Konoha: Naruto's abnormal life choices

"You need to give me a good reason."

Naruto, disguised as Shikamaru, stood in the middle of the street and said calmly.

The air was crisp after the autumn rain. Though cool, it carried a lingering warmth. Yellowing willow leaves drifted gently between the two of them.

Ino furrowed her brows and stared straight at Naruto.

"I told you not to go. Isn't that reason enough?" she snapped.

"You're really bossy, Ino-chan," Naruto replied, smiling with curved eyes. "But if I don't go, who's going to pay for our meal?"

Back at the hospital, Ino had promised to treat him, Shikamaru, and Choji to a meal as an apology — but now, it seemed she didn't want the other two to join.

Naruto had a good idea of what was going on in Ino's mind.

"Shikamaru, you're disgusting," Ino spat. "Why are you calling me 'Ino-chan'? And don't squint like Naruto — you already have ugly eyes. Don't try to copy him. That's just pathetic."

She crossed her arms, clearly irritated.

"This outing's settled. When you find Choji later, take him to eat somewhere. Then report back to me when it's time for the mission."

Ino's tongue was always sharp, especially when scolding her childhood friends.

Naruto actually wished he could record it — just to play it back to Shikamaru for laughs.

"I've told you not to imitate Naruto. You're not cut out for it," Ino added, turning with a flick of her smooth, long legs.

But just as she turned, Naruto grabbed her wrist.

Startled, she yanked her hand back. "What are you doing? Are you insane?"

"Ino-chan."

"I told you to stop calling me that! It's so gross!"

"Right, right," Naruto said with a wink. "But I'm not Shikamaru, Ino. You've got the wrong guy."

"???"

Ino tilted her head, confused.

Then, before her eyes, "Shikamaru" performed a transformation technique. With a puff of smoke, the figure shifted — and the dull-faced Shikamaru became the smiling, sun-kissed Naruto Uzumaki.

That bright, dazzling grin was all too familiar.

Ino didn't scream or lash out. She just spun around and sprinted away like her life depended on it.

It was the first time in her life that the socially savvy Ino experienced what could only be described as social death.

"Pfft!" Naruto snickered to himself, then transformed into a completely unfamiliar face.

He returned home to change into more casual clothes.

Naruto liked simple, two-tone outfits: white on top, black on the bottom. After packing his things, he neatly folded Uzuki Yugao's bathrobe and stepped out again.

Due to the death of the Third Hokage and two recent invasions, fear still hung over Konoha. Most stores remained closed.

But not Ichiraku Ramen — a place that had never closed its doors.

Naruto passed by Ichiraku and turned left. Not far down the road stood the Yamanaka family's flower shop.

In front of it, Ino sat alone on a public bench, picking peach petals and muttering.

"Stupid Naruto!"

"Why pretend to be Shikamaru for no reason?!"

"I said so many embarrassing things. Ugh!"

It was 11:30 a.m. — already an hour since she'd run away from Naruto.

The breeze blew strands of her long blond hair across her face and into her mouth, making her pout and try to blow them away.

And that's when she saw him again.

That annoying, handsome, smiling face.

Her eyes widened in horror. The scene from earlier replayed in her mind. Her cheeks turned pink, and she instinctively tried to run.

But Naruto stepped forward to stop her.

"Ino, weren't we going to get lunch together? Let's go."

"I'm not going," she snapped.

"Is that your way of saying you don't want to give me a chance to apologize?"

She hesitated. After a few moments, she turned and walked ahead of him, muttering under her breath: "You're such a pain."

"Then let's go find Shikamaru and Choji first. They should be home," she added, still walking.

She had originally wanted to go alone with Naruto. But after he pretended to be Shikamaru and made her look ridiculous, she was too embarrassed to suggest it again.

"Nope," Naruto said, hands in his pockets as he walked beside her. "I'll treat them some other time."

"Why not today?" she asked.

"Well, I dunno. Maybe they're having a bad-luck day. They might get hit by a falling sign or something if they go out. For their safety, I think it's best if it's just us today."

Naruto rubbed his chin like he'd just delivered a perfect answer.

Ino glanced at his smile, the blush on her cheeks deepening.

Is this... is he asking me out on a date?

"Ino, what do you want to eat?" Naruto asked. "Today's about me making it up to you — you decide."

When he called her just "Ino" instead of "Ino-chan," she actually felt a bit... disappointed?

She frowned. "Then I'll make sure you pay for it."

"Sure thing. Just say the word."

Ino pressed her lips together, hesitated for a moment, then pointed toward Ichiraku Ramen.

"Let's eat ramen. I want the most expensive one."

"Are you sure?" Naruto raised an eyebrow.

So this was her idea of punishing him?

Naruto didn't lack money — in fact, thanks to all the missions and choice rewards he'd accumulated, he had millions of ryo saved up.

He could treat her to ramen every day for the rest of her life and still be fine.

But Ino didn't know that. To her, Naruto was just a poor orphan. She figured ramen was the nicest thing he could afford.

"Yeah. I like ramen."

"Cool with me," Naruto said, unconcerned. "Let's go."

Ichiraku was still busy despite the quiet streets. They waited in line for over ten minutes before getting a table.

As they sat down, Ayame — the owner's daughter — walked over, wiping the counter.

"Well, Naruto-kun! First time bringing a girl here, huh?" she teased, winking.

Naruto nodded. "Yeah. First time I've treated someone."

"Oho~ I see. I'll throw in some extra toppings for you," Ayame giggled, walking away to serve others.

Ino's face turned red, and she shot Naruto a side-glance — trying to hide the little smile forming on her lips.

His first.

She liked the sound of that.

But just as she was soaking in the moment, Ayame returned — this time with two younger girls in tow.

"Sorry, Naruto-kun. We're out of tables. Do you mind sharing yours with them?"

Naruto looked up and immediately locked eyes with a familiar pale-eyed girl.

Hinata quickly looked away, her face glowing red with embarrassment as she remembered the last time they'd met.

Is he mad at me?

(.︿.)

Next to her stood her little sister, Hyuga Hanabi. She glanced at her flustered sibling, then at Naruto.

"Excuse me," Hanabi asked. "Are you Naruto?"

Naruto blinked in surprise. "Yeah, that's me."

Hanabi's eyes lit up. "Great! Then we can sit here."

Naruto nodded. "Sure. Go ahead."

What he didn't notice, though, was the wave of jealousy radiating from Ino beside him...

Inside Konoha Hospital

After a night of treatment, Sarutobi Hazuki's fever had finally gone down. When she woke and learned that Konohamaru was safe, her first question was about Naruto.

Only after hearing the full story from the ANBU — and knowing that Naruto was fine — did she finally let out a breath of relief.

If Naruto had died while protecting her and her child, she would've carried that guilt for the rest of her life.

She thought back to that moment — when the monstrous Kisame Hoshigaki attacked, and little Naruto stood in front of her like a wall, shielding them from the storm.

Strong. Unyielding. Like a mountain.

She leaned back in the hospital bed, a faint smile on her lips.

Just then, the door creaked open. Jiraiya stepped in, moved to the window, and opened it, letting in the breeze. He sat on the sill, his tone light.

"Glad you're okay. If something happened to you, the Sarutobi clan would be in chaos."

"You can't depend on me forever," Hazuki replied, her voice soft but serious. "This world still values strength above all. I'm just a normal person now. They might listen to me for now, but that won't last."

The wind whispered through the room like a melancholy song.

Jiraiya smiled. "Don't worry. You just need to hold out a little longer."

"Oh? And what's your plan, Lord Jiraiya?" she asked.

"I'll nominate Tsunade as the Fifth Hokage after Hiruzen's funeral. With her medical skills, healing you and Asuma should be no problem."

Hazuki's eyes shimmered.

The thought of regaining her strength was tempting. She wouldn't just earn back respect — she'd also be able to protect others. No more standing helplessly behind.

But nothing in life came free.

"What do you need from me?" she asked bluntly.

Jiraiya folded his arms and looked out the window. "I need your full support when Tsunade takes office. Her temper's explosive, and if she doesn't have allies, Danzo will exploit every chance to cause trouble."

Hazuki went quiet. Danzo's ambitions were no secret.

With the Third Hokage gone, the Sarutobi clan had lost their strongest shield.

From a clan perspective, staying neutral would be safest.

But Hazuki wasn't just a Sarutobi anymore. After surviving two attacks, she couldn't accept being powerless any longer.

She didn't want to watch another child stand in front of her to take the blow next time.

"Alright," she said at last. "I'll do it."