8 Like Father, Like Son
Yamanaka Ino was dazed as she walked back to the flower shop.
In her hand, she held onto a basket which had six stalks of Solitary Roses, an extra as the mysterious red headed prince took the remaining one and gave it to her.
Thinking about that mystery boy, she felt her heart beat speed up and her face flush. Feeling her heart beat she shook her head. She didn't even feel like this when she was infatuated with Uchiha Sasuke.
'Was it because he saved me?' She thought.
'He looked about my age, and he definitely goes to the academy. He was using chakra, I'm sure of it, is he a senpai? He was using chakra in such an advanced manner, daddy hasn't even taught me how to use chakra to strengthen my body yet. Who is he to receive training in such an age, a clan kid perhaps? But apart from Uchiha Sasuke, I never really paid any of the other boys attention..' She thought.
'No! I'll find him, besides his traits are the most eye catching I've seen. Yamanaka Ino never gives up! All I need to do is thank him!' With that, she sprinted off to hand the flowers to her father.
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"Daddy!" Ino said as she entered the flower shop.
Seeing no sign of her father she called out once more, "Dad! I'm back, I got the flowers too!"
"Ino, keep it down. Your father's in the back moving some bags of compost" Her mother said as she entered through the back. Noticing her daughter's somewhat dazed and flushed look, she decided to ask.
"Ino dear, what has you all worked up? And what did your father ask you to get?"
"Huh?! uh-oh, It's just some Solitary Roses. Daddy told me that he got a request and that the customer specifically requested for these flowers to be in it" Ino roughly summarized from what her father told her.
"Solitary Roses? Those are the one's that only grow near cliffsides right? Did you manage to find them at the bottom of the Hokage Monument?" Her mother asked, to which she nodded.
"Anyway, mom. I have a question I wanted to ask, have you ever seen a red headed boy my age around in the village" She eagerly asked.
Though she didn't see that her mother's expression changed for a few second. Her mother's eyes widened and her mouth became agape as Ino was more focused on remembering the meeting between the two.
Seeing that he mother quickly composed herself and asked "I think I have, why?"
'Ino met lady Kushina's child?' She thought to herself
"Yeah!" Ino nodded quickly. Seeing her enthusiasm, the mother grew curious at her daughter's sudden curiosity of their village's pariah.
"Why... do you seem so intent on finding him? Does my daughter... have a crush?" She asked testing the waters. She analyzed her daughter's face, seeing her daughter blush. The older woman smirked a little before composing herself.
'Ara Ara, looks like my daughter finally got over that Uchiha Heir' She thought before questioning on. "Oh my! Ino you have to share with mommy your encounter!"
"Uh- t-then you have to keep it a secret from daddy. I didn't follow his instructions" Ino said, she didn't follow what her dad said and tried getting the flowers that were too high for her to reach. Because of that, she almost got injured if not of the boy to save her.
"Okay dear, but it depends on what you did"
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"Then, when I thought I was going to fall I felt someone catch me. Mommy, you won't believe it! He was holding me in a princess carry!" Ino said as she blushed
"After that he let go of me causing me to fall on my but, when I opened my eyes next. I saw that he was gone and the remaining two flowers fall in front of me" Ino told her mom as she recounted her tale.
"Ara Ara~, you have to make sure you thank the boy the next time you see him deary." Ino's mother told her and Ino nodded. "But..." Her mother said as she narrowed her eyes.
"Never do something so dangerous again, young lady. Am I understood?!" She said as she looked at her daughter who obediently nodded.
"Good, now run along. I'll make sure your father doesn't find out" She said as Ino nodded and left to go to their house. She was tired and just wanted to rest.
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Seeing her daughter leaving. She sighed as she turned and said, "Did you hear all that dear?"
As soon as she said that, footsteps sounded and Inoichi came from the back. He was rubbing the temples on his head as he nodded. "Yes, that girl. She always acts rashly when there's something she wants. She always tries to take the shortcut. It could have easily gotten her heavily injured" He sighed.
"Well, it all worked out in the end. Though I didn't think that Lady Kushina and Minato-sama's son would be the one to save her" Inoichi's wife, Kaede said with a smile. "Poor boy, I still can't make heads and tails on why Hokage-sama forbid anyone who knew of his lineage to be near him"
"I don't know either" Inoichi sighed. He was also lost in that matter, he was good a good friend and subordinate of Minato as well as a friend of Kushina as well. He felt it was wrong for the boy to receive such treatment, but the third hokage has ordered them not to associate with him. All who disobey be stripped of their position and status, even if he wanted to help the boy, he had a family to take care of as well.
It gave Inoich a headache.
"Still, to think he would do the exact same thing Minato did to Kushina" Kaede giggled. "Kushina would always smile when she recounted that day she was saved from Minato."
"You're right. Like father, like son" Inoichi said as he too smiled.
"Do you think the Lord third would trouble us because Ino is now trying to get close to him?" She asked worriedly.
"It shouldn't be a problem. Their meeting was by complete accident. It was a natural encounter, Hokage-sama can't punish us because of something we have no control over. I just hope that maybe Ino can befriend the poor guy" Inoichi said.
"Oh? I didn't think you would let Ino chase after him. Considering how doting you are, I remember you wanting to charge into the Uchiha clan's compound when Ino came home crying one night because of Uchiha Sasuke" Kaede smiled.
"Hah?! I said she can be friends with him. F-R-I-E-N-D-S, she's too young to pursue boys!" He barked at his wife as she giggled
