4

"All love that has not friendship for its base is like a mansion built upon the sand."

- Ella Wheeler Wilcox

"Ino!"

The blonde rushes down the stairs and into the kitchen. "Yeah?"

Yamanaka Keiko turns around from preparing Ino's birthday dinner to look at her daughter. "Did you invite Naruto-kun over for dinner tonight?"

"I, uh…"

The older female places her hands on her hips and fixes Ino with a reprimanding look. "Yamanaka Ino, I haven't seen that boy in two weeks. If he's not here for your birthday tonight, I'll be severely disappointed. How do I know if he's eating well or not?"

"It's Naruto, all he does is eat." When that answer doesn't have the desired effect of placating her mother, Ino sighs. "Okay, I'll…go let him know." Her mother gives an approving nod before turning around to continue preparing that evening's meal.

Ino finds that, as convenient as it would be to blame her mother for Naruto's lack of invitation to dinner, it's really her own inadequacy which has prevented her from communicating such information to her best friend. In truth, she has been studiously avoiding her fellow blond (and if his distinct lack of presence is any indication, the reverse also seems likely) ever since the night of his promotion to Chūnin. She still doesn't really know how to deal with him kissing her.

The blonde arrives at Naruto's apartment with a hastily written note in hand telling him to come to dinner, determined to put off facing him for as long as possible. She raps on his door and then slips the piece of paper underneath before Naruto can open it. Then Ino quickly departs for home as a thick knot of tension coils in her stomach.

Several hours later, Inoichi opens the door of the Yamanaka household to grant Naruto entrance. The two men shake hands before the younger male moves into the kitchen at Keiko's prompting of, "Is that Naruto-kun?"

"Evening, Keiko-san," he returns with a grin, allowing the older woman to embrace him.

Keiko holds him at arm's length to get a better look at him. "Oh dear, you don't look so good. Have you been taking care of yourself?"

Naruto shoots Inoichi – who has followed him in – a look, to which the Yamanaka Clan Head shrugs and rolls his eyes, as if to say he should be used to such treatment by now. "Of course," he replies, and his voice changes to the upbeat tone he used when he was younger. "As a future Hokage, I have to know how to stay in peak health!"

A restrained snort catches everyone's attention. Ino has come down the stairs, wearing white Capri pants and a pale orange shirt with a V-cut at the neck held together by a simple cross-stitch. Naruto moves toward her and bends down to give her a friendly peck on the cheek. "Happy birthday, Ino."

She tries to restrain the blush that crosses her fair features. "Ah, thanks, Naruto."

Keiko claps her hands together, breaking the strange stillness that has befallen the kitchen. "Time to eat!"

Dinner is a bit of an awkward affair for Ino. The platinum blonde avoids making direct eye contact with her best friend, allowing her mother to attract his attention while her father's eyes flit perceptively between the two teenagers. Ino is uncomfortable with the scrutiny, but only because she is worried about what Inoichi might do to Naruto if he figures out what's going on between them.

Not that there's anything between us!

When the meal ends, Naruto asks if Ino will accompany him home so that he can give her her birthday gift. Keiko shoos them out, wrangling Inoichi into helping her with the dishes so Ino can leave with Naruto.

Their walk is silent for a number of minutes, Naruto striding along with his hands in his pockets while Ino twiddles her fingers nervously behind her back. "You've been avoiding me," he notes, somewhat amused.

"What did you expect?" she hisses in a mixture of embarrassment and anger. "You kissed me!" Naruto chuckles while scratching the back of his head with one hand. "It's not funny!" she insists. The temptation to stomp her foot childishly like she did on that night is strong, but she tamps down on it. Very quietly, as if unsure whether she should actually ask it, Ino continues, "Why did you do it? What were you thinking?"

Naruto shrugs in a careless fashion, and Ino resists the urge to punch him. "It felt like the right thing to do," he responds. "You're very pretty."

"You're very pretty, Ino-chan," a thirteen-year-old Naruto says as they walk back from the mission engaging Princess Fuku to Daimyō Chikara.

Ino shakes her head to rid herself of the memory. "That's completely beside the point!"

"It is the point," he insists. "Haven't you ever thought about me like that?"

"NO!" she shrieks impulsively.

"Ouch," jokes the male blond.

"I-I didn't mean it like that," Ino backtracks, realizing how defensive she sounds. "I just…first you were interested in Sakura…then Hinata told you that she loved you… And you're my best friend," she tries, feeling like she's grappling desperately for excuses. Quietly, she repeats, "I've just never thought about you like that."

Naruto moves so he's in front of her, and Ino realizes that they've reached his building. "Let's say I believe that…what about now?"

Ino grasps for words that don't seem to exist. "I…"

The taller blond is staring at her as if she's an interesting curio. Dressed in her everyday clothes, nervously biting her lip and her one eye obscured by her bangs, Ino looks much more vulnerable than she really is. He reaches out to grab the end of her ponytail and tugs it gently so that Ino's eyes are aligned with his, though they're averted. "Hey," he coaxes, and the unspoken 'look at me' forces baby blue to meet crystal blue. "I don't know what this is, but it's different from how I felt for Sakura when we were younger." He inches forward just a little, so that his intention is obvious enough that Ino has time to reject it if she so desires. "I'm willing to give this a try if you are."

Closer. "And if you just wanna be friends, I'm okay with that, too. We'll just…forget this whole thing ever happened."

Closer. "So…what do you want, Ino?"

Ino stands motionless, mind spinning. Having Naruto so close and acting so serious and proposing such a wild idea is making it extremely difficult to think properly. Finding nothing but patience and care reflected in his blue eyes, and remembering back to the kiss two weeks ago, Ino decides that maybe it won't be so bad to date her best friend. She nods imperceptibly, but doesn't move; Naruto takes the initiative and kisses her softly, just so she's aware of how tentative he is with this new development in their relationship as well.

The taller teen breaks off after several moments, but leans forward to whisper in her ear, "Happy birthday, Ino," kissing her on the cheek just as he did earlier.

It's only after he's been gone for several minutes that Ino realizes Naruto never actually gave her a birthday present.

But then again, she thinks, a pleased smile crawling across her lips, maybe he did.

-l-l-l-

Ino's hands shake slightly as she ties the white obi around her deep violet yukata; despite being October, it's too warm for a full-on kimono, and the blonde's hope is that the more summery outfit will provide more breathing room during the annual Kyūbi-vanquishing festival.

More importantly, and nerve-wracking, is that tonight is her first date with Naruto.

It would've been earlier, but first her team, and then his team, were assigned week-long missions which took up the time between their birthdays. Ino doesn't begrudge the extra time; it actually feels quite appropriate to have their first date be at the same place they first truly spent time together. That doesn't change the fact that she still feels that tonight can either make or break their relationship, platonic or otherwise.

She jumps slightly when a voice calls her name, whirling around to find her father standing in the doorway. Inoichi looks momentarily surprised at catching her off-guard, but then steps into the room with a chuckle. "I don't think I've ever seen you so nervous for a date before," he comments.

"I'm not nervous," she denies. When the older Yamanaka shoots her a disbelieving look, Ino deflates slightly. "Okay, maybe I'm a little nervous. But…it's Naruto. Did you ever think we would go out?"

"Yes," Inoichi deadpans. "In fact, I owe Shikaku money for getting the timing wrong—"

"DAD!"

"Hm? Oh, right. Look Ino, Naruto likes you for you. Just pretend that this is any other night."

"But it's not."

Her father shakes his head. "That's not the point. Don't think about what could happen or where this might lead. Just go along with it and let yourself have a good time. You're best friends, you're together all the time…just let yourself have fun. Naruto's a good kid; I don't think you'll have any problems. You might end up finding everything you've ever wanted."

"…Okay, Dad." She smiles at him gratefully. "Thanks."

A knock on the front door echoes upstairs, causing father and daughter to look towards Ino's open doorway. "I'll go get that," Inoichi says, exiting his daughter's room. Before he heads out, he looks back at her and asks, "Can I give him 'The Speech'?"

"You just said that Naruto was a good kid…"

"I know," shrugs the older blond, "but it's tradition to threaten bodily harm to your dates regardless of how much I like them." He heads down the stairs at Ino's exasperated sigh, calling back up to her, "That wasn't a 'no'!"

She rushes through finishing getting ready, unsure if her father is serious about intimidating Naruto. When she arrives downstairs, they seem to be getting along well enough, and Ino takes a moment to admire Naruto, dressed in a light grey yukata with an orange obi. Inoichi notices her presence first, for he nods his head in her direction and says, "Have fun. And don't forget what we talked about."

Ino isn't sure whether he's talking to her or Naruto.

The platinum blonde drags Naruto out the door before Inoichi can say anything else, and it takes several blocks for her to slow down and realize that they're walking arm-in-arm. "Er, sorry about that," she offers. "You know how Dad can get…"

"All too well," he chuckles. "Really, it wasn't as bad as you probably think."

"I don't—"

"You look beautiful tonight," he continues. "I didn't get to tell you before, given how quickly we left," he jabs teasingly.

Naruto's looking at her with that same expression he's worn the previous times he kissed her, and Ino isn't sure how to respond. Remembering her father's words, she mock-pouts, "So I'm not beautiful every other night?"

The spiky-haired blond holds up his hands in playful surrender. "You're right, I'm sorry. You just stand out especially so tonight."

Ino flushes a little at the compliment, unused to her friend acting so…flirtatious. "So…what's the plan?"

Naruto shrugs. "No real plan. I just figured we could go to the festival together, do whatever comes to mind. Anything you're particularly interested in?"

"Nope." She smiles at him. "Let's just enjoy ourselves."

They enter the festival – which Naruto almost feels bad for attending, given his changed relationship with the Kyūbi – and start walking around, taking in the sights and games. Naruto buys Ino a small bowl of pudding, as well as several sticks of dango for himself, while they wander around, and the female blonde points out a reenactment of her date's defeat of Pein. "I think they're celebrating the wrong thing," he laughs.

"Maybe not. It is your birthday today," she points out. "That's as good a time as any to celebrate the Hero of Konoha's defeat over Akatsuki's leader." Naruto rolls his eyes at the title he's been bestowed, but says nothing else.

The rest of the night passes by in much the same relaxed atmosphere. They laugh at the image of an exasperated Sakura accompanying Sai, smile at an eating contest Kiba challenges Chōji to (with a bored Shikamaru serving as referee), and watch with amusement as Tenten drags Neji away from overseeing Hinata to play games, Lee following the duo (and shouting challenges to the Hyūga) while Shino escorts his female teammate around the festival. All-in-all, it feels like every other night spent in each other's company.

Ino mulls over that revelation as Naruto walks her home around midnight. The taller blond reaches for her hand, brushing it with the pads of his fingers, but doesn't grasp it. It's the first time he's shown any form of hesitancy with regard to their potential relationship, and Ino finds herself a bit relieved because of it. "Did you have fun tonight?" he asks.

"Yeah," she smiles. "Thanks for being my date."

"Back at you."

In the silence that follows, Ino reaches out and grabs her fellow blond's hand, lacing their fingers together. She can tell the action startles him by the way his head swivels towards her, but it only lasts a moment before he squeezes her hand in response. When they reach the entrance to the Yamanaka compound, Ino unclasps their hands and maneuvers herself to face him. "So…" she begins.

"So?" he echoes when she doesn't continue.

"If…this," she gestures between them, "is something you want to continue, then…I'm willing to go for it."

Naruto's face brightens. "Really?"

"Yeah, really. This could be really great, and…we should do it." She takes a deep breath and then takes a step forward. Naruto watches her with an expression that's part curiosity, part excitement.

For the first time, Ino embraces her usual confidence and initiates the kiss. "Happy birthday, Naruto."

-l-l-l-

"Wh-what?"

Ino looks down, averting her eyes shyly. She has ruminated on her feelings for two days, trying to work out exactly where her emotions lie. Debates on how good an idea it is to tell him have bounced around in her mind, predicting how he is likely to react. In the end, she realizes that it's Naruto she's involved with, someone who will accept whatever she says no matter what, and it is this conclusion that spurs her forward with her decision.

She looks up at him through her bangs, waiting until she can again speak confidently. "I love you, Naruto," she says with more boldness than she feels.

Naruto's crystal blue eyes widen marginally, his mouth opening and closing like that of a landed fish. Seconds feel like hours, and Ino feels a strange chill seeping into her body. Why isn't he saying anything? Why doesn't he tell me he loves me, too? The beginning of tears prickles at her eyes, and she blinks rapidly to get rid of them. Don't cry, she thinks, don't you dare cry in front of him—

"I…" Naruto swallows thickly, "gotta go." He disappears quicker than she can track, and Ino feels her resolve – and something much more fragile – break. She falls to her knees and covers her face with her hands as the first salty drops escape.

Hours later, Shikamaru steps out from the shadows of the Fourth Hokage's carved visage upon the Hokage Monument, hands buried deep in his pockets. Sitting with his knees held to his chest is Naruto, staring at the sunset over the treetops of Konoha's forest. "I spoke with Ino," Shikamaru says, not mentioning how he found her in Naruto's home. The blond flinches, not in surprise at the additional presence, but at the slight edge in his friend's tone.

Almost a minute passes in absolute silence before Naruto whispers, "She told me she loves me…" Confusion and, more surprisingly, sorrow lace his words.

Shikamaru sighs. "Troublesome," he mutters, voice returning to its normal, dry tone. It's difficult to stay upset with the other boy when he appears as lost and pitiful as an orphaned puppy. The shadow-user moves to sit beside Naruto. "I don't really understand what the problem is. You've been dating for a couple months now. Shouldn't this be a natural progression of your relationship?"

"I don't…" he begins, but then stops, shakes his head, and says quietly, "I didn't think anyone could love me…I mean, that one time with Hinata took me by surprise—"

"Do you really believe that?" Shikamaru interrupts. Naruto opens his mouth to speak, but the Nara cuts across him again. "The Yamanakas took you in when you were 10. Every time Inoichi-oji-san and Keiko-oba-san come over, they can't stop talking to my parents about you like you're their biological son. It's almost annoying how proud of you they are. And what about Jiraiya-sama, who took you under his wing, or Tsunade-sama, who sees you like the grandson she never had?

"How about your friends, the people you've sworn to protect with your life? Do you think we don't care about you, that we don't grow stronger so you don't have to bear that burden? Can you honestly say you never thought you'd be loved? I know you're not that stupid."

Naruto remains quiet for a long time following Shikamaru's diatribe, thinking back on moments spent with the people his friend has mentioned. "You're right," he finally admits, "I guess I just never thought of those relationships that way before…they were always just precious people that I needed to protect. I didn't consider how everyone felt about me…"

"Clearly."

A wry chuckle escapes Naruto's mouth at the blunt honesty, but then he turns pensive. "But it's different with Ino. I feel like…if anything happened to her, I wouldn't know what to do…like I wouldn't feel complete…" the blond trails off, allowing the heartfelt statement to linger. "Is that what that kind of love is…?" he wonders, lapsing into silence. As the last vestiges of the sun's rays disappear, Shikamaru stands up and cracks his back, moving to the shadows of the Hokage Monument. "Hey, where're you going?" Naruto calls.

"Home," responds the dark-haired teen with a lazy wave. "You have your answer. Just remember that if you ever hurt her again, Chōji and I will come after you, and Hero of Konoha or not, we'll beat the shit out of you," he warns, and then he's gone. Naruto gives a half-smile before rising to his feet and disappearing.

He reappears in front of his own abode. The door is closed and he hears nothing from inside, but given that he lives in a shinobi village, that never means anything. Feeling somewhat foolish, he raps on the door; despite it being his home, he doesn't feel right intruding on Ino's solitude, assuming she's still there.

"Go away!" she shouts, and something heavy and unsettling drops into his stomach; he can't tell if she's more upset or angry (or some parts both), but he knows he's the cause of her distress, and the knowledge is like a lead weight.

Naruto fishes for his key and inserts it into the lock, opening the door and stepping across the threshold. Instincts scream at him to move, and he twists nimbly, shutting the door behind him in the same movement. There are multiple thuds behind him, and Naruto peeks at the wall to find four of his kunai embedded in it. "Ino—"

"Just…don't talk right now, Naruto. I don't want to listen to whatever it is you want to say." Her voice is devoid of emotion, and Naruto thinks that the kunai piercing his heart would have hurt less than this.

Still, he falls silent at her command, not because she's necessarily intimidating, but because exacerbating the situation by disobeying is the last thing he wants to do. Slowly, he steps forward, taking care to make his movements measured and deliberate until he's within Ino's personal space. Wary – because experience has taught him that little is more dangerous than an upset kunoichi – he gently pulls his girlfriend into his arms and holds her there. "I'm sorry," he whispers in her ear, deciding that now is a good time to talk. "I didn't think I would ever know what it felt like to love someone. But someone reminded me that I have friends who care about me, a family who looks after me…you…and I realized that I'll never have to worry about that."

Ino sniffles against his chest. "Didn't you think that you'd love someone at some point? People don't become involved in relationships if they don't think they can fall in love."

"You assume that I think that far ahead," he jokes. A weak snort is the only response he receives, and he knows that he's at least earned a little of her forgiveness. Feeling brave, he creates a little space between them. "Ino?"

She tilts her head up slightly to meet his gaze. "Hm?"

"I love you, too."

-l-l-l-

"What's up, Granny?"

Tsunade glares at him. "You could stand to have a bit more respect for your superiors, brat." Naruto shrugs unconcernedly, and the blonde woman resists the urge to rub her temples. Straightening her back to appear more professional, she laces her fingers together and says, "Uzumaki Naruto. Taking into consideration your mission history, battlefield achievements, and collection of skills – politicking abilities notwithstanding – it has been decided that you are fit for greater responsibilities." The Sannin smiles at him. "It is with great pride that I bestow upon you the title of Jōnin."

Naruto's face lights up. "Really? You mean it?"

The Slug Sannin rolls her eyes. "I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it, brat." She waits patiently while Naruto has a small victory celebration in her office, wanting to let him get it out of his system before she continues with her news. In all honesty, even given the fact that Naruto was only promoted to Chūnin six months prior, the Jōnin title is a long-time coming; making it official has been the most time-consuming aspect of the whole thing, especially amidst Konoha's rebuilding.

Tsunade clears her throat when Naruto doesn't show any signs of stopping. "There's more." The spiky-haired blond returns his attention to his grandmother-figure, though a wide grin never leaves his face. "Now that you've reached the rank of Jōnin, you're legally allowed to claim the possessions of your father."

"The Yondaime's things?"

The busty blonde nods. "Yes. Unfortunately, most of what was in storage for you was lost when Akatsuki destroyed the village."

"Oh…" Naruto looks suddenly downcast, and Tsunade feels a pang of guilt for bringing up the subject. Being the last descendant of the Senju clan, she understands well exactly how important it is to have something tangible to remember family by, more so if the family has never been known.

"However," she continues, "I did manage to find something. Your parents had a house…one which they were planning on raising you in. It's not exactly the same one, but as all the buildings were reconstructed in the same neighborhoods and the deed to the house is still in the Yondaime's name, it passes down to you."

"I…I have a house?"

"Only if you want it." Naruto whoops excitedly and jumps over the desk to hug Tsunade. "Alright, brat," she laughs, maneuvering her arm out of his grip to set the key on the desk, "that's enough of that. Now get out of here, I've got work to do."

"Thanks Granny!"

Almost an hour later, Naruto is walking down the street at a fast clip, Ino trailing just a step behind him. "Naruto, where are we going?"

"You'll see!"

"Naruto," she says, exasperated, "you dragged me away from the shop to go on this wild goose chase. It doesn't even seem like you know where you're going. Some of us have other jobs, you know."

"Heheh, sorry Ino. I'm just really excited, that's all. And we're almost there. Just be patient."

Ino crosses her arms and huffs, but stops her grousing. Several minutes later, the pair arrives at a residential section of the village comprised of various single-story houses. Naruto walks up to one and inserts a key in the lock, prompting Ino to raise an eyebrow in confusion. He walks through the door and beckons his girlfriend to follow him in.

Naruto ventures through the house, staring around in silent awe while the other blonde observes him and her surroundings with a careful eye. The home appears quaint, with the main room connected directly to the kitchen by a large opening framed by two protective walls, and three other doorways leading to a bedroom, bathroom, and what Ino assumes to be a guest room. "Naruto," she starts when he surfaces from exploring the bedroom, "what is this?"

"This is…was my father's house."

Ino is surprised by this. "The Yondaime's? Really?"

"Kinda. I mean, the original house was destroyed when Pein invaded the village, but when everything was rebuilt, this is the one that replaced where Dad's house used to be…and it's mine now. According to Tsunade-baa-chan, anyway," he adds. When Naruto wanders into the guest room, Ino follows him in and stands in the doorway as he slowly paces the empty room. "I wonder…" he says quietly, "if this is where Mom and Dad were gonna raise me…"

Ino watches him lift a hand and run it along the rail of an imaginary crib. There's an expression on his face that she's seen before, whenever he gets to thinking about the family he has never really known.

The Yamanaka clears her throat after a bout of silence. "So, are you going to stay here?"

"Yeah…I think they would like that." He turns suddenly to look at her, and she's momentarily struck by exactly how alike to the Fourth Hokage he looks. It's almost as if the spirit of Namikaze Minato is settling back into his old home. "Move in with me!"

Baby blue eyes widen in mild surprise. "Wh-what?"

"Let's live together," he proposes in a more normal voice, though his eyes remain vibrant with energy. "You can finally move away from the Yamanaka complex, and we can be just like my parents were. Isn't this part of the whole, uh…" he squints, trying to remember something he was told, "natural progression of a relationship?"

"That doesn't sound like you."

"…Some of the stuff Shikamaru says sticks," he admits. "But that's not really the point. What do you say…will you do it?"

Ino considers the idea. She admits that it will be nice to finally get away from her parents, and being around Naruto on a more permanent basis like when they were children is a pleasant notion. Her imagination dives into what it might have been like for Uzumaki Kushina and Namikaze Minato almost 20 years before, and suddenly the images of herself and Naruto overlap those of his parents. It takes a lot of focus to not wonder what it will be like for her and Naruto to raise a child in the spare bedroom. I'm clearly getting a little too far ahead of myself.

Naruto is staring at her expectantly but patiently when she comes out of her reverie. "Okay," she says, "let's do it."

-l-l-l-

Naruto opens the door to their home, face unusually stoic. It's the distinct lack of expression that sets off alarms to Ino. She's known her fellow blond for so long that seeing him looking so bland and emotionless is frightening. There's hesitance in her posture as she reaches out with one hand, pantomiming a needy grab. "Naruto?" she asks, worry clearly lacing her tone.

He sighs heavily, trying to release the weight burdening his shoulders. "I've…been assigned to ANBU," he explains wearily. "According to Tsunade-baa-chan, being in ANBU is part of the test to see if I'm ready to become Hokage…something about 'understanding the sacrifices of your soldiers'. I just passed my initiation."

Ino suddenly becomes aware that he's dressed in the typical ANBU garb: black pants, skin-tight black shirt, and the protective armor top; the long black gloves and metallic forearm guards, as well as his mask, are hanging from a belt. In contrast, she's merely wearing one of Naruto's t-shirts and a pair of his boxers.

She's suddenly – and inexplicably, as she wears his clothes all the time – embarrassed at her state of dress.

Naruto moves a little closer to her. Ino's face is frozen in a mixture of shock (at the situation) and fright (for his well-being), but when he speaks his tone is soft, as if he's comforting an injured animal. "Ino, are you okay with this? I mean, I can always go tell Granny that—"

"No," she responds, not even letting him complete the thought. His dream is – always has been – to become Hokage, and despite her nervousness about her boyfriend's new position, she knows that she needs to be supportive of this opportunity.

Whether she fully agrees with it or not.

"You'll be careful, right?"

A shadow of his normal grin crosses Naruto's features. "Of course!" He falls silent as her eyes find his bare left shoulder, drawn almost magnetically to the spot. The standard ANBU tattoo – a design of swirls inked in red, signifying his allegiance to the Hokage – is alluring, almost hypnotic. Ino is transfixed by the sight of it.

"I-Ino?" Naruto seems unsure of this new development in his girlfriend, watching intently as she slowly approaches him. She raises her index finger and places it upon the tip of the tattoo symbol. As she gently traces the full design, Naruto shivers, the action one of a remembered pain rather than tenderness from the new addition to his skin. Ino replaces her finger with her lips, letting them merely linger in a soft kiss on his shoulder.

The gesture is somehow innocent and sensual all at once, and Naruto allows his eyes to close in contentment.

A strange humming emerges unbidden from his throat, and Naruto attaches his lips to a suddenly tantalizing spot on Ino's neck. She moans at the contact, and the male blond's hands crawl underneath her (his) shirt.

They've never gone this far before, but neither can explain why because the feelings the ministrations elicit are raw and amazing.

Ino squeaks as her beau picks her up bridal-style and carries her to their room. Their pulses race and their bodies react to the sensations of one another as the minutes tick by. Both are approaching 20 and in the prime of their careers, young and caught up in each other…

Yet neither has experience in this uncharted territory. Despite traveling with Jiraiya, the self-proclaimed super pervert, Naruto has been almost completely oblivious to the allure of women and too nervous to move fast with Ino and ruin things. On the other side, Ino knows the seriousness of such an act, the emotional attachment associated with it, and she's been too fearful of drawing out the same reaction as when she told Naruto she loved him.

In the moment, none of those insecurities cross either of their minds.

The night is fulfilling, if not awkward and slightly clumsy, their inexperience clear. Both are driven by instinct, by tugs of consciousness demanding 'do this' and 'do that'. There is a strange satisfaction and emotional significance to the mutual loss of virginity, but, trapped in the act of consummation, it is thrown to the wayside and ignored.

Ino ponders the tumultuous thoughts crashing in her mind as she basks in her afterglow. She peers at Naruto as he sleeps, an easy and content – though she blushes to think of the cause – smile on his features. Her cheeks get even rosier as she considers the other blond's body, an ideal sculpture of musculature built within the confines of a lithe, youthful form. He seems the perfect specimen of a man both physically and mentally, gentle and caring in both word and deed.

As Naruto rolls over, his arm falls across her petite waist, causing a warmth to course through her. He instinctively pulls her closer, their nude bodies pressing flush together. Ino realizes that the line she's associated with their friendship – formed, blurred, teetered on the edge of – is suddenly far behind them, crossed well beyond any point of return. The idea of her and Naruto becoming so entwined in such a fashion is scary, unexpected, nerve-wracking…

Ino snuggles deeper into Naruto's embrace and grins. She's looking forward to it.

-l-l-l-

Naruto returns home from training, tired and in desperate need of a shower. The house is a little quiet, but it's early in the afternoon and Ino's schedule normally keeps her out for another couple of hours. He slips into the bedroom and grabs a clean uniform to change into, but an unusual odor catches his attention. A frown mars his features as he tries to place the scent, and it's only as he checks the area between the bed and the far wall that he recognizes the metallic smell as blood. Blue eyes widen in horror at the sight that greets him. "Ino!"

Ino is lying on the floor in a small pool of blood, her normally fair features pale and face streaked with sweat. Naruto is immediately by her side, and when he takes her into his arms, her skin is clammy to the touch. His Nine-Tails Chakra Cloak springs to life, and in a flash, the house is empty.

The blond reappears in the Hokage's office, his sudden appearance startling both Tsunade and Shizune. "What—" Tsunade begins.

"GRANNY!" he bellows. "You've gotta help Ino! Something's wrong with her, there was blood all over the floor, and, and…"

Tsunade immediately enters medic-mode. "Shizune, cancel any appointments I have," she orders. "Naruto, go to the hospital; I'll meet you there. NOW!" she yells when he continues to stand motionless, lost. The younger blond leaves in a flash of chakra, and when Tsunade Body Flickers to the hospital, he's standing in the atrium with a panicked expression on his face. "I need an operating room," she snaps at the nurse.

"R-right away, Tsunade-sama!"

"Naruto, drop the cloak and follow me." He obeys both directives, mainly because of the authority in the Hokage's voice, his body moving on autopilot behind her. They arrive at an operating room in short order, and Tsunade takes Ino from Naruto's arms. "Stay here," she commands before hurrying through the doors.

Naruto waits in a chair outside the operating room, twiddling his fingers in a fit of nervousness. Tsunade has been working on his girlfriend for what feels like days, even though it's only been a number of hours, and Naruto's mind has been a blank buzz of static. He's only recently thought to send out a shadow clone to the Yamanakas, and its dispelling indicates that Keiko is on her way to the hospital; Inoichi is out of the village, which the blond finds fortunate for his own physical health. There's no telling what the Yamanaka Clan Head will do upon discovering his daughter's status.

For that matter, the Jinchūriki has absolutely no idea what's wrong with his girlfriend. The amount of blood leaking from her body was startling, but the fact that there were no visible injuries was more worrying, as it meant that there was nothing he could do to help.

And more than anything, Naruto hates to feel useless.

Tsunade steps through the doors of the operating room at that moment and stands before Naruto, who jumps to his feet, face painted with anxiety. "Ino had an ectopic pregnancy," she tells him.

"A…a what?" His ears catch on one word. "She was pregnant?"

"Yes." The Hokage takes a seat in Naruto's abandoned chair before explaining, "An ectopic pregnancy is one where the embryo implants somewhere other than the uterus." Naruto's expression of mixed confusion and panic doesn't change, and Tsunade comes to the conclusion that the medical jargon is a bit too much for him. "The baby was growing in the wrong spot. It caused internal bleeding and put her in a state of hypovole—shock," she says instead.

"Is she okay?"

"I removed the embryo and gave her a blood transfusion to restore what she lost." The older blonde offers Naruto a wan smile. "You saved her."

Naruto releases a breath he doesn't know he's been holding. "Thank goodness…I made it in time."

"Well, yes, but you actually saved her." When Naruto still doesn't get what she's saying, Tsunade elaborates, "You and Ino are the same blood type. The blood we used for the transfusion was blood you donated. It's a good thing Ino convinced you to give, isn't it?"

The blond wipes the beginning of tears from his eyes. "Yeah…"

Then Tsunade sighs. "Naruto…I fixed the physiological issues, but…these types of traumatic incidences aren't without other repercussions."

"What do you mean? Can…can Ino not get pregnant again?"

"Infertility is always a possibility, but the likelihood of that is low. The problem is that there might be some psychological damage related to conceiving again. Your relationship with Ino might be different for a little while."

Naruto nods slowly. "But…it'll get better, right?" Tsunade remains silent. "Right…?" he tries again, weakly.

"Only time will tell." Naruto staggers and slumps against the wall, just as Yamanaka Keiko bustles down the hallway. "I'm going to move Ino into a recovery room now. You're both welcome to visit."

She stands up, turns, and walks away, so she doesn't have to see the boy she thinks of as a grandson collapse into Keiko's arms and sob like a child.

-l-l-l-

"I'm gonna ask her to marry me."

Mantis, Dragon, and Falcon all raise their heads to look at Boar, the firelight amongst them highlighting the markings on their porcelain ANBU masks. Boar wishes for a moment that he can see his friends' expressions, but even though their mission has been completed early and they're deep within the Land of Fire, protocol dictates that they must keep their identities hidden. He finds it a bit stupid, given that they all know who the others are, but he also understands the mechanisms of ANBU, and that secrecy is paramount, especially in the field.

It's why the conversation he's trying to have will contain only vague references to people and situations.

"Congratulations," Dragon offers.

"It is quite a large commitment," advises Falcon. "Are you sure you're ready? More importantly, is she ready?"

"I think so…"

"So she has recovered from the…incident?"

Boar is quiet for a long moment. Truthfully, the time following the ectopic pregnancy has been rough on both him and his significant other. Her desire for intimacy dropped for several months, and he often waffled between accepting missions and staying in Konoha to watch over her, only leaving after she reminded him that his team was counting on him. The normally outspoken and confident woman he knew was replaced by a more reserved, introspective individual who he wasn't sure how to act around. Living together was hard for a period following the pregnancy, with neither person sure of how to approach the other.

Eventually, the woman's normal personality began to shine through, and every day, Boar finds another piece of his girlfriend rising to the surface. It gives him hope that their relationship will fully return to its status quo very soon. He nods at Falcon. "She's strong; things are getting better little by little."

"That is good to hear," speaks Mantis, "but I do not believe you have addressed the underlying issue, by which I mean the subject of future generations."

"…You mean kids?" Boar interprets.

"Correct. Why is that important? Because she is from a clan, and thus a line of succession is expected."

Dragon snorts, though the sound is muffled by her mask and the sound of her whetstone sharpening one of her kusarigama. "Damn clan politics."

Mantis spares her a blank glance – even through the mask, Boar knows exactly what his expression is – before turning back to continue his conversation. "They exist regardless of any personal feelings on the matter, so it is important to be aware of them. It is one of the reasons why meddling in the romantic lives of others is inadvisable."

Boar winces. Before the pregnancy mishap occurred, he had the thought that Mantis was a bit lonely, especially since the bug-masked ANBU was on a team with people in relationships. Confiding such information in his girlfriend resulted in her suggesting a double date, setting Mantis up with his female former teammate. While it went well, Mantis assured Boar afterwards that such a pairing was 'unlikely to have the desired outcome', though he did thank Boar for his concern regarding his personal life. "I said I was sorry about that," he mutters. "You don't think that I'll be prevented from marrying her, do you?"

"Unlikely," says Falcon. "Her clan is hardly as strict in regulating unions as, say, the Hyūga, and even someone like Neji was afforded some modicum of leniency with whom he chose for partnership, despite his standing and reputation."

"Plus you've been on good terms with her family for a long time," Dragon adds.

"This is all true," Mantis points out, "but not my point. I am merely trying to prepare you for an obstacle you might be unaware of. As I said, there are certain expectations placed upon specific members of a clan." He pauses and then turns so the gaze of his porcelain mask is fixed on Falcon. "I admit, I am surprised that someone of Neji's position hasn't yet been required to provide the Hyūga with progeny."

Boar smothers his laughter with a cough at the imperceptible reactions of both Falcon and Dragon at Mantis' gibe. His imagination conjures an image of the face behind Falcon's mask rendered speechless out of its normal stoicism, and he again restrains a snort of amusement. Falcon clears his throat. "Yes, well, I've heard that Neji is on a bit of a time constraint in that regard…"

"What?" Dragon growls dangerously. She suddenly has a wakizashi pointed at Falcon's chest. "And do you happen to know when Neji was going to inform his wife about this requirement?"

"Something tells me they'll have a conversation as soon as he returns from his mission," Boar comments, bemused. Dragon and Falcon turn to him, and Boar can feel the glares they shoot him through their masks. He holds his hands up in a placating gesture. "Not that it's any of our business."

"It is merely food for thought," Mantis concludes, ignoring the suddenly tense atmosphere.

Boar considers the words of his teammates all the way home the next morning. He feels that it's perhaps still too early to bring up the subject of children, regardless of what her clan expects, but he also now understands a bit more of what he has to look forward to in the future.

None of that really matters, however, for when Boar returns home and removes his mask, Uzumaki Naruto kneels before Yamanaka Ino and asks her to marry him, and her response is an emphatic 'Yes!'

As they embrace, Naruto realizes how wily Tsunade is for assigning him the boar mask, and wonders how she knew he and Ino would get to this point.

-l-l-l-

Naruto stands before Tsunade in a black kimono, black haori, and grey hakama, fidgeting. Part of it is simply because of the weight of the clothes he's dressed in – and he briefly admires Shino's ability to wear so many heavy layers all the time – but another part is borne from the nerves of knowing that he is getting married. He watches alongside the Hokage, Shizune, Iruka, Shikamaru, Chōji, and Keiko as Inoichi accompanies Ino towards the dais he's standing on in the shrine, and the blond finds himself rendered absolutely speechless.

Ino is resplendent in the traditional white kimono of a bride, and Naruto thinks that she's never been more beautiful than in this moment. All the blond can do is keep his eyes on his bride as she steps up to stand across from him.

Tsunade officiates the wedding, walking them through all the traditional rituals of the ceremony until they share their first kiss as husband and wife. It's the happiest day in Naruto's 21 years of life, a title which has been replaced over and over ever since meeting Ino over a decade ago.

Somehow, he feels like this one will stay at the top for a long time.

The group leaves the shrine and head for Training Ground 11, which is outfitted for the wedding reception. Their friends and family are already there – consisting of the rest of the Konoha 11 and their dates, Sai, their teachers, Inoichi's teammates, and several members of the Yamanaka clan – and all of them applaud when Naruto and Ino enter hand-in-hand.

Both blonds are split apart by their guests, all of whom approach and offer various forms of congratulations and well-wishes for the future. After Sakura drags Sai off (as a preemptive measure, before the male says something inappropriate), Naruto finds himself approached by Neji, Tenten, Shino, and a woman he doesn't recognize. "Welcome to married life," Neji says, the corner of his mouth tilted up in a slight grin. "You're in for quite an adventure."

Tenten nudges him. "Hush, you. He's actually very happy for you, Naruto," she addresses the blond, "he just doesn't know how to show it because the Hyūga don't believe in emotions."

"I can't even imagine why you married him then," Naruto jokes.

"I'm a sucker for stoicism, I suppose," Tenten banters good-naturedly. "Though there are days when dealing with certain aspects of the clan make me regret my decision."

"Clan politics, huh?" Neji shakes his head in a 'don't ask' motion, an expression of resigned exasperation twisting his features. He winks at Neji. "Someone wise told me that the Yamanaka clan isn't as strict as the Hyūga in their traditions, so perhaps I won't have as much issues to deal with."

"You are most likely correct," Shino interrupts, "but there might be other politics you will have to deal with. What am I referring to? You are the direct descendant of the Yondaime Hokage and one of the few remaining Uzumaki in the world. It is possible for you to reestablish your own clan here in Konoha, which might raise issues with the Yamanaka clan."

"Shino," Naruto acknowledges, "good to see you. You're as well-versed in clan politics as usual," he continues wanly.

"I find it prudent to be knowledgeable in topics that are likely to affect me."

"I would expect no less. And it seems as if you'll have to draw on that information sooner rather than later," the blond smirks, nodding at the girl next to Shino.

"Perhaps," Shino concedes, adjusting his glasses and inclining his head at his friend. "Kuri and I wish you the best of luck with your union." The girl also nods at Naruto, and then all four depart to mingle with the other guests, leaving Naruto to ruminate on how focused his friends are with clan politics and expectations.

Naruto turns around and comes face-to-face with Yamanaka Keiko. "Oh, Keiko-san. You surprised me."

"I'm so happy for you, Naruto-kun," Keiko smiles. "I always wondered who Ino would end up marrying, and I don't think I could've asked for a better son-in-law. You know that you can call me 'Mom' now, right?"

"It…might take some getting used to," he admits. "And…I'm very flattered you think so highly of me."

"Of course! So," she continues, features becoming suddenly sly, "when should I expect grandchildren?"

Naruto chokes on his spit. "I…don't think we've really discussed…that…yet."

"Well, maybe you should start thinking about it," Keiko suggests. She embraces him and kisses him on the cheek before leaving to rejoin the reception.

The blonds retire to their home hours later, both exhausted but happy. Ino is slipping out of her kimono when Naruto comes up from behind and wraps his arms around her waist. "Mm, hello, wife," he murmurs into her neck, planting his lips there.

"Oh, hello, husband," she purrs back, "or should I call you Yamanaka Naruto?"

"What, and give you the power in this relationship?" he teases. "I don't think so. I like the sound of Uzumaki Ino, personally."

"You would."

"Well, what about my dad's name?" he suggests diplomatically through kisses sprinkled over her neck and under her jaw.

"Namikaze Naruto…Namikaze Ino," she hums appreciatively. "Not bad…but we don't have to decide this right now, do we?"

"I suppose not." He hesitates slightly, then continues, "Your mom wanted to know about grandchildren, and…I've been told that there's expectations regarding a clan's line of succession, and—"

"Naruto?" Ino interrupts. "Don't worry about the details right now. Let's just enjoy the moment."

His smile is hidden in his wife's skin. "That's a good idea."

-l-l-l-

They've been married almost seven months when Ino wakes Naruto up early one morning with the news that she's pregnant. Given how late he arrived home from ANBU Headquarters the previous night, it takes him a minute to actually comprehend his wife's words. When they finally register, the blond sits up so quickly that the covers fly off the bed. "Seriously?"

Ino nods. "Just confirmed it." She hesitates before continuing, "Are you…happy?"

He leaps out of the bed and grabs Ino around the waist, spinning her around. "Of course!" A sudden thought occurs to him, and he puts her down and looks her in the eyes. "Are you?"

The platinum blonde smiles at him a bit shyly. "Yeah…I think we're ready to become parents, don't you?"

"Mm-hm." There's a brief lapse in conversation as both blonds consider the ramifications of having a baby. "I'm gonna quit ANBU," Naruto decides.

"What? Why?"

"Remember what happened the last time you got pregnant?"

"Naruto, that was just a fluke—"

"I know, I know," he surrenders, holding up his hands, "but…I'm worried. Things can…happen," he gesticulates, and it's clear he has no idea what exactly he should be worried about. "Besides, I've been in ANBU for almost three years now, and you'll need someone to take over your Genin team while you're…being pregnant," the blond finishes lamely.

"I'm not going to be helpless," she replies, a little defensively. "I can take care of my team."

"I'm not suggesting you can't," Naruto placates, "but I don't want you dealing with any undue stress. Plus, it'll be a good experience for me."

Ino considers her options. After becoming a Jōnin almost a year before, she decided not to continue on in the Torture and Interrogation Forces, finding herself ill-suited emotionally for the work. She decided to take on a team of Genin, becoming a mentor for young minds as Asuma was to her so long ago. As loathe as she is to leave them in the lurch, Ino knows that she'll eventually be put on maternity leave, and someone will have to take over her position. If Naruto wants to take over that job – and simultaneously remove himself from the dangers associated with being in ANBU (the idea of her baby being fatherless is far more likely with him in ANBU) – then perhaps that's the best option available. "Fine. But I still want to be there to supervise."

"Don't you trust me?"

She rolls her eyes. "Now you're just pouting."

"I'm just trying to lighten the mood."

Ino grins at him with the same foxy expression that normally decorates his face. "I have a suggestion for that."

They're relaxing after their morning romp, Ino's head resting on Naruto's chest, when the male blond brings up the subject of their clan affiliation. It's been a debated topic ever since their wedding, especially since Ino is the heiress to the Yamanaka clan, but there has been no resolution. Neither blond allows the subject matter to ruin their marriage, but with the newfound knowledge that a baby will soon become a part of their lives, the question of surname suddenly becomes very important. "We should take your dad's name," Ino decides at length.

Naruto blinks and tilts his head slightly so he's speaking more to his wife than the ceiling. "Are you sure? I'm okay with becoming a Yama—"

"No," she interjects. The platinum blonde rolls over so that she's now on top of Naruto, holding herself up so that her body is hovering above his. Baby blue eyes meet crystal blue. "Listen to me…I've given this a lot of thought.

"There was never an official Namikaze clan in Konoha, but your dad made a name for himself and ended up becoming Hokage. When you were younger, you never had a clan either…and no matter how close you got to my family, you were never going to be able to become part of the Yamanaka clan. And even though you were always an Uzumaki, there will always be others in the world who have that name.

"But you're on the verge of becoming Hokage, just like your father did so many years before. And if we become the Namikazes, we'll have the opportunity to actually start another clan here in Konoha. It'll be for just our family," she emphasizes, "and I think that, more than anything, is what you've always wanted."

Naruto is silent for a long time, merely staring at his wife. Finally, he says, "What about the Yamanaka clan?"

Ino smiles down at him. "Well, I might not be able to take over, but the line of succession will still continue through me…to our children."

He raises an eyebrow. "As in, more than one?"

She settles back on her knees so she can drag one finger down his chest. "Play your cards right…but we're getting off track. My point is that our marriage forged a bond between the Yamanaka clan and us. That means that I can teach any of my clan's techniques to my children, and while this baby will become the heir to the Namikazes, any of the others can become the next-in-line for the Yamanaka clan. Dad will back me up on that."

"…You're sure you're okay with this?"

"Absolutely. Besides," she purrs, "I kinda like the idea of being the matriarchal founder of a clan."

"You're amazing, you know that?" He lifts his head and kisses her. "I love you."

"I know. I love you, too."

"So…who do we tell first?"

"Is that really what you want to talk about right now, with your sexy, beautiful wife naked in bed with you?"

"No," he grins, "I suppose it isn't."

-l-l-l-

Naruto sits with Neji in the courtyard of the Hyūga complex, watching Tenten throw a myriad of different weapons at a series of targets. "How are things?" Neji asks.

The blond quirks an eyebrow at his stolid friend in amusement. "Shouldn't I be asking you that question? My wife's not the one who recently gave birth to twins."

"True," concedes the Hyūga, taking a sip of tea, "but Tenten is the one more affected than I. Ever since she was disallowed from performing missions, she has been a little…"

"Crazy?" Naruto offers.

"…I was going to say 'restless', but your word could be considered apt," smirks the older male. "However, I would not recommend saying that to her face."

Naruto shudders. "Never."

"Still," Neji continues, "it is quite a change to become a father. I've decided on a temporary leave of absence from ANBU to spend more time with the children. I would rather take some precautionary measures so as to not leave them fatherless." The words 'like I was' went unsaid.

A gurgle draws the attention of both males, and Neji reaches into the crib set up beside them and brings out his son. Naruto watches as Neji rocks the baby Hyūga, a slow smile spreading across the normally stoic man's face while he murmurs quiet words of comfort. The older male settles his son in his lap and then returns his attention to his friend. "And how is Ino doing?"

"She's…okay," the blond hazards. "It's been a hell of an experience."

Neji nods in understanding. "I remember what it was like when Tenten was pregnant. Morning sickness, cravings, mood swings…" the Hyūga grimaces slightly. "You should be grateful that Ino doesn't have an endless arsenal of sharp projectiles at her disposal when you do something 'wrong'."

"Kunoichi," they mutter simultaneously, and then exchange wan grins. "Now that the due date's upon us, I'm really nervous about becoming a father," Naruto admits after a moment, blue eyes focused on the baby Hyūga playing with his father's hair.

"So was Neji," Tenten confides, seating herself beside her husband; their other child is nestled within the crook of her arm. "And I was afraid of being a mom. It's only natural. You'll adjust to it pretty quickly."

"You think so?" he asks hopefully.

"Of course!" She observes Naruto for a moment before holding out the baby she's cradling. "Here," she proffers, "take Koji." After several seconds of hesitance, accompanied by encouraging nods from the married couple, Naruto convinces himself to reach out and take the young Hyūga.

The blond stares into the baby's pale eyes, and suddenly his anxiety about becoming a father falls away. His nerves revolving around not knowing how to act because he never had a father, his worry that he'll screw up taking care of his child, his fear that something will happen to the baby…everything just disappears. "I'm ready," he whispers to the child.

Naruto stares at the Hyūga for a moment longer before he realizes that he's supposed to be meeting Ino and her team for training. He stands and deposits the baby back in Tenten's arms. "Thanks you guys."

"Anytime," Neji responds.

"Tell Ino we say 'hi'," Tenten adds.

"Sure thing," the blond replies, and then he's bounding away for the training grounds.

He arrives to find Ino sitting in her usual spot against a tree, while her students – Hyūga Harumi, Aburame Shū, and Tsukino Tama – sit around her and listen to her lecture. His wife is already aware of his presence, and Naruto waits patiently until she's finished her lesson before taking over the physical aspect of the kids' training. Her students are meant to specialize in espionage, and Naruto is well aware that his wife is far better suited to teach such subject material than he is; it's probably the reason the team was assigned to her care.

They're done soon enough, and Naruto challenges the Genin to attack him; the kids' frustration at being stuck doing only D-rank missions so he can stay in the village for Ino's sake is reflected in their determination to strike him. He grins a little at their effort as they throw everything in their arsenal at him, expelling a burst of wind to disperse the kikai swarming towards him.

Ino cries out a little just as he's escaping from one of Tama's illusions, and he immediately Body Flickers over to here. "Ino, what's wrong?"

"Baby's coming," she gasps. "I'm okay, just a little surprised."

Despite his initial panic, Naruto picks her up bridal-style and turns to the Genin, who are all standing and staring at him. "Training's being cut short," he informs them. "Go home. I'll send you a message with our next meeting time."

They all nod, but he's already gone.

He arrives at the hospital, and after explaining the situation, a nurse takes Ino into a room to wait until she's ready to give birth. Naruto creates two clones – one for Tsunade, who has been their doctor throughout the whole pregnancy (probably because of her relationship with Naruto), and another for Ino's parents – and sends them off before following his wife down the hallway.

Naruto has too much nervous energy to sit down in the chair by the bed, so he paces in short steps beside it. Ino, watching, lets out an exasperated sigh. "Naruto, relax. Everything's fine."

He stops briefly and turns to look at her. "I just…I remember the last time we were here for…something like this."

There's a haunted look in his eyes, and Ino knows that he's thinking back to the surgery she underwent for the ectopic pregnancy. "Tsunade-sama's been checking everything every step of the way. She's already said that this'll be a perfectly normal birth."

"Things can go wrong—"

"Not in this case," Tsunade confirms, walking into the room. She's looking over a chart in her hands. "It'll still be awhile before Ino's ready to deliver, but everything looks good. Maybe you should wait outside, Naruto?" she suggests.

"No! No," he repeats, calmer, "I…I want to be here. Let me stay."

Ino groans as a contraction hits, and Naruto is immediately by her side. He helps her through it as Tsunade has taught him to do, and when it's over, the female blonde breathes, "He can stay…provided he doesn't start panicking again."

Naruto proves to be a boon the entire 17 hours of Ino's labor. By the end of it, the platinum blonde is sweaty and red-faced, but smiling. Tsunade places a bundle within her arms, and husband and wife look at their newborn son with adoration shining in their eyes. Naruto leans over and kisses Ino on the forehead. "The two most beautiful people I've ever seen," he whispers.

Ino releases a tired and short giggle. "I think I need a shower before I can claim that title."

"My grandson needs his name," Tsunade reminds them.

"Great-grandson," Naruto corrects cheekily, and only the situation prevents the Hokage from belting the blond.

"Michio," Ino decides. "Namikaze Michio."

Tsunade looks from Naruto to Ino to their son before she marks the name down on her clipboard. "Welcome to the world, Namikaze Michio."

-l-l-l-

Ino stands in the crowd of people before the Hokage Tower with a two-year-old Michio holding her hand, most of the Konoha 11 surrounding them. The blond boy tugs on her hand, causing Ino to look down into soft blue eyes set under Naruto's bright yellow hair. "Mommy, I can't see."

Large hands grab the boy's sides, and Michio squeals as he's placed on a shoulder. "Better?"

"Uh-huh," nods the boy. "Thanks, Chōji-oji-san!"

"Sure thing." The Akimichi nudges his former teammate. "So, how was he this morning?"

"Barely ate breakfast," Ino confides. "I don't think it quite hit him until today."

"That's understandable."

Michio hushes them. "Shh! Tsunade-baa-chan's gonna talk now!"

Ino grimaces slightly as Chōji chuckles beside her. "Hopefully he'll practice more respect while in office than he's shown Tsunade-sama," she whispers to her friend. "I'd hate for him to continue to pass down his bad habits to our kids."

"You and I both know that if Tsunade-sama really minded, she'd have put an end to it a long time ago," Chōji returns with a grin.

The platinum blonde nods her absent agreement, but her eyes are riveted to the top of the Hokage Tower, where Tsunade is passing along the Hokage's hat to Naruto. They're sharing the space with a squad of ANBU, and Ino doesn't find it coincidental that Mantis and Falcon are standing closest to the two blonds.

Naruto steps forward to address the crowd, the hat clutched in his hand. "I've wanted to be the Hokage since I was little," he begins. "Back then, I sought the title because I thought it would make people respect me." He snickers a little, as if someone's told a funny joke that only he gets. "I wasn't very smart when I was young…I didn't understand that you needed people's respect to become Hokage. And that was an uphill battle because I never did anything to earn it…just like people didn't do anything to make me respect them.

"But then I met someone who wanted to be my friend." His eyes search the gathering, and Ino finds him looking straight at her. "I've never told her this, but she earned my respect that day…the first person to do so.

"Thanks to her, I began to learn about things I'd never known before…what it was like to have friends, to have a family…to know love. Even though some of those lessons took a bit longer for me to learn, I eventually understood them, and each one taught me the responsibilities associated with being a good Hokage.

"And now, I can proudly stand before you and say that I'm ready to take up the mantle of Hokage…if you'll let me," he finishes, placing the hat upon his head. Thunderous applause and cheers greet his proclamation, and Naruto's mouth breaks into a wide grin.

Chōji leans over to Ino while he claps, making sure not to jar Michio from his shoulder. "From that speech, I wouldn't have believed he was nervous at all, would you?"

Ino shakes her head. Looking back, she can't quite believe things have progressed so far since their time as children. Becoming Naruto's friend, his wife…starting a family together…none of those possibilities ever even crossed her mind when she tried using that first Shintenshin so many years ago.

The Namikaze matriarch waves at Naruto when his gaze finds her again, and her opposite hand goes to rub her swollen belly as their second child starts kicking. She's suddenly grateful for the impetuousness of her younger self, for the opportunities she's taken despite her initial hesitance…for Naruto crossing the line in the friendship she started to embrace the chance to be something more.

I wouldn't have it any other way.

-l-l-l-