Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Closer ❯ Chapter 10

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Ino was excited the morning before the matches. One month had passed slowly, but tomorrow she would get to see Sasuke. So many times she dreamed  of the last time she saw him being led out of the arena by Kakashi. She always had his little note with her. Was she becoming obsessive? It was justifiable though she though, slipping on her ninja sandals on her way out the door. It had been a whole month!


“Ahh, such a nice day!” She breathed, merrily walking down her neighborhood street. First, she had to get her nails done then go to the hot springs and spa. Oh, so much to do! But first, she needed to stop at the grocery store and pick up a fruit basket. Choji was in the hospital from food poisoning and she wanted to check on Naruto as well. He was absent for most of the month and only told her that he was being trained by some perverted old man who likes peeking into the women side of the hot springs. He seemed to be getting along alright without Kakashi. Then one night he was mysteriously left at the front steps of the hospital. Chakra exhaustion and since then he had been sleeping soundly. She and some of the others would go and check on him time to time. Shikamaru usually volunteered because it was the only time he could get away from his training and play a solitary game of shogi.


Choji was happy to see her and grinned broadly when others in the common room stared at him. Ino smirked. She knew why he was smiling so broadly. A hot girl came to see him and everyone saw. He was the man Ino mused. It didn’t bother her, but she was glad she made his day. She even hand fed him a couple of grapes for show and blew him a kiss when she left. Grinning to herself she went to find Naruto’s room. He was still asleep and Shikamaru was engrossed in his game, hardly lifting an eyebrow at her arrival.


“Excited about tomorrow?” She asked, plopping next to Naruto on his bed.


“Eh. Troublesome.” He replied, moving a wooden piece in the board. “You seem happy.”


“I am. It’s going to be fun watching tomorrow.” She said brightly.


“Fun watching me get killed?”


Ino laughed. “Shikamaru, you’re too smart to get killed.” His eyes moved from the board to her.


“Sasuke will be there. I bet that’s why you’re so chipper.”


Ino blushed a little but shrugged. “So? It’s been a whole month! I can’t be excited to see him?”


Shikamaru sighed. “I guess couples…”


“We’re not a couple.” Ino instantly defended, finding herself in a sensitive spot and not knowing why.


“Yes you are. Even if it’s not said out loud, everyone gets the message.” Shikamaru sat back in his chair with a little frown.


Everyone? But it was just that one time in the Forest of Death that they acted close. Were there other times? She felt Shikamaru staring intently at her. “I..see.” Why was her heart beating so hard? No, they weren’t a couple until she knew it. She wasn’t going to assume anything. It would be totally embarrassing if things turned out otherwise. For now they were just friends. Yeah, very good pals like she and Sakura. “I’m going to go. If Naruto wakes up tell me.”


The whole day she had her mind on that. But he’s been gone for a month. Things can change in a month. She wanted to be with him but what if in that time he thought that relationships were too complicated and he wanted to focus on his career and his match. No, she wouldn’t get her hopes up. She wouldn’t show him just how excited she was to see him when they would finally meet. She had to act cool and mature about it. Give him space and respect whatever choice he made. Friends…she thought and smiled to herself sadly. She could settle for that. Right?


By evening, she was even more depressed. She spent her whole day trying to clear her mind, but the complicated thoughts were always there to greet her when she had time to think to herself. She wandered aimlessly though the darkened streets, until her eyes caught on to something. Or rather someone. She ducked under  Ichiraku’s flags to see Naruto so lost in thought. The cook and waitress greeted her, but Naruto didn’t notice her until she put a hand on his shoulder.


“Ino!” He looked a little happier. “What are you doing here? Are you hungry?”


She shook her head and took a stool next to him. “Nervous huh?”


“What?” He gave a fake grin and scratched the back of his head. “Not at all!”


Yeah right. Boys always had to act like their tough, like nothing was bothering them. Naruto was a prime example. His pride and ego kept him from admitting such weaknesses. “Its okay to be nervous. Shikamaru feels the same way and Hinata tells me that Shino is more withdrawn these days too.”


“Oh.” His face fell a little, but she could tell he felt a little comforted by her words.


“Here.” The young friendly waitress placed a supreme bowl of ramen in front of Naruto.


“Old man?” Naruto inquired. The cook didn’t turn from his duties.


“Eat up. You have a long day tomorrow.” Was his only answer. Naruto’s eyes softened and Ino rubbed his back.


“You’ll be fine. I’ll be cheering for you.”  She said, pumping her fist in the air. He grinned and gave a nod.


“Thanks.”


It seems too real to be true. Like a dream…no a nightmare. A horrible, horrible night mare. Even though there was silence, it felt like chaos. ANBU were scattered around the whole arena, leaping from their covers and tackling the enemy. An enemy that had be lying and waiting for the fight between Gaara and Sasuke. That was how it was when the invasion started. That was how it was, sitting next to Sakura as things began unraveling before her eyes. In the distance, she saw the Hokage being held captive. Kakashi ands Guy were by her side, but everyone else was caught in the powerful genjutsu. If Sakura hadn’t shaken her awake when she started seeing the falling image of feathers, she would have been slumped in her chair, totally oblivious as to what was going down.


Yet it was so confusing as well. Wind and Sound invading Leaf? Sand and Leaf were allies! Everything was pulled off in such a hush. She knew the village was rushing to catch up. From here she could hear the sounds of the beginning battle and she was stuck in the bleachers while Kakashi and Guy were killing invading ninja. She was unarmed, except for her special kunai stuffed in the waist of her shorts, under her shirt. But that was hardly enough to make her feel safe.


“Sakura watch out!” She screamed putting an arm over Sakura’s head and ducking. She braced herself for the stab, but only felt warm drops of blood land on her cheek. She cautiously opened her eyes so see Kakashi looming over them and the attacking ninja falling back with a gush of blood arching from his throat. Awkward positing was her immediate thought. She didn’t even try to lift her head because he would have got him in the groin.


“Uh, why don’t you just stay there until I decrease the enemy numbers.” He told them. Ino only nodded, making sure that she avoided eye contact with him. After the enemy was backed away from them, Kakashi returned.


“Sakura. Break the genjutsu and wake up Naruto and Shikamaru.” He told her. “Naruto will rejoice. It’s been a while since he had a mission.”


“Er…” Sakura looked over her shoulder to the fallen boys.


Ino pulled her along, keeping low as they made their way to the dozing boys.  “Proceed with caution. This is an A-rank mission just like in Wave Country.” Kakashi called to her as he dealt with more invaders.


“A-rank mission? What are we supposed to do?” Sakura asked in a slightly panicked voice.


Kakashi didn’t turn from his duties as he replied. “Sasuke went after Gaara and the other Sand nin he was with. Go after him. Ino, you too.”


Hey he didn’t have to tell her that. She would have gone regardless of what Kakashi had said. That chakra she felt when Sasuke pierced though Gaara’s defense was chilling. Even darker than the curse seal chakra. It had a different feel, wild, hot and…old. Kinda like what she felt when Naruto used that weird chakra in his match with Neji.


“Be careful. You group might be a bit big so you have to take extra precaution when you go.”


“But a four group platoon is effective enough.” Sakura frowned.


“Five.” Kakashi corrected and used a summoning jutsu on the back of some unconscious spectator and a little dog appeared in the smoke. “Pakkun with help you find Sasuke by following his scent.”


Sakura frowned and pointed.“That little dog?” Pakkun lightly stepped to them. What kind of species was he? Pug? Boxer? A little of both? He looked old too.


“Hey little girl. I’m not just some cute little doggy. Got it?”


Ino blinked in astonishment. Sakura didn’t call him cute. She supposed that summons had egos as well. Sakura woke Naruto but when it came to Shikamaru, she didn’t have to.


“Shikamaru! You’ve been awake this whole time?” Ino accused, poking him hard in the back. He didn’t respond until Pakkun bit him on the calf. At that, Shikamaru cried awake and Ino pinched him with a glower. “Don’t be a cowered and just lay there. We have to help!”


“Tch. So we can save your boyfriend? I don’t want to get involved.” He said stubbornly and folded his arms like a child. Ino’s cheeks flushed.


“You know this isn’t about Sasuke!”


“Yeah right.” He muttered. Ino huffed. It was a little because of Sasuke. But mostly, she wanted to see what else was going on in the village. She wanted to see if her dad was around and how bad things were.


“Come on. I’ll fill you guys in on the way.” Sakura urged, pulling Naruto’s arm. Ino grabbed Shikamaru’s hand and with Pakkun’s help, they exited out of the giant hole Guy made killing an invading nin.


Sailing through the trees, Ino found that she was getting a bit scared. Even if they did catch up with Sasuke she doubted they would be able to stop him from battling Gaara. He worked hard and the battle was not finished. She knew that much about him.


“We need to move faster. We have pursuers.” Pakkun told them. She reached out with her chakra for a bit and felt them faintly though she didn’t know how much there were. “Eight…no..nine.” Pakkun supplied as if reading her mind. They followed direction without a word and picked up their speed. It seemed like an ambush would probably work, but Shikamaru quickly told them it wouldn’t when Pakkun told them that the ones pursuing them were former ninja of the Leaf. Her shoes were not made for flying tree to tree she thought as they stopped for a grateful second.


“The only thing that would work right now would be a feint operation that looks like an ambush.” Ino didn’t like the sound of it the instant she saw Shikamaru lower his eyes slightly. “Two of us can stay back and set up an operation that looks like an ambush and stop them.”


“Decoy?” Sakura asked quickly catching on.


“Yeah. If the two can stop them then the other three will be able to go without being followed. But the people doing it…”


“Will most likely die.” Ino finished with him, easily following his line of thought. The whole mood of the team changed. It was deadly quiet, with the thought of their mortality weighing heavily on their shoulders. No one said a word.


“We need the dog to find Sasuke.” Shikamaru said, excluding Pakkun in an instant.


“I guess…” Naruto began.


“I have to go.” Shikamaru said. “To pull it off.”


“Me too.” The words spilled from her mouth before she knew it. Her spin shivered with a chill.


“Ino…”


“We’ ;re a team. Just like Sakura and Naruto are a team.” Ino said, turning away. “We work together no matter what.” She said, jumping down before anyone said anything or she changed her mind.


“Ino, you don’t have any weapons…” Shikamaru joined her below. Ino sent him an insulted glare and pulled out her special kunai. “Oh.” Then it looked like a light bulb turned on in his brilliant head. “Maybe we won’t die after all. Come on.”


Ino gave one last look above her before sighing. He better be right she thought stubbornly.


“We need to find some seeds.” He told her, diving into the thick bushes.


“Seeds?”


“That’ s how your technique works right? You need seeds to make the plants grow. Find some, preferably vine kind.” He told her. Ino followed after him, wincing as her shirt caught on a dead branch and ripped. She kicked at the thick ground shrubbery where it would be easier to find some. There, in a pod were wild pea seeds. They would have to work.


“Found some.” She declared and Shikamaru pulled her with him.


“I saw a place not far from here with lots of leaves on the ground. You can sprinkle them around the area. I’ll lure them to out and stop them with my shadow technique and you do the rest.”


“Right.”


The plan was quickly put together and she hid in the shadows, waiting for her cue. The whole group stopped in front of him…all eight of them? There were supposed to be nine. She knew Shikamaru saw that before her. But where was the elusive missing person? Shikamaru quickly showed her when he threw his weapons at the vulnerable party and someone threw their own to deflect the attack. Stealthily, she moved across the forest to head him off only to have someone harshly grab her by the waist and put a hand over her mouth. Panicked, she began struggling but then she smelled who it was and relaxed.


“I’ll deal with him. You go.” Asuma told her and then he was gone in a blink of an eye. She counted to ten before shooting from her hiding place behind the group.  She threw her kunai to her right, impaling a seed before taking a deep, bracing breath and making her seals.


Jeeze what to call this move? Pea Chains? Pea Ropes? Uggh, she would have to think about it later. But for now it would have to be something generic. “Plant tentacles jutsu!” Her chakra weaved though the hard dirt; connecting with the six seeds she placed before hand. Her chakra flared to life around her feet and she widened her stance so her chakra could move in both directions, connecting in a ring and shooting from the ground with a loud rattle and groan. She bit her lip, pouring more chakra into the plants and making them thick and strong. Her insides quivered and her head began to pound. They twirled together like a finger curling around a strand of hair encompassing the group of traitors.


“Move Ino!” Shikamaru called to her when Asuma made himself known and pushed Shikamaru aside.  She quickly grabbed her kunai from the dirt, making sure that she still had some chakra draining from the bottom of her feet to keep her jutsu alive.


“Fire Release: Burning Ash Pile jutsu!” Asuma inhaled deeply and then black soot flew from his mouth.  Ino quickly broke her link with the monstrous pea plants and covered her ears as the enemy nin were burned alive.


Asuma and Shikamaru joined her minutes later. She was shaking and tired, but at least they pulled it off. Her heart was beating wildly, being feed by her adrenaline.


“I’m done.” Shikamaru told her, tiredly falling to his knees.


Ino smiled. “Go back to the village. You did good.” She playfully pulled in his ponytail.


“Ino wait!” Asuma yelled, grabbing at her arm when she was about to jump to the trees.


“Just let her. You know you can’t change her mind.” Shikamaru told their Sensei.


“Please?” Ino begged, giving him a cute pleading expression. Asuma studied her and let her go with a defeated sigh.


“Be careful.” He told her. She nodded and then fled into the trees.


Almost there….almost there….just a little more…


Sasuke opened his eyes when he heard her voice in his head. It was faint, but her chant was getting louder and louder the closer she got. He gritted his teeth against the paralyzing pain and tried once more to get up. It was like trying to light a lamp with no oil. He was strong enough to keep his eyes open and maybe twitch his finger but that was all.


He knew where to look when she came. Sunshine and worry, it was a strange mixture but that was Ino. She scanned the environment, her blue eyes landing on Naruto and Gaara in front of her. She stood transfixed for a moment, eyes wide with fear and disbelief. First she spotted Sakura pinned to the tree but when she got close, a wall of sand pushed her back, protecting his teammate from any outside help.


Such dark chakra…so violent and scary…Naruto…


For a short second he felt an unfamiliar feeling creep in his gut. It was unpleasant and angered him. In his state with the cursed seal activated, he knew he couldn’t control his killer intent. It’s what drew her attention to him.


Sasuke… He felt her delight and relief rush into his head, stomping out what he was feeling earlier.


He felt ashamed, embarrassed to be seen like this. Why was she here anyways? Did she know how dangerous it was? Her scent filled his sensitive nose…smoke…sweat…dirt…and roses. She was dressed in civilian clothes, unarmed. Her hands felt cool against his fevered skin.


“Are you okay?” Please be okay…let Sakura be okay too…


“Ino.” He managed to breath and winced when her tentative fingers traced over the black marks on his skin. It must hurt so much…


She was a myriad of emotion. He could feel it rolling off of her. Fear, worry, anger, hope…All he could do was stare at her. A face that he missed…more that Naruto’s, more that Sakura’s. He was glad he was finally able see her. That was what helped him put a top on his anger. The cursed seal fed off of his anger and slowly, he felt the pain lessen.


The battle made her turn her head and he looked as well. Naruto…he was such an idiot! Such a surprising, lucky idiot! What kind of super jutsu pokes someone in the ass with an exploding kunai? He would have slapped him upside the head if he could move! The following blast had the blonde careening toward him and Ino like a tumbleweed. They hit in a tangled mess, hitting the tree trunk with a loud crack.


It jarred his body awake. Naruto put a hand to his head and blinked, finally noticing that he was sprawled over them.  “Sasuke? Ino! When did you get here?” Naruto loudly yelled at her like she wasn’t a foot away from him.


“Never mind that! Get off! You’re both too heavy!” She growled, wiggling under him and Naruto.


Sasuke slowly pushed himself up with is arms. “All of that and you still only managed one hit?” He scoffed.


Naruto pouted. “Shut up.”


He braced himself on the trunk, hovering protectively over Ino. “Hey Naruto. You better save Sakura no matter what.” Sakura? He was confused when he felt Ino’s hurt. Why? Did he say something wrong? “And when you do, take both her and Ino and run. I know you can do it.”


Ino’s Indignation hummed in his head. Run? Did he actually expect Naruto to run? Does he expect me to just run?


Maybe he didn’t, but he wanted the girls out of harm’s way. Gaara was too unstable and could kill them both if he wanted. He was in no way fit to protect her. He couldn’t lose…


“I’ll buy you some time. If it ends here it means I was only capable of getting this far.” Was this really all he had? “I’ve already lost everything I had once. I never want to see an important friend die in front of me.”


Friend…the word sounded hollow in his head. Ino was looking down. That’s all…friends…
Was that what she was to him? He wondered about that. She was different than his friends. She had a place all her own in his heart. A place that wasn’t clearly defined just yet.


Its okay if we’re just friends right? I said to myself that it was okay…I just didn’t expect it to hurt like this…


Naruto was staring at him with the same look he had in Wave Country. Wonder, joy…happiness…understanding. When he got to his feet he looked across the way at the recovering monster Gaara who was bracing himself as sand pooled around his feet.
“I’ve felt the same loneness and sadness in my life. That’s why I thought he was strong because he was alone and fought only for himself.” Naruto told him. Sasuke stared at him solemnly. “But that’s not what being strong means. You can’t be truly strong if you only fight for yourself.” The words hit him hard. Even more so when Naruto began gathering chakra. It blossomed over the determined blonde like a shield. Sasuke unconsciously stepped back to guard Ino from it. “Mass Shadow replication jutsu!” He hollered and a sea of orange filled his vision. He had so much power! Sasuke was truly astonished at the sight. Was this really Naruto? The all time screw up?


It hurt a little to be pushed so tightly against the tree by Sasuke but Ino was too shocked to care. The sight before her was dizzying. There were so many of them! How could one person have so much chakra?


Hell rained down on the possessed Gaara in screaming orange drops, overwhelming the terrifying monster. She could feel the air literally shaking with his enormous chakra. She was clutching Sasuke’s arm so tightly she was even hurting herself. But bracing herself did not help her get over the fact that Naruto was winning. Actually winning!


Gaara was pounded to the ground like a pancake. However, her awe didn’t last very long. Something dark and evil stirred in the air as Gaara lay there staring at a heaving Naruto. The winds pitched like a storm was brewing. Gaara roared with outrage and a huge arm shot up and all Naruto’s clones disappeared in an instant. Her skin crawled with nerves like a writhing ball of worms when she saw something gigantic and petrifying come to life. It poofed into deadly existence, towering hundreds of feet in the air.


“What is that?” Sasuke breathed craning his neck to see. She would like to know that as well. The chakra she felt coming from Gaara the previous times was nothing compared to what she was seeing now. “Naruto!”


Sasuke jerk from her side, only to fall painfully on his knees. Naruto was being carpeted with sand into a familiar cocoon. Desert Coffin! The thing she saw him use on Lee!


“Stay here!” Sasuke screamed at her, yanking her back to his side when she was trying to get past him to help.


“But Naruto!” She protested but then stilled. She could feel chakra gathering in the cocoon and then she was pushed back by hard winds tinted with Naruto’s strange red chakra. Sasuke pulled her back on her feet with his hand around her wrist. She stumbled to her knees but then quickly looked up. She swore he eyes could have popped out of their sockets. He summoned that huge frog? Naruto? Even Sasuke was astounded. Two giant beings. What kind of power did Gaara and Naruto have? Where did Naruto even learn to summon? From that peeper he said was training him?


The ground shook at the giants battled in the distance, topping the trees. Ino could only watch in mute rapture at the scene. Powerful jutsus clashed together, creating a mini storm that caught everyone in the area. Her clothes were totally soaked. Water ran down her face like she was in a shower.


“What kind of battle is this? Sasuke hissed. The kind that had no words. The huge frog galloped into offense and Ino braced herself. The sky was lit red with chakra and unbelievingly the frog was transformed into a nightmarish thing.


“That’s…”


I can only tell you one thing. October tenth…


That was when the fourth Hokage died defeating the fox demon…


There was no way...no….It’s not real…


Naruto…


It was no use Ino thought with a sigh and kicked off her blankets. No sleep again. Her mind was still overwhelmed with what had happened four days ago. After she and Sasuke got Sakura and Naruto back to the village they had little time to recover before the memorial services began for the Hokage and other fallen ninja. It was such a grueling couple of days that was far from being forgotten. Who could forget?


It was blowing lightly outside and her curtains fluttered against her window when she pulled it open. It was late at night but because of the construction to repair the village, there were still many people awake to do the work. She jumped to her roof and then across the neighbors until she was came to the main village road. Some shops were only opened in the night to cater to the ninja working night duty and construction workers.


She entered a small cozy tea shop and ordered some hot chamomile. Leaning back on her sturdy wooden chair she silently watched the night workers, scaling a crumbling wall to patch it with wet cement. Her thoughts always wandered when she was alone and she found that they always strayed to one thought. But it was foolish to dwell on it. She shouldn’t dwell on it. No, think of something besides him. Think of…bunnies. She groaned and rubbed her temples.


She had prepared herself for this decision. She could settle for just being friends with him. She would no matter how depressing. She took comfort in knowing that Sakura was in the same boat she was. At least she was just an important friend too.


“Can’t sleep?” She was so lost in her thoughts that she actually jumped at his voice.


“Shikamaru!” The shadow manipulator slid in the seat across from her. “You’re awake at this hour?” She asked in true surprise.


He sighed. “My mom sent me to get some milk thistles for the morning.” He was clearly annoyed, but he was pretty scared of his mom. To Ino, Shikamaru’s mom had to be strict with her husband and son. Those two were a lot alike it was kinda scary. Actually, Choji and his dad were like that too. Ino’s eyes widened? Was she like her dad then?


“Hangover remedy huh? Everyone’s taking what happened hard.” Ino said, sipping her now warm tea. Shikamaru yawned loudly and stood.


“See you.” He took a paper bag from the tea shop owner with a nod and she was alone again with her persistent thoughts hacking away at her resolve. Need sleep…she thought suddenly, standing from her chair and heading to her darkened house like a zombie. She rubbed her eyes and yawned behind her hand. It felt strange in her empty room for a second. She had been fighting to sleep the whole night, but once she sat on her bed she fell back in a drunken haze.


Maybe the tea helped…maybe the waitress slipped something in it because she never felt so tired in her life. Her brain was screaming at her in warning for some reason. Odd, she thought in semi consciousness. Why does it smell like the ocean in here?


She’s looks like a cute little doll. Yeah, she thought, sometimes she did look like a doll.


She’s a child. Quit looking at her like that. Child? Maybe she was still kind of young.


I can tell she’s going to be hot…Ino smiled. That voice was a keen observer. He had good taste.


She felt something caress her forehead with surprising gentleness. Her eyes fluttered, fighting to see who it was that touched her. Beneath her long tangled lashes, she saw a fuzzy shade of red, but that was all. It took too much effort on her behalf to keep her eyes open. Besides, she knew her battle was in vain. She gave up, succumbing to the cajoling call of darkness.


What will happen when she hears your name?


She didn’t hear the answer…



He thought that he would feel something when he returned. If it could be characterized as anything it would probably be nostalgia. Things still looked the same. It still felt the same as well. He killed the budding emotions that began rising when he saw the tattered buildings draped in thin lingering early morning mist. The house they just left was untouched from his point of view. He looked to his left. So was the old compound.


“Looks like they avoided complete destruction but it looks like there was great damage.” His partner told him as they looked over the sparkling hidden village.


He narrowed his eyes. “The village that prospered like no other has become pitiful.” He said quietly with steel in his voice.


He felt Kisame turn to him. “That’s out of character. So even a person like you has an attachment to his old village.”


He ignored the truth ringing in the comment and hardened his heart. “No. I don’t.” The decorating bell hanging from his concealing hat rang as he lifted his head looking upon the village with purpose.


“What do you want to do next?”


He was thoughtful. They couldn’t linger but he knew what he wanted to do. “Observe.”


Ino was surprised when she left her house and saw Sasuke sitting on the porch. Her heart pumped fiercely with delight. Was he waiting for her? Okay, she coached herself, pay it cool and sweet.


“Hey.” She walked down the stairs to the bottom landing with her hands shyly behind her back. He looked up but didn’t move to stand.


“Want to get something to eat?” No, it’s not a date Ino. Friends remember?


She smiled cheekily. “Sure. The Salad Bar.” She said with a growing grin. Hey, he asked her!


“Salad?” He asked with a disgruntled grunt. Ino just nodded, not caring if he looked like he would rather jump off a cliff.


“Come on.” She turned, peering behind her shoulder to see if he would follow. He was stubbornly regarding her. “Please?”


“Salad for breakfast.” He stood slowly. “Really?”


She pouted innocently. “Why not?” He didn’t answer, but his expression told her that was a stupid question. She turned fully around and grinned. “Kidding.”


He raised one brow. “How amusing.” He said sarcastically.


She giggled behind her fingers. “But it was! Boys! What’s so bad about salad? Everyone needs their vegetables!”


“Not at nine in the morning.” He muttered and together they left to eat. She liked hanging out with him. Things seemed to go slower and she felt safe and important. They were about to go and see Naruto after they left the small restaurant but Sasuke halted them, looking in the sky. A dark brown hawk circled above them.


Sasuke’s eyes narrowed. “Kakashi? What does he want?”


She felt her mood drop into disappointment. Guess that was all she was going to get today. Curse Kakashi and his bad timing! “Well—”


“Come on.” He ordered and pulled her along. Through the crowds, they weaved through. She felt her own sensei’s chakra in the direction they were headed and her surprised melted into curiosity. Above the heads of the adult civilians she saw Asuma and Kureni talking with Kakashi beside a dango shop.


“Kakashi? It’s unusual for you to be here first.” Sasuke released her hand and regarded his sensei with a furrowed brow.


“I do from time to time. Oh? Ino what are you doing here?”


“We had breakfast.” Sasuke looked into the dango shop and frowned. “I don’t like natto and sweet things.” He told him with a Sasuke scowl.


“Oh? Really?” Kakashi said absently giving Asuma and Kureni a silent message. Strange, Ino thought as the two left with even acknowledging her or Sasuke. Sasuke was confused as well, but he knew something was up. His mood grew darker. Ino felt her mood slip too. Ever since the battle with Sand and Sound he had escalating bad moods. Despite how much she like hanging around him, she usually stayed away when he was in these kinds of moods.


“I’m going to train.” He said, stalking down the road. Training meant he wanted to be alone.


“Okay.” Ino said softly. Who knew how long that would be? Maybe Sakura wanted to hang out? Should she find Naruto first?


“Come with me.” He was waiting for her to move, or to say something.


She looked around her foolishly to see if he was talking to Kakashi or something. Sasuke never invited her to train with him when he was in one of his moods. Eventually her surprise wore off. “Okay.” Was all she could really say. But then her mind caught up with her and she paused. “Can I get my stuff first?”


Training with Sasuke was dangerous. He was venting about something and she had to protect herself from flying rocks as he practiced his lightning techniques and Chidori. It was an amazing thing to watch, but destroying rocks without caring that the debris were flying at her like live missiles took away some of her admiration. Did he forget she was here? Carelessly breaking things and putting her in danger was not very friendly. Did his team have to put up with his moody temper tantrums?


“Sasuke!” She yelled at him after dodging behind a tree for the billionth time since he began.


“I couldn’t do anything.” He said, breathing hard and glaring at the gaping hole he made with a lightning enhanced kunai. “Naruto is becoming stronger and stronger and I—” He trailed off and griped his hand, summoning a blazing Chidori. The rest of the rock was annihilated and he fell to the ground breathing harder than before.


“Sasuke.” Ino removed herself from the tree and kneeled by his side. “Did you really expect Naruto to stay in your shadow forever?” She asked, stiffening at his angry eyes. “What? Did I say something wrong?” She challenged. He just continued to glower at her as if daring her to say more. Like his glare was scary enough to shut her up. So wrong. Maybe before it would have, but after spending time with him and seeing a softer side, she wasn’t as intimidated any more. “I saw it too. I saw how much stronger he got and it was because he was worried for us. He was worried for Sakura. What? Only you can be worried for your team? Only you can save the day?”


“That’s—”


& #8220;It’s lonely on top.” She said softly. “Even then, being number one is like our unsaid goal. People count on you to be the best and when you’re not it feels like you failed them. Like they’re laughing at you and smearing it your face. Our pride bleeds. We get disappointed and angry at ourselves.” She sighed and stared at the grass, plucking blades nervously. “It’s what keeps me trying harder. This is your first time feeling like this. Are you going drown in it?”


His looked like he had calmed down a bit. She didn’t even know if he even listened but it didn’t matter. She said what she wanted to say. He had nothing to be ashamed of anyways. Plus, she was proud of Naruto for not giving up. There was nothing said after that. They only sat together but something was bothering her and she broke the thoughtful silence that enveloped them.


“Sasuke…”


“Hum?&# 8221;


“Did the grown-ups seem strange to you? This morning it looked like…I don’t know…like something serious was going on.” She turned her questioning blue eyes to him with a furrow on her brow.


“Yeah. I got that feeling too. Kakashi was acting strange.” They stared at one another in silent contemplation. “Let’s go.”


They went to where they saw Kakashi last and after asking around they left to his apartment. It was a small place. When they entered Ino immediately thought bachelor. Didn’t he color coordinate anything? A green couch with a salmon leather chair? Was that a dead house plant on his boring looking kitchen table?  The hallway was dark and the wood, sturdy and smooth as they started up the stairs. Sasuke didn’t even wait to be called in after he knocked on the bedroom door.


Asuma, Kurenai, and Guy were in the small bedroom and Kakashi was tucked in his shuriken sheets. She would have made a comment of she wasn’t so curious about what was going on.


“Why is Kakashi asleep?” Sasuke asked them in confusion. Yeah, it was the middle of the day and Kakashi was asleep? Didn’t the grown-up have jobs? Why were so many of them in the room? “What happened?” Sasuke looked pointedly at each of them.


“Asuma-sensei?” Ino’s inquiry was met with silence.


“Nothing much happened.” Guy said a little too casually. The answer only reinforced the idea that’s something big was up. Everyone heard the rushed footsteps of someone running up the stairs. The door slammed open and a ninja with sunglasses entered.


“Is it true that the Itachi came back?” He demanded in anxious excitement, stunning every single person in the room. “And he’s after Naruto?”


The hairs on her neck stood on it ends and something clicked in her brain. She felt it but didn’t know what it was. The room was thick with tension as Sasuke’s whole face paled and became expressionless, like he was in a daze.


“Idiot.” Kureni muttered. Her blood spiked at Sasuke’s keen killer intent. It filled the whole room like rising smoke. Her mind felt like it was shaking, like an animal trying to get out of a bag.


He bolted out the door with amazing speed. Ino only blinked and he was gone, halfway down the road. She didn’t even move to go after him. Something was holding her in place, making everything around her pulse red and black and white.


The world around her felt like static, but she could faintly hear Guy speaking. “Why did it turn out like this?” Eventually it turned to nothing. Her world filled with nothing but a red sky. She could smell blood and hear screaming. She was filled with horror and disbelief. Strangers were falling all around her with weapons buried in their bodies and deep gashes like she entered a torn war zone.


Stop! Brother! I don’t want to see this!


She was detached from the world, but strangely connected to it. The screams faded into whispers. Dead, chilling voices that surrounded her like restless ghosts.


Why? Why did you do this brother?


Her soul felt like it was trapped in a coffin. She was sobbing uncontrollably but the sounds were muted. Floating in the red world, paralyzed with fear and agony things around her kept changing shapes and morphing making her dizzy and so very confused. It was her confusion that was making her cry and making her scared. Her throat ached and her insides quivered with the emotional strain.


Father! Mother! Don’t brother!


The scene changed before her eyes. Someone tall and deadly stood behind kneeling people in a long room with his sword drawn. Black and white, but the blood. It was red like the sky and felt like poison on her skin as the killer struck. It was too much! So much pain! So much anger and…betrayal. So much blood and death her soul felt numb. Her spirit fluttered under the weight of her emotions like a butterfly trying to free itself from a spider’s web.


Another scene collapsed before her stinging eyes. The skies faded into black and deceiving stars twinkled in the night. She felt like she was a floating feather, slowly landing on the cold ground. She was running by someone, a boy.


“Don’t kill me!”


Her bare feet unwillingly landed in giant pools of cold, thick blood. Her only purpose in this world was to run. To hide. But…she knew he would find them. They stopped when they saw the man, standing silently in front of them. He was cloaked in darkness and moonlight.


“Don’t kill me.” The boy pleaded with tears in his eyes.


“You’re not even worth killing. Foolish little brother. If you want to kill me, hate me, detest me and survive in an unsightly way. Run. Run and cling to life…”


Then the world faded into whiteness and everything she had felt vanished. Her heart calmed, her breathing returned to normal but the images and feelings she felt were carved into her soul. It stained her innocence and she felt like her heart would forever hurt. In her mind, a voice echoed whispering things to her. Even if she died and were to be reborn into a thousand lives, the voice would always be ingrained into her mind.


I don’t know why he chose you to understand the darkness in his heart…but he made his choice and so did you…now you’ll be forever tied with him…Ino…Yamanaka…