Legion of Naruto

Chapter 3

Trying to be understanding but still ending up grumpy, a bored Naruto Uzumaki wandered the streets of Konoha. Today was like any other, training before Kakashi sensei had shown up, work on some of his basic jutsu, and then head out for a d rank mission before finishing and coming back for training. Except instead of training they were told explicitly to 'relax and take the rest of the day off' which meant very loud and clear that if their sensei caught any of them training(Naruto) they'd be in for a world of trouble. With a sigh Naruto understood that in his own way Kakashi wanted to make sure they weren't wearing themselves out. With a chuckle Naruto figured Sakura didn't have to worry about that at all, but him and Sasuke might. Shaking it off and spotting a shop full of plants, he figured he could at least get a small bag of fertilizer for his house plants while he was out. It wouldn't do to neglect his housemates after all. Walking in and taking in the heady humid smell of plants and earth, he was overcome with peace for just a moment.

"Welcome to the Yamanaka nursery, what can I help you with?" A bored voice answered from the counter, face down in a fashion magazine, Ino Yamanaka in all her pretty blonde glory was manning the counter. Naruto hadn't seen the girl since the end of the academy but hoped her usual antics weren't about to come out to play.

"Heya Ino! Where do you guys keep your fertilizer?" Deciding to get what he came for and leave quick, he made his way to the counter.

Looking up and spotting the loud troublemaker, Ino had to pause for a moment at the different look of the boy. The open black jacket and black tee wasn't a big change, but it was significant enough to give her some pause and made her give the boy a quick once over. "Uuuh, you're not gonna use it for a prank are you?" Still wary even if he seemed to be taking things a little more serious if the change of his wardrobe was an indication, she still had to make sure his usual antics didn't come back to her parent's shop.

"No no, I have some house plants that need a little love, that's all. No pranking, honest." Hoping the girl believed him as he actually hadn't had time for pranking since the end of the academy. Well except for that short time meeting Konohamaru and training him in the sexy no jutsu.

"Huh." Giving the boy another good once over, a small thought gracing her mind, she nodded and pointed off to her left. "Along the back wall in the corner, next to the indoor aloe plants."

Giving thanks and making his way between rows and rows of plants, Naruto was curious about what his former classmate had been up to. "How's training going? Learn anything awesome from your sensei?"

Realizing she should have known she wouldn't be able to get back to her magazine, Ino snorted when she thought about her sensei. "Heck no. Asuma-sensei is to laid back for that. We're training sure and he works us through drills, and don't get me started on the d-ranks, such a bore! Ugh, and I've got the laziest teammates ever!" Naruto tuned out her ranting about Shikamaru and Choji, knowing the laid back boys were probably getting nagged to death, Naruto found what he was looking for and snagged a small bag. Turning and glancing at the aloe plants, Naruto saw and read the small note attached to the base of the plant.

"Hey Ino, what's this about the aloe plant being a good chakra conductor?"

Pausing mid rant about not being able to cloud watch for hours on end, Ino had to think about what the boy was asking her. Shaking her head, "Hold on!" and moving around the counter, Ino walked around until she found Naruto kneeling next to a row of plants while delicately examining the thick leaves. Kneeling down next to him and turning the plant towards her, her dad's description came to her, "Oh yeah. Apparently this particular variety of aloe vera has a sap that conducts chakra really well. Dad says that coating twine or thinner string with the stuff lets you use it in place of actual chakra thread, and a lot less chakra taxing too."