Ino wiped tears from her eyes as she placed the flower on the altar. She always considered the man to be so separate from her, someone everyone idolized. It was only in his death that memories of his warmth resurfaced.

She remembers him visiting the academy and Sakura and herself giving him flowers that he accepted happily.

He was the Hokage, but he treated everyone in the village as a family member.

Asuma-sensei, the son of the Third Hokage, delivered a beautiful eulogy that almost brought fresh tears to Ino's eyes, but she felt Naruto take her hand in his and that was enough to quell them. She squeezed gently on his hand and he reciprocated the action.

As the ceremony began to wind down, the light rainfall and dark clouds cleared up, a bright sun and beautiful sky replacing them.

"It's befitting for such a man as him." Sasuke remarked, staring at the sky, and Naruto sounded his agreement.

As the ceremony tapered off, Team Seven bid farewell to each other and Ino began to make her way home.

"Wait up!" Naruto called, chasing her down.

"What is it?"

Naruto beamed, warmth radiating off him as he wrapped his hands behind his head. "Let me walk you home."

Ino began to open her mouth in protest, but decided against it, smiling delicately at her friend. "Okay, thank you, Naruto."

The two walked side by side and Ino could smell the lingering incense on the whiskered youth's funeral clothes. When she arrived at the funeral, the smell saddened her, but now, it felt comforting.

In what seemed like seconds, they arrived at the front door of the Yamanaka Flower Shop.

"See you tomorrow, Ino." Naruto said as he waved.

Ino, however, reached out, cupping his injured face in her palm. The action came to her naturally, like taking a breath, and Naruto did not flinch or blush or react, other than with the mild curiosity in his eyes. She knew it was the same for him too.

"Your face." She murmured, her thumb brushing against the large bandage on his left cheek. Another one stood on the middle of his forehead. "Why didn't anyone heal you?"

"No one's had time. It's been so busy. Besides, it will heal soon." Naruto remarked easily, and it was the truth. The invasion wrought massive damage to Konohagakure and injured many ninja and civilians; which medic-nin could spare time to heal the superficial injuries of a genin?

Ino sighed and then ripped the bandage off his cheek.

"Ouch!" Naruto recoiled while grabbing his face.

"Don't be a baby." Ino rolled her eyes and went for the other thick bandage.

"I've got it!" Naruto took a step back hastily before gently beginning to peel it off his wound.

"You know, going slowly is just going to make it hurt more?"

But Naruto ignored her, concentrating with his tongue sticking out as he slowly pulled off the bandage, making painful pants halfway through. When he finished, he presented it to the Yamanaka heir and grinned proudly.

"Oh, just come here." Ino demanded, and the whiskered boy stepped toward the girl once more, entering her personal space. Ino formed a seal and guided chakra toward her right hand, causing it to glow pale green. She brought her hand up to Naruto's face and he let out a gasp as Ino began to heal the cut on his forehead.

When she finished with that, she slid her hand to his injured cheek, working her jutsu once more. Naruto narrowed his eyes in a daze from her treatment and he nuzzled his cheek against her hand, letting out a small purr.

Ino tried not to let the act disturb her healing, but she could not stop her breath from hitching in her throat once or twice.

She finished soon after and, when she withdrew her fingers off his face, she felt the marginally indented whisker marks briefly. They were pleasant to the touch.

He smiled gently at her and she smiled back, a warm sensation rushing in her stomach.

"Thank you, Ino."

"Anytime, Naruto."

Naruto opened his mouth then closed it, his face flushing slightly.

Ino tilted her head, curious. "What is it?"

She saw the boy's tongue snake out and quickly wet his lips. "You, um…when you heal me, it feels nice, so, uh, thanks."

It came out as a croak and she saw his ears in particular burn darker.

"Oh…okay." Ino mumbled, completely unsure what to make of Naruto's remark. The shorter blonde seemed to notice and he started talking again.

"No, I mean, that's not exactly what I mean to say! It's like…damn it why are words so hard?" He grumbled and shoved his cheek against his palm, clearly trying hard to think. "Damn it, it's like…I can feel that you care and stuff, when you heal me. And that's, what feels nice." He nodded once, sure of himself.

Ino swallowed thickly, feeling her embarrassment rising. "Yeah, of course."

"I just wanted to make sure you know. You knowing that I think that about you…it's important, right?"

The platinum blonde could not fight back the colour from her skin anymore. Naruto, inept with words as he was, knew how to use the few he understood. "Yes, it is, thank you, Naruto." Ino feared if she kept this up, she might start crying again.

"I'll see ya tomorrow." Naruto grinned at her before departing.

Ino watched his retreating back for a moment. Somehow knowing that the loudmouth blonde from the academy could look and sound mature when he needed too…it sent that warm sensation rushing into her stomach again.

She closed the door, looking forward to meeting up with Team Seven the next day.

Ino watched Naruto crouched over trying to manifest chakra in his hands like Sasuke could. Kakashi lazily observed him.

It was nothing like Sasuke's gracefully performance of the technique. Naruto looked quite foolish, honestly, and Ino could not squash the giggle that escaped her lips.

The avenger glanced her way before turning his attention back to the duo a bit further away.

Ino gazed at her stoic teammate, his handsome features set in a stony expression. It was remarkable how different both Sasuke and Naruto were from each other. Ino indulged herself in staring at the Uchiha for a moment then cleared her throat before speaking.

"Sasuke-kun," Ino felt her heart beat faster as she addressed her crush, "You saved us from the Sand-nin, right?" She remembered that the unstable Suna-nin transformed into some sort of half human-half beast. She tried to protect Sasuke from one of his attacks and was pinned to a wall instead. It was extremely embarrassing, but at least Sasuke saved her. That though alone riveted her, like a fairy tail prince come to save her.

A moment passed, and Ino somehow thought she offended him with the question when he finally responded.

"No." Another pause. Watching Sasuke's gaze, she realized the avenger was not observing Kakashi-sensei and Naruto. The handsome boy fixated solely on their blonde teammate. "Naruto was the one who saved you."

"Naruto did?" Shock present on Ino's face as she turned back toward the boy trying his best to control electricity in his palm.

"Yes he…he fought to save you like his life depended on it. I'd never seen him look so powerful."

Ino heard it so strongly in Sasuke's voice she almost thought she hallucinated.

Admiration. It dripped from the raven-haired shinobi's words.

"Naruto did." Ino murmured to herself, and she did not need to be convinced further. More than Sasuke, more than Kakashi-sensei, she knew how hard the boy worked. How badly he wanted to be acknowledged.

To hear that Naruto was the one to save her…to hear that Naruto beat the terrible creature with the strength he worked so hard to obtain…

Ino's heart soared. She covered her mouth with her palm, trying to hold back her grin, but it was futile.

Naruto saved her. Naruto saved her! The dead last, the loser of the academy, he beat the scariest genin she'd ever seen!

It made her giddy. It made her prideful.

It made her happy.

"He's grown a lot, hasn't he?" Ino beamed unabashedly at her crush.

Sasuke eyebrows narrowed in surprise at her statement, but grunted in agreement.

Ino hummed to herself and watched Naruto still struggling to attempt the jutsu, still looking foolish, still the incredible shinobi Ino knew he was.

"Naruto." She called out to him as he descended the stairs from the roof. He stared at his hand, as if the secret of the Chidori would be found in his palm.

"Hm? Ino? What's up?" He looked up at her, a dumb expression marking his face.

The giddiness returned to her. Something about knowing how strong he was, how he protected her…it was like she and Sasuke were the only two in the entire village that knew a giant secret about their teammate.

"What?" Naruto asked, eyeing his teammate warily.

Ino stepped toward her fellow blonde, and a giant smile broke out on her face. She reached over and wrapped her arms around the shorter ninja.

Naruto let out a yelp at the sudden physical affection, but eventually let himself sink into her embrace, hugging her back.

His body was like a furnace, heating her through. It made Ino feel content, and she regretfully pulled back to smile at him again.

"C'mon, Ino!" Naruto's cheeks tainted red and his voice whiney, but experience told Ino that her affection did not displease him. "What's this all about?"

The proud whisker marks on his face called out to her and she leaned over, planting a kiss on his cheek.

Naruto made a straggling sound as he took several quick steps back and tripped over his own feet, landing on his butt, staring up at the Yamanaka heir. He slapped his hand over the spot she kissed him.

"Are you okay, Naruto?" Ino asked sweetly, bending over to help the boy, but he jumped up on his own violation, landing on his feet. Ino never say the boy's face this particular shade of red before.

"What the hell was that for?" Naruto shrieked and his voice cracked half way, but nothing further could compound his embarrassment.

A perfect opportunity for Ino to make fun the childish blonde, however, something about his innocent reaction charmed Ino and she could not bring out her regular vivre to tease him.

"Naruto, I want to thank you. I talked to Sasuke-kun, he told me that you saved me from the Suna-nin." The earnestness in her calmed him down and he breathed out slowly, dropping his hand from his face.

"You're welcome, didn't hafta kiss me though." Naruto grumbled, but he stepped forward again, to that comfortable distance the two shared.

Ino smiled at his attitude, but still apologized. "Sorry, I didn't think you would hate it."

"Weelll," Naruto drug the word out, glancing at the ground before staring her straight in the eyes, "I didn't hate it or anything. Just, um, save that for Sasuke or whatever next time. If…if you do that to just any guy, he'll get the wrong idea, y'know?"

Ino's heart fluttered. She hated to think like this about her blonde teammate. She always considered him the least desirable guy in their academy class, but she would be lying if she did not admit he looked and acted completely adorable at that moment.

"Oh, Naruto, that's so sweet."

"Whatever." He scoffed, and she wondered if he though she mocked him.

"Naruto, Naruto." She cooed his name, and, today, it felt like candy in her mouth, like she could keep calling out to him until her breath ran out.

"What?" He seemed irked, his brow furrowed and his arms crossed petulantly…cutely.

"Really, thank you, I mean it."

He closed his eyes, and his cheeks flushed again. When he opened them, they were clear like the sky after the funeral yesterday.

"Ino, I promised you I'd protect you from that guy, right?" He smiled broadly, his teeth almost glinting in the sun. "I always keep my promises, y'know?"

"I know." Ino smiled. "Can you tell me, about how it went down?"

Naruto wrapped his hands behind his head. "Sure thing! It was really epic actually…" Before the orange-clad shinobi could continue, his stomach rumbled fiercely, forcing a giggle out of Ino. "Ah man, trying to learn Chidori makes you pretty hungry, huh?"

Ino's giggles turned into a full-blown laugh, and her teammate scowled at her, waiting for her to calm down.

"Ay, Ino, want to get lunch and I'll tell about the fight?"

"Sure thing, Naruto, let's get Ichiraku. Let me pay today." She expected the shorter boy to yell in delight and rush towards the ramen stand, but, instead, his face flashed through some conflicted emotions. "What's wrong?"

"Um, y'know, we usually just pay for our own meal."

"I know, but it's my treat. I mean what's a small meal when you saved my life!"

Naruto cleared his throat, looking nervous. "Yeah, I know, but, it's kind of like a date or something, isn't it?"

Ino's instincts took over and she fluttered her eyes at her teammate, "Oh, what's that? Do you want to go on a date with little ol' me?"

Naruto made a choking sound, taken by her act, before he responded. "Well, y'know, it's like, don't you care if Sasuke finds out?"

Ino blinked, processing the question for a moment, wondering what Sasuke-kun had anything to do with this. But she quickly pieced together what the real issue was. She spat out her next words icily. "You'll only go on a date with Forehead, I get it. Whatever."

A sickness burrowed itself in her stomach and her appetite disappeared. Who cared about hearing a dumb story from Naruto anyway? She turned her back to him, beginning to leave.

"No." Naruto grasped her hand and turned around to yell at him to let go, but his eyes shut her up. They burned brightly with resolve. "Sorry, I didn't mean it like that. Let's get lunch together, Ino."

Ino felt her mouth go dry from his decidedness, but a kernel of bitterness still remained. "W-what are you going to do if I call it a date then?"

His smiled churned her stomach up like butter. "Then I'm lucky to have my first date with such a pretty girl, huh?"

"Oh, shut up, doofus." She spat, fire scorching the back of her neck, as she slapped his arm furiously, but her companion laughed heartily.

"Really, sorry, Ino. I didn't mean to make you mad." His gentle grin like a soothing balm, settling the ornery girl down.

"Okay, okay, stop apologizing. I just wanted to thank you anyway, let's not make a big deal about this." Ino huffed, as she grasped his hand and began leading the two toward Ichiraku.

Ino returned home in a daze, barely registering her mother's greeting as she walked up the stairs to her room. She flopped on her bed, her mind swirling from the events that Naruto told her. Maybe he was a really good story teller, or maybe the battle was simply that epic. Either way…A Tanuki beast, giant toads, balls of wind and water chakra so powerful they made rainstorms when they collided, a Kyuubi transformation!

And Naruto winning, beating the scariest, most dangerous genin she's ever seen.

She had a front row seat and she missed it!

Ino groaned a pick up a pillow, hugging it. She kept thinking about something Naruto said at the ramen stand.

"I thought I might lose, for a second, but then I saw you, still pinned to the tree. And I knew, even if I died, I had to save you."

What he said, the way said it, and the way his cerulean eyes pierced into hers…

She screamed into her pillow then threw it at the wall, her face heating up in agitation and embarrassment.

What was wrong with her?

Naruto? Naruto?!

That doofus? Just because he got a little cooler, a little stronger? She was only feeling weird because he saved her, that was it. It's not like she even wanted that, she'd rather walk by his side, not be protected by him!

Well.

Knowing he saved her did cause butterflies to roam in her stomach. But, that had more to do with the idea of being saved, then the fact that it was Naruto who saved her!

Right?

Ino groaned again and stood up, pacing the floor, wishing it was Sasuke who rescued her. It would make her life much easier. The gallant, talented Uchiha made so much more sense than the dim-witted, orange-wearing idiot.

That idiot with those beautiful blue eyes…

"God, why?!" Ino shouted at her ceiling, not really understanding all the emotions frothing within her.

"Ino, dear, are you alright?" Her mother called from downstairs.

"I'm fine, mama!" Ino yelled back before lying back down on her bed, staring at the ceiling and recalling Naruto's stupidly cute face, the many fascinating expressions dancing across it as he told her that amazing story.

"I'm done watering the plants, Ino, is there anything else?"

"No, thanks a lot, Naruto!"

Thankfully for Ino, the team took a small hiatus as the whole village, ninja and civilians alike, pitched in to help clean and rebuild Konoha. That, along with her regular duties at the flower shop, meant she barely saw her teammates or sensei for little over a week, and, during that time, her strange mixture of emotions and thoughts she felt about Naruto finally simmered down.

So, when he waltzed in today, to help her out at the store, she did not feel awkward in the least.

Did she, maybe, have a fleeting thought that he looked cute, wide smile and eyes shining? Perhaps, but probably not. Even if she did, it's not like it meant anything. Like how her weird emotions passed, this weird sensitivity to his appearance would pass as well, even if it took a bit longer.

"So," Ino started, quirking an eyebrow, "Are you going to tell me the reason you decided to come and help me without me dragging you here?"

Naruto opened his mouth, his brow bent in objection, when his features shifted into a sheepish grin. "Was it that obvious?"

"Well, duh. You can't really hide anything from me, Uzumaki." Ino smirked, her elbow propped on the counter and her face resting in her palm.

"Right, right." Naruto laughed. "Er, well, see, the thing is I'm leaving the village tomorrow, and I probably won't be back for a couple weeks."

"What?" Ino jolted up in surprise. "Even though we are rebuilding the village?"

"This is an important mission." Naruto began, nodding sagely. "Me and pervy sage are going to find the next Hokage."

"The next Hokage? Really, who is it going to be?"

Naruto scowled, "I don't know! Pervy sage wouldn't tell me, can you believe that? But I have to go, y'know? I have to make sure this guy is a proper successor to the old man, and not some loser."

"Of course, you are the most qualified to judge." Ino teased playfully.

"Of course!" Naruto puffed out his chest with pride.

"Okay, that's great an all, but what does that have to do with helping me? Not that I minded."

Naruto winked at the platinum blonde, grinning impishly. "Well, I thought you would miss me, so I squeezed in some extra Naruto time for you before I leave."

"What? That's so dumb." She giggled. "I would completely fine without some extra 'Naruto time.' In fact, a small break from you might do me wonders. My ear drums can finally heal from all the damage your shrill voice does."

"Wow, Ino, if I wasn't so manly, I would be crying from the verbal abuse you dish out on the regular, you know that?"

Ino rolled her eyes, a large smirk on her face. "Oh, stop being so melodramatic."

"Well, y'know, what I really came here for is to spend some time with you before I go." Naruto admitted leaning into the counter, his demeanor shifting from playful to…something else, as he looked up into her eyes.

Ino felt her throat drying up, seeing the tender affection swimming in his beautiful blue orbs. "And so, you decided to help me with some chores?"

"Hmm, just being around you is enough. It's fun." He drawled simply, uncomplicated, but it sent a torrent of emotions swirling inside Ino.

"Right." She finally mustered, tepidly.

"Right!" Naruto flashed her his gigawatt smile and Ino wished the ground would open up a hole and swallow her right up, like one of Kakashi-sensei's Doton jutsus.

Naruto pulled away from the counter, giving it a friendly slap. "Anyway, I'll see you later."

Ino watched him leave, unable to feel her face. She covered her face with her hands, the heat like fresh coals against her palms.

"It's just Naruto. It's just Naruto. It's just Naruto." She muttered her mantra until her face cooled down and she was able to push the blonde boy's stupid face far, far away in the back of her mind.

Ino put an apple in a small bag, so that she could take it with her on her visit to see Sasuke. She took one each day she went, yet he stayed in his coma, so she was forced to eat it herself. But she did not waver, visiting everyday and bringing an apple everyday.

She said farewell to her mother as she left the shop, heading towards the hospital. The village was beginning to clean up quite well, most of the rubble removed and many of the damaged buildings fixed. In maybe another week or so, Konoha would be looking as good as new.

She rounded the corner and she spotted a shock of blonde hair belonging to her teammate she was beginning to miss.

"Naruto!" She yelled out and the boy turned, surprised. His face quickly turned in a massive grin as he sprinted to meet her.

Joyously, he began to gush. "Ino! Ino! Guess what? I found someone who can help Sasuke!"

Ino paused, taking in the information, before shrieking in delight. "That's amazing, who is it?!"

"Hehe, it's the old lady named Tsunade, she's an amazing medic, y'know?"

Ino's eyes widened into saucers. "Tsunade-sama, you brought Tsunade-sama back!?"

"Ah, you know her?"

"How do you not, she's one of the great Sannin!"

Naruto rubbed the back of his head, looking baleful. "Well, I didn't really like reading the history books, y'know?"

Ino sighed at the expected response, but ended up grinning toward him anyway. She wet her lips, a bead of nervousness running through her as she began to ask her next question. "So is she…"

As if he could sense her anxiousness, Naruto beamed at her and cut in. "The next Hokage, yeah! And don't worry she's Uzumaki approved."

"Konoha thanks you for your service, Naruto." Ino jeered, but her smile was sincere.

"You're mocking me, right? Bah, whatever, let's go see Sasuke. Granny is checking on Bushy Brows first, but she'll come see the bastard next."

Naruto spun on his heels, weaving his fingers together behind his head and walked toward the hospital at a brisk pace. Ino followed next to him, still basking in the delight of seeing him after so long and knowing Sasuke would wake up soon.

As the reached the steps leading up into the building, Naruto grabbed Ino's hand and halted her.

"Hey, Ino, one second."

"What is it, Naruto?" She noticed his grip was tighter than usual, and he looked a bit anxious.

"Um, when we were looking for granny, we stopped by a small village and there was this festival going on, see?" Naruto rambled on as he let go of her wrist and began rummaging in his pocket for something. "And, uh, I played some games and stuff and when I was pretty much done, I passed this stall and…"

"Yes?" Ino tilted her head, wondering what he was being so long-winded for.

"Y'know I, uh, saw something and I thought of you." Naruto mumbled holding out his hand.

Ino pointed at herself, her eyes widening in shock. "For me?"

Naruto nodded and Ino held her hand out. Naruto cupped it with one hand and gently placed the object in her palm.

It was a hair pin, baby-blue, almost the colour of her eyes.

"It's cheap I know, but I thought it would suit you or something." Naruto dragged the toe of one of his sandals back and forth on the dirt a few times as he spoke. His eyes glued to ground on his own actions.

"Wow, Naruto, that's so sweet." Ino breathed, examining the gift in her hands.

Knowing that Naruto thought about her while he was gone set her heart a flutter in that way she hated. The type of way where her body and mind synched together and screamed at her, Uzumaki Naruto wasn't just her friend and teammate. He was a boy!

She swallowed thickly from the thought before a flash of pink entered her mind. Her mood dampened as she began to think about Naruto and his crush. "This is so sweet, Naruto, but you should give the hair pin to Sakura."

Naruto's head almost snapped as he funneled his eyes off the ground and straight into her sight. "Hunh?"

Ino hesitated, but powered through with her words. Her voice wavered a bit, and she hoped he would not notice. "You like her, right? I'm sure she'll love it, it's a pretty gift, really."

Naruto stood, mouth agape, before he frowned angrily and took the pin back.

Ino felt her heart drop to her stomach, knowing she upset him, but also knowing this was the right decision.

Then Naruto stepped forward suddenly and grasped her head gently, pulling back some hair and tucking the hair pin on it. "There!"

"N-naruto, what are you doing?"

"I didn't buy that for Sakura-chan. I bought it for you." He stepped back, admiring his handiwork. "I might not have any taste or nothing, but I think it looks real good on you."

His smile was like the sun, and Ino's face began to melt off.

"C'mon, Sasuke's waiting for us." Either oblivious or uncaring about her reddened state, Naruto began hopping up the stairs, humming happily to himself.

Ino, dumb and mute, barely possessed enough strength to begin chanting her mantra as she followed her teammate up the steps.