The next morning, Ino woke up at five, dragged herself out of bed, and slowly got ready. She washed her face, went into the bathroom, showered, brushed her teeth, put on fresh clothes, and then told her parents she had somewhere to go before heading out.
At the main gate, she spotted Naruto already waiting. Arms folded, staring at the ground, frowning like he was thinking about something heavy. Ino couldn't stop noticing that strange change in him — the dead last of their year, the kid who barely graduated, the goofy idiot… somehow wasn't that anymore.
There was something different in the way he stood, the way he looked.
Naruto glanced up when she got close. He gave a wave and grin and said,
"Right on time Ino-Chan! Let's go, there's no time to waste."
Ino nodded and followed. They left the village, stepped into the forest, and stopped.
"Well, let's warm up, because it's pretty far. So we have to run there."
She nodded again, and they began stretching.
"By the way, Naruto, how far it actually is?"
She asked.
"No idea. But it usually takes around an hour to get there, or near there... I think. I could be wrong though... because that's just an estimate."
Ino's eyes widened. Suddenly everything made sense — why no one had ever found a flower field in the Forest of Death. No one went this deep!! Then another thought hit her and she asked
"Why the hell did you go this deep Naruto?"
He just said,
"People have their reasons."
After warming up, they started running. The forest blurred around them as Naruto drifted slightly ahead, leading the way. Ino enjoyed the fresh morning air and the soft sunrise for about… fifteen minutes. Then her legs started screaming.
"Naruto...huff...stop...huff..let's...let's take a rest..."
She panted.
He stopped immediately, concern on his face, and nodded.
While Ino gasped for breath, Naruto sat beside her — calm, relaxed, not sweaty at all. In fact, he looked like he wasn't even trying. Just casually picking grass, splitting it, and blowing on the pieces like he was bored.
Ino's impression of him shifted again. This kind of stamina wasn't something a dead last should have. Something felt off… but she didn't ask.
After resting fifteen minutes, they went again. Another fifteen minutes later, she was dying again.
Naruto sat down — not relaxed this time. He sat straight, legs crossed, fingers tapping on his knees like he had something urgent going on but didn't want to say anything.
Finally, he broke.
"Ino-chaaan~...I think with the pace we are going, it will take the whole day for us to reach there."
"So you're saying I'm slow?"
She shot back with a frown while basically laying wasted.
Naruto scratched his cheek.
"Well, there's that. But your stamina is ridiculously low. But the main thing I'm saying is, I can carry you there, and it will be faster, more time efficient for both of us. But only if you agree, that is. I won't force you. We can definitely go in this pace!"
Naruto said and then flashed a thumbs-up with a serious face.
Ino felt offended. Her stamina was better than a civilian's! And this dead last had the nerve to say ridiculously low!? She wanted to yell, but she could barely breathe, so she swallowed it down.
Because thinking from his perspective… he wasn't wrong.
He hadn't even sweated. Ino weighed down the pr9s and cons.
She sighed and muttered,
"Ok, you can carry me there."
Naruto's eyes widened before he nodded. He crouched and showed his back.
"Alright, hop on."
Ino stared at his back for a moment, then climbed on.
"Ino-chan, I advise you to grab my neck tight, so you won't fall."
Ino frowned. She knew he meant no harm, but still — touching like that felt wrong when only one person in her heart deserved that closeness. And that was Sasuke-kun! The love of her life!
"I'm fine thank you! You don't have to worry."
Ino said with a huff as she crossed her arms.
"Ok... if you say so."
Naruto leaned forward slightly.
Then sprinted.
Ino almost flew backward. She grabbed his shoulder in panic as her heart shot up her throat. This speed wasn't something the dead last should have. She remembered how long it took them to get here… Naruto had been holding back the whole time, matching her speed!
Embarrassment stung her face.
She grabbed his neck but with visible distant between her chest and his back. Naruto sped up even more.
Fifteen minutes later, he slowed down, looking around, and finally stopped. He set her down gently.
Ino's ears were ringing — the wind had screamed so loudly around her it felt like it was still echoing inside her skull.
Naruto scratched his head and summoned a clone.
"Ummm~~...It was around here somewhere... right?"
The clone had the same lost expression.
"...Probably, I think so...yeah"
Silence.
Then Naruto turned to Ino.
"Ino-chan, I have stuff to do. So from now on, this clone will take over. And you, follow everything she says."
The clone saluted.
"Yes boss!!"
Naruto crouched, then blasted away with a speed that made the ground tremble. Ino stumbled, eyes wide.
The clone whistled and clapped and said something foreign that sounded like Horii shitto.
Ino stared — she didn't understand that word. Sounded foreign. But she ignored it.
Then the clone Naruto looked around and told Ino to follow. They moved through the forest together. Clone Naruto kept sniffing the air, taking quick breaths like he was tracking something. After a minute, he tilted his head, sniffed harder, then stood on his toes. He lifted his chin, sniffing again like a dog catching a scent.
His eyes suddenly widened. He pointed off to the right.
"This way!!"
He spun and ran ahead. Ino followed, keeping up as best she could. They pushed through the trees for a few minutes. Then they stopped.
A thick, rich smell drifted through the air.
"Well, here we are."
Naruto said turning to her and gestured ahead.
Ino's eyes opened wide. Under the shade of the trees, past a line of bushes, was a whole field of flowers. Not a clearing — this was deep inside the forest. Only thin beams of sunlight slipped through the leaves, but somehow the place was covered in them.
She crouched down and reached for one. Her heart thumped faster.
It was Silver Mist Bloom!! All of them!!
The excitement hit her so hard she almost forgot to breathe. This wasn't just rare! This was jackpot-level rare!! Enough money to change everything for her clan!! She forced herself to breathe slow so she wouldn't act like an idiot.
"Well, Ino-chan? What's the result?"
Naruto said, leaning over her from behind with his hands behind his back.
Ino looked up and found his face way too close. His curious blue eyes were right in front of her. Her heart skipped a beat before she pushed him away and stood up.
"They're real,"
She said. She took a deep breath.
"All of them."
Naruto smiled.
"Well, Ino-chan, looks like you found what you were looking for. So… since that's done, do you want me to drop you near the forest edge? You can go home from there."
Ino frowned.
"What do you mean? You found it, so of course you're getting a share."
Naruto blinked at her. Then smiled warmly.
"Really? That's kind of you. But it's okay. If you don't share anything, it's just a bunch flowers."
"No. It's not okay,"
Ino said, firm.
"You discovered it. You get a share. We need to discuss terms."
Naruto let out a slow breath. Looked at the ground, thinking. She couldn't understand what was there to think. And doesn't he know about the price of even a single one of these flowers? How can he refuse a d say they are just flowers?
Did he forget? Doesn't seem like it? ... then parhaps he is a creak head? But all thoughts crashed into one thought, Naruto was naturally kind person. A person with minimal greed.
... but could a person like that really exist in the shinobi world...? She didn't know.
Naruto finally looked up and straight into her eyes. His determinated blue yes making her heart skip a beat for no reason.
"Alright."
He sai.
Her expression softened. She nodded. Ignoring her trembling heart.
"Good. Let's talk tomorrow. When can we meet? When are you free?"
Naruto closed his eyes, thinking. His head tiling back.
"Eh… dinner time?"
Ino frowned, also thinking about the time, then nodded.
"Fine. Dinner time. At my house. I'll tell Dad what we found so we can discuss everything properly. He's an expert in this stuff."
"At your house? Are you sure?"
Naruto asked.
"You're fine with me going there?"
Ino stared at him.
Why was he asking like this?
Was he scared of meeting her dad or something? She didn't understand his line of thoughts as this was his second time asking this type of question. As if something bad will happen if he is with them.
Or maybe… she sighed internally. But shook her head.
He was too obsessed with Sakura, just like Sakura was with Sasuke. So there is no way she will suddenly develop feelings for her. Naruto she knew isn't that fickle hearted. He was rejected many times but still never stopped lik8ng Sakura.
Although he now acts a bit different or... more precisely more mature.
"It's fine,"
She said.
"It's better that way."
Naruto nodded slowly.
"Alright. Since everything's done, what now? It's already noon. You must be hungry. And tired. Want me to drop you at the outskirts?"
Ino thought for a moment, then nodded.
Naruto crouched. She climbed onto his back again, more careful this time. Her hands rested lightly around his neck, keeping some space between her chest and his back.
Naruto adjusted his stance, then stood up. Before he moved, Ino caught something. The lack of smell. Except his clean musky scent, he didn't smell like anything else. No sweat. No dirt. Nothing. It was strange, and for some reason it pulled her attention more than she liked.
Then Naruto moved.
A sudden burst of speed almost threw her backward. She tightened her grip around his neck, not caring anymore about the closeness. The speed was unreal. Wind roared in her ears like a storm. Her hair whipped wildly. Even keeping her eyes open felt like getting stabbed by dust.
She shut them tight and held on.
Grass hissed under Naruto's feet as he dashed. It went on and on, until fifteen minutes later he slowed down. Then he stopped and crouched so she could get off.
Ino opened her eyes.
They were already near the village.
Her mouth fell open.
It had taken them over an hour to reach that place… and only fifteen minutes to come back.
Her entire understanding of Naruto's "dead-last" title cracked even more.
But her head wasn't even processing that fully.
Her ears were still ringing.
The wind was still echoing inside her skull.
She could barely hear anything.
"All right, Ino-chan,"
Naruto said with a big grin.
"We're good now. You can go home after you recover."
He gave her a thumbs up — and poof — the clone vanished.
Ino blinked. She had forgotten that Naruto had left a Shadow Clone. They were so alike. She couldn't help but admire versatility of shado clone.
She sat under a nearby tree, catching her breath even though she hadn't done the running. Her body still felt shaky from the speed.
After a while she stood up, walked into the village, went home, showered, ate, and finally collapsed into bed. She'd talk to her parents later.
Right now she just needed sleep.
Her whole body felt like it had been dragged through a storm.