Ino hurriedly gathered a basket of delicate Azalea flowers and set off towards the forest nestled behind the Hokage Monument.
'I just need to maintain these Azaleas, and then show them to Sasuke-kun,' she thought, a blush warming her cheeks. 'He'll have no choice but to fall in love with me. The sweet aroma and this thoughtful gesture will surely bring us closer.'
As she made her way through the woods, she noticed a young boy training diligently in a clearing ahead.
"Ha! Hya!"
With each sit-up, he punched a nearby boulder with his bare hands, causing tiny cracks to spiderweb across its surface. Ino paused, captivated by his display of strength and focus.
'That's the kid all the adults are talking about,' she realized. 'His name's Arashi, right? I've seen him with Sasuke-kun and Naruto-kun.'
Seemingly sensing her presence, Arashi turned to look at her. His intense gaze caught her off guard, sending a flutter of nervousness through her stomach.
'That's right, he has those eyes... The number one student in our class.'
Their eyes locked for a few moments before Arashi returned to his training. A warmth spread through Ino's chest, an inexplicable pull towards this dedicated boy.
"I have to go," she said abruptly, remembering her father waiting at the shop. 'That was weird.'
As Ino walked home, thoughts of Arashi and his captivating gaze lingered in her mind. 'What was that? Why did I...' She felt a blush creeping up her cheeks, a new and unfamiliar sensation.
A week passed, and Ino found herself drawn back to the forest, watching Arashi train from a distance. He remained oblivious to her presence, his mind consumed by the relentless pursuit of strength.
Ino had become captivated by Arashi, his unwavering dedication to his training serving as a stark contrast to the frivolous concerns of her peers. One afternoon, she made her way towards her Azalea patch, a basket in hand, her usual cheerful demeanor replaced by a frown.
"That billboard brow! Since when did she become such a pest?" Ino grumbled under her breath. "I told her I'd ask Sasuke-kun out first, but–"
Her rant was interrupted as her foot caught on something. She stumbled, quickly regaining her balance. "Huh? A hairband?"
Ino bent down and picked it up, recognizing it instantly. 'It's his...' She held the hairband tightly, a warmth spreading through her fingertips.
'This isn't mine, I should return it to him.' She hesitated, a conflict brewing within her. 'But why am I hesitating?'
An image of Arashi flashed in her mind, and without conscious thought, she slipped the hairband into her pocket. "I'll give it to him later."
A few hours later, Ino wandered through the forest, Arashi's hairband still tucked safely away. She seemed to be searching for something, her eyes scanning the undergrowth.
"Hmm, all the flowers in our shop are already being sold in other shops," she mused aloud. "Maybe if I bring back some new flowers, we'll get more customers. But it has to be something amazing that stands out." She plucked a red flower, only to discard it a moment later.
Her heart skipped a beat as she spotted a breathtaking sight: a cluster of vibrant blue and purple Azalea flowers nestled atop a steep hill. She knew that if she could get her hands on them, it would be a game-changer for the flower shop.
"This is it!"
With newfound determination, Ino began to climb the treacherous incline, her fingers digging into the loose rocks. But as she ascended, the ground grew increasingly unstable, and her footing gave way.
"Wooaaa!"
"Aaaa!"
Ino screamed, her eyes tightly shut as she tumbled backward. She braced herself for the impact, but just as she was about to hit the ground, strong arms enveloped her.
She looked up to find herself cradled in Arashi's arms. He kicked off the cliff face, expertly flipping them both to safety.
"Are you okay?" he asked, his deep purple eyes filled with concern.
Ino's heart pounded in her chest as she gazed into his mesmerizing gaze. A warmth spread through her body, leaving her momentarily speechless.
Arashi's eyes narrowed as he noticed her limp wrist. "You're hurt."
"Your hand," Arashi said softly, his voice laced with concern. "You broke it during the fall."
He gently set her back on her feet, his hands lingering on her arms for a moment longer than necessary. Ino blushed at the close contact, her heart fluttering. She looked down, noticing the unnatural angle of her wrist and the pain finally registering.
"It's nothing," she insisted, trying to maintain her composure. But her hand trembled, and a grimace betrayed her discomfort.
"You don't have to be that way," Arashi said, scooping her up into his arms without waiting for a reply.
"Hey! What are you doing? I said I'm fine. I- " Ino squirmed, clutching her injured hand.
"If you keep moving around, you'll just feel more pain," Arashi explained as he carried her back to his training spot.
He gently laid her down on the soft grass and took her hand in his. Ino was surprised by his gentleness, a stark contrast to his intense training regimen. He closed his eyes, focusing his chakra. A warm, soothing energy radiated from him, and Ino's eyes widened as a soft green aura enveloped his hands.
'She should be feeling better after this,' Arashi thought. 'It's a new technique I learned.'
When he finished, he helped her up and brushed off her clothes. "You should be more careful," he said, a small smile gracing his lips.
Ino flexed her hand, amazed to find it completely healed. 'It's amazing... He's amazing.'
"Thank you, Arashi," she said sincerely.
Arashi's smile widened. 'She knows my name?'
Ino nodded, then turned to leave. But she hesitated, pulling out his hairband and holding it out to him.
"You dropped this," she said, looking up at him with a gentle smile.
Arashi's eyes widened in surprise as he took the hairband from her, his expression softening. "Thank you, I've been looking all over for this," he said, tucking his hair back behind his ears.
"Here, let me help." Ino reached out, gently pulling his hair back and retying it, but Arashi stopped her.
"It's too far back, I need some to cover my eyes."
"The more you hide them, the more attention it brings," Ino countered.
Arashi fell silent, his hands dropping to his sides. He let Ino finish fixing his hair.
"Thanks," he murmured, a shy smile gracing his lips.
Seeing his smile, Ino couldn't help but smile back. "But aren't you afraid of them? When I looked at you the other day, you looked scared." Arashi inquired.
"I mean, it's not like I see eyes like yours every day," Ino replied, her cheeks flushing slightly. "I was just a little surprised. It's the first time you ever looked back at me."
Arashi's gaze met hers, this time without fear or shock. "I see..." he looked away, a thoughtful expression on his face.
"I've seen you here every day," she continued. "You're always working out or doing some sort of training drill. I've heard a rumor about you at the academy. They said you almost died." She looked at him again, her green eyes searching his. "Is that why you work so hard?"
Arashi clenched his fist. "Because I made a promise... I'll never give up, no matter how much I fail or lose." He met her gaze, his eyes filled with determination. "I'll always get back up, even if everyone kicks me down. I had a talent, and a gift to accompany my talent. Then I found out that I have an older brother, a father, and a clan."
His voice softened. "Maybe it doesn't mean much to others, but I've been alone for a long time. The only one I had was Naruto. But when I found all this out... I almost lost it all in that same week."
He looked towards the horizon, his resolve unwavering. "I don't want to end it here. No. There's no chance my story will end here."
"Your story?" Ino echoed, intrigued.
Arashi nodded. "I'm going to do my best to make Shisui-Nii-san proud, like I said when I joined the academy." He pointed at his chest, his voice ringing with conviction. "I will become the greatest shinobi of all time, and I'll become a hero, just like Shisui-Nii-san."
Ino's heart fluttered at his words. A warmth spread through her, a mix of admiration and something more. She stood up, a shy smile gracing her lips. "You're going?" Arashi asked, a hint of disappointment in his voice.
"Sorry for interrupting your training," she continued. "If I don't leave now, you'll stay idle and you won't become the best, right?"
Arashi nodded, a bittersweet smile tugging at his lips. "Let's talk some other time, then," he said, his gaze lingering on her for a moment.
"Hn." Ino nodded, her cheeks flushed. She turned and began walking away, her heart still racing.
Subconsciously, Arashi's cheeks reddened as he watched her go. He couldn't help but smile, a newfound warmth blossoming in his chest. But he quickly shook off the distraction, rising to his feet and resuming his training with renewed vigor.
(Edited on: 05/10/24)