Chapter Text
Crash! Ino set her book on the counter and sighed. “What is it Naruto?” She held her head in her hand and stared as the whisker-cheeked kid sat up from his spot on the floor, disregarding the busted bags of dirt and the now broken window.
Naruto smiled and rubbed the back of his head, looking bashful. “Sorry to bother you Ino-chan, but I have to ask you for a favor.”
“No, I’m not giving you flowers for Billboard Brow,” Ino rolled her eyes and sighed, “Seriously Naruto, I wish you’d just give up on her. She’s too stuck on Sasuke-kun.” “Not sure why, considering he’s not even interested in her…” she mumbled this last bit with an annoyed glint in her eyes.
Naruto pulled himself up fully and shook his head. “I’m not getting flowers for Sakura-chan,” the light in his eyes dimmed as he looked away, “I know how badly she wants to be with that bastard. Might as well let her be happy.”
Ino could sense the shift in his thoughts. ‘Man, looks like he’s taking it kind of hard…’ Not wanting to dim the ball of sunshine’s light any further, she tried to change the subject.
“Whatever. It’s her loss anyways” Ino crosses her arms and feigns nonchalance in a way that's only perfected by hanging around a Nara. She yawns a little and says, “What’d you come here for anyways? You still haven’t told me!”
Naruto’s train of thought is interrupted by her words. His smile becomes bashful again as he seems to contemplate his answer.
“Well you see Ino-chan,” Naruto chuckles nervously, “I uhm.. IneedajobandIsawyoursignoutsidesoIthoughtI’dgiveitago-“ (I need a job and I saw your sign outside so I thought I’d give it a go).
“Slow down!” Ino interjects, her nonchalant demeanor quickly replaced by panic. She took a moment to process his words before sighing, “Naruto, I doubt my parents will let you work here… especially with how badly you wrecked the place when you came in” She gestured to the damage done to the front of the shop.
“Hey! It's not that bad! Just give me a chance Ino-chan. I’ll even work without pay the first week for the damage and prove myself!” Naruto yelled with a look that said he wasn’t taking no for an answer.
‘Well, we could use an extra hand around here,’ thought Ino, ‘But seriously, what’s his deal? Why does he suddenly wanna get a job? I guess if I hire him, I can get answers.’ She stares at Naruto for a moment, blue eyes looking back into hers, and makes her decision.
“Okay- I’ll let you work here-“ “-Yes!” Naruto immediately breaks out into a happy dance, only stopping mid-spin (Ino doesn’t know, and she doesn’t wanna ask) at the sound of a cleared throat. Ino’s eyebrow twitches as she continues, “I’ll let you work here, but you have to work two weeks for free,” Naruto nods, “and show me your knowledge of flowers.” Naruto pauses, letting her words sink into him like an anvil.
‘I don’t know anything about flowers’ Naruto thinks, ‘But this is the only way my plan will work!’ So he agrees and hastily signs all the papers Ino has to give him before he can talk himself out of it.
And so Naruto gets the job, and the frilly purple apron that goes with it.