[A/N] Hey guys, I'm not sure how many chapters I plan to add because as I said in the last chapter this was meant to be a one-shot, but it got really late. I figured I can't end the story there because there is so much to explore and I have so many ideas but I suck at writing dialogue so it's hard to motivate myself to write for too long.
Excuses out of the way thank you to everyone who left a review. Feel free to leave your own critiques in your review because I probably won't get around to reading my PMs.
Kakashi appeared in front of Tsunade in a swirl of leaves, "Excuse me Hokage-sama, he's awake." he bowed down in front of her before disappearing the same way he arrived.
The Godiame ignored the jonin's abrupt arrival and departure and summoned a shadow clone next to her. Without a word, she made her way to the hospital.
Right as she was about to break down the room leading to Naruto's room, seething with rage from his actions she heard a voice.
"So scared…" She focused some chakra to her ear before inching closer to the door in order to hear better, "So much blood." That was all she heard before sobbing. Giving some time for the unknown speaker to calm down she opened the door softly only to be met with a sight she never thought she'd see. The oldest blonde in the room watched with a small amount of pride, it was almost like watching her own son getting married. This led her down a rabbit hole of thoughts of having grandkids before they broke apart. She cleared her throat and the other two shinobi's faces turned bright red as Naruto's eyes, wide as a doe, met with her stern chestnut ones, before quickly darting to the young woman whose face was now buried deep into his left leg, and then back into hers.
"We can talk about that later. What in kami's name were you thinking Naruto!" Tsunade hissed, clenching her fists. She got closer, causing the blond who only just escaped death to quiver and shake.
"I'm sorry! I don't know why I did it, I was just so sad watching everyone be happy with their friends and partners, and I just…" Silence followed as Naruto dropped his gaze down to the bed he was resting on, "I'm tired of being alone, walking into a dark, empty apartment." His voice began to rise and he dug his nails into his palm, "Eating every meal by myself, and coming back from missions and no one to care that I made it back. " At the end, his voice dropped to just above a mumble. Hearing this Ino lifted her head, forgetting about being embarrassed and instead feeling pity and a little angry. Angry that no one was ever there for him. That she was never there for him. 'That changes now.' Nodding to herself, her hot-spring-Esque eyes now full of determination.
Tsunade's own deep brown eyes softened as her anger faded. Giving him a light smack on his head she started, "Naruto, you're not alone. You have your teammates and the rest of your classmates. From the looks of it Ino has been by your side the whole time. She was constantly hovering over my shoulder when I was trying to heal your wound. You have me and the pervert, and while he may not always be around the village, you know where I am… that mountain of paperwork never seems to shrink." She added with a slight smile
"But where's everyone else? Kakashi-sensei was here and you guys have said that Ino hasn't left but what about everyone else? Shikamaru, Choji, Lee, Hinata, Sakura where have they been?" He just managed to finish his thought before he started crying again. Tsunade looked away.
"Naruto they're ninjas, you know that means they can't always be in the village but that doesn't mean you can't reach out and talk to them when they come back. On top of that, some of them are clan heirs-" The Hokage's words were cut off
"I'm always there when they need me! I'm always around when any of them come here and I always go out of my way to see them when I have time. I've been asleep for a couple of days, right? What mission are they on that they couldn't finish in one day and get back the next? How many preparations do clans need that last a couple of days with no breaks?" The other two blondes were staring at the floor now. "Why is it that I always have time for them but they never have time for me. I'm a human too!" At this point, Naruto couldn't stop his two personal oceans from leaking. "Why...why do I have to be alone?" Ino now had her own rain clouds raining down onto her face and Tsunade had no words. The platinum blonde threw her arms back around her friend's neck. This time Naruto kept his arms at his sides, which hurt the mind walker a little bit on the inside. 'I can't even call him my friend. We've barely even talked to each other, and I've done nothing for him, even in the academy I always thought he was annoying and ignored him.'
"Naruto I know you're hurting right now but there is severe damage to your heart's tissue and your body is working hard to help repair the lost cells, I'll come back later to see how you're doing okay?" With that, the Hokage left the two younger blondes alone again. After the door closed he returned the hug, causing Ino to squeeze him a little tighter although being careful so as not to cause him any more pain.
"I'm okay Ino-chan, thank you." The smaller blonde couldn't help but blush a little at the honorific after the events of earlier.
Resting her chin on his shoulder lightly, the kunoichi started, "I'm so sorry Naruto-kun. I never made time for you and I haven't been there for you. I promise I will be from now on... Believe it." Stealing the knuckle-heads infamous line without the usual enthusiasm he puts into it.
They both shared a small laugh, "It's okay, you don't have to apologize, Granny Tsunade is right, I know you have to help with your clan and the flower shop, and you have to do your part as a Ninja as well. I'll be okay, I promise." He pulled away and gave her a weak smile.
This pained the green-thumbed medical ninja and she shook her head, 'Even now he's trying to shoulder his pain by himself.' Ino gazed back with soft blue eyes, "You don't have to do everything yourself Naruto-kun. I just told you from now on I'll be here for you, let me share some of the weight you have on your shoulders. I won't accept no for an answer Mr." To show she meant what she said she pulled back to place her hands on her hips. Hearing a laugh come from the blond in question she smiled, which was quickly replaced with a frown. "What's so funny?" Ino demanded which only served to make him laugh even more.
"I just couldn't help but think about how much like a child you looked," Naruto said before continuing to laugh, causing Ino's cheeks to redden slightly
"Hey! I'm not a kid, I made Chunin before you did! If anything, you're the kid here." Ino huffed. Now it was Naruto's turn to pout.
"I didn't say it was a bad thing, I thought it was cute." The long-haired blonde's face lit up like a lantern, and after the whisker-marked ninja realized what he said, his face shared a similar fate. They both looked away, Naruto trying to count the birds along the rooftops outside of his window, while Ino found an interesting speck of dust on the otherwise sterile floor before beginning to play with the ends of her hair.
'I haven't done my hair in so long it must look so bad and-'
"Hey Ino-chan," At the mention of her name she shot her eyes back up to him only to see his face getting brighter, "You're hair looks good like that you should do that more often." This causes Ino's face to get impossibly redder.
"Um tha-thank you…" came her short reply. The darker blond still wouldn't meet the eyes of the former. Instead, finding a conversation between two resident Konah shinobi interesting, before his stomach made its presence known in the room, eliciting a laugh from his companion, "You hungry?" She asked. Not trusting his voice and too embarrassed to look at Ino he just nodded his head, "Well what would you like, or are you one of those people who actually like hospital food." The pale shinobi teased.
"Hey! Kakashi-sensei told me you ate the food too!" Came Naurto's retort, finally looking back at the accused.
Ino's face sported an all too familiar blush across her cheeks again before she pouted, "Well someone had to stay here." Hearing her reply, Naruto's eyes softened.
"Thank you...again…" He reached up to scratch the back of his head, "You didn't have to-"
"Mr. Uzumaki." Ino's hands were now placed firmly on her hips followed by a stern gaze into the deep ocean blues that were his eyes, "I told you already, that's what friends are for. Any one of us would've done the same thing, and I bet you also would do the same thing, right after you beat up anyone who left us in that state." She finished with a huff and her small arms firmly crossed under her breasts, before her eyes softened, "Besides what would we do, what would I do without you…" Ino mumbled to herself but thanks to her sitting fairly close to his ear, Naruto was able to catch what she said.
"Sorry…" Before they could fall back into the heavy and uncomfortable silence again, Naruto's stomach realized its cries went unheard the first time. This time they both laughed and Naruto's hand went back up to the back of his head.
"What would you like to eat Naruto-kun," Ino asked with a small smile getting up out of the stiff chair for the first time in a while, "And no ramen!" She added before he could even open his mouth.
Hearing this the hungry blonde gave a dejected look towards his fellow blonde, "I don't know I just want to get out of this bed."
"Well too bad, Tsunade-sama said you need to rest so I'll bring it to you, whether you like it or not Naruto-kun. I meant what I said, I'll be by your side for as long as you need me. Now get some rest, I'll be back." Ino had a certain determination not normally present in her pale blue eyes. Leaving the room felt weird to her, wrong even, but he needed to eat and she was going to take care of him until he could take care of himself. 'Now what to get' She pondered as she made her way down the boring white hallways. 'I know he's hungry but I need to shower and get out of these clothes.' With that final thought, she took off towards her house.
With the time Naruto now had alone he thought about just sneaking out through the window but that idea quickly left his mind, 'If Granny finds out I left she'll kill me, and Ino would be worried sick.' With that, he closed his eyes before opening them again to the sound of water drops. He was met with the snarling visage of the giant Nine-Tailed Fox.
"What do you want?" The Kyuubi growled out, showing off the many sharp teeth filling his wide maw.
Naruto rightfully adorned a guilty expression with regret finding its way back into his eyes, "I wanted to apologize. What I did was selfish." Hearing the snort as well as a strong wind blow at him from the dark orange Bijuu carried a level of emotion Naruto didn't think was possible, he continued, "I ignored you when you tried to stop me and even now I'm using your power against your will to heal my mistake." Not getting a verbal reply, Naruto looked down at his reflection in the water. After a short while of silence, Naruto brought his eyes back up to the strongest tailed beast before closing his eyes again. When he opened them again he was met with the plain white walls of his hospital room.
Not long after did the door open gently, hoping it was his self-proclaimed caregiver so that he could eat, only to be disappointed and slightly scared when instead walked in the Godaime Hokage. She walked up to him without a word and placed her hands over his heart. After a tense silence, "You should be fine to leave again tomorrow, just keep your training light, okay?" She looked at him and gave him a brief smile as the younger blonde just nodded, refusing to meet her eyes.
As she was beginning to turn and head back out of the door she was stopped when he spoke, "Granny… Thank you." Not finding the words to reply to him she just nodded and went back to deal with her ever-increasing mountain of paperwork. As she was leaving she saw Ino headed in the direction she came, grabbing her arm and pulling her to the side of the hallway, "Please keep an eye on him." The older woman pleaded.
"Hai, Tsunade-sama." She smiled.
Ino didn't seem to understand fully what she meant, "You know we'd all be doomed if we lost him and many of us would probably share the same fate if he were to leave us." Not giving the Yamanaka a chance to reply she began her walk back to her office.
Naruto's head perked up when the door opened and he began sniffing the air like one of the Inuzuka's dogs causing the platinum blonde to chuckle softly before he yelled, "RAMEN!" The last Uzumaki fist-pumped the air as he now sported his famous ear-splitting grin.
"Yeah I got ramen, I didn't know what else you would've liked and Teuchi-san gave me a few bowls of miso since it was your favorite." placing the bag of food on the table next to the bed before sitting back down in the chair she's been acquainted with for a few days now. Naruto began digging into the bag and pulling out a box before stuffing his face, "What did she say?" Ino questioned before pulling out her own box and started eating, a lot more civilized than her blonde friend.
"Shm smaid," Pausing to swallow and blush slightly before clearing his throat, "She said that I'll be good to go tomorrow!" He grinned, obviously excited to leave the dreary atmosphere of the hospital.
They finished their food while talking about their childhoods, Ino laughing at all the pranks Naruto would pull on the villagers in his attempt at seeking attention. When Ino began talking about her clan and her family's flower shop Naruto listened intently, intrigued by a life he could only dream of having.
They talked late into the night before Ino let out a yawn followed by a stretch of her arms. Laying her head on top of her arms, leaning on his waist, Naruto paused his story about defacing the Hokage Monument, "You should go home and sleep Ino-chan."
Giving him a small smile and shaking her head, "Nope I'm not leaving until you do. I'm taking care of you, remember?" Naruto returned a nod, "Now keep going, you were just getting to the good part." She seemed slightly annoyed that the story was interrupted but the smile never left her face.
"Right, where was I… Oh!" The world's strongest genin then continued on about how he led the Anbu ninjas on a cat and mouse chase throughout the entire village. After he finished reminiscing on one of his favorite pranks he looked down at the now sleeping blond on his leg. He noticed how, with her hair down, it flowed around his leg and her face like a slow river. He moved a strand off of her face and tucked it behind her ear, he then began to rub the side of her head gently as she seemed to tilt her head into his hand. Staring into the pale blond's face he couldn't help but blush slightly at the way the moonlight complimented her pale skin perfectly, before following her actions, closing his eyes, "Goodnight Ino-chan." He kept rubbing the mind walker's head before drifting off into his own subconscious.
Naruto's eyes shot open and his eyes darted back and forth scanning his hospital room but not seeing the familiar light blond hair that has been by his side since he woke up the first time. Shooting out of his bed for the first time, he almost fell out of the window as his legs weren't used to supporting his weight just yet. Despite his body's protest, he lept from one rooftop to the next. Reaching the tall gates leading to the vast forest just outside his home village he saw the pale blue eyes he's grown accustomed to seeing in the short time they've spent together. He saw tears streaming down her cheeks and as he began running to comfort her just as she had done for him.
"Naruto-kun stop!" She yelled out causing the blonde in question to stop momentarily. This pause allowed a person to appear behind her holding a kunai up to her neck. Seeing the danger Ino was in made Naruto's whisker marks darken but before he could rush to save her a ninja appeared, blocking the aggravated Jinchuuriki from the mind walker. Naruto, not willing to wait any longer dashed at the first shinobi, throwing a punch, causing him to turn into water before splashing on the ground. Looking on towards the ninja holding Ino hostage he began to take a step as his whisker marks continued to grow darker and his pupils turned to slits. Before Naruto could take another step, the unknown ninja, realizing he wouldn't be able to complete his mission, decided to drag the blade across the neck of their hostage.
"INO-CHANNNN!"
Naruto's eyes shot open to reveal he was back in his hospital room, covered in a cold sweat he quickly looked over to his left. Upon not seeing the Yamanaka he began to panic and sit up, but as he moved he realized there was a weight on his right side. Hearing a moan of disapproval, he looked over to see the origin of his worry laying next to him.
Ino began to rustle before looking up into the still panicking azure eyes staring back into her own lazy teals. "What's wrong, Naruto-kun?" The hand she had resting over his wound reaching towards his sternum.
Hearing her soft voice made the panic leave his eyes as he sighed, "Just had a bad dream is all." She hummed in understanding before moving her hand back to its original place and putting her head into the crook of his neck she closed her eyes again trying to catch her dreams before they ran away from her. "What are you doing in my bed?" Naruto blushed at the close contact. Breathing in he couldn't help but feel calmed by her scent.
"I got cold and you were really warm…" She trailed off tiredly, seemingly unbothered by their closeness.
Seeing as she didn't plan on moving, Naruto wrapped his arm around her smaller frame and pulled her closer. "Sorry for waking you up." He planted a light kiss onto her soft hair before closing his eyes again. "You smell really good…" He said before drifting back into sleep.
Ino couldn't stop her body from blushing despite her tired state and she pulled herself closer to her source of warmth.
[A/N] I'm quite proud of the chapter and I am actually excited to post this one. There was a lot of dialogue even though it was hard for me to write so I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter as much as I did.
As always please leave your critiques or any grammatical mistakes I made in the reviews because I normally only write these chapters late at night when I'm tired. Let's see if you guys can guess how their relationship begins to change in the next chapter with Ino's proclamation to stay by his side. Ja ne :)