Naruto looked up at her with waterfall tears. "Why is everybody always picking' on ramen?" Tsume burst out laughing again. After saying their goodbyes, Naruto heads up the street, deep in thought of what he's going to do for training. He looks to the left and smiles, especially because he sees Ino reading a magazine at the counter.
===Yamanaka Flower Shop===
When she hears the bell ring over the door, she looks up and to greet the new customer. "Welcome to the Yamanaka Flower Shop, how can I help you? Oh Naruto, what are you doing here?" She asked before getting a big smirk on her face. "Are you here to buy flowers for Sakura?"
She instantly sees his sad frown and comes around the corner, putting her hand on his shoulder and speaking in a very soft voice. "Naruto, tell me what happened." Naruto told her what transpired with Sakura earlier and became furious. "Naruto, don't listen to her, she doesn't know what she's talking about and I'm sure your parents would be very proud of you." Naruto hugs Ino and thanks her for kind words as Ino replies that it is of no problem. They separated and she spoke again. "Now seriously, what are you doing in a flower shop?"
"Do you know what type of flowers Hinata might like?" Naruto asked.
Ino broke out into a big grin. "Are you telling me you finally noticed the crush she's had on you since we were in the academy?"
Laughing and scratching the back of his head, Naruto responded. "I wouldn't go that far yet, but I plan to ask her out to get something to eat after the Exams."
"Well it's about time you two got together, as for the flowers, what you want to get is moon flowers, she usually buys a couple every month." Ino finally answered.
"Thanks so much, can I get an order sent to her at the hospital?" Naruto asked.
"Not a problem, come up to the counter." Naruto followed Ino to the counter, the platinum-blonde pushing the buttons on the register. "Okay, one order of moon flowers, do you want to send a card with it?"
Naruto grins. "Yes please."
Ino puts on a warm smile. "Okay, don't worry about the card, I will help you write it out."
"Thanks Ino, so how much do I owe you?" Naruto asked.
Ino looks at the register. "It comes to 49 Ryo." Naruto pulls out his frog wallet, getting a slight giggle from her, and hands her the money. "Okay, the flowers will be delivered this afternoon."
"Thanks Ino, I gotta go get ready to train." Naruto thanks her again and waved as he left.
Once Naruto leaves the store, Ino's mother walks in from the back. "It's about time he got over that Haruno girl."
"I completely agree with you... Mom, do you mind watching the store so I can run this order to the hospital?" Ino asked.
A big smile on her face, Inoiki nodded. "It's okay, you can take the rest of the afternoon off. I have a feeling you're going to go to look for Sakura." Ino scowled darkly and nods her head. "Before you head out I have a question, an order of moon flowers with a card is 44 Ryo, why did you charge him 49 Ryo?"
"Because I plan on getting an order of cinnamon buns; they are her favorite snack and it might help them get together faster." Ino answered.
Putting on a big smile, Inoiki shook her head jokingly. "I swear, I never should have taught you how to play matchmaker."
Turning around and laughing, Ino heads out before looking back at her mom. "But it's so much fun and you know as much as me how cute of a couple they are going to make. And who knows? Maybe for helping them get together, they will let me be Auntie Ino."
===16 minutes later===
After leaving the bakery carrying a small box of cinnamon buns Ino made her way to the hospital and walked up to the front desk. "Excuse me, can you tell me what room Hinata hyuga is in? I have a delivery for her."
"Certainly." The nurse looks at the chart for a second. "She's on the second floor, room 206."
Ino smiled, thanked her, took the elevator to the second floor and walked down the corridor until she came to room 206. She knocked on the door and a few seconds later it was opened by Kurenai. "Sorry to disturb you, but is Hinata awake? I have a delivery for her."
Kurenai looked behind her. "Are you up for visitors?" Ino heard Hinata say 'Yes' before she was let in, seeing Hinata sitting up in her bed. She put the flowers and cinnamon buns on the nightstand, pulled up a chair and sat next to the bed. "How are you feeling Hinata?" She asked.
"I'm doing okay, the doctor said I can go home in a few days but I won't be able to train for a month." Hinata answered.
"Sorry to hear that." Ino said before reaching over to the flowers and taking out the card to hand to her.
"Thank you for the flowers Ino." Hinata said.
"Oh those flowers aren't from me, they're from Naruto." Ino said, smirking at Hinata's crimson face. "Yeah, I was quite shocked when he came into the store, and even more when he said he was there to buy flowers for you. Now, can you tell me everything that happened?"
Hinata began to explain how Naruto came to visit her but she was too embarrassed and pretended to sleeping, Ino letting out a loud squeal. "Hinata, that is so romantic, you should know that Naruto told me that he is going to ask you out to eat after the Exams." By now, Hinata's face was neon red, Ino and Kurenai both had big smiles on their faces. "The first chance we get, you, me, and Kurenai-sensei are going to have a girls day out so that we can get you an outfit that'll knock Naruto right out of his sandals. By the time we're done, he won't recognize you."
Finally getting over her embarrassment, Hinata had tears of happiness rolling down her face. "Thank you so much Ino."