AN: Alright, and now we have Chapter 3. First thing first, thank everyone who read, review, faved, etc. It's encouraging as always, and hopefully you guys are enjoying this story.

Now, there are a couple things I want to address that I meant to when I started this story. As most of you who read this story can see, the story in told from Naruto and Ino points of view. The chapters will be alternating between the two, so you all can completely see both characters perspective on the events occuring in this story. Also, I don't plan for this story to remain in first-person. Once it gets up to the desired plot point I've set, it will switch to third-person. I'm sure you all can guess what point that is ^_^

Also, I'm adding as many characters from the Naruto-verse as possible, including deceased characters from the original Naruto storyline. Some may have noticed Haku in the first chapter, so hopefully you all have come to expect suprises. Will this include movie and filler characters? Who knows, but hopefully I can make them a prominent part of the story, even if it isn't but for gag joke.

Anyway, enough of my rambling. Enjoy! XD

"Ino-chan? Please, no more crying."

After what seemed like an age of silence, that was the only thing I could muster to say. The woman was still burrowed within my arms, as if my very being were a refuge from her despairs, her worries, and all the things that lingered outside to consume her, and if she were to release herself from the safety of my arms, she'd be enveloped by her own emotions. It was weird, but all these very emotions I could gather from her just through our embrace, and the tears that stained my shirt. I could feel her heart and her mind. She was calling out for me. She needed me, and I wasn't sure of it yet, but I needed her too.

[And So Our Story Continues]

Chapter 3: The Battle Better Surrendered

"Uh...you guys can stop laughing now." I was getting completely irate with my friends-Shino being the exception, since he doesn't seem to laugh at anything-mockery of my misfortune. For me, being kicked in the face was no laughing matter, but apparently, everyone thought otherwise. I didn't come there to deal with their jeers. We were supposed to be planning for the initiation assignment, and right now, not much planning was happening.

"Are you serious, dude?" Kiba questioned between laughs. "Your face was priceless after you got floored. She got you good."

Ready to kick Kiba's ass, I responded. "Let's see how funny it is once I've kicked your face in, huh, Kiba?" Kiba didn't back down, either. We were friends, that much was true, but both of us were headstrong and scrappy and would never turn down a challenge, friend or foe. We argued and fought amongst one another often.

"Alright, alright. Settle down," Shikamaru intervened between muffled increments of laughter. At least Shikamaru was coming to a calm, but who knew even the less than riveting black-haired male could laugh like that.

Everyone else seemed to be calming themselves as well, meaning me and Kiba's feud would have to wait for another day.

"Tsh. Lucky for you, Naruto. I was about to go wild on your ass."

"Ha. Kicked your ass before and I'll do it again." Oddly enough, like Neji, Kiba and I befriended one another through violence. It's a perfect friendship, I know.

"What you say, you cocky little asshole?" Kiba snarled, gritted teeth and all. "You wanna' go now, huh Uzumaki?" The two of us were of us were in one anothers face, sadistic smiles spread across them. The tension was so thick, you could saw it in half with a knife.

"Fine by me. Hope Akamaru is ready to lick your wounds when you get home, fang-face." The gloves were off, but Shikamaru wasn't having it. We had planning to do. There was no time for such a skirmish between Kiba and I at that moment.

A sigh escaped Shikamaru's mouth. "You two mind sitting down so we can start planning already? We have to carry this task out tommorow night, so there isn't alot of time. You guys can rip each others throats out after the meeting is over." Kiba and I just groaned at the request but decided to just conform to it.

"Well, now that everyone is settled down let's begin." We were all quiet, now awaiting Shikamaru's instruction. "I've come up with over one-hundred solution's based on the location, time, and members we have to work with. It wasn't easy based on the set-up of the women's dormitory and how it's run. Konoha University is very strict about curfews and complete separation of men and women within one another's dormitories this time of night. Out of the one-hundred solution's two seemed to be the most feasible choices. One, Shino would unleash the army of insects he collected over the years into the dormitory, thus, causing a stir, which in term, everyone within the living quarters would have to be evacuated so that the whole area can be fumigated." Shino wasn't to thrilled about this plan, but he nodded in agreement. Seriously, who would have thought Shino's weird bug collection would come in handy?

"Granted," Shikamaru continued. "We'd only have a few minutes to get in and get out before the exterminators show up and the plans a bust, but it should be plenty enough time to obtain...the women's under garment." Shikamaru hesitated at the word, trying contain a blush from coming across his face. I'm sure he could feel every shred of dignity being ripped asunder like that of paper. He was embarrassed, he couldn't believe he had to plan this whole ridiculous request, but just like everyone else, he wanted into the fraternity. He sighed and then resumed with plan number 2. "Or we could make this somewhat of a solo mission, exclusively for Naruto."

"What?" Kiba upheaved a sudden outburst. "Why just Naruto? Why not all of us?"

Shikamaru just let out a sigh. "Because, this is only something he can do. Besides, I never said the rest of wouldn't be involved, it just won't be directly. We all have cellphones, so Naruto can contact us when he's made it in. From there we'll give Naruto instructions. Don't worry, Kiba. We'll need your sense of smell just in case."

"Jealous?" I question Kiba, mocking him as I did so.

"Shut your damn mouth, Naruto...before I make ya'!"

"You want to go, huh?" Once again, Kiba and I were back face-to-face, ready to duke it out for alpha male sumpremacy.

"Can't you two resist fighting for once?" Shikamaru questioned, a sigh escaping his mouth again. We'd settled down, but in the end, I still felt like the victor.

"Like I was saying, this particular plan depends on Naruto's performance." I perked up at this revelation. I'd never been good at many things, beside fighting, but maybe there was more to my abilities than what I'd given myself credit for. "If we go through with this plan, will you accept the duties I'm about to layout for you?"

"There's nothing I can't handle. I accept."

"Are you sure, Naruto?" Shikamaru asked, a serious look abroad his face. "I can't assure your safety if you fail."

"Understood. I won't fail."

"It's settled then. Here's the plan." I was listening attentitively, ready to soak up every bit of information Shikamaru was about to feed me. I was enthralled about this mission only I could perform.

"Do you remember the prank you pulled on Jiraiya a couple years?" And so my pride was shattered.

Kiba was laughing his ass off. I was, too, shocked at the request, however, to ward off the fanged-faced male's laughter this time, though. How could he ask me to do that in a public area? "Wow! You're right Shikamaru," mocked Kiba in between laughter. "This is a job only Naruto can do."

"N-no way, Shikamaru. I can't do this. I refuse." He only sighed.

"I figured you'd say that."

"Damn right. I'm noones fool. I'm not doing it."

"I suppose, but out of the two plans this one would be the easiest to execute. Plus, if need be, we can always alternate back to the first plan if you fail."

"Come on, Naruto," said Kiba, still laughing himself to tears. "You're the only one who can do it. Don't let us down, ok." All of Kiba's mockery was starting to piss me off, but what could I do. If it were someone else, I'd be laughing too, but I was going to stand my ground regardless.

"Shut up, Kiba!" I yelled, aggravated by his laughter and his facetious comments.

"Whatever you say princess," Kiba retorted, wiping a tear from his laugh-happy face.

"That's it! I'm kicking your ass!" As fast as I'd risen Chouji grabbed and held me back, leaving Kiba to continue his incessant mockery of the situation. "H-hey come on guys. Relax will you?" Choji said, effortlessly holding me back.

"Calm down, Naruto," Shikamaru intervened for the fourth time that night. "This isn't to embarass you, this is merely one plan. If everyone decides on it than we'll go through with it."

"We'll?" I responded, still aggro. "You mean me, right?"

"Whatever," Shikamaru responded. "The point is we're still working as a team regardless. If you fail, chances are we'll all fail. We have one shot at this. Let's do it, right."

"Why can't we just go hangout with Sakura-chan and everyone at their rooms?" I responded a bulb finally clicking on. "Wouldn't that be easier? Kiba and I hangout out with Sakura-chan and Hinata-chan all the time at their dorms. We could just sneak a pair of their undies out as we leave."

"That would be a great plan," responded Shikamaru. Except, if you were fully paying attention at the meeting, they said they'd be scouting for any signs of cheating. That includes shopping districts as well, which is where Neji and the others will be scouting as well. Deidara-sempai and Hidan-sempai specifically stated the raid be carried out at nighttime. No exceptions, and since there's a strict curfew with dormitories at nighttime, we're here planning." Well, so much for that plan. Looked like Deidara-sempai and Hidan-sempai didn't want to make this easy for us.

"Anyway, I want to wrap this meeting up already," his usual monotonous expression plastered about his face. "Plan 1 or Plan 2? You guys decide."

In the end, I was the only one who voted Shino's bugs be sacrificed for the good of all men everywhere who sought after just a pair of simple, but sweet women's undergarments.

"Well, it's settle then," Shikamaru said. "We'll go with Plan 2 and use Plan 1 for an emergency."

Kiba began laughing his ass off agian. Meanwhile, I could only hang my head, my dignity draining rapidly from my very soul.

Shikamaru thoroughly elaborated on both plans, how they were to be executed, and what role everyone would play in this plot. Shortly after the meeting ended. "Before you guys leave, take these ok?" Shikamaru handed each of us a layout map of the women's dormitory. "Make sure you look over it carefully. I'll go over the points of interest tommorrow. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to bed. Temari's probably waiting on my call right now."

In complete sychronization, all of us made the whipped sound. "I am not! W-whatever, just get out." he commanded. With that we all took our leave, with the exception of Chouji, who was Shikamaru's roommate.

"Mom! Dad!" I'm home!" I announced as I shut the door behind me.

"Hey son, welcome back," My dad responded, emerging himself from him and my mom's room. My spikey-haired father, whom I take after in visage-minus the whiskers- was in nothing, but his boxers, an image I wish I could unsee.

"Oh come on dad! Put some clothes will you!" I was trying to shield my eyes from the older blonde standing in front of me.

"Heh. Sorry son."

"I don't even want to know what you two were doing in there," I said looking sick to my stomach.

"Don't talk to your father like that!" said mother coming out of the room. She was dressed in a sleeping gown, so I least my eyes were spared from seeing my own mother in her birthday suit. "And where have you been? You missed dinner. I hope you weren't out doing something that could've get you hurt."

"I called and left you guys a message, saying I'd be home late, mom" I responded somewhat nonchalant. "I said I'd be at Shikamaru's place, remember?"

"Kushina, baby relax," intervened my dad trying to calm my mother from her usual fits. I look like my dad, but I definitely take after my mother. They do say a man's first love is his mother, so it's only natural I'd take on her traits I guess.

"Minato, I was worried," mood suddenly swinging from anger to sorrow. I'll never understand my mother-or women, for that matter. "What if our babyboy had gotten hurt. I don't know how I would live with that."

My dad was attempting to soothe my melodramatic mother, all the while I onlooked, rather confused by the whole event. My father glanced at me, indicating now was my chance to get away before the tomato red-headed woman, before she went from sorrow back to rage again. He didn't have to tell me twice.

"Come on, honey. Let's go back to bed." said my father scooping my mother up as I made my way to my room just down through the living room. Well, that's my mom and dad for you, and I love them both to death.

I crept in my room, plopped in my bed, and chuckled to myself. "Man, maybe I should have gotten a dorm at the university." No longer than five minutes, I found myself in dreamland, awaiting the next day to carry me forward.

It was about 8:40 a.m, and the sun was already up, ready to greet me as I prepared for another grueling day of college. Only thing was I wasn't awake for the sun to greet me. Yet again, I forgot to set my alarm, and was still in my domain of beatific dreaming.

"Sakura-chan," I called the pink-haired womens name as I slept. "S-stop that haha. That tickles. Ok, maybe one kiss." I'd grabbed ahold of my pillow, planting wet sloppy kisses all over it. Unbeknownst to my erratic movements while I slept, I'd rolled completely off the bed, and landed square on my back with a thud. I groaned off the pain, and sat myself straight up.

Damn. What time is it?" I looked up, eyes barely wanting to open to shield out the luminescence of the sun. Finally getting a glimpse of what was on the clock, I realised the time was somewhere around 8:45 am.

"Crap!" I cursed to myself. "I only have 15 minutes until my class starts." In great haste, I threw on some deodorant, put on some clothes, gargled with some mouthwash, and finally, snatched up my cellphone and my backpack.

"Naruto! Breakfast is ready?" my mother announced. I flew down the hallway, through the living room, and to the kitchen, snatching up a piece of toast as I entered, and then finally out the door.

"Naruto where are you going?" my mother beckoned. "You haven't even eaten your breakfast!" "Sorry mom! Late! Love you both! Bye!" Before my mom or dad could say another word, I was gone, leaving dust in my wake.

"Damn it!" I cursed, running faster than any trackstar ever could manage. "Why didn't anyone wake me up? Everyday it's the same shit." I was beyond pissed. I feared for the next person who pissed me off. They were liable to get ripped to shreds.

It wasn't long before I'd seen Sasuke and Sakura walking onward ahead of me.

"Hey!" They turned around to see me extremely exhausted from my halfmile sprint.

"Uh. You alright Naruto?" Sasuke finally asked. I only glared up at him.

"What the hell guys? Why didn't you wake me up?" I asked, about to empty my rage out on them. However, Sakura wasn't having it.

"Idiot!" She yelled, performing what seemed like a perfect Shoryuken punch clear under my jawline.

"Ack!" I yelped as my body crash on the concrete earth. "It's not our job to make sure we wake your sorry ass up, Naruto!" Sakura scolded, ferociously waving a pointed finger at me. You know, you'd think I'd have learned not say or do things to piss Sakura off anymore, but all the same, I had become used to those brutal hammers she called fist crashing on me. Pathetic, I know, to have been in love someone so abusive verbally and physically.

"Relax, Sakura," Sasuke intervened. "Naruto, check your phone, will you?"

I gave him a puzzled look, but did as he said. "Huh?" The message read, Hey idiot. Wake up, or you'll be late again. The message time was 8:30 a.m., and the sender was none other than the Uchiha. "Heh heh. So I guess you did try to wake me."

"Sakura's right, though. We aren't your parents, you know? Anyway let's go. You should make in time if you managed to catch up to us."

"Uh, right," I said, rising up to my feet to continue onward to the school. Great way to start a day, right?

Sasuke was right. We'd made good time, and I wouldn't be late this time. Sakura and I gave our goodbyes to Sasuke before heading on our way to anatomy class.

"Hey, Naruto?" Sakura piped as we walked to class.

"Hm."

"You alright?"

"You mean that behemoth punch I recieved from you on our way here? I'm used to them now, so I forgive you."

"Not that you jackass!" she yelled, firing another cannon at the back of my head. "Besides, you deserved that."

"Jeez, Sakura-chan," responded rubbing the back of my sore head. I swear it felt like I had a hole in the back of it. "You're so violent."

"Keeps you in check,right?" she teased. I couldn't argue with that question. "Anyway, I'm talking about Ino-chan kicking you in the face."

"Oh that?" I questioned. I rubbed my chin at the question. "Yea, I'm fine I guess. I'm sure there was reason for it."

"I was just making sure. Ino-chan isn't a violent person, I promise. Aggressive maybe, but not violent."

"I see. You two are bestfriends, though. Maybe your violent tendencies are rubbing off on Ino-chan." This earned me another punch in the back of the head. I really should just keep my mouth shut around Sakura from now on.

Sakura and I had finally made it to class with a little over five minutes to spare.

"Yo!" I greeted Kiba and Hinata.

"Hi guys." Sakura also with her greeting.

"Hi you two," Hinata responded.

"You ready for tonight, Naruto?"

I hung my head as if to say 'don't reminde me'. "As ready as I'll ever be."

"What are you two talking about?" Sakura questioned a puzzled look on her face.

"Can't tell ya'," Kiba responded, a slight smirk marked on his face. "Fraternity secret."

Sakura groaned. "Whatever. What time is the party tommorrow?"

"Hm? It starts at 8 p.m, and ends whenever," he confirmed, him and I high fiving one another.

"Hell yea! Should be awesome!" I said all to stoked about this upcoming festivity.

As we continued to talk more about the party, Ino had walked up to me, and her face was rather serious. It was almost a little creepy. "Oh, hey Ino-chan. What's up?" "Naruto, forgive me for my transgression. I bow humbly before you." And the woman literally bowed, her back slanted forward, arms running along the length of her body, and the top of her head in sight full sight."

After an awkward few seconds, Ino looked up at me, our faces were within inches of one another. Her expression seemed worried I wouldn't accept her apology. It was kind of cute for the slightly aggressive Ino.

"Uh. There's really no need to apologize," I said, rather embarrassed by her behavior. "I'm not mad, really." Beside the fact Ino was I apologizing, I think I was more caught off guard that our faces were that close to one another. From how the scene looked, It was like a cheerful girlfriend bending down to peck her oh so loved boyfriend before going off to do her daily business or something. Funny because that was the exact opposite of what Ino and I were.

A few more awkward seconds went by, and then she stood back up. "Good. I know longer have to feel guilty about that anymore.

I kind just laughed off the awkard moment that Ino and I had experienced that day. I'm not sure what that was about, but it was slightly wierd for me. "Oh and don't get used to me apologizing like that, Uzumaki," Ino spoke, her arms folded across her mildly voluptuous frame. So much for the kind Ino I'd seen yesterday. "Anyway, may I sit next to you, Naruto? I'd like to join your conversation."

"Uh ok Ino-chan."

We discussed plans for the party, who was bringing who and what, and other rudimentary things that catergorized with partying before Shizune-sensei started class.

"Alright students, before we start, I have to say that yesterday's activity was a disaster, but it's ok," started the teacher, obviously forcing a smile. "Despite having to suffer a harsh scolding and a steep pay reduction from the head principal, everything is ok."

"Who's she trying to convince?" I said amongst our group, and everyone nodded in agreement.

"Anywho, let's start class. The proper way. Now students, todays lesson..."

Class was dull as ever, and like always, Sakura was too busy taking notes to talk, and Kiba was flirting with Hinata while she took notes, so that left me with only Ino to talk to, though, it looked as if she were busy as well, but it was worth a try.

"You look like you're feeling better today, Ino-chan," I whispered to Ino, an attempt to strike conversation.

"Uh, I wasn't sick you know?" she said, not looking up from her book.

"Oh, were you having an allergic reaction to something then?" I asked, addled by what was wrong with her the prior day.

Ino looked at me as if she were irate by my question. I'm pretty sure at that moment she thought I was an idiot, but then again, I'm sure she'd always thought that about me. "Yea. Something like that."

"I thought so. You were acting a little weird yesterday. Normally, we'd have both been arguing like a cat and dog."

"Oh, that is so not true, Naruto," Ino huffed. "We've had normal conversations in the past too, you know?"

"Yea...but how often was that?" This was another one of our long-awaited debates, and I wasn't going to lose this one either. "One decent conversation out of every ten arguements? Not many to speak of."

"Well, that may be true, but is that the only thing you'd noticed about our supposed friendship?" Ino had put extra emphasis on the word friendship as if trying to be snarky. "That we argue all the time?"

"That's what it boils down to," I countered, as calm and confident as ever. Check and mate. Or so I thought. I could tell I struck a nerve with Ino that day. I'd won yet another one of our epic debates, but it didn't really feel like a victory. The woman only sat silent, gazing at me, a livid expression suggesting I was probably in for a good cussing. Oddly enough, it never came. She calmed her expression, let out the word ok, followed by name, and went back to the anatomy textbook that laid before her.

"Uh, Ino-chan?" I whispered, worried I'd hurt her feelings. "You ok?" The woman said nothing. She simply stared blankly at the book, taking notes every so often. Had I really said something to hurt her. I suppose, this wasn't completely the Ino I knew. There was something more to the anguish that ate at her that day.

The rest of class period was an awkward still. I mean sure, Shizune-sensei had still been teaching, but blocking out anything that bored me became a skill of mine, if one could consider tuning out sound instruction a viable skill. However, this wasn't so much about the class boring me, as it was that I was trying to wrap my brain around how my statement had angered Ino. We used to argue all the time back in middle school and high school, so why get so mad now? It didn't make any sense to me.

"Alright students. That's it for today's lecture. Remember, test tommorrow, so study hard?"

"Oh man, finally," I said, stretching out a little. I looked over at Ino, to see her closing up her book, and gather her things. Hey, Ino? I-"

Without a word, the sky blue-eyed woman rose from her seat and exited the class, not even sparing me a glance in the process. If I didn't know she was angry before, I definitely knew now. It was an uncomfortable feeling, knowing I might have driven away a friend, but I soon shrugged it off. I figured she'd be ok later. I mean, I suppose I was used to that kind of silent treament from Ino after a debate, but usually we make amends by the end of class.

"Naruto? What's wrong with Ino-pig?" Sakura question. She was obviously worried about her bestfriend.

"I guess I said something that really upset her," I said, rising from my seat.

"Man, I hadn't seen Ino so upset, since Sasuke rejected her back in middle school," said Kiba, scratching Kiba scratching his head in confusion. "What did you say to her, dude?"

"We had one of our usual debates. That's all really."

Kiba sighed. "Sounds about right. I swear you two always seemed like a married couple."

"H-hey! It's not like that ok?" I was all to embarrassed by Kiba's statement. I had never really imagined Ino like that before. We were just too incompatible. The constant arguements were a testimony of that. "We're strictly friends who happen to disagree with another alot."

"Kiba-kun. You really shouldn't say stuff like that," Hinata scolded the fang-faced male.

"I'm just messing with him. That's all. It's man speak."

"Naruto. Let me tell you something," Sakura said, giving me a very straight look, and in returned gaining my ear. "It's one thing to be right, but there's always something deeper to a woman's logic, especially when it's a matter of the heart." After saying these vital words, the jade-eyed woman took her leave, seeming pissed with me as well. Man, not I only did I piss of Ino, but my beloved Sakura as well.

Anyway, I didn't know what Sakura meant by that at the time, but I knew I had to apologize to Ino the next time I had seen her. It wasn't evident to me what I said to upset the blonde-haired woman, but apparently it upset her somehow. For me, we were having another one of our silly debates, just another game we seemed to play with one another, but this time was different. If I could help it, I was going to alleviate the situation. I wouldn't lose a friend under such a ridiculous circumstance as miscommunication.

Kiba walked beside me, a rested hand on my shoulder. "Sakura's right, man. Do the right thing, ok?" And so Kiba left with Hinata following behind.

"I wish you luck," Hinata spoke, swiftly bowing and leaving after Kiba. "H-hey, Kiba-kun. Wait up."

I stood idle, simply reflecting on everything said and what had recently transpired. My mind was cluttered with thoughts of the sky-blued woman. I couldn't wrap my head around what I could have said that was so hurtful for her. We'd always argued like this, so what made this time any different? Man, I suck with women.

And so ends chapter 3. Again, I hope this was worth the wait. I promise things will start to get more exciting in the next few chapters. I'm just trying to build things up here, so hopefully you guys will bear with me ^^; Anyway, that's all for now. Chapter 4 is in progress.