Chapter 32

Over the course of the month Naruto had overcome his grief and guilt, and he had changed greatly personality wise. He seemed calmer and wiser as time went on. Though, he had yet to denounce his desire to not kill any living being.

It was the reason that he denied the use of Edo Tensei for back up. However, Orochimaru had gotten full grasp of his personality and decided to use Zetsu clones for it. But, it was still useless since the Shinobi didn't have DNA of anyone strong when compared to the Otsutsuki. And, Naruto wasn't willing to share the DNA of the Otsutsuki brothers.

He was worried about what would happen if they did such a thing because of Hagoromo's warning about Death being conscious.

Plus, he still disagreed with the usage of clones as sacrifices. It seemed inhumane, and with Edo Tensei they would have to sacrifice one clone for each day as it only lasted for a single day.

There was also the option of making clones of the Legends of old or talented individuals, and allowing them to grow with the current resources to create transcendent fighters. Someone like Madara and Hashirama were guaranteed transcendent with these new techniques.

Nonetheless, it also brought back the argument of morality. Was it right to do such a thing? Was it right to artificial create something and speed up its growth, just to fight.

Naruto denied the cold logic of things and had everyone focus on the people that were already present. Instead of trying to create people of old, they should focus on what was already present and make them better.

It seemed like a slippery slope that would lead to the creation of mindless drones, and world where that existed was not a world that deserved to be saved.

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"Let's walk there normally, I am tired of this fast pace. And, you are gonna explode if you continue like this." Ino complained as she was extremely annoyed and frustrated by how things had been going for the past month.

She barely had a moment to rest. Yes, it was important to train. It was important to learn new skills. But, it didn't mean they had to hurry everything. It seemed like she hadn't been able to enjoy a single outing since the war.

It was made worse by the fact that she was managing thousands of individuals called Naruto clones, so that the real Naruto doesn't explode his brain or waste all his time by jumbling up all the information. They couldn't afford a mentally challenged Naruto at this moment.

Looking at her friend, Hinata realized she had been sucked into the pace by Naruto. To her every moment with him was bliss, but it wasn't the same for others.

"Naruto, I think we can take it slow for the day. It might be the intention of Lady Tsunade as well." Hinata spoke sweetly as she looked at him with her Tenseigan that had almost fully adapted to her body. She was now strong as Naruto during the war before he received the other Kurama and Sasuke's eyes.

To her it was the best thing that happened in her life, and it made her desire to accompany Naruto through the journey of life a reality.

Within the month, all her inferiority and deep fears had vanished. She was a completely different girl filled with confidence and grace.

"Fine, we will take it slow. But, don't ask me to walk at a normal pace." Naruto had gotten used to such a fast pace that he felt restless when he walked like a normal human. It was because he was still not in full control of his powers. He couldn't make his body work like a normal person anymore, and it felt like everything was moving in slow motion. When he walked like them, it felt tiring and suffocating beyond belief.

"Of course not, did you forget that I already know what you feel. And, are you discriminating between us? You completely ignored my words." Ino narrowed her gaze and stood in front of him, looking between them.

It seems that Naruto had gotten closer to Hinata in the month they spent time together. Ino could also understand why she liked him. She saw what Naruto was, she saw what he did, and she knew everything about him.

It made Ino feel very close to him, and it made her feel awkward at times.

"I was listening to you, but Hinata is different." Naruto smiled happily as he started walking and Hinata giggled as she followed him.

"Hey, was that a confession? Or did you guys tie the knot already?" Ino was intrigued and giddy at the thought of seeing her close friends tie the knot. Though, there was also a small amount of dullness that she felt.

'Shake it off girl; you need to keep things separate.' Ino felt that because she was always managing Naruto that she had started feeling that they were connected.

It was one of the issues that developed from long term usage of the technique on a single person, but there was no other choice.

Naruto would have said yes, but because of Ino things had become strange. He was unsure. In the beginning he didn't even think about her, she was just a friend. However, because of the constant contact on a deep level he had become aware of her and he could also feel the glances from her side.

Now he was unsure about love again, who did he even love?

Shaking his head, "No, but I like her more."

Naruto didn't know who to choose but he was honest with them, to clear away the doubts inside his heart and their hearts.

"Isn't that love? You like her more than the great Ino." Ino winked confidently as she believed herself the most beautiful.

"Is love that simple? I am feeling confused the more I think about it."

"Why are treating it as a task? It is just that simple. Tell me, can you imagine Hinata with another guy? Do you think that you could give up everything in life for the life of that one person?"

"I don't think it is supposed to be like that. Love isn't selfish, it is selfless. It is the person that you wish happiness for no matter what happens."Hinata intervened as she didn't agree with Ino's outlook on love completely.

Naruto listened quietly while remembering the words of Jiraiya, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

It is not a flat line. It fluctuates with time and it has no limits."

Naruto remembered the smile and the words filled with adoration. No matter how much time passed, he continued to love Tsunade. Though Naruto disliked his hobby of sleeping around with women, he respected Jiraiya's perseverance.

It was beautiful. It was sad. It was tragic, as Naruto could see that Tsunade seemed to have warmed up to him and might have even agreed to marriage if death hadn't taken him.

"That was beautiful. I didn't know you could come up with something so romantic." Ino's eyes shined with delight as she heard the somber but beautiful tone filled with depth from the heart.

"It was something Master Jiraiya said when he explained love to me. I feel like I am starting to understand what it meant, but I am still lost on the full picture. What does it mean when I feel attraction towards another individual as well? Am I still in love, or is it just liking someone?" Naruto ended up putting his questions forwards as he wanted to be direct with his emotions. He disliked slinking around the issue as it seems to make things worse for everyone and being direct had made Hinata happy since he actually showed some affection.

"It can be either as you can love more than one person." Hinata responded to his query calmly while her heart was beating wildly, hope and fear fighting each other. It would be a terrible setback if Naruto thought it wasn't love, but just a like.

It had taken a month of work to help Naruto actually understand what love meant since the blockheaded savior had no understanding of the concept. He didn't really delve deep into it and just followed the surface level. He couldn't even separate it from his love for Ramen or other things that he liked.

It was a mess inside his head because of his isolation. It could only be blamed on Hiruzen, Kakashi and Jiraiya for the neglect that you g Naruto had received in the time when people laid foundation of the child. It was lucky that Naruto wasn't completely broken or evil because of what had happened to him. It was also fortunate that Kurama actually had morals and never tried to manipulate kid Naruto.

Ino was surprised by Hinata's words, but after a moment she thought it made sense. Hinata was selfless in her love that she wouldn't mind Naruto being with someone else.

The fact that Hinata said it made her a little happy.

'Am I really falling for Naruto? Really? How could it be Naruto? He doesn't even look hot.' Ino denied the positive emotions she had started feeling for Naruto. It was only being cemented further by their constant connection.

"How about taking us both, and let's see if it works out?" Ino looked at the sky before jumping into his arms and saying it.

She wasn't the type to hesitate when it felt like it was a strong attraction. There was a time when she had even confessed and followed boys when it was just a shallow attraction. On the other hand, it was different with Naruto.

From the moment she had seen him fight in the chuunin exams, her mind remembered him and his image continued to grow since that moment.

It had reached a peak during the Pain Invasion and went further during the war. She had felt reverence and hope because of Naruto. That feeling continued to grow and reached a new height once she saw inside of him.

The fact that he continued to fight selflessly, and loved the world, completely won her over during the month. He was the best person anyone could ask for and since it seemed like there was a chance, Ino wanted to take it.

There was still time before Naruto started becoming something beyond the normal man and time before she felt only reverence for him.

It took Naruto by surprise that he could only stutter at what she had just said. He teleported from her embrace and stood behind Hinata who was similarly shocked. She couldn't believe that Ino had ended up liking Naruto.

They were friends obviously, but Ino was too shallow of a person to consider anyone that was not extremely good looking like Sasuke or Sai.

Hinata didn't think the same and found Naruto the most attractive looking, but the general public's opinion matched Ino's.

"What are you even saying?" Naruto asked as he put Hinata in front of him.

"Don't you like me? It can't be Sakura, so it has to be me. I am the only one you have been so close to, Naruto. You like me, don't you." Ino teased while full of confidence especially after seeing his reaction.

"Naruto, is it true?"

Seeing her pure gaze, Naruto could only nod, "I am unsure, maybe it is just some feeling because we are so close to each constantly. Maybe it could go away once we take some distance."

"Why not give it a chance? Are you afraid of failure?" Ino stopped playing around and asked seriously. Her gaze said much that was left out.

'Am I not good enough? Why don't you want me?'

"I am okay with what you choose. I don't mind sharing with Ino."

Seeing that both of them were fine with testing things out, Naruto gave into the desire of both girls. He had also been thinking about trying things out in reality since pure thinking without action was not his forte.

"Fine, but we will keep it clean."

"How naughty, I didn't know you were such a perv." Ino giggled as she hugged him while Hinata covered her face because of the wild thoughts in her mind.