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Ino's POV (Outside of Uzumaki Residence - Hidden Leaf Village)
Evening
Ino had always considered herself a bold person. Perhaps not the bravest but certainly bold enough to make up for it. She was confident most of the time and pursued what she wanted in earnest. Or at least she had been until she met Naruto, something about the man had her always questioning what she did. Yet she couldn't help but seek his approval, he had shown guts and determination that Ino only wished she had. Strength that she hadn't even known possible all while being one of the most kind people she ever met. Naruto could be a bit of an idiot, the blonde was impulsive and a bit of a clown, yet the light hearted joy he brought around him and the earnest care he had shown had won her over.
Ino could admit she had been falling for Naruto longer than she had known. Her feelings had even been somewhat revealed both during her fight with Samui and conversations with Naruto but he seemed to still be unaware. He even caught on to damn Samui's flirting but not her own! How was that even possible, why did she have to fall for the one guy in his early twenties that wasn't obsessed with romance and woman!
But with her new training and found confidence she had decided to pursue Naruto in earnest he had been summoned to an entirely different world! How was she gonna bewitch him if he wasn't even here! Worse yet he was in danger and hadn't even brought his teammates as back up. Instead, arrange a team of Shino, Hinata, and Sasuke to back them up. Not only was Naruto once again diving head first into danger but he yet again did it without his own team. She needed advice and an angle to convince Naruto to settle down with the life risking missions and realize that he had a hot teammate he could be wooing!
The concern of his safety and refusal to ask for help, and her determination to finally win Naruto's affection had led her to one choice. There was only one person who could understand Naruto as deeply if not more so than her and understand her perspective, as well as having enough influence to aid her in her conquest. Naruto's mother Kushina Uzumaki.
Ino knew Kushina, she was practically a friend. She had been over to their house a ton of times over recently and even had shared drinks with the woman. She had even discovered them cuddling after their first night as drinking as a team. She seemed to like Ino and Ino loved her confidence and caring nature. Kushina obviously had been where Naruto had gotten most of his personality from, and yet Ino was certain his father had to do with his more intense quirks. So as she marched up the steps to the front door of the Uzumaki abode she swallowed her hesitation and knocked on the door.
She would ask for advice and help regarding Naruto's repeated habit of finding life threatening danger. And less important, she intended to receive Kushina's blessing to pursue Naruto. A bit odd, she was aware the male usually did such, but as oblivious as Naruto seemed it might be best to be the aggressor here. Besides she was aware plenty of people wouldn't like her with the "demon", but Ino had swore to not let the opinions of others dictate her actions anymore.
Despite her bravery and determination she had reminded herself she had felt dread as she heard steps from within the home. A voice sounded out from within, slightly slurring and threatening in tone.
"I swear to Kami if you're here to "Harass the demon" I'll remove you from this plain of existence!" Kushina's fiery tone bound from within the home as she whipped open the door, with a blur of steel Ino flinched as the tip of a katana in her face.
'Was this my best idea…' Ino thought worriedly as she raised her hands in surrender.
"Ino! You beautiful gal you! I thought there would be more bastards! Come in!" Kushina explained with jarring joy as she saw it was Ino. Declaring her a guest Kushina turned and Ino marveled as the door seemed to shimmer. Kushina glanced back and noticed her hesitation. "A barrier seal, with things so turbulent at home and with me being the protector of the home I have no choice but to make preparations. As long as that barrier is up anyone who isn't on my whitelist or audibly invited inside will find themself consumed by flames. You'll be fine, you're on the whitelist ya know? Gotta keep my son's beautiful teammate safe!" Kushina joked before placing her katana on an ornamental sheathe next to the door. And walked to the back where Ino could hear others talking excitedly.
"Great , I wanted the chance to talk one on one and manage to find her not only when she's tense and tipsy, but has guests.' Ino inwardly complained as she stepped in. 'But I won't back down!' Ino marched into the home taken in the familiar surroundings as she gathered her remaining courage.
The home of the Uzumaki was one Ino always found fashionable. It seemed Kushina had decorated and worked on it herself over the years as a single parent and had done well. The walls had recently been painted a pale red with black trim, there were several Clan flags and pictures of Kushina Naruto at various ages. Even one capturing a little kid Naruto, and Kushina. Both looked younger and more wild, but more than anything happy. It was the day of the first academy, a day Ino remembered having thought Naruto was a dork. How things had changed…
"My son was adorable as a runt wasn't he?" Kushina asked her, looking back and noticing her hesitation. She seemed to notice Ino's tension and had stopped and seemingly seemed almost sober and serious. "Always so earnest and friendly, always chasing some grand dream and finding trouble, Makes a mother worry… though it seems I'm not the only one."
Ino froze her eyes locking upon a familiar orange jumpsuit hung on a rung displayed within a glass case. It was one she recognized all too well, Naruto had often worn it in the early days of the academy. His mother must've saved it as memorabilia. "Yeah I am quite worried over Blondie… we don't even know where he is… or if he is safe or hurt." Ino admitted. "It's part of the reason I'm here." Ino hesitated for a second as she considered Kushina's tone. "Though I imagine it's the worst for you. Are you alright Kushina?"
Kushina smiled warmly at her before snorting playfully. "You really are a good girl Ino, I'm glad you are on the same team as my son, even more so that you look after him. So I imagine you're here for girl talk then?"
Ino rolled her eyes at that. "I'm not a little girl anymore."
"Of course not, but I'm a mother." Kushina agreed. "I always see you a lot as children, even if you become old and gray. Besides, it's called girl talk for a reason, and not because it's childish or catty."
"She's right Princess!" A familiar and similar tipsy voice called from the living room causing Ino to freeze with fear and excitement in equal measure. "Don't be a bitch! Believe it or not we were talking about the Blonde before you arrived!"
Ino looked back towards Kushina with a deadpan. "Are you friends with Anko? Maybe I'll come back later when you're not busy…"
"Nonsense!" Kushina declared appearing behind her and pushing her forward. "As a mother and older woman I find when it comes to advice and serious conversations it helps to have a group of trusted confidants."
"I love Anko but she's a known bitch!" Ino cried as she drug her feet and arrived in the homely living room of Kushina's home. "Who else is here!"
"Yo." Tsume Kiba's mother called with a wave. Mikoto Sasuke's mother was there as well.
"Eh trust me Ino these ladies are more trustworthy than anyone I know!" Kushina assured. "Just don't take their words with a grain of salt."
"More like a cup!" Ino cried as she was shoved into a love seat in the middle of the woman. The Uzumaki was a living room made to be comfortable. There was the love seat Naruto called his own, it was a red number with orange trim, which Ino suspected was why Naruto loved it. To its left was a small couch which Mikoto sat as regally on as Kushina plopped herself down on the other side. Anko sat to her right sitting in a chair backwards bored as she seemed to chug a beer. Tsume looked the most comfortable of all lounging on the floor as she sipped directly from a bottle of wine. "Seems like you've all had plenty."
"Of course Kushina invited Mikoto and myself over for drinks. Drinking and reminiscing is a great way to relax." Tsume answered boredly.
"Our loved ones are in danger." Ino said feeling somewhat defensive about Tsume's seeming nonplussed nature.
"Don't let her tone fool you." Mikoto said with a roll with her eyes as she sipped a flute of wine. "She's worried sick over her Kiba as well. Just remember we're veterans, wearing our emotions on our sleeves is beneath Kunoichi like us."
"Speak for yourself!"
"Speak for yourself!"
Anko and Kushina cried out happily before both downed their beers and seemed to procure another one from nowhere.