Welcome one and all to my new Naruto drama. This is going to be a new Naruto. Please enjoy. As always please read and review.

Key:

~"Normal Speech"~

~'Thoughts'~

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. Anyone, who isn't Masashi Kishimoto, that thinks they do own it is an idiot. Bakas!

Warning: This fic is Rated M FOR A REASON!

~ Choices from the Past~

~Prologue~

Sakura Haruno paced back and forth in front of the gate to the Hidden Leaf Village. She awaited the return of her sensei and teammates. After what seemed like an eternity the young kunoichi spotted her sensei walking towards the gate with someone draped over his back. Rushing over to Kakashi shouting.

"Kakashi-sensei! Is that Sasuke-kun?! Is he ok?! Where is he?!"

Sighing the jonin looked down at his student before shaking his head. "I'm sorry Sakura, Sasuke got away. Naruto couldn't beat him."

Furious Sakura glared at her teacher. "Why did they let the Baka fight him alone?!"

"Naruto was the only one left, the rest of his team was engaged in combat. He fought nearly to death."

"I don't care if he nearly died! He didn't bring my Sasuke-kun back to me like he promised. I don't even want to see him. Goodbye Kakashi-sensei." With that the pink haired girl turned and walked away. However unbeknownst to either of them, Naruto had woken up right as Sakura said she didn't care if he died. In that moment Naruto realized that Sakura had never cared about him, to her he was nothing but a tool to get Sasuke back. He decided that he was done chasing Sakura, he would find someone else hopefully.

Three days later Naruto woke in the hospital and through bleary eyes looked to the side of the bed and saw, to his surprise, Ino Yamanaka sitting at his bedside.

"Ino-san, is that you?"

"Hi there Naruto-kun. How are you feeling?"

"Alright. Now Ino-san please don't take this the wrong way, but why are you here?"

Ino smiled. "It's ok Naruto-kun. Well since Sakura doesn't seem to care anymore and Hinata is too shy to come. I figured I should at least be here. Besides I kinda wanted to see you alone, cuz well... I like you."

Confused Naruto shook his head to clear the cobwebs. After sitting up he looked at the girl before asking a very simple question. "What Ino-san?"

Sighing Ino moved to his bed and sat right next to him. "Naruto-kun I like you. As in I want to date you and be with you." And before he could answer she leaned in and gave him a soft kiss on the lips. And after his brain processed what had happened, he and Ino began talking and soon found a deep mutual attraction. From that day on the pair was inseparable, well until the day came that Naruto was told by his mentor Jiraiya, that he and the Sannin would be leaving for a three year training trip. On the day that they were to leave Jiraiya, Tsunade, Kakashi and Iruka were waiting by the gate for the blonde. After about a half hour Kakashi noticed that Naruto was walking towards the gate hand in hand with Ino. And after a long and teary farewell the blonde's parted and Naruto walked off with his mentor, and would not be seen again for three years.