Reviewers:

Kzzzzzz: Thanks Bud! Appreciate it.

Kingred1994: Thanks Kindred. I always thought Sakura's hair should have been used in a jutsu for shining light at her ninja enemies

AN: Wow! So nice to hear from you all! I hope you all enjoyed the July Fireworks. Enjoy this chapter.

Glazed Emeralds: A Hallmark Story

Chapter 7: In Trouble

In the evening, Naruto breathed a content sigh as he looked out the window at the forested hillside that was the view from his room. For being his first full day here in Konoha, it was really something he was glad of. This place was just sooo… welcoming.

After an hour checking in with his boss and numerous emails to go through to keep himself up to date, Naruto had almost lost himself in the perils of city life before he moved downstairs for dinner. He was surprised to find the place packed with locals traipsing in and out the doors going between here and the pub next to the land office. It was so rowdy and fast and…and exhilarating!

Ino had been there beside him, cajoling with him on his rendition of getting lost in the woods, something the locals loved to poke fun at the tourists for. He'd been happy to make everyone around him smile, but the dinner was highlighted every time that Sakura passed him by, always keeping his glass filled and his plate full of her delicious cooking.

After all of that, he'd trudged up to his room, maybe a little tipsy, though even now he couldn't recall if Sakura hadn't helped him up the stairs or not, maybe opened the door for him. Naruto smiled at the whole day; he'd met some wonderful people, and it was a secret delight of his to learn people's personal history too.

Naruto whooped as his leg hit the end of bed and he fell down to the mattress, splayed out as he looked at the intricate designs on the ceiling, and wondered if Sakura had painted the petals on them. She seemed to do everything on her own for the inn. Naruto frowned; she should have someone to help her with this stuff, someone she could depend on to give her more time to relax or sleep in or skip dinner!

"Damn, I'm in trouble." Naruto muttered to himself as he grabbed the white stationary that lay on his bedside table. He quickly divided it up into a Pro and Con list of reasons for and against the town around him.

He of course started off with a con. 'Con-out in the middle of nowhere where industries and jobs were few and far between.' They'd always be the small fish in the big pond.

Naruto's lips widened as he switched to the other side. 'Pro-Nice small town with friendly people who are genuinely happy with the lives they live. Can I become that happy?'

'Con-I'd have to leave my job, which I've dedicated my whole adult life to.' All the countless hours and weekends and evenings lost and for nothing. He would also need to find a new job either remotely or around here, which he didn't even know what he could do around here since there were no offices.

A burgeoning thought crossed his face as he silently turned the paper over and wrote down his next Pro. Naruto sighed and slid the paper back onto the table and lay back in bed sighing happily. He didn't have to rush this after all. He had a whole month to feel things out and make a decision; he was sure that he'd grow that list out with every day he was here. But that last Pro...that may be something else entirely. Naruto flicked the switch and the entire room went dark, except for a small patch of moonlight streaming through the window, illuminating the paper on the table.

'Pro…I am totally crushing on the Innkeeper.'

The following morning, before anyone was truly up and about, the town was quiet as the sun just peeked out between the trees. The front door to the town inn popped open and a figure slid out of it, careful to close it without a sound. Her emerald eyes swished both ways as she scampered across the street and slid into the small alleyway next to the trading post. Up she jogged along the wooden steps to an exterior door on the second floor, reaching into her pocket to slide a key into the lock.

"You sold it!" Sakura screamed as she raced inside the home that she was invading, and barreled straight into the kitchen where she knew the ire of her anger would be.

"What?" Came the sputtering voice from her best friend, who swiveled around to greet her, Sakura getting quite the view as the bathrobe Ino was wearing parted, revealing the risque negligee that she wore to bed, the fabric practically see-through and alluring. "Sakura~! It's too early for this!" Ino groaned as she rubbed at her eyes. 'I knew this was coming! I should have known she'd attack at dawn.'

"You sold the property next to mine! You said you would sell it to me; you promised!" Sakura raged, her eyes shoving daggers into her as Ino felt her blood spurting out from her heart. But Ino also had a fiery temper…and she hadn't had her coffee yet.

"Well the guy offered me four times the amount you were! Okay?" Ino piped up as she swiveled around to yell back her reasoning.

Sakura stalled, her eyes widening at the absurd amount of money for that single piece of land. She quirked her head as she gestured with her hand back towards her inn. "The...blonde guy I have staying with me? I never seen him before. I mean, really?"

Ino reached back for her coffee cup from her espresso machine, shaking her head as she took a sip. "No...this old guy. He came into town in this really nice and expensive car, like next generation with all the bells and whistles and-" Ino blubbered, until she opened her eyes to see that Sakura wasn't buying it. "…Okay, well, I went out with him to the lot. Damn he was a pervert, checking me out and all, did you know he asked me if I'd like to be in a porn video-"

"Ino!" Sakura snapped back and Ino broke apart.

"Okay! I sold it, mad yet?!" Ino rubbed at the sides of her eyes as she sighed. "He took one look at the meadow, and said it was perfect and threw out the number. What was I supposed to do?"

Sakura grinded her canines together, shoving her words from between her teeth. "Say, it's taken."

Ino frowned from behind her hands, dragging her nails down her cheeks as she looked pointedly back. "I couldn't do that, Sakura. I'd lose my license. I run the land office, and besides, since I'm the mayor, the town charter requires my family to lessen our ownership in the town as promised when I took the position. You know that, right?" Ino bit back, as Sakura's face broke into a frown and her voice shivered and quaked.

"I-I know that but-"

Seeing her friend break down in the middle of an argument made Ino confused. Happy, because she had dreaded this topic for two days and had expected Sakura to lash out and leave her some scratch marks on her face. To see her acting shy and anxious was not something in her normal character. "Why are you so shaken up by that? It's just land, Sakura. Everyone in town knows you're planning to build a cabin there."

Sakura rubbed at her arms nervously, goosebumps covering across her forearm. "Well, my guest was there, looking it over."

Ino nodded. "Yeah, I gave him my car and- oh...you went there too?"

Sakura shrugged helplessly. "I felt nostalgic, okay? It's where...my parents are buried. It's peaceful. It was so embarrassing…"

Ino quirked her head at that last part. She knew how Sakura went there to be alone and away from others, but Ino had gone with her many times before, and she was fine if people were there with her. "How so?"

"My uh...my car died…"

Ino smirked sadly in pity. "Again? I thought you got it fixed."

"Turns out not."

"How was the walk then?...Sakura…"

"H-he offered me a ride back."

"Aw...how sweet."

Ino watched from behind her cup as Sakura looked back to glare at her, her voice dripping venom. "He said he was being neighborly."

Ino choked on her coffee only to burst out laughing, as she struggled to hold down the hot liquid in her throat. "Oh God! I love it when outsiders try to use our lingo! You smack him good then?"

Sakura shrugged. "A little."

"Hope you weren't too hard on him. You know...he is good on the eyes...and so your type...:"

Sakura blushed lightly. "...Lay off...he's only here for a little while…"

"Wouldn't stop me...but if he's only here for a short time…maybe you can make a deal with him."

"Deal? What do you mean?"

"Well...if he leaves, maybe you can build on it, rent the land from him…" Ino smirked as she smugly grinned behind her cup...and if he stays and builds on it, you can seduce him-"

"Oh Ino!"

Short Chapter, but plenty of insights I feel. Stay tuned and let me know your thoughts!