Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Closer ❯ Chapter 22

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

Kabuto wiped blood from the deep scratches on his arm with an amused smile. That girl, she sure knows how to put up a fight. Why do girls have to fight so dirty and use their claws? He never had to use so much power to restrain her before. He had a hard time sedating her, but now his cute little apprentice was sleeping soundly in her locked room.

The boy, Sai said and did nothing while he wrestled with her. He was freakishly quiet. Kabuto led him down various halls and around corners away from Ino’s room. His fingers tightened around the thick manila envelope with a growing smirk. Danzo certainly knew what kind of grease to use to make the wheels turn.

Finally Kabuto stopped at a door and opened it. The hinges creaked loudly in the echoing hall. “Go in.” He instructed Sai, placing the envelope on a bed before digging in his pockets for matches.  “This is your room now.” He turned his head slightly to regard the silent boy. “I realize it’s a spartan room with nothing in, but you can deal with it.”

Sai looked around in polite acknowledgment. “The bathroom is back there.” Kabuto nodded to a shadowed corner. The white haired medic let him look around, keeping a critical eye on the boy. “If we don’t need you for anything, stay here and be quiet. We’ll call you if anything happens.” At the door Kabuto held up the key to the room, shielding his eye in the hallway shadows. “I’m going to have to lock you in for now. I’m sure you understand why.” And with a fake smile of friendly sheepishness that easily came to him, Kabuto left Sai alone.  

His mind was on a million things at once. The meeting with Sasori didn’t go as planned and he was pretty sure that Naruto and his team was not far behind. Still it would take some time for them to infiltrate the base, but it would happen. Lord Orochimaru didn’t want to leave just yet. His fight with Naruto was still humming in his blood and he wasn’t afraid to do it again. Kabuto however, thought differently. There was only so much healing he could do in such a short amount of time.

“I should get to compiling that Bingo Book before Lord Orochimaru starts hounding me again.” He muttered to himself, liking the sound of his footsteps echoing in the hallway. His steps faltered…but I left them in the room with that kid. Darn. He thought with a sigh, tilting his head back in mild frustration.  He wanted to double check on Ino, but her room was on the other side of the base. “Next time he’ll be telling me A-blood types make better subordinates. “ Kabuto mused before turning on his heel and walking back.

By the time he arrived, he found the room empty. Alarm bells sounded off loudly in his head. The envelope was missing as well. “Damn….maybe A-types really do make better subordinates.” He had to find both the boy and the papers before Lord Orochimaru and Sasuke finished their training. Which didn’t give him very much time.

With Sai securely tied up, Naruto stood and turned back to the base. “Time to finish the job,” cracking his knuckles, “and save Sasuke.” They didn’t even get very far in the base. If it wasn’t for Captain Yamato’s honing seed-thing ability he would have gotten lost for sure. But now he was ready and they would find Sasuke and Ino by the time the day was up.

“You should give up.” Naruto tensed at Sai’s cold, unemotional statement. He and Sakura shared a look. “I met Sasuke. Lord Orochimaru is always with him. You’ll have to fight him again in order to get to Sasuke. If you pursue him, you’ll be ripped apart and used for their experiments. Plus…” Sai trailed off in a troubling kind of way.

“Plus what?” Naruto demanded.

Sai slowly sat up straight and his dark eyes locked with his. “Sasuke no longer cares about you.” Naruto instantly ignored what he said.

“Did you see a girl there?” Sakura stepped in. “Blonde hair, blue eyes?”

Sai’s eyes narrowed. “Yes. Kabuto is keeping an extra close eye on her. He drugged her when she heard that you two were here. Sasuke let him.”

Naruto’s eyes widened. “What? Is she hurt? What kind of drugs did he give her?”

Sai shrugged in his wooden bonds. “Something to knock her out for a while.” He paused. “They seemed close. Closer than how you are now. Why would you do all of this for someone like him? Why are you risking so much for him? Even risking your life by going up against Orochimaru when he thinks so little of you? Of her? Why? You haven’t been ordered to do this.”

Sai…Naruto felt a small pang of pity for his new teammate. People always asked him; why Sasuke? Even Pervy Sage asked what Sai asked just now. No one would understand why he had such a fixation on Sasuke. Sometimes he didn’t even know. Bringing Sasuke back to Leaf wasn’t just to fulfill his promise to Sakura. He was doing it to keep the very first bond he created. To hold on to that feeling of being acknowledge as an equal for the very first time.

“Back in the day, I couldn’t stand Sasuke.” Naruto smiled fondly at the memory capturing Sai, Sakura and Capitan Yamato in his recollections. “Even though neither of us had families, he was an elite and I was last in the class. But, it was really a lot of fun when we were together. He acknowledged me more than anyone else ever did. Sasuke is my friend. Someone who I was finally able to form a bond with. And Ino, Sasuke was able to connect with her too. She’s Sakura’s best friend. Right Sakura?”

Sakura was taken off guard for a split second before smiling and nodding. “Ino and I always fought over things. We even fought over Sasuke but in the end, after all the bickering and name calling, we still remained friends. She’s just as important as Sasuke and if what you’re telling us is true then…I can understand why he let Kabuto do what he did.”

Sai looked confused. “You condone it?”

Naruto grinned. “It because Sasuke is like me. He has a bond with Ino and doesn’t want her to leave him. Maybe that’s the only way he could think of to keep her by him.”

Sai looked to both of them. “So, against Orochimaru and Kabuto you—”

“I don’t care who I have to fight!” Naruto said in a loud, determined voice. “If he rips out my arms, I’ll kick him to death! If he rips off my legs off, I’ll bite him to death! If he rips my head off, I’ll stare him to death! And if he gouges out my eyes, I’ll curse him from beyond the grave! Even if I’m torn to shreds, I’m taking Sasuke and Ino back from Orochimaru and Kabuto!”

Ino would have stayed in her blissful state of unconsciousness if not for the fact that another side of her brain was screaming at her to wake up. She struggled with the pull darkness, very slowly coming to. She had to squint her eyes for her vision to come into focus, but even that was hard to do. And it was giving her a headache. Dumb Kabuto…had to do this to me…keep me from them…

She lay there for a few minutes before summoning all her willpower and forcing her body up in shaky arms. Her head swam but she closed her eyes and let her senses orientate before opening the blue orbs. Her belly did some flip flops before roiling in protest. She put a hand to her mouth in case some of her breakfast came lurching forward. What kind of sedative did Kabuto give her to make her so weak and nauseous? She was going to kill him when she got her chance!

 Although she was still wobbly, she managed to shuffle to her door only to find it locked tight. Cursing she struggled with the handle in hope that it would miraculously open. No such luck. Turning Ino also found that her bag was nowhere to be found. She was truly trapped. No weapons, no way to get out…unless…Ino put a hand to her arm, against her seal. Kabuto wasn’t any where to be found or he was too far away to do anything to her. Orochimaru was busy with Sasuke so he didn’t have control of it. If she used it they would know soooo, she would have to move fast. She would have to avoid Yasuo and find Rei and little Mamoru. And find her blasted bag!

With a bitter sigh, she brought her hands together in a loud clap and braced her feet flat against the ground. Her own chakra burst forth with raw power. It glowed bright blue against the sickly orange light from the low burning candle and clay walls. She focused it around her arms and hands. “Summoning jutsu!” She felt comforted when she felt the coolness of the smooth handle of her scythe. The walls were enforced rather well to keep cave-ins from happening. But dirt was dirt and water made dirt into mud. This escape was going to take a lot of chakra. Even though it was easier to use her water elements with her scythe now, it wasn’t saying much. She still had to struggle pretty hard with it and she couldn’t use it as often as she wanted.

Soon, her blue chakra was fading into white. Her cursed seal crawled over her skin, burning away all of her original chakra. Once she felt it was strong enough, she took a step back and tightened her hold on the handle. With all her mustered strength, she brought her fang blade down the carved clay wall. Again and again until she saw that the walls begin to crack and crumble.  Her scythe disappeared into raindrops and she kicked at the wall until a hole broke free.  By the time she reached the long square hallway, her clothes and hair were streaked with red clay.

She had to move fast. She was sure Orochimaru and Kabuto felt that power. Glancing around to get her bearings didn’t do much for her since she didn’t know where Kabuto put her so she guessed and took the left. Rows and rows of doors and empty rooms blazed past her, still she blindly ran. Her heart pounded in her chest and she thought her steps sounded too loud down the echoing corridors. Please, let me find a place familiar she prayed rounding another corner, into the waiting arms of Orochimaru.

She screamed in surprise and began struggling in his hands to get away from his cold hands. “I thought I felt you girl.” He said softly tightening his hold on her. “Stop.” He hissed. Something dark and paralyzing shocked her very soul at his order. It took her mere seconds to realize it was his killer intent. Fear gripped her, numbed her and she stopped her struggling instantly. Her breaths were shallow because she was too afraid to make any kind of sound. “That’s a good girl. Did you lose your way?” He prodded. Ino’s eyes searched his rapidly and she gulped at what she saw and slowly nodded. “And you were trying to find Sasuke right?” She nodded. Orochimaru’s hands loosened around her shoulders. “I’ll show you the way. He needs some healing anyways.” He let her go and Ino obediently followed behind, shaking. Her will was begging her to run the opposite direction, to get as far away from Orochimaru as possible. Her body didn’t listen.

She learned that Kabuto didn’t put her too far away from Sasuke’s room. “Kabuto. Where is that boy? He can’t even control one mere girl.” He gave her a frustrated look over his shoulder. “He thinks I don’t know that he’s been experimenting with my seal, but I know. I always knew. Those AB types are so hard to understand.” Orochimaru mused stopping in front of Sasuke’s door. “Make sure he rests well Miss Yamanaka.” He knocked politely at the door and Sasuke called them in with a weary voice. “I thought you could use some company. You seem to be in a bad mood.”

In the darkness Ino’s wide blue orbs met Sasuke’s blood red eyes. She was nervous all of the sudden with the way he regarded her. Maybe a little afraid too. The door closed behind her, leaving them in darkness. It was a tense moment for her. Ino’s fingers fiddled behind her back, but then she realized what she was doing and stopped. She would not be intimidated by them. “Orochimaru said you needed some healing?” Ino was proud that her voice was clear and strong.

Sasuke sighed. “He’s being creepily fussy today.” He murmured. Ino’s lips lifted in amusement at his comment. “A small cut and he’s clucking like a mother hen.” At that, Ino giggled easing some of the tension that still hung in the air. Ino knew Sasuke’s room by heart and she walked to a table and lit a candle. She saw his arm bandage and gently she unwound it. It was a deep cut but nothing serious, she thought with a little frown. Sasuke caught her wrist just as her hands began to glow green.

“I don’t want this kind of healing.” He told her. Ino heart sped up. She knew what he was talking about.

“It’s just a small cut.” She told him breathlessly, but her body was already responding to the stroke of his thumb on her inner wrist. She allowed Sasuke to pull her closer to him. His arms wrapped around her waist.

“So?” His warm husky breath caressed her bare belly. Ino’s breath hiked in her throat when she felt his equally warm lips roam across her flesh. Gods he was making her forget was she was planning to do! Her mind was beginning to fuzz into dark, mind shattering desire and it was all his fault! Why did he have to make her will crumble like a dry cookie? Why did his skillful tongue have to drive her insane with aching need? One second she was being scared witless by Orochimaru, the next she was straddling Sasuke with eager haste.

The bed squeaked loudly under them. Only the most necessary clothes were removed and the first few buttons of her shirt were undone. Ino kept her speed slow and deliberate, loving the feel of him hard and compliant under her. Her hands were braced on his chest, their lips sealed together. She worked herself into an orgasm, tapping into her medical chakra just as she was about to explode. Her whole chakra network was still recovering from using her cursed seal, but she still had untapped medical chakra. A green halo enveloped her body and she pulled back from reaching her peak. Her ears buzzed, her eyes drooped as the chakra drained from her body. Sasuke gripped her hips, arching under her as her medical chakra laced itself through his body, fading his bruises and mending his wounds.  She was exhausted and collapsed on top of him, breathing hard.

“I can’t finish.” She panted. Sasuke slid a hand under her head and one around her waist before he rolled on top of her. He buried his face in the crook of her neck, sucking at the sensitive flesh as he finished for them. Her knees clamped around his hips as lighting pleasure danced through her blood, down her thighs right to her toes. Her whole body throbbed in the aftermath, shooting down her legs.

Their breathing settled and they turned to one another. She rested her head on his arm. His eyes were dark now, softer and heavy lidded. It’s not fair, she thought sleepily. He’s making me want to stay.

Sasuke pulled her closer so that she was cuddled under his chin. “You matter to me.” He murmured in her hair. Ino smiled. An odd thing to say. He never said things like that to her before. It was always something she just knew. Something she saw in his eyes and smile.

“You matter to me too.” That was easier to say then ‘I love you’. Sasuke would probably run for the hills if she uttered something like that. Not that she never said it. She would mouth it against his lips sometimes when  they finished kissing or mouth it against his bare chest after they made love. He didn’t even notice, but she didn’t mind. It was a secret she loved keeping.

Just as she was about to fall into oblivion, the door creaked slowly open. She tensed and Sasuke’s eyes flashed red, its three tomoe spinning alive.

“Who’s there?” Sasuke asked, removing his hand from her waist and putting a finger to his lips.

“You found me out?” Came the recognizable voice of Sai. She felt the hum of Sasuke’s anger ripple across her sensors in warning. Ino didn’t take her eyes off of his. “To late though, I already have the advantage here.” Ino looked over Sasuke’s shoulder to see two black snakes hovering over them, ready to strike when given the command.

“What’s your purpose?” Sasuke asked in a silky tone. A dangerous one that made her insides pool with dark desire.

“Danzo’s goal is your death.” Sai said. Ino’s head began to buzz and she shut her eyes tightly. No, not now. Don’t make me pass out now! Itachi’s Sharingan cast was rebelling against her mental blocks. Please not yet! I can’t! Her head began to ache and buzz. She violently fought to control her mind. It was painful, so painful she wanted to stop and let it take over. She felt Sasuke press his finger against her forehead. She snapped her eyes open when it stopped. What did he do? She thought with rapid curiously. Gazing at his concerned face she wondered if he even knew what was happening to her.

“I am here to take you back to Leaf.” Sai’s voice brought her back to the pressing moment they were in. She didn’t know how Sasuke stopped the fall into Itachi’s Sharingan but  she would have to think about it later. “Of course, I originally came to kill you. But now…I want to protect that bond Naruto and Sakura speak of.”

“Bonds?” Sasuke’s eyes hardened to red rubies. Sai’s snakes hissed menacingly at them. “You disturbed my sleep for that?” Ino pulled from his embrace and sat up in fear of his exploding fury. Her back hit the wall and Sai’s snakes wrapped around her and Sasuke. She wheezed out a squeak and closed her eyes as Sasuke made a familiar seal. The following explosion was loud and it felt like her ear drums had exploded. Sai’s snakes splattered into sticky ink, staining her clothes. She barely noticed Sasuke’s arms around her waist when he jumped from the billowing fire and smoke. She was in a daze, still reeling from the explosion. The air around her was blanked in dust, but it was cool and blew across her face. She felt the sun on her back and her bare shoulders. Sasuke had a steel grip on her arm, keeping her securely by his side. His whole body was vibrating with irritation and anger, she didn’t dare to move. Not that she could put up much of a fight and try to escape. Her chakra was drained and so was her body.

“What are you really after?” Ino wearily lifted her eyes from the ground and peered into the large crater Sasuke made. Down below she saw a beautiful and relieving sight of pink and red. Even Sakura’s screaming angry voice made Ino feel warm and sad at the same time. “How many times are you going to stab us in the back—”

“Sakura huh?” Sasuke called down instantly bringing Sakura’s attention to them. Even from her point, Ino could see that her pink haired friend was pale, jade eyes wide with disbelief as she stared at her old teammate. Sakura took in the sight of them both, but her eyes strayed back to Sasuke.

“Sakur—” Naruto ran from the ruined hall and slid to a stop next to Sakura, looking equally pale and disbelieving. Ino felt tears sting her eyes at the sight of him. His golden hair and blue eyes stood out more than ever now. And he was taller and leaner. His outfit had matured with his looks. While she disliked the color orange all together, Ino was glad that he kept it. Naruto was Naruto after all.

“Naruto.” Sasuke murmured to him. She could feel curiously curl around her. It mixed with Sasuke’s chakra. But she also felt anger and disdain as well. “So you’re here as well. I assume Kakashi’s with you as well.” Sasuke looked to the opening, so did Ino. But instead of seeing a lanky frame with silver hair, she saw someone else. He looked to be the same as Asuma. Plain faced with a headband helmet. Hid hair was dark brown like Yasuo’s. His eyes were big and dark, a little gaunt looking.

“Sorry. I’m not Kakashi. I am here in his place. And the new Team Kakashi is taking you back to Leaf.” His voice was mild and commanding in a meek way.

Sasuke snorted softly, talking in everyone below them with a critical eye. “Team Kakashi?”

Sai reached for his tanto strapped to his back and held it out. Sakura turned to him, face red with building rage. “Sai! I knew it! You‘re—“ Sasuke interrupted, stunning her into silence.

“So he’s my replacement?” Sasuke mused. “Another loser joins the ranks.” He finished with a soft scoff, eye uninterested. Ino knew she should say something, but held back. This was a Team 7 reunion. She didn’t have a place to say anything. Her relationship with Sasuke was different then his relationship with his team. “He said something about wanting to protect my ‘bond’ with Naruto.” He humorlessly mused.

Sai clenched his jaw. “I don’t know much about you, but there must be a reason why Naruto and Sakura came all this way just for you. There must be a reason why the girl wanted to live with enemies just to be with you. They’re going all out to keep their bonds with you from being severed.” Ino blinked. Sai knew about her? Why she was here? Did Lady Tsunade finally tell them why she had been gone for so long?

“I still don’t understand, but you should Sasuke!” Sai called out. Sasuke sighed, his grip on her arm lessening but not letting go.

“Oh, I do. That’s why I severed them!” Sasuke finished harshly. Sakura and Naruto visibly flinched and Ino lowered her eyes. Sasuke…you lie so easily. No matter what he is, no matter where he was, he could never completely blot them from his life. He wanted to let go of everything to get his revenge, but she knew. It wasn’t that simple. Ino bit back a whimper when his blunt nails dung into her arm. She put her own hand on his, breaking him from whatever tormenting thoughts he had disappeared into. His eyes snapped onto hers, a frightening obsession burning in them.

“I have a different ‘bond’. A bond of hatred with my brother. Other bonds merely confuse you and distract you from your greatest desires, and the emotions that matter.”

You matter to me…

“Why…” Ino’s gaze wandered to Naruto. “Why didn’t you kill me?! Is this your idea of cutting off bonds Sasuke?” The battle at the Valley of the End, Ino thought. Years ago she got Naruto to talk about what happened between he and Sasuke. Sasuke wanted power so badly but he didn’t kill Naruto that day when he could have. Awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan was at his fingertips but he didn’t take it.

“The reason is simple. It’s not that I couldn’t cut off my bonds with you. The idea of doing what he said in order to become more powerful mad me sick.” Sasuke lowered his head a little. The ends of his hair lifted in gentle blowing winds.

Naruto studied him. “What are you talking about?”

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. “I don’t owe you any explanations. All I’ll say about back then was that I let you live on a whim.” Ino’s arm twitched and she glanced to the right sharply. Kabuto…was close by. Panic flared to life and she grabbed at her arm, biting her lip. Sasuke gave her a quick glance before letting go of her arm and flying off the ledge with half a body flicker.

“Sasuke!” She hissed in alarm. But she couldn’t move. Her seal was burning hotly against her palm.

“Come to think of it, wasn’t your dream to become Hokage?” Sasuke asked, arm across Naruto’s neck, his hand resting on his shoulder. “You should’ve spent you time training instead of wasting it running around chasing me. Right Naruto?”

Ino felt Sasuke gather chakra around him. Her eyes widened. He wouldn’t! Would he? “And this time, I’m going to kill you on a whim.” The sound of Sasuke’s Kusanagi Sword slipping from it sheath made her gather what little chakra she had recovered. She pushed against Kabuto’s control.

“Someone who can’t save even one friend isn’t fit to become Hokage. Right Sasuke?” Naruto asked sadly, warily. She summoned chakra to her feet and ran down the crater. She stumbled over some rocks and righted herself just as Sakura cried out Sasuke’s name and Sai moved to intercept Sasuke’s sword.

“Stop!” Ino screamed. Sasuke glared at her and Ino skidded to a stop when a curtain of lightning fell around her. He put her in a Chidori Cage!? Sai had stopped Sasuke’s attack and Ino saw a little smug smile twitch to life.

“That was the correct way to block my attack.” Sasuke commented. The new team captain tried to restrain Sasuke after Naruto and Sai teamed up to retaliate. Ino looked on amazed as he did a Wood Element. The First Hokage was the only one to use wood elemental jutsus. Why was he able to? Was he a descendent or something? But Sasuke wasn’t one to be taken down so easily. His Chidori crawled over his body in a protective way, stunning everyone but her who saw it.  

“Naruto!” Ino called out in concern when he fell to the ground, twitching from the Chidori current. Sai was hurting too. Then Sakura came out of nowhere, charging with blazing fists. Literally, her fist were blazing blue with chakra. Sasuke readied himself, twisted his blade and charged at her as well. Ino put a horrified hand over her mouth. Why was he doing this? Was this the same Sasuke who kissed her so lovingly today? The one who told her that she mattered to him? His chakra was even colder, and his eyes…they were nothing but emotionless red embers burning with malice and determination.

Sasuke had impaled the older man, whom she heard Sakura call Capitan Yamato, to a fallen rock. His sword had a crackling Chidori current down it. “My Kusanagi Sword has a special blade.” Sasuke told him. Sakura turned to her, eyes heartbreakingly pleading.

“Ino can’t you stop him?”

Ino shook her head. “He won’t listen to me! I don’t know why he—” She stopped when she felt demon chakra touch her sensors. Sasuke and the others felt it as well because they looked at Naruto’s bowed figure in growing dread. Sasuke just looked curious. He was staring hard at Naruto, his three tomoe whirling fast. Seconds and then minutes ticked by and suddenly she couldn’t feel demon chakra anymore. What happened? It was bubbling to life and then…nothing.

Sai came to and Naruto lifted himself from the ground on shaky limbs. Captain Yamato took his chance and pushed Sasuke’s sword from his chest with a wood jutsu, forcing him back. Then he roared a wooden wall jutsu, trapping them both under it. Her Chidori Cage fell away and Sasuke grabbed her by the waist and propelled them from the trap. She screamed and grunted when they landed back where they had first been, above the group on the ledge of the crater. Her ribs felt bruised, and he dropped her on the ground. She landed less than gracefully on all fours, rubbing her painful side where he dug his fingers into her ribs.

“Why don’t you get it?!” Naruto cried up to them. “Orochimaru is going to take over your body!”

Sasuke raised a brow. “If that happens, then it happens. You still think like a kid Naruto. My revenge means everything to me. As long as I can exact it, I don’t care what happened to me or anyone else. Here’s the situation. Right now, neither I nor Orochimaru are a match for Itachi. If sacrificing my body to Orochimaru is the only way to kill him, I’d give up my life a million times over.” Sasuke told him with stinging bitterness. It stunned them all into silence.

Captain Yamato stood. “Enough talk. Naruto, Sakura, I wished I wouldn’t have to hurt him in front of you. But now I have to get serious. He’s the same as Orochimaru, a rouge ninja. He must not roam free.”

Tch, get serious my ass. Ino thought gritting her teeth as she got to her feet. That was like asking for a quick death. She didn’t know how skilled Captain Yamato was, but she was sure that Sasuke would hold his own. At least long enough for Orochimaru to find them. And it’s not like she could help them. She was as weak as a baby and Sasuke knew it. In her mind she wondered if it was his plan to tire her out. Using that healing jutsu on a little cut was too much. And she had to fall for it. Not to mention, Kabuto was even closer now and he was holding her in place without laying a single demented finger on her.

Sasuke stuck his sword in the ground beside her. “I’ve had enough of you all.” He went through some fast hand seals. “This is the end.” A huge amount of chakra gathered inside of him, it made her skin tighten. He raised his hand, but then she felt him, even before he appeared. Orochimaru caught Sasuke’s wrist with a disapproving frown on his pale face.

“You’re not using that jutsu Sasuke.” He scolded him.

Sasuke scowled. “Let go.”

Ino took a step forward instinctively only to have Kabuto restrain her from behind. He appeared just as suddenly as Orochimaru.  He had her by the shoulders, pressing his hand against her seal to calm the pain with his own chakra. She leaned into the relief he was giving her, despising that she was even doing so.

“Hey now, your still using that foul tone with Lord Orochimaru?” He lectured in a big brother kind of way.

“I see no reason to stop.” He shot back, annoyed.

“No reason? Sasuke are you serious?” Ino asked him. He ignored her.

“You know what Akatsuki is up to, don’t you?” Kabuto asked. Sasuke narrowed his eyes and his mouth tightened. She had no idea what they were talking about. What the hell is Akatsuki? “That’s why we want Leaf to help eliminate them. Even if it’s just one.” Kabuto reasoned with him.

“What are you guys talking about?” Ino snapped. Kabuto tightened his hold on her.

“If the other Akatsuki members interfere, then you’ll have more trouble talking your revenge right?” Kabuto blithely continued like she didn’t even speak. Annoying man.

Sasuke looked down below as his former team before looking back to Kabuto. “That’s a pathetic reason.”

Kabuto smiled a little and shrugged behind her. “It’s an opportunity to improve your chances, even if only by one percent. Agreed?”

Sasuke contemplated what Kabuto said before lowering his arm. “Let’s go.” Orochimaru said. Ino felt his chakra lick at her feet and Kabuto let her go. They were going to transport? Damn it no!

“Sasuke! Please!” She turned to him, eyes watery with panic. Sasuke grasped her by the arms. “Please. I can’t!” She begged. “Let me go.” She pleaded. It seemed time stopped forever as he stared at her. She saw the conflict in his eyes. Still, Orochimaru’s chakra was crawling up her legs. She stiffened in shock when he leaned in and kissed her in front of everyone.

“It’s just this one time Ino.” He murmured against her lips. “When we meet again, I won’t ever let you leave me.” He told her backing away. Ino looked down and saw Orochimaru’s flaming chakra fade from her feet.

“Sasuke!” Kabuto protested reaching out for her. “Ino!” But she stepped away and his outreaching hand was swallowed by the transport jutsu.

“We’re even now Ino.” Sasuke told her before he too faded from her sight. The wind rushed around her, whipping her long blonde hair around her face. Slowly, her heart slowed down and she sank to her knees. She felt scared all of the sudden. She was alone, away from the constant presence of Kabuto and Orochimaru. Away from Sasuke…

Her gaze moved below her to see Naruto had fallen to his knees as well. His body was shaking with tears. Ino’s eyes watered as well and she hugged herself. She couldn’t be like this, she thought, wiping her face quickly with her fists. Steeling herself, she stood and picked her way back down to them. Captain Yamato and Sai watched her warily, but when Sakura saw her she ran. They caught each other in a tight hug. More tears threatened to spill free but Ino closed her eyes and halted them.

“I’m sorry Sakura.” Ino whispered to her. Sakura trembled a little in her embrace. “He wouldn’t listen to me.”

“He’s always been hard headed.” Sakura muttered with sadness. A laugh caught in Ino throat. So true. They broke apart, looking at one another. Even though she had been gone for five months, Sakura looked different then when she last saw her. Naruto’s sorrowful sniffles had them both looking down at his defeat. Sakura wiped her eyes with her fingers.

“Crying…crying won’t bring Sasuke back. I’m here too. We’ll get strong together.” Sakura said, closing her jade eyes. Sakura’s words had Naruto lifting his head from the ground. Sai straightened his body.

“We have about six months left right?” He asked Ino. She nodded. “And a team of three is better than two.” His handsome pale face folded into a forced smile. “Besides, I’m pretty strong myself.”

Naruto offered them a wobbly smile. “Thanks.” Once he stood, Ino ran and hugged him as well. “I’m glad you’re okay Ino. We didn’t know about you being here, but I’m glad we found you.”

Ino softly giggled. “I’m glad you found me too. It’s been a long time since we last saw one another.” She stepped back, a flush a pleasure on her cheeks at the sight of her old friend. “Naruto, don’t feel bad about what happened today.” Ino looked guiltily away. “I’ve been with him constantly for five months and even I couldn’t sway his resolve.”

Naruto’s eyes darkened with sympathy and sadness. “He’s gotten a lot stronger.”

Ino lowered her eyes. “Yeah, I know.”

“Well, what an interesting day.” They turned to Capitan Yamato who dusted the dirt from his clothes. “We should head back to Leaf as soon as possible. Do you have things to gather Ino?” He asked.

Ino’s eyes widened. “Oh gods, Rei and Mamoru!” She gasped and jogged back into the base. They didn’t take them did they? Where was Yasuo? The others followed her until she reached Rei’s door. Capitan Yamato opened it for her. Ino sighed in relief at Rei’s peeved expression when he saw her.

“With so much commotion going on outside, it a wonder the kid didn’t wake up. What the hell happened?” Rei demanded. Ino’s lips quirked.

“I have a lot to tell you.”

Once she gathered all of her things, she met up with the rest of the group outside. She looked speculatively around for a familiar head of brown hair, but Yasuo was nowhere to be seen. She asked Rei but he told her he didn’t see or hear anything from him. She was half expecting him to mount an ambush or something once they left the base.

Team Kakashi regarded Rei with wary interest. Ino eased the tension by telling them how they met and who he was. It was a surprise that Sai recognized him. Rei said he was ANBU, but Ino never heard of Root ANBU.

“There a separate division from the ANBU we know.” Sakura explained when they settled for camp. Little Mamoru was wide awake and eating nosily in her arms and the men decided to go look for wood and to secure their positions. She and Sakura were left at camp to prepare dinner. “Apparently they’re run by a guy named Da—mlf!” Ino’s eyes widened and she slapped a hand over Sakura’s mouth to stop her from saying that name. She banished the name from her mind quickly as soon as her brain began to shake.

“Don’t tell me here!” Ino hissed. “Itachi’s…” She trailed off. Sakura’s eyes widened and she nodded in quick understanding. Ino removed her hand and sighed, tipping her head back.

“Tired?” Sakura asked softly.

“You must have so many things to ask me.” Ino whispered wearily. So many things to say, so many secrets to tell. She opened her eyes and stared at the darkening skies. “But I can’t…not until…”

“You see Lady Tsunade. I know.” Sakura finished for her. Ino looked down to her friend. Sakura looked so very sad and tired. She could only guess what they were feeling. They had been training for this moment. Looking forward to it with eagerness and Sasuke…Sasuke just broke all their expectations. In a really really bad way.

“So what do you think? My first S-ranked mission, success or failure?” Ino asked with a little smile, not letting it reach her eyes. Sakura sighed and hugged her knees.

“Don’t know.” She said in a light tone.

Ino nodded and placed Mamoru over her shoulder to burp him. “I don’t know either.”