Kurotsuchi's / Ino's POV (Iron Festival - Land of Iron)
Kurotsuchi couldn't help but smile wide as she tugged along her unwitting helpers. She usually wasn't such a troublemaker, not so openly anyway. The children of the Tsuchikage had to conduct themselves a certain way after all. And as a daughter as opposed to a son, the bar was much higher. Kurotsuchi had condoned herself appropriately and as needed to achieve her ambition.
As a child, she was incredibly proud of her grandfather. Kurotsuchi and everyone else, the man, had become the leader of their village and a legend throughout the elemental nations. Kurotsuchi had spent much of her days chasing around her busy grandfather, dogging his every step. She needed to learn how to become him; as a child, mockery was her best effort. Due to this, she had grown close to him, close enough to hear his grief in the coming years.
Onoki had become old, much past his prime. He often complained of such, Kurotushci wondered if he realized how much it gave her chills. In fact, he was the oldest of all kages, though unfortunately not the longest reigning. Her grandfather was determined to find a worthy successor. Like many kage before him, he had looked to his kin first. Her mother had never truly been a consideration; a non-shinobi prospect simply would never amount to much. And her father…
Kitsuchi had been a promising shinobi, powerful, level-headed, loyal, and more. But he had yet to impress his father. Onoki had said he was unremarkable, lacking a spark that all Kage needed. Kurotsuchi saw it as well. Her father simply had no ambition, something that had always driven a small wedge between Kurotsuchi and Kitsuchi—so much so that Kurotsuchi had always secretly agreed with her grandfather's response. But that raised the following issue: just who would replace Onoki?
It had always been a tradition in the Stone for the Tsuchikage to hand-select their successor. Many villages may choose to do so as well, but their system had been in place since the origin of the Stone. So much so that while other villages often did different as needed the stone refused to. And had served them well, until recently, anyway. Onoki had searched their home far and wide and, to the dismay of he and Kurotsuchi, had found no one he deemed worthy. As a young child, as she had been, the solution had been straightforward. Kurotsuchi would take his place; Onoki had laughed when she first suggested it. But Kurotsuchi had walked that path since, and she never bothered to look back. Onoki, her grandfather, would need only wait a little longer.
Yet she couldn't deny tonight she would stray just for a bit. The exams had been a decent success for her for sure. Kurotsuchi had imagined winning the vest after having thoroughly bested the competition. But she wasn't foolish enough to deny a promotion she had managed to earn in defeat. She could return home proud of having accomplished her goal of representing her village well, but Kurotsuchi couldn't help but want to top it off well. Cause while career and personal success was nice. But she had always enjoyed some drama… Though she couldn't engage at such at home, her reputation meant too much. So while she was here…
Ino's drama had been unexpected but not welcomed. Kurotsuchi had initially allowed it to prove Naruto wrong, she wasn't intolerant of Leaf hippy bastards. Though it had been nice, ultimately it had been somewhat melodramatic. But she had to admit it had been well worth getting involved in. Kurotsuchi had inspired Ino and enjoyed some decent fireworks during the exam, which was a win-win. But if there was one more night with a dance of all things… well, love might just be in the air…
Hence her unwilling helpers. Kurotsuchi smiled even wilder, dragging the other two women along even faster. One cheered at such and the other cursed at her. But in their kimonos they couldn't offer true trio of rushing women must've made for a sight. Kurotsuchi wore a simple red kimono, but as a proud Chunin of the Stone, she wore her dark brown vest over it with pride. Fuu's kimono was a brilliant emerald color, and Kurotsuchi bought one for her plan. Samui was dragged along with a slight frown, wearing a dark gray one herself. Both had been planning to come but had been hesitant. Fuu was slightly overwhelmed not seeing a celebration like this much, and Samui seemed to be thinking over something heavily. But both were crucial for Kurotsuchi's fun! Convincing Fuu had been as simple as asking and convincing her it'd do no harm. Samui was left in the dark; she would've probably vetoed it otherwise.
How could she make Naruto's and Ino's odd relationship more entertaining? Pressure it by throwing another attractive beauty in the mix! Grade-A cinema, indeed! Kurotsuchi would remember the fun for years to come! Fuu was merely to add to the subtlety of her ploy. No need for any blonde to go after her.
Her plan was simple. There was a large and odd dance. She had heard tales of the people of the Land of Iron often doing so at these celebrations. Inject two future love birds, and a sweet dance was sure to ensue. Kurotsuchi, however, would make things more complex. A little switching of partners could create the sparks she longed to see. Besides, it would serve that blonde bastard's right to humiliate her in public like that!
"This- is- incredibly- uncool!" Samui complained as they drew closer to the massive burning pyre.
"I think it's kinda fun!" Fuu chimed in, chuckling happily as she willingly led, barely being dragged, unlike the more hesitant Samui. "Besides I want you and Naruto together!"
"You wanna say goodbye to the Leaf hippies, right?" Kurotsuchi chirped convincingly. She only needed to fool one. "And you want Naruto right topheavy?"
"Actually, I'd prefer if we didn't… also uncool…" Samui started.
"I ALMOST FORGOT TO SAY GOODBYE TO NARUTO!" Fuu yelled out disappointingly before she grabbed both their hands. Samui gasping at such and Kurotsuchi merely smirking, as Fuu carried them with ease, racing forward to the fire. Samui sighed, not looking forward but hesitantly content to face what came. Kurotsuchi could not say the same. More than giddy to be stirring the pot so thoroughly, Fuu was now unknowingly aiding her in earnest.
The trio arrived soon to see the large dancing crowd and the more prominent spectators. Fuu cooed happily and prepared to race in and join, but Kurotsuchi grabbed her arm. Samui eyed her warily all the while, the intelligent woman likely sense the trap but her manners stopped her from acting.
'Chump.' Kurotsuchi thought as she eyed the crowd.
"We haven't even seen them yet, just one second, Fuu." Kurotsuchi reasoned smoothly.
"What is your plan once we see them?" Samui asked suspiciously.
"I'm just waiting for a dance," Kurotsuchi replied with feigned innocence. She watched the dancing line carefully as Samui optically scanned her for dishonesty. However, as the dancing line continued to revolve, she saw what she was waiting for. She lined it up as Samui continued.
"It seems awfully like you have an ulterior motive for this." Samui accused. "Perhaps some sort of nefarious plan to stir up drama?"
"Sure, do you wanna see what?" Kurotsuchi said smugly.
Samui started to answer but was caught off guard as the earth below her shifted, sending her flying toward a particular group of blondes. Kurotsuchi had been subtly setting up the jutsu for such. Fuu having been won over by Naruto and Samui being together guaranteeing her more time around them. Reacted quickly and raced after her, Kurotsuchi followed, barely able to keep her laughter in.
Ino's POV
Ino had spent much of the last few months feeling dour. She had regretted her reactions and level of commitment to her career and friends, doubted the very friendships she had recently made, and even who she was.
But now, such thoughts were so small and unnoticeable that it was a wonder she'd paid any attention to them. She and Naruto laughed again, smiling, with no awkward silence, tense arguments, or unbearable tension. The two of them merely enjoyed each other; the people surrounding them didn't matter; they only added to the joyous atmosphere. It made her feel bubbly, and Naruto's rare beaming smile made it clear it also affected him. Their hands stayed linked at all times, like the other duos. It made the dance difficult; they were meant to sway and swing their arms as they pranced, but as shinobi, it was an easy enough matter. Something Ino took no small amount of joy in. Though Ino admitted to seeing Naruto's earnest smile, she was slightly distracted by his face, dramatically lit by the flames.
Ino could be forgiven then for being caught off guard as suddenly she saw a blur race for her in her peripherals. Naruto somehow reacted timely, shoving her back and turning to brace against the impact. Ino flipped, landing on her feet as she prepared to dash in to help. But she was shocked as she realized what the blur was! That damn Samui again!
Naruto had caught the airborne woman with one arm. Holding her up with his strength with ease. The positioning was unintentionally romantic. Both dazedly gazing into each other's eyes.
'That Bitch! She's really going too far this time!' Ino's mind raged. Her hands clenched as she started to angrily walk towards them 'I'm not taking this sitting down! I was finally getting to enjoy time with Naruto!'
But before she could move to stop the treacherous Cloud shinobi, another blur appeared, wrapping her up and spinning her around with terrifying ease. Ino's instincts kicked in, and her hand whipped out to punch at the throat of the attacker, it landed but instead of a choked gasp they merely chuckled in a light voice. A super strong tank…
"Fuu?" Ino asked, confused as she gazed at her sudden captor.
"I wanna dance!" Fuu sang as she twirled the two of them. "Let's do it!"
Ino tried to complain, but Fuu spun and attempted to join the rhythmic hum of the samurai. She felt a slight drowsiness settle in. She doubted her ability to free herself from Fuu without hurting her feelings and her ability to even free herself in the first place. She allowed the dance for now. Samui would not have the final laugh.
Her eyes glanced at Naruto and Samui, who seemed to accept the oddity of the situation and were dancing in Ino's stead. Naruto glanced over at her worriedly but seeing Ino shrugged and accepted the situation.
'Damnit Blonde! Stop being so damn nice!' Ino thought bitterly.
Samui somehow seemed much more adept at the dance than Ino and, in fact, had started to guide the blonde through more complex moves that even the other coupled dancers weren't doing. Samui's face seemed troubled, but as Naruto told a joke, it seemed to relax her, giving the blonde a relaxed smile. Ino knew that smile; she had just been giving it! Ino needed to interfere right now!
"Fuu, don't you wanna try dancing with different partners!" Ino tried.
"Can't do~!" Fuu sang.
Ino growled, this felt planned. She glanced at Naruto and Samui and prepared her own plan.