spending the day with Ino

The next day he and Tsunade ride on his Cougar Kai to rest their bodies some after the full night of intense lovemaking.

The group starts their way back to Konoha so Tsunade can become the next Hokage and heal Naruto's teammates.

When they arrive in the village hidden behind leaves Jiang is quickly excused by the council elder for his hasty escape from the hospital one month ago when Tsunade mentioned his agreement to become a Konoha ninja after finishing his travels and that he has an never before seen Kekkei-Genkai. Giving them the possibility of recruiting a new clan to Konoha, whose clan-dependent reputation took a hit with the Uchiha massacre a decade ago.

"Man, I can't wait to book me a new room and lie down for a few days, without that cat using me as a scratching post" Jiang says, heading to Konoha's hotel, seeing it completely destroyed.

"Right. Of course the hotel is destroyed." Jiang groans.

"Looks like I'm making a trip to see Tsunade yet again." He grumbles, heading back to the room Tsunade currently occupies.

"What now?" He hears her annoyed voice when he knocks at her door.

"Uhh, I just wanted to give you this again." He says, handing her a white scroll.

"The hotel is gone, so I'm gonna bunk with the cats and with this you can reach me." Jiang says.

"Yeah, right." Tsunade says nervously.

"Something on your mind?" Jiang questions, hearing her tone of voice.

"Just with us... we can't get together again, for now anyways. As the new Hokage I'll need to prove myself first and sleeping with a man not even half my age isn't exactly something to boast as a leader." Tsunade tells him heavy hearted.

"Is that the real reason, or do you doubt this could work either way?" He asks her in an understanding tone.

"No, while I don't think it'd be easy, I also haven't felt this way for anyone in a long time, so I would want to try this, but..." Tsunade says saddened.

"I understand. I will be gone in a few weeks anyways. For a while at least." Jiang says, rubbing her hands with his thumbs gently.

"I'm sorry." She says.

"Don't be. We both knew this was the most likely outcome from the start." Jiang tells her and leaves, waving her goodbye.

He then asks a summon to bring him to the Wildcat plane and isn't seen in Konoha for almost a week

"Hah, finally that damn cat let me take a break." Jiang says, his eyes having dark circles and his body having scratches all over.

"I think he wants me to absorb too much nature chakra, just so he can hit it out of me." Jiang says, poking his newest additions of scratches.

When he passes by the Yamanaka flower shop, he sees a familiar face and enters, Ino's back turned to the door while she's browsing through a magazine.

"I'm looking for a bouquet of Roses." Jiang says, walking up to the counter

"Over there." Ino says, pointing at the flowers and Jiang takes a bouquet, laying down the money on the counter, when Ino turns around to check the money, she sees the customer already leaving the store, catching a glimpse of a green half worn robe and a brown ponytail.

"Jiang?" She says shocked and is about to chase after him, but he reenters the store moments before.

"Jiang. It was you. Is something wrong with the Roses?" Ino asks.

"No, I just don't know when your shift ends." He says with a grin.

"These are for you." He adds sheepishly.

"Mom, I'm leaving!" Ino shouts and jumps over the counter, dragging Jiang out of the store with her before her mother can intervene.

"Thank you." Ino says with an amused smile, accepting the roses from her own store.

"What are those for? She asks.

"They are an attempt at an apology for leaving so sudden, even though you were nice to me the whole time." Jiang apologizes.

"Apology accepted. My father told why you left." Ino informs him.

"Good. I was worried you hate me now." Jiang says relieved.

"No... I was a little sad, but I know you didn't do it to hurt me." She says embarrassedly.

"So, how have you been?" Jiang asks.

"I stepped up my training. I have to show you sometime. Now with the village vulnerable we need everyone to be prepared." Ino says dutifully.

"That's great. Is Shikamaru still being an annoyance?" Jiang asks.

"When is that complaining bum not an annoyance?" She says with a smirk.

"Guess you've got a point there he chuckles."

"So, how come you look like you've been in a torture chamber for a week?" Ino asks, her finger gingerly gliding over some scratches on his neck.

"I was training and didn't exactly get much sleep." Jiang informs her.

"Why's that?" She asks, the two starting to stroll down the street.

"How much sleep would you get if you were staying in the same room as an undead wildcat intent on ripping you apart?" Jiang asks tiredly.

"Why do you sleep there then?" Ino asks.

"Because that's the only way the head of the summons allows me to stay there and the room I had here, was in the hotel which can be found scattered all over Konoha." Jiang tells her with a sigh.

"Hahaha, that's truly unfortunate. Yeah, some people don't have a roof over their head right now either." Ino says.

"Yeah, well what can you do." Jiang sighs.

"You could... you could stay with us. I'm sure I can get daddy to come around and we have a spare room." Ino offers.

"Really? You'd do that for me, even though I left like a complete ass?" Jiang asks surprised.

"Sure. You're a hero. No one else would have been able to fight Gaara like you. We'd all be dead without you." Ino says.

"Hmm, I guess." Jiang says disappointed.

"Hmm? How come I offer you free lodgings and you look like I stabbed you in the face?" Ino asks curiously.

"I was hoping you had offered cause we're friends not out of gratitude." Jiang says quietly, before stopping at a restaurant.

"Come on let's eat something. I'm starving." Jiang says, entering the building with Ino following.

The two then eat their meals together after which they continue their stroll, ending up on top of the Hokage heads.

"You know, I didn't offer you a room because I think you're a hero. I offered you a room because I like you." Ino says, her hand fumbling with his fingers.

"You do huh?" Jiang asks with a grin.

"Well yeah, or did you see me going over to Naruto in the hospital every day?" Ino asks challengingly.

"I think you should know something about me then." Jiang says, sitting down, with her joining him atop of the 2nd Hokage's head.

"Tsunade asked me to join the village after my travels." He tells her.

"That's great. Isn't it?" Ino asks surprised at his solemn mood.

"Yeah, that part is... but I'm also becoming a new clan head." He tells her.

"Still don't see a problem." She says shrugging her shoulders.

"Well if you wouldn't interrupt me." He chuckles, before continuing.

"Anyways, as clanhead the council expects me to populate it quickly. Meaning..." Jiang says tiredly.

"Meaning multiple women." Ino says in realization.

"Right on the mark. I'm not too sure how I feel about it either. Maybe I'll just become a nuke nin and avoid the hassle." Jiang says chuckling bitterly.

"I... think you should do it." Ino tells him, surprisingly supportive of the development.

"Come again?" He asks taken aback.

"You should do it. A new clan would be amazing for Konoha's influence and if there's anyone who would deserve to have more than one lover, it's you." Ino says.

"How can you say that, we don't even know each other all that well." Jiang says thinking she's joking.

"I was in your head remember and I've seen that you have a lot of love to give, which is always unreturned due to some kind of turnout." Ino tells him sympathetically.

"Right. The mind walking thing. I totally forgot." Jiang says.

"Look, you know I like you. And I won't lie and say I'm going to be celebrating that news anytime soon. But if it's you. I would support you completely." Ino tells him.

"I think I completely underestimated you. I was always wondering if you were still holding out for the Uchiha." Jiang says, brushing over her hand in amazement.

"No. After your advice during the exam, I thought long and hard and realized you're right. I was just clinging onto the strongest person in the class, because I always dreamt, he'd become my prince charming and save me from a horde of bears or something." Ino says with a small smile.

"So, what do you think about going on a date with me?" Ino asks him with a grin after a short moment of silence.

"I would be honored, but you should know one more thing that happened during the time I was gone. I had a lover for a very, very short time. As it turned out she didn't have time for me in her life right now, but I thought you deserve to know. You've been there for me all this time without me returning the favor." Jiang says, cupping her cheek, brushing over it with his thumb.

"Jiang. If you want to repay me, do one thing for me... " Ino requests.

"Anything." Jiang says.

"Never toss me aside like Sasuke did." Ino says insecurely.

"Ino, that isn't something you even need to worry about. You've seen my opinion about you and that was only after a few visits in the hospital. Imagine how head over heels I'll be for you after spending more time with you before I'm going on my travels." Jiang says, leaning towards the slightly younger girl, with Ino leaning in as well, meeting him in an innocent kiss.

"So, you'll still be going?" Ino asks saddened.

"Yes, I made a promise to my summons when I first became their partner. I need to travel to all elemental nations, besides Iwa, because their elements are bound to those places in one way or another. But I already know a way it won't be a problem to meet and spend a lot of time together. You see, my summons can call me to them, as I can call them. And I can make a scroll with which you can summon a special summon of mine and call me to you through it." Jiang tells her, caressing her face.

"I see, so using reverse summoning jutsu to travel over distances." Ino says impressed.

"Uh-huh." Jiang replies with a grin.

"That's great. For a moment there I was worried I wouldn't get to see you for a long time." Ino says relieved a coy smile on her lips.

"No, I promise that won't happen. You could even come visit me in the cat-space, as I like to call it." Jiang says.

"The what?" Ino asks.

"It's the realm my summons live in. If you do want to go out with me, I'm sure they'd be excited to get to know you." Jiang tells her.

"Cat summons huh?" Ino asks.

"Yeah. Most of them are cool. Though Neko-sensei wants to kill me. If my scratches are any indication." Jiang laughs.

"Well tell him to take it easy, I'm hoping to get to spend a lot of time with you, which will be hard if you're dead." Ino says, leaning into his side and gives him a quick kiss on his cheek.

"Come on. Let's go ask daddy if you can stay at our place." Ino says excitedly, jumping up and pulling him along behind her.

"OK, let's keep the whole clan and multiple wives thing between us though, at least until I'm on the road and he can't poke around in my mind until I think I'm a worm." Jiang says laughing lightly.

"Yes, I think that's a good idea." Ino agrees.