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The Park, Sunday Afternoon

After coming from Cable-san's Shop Ino wandered into the park and found a quiet place to mentally compose a few letters. She'd forgotten her notebook and pens back in the dorm, but didn't feel like heading all the way back. Her dad was going to kill her though if she didn't send something off soon.

It was a bit strange to be celebrating her birthday away from her family, but Ino found she didn't mind too much, the park was a very beautiful place to spend the day, and she was slowly getting to know people. Maybe next year she'd have a party.

First though, letters home.

[Open!]

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There was still no sign of Wade, but Arashi was going with Aly's advise and giving him time on his own. He wasn't looking around town and the park for him at all. Nope, none of that going on.

He paused seeing the young girl wandering aroundthe park as well and looked at her curiously. "Excuse me, do I know you?"

And yes, Dad I'm making sure to be careful of boys, yes, I promise... Ino jumped and looked up at the man who'd interrupted her train of thought. "Y-you!" She spluttered, eyes widening and hands going to her forehead protector automatically.

What was she supposed to say?!

"Me?" He blinked, he noramally didn't get that sort of reaction out of people. His eyes followed her hands to her forehead protector and he smiled in understanding. "Ahh, I thought you might be from Konoha."

Ino was still busy gaping, because really, she'd sorta tried to forget all about what Kabuto-san had told her and that was a little harder when actually confronted with Yondaime-sama.

Fake or not, Ino had to admit he did a damned good impression of the Fourth.

"Konoha?" Ino managed after a moment, "Yes, I am."

As if that wasn't obvious.

Arashi studied her for a moment with a throughful expression. "Are you related to Yamanaka Inoichi by any chance?" If she wasn't then the resemblance was amazing.

He was mostly ignoring her stunned look, he had gotten a lot of that when he'd gone back to see Konoha (in secret of course).

... that was a nail in the coffin for the imposter bit. Ino's dad still spoke fondly of the Fourth.

"He's my Dad." Ino managed to regain some appearance of composure, and smiled at the man, "I'm Yamanaka Ino."

"Ino," he smiled brightly knowing who she was. "I can't believe how much you've grown. I'm an old friend of your father's. How is he?"

He knew her? She'd been less than a month old when he'd... died? Not-died? "You met me before?" Her Dad hadn't mentioned that. She hoped he didn't know anything embarrassing about her. Ino shrugged a little, "Dad's fine, I guess. Still doing missions and everything. How did you get here, Hokage-sama?"

Nothing like being direct.

"Well you were only about this big," he said holding his hands about a foot apart with a small laugh. "But yes, I remember when Inoichi brought you around to show, Shikaku, Chouza and I."

Arashi flushed and the smal faltered slightly. "You're just as direct as your father too." He took a deep breath. "It's a very long story, one that would be better told not out in the open."

Oh god. Ino didn't want to think about that. There were enough baby pictures of her to fill an entire shelf on a bookcase back home. It was just too weird. "I get that a lot," Ino told him with a faint smile, "Dad's really proud of me."

She tilted her head at him, "Would you be alright with telling me somewhere else, Hokage-sama?" Because she really wanted answers and if she had to move, well, alright.

Arashi raised and eyebrow at her with a small smirk. "Yes, on one condition. You must give me your word as a ninja of Konoha that you not tell anyone about me back home, not even your father."

How had he known she was going to tell her dad? "What? Why?" Ino scowled at him, weighting the pros and cons of this arrangement. "I can't even tell him that you're alive?" She asked just to make sure.

"Because your father tends to blab when he's drunk," he smirked. "And do you know that the reprecussions of all Konoha knowing that I'm alive would be?"

Ino settled for looking indignant - because for all she knew Yondaime-sama was telling the truth. Dad might have a drink or two around her, but Ino had never seen him drunk. "Lots of trouble?" She guessed, "Tsunade-sama just took over after... and there's still all the trouble with sorting out the damage Oto and Suna's forces did."

He raised an eyebrow at that. So she was from a few years in the past it seemed. He nodded slowly. "Yes, lots of trouble. So do I have your word?"

Ino let her breath out in a huff. "I suppose." She smiled up at him, "You've got my word."

Besides, Parent Day was coming, right? She'd just invite her Dad and voilá! No broken promises.

Arashi narrowed his eyes shrewdly and watched her a moment. "Fine, my office hours are on Thursday. I can tell you then."

Ino radiated innocence. She was good at that. "I'll be there, Hokage-sama!"

Then, because Ino couldn't think of anything better to do than to change the subject, she asked, "Did you hear about the new shop in town?"

"No, I haven't had a chance to go to town yet," he smiled. "What is it?"

"Wellspring Arms and Meditation Center." Ino told him, "I was talking to the owner and I think I was hired, because he told me to come back on Tuesday, but I'm not sure."

"You're not sure?" He chuckled. "Didn't this person tell you right out?"

Ino shrugged, "Nope! Didn't seem like the type to talk all that much really. What were you doing in the park, Hokage-sama?"

"I was looking for my hu- friend," he smiled. "You haven't by any chance seen someone running around in a red and black spandex jumpsuit have you?"

Ino winced at the description. It sounded like there was someone out there who shared similar tastes in clothing with Rock Lee. Ew. "I haven't seen him." Ino said, repressing a shudder, "You could go and try town? Cable-san might have seen him."

"Cable?" He frowned, though it wasn't exactly directed at her. "Where did you see Cable?"

"He's the owner of Wellspring Arms." Ino said, a little confused about the frown - she hadn't said anything weird, had she?

"Thank you Ino, I will speak with you later," he nodded abruptly and ran off towards town. "Remember my office hours are Thursday!" He shouted over his shoulder as he ran off.

"Was it something I said?" Ino wondered, staring after her Hokage as he headed towards town. She'd have to ask him on Thursday.

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The Park, Sunday Afternoon

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