Chapter Text
*it was anko's day off, and it was also a blue moon! Since she didn't have to clean her house, we see her spending time with her son. Today's activity was visiting yamanaka's botanical garden. While anko went to get them some food, we see Naruto in the children's area, where parent's can leave their kids there for safety while they do something more adult oriented in the park. While Naruto was walking around, he smiled brightly seeing one of his friends, and he ran to her.*
Naruto: Hey, ino!
Ino: Hey Naruto. What's up?
*ino said with a kind smile. She was just taking to a certain pink haired friend before a certain yellow haired friend came up to her to talk to her. Naruto shrugged. Since he was just happy to have ino here, or any of his friends here, to be honest, the extrovert that is Naruto, didn't like being alone, since he gets bored. And as we all know, a bored Naruto is a curious Naruto, and a curious Naruto is a dangerous Naruto. So the botanical garden was just saved from chaos reigning in from a bored Naruto by their heir. Without even realizing it.*
Naruto: Nothing much, just looking at the pretty flowers. Oh! But, I'm glad I found you!
Ino: Really? Why?
*ino asked, curious, wondering what her yellow haired ray of sunshine was up to now. Since Naruto was always up to something, and if he wasn't, it wouldn't be long before he came up with something to do, to pass the time. Showing why anko doesn't want a TV, since Naruto was the friend with the most creativity, and she wants to nurture that, not rot that with TV. Naruto just smiled even brighter with stars in his eyes, which made ino a little nervous in a good way since she knew what that smile meant. Naruto was up to something.*
Naruto: Because Mama taught me to make something you'll love!
Ino: Really? What's it?
*ino asked with a small chuckle, knowing that at the end of the day, whatever Naruto had in mind would at least be a good time for a bit. Naruto did the same thing he does with all the introverts, even if ino was an extrovert just like him, and he grabbed ino's wrist, and he dragged her with him, to be next to a bed of flowers.*
Naruto: it's a secret! Come on. Sit down, sit down. And I'll get started.
Ino: Oh, I know I don't have much of a choice in the matter. Fine, I'm sitting, I'm sitting.
*ino said with a sigh as she sat down. But she got even more curious, since Naruto didn't sit down next to her, he squats down behind her and started doing something that ino couldn't see. But ino trusted Naruto. Ino knew he wouldn't do something like put some mud on her hair, like with Kiba, or steal her snacks like choji. Naruto was too kind for that. Naruto, for his part, was curious about something.*
Naruto: Great! So. Who was that girl with the pink hair?
Ino: Oh, she's Sakura Haruno. My family is friends with her family
*ino said with a shrug, as she's been friends with Sakura as far as she could remember, though she didn't really spend time with the group, there's no real reason for it, Sakura is just in another group of friends with ino, than with Naruto. Naruto's group was a lot more energetic and playing around, while Sakura was much more talking about boys and gossiping to pass the time. Naruto frowned a little as he continued to work on his surprise.*
Naruto: Oh. Mama told me not to associate myself with a haruno
Ino: Huh? Why?
*ino said surprised, since that was the closest she's seen of Naruto being mean to somebody, and anko too for that matter, why would anko tell Naruto not to spend time with Sakura? Of course ino was too young to understand that Anko was a bit of an anarchist, and is raising Naruto be the Just the same and to not trust "the man" even if the man was Naruto's jiji in konoha, but you know, details. So Naruto just shrugged and explained why his mother wanted nothing to do, with people who sold their soul to the man.*
Naruto: Mama said that their a po-li-ti-cal family. And that we don't talk to po-li-ti-cal families since they talk from both sides of their mouth
Ino: What does that mean?
*ino asked with her arm crossed, not understanding what that turn of phrase meant. Naruto nodded, also not fully understanding what his mother meant, since Sakura seemed like a kind enough person, whenever he saw her in school, though she did giggle a lot whenever Sasuke was around, which was kinda weird, but she still seemed like a kind enough person.*
Naruto: I don't know. I just know that Mama asked me not to spend time with that family, and I'm gonna follow her rules
Ino: Yeah, you would, huh? A little mommy's boys
* ino said with a small giggle since that wasn't even a secret. Everyone in konoha and in suna knew 2 things the sky is blue and Naruto loves his mother, and anko loves her son just as much. So Naruto just gave a bright smile. Even if ino couldn't see the smile, she knew the smile was there, which annoyed her since she wanted to tease Naruto. He was her white whale since he was impossible to embarrass.*
Naruto: Yup! I mean. I only got a mommy, so why would I be anything else?
Ino: boo, you're not fun to tease. It's supposed to be embarrassing for you!
* ino complained with her fists raised in the air, since she made it her personal mission to tease and embarrass all her friends, she even got shino to blush, but Naruto? He just smiled and laughed off everything she threw at the incarnation of the Nika, the sun god, just rubbed off him like water off a duck's back. Naruto just looked confused, since why should he be embarrassed about love? He loved showing other people how much he personally loved them all, from Sasuke to gaara, from his jiji to his uncle. Every single person in Naruto's life was someone he loved. But he had no love greater than the love he has for his mother.*
Naruto: Why? I love my mommy!
Meanwhile, with anko
*she was in the middle of the line waiting to order, when she felt a lump on her throat, and felt like crying, for a reason she couldn't explain.*
Anko: "Darn it! I can't leave the line, but I can't let people see me cry!"
Back to the sunshine of konoha
Ino: Well.... because you're a boy!
*ino exclaimed since it was that simple for her 5 year old mind. Boys aren't supposed to be so attached to their mothers like Naruto is to his, since shikamaru wasn't close to his mom, neither was Kiba, the one closest to Naruto's in terms of loving their parent was choji, but still. Mostly, all of them get embarrassed when asked if they love their mothers, but Naruto just gave anyone who asked him a bright smile and an enthusiastic nod.*
Naruto: And you're a girl. Why does that matter?
Ino: I don't know, it just does
*ino said with a Humm at the end of her sentence, since that's just how she felt, she's felt like people expect her to act like Sakura, to always be prim and proper for some reason, but she just didn't know why, she felt this way. Naruto, for his part, just shook his head since he refused to accept that.*
Naruto: Well. I don't care. I'm a boy, and I love my mommy. Why would I not do something just because it's not something a boy would do?
Ino: Because... well, just because.
* ino shrugged, since she couldn't explain her reasons, since well, she was just a 5 year old girl. It would be next to impossible for her to even comprehend the expectations the world puts on them just because of their gender. "Next to" but not completely impossible. Since Naruto just shrugged and said something that a lot of fully grown adults don't fully comprehend and understand.*
Naruto: But that's stupid! We're children ino. Who cares if you're a girl and I'm a boy. We should be free to pick a dress one day and later play in the dirt without anyone telling us no.
Ino:.... how is It that you can say stuff like that, and you're still the same dumb dumb that thinks the moon is made of cheese
* ino said with a chuckle, sometimes feeling like their 2 Naruto's sharing 1 body, since Naruto can say and act very mature and say a lot of smart things.... but he's also the same boy who ate a worm on a dare from shino, and he did it. Naruto just huffed since ino was wrong. The moon was made of cheese! It was written in a book so it must be true! The name of the man who wrote it sounded smart, so that was even more proof that it was true. It was written by one John Heywood. So Naruto spoke in a smug tone since he knew he was right.*
Naruto: Can you prove that it isn't?
Ino: I'm not gonna have this conversation again with you.
*ino said with an annoyed huff, since when she had this argument, there were more people who sided with Naruto than herself! Naruto just grinned as he nodded completely confident in his belief that the moon was made of delicious blue cheese, or maybe a sharp cheddar. Whatever type of cheese, one thing was for sure that it was, in fact, made out of some type of cheese.*
Naruto: Then i win by default, and the moon is completely made out of cheese, and that makes things like rats and mice aliens from the cheesy moon.
Ino:..... God, you're such a dumb dumb
*ino said with a breathless laugh, at her friends just pure confidence in his convictions. Naruto for his part just shrugged as she showed ino the smart side of himself once again, again making ino think that Naruto had two souls sharing one body, one who was a dumb dumb, and another who was mega duper smart.*
Naruto: Maybe. But I'm a dumb dumb that reads a lot and thinks a lot. And what I learned from all that is not to care what people think of me. I like me, my mommy likes me, my jiji likes me, my uncle ibiki likes me. And my friends like you like me.
Ino: Yeah. I do like you, Naruto. But you're still a dummy.
*ino said with a soft smile, knowing that Naruto was something special, that's for sure. She can't picture ever thinking anything less from him. Naruto grinned from behind her as he was halfway finished with what he was doing for ino. He did wonder why ino was all alone now. He would figure that ino would have more people to play with than just Sakura, who left just as Naruto spotted them.*
Naruto: I can live with that. So, why were you here alone? Did that Sakura girl have to go home?
Ino: Yup, plus choji and shikamaru didn't want to play princess with me
* ino huffed annoyed, since what was so wrong of wanting play princess with her? She even went through all the trouble of bringing tiara and princess dressed for them. I mean, sure, their the old ones that she no longer likes, but still! Would it kill them to indulge her for 1 playtime? Well, apparently not. Since she just got another reason as to why Naruto was so special, as a person.*
Naruto: hm.... I'll play with you.
Ino: Really!?
* ino asked excitedly as she tried to get up, but Naruto kept her down since he wasn't done! He didn't want ino to ruin his surprised since he knows she'll love it. Ino, on the other side, was vibrating with excitement, that someone wants to play princess with her. Naruto just gave a nod as he kept picking flowers for what he was doing.*
Naruto: Yeah! But only one thing. I'm not gonna be a princess, I wanna be a queen!
Ino: a queen? Why? A princess is so much more pretty!
* ino said, confused, but she wasn't complaining. If Naruto wanted to be a queen, that was fine with her, as long as they got to play, but still, a princess was so much better than a queen! They're so much more elegant and pretty. Naruto just shrugged since he had his own opinion as to which position of royalty was better.*
Naruto: Because. Mama always tells me to " aim for the moon, even if you miss you, will be one with the stars." Basically telling me to always aim for greatness and what can be greater than a queen? Their more powerful than princess!
Ino: Yeah, but they have so many responsibilities, but fine. Be a queen, and I'll be your beautiful daughter
* ino said with such excitement in her tone, since playing princess didn't mean they would just drink tea, like choji and shikamaru thought. It was just them role-playing, like when they roleplay that their super awesome shinobi. And no, Naruto doesn't role play as his mother. He role-play as his uncle ibiki! Something that brings both anko and hiruzen so much jealousy and makes Ibiki tear up a little that his little nephew picks him over everyone else. Naruto thought of their game and was a little disappointed since what's a queen if they don't have a king?*
Naruto: cool. Hm.... I wish we had one more person to be the king like hinata! I bet she would make a fantastic king!
Ino: we can just say that they're on a crusade!
* ino said, already coming up with the story for their scenario. Naruto just nodded with excitement, wondering what else they'll do, since what Naruto is wearing now doesn't really scream that he is a queen. Good thing that ino has just what Naruto needs to feel like a queen.*
Naruto: awesome idea! So what's the first thing we need to do?
Ino: hm.... the first thing is to look the part. So then can I paint your nails?! Kiba and shikamaru said no because boys don't do that.
* ino said, sticking her tongue out at the end of her sentence, she was really annoyed with those two, her mom taught her how to paint her nails, but neither choji or shikamaru let her to even do their nails. But Naruto? Oh, he saw the opportunity of trying out something new.*
Naruto: Sure! That sounds like fun. We can do it after I'm finished here. Oh! Do you have purple?! That's mommy's favorite color, she'll be so surprised and happy when she sees that!
Ino: Sure! I have all the colors! We can paint your fingernails purple and the nails on your toes orange!
* ino said with a loud giggle already thinking of all the fun things she'll do with her friend, as they play royalty, the princess was gonna show the queen how pretty nails can be when they have paint on them. Naruto put the last flower and took a step back, looking proud at what he made, for ino. He knows she'll love it when she sees it! But Naruto was also excited at having his nails painted. He can already see his mommy squealing in excitement, over seeing his nails done up all pretty like.*
Naruto: Heck yeah! Let's make me beautiful! Oh! I'm done! Here!
Ino: Naruto, you had better not mess up my hair
* ino said as she stood up and looked at Naruto. She was confused as to why he put his fingers on his ears to block to sound. Naruto, for his part, knew ino, and knew what was gonna happen when she saw it. So he just grinned and moved his head at ino, for her to take it off and see for herself.*
Naruto: I didn't! Just take it off and look!
Ino: Fine... oh. My. God.
* ino said slowly, feeling her excitement overflowing inside of her. Since Naruto made her something much more pretty than the plastic tiara she had in her collection, Naruto made her a flower crown with her 2 favorite flowers, which were tulips and jasmine flowers. Ino took a deep, deep breath, and Naruto closed his eyes tightly, knowing what was coming.*
With shikamaru and choji at the other side of the botanical garden
Ino: I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!
Shikamaru: What a pain. Why do I feel Naruto had something to do with this
*shikamaru said, as he and choji walked past anko who was at the back of the line, since at end? She left the line to go to the bathroom and cry. Since she'll be damned if she lets anyone see her cry. Choji looked at shikamaru confused, as to what Naruto had anything to do with this, they hadn't even seen their friend Naruto today.*
Choji: Huh? Why Naruto?
Shikamaru: he's the only one who makes ino scream like that
*shikamaru said with a sigh, wondering why all the blonde people in his life were so loud, from Naruto and ino, to his aunty who was so bombastic every time she visits. They continued with their day, following choji's mother as they continued to watch all the pretty plants of the yamanaka botanical garden of their district.*
Back to the people who have more fun because their blondes
Ino: You made me a flower crown?!!
* ino said loudly, jumping up and down with excitement. She was even involuntarily crying over how happy she was! Since she can't make them, they always end up falling apart, so the fact that now she could just ask Naruto to make them for her made her oh so happy. Naruto smiled, jumping up and down with Naruto, for no other reason than it just seemed like fun, and matched ino's energy.*
Naruto: Yeah! Yeah! I knew you would love it! A princess should have a pretty crown!
Ino: Oh, I love it so much! Come on! It's my turn. Let's make you beautiful!
* ino said, as something rare happened, now it was Naruto's turn to be grabbed by his wrist and dragged to where ino kept all her princess stuff, like dresses, make up, plastic swords, etc. Overall, it was a fantastic day for Naruto. Since he got to have fun with ino, and just be a child without any expectations of how he's supposed to act. So Queen Naruto proclaims that today was a good day.*
Author note: for those who still have a problem with this concept:
https://youtu.be/N55c0Vtq7Cw?feature=shared
If Chowder can be a goddess, then Naruto can be a queen