Yosh! I'm back in business!

Sorry if this chapter isn't the best. I'm really out of shape with my writing. I'm in my political essay-writing pattern right now.

After this chapter I'm going to D.C. for school, so I defiantly won't be able to update by then. I'm trying really hard to update my stories…I guess I'm not trying hard enough.

I do not own Naruto.

Naruto laid there on the dirt floor in a daydream. Kyuubi had given him a personal training session and now his whole body was aching. Naruto was in turmoil as he recalled the earlier incident.

'How can I go back there? I just caused Inoichi to get kicked out of his own home.' Naruto ran a hand through his spiky hair. 'I really am a monster...'

'You shouldn't be so down, Kit. It isn't healthy. Stop dwelling on this so much, everything will settle down soon.' Naruto couldn't help but grin at Kyuubi's ever growing softness.

'That was almost comforting, fox. Now I feel all warm and fuzzy inside.' Kyuubi growled from within his cage.

'Shut up, Kit.'

Naruto grinned his foxy grin and laid back against the tree trunk. Naruto felt his eyes get heavy and he sat up straight. There was no way he was going to fall asleep in a forest. Naruto stood up and slowly walked back to the Yamanaka household with a wobble.

'Watch it, Kit. You're pushing yourself too hard. You haven't even begun to feel the after effects of your training.'

'Stupid, fox. You're the one that made me do all that crap!'

Kyuubi fell silent and Naruto smirked. Naruto reached his shelter and turned the doorknob. He quietly opened the door and winced as it squeaked. He looked around at the empty room and quickly resolved that they were already asleep. Naruto crept up the stairs and reached his room. To say he was surprised would be an understatement. As soon as he opened the door, he saw Ino sleeping on his bed.

Naruto glanced around. He didn't see anything out of the ordinary. He took off his sandals and walked towards her. He nudged her and whispered:

"Ino, wake up. You're in the wrong bed."

Silence.

Naruto sighed and paced his room, trying to think of a solution. The only ideas he had were to throw her off, dump cold water on her, or kiss her. Considering her father just attacked him and she was probably hurt, he shook his head at the first two. But, Naruto didn't want to kiss Ino either. She was upset about the attack of the man incident and he wasn't sure if she forgave him or not.

Naruto gave up and was about to leave the room when a tired voice spoke out.

"Naruto-kun?"

Naruto turned around slowly, as if caught doing a deadly act. He stared at Ino while she rubbed her eyes.

"Where are you going?" Ino asked after blinking away her sleepiness.

"I-I was just going to train some more." Naruto stuttered.

Ino frowned. "Why? Didn't you just come back?"

Naruto gulped. "W-well, yeah. B-but I've got nothing better to do…and I didn't want to wake you."

Ino stared and apologized. "I'm sorry, Naruto. I was planning on talking to you, but I guess I fell asleep…what time is it?"

Naruto glanced at the clock. "It's around 1'oclock."

Ino blinked several times before her gaze hardened. "You've been training all night?! You could've hurt yourself! What could you have possibly been doing?"

"Kyuubi was training me." Naruto answered simply.

Ino looked down. "Oh, sorry…I didn't mean to snap."

The room fell silent and uncomfortable. Naruto felt like he had to ask. "What did you want to talk to me about?"

Ino glanced up at his face before looking away dejectedly. "I wanted to apologize for ignoring you…it was wrong of me. I-I'm just worried about you a lot and-and I can't help but feel responsible for what happened earlier…" Ino trailed off when she felt tears sting her eyes, but she kept going. "I-if I hadn't been so rude and selfish, I could have told you!"

Naruto stared at her. "Told me what?"

Ino clenched the sheets in her hands, her hair falling over her face as she stared at the patterns on the blankets. "Told you that I got a letter. A letter from my father, telling me that he was coming home sooner than expected. If I had remembered, then-then we could have told Hokage-sama and my father wouldn't have found you! It's all my fault! You wouldn't have gotten hurt and-!"

Ino was caught off by a fierce kiss. Naruto pulled away and looked her right in the eye. "Don't you dare think this was your fault. It wasn't and you know it. If anyone should be blamed, it would be me. I shouldn't have let down my guard like that. I know now that I have to be alert at all times and I can't show any weaknesses."

This time, Ino grabbed hold of his collar and tugged him closer. "No! Don't become like Sasuke!"

Naruto stared at her, realizing he did just sound like Sasuke.

"Don't turn into a paranoid freak! You can't do that to yourself…you can't do that to me! If you do that, you'll break your ties with everyone and you won't have anyone to lean back on. Don't become that person…please." Ino was trembling as her pale blue eyes bore into deep cerulean eyes.

Naruto looked away and stepped back from her. He turned his back. "Okay, I won't…but I do have to leave. I can't live here and I can't keep putting you and Rin in danger. I'm sorry."

Naruto began to walk out and Ino's mind was racing. 'Move body move! I have to stop him! Please! I can't lose him!'

The next thing she knew, her arms were wrapped around Naruto from behind with her face buried between his shoulder blades. She heard her self whispering:

"Please don't go…don't leave me alone…besides, you promised. You never go back on your word, right?" Ino asked hopefully.

Naruto felt himself grinning. He turned around with a fox-like grin on his face. "Of course dattebayo!" He settled down and put a warm smile on his face, he sighed. "A promise is a promise…I guess I have to stay." He pretended to be disappointed. Ino laughed and smacked him across his head.

Ino whipped her eyes and smiled. Naruto softened immediately and caught her lips in his. Surprised, Ino closed her eyes and locked her arms around his neck. Naruto placed his hands on her waist and brought her closer. Naruto rubbed her back gently and softly as Ino ran a hand through his golden blonde hair.

They broke apart for much needed air and gazed at each other. Naruto scratched the back of his head and grinned.

"So does this mean we're official? We never made this clear."

Ino giggled and nodded as she slipped her hands around her boyfriend's torso. Naruto rested his chin on top her head, inhaling the sweet smell of her shampoo.

'mmm…flowers…' Naruto thought happily.

Ino noticed Naruto's slight fatigue as he wobbled a little bit when they let go. "Come on, let's go to bed." Naruto only nodded and followed Ino back to his bed.

Too tired to comprehend what they were doing, Naruto crawled into bed with Ino. Ino wrapped her arms around him and rested her head against his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat. Naruto put an arm around her in a protective manner and buried his face in her hair.

"Good night, Ino-chan." Naruto said as sleep took over him.

Naruto snored softly as Ino ran a hand over his cute whiskers. Ino placed a kiss on his lips one last time before gazing at his face as she drifted to sleep.

"G'night, Naruto-kun."

Both blondes fell asleep with a peaceful and content smile on their faces. Meanwhile, Rin smirked at the two 'love birds' and she went back to her bedroom.

'I'm going to use this as blackmail one day.'

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Ja ne!