After 2 days of water walking team ten had mastered it. Asuma was very pleased out of his genin he had trained this group. The Kids in front of him were special.
"Okay guys i have to report to my father ill be gone a day or two. So its on you to keep up what you have learned. Don't get hurt and don't kill each other well I'm gone."
He grabbed his bag and left. They just looked at each other waiting for one of them two make a move. Naruto looked at them and said I'm going to train outside for a bit ill be back later".
Naruto left leaving Shikamaru and Ino looking at each other. "So we should do something nice for Naruto," Ino said.
"Yeah its still early. We could make a trip in to that town to buy him something his birthday was like 4 months ago. So we will get him a late birthday gift " Shikamaru suggested.
"Good idea Shika lets get a move on" she demanded.
"Okay but don't be so troublesome Ino" as he looks at her with a smirk.
They left in a hurry and returned a few hours later. Each with the own gift and a cake.
"Okay Shika this is the plain you go stall Naruto so i can make my moms ramen dish i need like one hour to do it all then you can return here and will have his party" Ino said
Shikamaru nods and takes off to stall Naruto. Ino starts making the ramen and then gets the table set up for dinner then puts the cake in the refrigerator. Then finishes the ramen.
Just as she's filling bowls full of ramen at the table. The guys come strolling in from some light sparring.
Naruto looks over and see's Ino had made dinner.
Ino sees him and smiles " I know your birthday was a few months ago but this is me and Shika's way of saying happy birthday Naruto and were glad you're a teammate."
"Thanks guys this means a lot to me" Naruto said happily
"Good now go change for dinner. You stink from training both of you, she demanded.
After both guys quickly washed up and changed for dinner, they sat down to eat the dinner Ino had prepared for them.
"I've never really had ramen before but this is good. Where did you learn to cook this Ino" Shikamaru asked.
"Its my mom's special ramen. She showed me how to make it when i was a little girl. I just followed the instructions" Ino said
"Its super good i love it " Naruto relied.
They finished dinner then they pulled out wrapped gifts for Naruto. He opened Shikamaru's first gift was book on sealing and a kunai set. Next was Ino's gift was two new sets of clothes and a framed photo of their team picture for back at home.
"Thanks guys, I love it. You guys are the best. I'm glad I ended up on team ten. I couldn't think what my life would have been if i was on another team. "Naruto said.
The night went on and they all went to bed. In the middle of the night Ino awoke to someone crying. She sat up and saw Naruto crying in his sleep again. She looked around and saw Shikamaru must have heard him and went somewhere else to sleep. She got out of her bed and made her way over to him.
She gently padded his shoulder and he slowly opened his watery eyes looking into her eyes.
"What's wrong Naruto this the second night you been crying in your sleep. I'm worried about you please tell me whats wrong.''
"It's nothing Ino just go back to bed" Naruto said sadly.
"I know you're not telling me the truth, Naruto now let me know what's wrong. I'm just trying to help". Ino said. As Naruto laid back down and rolled over, facing away from her.
"Fine naruto if that's how you want to play it then ill force you to tell me". She quickly did some hand signs (Mind body transfer).
Ino found herself walking down a long hallway in Naruto's mind. All the doors were blackened the further she got the more black doors there were.
She remembers her dad telling her black doors were people's bad moments or memoirs. " okay how can a person have this many black doors? I guess i just have to see whats behind door number 1".
She entered she door and she saw a 5 year old Naruto running home on his birthday. Then she saw the angry mob chasing him when one of the ninjas in the mob threw a kunai and him him in the leg.
"O MY GOD WHAT DID THOSE VILLAGERS DO TO NARUTO."
"GET THAT DEMON" someone shouted. She watched in horror as the mob beat him then they started stabbing him.
She was crying "I cant believe someone would do this to a child." she ran out of that room and she wouldn't go in another blackened door in Naruto's head. And she made her way through the maze of black doors, being the memories of Naruto for the last few years of his life. She came across a golden door when she opened it she had seen a couple days ago when herself and Shikamaru had told him that they don't care about the fox, that he was their friend and not the fox. she left that memory and smiled, knowing that gold doors are core memories.
She finally made it to the end of the hallway where there was a giant cell with bars on it.
Ino saw yellow eyes glare at her. In the cage was a giant 9 tail fox.
" so your the one that's digging in his mind."
"Ya so what's it to you you stupid fox its your fault Naruto has been treated badly his whole life."
" like i care I'm going to take control of his body then I'm going destroy that village and everything he holds dear and i'm going to start with you."
She saw the fox stick his paw out and tried to step on her when Naruto had jumped to her side before the part came down to crush her, he was carrying her bridal style. Then the Jutsu ended.
Ino blinked and saw Naruto wasn't crying. " Naruto please don't cry anymore. I'm here for you and I'm not going anywhere. I will protect you. I won't let the fox take over your body. We will stop him together me you and Shikamaru okay."
Naruto sadly, said," okay Ino i believe you I'm just so afraid that ill be by myself again i just can't be alone anymore " Naruto said.
" You're not alone anymore, you have me. I won't let you be alone anymore.
" I thought you loved sasuke, what about him?" Naruto asked in a questionably tone.
"I don't think he wants a girl. He's too focused on himself. I came to realize I don't want a man like that. I want a man with love and passion. I want a guy that when i say flirty thing to them they react making me feel sexy. And most of all i have decided i want to be with you Naruto and maybe if everything works out will have blonde haired baby's. " Ino teased.
(Somewhere back in the village, hidden in the leaves, a blonde man was standing at the cash register in a flower shop, and a tingle went down his spine. Oh boy, what is she up to now he thought as he went back to handling his test for the day.)
"You really like me ?" he asked happily. "Yes, now move over. My bed is a cold bed and I hate a cold bed". He moved over and she got in bed with him and cuddled up to him. She kissed him on the cheek. It wasn't before long when they were both asleep.
Shikamaru had heard the whole thing as he was coming back from the bathroom " troublesome blondes" he whispered as he went to bed and went back to sleep. He thought to himself I better get all the sleep I can now. Because knowing those two blondes, I am in deep trouble in the years to come."
