"Sakura, get off my foot."
Kurenai's voice sounded like a sharp whisper among the branches.
"I can't move, Sensei," replied Sakura without taking her eyes off the binoculars. "If I move, the leaves rustle. If the leaves rustle, the mission is compromised. Hold on."
Kurenai snorted, trying to adjust herself among the azaleas.
"I am an elite Jonin," she murmured. "I have A-rank missions in my file. And now I am here, with twigs in my hair, spying on two teenagers."
"It's tactical surveillance," Sakura adjusted the focus with quick fingers. "You agreed to come."
"I accepted because you said Naruto was going to recruit. You didn't say I would have to hide like a criminal."
"Shh. Here they come."
Hinata tensed on the other side of Kurenai. She activated the Byakugan, fixing her gaze on the restaurant entrance.
"Naruto-kun looks... different," whispered Hinata.
"He combed his hair," hissed Sakura. "And that shirt... If he gets soy sauce on it, my father will kill me. It's his favorite."
Naruto and Ino stopped in front of the entrance. Naruto said something brief, pointed to the door, and waited for Ino to pass.
"Chivalry," Sakura analyzed quietly. "Tactic number four. Opening doors. Good, Naruto."
"Ino looks impressive," Hinata commented.
"It's Ino," Sakura snorted. "Excessive. Who wears that dress to a meeting?"
"Technically, the format is social," Kurenai corrected, picking a leaf off her cheek.
"It's not a date," Sakura squeezed the binoculars. "It's a strategic meeting. If Naruto starts making stupid faces, I'm going in there and..."
"You stay here," Kurenai grabbed her shoulder. "If Naruto convinces her, we gain an ally. If he ruins it, he learns. We are not going to intervene."
"They are entering," reported Hinata. "Garden table."
Sakura let out a grunt.
"I need a better angle. Hinata, can you see through the wall?"
"Yes, but I can't hear."
"Unacceptable. I need data. If he says 'blood' before the appetizers, Ino will kill him."
Sakura began to move laterally, ignoring the scratches from the branches.
"Where are you going?" asked Kurenai.
"To the roof of the building next door. They have skylights. Let's go."
"I am not going up any..."
"Sensei, it is an order from the acting team leader."
Kurenai let out a long sigh.
"I hate you a little right now, Sakura."
Naruto sat across from Ino. He mentally reviewed Sakura's rules: straight back, napkin on the lap.
"The place isn't bad," said Ino, looking around. "I didn't think you had good taste, Naruto."
"I have my moments," he replied. "Grandma Tsunade says if you are going to spend money, the food better be worth it."
"Grandma Tsunade," Ino shook her head and picked up the menu. "I still can't believe you brought her back. What's the trick?"
Naruto shrugged.
"No tricks. I just made a good impression."
The waiter arrived, took the order, and withdrew with a quick bow upon hearing the name Uzumaki. Ino put the menu down and crossed her hands under her chin.
"Fine. We are seated. You are clean. Now speak. Why me?"
Naruto swallowed hard. Sakura's script with calculated compliments wouldn't work. Ino would tear it apart. He opted for the truth.
"Because you are just like me."
Ino arched an eyebrow.
"Excuse me? I have style. You are... orange."
"I don't mean that," Naruto leaned forward. "People only see one thing when they look at us. They see me as the class idiot. Or the monster."
Ino fell silent at the mention of the monster.
"And you," he continued, "they see you as the flower girl. Sakura's rival. They see the blonde hair and the pretty clothes."
"And what is wrong with that?" she asked defensively.
"Nothing. But it's not all you are," Naruto lowered his voice. "In the Academy, I saw how you analyzed others. You didn't look at who was stronger, you looked for weaknesses. You are smart, Ino. You want to win."
Ino looked down at the tablecloth.
"And when the others picked on Hinata... you told them to shut up. You have character," Naruto sat back. "Sakura is strong. Hinata is fast. But you have command. I need someone who can tell me 'Naruto, you are an idiot, do it like this' and be right."
The waiter brought the drinks. Ino didn't even notice him.
"Wow," she said finally, with a brief laugh. "That was unexpectedly deep."
"Sakura helped me with the big words," admitted Naruto with a smile. "But the sentiment is mine."
Ino took a sip of water.
"So... isn't it a romantic date? Is it business?"
Naruto noticed the tone in her voice.
"It's both."
"Both?"
"Yes. I only do business with people I care about," he explained. "Sakura, Hinata, and Kurenai-sensei are my family now. I want you to be too. I don't just want a teammate, I want someone I can trust my life with."
"Family," she repeated. "Like a clan?"
"Better. We choose this."
The food arrived, the steaming duck on the table.
"Okay," Ino picked up her chopsticks. "Let's say I believe you. What is the trick? What made Sakura break a bridge?"
Naruto looked around.
"It's not a normal jutsu. It is given."
"Given?"
"It's a connection. I have a lot of energy and I discovered I can share it. I can unlock what you have inside."
"Unlock?"
"Yes. My energy took Sakura's control and multiplied it. Hinata is now a lightning bolt," Naruto stared at her. "You have the Shintenshin. Imagine doing it so fast that no one can dodge it. Imagine being the best Yamanaka that has ever existed."
Ino's eyes shone.
"Sakura is already in," added Naruto. "And she is becoming a monster. In a good way."
Ino's jaw tensed. She squeezed the chopsticks tightly.
"Billboard Brow has that power?"
"Yes. And she uses it to protect us."
Ino smiled fiercely.
"In your dreams. If that forehead can handle your secret, I can do it twice as well. My discipline is superior."
"So... are you interested?"
"I'm interested. I accept. What do I have to do?"
"Just trust me," Naruto put his palms on the table. "And let me put my hand on your back."
Ino looked at him suspiciously.
"No blood this time?"
"No blood. Just chakra. I need to touch the skin to draw the seal with my energy."
Ino evaluated the situation.
"Where? I am not lifting my shirt here."
"Of course, not here," Naruto laughed nervously. "We can go to a quiet place. To the park."
"To the park," decided Ino. "It is dark and on the way to my house."
"Perfect."
"You better be right, Uzumaki," Ino stabbed a piece of duck. "If this is a joke, I will put you in a genjutsu where you only eat boiled vegetables."
"That is cruel!"
"Eat. It's getting cold."
On the roof across the street, three figures watched from the tiles.
"What is happening?" asked Sakura with the binoculars glued to her eyes. "I can't read her lips when she chews."
"She seems happy," observed Hinata with the Byakugan active. "Her chakra flow is accelerated."
"Accelerated good or accelerated bad?" asked Kurenai.
"Good. I think."
"They are laughing," Sakura sounded incredulous. "Naruto made a joke and she is laughing for real. She touched his arm. She touched his arm, Sensei!"
"Lower your voice," warned Kurenai.
"She is flirting! That witch! She is using her Yamanaka techniques!" Sakura almost vibrated. "Naruto is naive! He has no defenses!"
"Naruto is recruiting," reminded Kurenai. "If she flirts and accepts, it is a victory."
"It is a dirty victory!" protested Sakura. "It should be professional!"
"Sakura-san..." Hinata put a hand on her arm. "Are you jealous?"
Sakura turned abruptly.
"Jealous? Ha! Of Naruto! Ridiculous! I am only worried about the integrity of the team! If Ino joins for the wrong reasons, it will be a problem."
"Sure," said Kurenai. "Team integrity."
"They are paying," alerted Hinata. "They are getting up."
"To your positions!" ordered Sakura, putting away the binoculars. "We have to follow them. If they go to the park, it will be the moment of truth."
"What do you think she will do?" asked Kurenai, moving toward the ledge.
"I don't know," said Sakura. "But with Ino there are always ulterior motives."
The park was deserted. The distant streetlights barely illuminated the path.
"Here is fine," said Ino, stopping near an oak tree.
She turned toward him. Naruto swallowed hard, realizing the loneliness of the place.
"So... do we do the ritual?"
Ino looked at him with a mix of gratitude and curiosity.
"Wait a second," she took a step toward him, invading his space.
Naruto stood still.
"What's wrong? Did you change your mind?"
"No," she said softly. "I was just thinking. You weren't bad today, Naruto."
She raised a hand and fixed a lock of his hair.
"Thanks for noticing my talent. And for the flowers. It was sweet."
Naruto felt heat in his ears.
"Ah... you're welcome."
Ino smiled and leaned forward.
"Consider this a down payment on my loyalty."
She leaned in and gave him a kiss.
It wasn't on the cheek. It was near the corner of his lips, prolonged and deliberate. Ino pulled away slowly, looking him in the eyes.
Naruto turned red.
"Ah... uh... wow..."
In the nearby bushes, a branch broke with a dry snap.
Sakura trembled with fury.
"That bitch!" she hissed. "She touched him! With her lips! On my watch!"
Sakura pulled out a kunai and tried to jump.
"Ino!"
"Sakura, no!" Kurenai tackled her to the ground. "Behave!"
"Let me go, Sensei!" screamed Sakura, kicking. "I'm going to rip out her extensions! It's a security mission and she just attacked him! She gave him germs!"
"Sakura-san, please!" whispered Hinata, grabbing Sakura's armed arm. "If we come out now it will be humiliating for Naruto-kun!"
"I don't care about his humiliation!" roared Sakura, struggling. "Naruto is... our leader! Ino has no right! That kiss was illegal!"
Kurenai used chakra to anchor herself to the ground.
"Retreat!" ordered the Jonin. "Tactical retreat before I have to arrest you!"
"I am not leaving until I disinfect her!"
"Hinata, help me!"
Between the two of them, they dragged Sakura into the darkness of the forest while she kept shouting insults into the air.
In the park, Naruto blinked. He looked toward the bushes.
"Did you hear that?" he asked, touching his cheek. "Did it sound like an angry cat?"
Ino, smiling triumphantly, shrugged.
"Probably the wind, Naruto. Now... let's go to that quiet place. I want to start."
"Yes... yes, let's go."
They walked into the depths of the park, with Naruto still touching his face, unaware of how close he had been to witnessing a war in his honor.