Two weeks.
That's how long it had been since the lie.
Since the look in Naruto's eyes changed—not anger, not even betrayal.
Disappointment.
And that… was worse.
Ino had seen his temper once—brief, cold, sharp. He didn't scream. He didn't explode. He didn't need to.
Because when Naruto withdrew his affection, his attention, his presence…
You felt it like frostbite.
He didn't ignore her completely.
That would have been easier.
Instead, he acknowledged her.
Politely. Formally.
She passed him on the training field—he nodded.
She gave a report to Tsunade—he stood behind the Hokage, reading her every word.
He was always watching.
But no longer touching.
And the absence of his heat was starting to break her down.
She tried to apologize.
He listened.
He said, "I believe you're sorry."
She asked if he still wanted her.
He replied, "Wanting and trusting aren't the same."
And when she asked what she had to do to earn him again?
He said nothing.
Because Naruto didn't reward words.He rewarded devotion.
That night, she left a note at his door:
"You said I'd have to crawl back.I'm ready."
The next night, she came back.
Wearing nothing under her cloak.
Not seductive.
Not erotic.
But bare. Open. No armor.
She didn't knock.
She knelt.
On his porch.
Head lowered. Knees bruised against wood. Hands flat on her thighs.
She didn't speak.
Didn't fidget.
Just waited.
The wind whispered around her. Leaves fell. Hours passed.
Finally…
The door opened.
Naruto stood there.
Barefoot. Bare-chested. Calm.
He looked down at her.
Her shoulders shook, but her head remained bowed.
"Why are you here?" he asked.
"To crawl," she whispered.
"And if I don't let you back in?"
"I'll crawl again tomorrow."
He said nothing.
She didn't move.
And then, he stepped aside.
She entered slowly, cloak dragging behind her.
He gestured to the center of the room.
She went there. Knelt again.
And Naruto sat across from her.
No lust in his eyes.
Only judgment.
"You lied to control me," he said.
"I panicked," she replied.
"You tried to trap something that doesn't wear a leash."
She nodded.
"You think kneeling for me fixes that?"
"No," she said. "But I want you to see that I haven't stopped wanting to belong to you."
He stood.
Walked around her in silence.
Like a lion circling a wounded gazelle.
"You don't get to be mine because you broke first," he said. "You get to be mine because you kept going after."
Ino raised her head.
"Then test me."
He did.
Not with violence.
Not with punishment.
But with silence.
He had her serve him tea. Fold his futon. Clean his weapons.
Naked. Obedient. Silent.
He didn't touch her.
Didn't praise her.
But he watched.
Every movement. Every breath. Every tremble.
And slowly…
She stopped acting.
She stopped waiting for reward.
And simply… served.
Not because she was broken.
But because she chose it.
Because for the first time in her life, Ino Yamanaka let go of herself.
And gave what she was to someone who demanded everything.
When she finished cleaning the kunai set, she turned to him.
Still on her knees.
Still naked.
Still silent.
And Naruto finally spoke.
"You've never been more beautiful than you are right now."
She looked up at him.
And for the first time in weeks, he knelt in front of her.
Touched her face.
Kissed her forehead.
"You crawled," he said.
"I'll crawl again if you ask me to."
He leaned in.
"Stand up."
She rose.
And for the first time since the lie…
He held her.
Truly held her.
Not as punishment. Not as reminder.
But as something precious.
And that night?
He didn't fuck her.
He worshipped her.
Not because she was perfect.
But because she had broken—and rebuilt herself in his image.