Ino vs. Sakura

The moment the curtain lifted, sunlight spilled in from outside.

Ino Yamanaka's long blond hair looked especially dazzling in the light.

Shikamaru and Choji followed behind her, but she had clearly forgotten all about them.

Ino swept her green eyes around the shop, her gaze locking straight onto Son Goten, who sat in the middle.

"Goten!"

Ino called out in delight and hurried over on her little sandal-clad feet.

She made herself completely at home, walking straight to the gap between Goten and Naruto.

"Scoot over, scoot over."

Without the slightest ceremony, Ino bumped Naruto aside with her hip.

Naruto had been holding his bowl up to drink the broth, and the bump nearly sent his face into it.

"Hey! Ino, what are you doing?!"

Naruto shouted in protest, but could only watch as Ino plopped down in what had been his seat, pressing close to Son Goten.

"I heard you even broke Kakashi-sensei's fingers at the training ground?"

Ino rested a hand naturally on Son Goten's shoulder and leaned in close, her eyes sparkling with little stars of admiration.

"That's so cool! He's an elite jonin!"

Feeling the warmth on his shoulder and seeing her pretty face so close to his, Son Goten gave an easy, good-natured smile.

"It wasn't much. Mostly, that masked guy was just too fragile."

Son Goten picked up a fresh pair of chopsticks and shifted a little closer to Ino quite naturally.

"But how did you hear about it, Ino?"

"It's all over the Ninja Academy by now!"

Ino spoke excitedly.

"Everyone's saying you're the strongest rookie in our class. You've even outshone Sasuke-kun."

On the other side, Sasuke's chopstick hand paused briefly. He snorted coldly, lowered his head, and dug into his ramen.

Just then, a chill rose from Son Goten's other side.

Sakura Haruno set down her cup, its base hitting the counter with a dull thud.

"Ino-pig, this is a Team 7 meal. Aren't you on the wrong set?"

Sakura gave Ino a smile that never reached her eyes, a vein faintly throbbing on her forehead.

Although she was always threatening to beat Goten up, seeing another girl-especially her nemesis Ino-snuggling so close to him sent an inexplicable anger surging inside her.

He was her teammate, her "backup boyfriend"... no, the person under her protection!

Ino turned her head and raised her chin defiantly.

"Oh, if it isn't Billboard Brow."

"Ichiraku Ramen is a public place. I can sit wherever I want."

As she spoke, Ino pushed her luck further, linking her arm through Son Goten's and resting her head against him.

"Besides, Goten's so strong. What's wrong with admiring him? Unlike certain people, who only hide in the back and cheer."

"You!"

Sakura slammed her hand on the counter and shot to her feet in fury.

"You want a fight?!"

"Bring it on! I'm not afraid of you!"

Refusing to back down, Ino stood up too.

With Son Goten between them, their gazes clashed in midair, neither willing to yield.

Caught in the middle, Son Goten made no attempt to break up the fight. Instead, he closed his eyes with a look of enjoyment.

Now this was living.

The violent, prickly Sakura on the left, the fiery, passionate Ino on the right.

Aside from the minor flaw that they weren't fully developed yet, it was perfect.

If Hinata joined them too, he could truly die without regrets.

"Um... ladies."

Son Goten reached out with both hands, placing one over the back of each girl's hand.

"Don't fight. You're both my wings, so you should get along."

"Who's your wing?!"

The two shouted in unison, but neither pulled her hand away.

Ino's eyes shifted, and she suddenly picked up a large, fatty slice of chashu from her bowl.

"Goten, you worked so hard on that mission earlier. You must be starving, right?"

She held the chashu to Son Goten's lips, her voice syrupy sweet.

"Here, say ahh-this is especially for you."

Son Goten's eyes lit up. Without hesitation, he opened wide and bit into the chashu, taking the tips of Ino's chopsticks into his mouth along with it.

"Mmm! Delicious!"

Son Goten spoke indistinctly around the meat he was chewing and even gave Ino a wink.

Ino blushed, but her smile grew even brighter, and she shot Sakura a triumphant glance.

Sakura gritted her teeth.

That little man-stealer!

She grabbed the cup from the counter and held it to Son Goten's mouth.

"Won't you choke eating nothing but meat? Drink some water!"

Although her movements were rough, her tone carried a refusal to be outdone.

Son Goten turned nothing down, taking a large gulp of water from the cup in Sakura's hand.

"Ahh-water tastes so sweet when Sakura gives it to me."

"Hmph. At least you have good taste."

The corners of Sakura's mouth curled up despite herself, and she returned Ino's challenging look.

Over the next few minutes, Ichiraku Ramen became a battlefield.

"Goten, have these dried bamboo shoots!"

"Goten, have some broth!"

"This slice of fish cake is for you!"

Son Goten happily ate one bite from the left and another from the right, having become the prize in the two girls' contest.

Sitting beside them with his chopsticks in hand, Naruto looked at his bowl, which held nothing but broth, then at Goten surrounded by admirers. Tears spilled down his cheeks despite himself.

"Why..."

Naruto sniffled, sucked a noodle into his nostril, and broke into a coughing fit.

"We did that mission together, so why is Goten the only one getting this treatment?"

Behind the counter, Teuchi chopped scallions and shook his head with a smile as he watched.

"Ah, to be young. That Goten sure is lucky with the ladies!"

Ayame covered her mouth to hide a giggle and placed a plate of freshly fried tempura on the counter.

"You really are popular, little brother."

Son Goten burped and leaned back against his chair in satisfaction.

Looking at Ino and Sakura, who were still glaring at each other, he considered how to wrap things up.

After all, if this meal went on much longer, those two girls might just tear the ramen shop apart.

"All right, all right. Both my wives, calm down."

Son Goten took Ino's hand in one of his and Sakura's in the other.

That warm, soft touch sent a flutter through him.

"To thank you both for your warm hospitality, dinner tonight is on me!"

He slapped the counter with a grand flourish.

"Sir, ten more bowls with extra eggs! Everyone gets one! Use my free vouchers."

"Wow! Goten, you're the best!"

Ino's expression changed instantly, and she hugged Goten's arm, rubbing herself against it.

Although Sakura still gave a few haughty little huffs, a smile appeared on her face too.

"That's more like it. At least you know what's good for you."

Son Goten felt delighted as he watched them.

He glanced at the empty space in his ninja tool pouch.

He had crushed all those kunai during the exercise.

Tomorrow would be a good time to see Tenten and "restock."

Hadn't he heard she'd recently gotten a new qipao?