As promised, here is chapter 5 of the story :)
All characters belong to Masashi Kishimoto.
"Ano.. Ino-chan.." Naruto scratched his chin as they exited the building. He wanted to engage Ino in conversation but could not think of anything to talk about. He realized that he really did not know her at all.
Ino glanced to her side at the stuttering blond boy. His head was tilted up and his eyes were squinted, seemingly deep in thought. She wondered what he was thinking about. Perhaps he's thinking of a way to complete the mission. Wow, I never knew he was that serious about his duties. Her eyes lowered and she noticed a small hole over the pocket of his orange jacket. That's right… He doesn't have any parents. She wanted to reach out to him, but did not know how.
"Ino, do you have any brothers or sisters?"
The question threw Ino off-guard. She gave him a puzzled look and did not answer immediately.
"Nothing," Naruto said quickly before she could reply. He turned a deep shade of red as he reprimanded himself. He cleared his throat and decided it would be best to keep his mouth shut.
Ino wanted to respond but Naruto had already withdrawn the question. She played with a lock of hair as they walked in silence down the village road. Her bare shoulder brushed against Naruto's coat once, but neither of them noticed. The two continued through town without a word. Although there was no communication between them, it was a comfortable silence. Neither felt awkward and the pressure to talk dissipated as they neared the back fields of Konoha.
A field of colours, birds and little critters greeted them. Instinctively, the pair paused at the top of a small hill to take the landscape in. Naruto breathed in deeply, appreciating the season's musky perfume. He stretched his arms out and let the autumn air embrace his body. Ino closed her eyes and listened to the sparrow's song, the shuffle of tiny rodent feet in the dirt and the crisp landing of leaves. Suddenly, a loud crash sounded, startling Ino to reopen her eyes.
Naruto had leapt into the pile of leaves below them and was now thrashing his arms around, pretending to swim. He waved at Ino, smiling broadly. Ino laughed, jumping in after him. Without speaking, the two began a game of tag, splashing leaves at each other and hiding around the large oaks.
Ino tired before Naruto did, and she laid down to watch the sky. Naruto sat down beside her, leaning back with the support of his hands. The floating clouds moved steadily with the wind and Ino followed them with her eyes until she fell asleep. Naruto could not help but look at her peaceful face. His eyes trailed down her neck, and stopped at her rising and falling chest. I'm such a jerk! I'm taking advantage of a sleeping girl! Blushing furiously, Naruto scrambled to his feet and backed away. As he brushed himself off, he suddenly remembered that they were supposed to be on a "mission." He glanced at Ino's slumbering form and decided not to wake her. She stirred slightly as a breeze passed through the field. Quietly, Naruto unzipped his jacket and he gently placed it over her. Then, he tiptoed to the edge of the field and performed his famous Taju Kage Bunshin no Jutsu. He willed his clones to complete the mission, but he stayed behind, not wanting to abandon his companion.
The blue in the sky changed into a mélange of sunsetting colours. The clouds turned orange, then, purple from the reflecting lights and day became evening. Naruto had resumed his sitting position, calmly watching Ino and adjusting his jacket each time she turned or shifted in her sleep. Warmth glowed in his heart, comforting his soul. He could not pinpoint the origin of said warmth, but he was grateful to be in Ino's company. It was a new experience for him – to be with a girl, not on a mission or in a group.
As Naruto became lost in his thoughts, Ino slowly came to, yawning slightly. She peered up at Naruto, who was watching the last of the sparrows return to its nest on the oak above them. A soft breeze passed and she pulled Naruto's jacket up higher. Only then, did she realize that he had given her his coat to use as a blanket. Her cheeks tinted pink and she smiled inwardly to herself. I never expected Naruto to be so considerate. Looking around, she noticed that most of the leaves had been swept into a large pile in the middle of the field, except for the ones that surrounded them. She suddenly recalled that they had had a mission to complete and she had slept through the whole thing.
"Naruto, I'm so sorry," Ino started, guiltily.
"Don't be. I enjoyed it very much," Naruto said before she could continue. He was surprised at his own courage, but he genuinely meant it and he was glad that he told her the truth.
"Besides, I didn't do that much work either," Naruto added, chuckling.
He helped her up and she brushed herself off. She held his jacket up, but Naruto shook his head. She hesitated, but eventually put it on. It was cooler now and Ino's sleeveless top left her vulnerable to the winds.
"Thank you," Ino said, shyly.
"You're welcome."
As they neared town, much commotion was heard. When they reached the main road, they realized that all the leaves had been piled into random heaps in a haphazard pattern across the streets. Naruto gulped and laughed meekly. In the distance, Tsunade's yell could be heard.
"Race you to Ichiraku's!" Naruto had barely finished his sentence before taking off, leaving a trail of dust behind him.
"Wait! Naruto!" Ino would have normally scolded Naruto for being irresponsible, but she actually found the situation funny. Dodging a stack of leaves, she sprinted forward, determined to catch up.