's complete opposite. Naruto Uzumaki always tells you how it's gonna end with him on top and he always gets it done all on the run.

"Why did you Sakura and Amy call us here so early," Kiba questioned getting angry again. "Actually why are you here Amy this is the genin lounge you're not a genin." Kiba grumbled and got dirty looks from both girls in the group.

"We got the details last night it was ugh late yes very late. Ino, Amy, and I decided to meet up today very early of course, but Ino couldn't make it. It is our corps 2 week-long holiday anyway why not hang out.." Shikamaru sighed at Sakura's words wondering if they were telling the truth.

He knew there was something the pink-haired girl was hiding Shikamaru just needed a few more pieces to figure it out.

While Shikamaru always saw the dullness of the world Naruto saw the excitement in it everything was like a little game to him. A game his played so many times but still feels excited about coming back better than before.

'Like a final boss of a game.' Shikamaru contemplated.

«««««"»»»»»

"People are staring Goldie-Kun." Ino grumbled as she hid behind the small of Naruto's neck. The reason for her shyness was the fact she was located on Naruto's back getting a piggyback ride. The golden blonde said it wasn't to embarrass her but because he wanted to get a feel of her thighs which he occasionally gave gentle squeezes along the way. Which was embarrassing Ino.

"Do you want me to shout at them?" Naruto asked seriously and Ino knew he would do so. She vigorously shook her head in the negative saying a meek 'no it's okay'.

"Okay, but just tell me if anybody starts making you uncomfortable I'll kick their ass!" Naruto declared loud and clear so anybody close can hear his very true threat which inevitably only brought more eyes on them and Ino hid her face in his mane of his hair.

"Hey Goldie, is Hinata okay?" Ino asked and Naruto sighed.

"It's complicated Ino, Wave had us all going through things and somehow Hinata awakened her dojutsu I think she's just wondering how to break it to her family and clan," Naruto explained. Although truthful he kept some details away telling himself he would tell Ino eventually when they were both ready for that talk.

The two made it in front of the Hokage's office door and sat down in one of the chairs in the waiting lounge behind 13 people. Ino sat in a chair behind Naruto and began twisting his hair into braids. Naruto complained but her cuteness and beg no jutsu had him sighing in defeat.

AN

WE ARE DEEPENING THE PLOT, Naruto is sending his underlying and lapdogs to Suna for some Rest and Relaxation (lies) it's all business...

Gatō will be a recurring character along with his entourage, I don't really have a description for any of them just think of the as plain looking brown haired , brown eyed individuals... or not let your imagination go crazy...