CHAPTER 18: FOG LIFTS AND NIGHT FALLS
The sound of Ino's footsteps sent thundering vibrations throughout the village. "Where the hell is Naruto?" she says demandingly to herself. Villagers get out of her way as she stomps her way through the village. No one in the village wanted to get in between the kunoichi and whatever her source of aggression was. This March that Ino kept lasted until she arrived at Naruto's door. The doormat beneath her feet seemed to shrivel away from her determination which could easily be mistaken for aggression. Knock, Knock, Knock "Naruto Uzumaki open this door right now!" she shouted while intensely rapping the door. No reply. "Naruto if you don't open this door, I swear!". Again, no reply. From down the hall Ino hears a voice, "Hey, Lady he's not home. Come back later!". "Oh, thanks Mr.", said Ino as she left to try to find the Uzumaki.
The next place she decided to check was Ichiraku. She thought that if Naruto wasn't at home, he would be eating ramen. Alas, Naruto wasn't there either. Teuchi was helpful though, "Last time he was here, he was talking about training. He was with Sakura though." "Oh, I see."
This time Ino knew she had struck gold, Naruto would have to be training. She ran to the training grounds, sweat running down her face when she got there. Makeup running when she finally saw Naruto. "Oi, Naruto!" she yelled out. Naruto noticed her and responded, "Oh, hey Ino."
"Naruto, what are you doing tonight?"
"Nothing yet."
"Perfect. Naruto Uzumaki, you are going to take me out to dinner tonight. No excuses!"
"So, you're finally gonna buy me dinner."
"What, who said I'm paying?"
"You did, last time we talked you said you're gonna pay!"
"Well, alright. Next time though, you're gonna pay."
"OK!"
"Awesome!" said Ino, "I'll see you later. Ichiraku, 1800." "Cool," said Naruto, "See you then." Ino left immediately after this, leaving Naruto to his training. 'That girl is weird,' thought Naruto, 'We already had a date, but she must have forgotten.' Naruto's thoughts quickly shifted away from Ino as he remembered his training.
Across the village, Tsunade received a message from the sand:
Village destroyed,
Send help
Akatsuki responsible
Tsunade was shocked, how could this group of roughly ten shinobi wreck such havoc on the Sand Village? A squad would be needed to go to the sand, with Jiraiya out of the village and Guy still personally repaying his debt for the fleeing the village, the only Jounin she could send was Asuma. She decided to send Shikamaru with him. The rest of the team would consist of Aburame clan members, they always seemed to be helpful when assigned missions. It is a real sham they always seemed to creep everyone out. Tsunade quickly scribbles down a note on a piece of paper. "Shizune, get in here," Tsunade shouted through her open door.
"Yes Lady Hokage."
"I have a mission for Asuma, send him and the following people this letter. It will inform them on the mission. They are to leave at 0600."
"Yes ma'am."
Nearly an hour later and across the village in the Nara compound, Asuma and Shikamaru are playing a one sided game of Shogi. One side was expertly outpacing his opponent, the other, though not as strong a player, was no slouch himself. The pair talked throughout their game, it took their minds off their troubles as much as the game did. "Do you know who the king is?" asked Asuma.
"Yeah, the Hokage."
"Maybe, that's what I used to think. But now, now I know it's something else."
"What is it?"
"You'll find out as you grow up more."
"Huh," muttered Shikamaru, "Checkmate. Now you have to buy food next!" "Damn." A lone messenger-nin jumped in once Asuma cursed, "Asuma and Shikamaru, you both have a message." The pair received the letter before the messenger-nin quickly jumped away. "What does it say?" asked Shikamaru. "We have a mission." Asuma headed home after this to prepare for the mission ahead.
At 1730 a blonde kunoichi frantically paces in her room. 'Do I look alright, will He notice my dress is a little short, does he actually want to eat with me?' these thoughts and similar ones filled her mind, clouding her usual judgment. 'I hope this dress is good enough' she thought, rushing out of her room. Jumping down the stair she yells "Bye dad", reaches the door, and runs out into the night.
Naruto was much calmer before his date. "Wow, I have to get moving! It's almost time!" Naruto jumped out his door, dashed down the stairs, and lept out into the night. "I can't be late, Ino will kill me!"
Ino, despite all her trying, was nearly ten minutes late to the date. Upon her arrival she was disheartened, Naruto had been waiting for her for what she assumed was a full ten minutes. 'I can't believe I was so late, he must think I left him hanging. However, the male arrived at his perch in the ramen shop only mere minutes before his companion. Naruto had already finished his first bowl and was waiting for his second when Ino walked into the ramen stand. "Hey Naruto, your girlfriend showed up after all!" laughed Teuchi. "Hey, I'll have you know that there was traffic!" shot back Ino. Suddenly the girlfriend comment set in and she began to blush.
"Hey Ino! Glad you're here!"
"Really?"
"Yeah, of course I am!"
Teuchi held off on giving Naruto his ramen long enough for the pair to talk and for Ayame to make Ino her own bowl. 'This will give them more time to talk,' thought Teuchi, 'I hope this works out. They seem to go well together, like Naruto and Ramen.' The pair talked and ate together the rest of the meal, both enjoying each other's company. "Thank you Teuchi!" they both said as they got up from and left their meals. "So, Naruto…" said Ino as they walked through the village streets, "are we now dating? We did have two dates and you promised a third."
"Well, when you put it like that I guess we are. It's funny I didn't even notice."
"You didn't notice me?" sobbed Ino.
"No, I noticed you. I just didn't notice us dating, it just came natural!"
"I guess that makes me your girlfriend!"
"Yeah, I guess it does."
"So, are you going to kiss your girlfriend?" asked a teasing Ino.
"Well, I think I'm supposed to."
"Go ahead then…" Ino was cut off when Naruto leaned in close…