It had been a few months since the day the seven academy students started training together. Naruto and Sasuke had successfully taught their friends the water walking technique, with Ino, of course, learning it the fastest. They worked diligently on this skill until everyone had completely mastered it, able to run on water for an hour straight without faltering. After this achievement, Naruto introduced a new challenge: performing their taijutsu katas on the water. This served as a substitute for the kunai training, he and Sasuke had endured, and even Sasuke had to admit it was a genius idea.

By practicing on the water, the students developed instinctual movements rather than relying solely on focus, allowing them to concentrate on more important aspects of battle should they ever find themselves fighting on water.

Meanwhile, Naruto and Sasuke began a new chakra control exercise they had discovered in the Uchiha library: the kunai hovering technique. The exercise required them to balance a kunai on the palm of their hand, using chakra to make it hover. Once they mastered that, they would rotate the kunai, and eventually, they would attempt to balance the kunai on one finger instead of their palm. They set their sights on mastering the technique by being able to hover and rotate ten kunai, one on each finger, moving every alternate kunai clockwise and the rest counterclockwise. They knew this exercise would take at least a year or two, but the boost in their chakra control would be invaluable.

Alongside chakra control, Naruto and Sasuke trained the five in taijutsu, kunai throwing, and the academy's three basic ninjutsu. Ino had shown the most improvement, having started at the bottom, and while she was not the strongest of the five, her chakra reserves had reached a low genin level. Her taijutsu and shuriken jutsu had made significant strides from where they had been before.

Hinata had also improved considerably, working diligently on a new taijutsu style.

Flashback: A New Path for Hinata

Naruto had watched Hinata go through her clan's katas, observing her rigid movements. He had always thought of her as a more fluid person, someone who could fight and make it look like a dance. "Hinata," he had said, "this style doesn't suit you. You need to find something that feels more natural."

"But this is the traditional Hyuga clan's Gentle Fist," she had replied, her voice soft. "I'm not improving in it, and my instructors refuse to teach me any advanced katas."

Naruto had felt a surge of determination to help her. "I promise I'll help you create your own taijutsu style. It'll kick some Hyuga ass!" he had said, making her giggle.

He had given her a scroll containing his mother's taijutsu style, which emphasized fluidity and flexibility to maneuver around opponents. "Combine this with your Gentle Fist," he had instructed. "And remember, don't share this with anyone. It belongs to someone close to me."

Hinata had nodded, her eyes shining with gratitude. "I promise, Naruto."

Flashback Over

As the months passed, Shino had also shown remarkable improvement. He informed them that he would soon receive a new hive of kikaichu bugs, a significant milestone usually granted to one-year genin of the Aburame clan.

Choji's control was improving daily; his strength was already impressive, and he was gaining the speed to complement it.

Shikamaru, surprisingly, had emerged as the strongest of the five. This did not surprise Naruto, as he knew Shikamaru's wits were exceptional, even by Nara standards. He was also the youngest in his clan to start learning the signature jutsu, Kagemane no Jutsu (Shadow Possession Technique).

The Next Morning

Naruto felt himself being shaken awake. Slowly, he opened his eyes to see Sasuke standing in front of him, a look of annoyance on his face. Startled, Naruto instinctively punched Sasuke in the face, sending him flying to the other end of the room.

"What the hell, Naruto?!" Sasuke exclaimed, rubbing his jaw as he got back to his feet.

Naruto blinked, realizing what he had done. "I'm sorry! I just got surprised! Don't wake me up like that again, or I'll kick you out of my house!" he joked, trying to lighten the mood.

After a hearty breakfast of bacon and eggs—Naruto's specialty, since Sasuke never bothered to learn how to cook—they sat at the table, enjoying their meal. Naruto looked over at Sasuke, curious. "So, why did you wake me up so early?"

Sasuke hesitated, his expression turning serious. "I've been thinking about something," he said, his voice low. "I like someone."

Naruto's eyes widened, and without missing a beat, he blurted out, "Ino!"

Sasuke's face turned a deep shade of crimson. "H-how did you know?" he stammered, clearly flustered.

Naruto smirked, leaning back in his chair. "I'm not blind, you know."

Sasuke rolled his eyes, but the embarrassment was evident on his face. After a moment of silence, he took a deep breath and yelled everything in one word: "Iwannaaskinotogoonadatewithme!"

Naruto raised an eyebrow, completely confused. "What? I didn't understand what you just said."

Sasuke took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. "I want to ask Ino to go on a date with me," he repeated slowly, his cheeks still flushed.

Naruto burst out laughing, unable to contain himself. Sasuke's frustration was palpable, and a vein popped on his forehead. "Shut up, Naruto!" he yelled, rushing to punch him.

Naruto easily dodged the attack, still chuckling. "Okay, okay! I'll help you, but I want a favor in return. You have to help me out whenever I'm in the same dilemma."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "You mean with Hinata?"

Naruto's expression shifted, and he shook his head. "No, I don't like Hinata like that. She's like a younger sister to me."

Sasuke nodded, understanding the boundaries. "Fine, I agree to the condition."

With that settled, they sat down to plan everything out, detail by detail, leaving no stone unturned. They discussed how Sasuke would approach Ino, what he would say, and how to make the date special.

The Park

Ino and Sakura were walking through the park, enjoying the fresh air and the warmth of the sun. Ino turned to Sakura, a smile on her face. "It's been quite some time since we hung out, hasn't it?"

Sakura nodded, her expression brightening. "Yeah, it really has! I've missed our girl time."

Ino then began to tell Sakura about her training, carefully omitting any mention of Naruto, Sasuke, Shikamaru, Choji, Shino, or Hinata. Naruto had made everyone promise not to reveal anything about their training sessions.

Sakura laughed, teasingly. "You know, all this training is just going to make you more manly. Sasuke-kun won't want to date a tomboy like you!"

Ino rolled her eyes, but she couldn't help but smile. "I'm not trying to be a tomboy! I just want to be strong!"

Sakura continued, "Well, I'm going to focus on my dieting, hair, and makeup. I'll make Sasuke-kun fall in love with me with my beauty!"

Ino couldn't help but chuckle at Sakura's determination. "Good luck with that, Sakura."

Suddenly, a rabbit darted in front of them, its cuteness making them both yell, "Kawaii!" They took off after the rabbit, giggling and chasing it through the park. The rabbit was surprisingly fast, leading them on a wild chase that took them all around the park.

After a while, the rabbit dashed around a boulder, and when Ino and Sakura followed, they found themselves in a clearing. At their feet lay a red carpet decorated with bush clovers, Ino's favorite flower.

"What is this?" Ino asked, her curiosity piqued as they walked toward the end of the red carpet.

Suddenly, Sasuke appeared in front of them, a rose in his hand and a blush on his cheeks. "Ino," he said shyly, "will you go out with me?"

Sakura's eyes widened in shock, and before Sasuke could even finish his sentence, she yelled, "YES!" and jumped onto him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Get off me, Sakura!" Sasuke exclaimed, trying to push her away, his face turning even redder.

Once Sakura finally released him, she turned to Ino, her excitement bubbling over. "You want to go out with Ino, pig?" she screeched, her voice filled with disbelief.

Ino's cheeks flushed crimson as she processed what was happening. "Sasuke!" she exclaimed, her heart racing. "You really want to go out with me?"

Sasuke nodded, his expression shy yet determined. "Yeah, I do. I like you, Ino."

Ino's heart soared, and she couldn't help but smile widely. "Yes! I'd love to go out with you!" She rushed forward and hugged Sasuke tightly, causing him to blush even more.

Sakura, still in shock, finally managed to regain her composure. "You want to go out with Ino, pig?" she repeated, her voice a mix of disbelief and excitement.

Sasuke, feeling overwhelmed, activated his Sharingan for a brief moment, putting Sakura in a genjutsu. She fell to the ground, dazed and confused.

Ino looked at Sasuke, concern etched on her face. "Is she okay?" she asked, glancing between Sasuke and Sakura.

"She'll wake up in a little while," Sasuke replied, his voice calm. "We should leave before she gets up."

Sasuke turned back to Ino, his expression softening. "I'll pick you up from your house at 7 tomorrow night," he said, a hint of nervousness in his voice. "Goodbye, Ino."

With that, Sasuke turned and ran away, leaving Ino standing there, her heart racing with excitement. She couldn't believe what had just happened.

Sasuke dashed through the trees, his heart racing with excitement. He spotted Naruto hiding among the branches, a mischievous grin plastered on his face. "I DID IT!" Sasuke shouted, unable to contain his joy.

Naruto's smile widened. "You sure did! Kudos on putting Sakura in that genjutsu," he smirked, clearly amused.

Sasuke couldn't help but smirk back. "Did you see how loud she was?"

"More like I heard how loud she was," Naruto replied, laughing.

Sasuke chuckled, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders. He had finally asked Ino out, and it had gone better than he could have imagined. But now, there was more to prepare for. "What's next?" he asked, his excitement still bubbling.

Naruto's expression turned serious. "We need to prepare for your date. But first, we have to learn about something that my baka Shisui niichan tried to teach me. I ran away before he could finish."

"Learn about what?" Sasuke asked, intrigued.

"Follow me," Naruto said, leading Sasuke back to the Namikaze estate.

Back at the Namikaze Estate

Once inside, Naruto rummaged through his belongings until he pulled out a book. "I saw my niichan reading this a while ago, and apparently, it's a very popular book. It'll teach you everything you need to know," he said, holding up the book with a flourish.

The title read Icha Icha Paradise.

Sasuke raised an eyebrow, unsure of what to expect. "What's it about?"

"Let's find out!" Naruto exclaimed, flipping the book open. They began to read together, their curiosity piqued.

As they read, the content of the book quickly became apparent. Naruto's eyes widened in shock, while Sasuke's face turned a deep shade of red. "This is disgusting!" Naruto yelled after finishing a particularly outrageous passage. "I want those three hours of my life back!"

Sasuke, still staring at the book, stood up abruptly, holding it high in the air. "THIS IS TRUE LITERATURE!" he declared, his voice filled with passion.

Naruto looked at Sasuke, shocked. "I didn't know you were a pervert!"

Sasuke glared at Naruto, his Sharingan spinning wildly. "Don't insult this book ever again!" he shouted, his face flushed with embarrassment.

Naruto shook his head, chuckling at his friend's reaction. "You're crazy, Sasuke."

After a moment of silence, they both sat down together, the book forgotten as they began to plan Sasuke's date for the next evening. They discussed everything from where to take Ino to what to say, leaving no stone unturned.

The Next Day

Ino was a bundle of nerves as she prepared for her date with Sasuke. She stood in front of her mirror, trying on different outfits, her mind racing with thoughts of what to wear. "What if he doesn't like this?" she muttered to herself, tossing aside another dress.

Her mother knocked on the door, peeking her head in. "Ino, dear, are you ready yet? You don't want to keep Sasuke waiting!"

"I'm trying, Mom!" Ino replied, her voice slightly panicked. "I just want everything to be perfect!"

Her mother smiled warmly. "Just be yourself, sweetheart. Sasuke likes you for who you are, not what you wear."

Ino took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. "You're right. I just need to relax."

After finally settling on a cute yet casual outfit, Ino applied a bit of makeup and styled her hair. She looked at herself in the mirror, feeling a mix of excitement and anxiety. "Okay, Ino. You can do this," she whispered to herself.

Sasuke stood nervously outside Ino's house, his heart pounding in his chest. He wore a black button-up shirt and a pair of jeans, holding a bouquet of lilies in his hands. He took a deep breath and rang the doorbell.

Ino's dad opened the door, his expression stern as he looked down at Sasuke. "Ino will be out any minute," he said in a strict tone, clearly scrutinizing the boy who had asked his daughter out.

From the kitchen, Ino's mom called out, "Don't scare the boy, Inoichi!"

Sasuke chuckled nervously, trying to ease the tension. "I'm just here to take Ino out," he said, attempting to sound confident.

After a couple of minutes, Ino came down the stairs, wearing a cute purple dress that accentuated her figure. Sasuke's breath caught in his throat. "You look beautiful," he said, his voice sincere.

Ino blushed, a smile spreading across her face. "Thank you, Sasuke! You look nice too."

They stepped outside, and as they walked hand in hand, Sasuke felt a warmth spread through him. He couldn't believe he was finally on a date with Ino.

Dinner

Sasuke took Ino to a cozy sushi restaurant, where they were seated at a small table. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, with soft music playing in the background. As they perused the menu, Sasuke felt a mix of excitement and nervousness.

"So, what do you like to eat?" Ino asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"I like sushi," Sasuke replied, glancing at her. "But I'm open to trying new things."

Ino grinned. "Great! I love sushi too! Let's order a bunch of different rolls and share!"

They placed their order and began chatting, sharing stories about their childhoods. Sasuke found himself opening up more than he expected to. "You know," he began, "when I was younger, I used to chase cats around the village. I even made a little handbook with paw prints of all the cats I found."

Ino's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? That's adorable! I never knew you had a soft side, Sasuke!"

Sasuke shrugged, a hint of a smile on his lips. "It was just something to do. I didn't have many friends back then."

Ino nodded, understanding the weight of his words. "I get that. I had a tough time making friends too. But then I met Sakura, and we became inseparable. I helped her overcome her shyness about her forehead."

Sasuke scoffed, raising an eyebrow. "How could you be friends with someone like that?"

Ino's expression turned serious, and she looked down at her plate. "Sakura wasn't always like that. She used to be really shy and insecure. I helped her build her confidence, and now she's a lot stronger."

Sasuke felt a pang of guilt for his earlier comment. "I didn't mean to offend you," he said softly. "It's just… I've always seen her as someone who's loud and annoying."

Ino smiled gently. "She can be, but she's also a great friend. Just like you are to me."

Their food arrived, and they began to eat, the conversation flowing easily between them. They shared laughter and stories, and Sasuke felt more at ease than he had in a long time.

After finishing their meal, Sasuke suggested they take a walk. He led Ino to a nearby hill that overlooked the village. The view was breathtaking, with the stars twinkling brightly in the night sky.

They sat on the grass, the cool breeze rustling through the trees. Sasuke looked up at the stars, feeling a sense of peace wash over him. "I had a lot of fun tonight," he said, glancing at Ino.

"Me too," Ino replied, her voice soft. She shifted closer to him, their shoulders touching. "I'm really glad we went out."

Sasuke felt his heart race as Ino leaned in slightly. "You know, I've always liked you, Sasuke," she confessed, her cheeks turning pink.

Before he could respond, Ino leaned in and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. Sasuke's face turned crimson, and he felt a rush of warmth spread through him. "I-I…" he stammered, caught off guard.

Ino giggled at his reaction, clearly enjoying his flustered state. "You're so cute when you're embarrassed!"

Sasuke tried to regain his composure, but the blush on his cheeks wouldn't fade. "Thanks," he managed to say, feeling a mix of happiness and embarrassment.

As the night wore on, Ino stood up, brushing off her dress. "I should get going," she said, her voice tinged with reluctance. "But I had an amazing time, Sasuke."

"Me too," he replied, standing up as well. "I'll walk you home."

They walked hand in hand back to Ino's house, the night air filled with the sounds of crickets chirping. Sasuke felt a sense of contentment, knowing that he had taken a step forward in his relationship with Ino.

As they reached Ino's house, Sasuke turned to her, feeling a mix of emotions. "I'll see you tomorrow?" he asked, hoping she would say yes.

"Definitely!" Ino replied, her eyes sparkling. "Goodnight, Sasuke!"

"Goodnight, Ino," he said, watching her as she walked inside.

Once she was safely inside, Sasuke turned to leave, feeling a sense of accomplishment. He had gone on a date, and it had gone well. As he walked away, he couldn't help but smile, thinking about the kiss on the cheek.

Suddenly, Naruto appeared beside him, having been following them the whole time. "Hey, Sasuke!" he said, grinning widely. "I can't believe the great and stoic Sasuke Uchiha, who said he wouldn't get a girlfriend until he was twenty, went on a date and got a kiss on the cheek at just nine!"

Sasuke's eyebrows twitched in annoyance. "Shut up, Naruto," he muttered, trying to hide his embarrassment.

Naruto laughed, clapping Sasuke on the back. "You're blushing! This is great! I can't wait to tell everyone!"

"Don't you dare!" Sasuke warned, his Sharingan flaring for a moment. "If you do, I'll make you regret it."

Naruto held up his hands in mock surrender. "Okay, okay! I won't say a word. Your secret is safe with me… for now," he teased, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Sasuke rolled his eyes, but a small smile crept onto his face. "You're impossible, Naruto."

As they walked back home together, Sasuke found himself lost in thought, replaying the events of the evening in his mind. He couldn't shake the feeling of happiness that had settled in his chest. Ino was different; she made him feel things he hadn't allowed himself to feel before.

"Hey, Sasuke," Naruto said, breaking the comfortable silence. "What are you thinking about?"

Sasuke glanced at Naruto, his expression serious. "Just… about Ino. I didn't expect it to go so well."

Naruto grinned, nudging Sasuke playfully. "See? I told you! You just needed to take the leap. You're a lot more charming than you give yourself credit for."

"Charming?" Sasuke scoffed, but he couldn't help the small smirk that tugged at his lips. "I'm not charming."

"Sure you are! You just need to embrace it," Naruto replied, his voice filled with enthusiasm. "And don't forget, you owe me for helping you out. I expect you to return the favor when I need it."

Sasuke nodded, knowing that Naruto was right. "I will. Just… don't make it weird."

Naruto laughed, "No promises!"

The Next Day

The next day, Sasuke woke up feeling refreshed and excited. He had a date with Ino again, and he wanted to make it special. After breakfast, he decided to meet up with Naruto to discuss their plans.

"Hey, Naruto!" Sasuke called out as he entered the training ground. "I need your help again."

Naruto looked up from where he was practicing his jutsu. "What's up? You need more tips on how to impress Ino?"

"Something like that," Sasuke replied, crossing his arms. "I want to do something nice for her today."

Naruto's eyes lit up with excitement. "Alright! Let's brainstorm some ideas. What do you have in mind?"