Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Closer ❯ Chapter 33

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

It was like feeling a million butterflies in her stomach the moment she felt…him. Or rather what was left of his residual chakra. “We’re on the right path.” She told her team as they flew through the trees, circling around the outskirts of Honey Kiss Spring. She could feel Sasuke’s team as well and quickly blocked out her chakra signal, ordering the others to do it as well. Karin would be avidly keeping track of Sasuke’s chakra. Even Ino knew she would mostly likely feel them approaching and try and warn Sasuke.

Ino had her team stay out of her range. “There!” Choji pointed into the distance to a rather large hideout that was almost reclaimed by the forest. The forest was infringing on what little of the building could left to be seen. The trees grew larger and larger the further they went into the forest.

“They’re most likely in the larger dome building.” Shikamaru said, taking the lead. She and Choji followed close behind. The air around her made her skin prickle and it was getting harder and harder to breath because powerful, concentrated chakra that saturated the air. She felt Sasuke’s cold, hard chakra mix with Itachi’s hot, tightly controlled chakra. Some of the massive trees were cracking with fire, but then her team came to an automatic halt when something new pierced the air.

Ino squinted into the distance, clinging to her tree. She could hear their fight reach them here, but even she knew better than to let her paralyzing worry and killing curiosity take them any closer. The bright red and orange stain of fire turned black.

“What is that?” Choji asked them. Smoke billowed into the air and burned her eyes. Fine ash was sticking to her sweaty skin.

“Fire? Black fire?” Shikamaru choked out. Ino leaned forward. Black flames? Was that even possible? Maybe it was a genjutsu or something because she never seen anything like that in her life. The hellish unnatural flames circled the larger dome leaving it impenetrable.

“How are we going to get through?” She asked her team, biting her lip so hard that she tasted blood.

“Let’s get closer.” Shikamaru instructed.

“What? That’s not safe at all! We’re talking about Sasuke and Itachi Uchiha!” Choji blanched in fear.

“There was nothing safe about this mission to begin with!” Shikamaru snapped at him. “We have to get closer!”

Ino hid a proud grin. Ever since Asuma’s close call with death, he wasn’t so afraid to take risks anymore. Even though Choji looked like he was about to wet himself, Ino knew he wouldn’t let either one of them down. It would just take a little time for him to get his bearings and push through his fear.

“Come on.” She urged him with a pat of assurance before leaving to catch up with Shikamaru.

The closer they got to the battle arena, the more her sensors went haywire. The building was crumbling from the top in. They settled on a large tree, contemplating the dancing flames.

“I don’t feel any heat from them.” She observed pushing her blonde bangs behind her ear before reaching out her hand to feel the air.

“It’s because they’re so hot, they’re cold. If these are real flames, then they are very dangerous. Have you ever notice the bottom of a fire? How the flame is white, then blue, then red and orange. White flames are dangerous because they’re the hottest. Imagine what black flames can do.” Shikamaru said.

“We can tunnel under them…somehow.” Ino said with a grimace. They circled to find a spot where the black flames were the lowest and most spread out. They got the closest they could before Choji told their team to move back. She and Shikamaru gave him ample room to perform his Spiked-Meat-Roll Tank jutsu. When he was finished, he looked a little sick.

“Need some air?” Shikamaru patted his back with a little smile. Ino’s inside clenched and she turned her horror stricken eyes to the sky. She only felt that power once in her life. When she was recovering from her cursed seal ordeal, Orochimaru had let Sasuke bring her to his training sessions so he could keep her away from Kabuto. Orochimaru gave her a kindly smile, before asking Sasuke to do a certain attack. At first, she thought it would be one of his perfected Fireball Jutsus, but the resulting jutsu was far far far more powerful than a little fireball jutsu. It was a Fireball Dragon and to this day, her ears still echoed with the loud roar of it. But that was just the beginning of Sasuke’s ultimate jutsu. It was same jutsu he had wanted to use on Team Kakashi when they faced off a year ago. The one Orochimaru angrily stopped him from performing.

She grabbed Choji and Shikamaru’s arm just when the clouds had began to gather. “What’s with the sudden weather change?” Choji asked as she dragged them away from their newly dug hole.

“We have to get away from here!” She cried to them just as lighting began to flicker to life the sky.

“What is it? Ino!” Shikamaru pulled his arm from hers, impatiently waiting for an answer.

“It’s Kirin! Sasuke’s going to use Kirin!” When they were safe enough away, they all stood and watched Kirin in action. Her skin tightened at the power of lightning nature crackling from the storm Sasuke had conjured. Her ears trembled with the echoing thunder and Sasuke’s Lightning Dragon screeched so loud that she actually cringed against Choji and covered her ears. If Itachi gets hit with that then it was all over! No one survived Kirin! She began panicking so much that she was actually shaking and ringing her hands. Choji and Shikamaru looked on with bewildered amazement; the light of Sasuke’s lightning flickering over their disbelieving faces.

She braced herself against the boys when Kirin struck, sending huge chunks of concrete and wood flying from the huge dome and the ionic energy from the air was sapped. The remaining energy washed over them, hitting them in the face and ripping the breath from their lungs.

Was this the end then? Was their trip all in vain? “Ino! Can you feel if Itachi is alive?” Shikamaru shouted against the roar of the wind. She managed to steady her palms together and reach out with her sensors. But there was just too much chakra and natural energy lingering in the air that it was hard to find anything! Even Sasuke’s chakra was hard to pinpoint. But then her sensors suddenly vibrated in warning. Itachi’s calm and steady chakra that she was familiar with multiplied so suddenly in power that she jerked her hands apart with a gasping cry. She didn’t need to tell her team because she felt them tense at the power as well.

They unconsciously moved forward tree by tree until they saw a clear view of something emerge from the ground like a monolith. The clouds parted like the heaven were highlighting Itachi’s true power. He had survived Kirin and his power dominated the ruins, overpowered Sasuke’s. It looked like a flaming skeleton and stringy muscles slithered over the bare bones. From Sasuke’s side, snakes…snakes and an all too familiar chakra signature as well.

“Orochimaru.” She whispered in dread. But Sasuke had killed him right? How could he still be alive?

Both the mammoth beings moved closer to one another, anchored by their respective mediums. Itachi’s flaming being cut off a head of Orochimaru’s Eight-Headed Serpent Jutsu, but then the reaming seven snakes all converged on Itachi’s flaming giant.

“This is the best chance we’re going to get! Let’s go!” Shikamaru directed them, dropping from the trees and running to the hole Choji had made earlier. Shikamaru and Choji dove in first and helped her up after. She shakily followed close behind, aware of the happenings just beyond a small vibrating hill. Three more snake heads were lopped off and fell around Itachi’s flaming solider until there was one left. Her team found a good vantage point and watched as the remaining snake tilted its massive head back with its mouth wide open. It gurgled something in its throat. It was Orochimaru. Ugh, a naked Orochimaru. Oh how she would have wished to be spared such a grotesque sight! She wanted to gouge her eyes out!

“So he wasn’t truly dead after all.” Shikamaru said with a frown.

“What do you mean?” Choji asked, holding Ino by the shoulders.

“I don’t know, but I think Orochimaru kept living through Sasuke’s cursed seal. Chakra is a part of someone and Orochimaru somehow lived through his chakra. That’s what I think.”

Ino touched her arm, a new wave of degradation hitting her. So Kabuto is living inside of this seal and she was carrying little part of him like a parasite. She dug her fingers into her arm, imagining Kabuto feeling her self inflicted pain. She felt dirty all over again, just like the day she received it.

“Ugh, did he puke things out of his mouth often?” Choji asked, a look of total disgust when Orochimaru belched out a sword. The two had some kind of short conversation before Itachi’s burning giant swung its sword and then opened a sealing jar, sucking Orochimaru into it. Ino couldn’t help but smirk at the Snake Sannin’s dumbfounded expression. His Eight-Headed Serpent jutsu poofed away from the rubble.

“Itachi…is amazingly strong.” Shikamaru commented, a hint of hero worship in his tone. Ino nodded in agreement. Itachi’s chakra wavered and his flaming being had some of its armor peeling off until it was only flesh. Or at least, Ino thought it was flesh.

This was it, she thought charging ahead. She put a comforting hand on the thick red scroll strapped and cuddled against her lower back. Her eyes watered when she saw Itachi smack Sasuke back with a well placed hit. Sasuke rolled on the ground before summoning some strength and getting to his feet, only to have Itachi back him against a crumbling wall of concrete.  Still, Itachi advanced on him, his hands bloody and his eyes dull with pain and exhaustion. For a tense second, she thought that Itachi was going for Sasuke’s eyes, Choji’s story about the two brothers and the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan still fresh in her mind. Instead, Ino watched silently as Itachi tapped his fingers on Sasuke’s forehead in a purely affectionate kind of way. The way an older brother would fondly tease his little brother.  Sasuke’s eyes widened, looking in surprise at Itachi. Then Itachi’s flaming giant roared and disappeared and Ino held a hand to her mouth to stop the sound of her sob, eyes blurring with swimming tears as Itachi fell to the ground, unmoving.

Ino couldn’t move at first, only held her trembling stomach with a hand over her mouth. She didn’t notice how the calm black flames sparked back to life like new winds blew into them. She faintly felt the rain on her shoulders, soaking her in an instant. She could smell blood in the air and Sasuke looked like he was crying bloody tears, like his whole world had ended before he too, fell next to Itachi.

“Ino.” Someone squeezed her arm. “Ino!” It was Shikamaru. He looked at her with heartfelt concern. She didn’t need further prodding. She took the red scroll from her back and ran to them both. She checked Sasuke first, her fingers trembling over his fevered face, down his neck to feel the steady strum of his pulse against her cold fingers. It was just like him, to flourish against all odds, she thought, leaning down and kissing him on his forehead while she stroked his cheek.

“Ino.” Shikamaru voice dragged her from Sasuke and she turned her attention to Itachi.

“Is he dead?” Choji asked.

Ino quieted her thoughts while her medical chakra roamed through his body. He was almost gone. She healed necessary organs, just enough to keep him alive long enough. Choji used his multi-size jutsu on his hand to shield her from the rain. She quickly rolled out the red scroll and allowed her cursed seal to emerge. It glowed brightly in the dreary rain.

“Look! He’s trying to say something!” Choji exclaimed. Ino’s eyes flew to Itachi’s face. His bloody lips were moving and she leaned in close to hear what he was trying to say. Then, her heart faltered and she jerked back incredulously.

“W-what?” He didn’t say what she thought he said right? “Tell me. Tell me again!” Again, his lips moved and she leaned down, clutching his sweaty shirt. “Where?” She demanded, heart going a mile a minute. Reiko!

“Shikamaru!” She screamed at him and told him where Itachi put Reiko. How dare he put him so close to this battle! She was tempted for a second to just let him die! Shikamaru raced off, leaving only she and Choji. She violently forced all other thoughts from her head (even those of her beloved son) before she bit her thumb and ran it across Giro Tendo’s name. Like Shoji, he was only in his underwear and Ino felt her guilt take hold. Kabuto did this to them just to punish me. It would have been better if he just killed them instead of doing gods knew what to the gentle man-child who would blush as red as a cherry.

“Giro, I’m so sorry!” She whispered to him, cradling his face in her hands. “But I need you do one last thing for me.”

He moaned. “It hurts Ino. Make it st-stop hurting.”

She nodded, tears streaming down her face. “I will. Promise.” She soothed him. She dipped her fingers in the blood that was dribbling down Itachi’s chin and coated Giro’s lips and the tip of his tongue with it. After, she brought her hands together, concentrating on feeling Giro’s and Itachi’s heartbeats. She had to slow Giro’s to meet Itachi’s, but they eventually synced until the sound pounded loudly in her mind. Her chakra drained rapidly from her coils and she made some hand seals to summon the Death God. She looked up expectantly at his floating personage staring down at her in frightening recognition. She forced herself to close her eyes, sending a little prayer to him. She felt him stroked her soul once more and she shivered from the warmth and pleasure. People thought death was a harsh and cold thing, but it wasn’t. It was peace and acceptance.

Accepted. Shinigami crossed his arms and both bodies jerked upward and took their final breaths. Shinigami’s light danced from her and she felt dizzy from the whole ordeal.

“Giro…thank you.” She watched for the first time as Giro’s features twisted and shimmered into that of Itachi Uchiha’s. His whole hulking body morphed like clay, molding into Itachi’s replica. “Choji, take him.” She sat back on her knees for a second before crawling to Sasuke. She could feel a hoard of people converge on them and knew Naruto and the rest would soon be here. They had to move fast and get Itachi out of here before they were discovered.

Reiko was confused and scared. Itachi had told him a disturbing story and told him that Sasuke was his little brother before kidnapping him and locking him in this building with a silent Aio. He screamed and demanded answers from the cat, but he was ever vigilant and kept his whiskered mouth closed. Then, he heard loud noises outside and felt the ground shudder beneath his feet. There was a battle going on outside and he didn’t have a way out to witness it. He had a good idea who was fighting. He felt Sasuke’s chakra saturate his sensors.

“Is that Sasuke and Itachi?” He asked Aio. All the cat did was nod and curl up in a ball to nap. Nap! Ugh! Dumb cat! So he sat close to the door and crossed his legs and closed his eyes. He let his sensors feel the battle. He was so lost in the whole thing that when the door was finally opened by some unknown person, he cried out for Aio.

In the darkness, he saw a tall lanky guy with a spiky ponytail silhouetted against the dreary grey skies. Aio jumped defensively in front of him, teeth barred with a menacing hiss to keep the intruder at bay.

“Aio I presume?” His voice was almost…lazy and that confused Reiko. He peered curiously at the shadowed man, his fear, scattering.

“Who are you?” Reiko demanded. Aio didn’t back down from his attack stance. His black fur was sticking on ends.

“Ah, you sound just like her. Same attitude and everything.” He mused, tilting his head back and allowing some light to touch his face. Something stirred in Reiko, like he heard the guy’s voice before.

And bald…

Reiko frowned at that echo of memories. “Who are you?” He asked again.

The man sighed. “A friend of your mom’s. Come on, we don’t have a lot of time. All you can do is trust me.” He held out his hand.

Reiko looked down at Aio and noticed that he didn’t look so fearsome anymore. Rather, he looked at the lanky man critically. “You’re from her team right?” He asked.

He nodded. “Let’s go. We’ll have time for questions later, once we get away from here.”

Reiko charged ahead. “You know my mom? She’s here? Right now?” He was almost too happy to believe it. Itachi did say that she would be the one to find him when they had their little chat and he was telling the truth! He followed the young man across the rubble. Wow, Sasuke and Itachi did this? It looked surreal to him, and it felt surreal when he saw other people in the distance. Black flames had surrounded them and his clothes began to grow heavy with rain. Beyond the curtain of hazy showers he saw her. She was blonde like him and had a brown and green rain cloak. He stopped when he saw Itachi…two Itachis! One was obviously dead, but the other was alive. He felt it. The one that was alive was slung over a chubby guy’s shoulder, in nothing but underwear. He had a thick mane of reddish brown hair and swirly marks on his cheeks. He was dressed in the same green and brown cloak. But that really didn’t matter! It was his mom that mattered and she was kneeling beside a still Sasuke. He could feel Sasuke was alive and she was leaning over him, his face in her small hands, kissing him. It only took a second for that act to register in his mind. There would only be one reason why she would be kissing Sasuke! Aio lied to him! Hurt and anger burned hotly in his chest and he gave a scathing accusing glare at Aio.

“Liar!” He hissed wanting to step on his tail or something. He was a big fat liar! So this is what betrayal feels like?

“Ino! We have to go.” The tall guy called out to her, running and gently tugging her away from Sasuke. Reiko looked back and forth between the two. His mom stood, not yet noticing his presence. Her eyes were filled sadness and there were tear streaks down her face. “The others are coming closer, even I can feel them.”

Others? Reiko took a step forward and felt his whole world shift when her blue eyes landed on him. It was like a long last puzzle piece that completed his life, the way his mom stared wordlessly at him. He could feel a million things churn inside of her because a million things were churning inside of him. He didn’t know what to say or what to do. He only stood there like a statue, memorizing her pretty face and getting lost in her warm, bright blue eyes. She tentatively held out her hand and he went like a thirsty horse to her never once taking his eyes off of her. Her fingers were cold when she touched his forehead. Then she smiled and his whole world lit up with her joy.

“Reiko…” And then…then he watched in horror as her eyes rolled up and she began to fall.

“Mom!” He cried, his heart almost breaking. The tall guy caught her and held her firmly in his arms. “Is she okay? She’s okay right?” He was crying now.

“She’s fine, just chakra exhaustion.” The chubby guy assured him softly.

“Let’s get out of here.” The tall guy jumped into the trees.

“But what about Sasuke?” Reiko protested, looking at the unconscious man laying to the dead Itachi (he still didn’t know why there was two Itachis). “We can’t just leave him!”

“We have to. There are others who are coming for him. They’ll bring him back to Leaf.” The tall guy told him hurriedly.

“But how do you know they will?” It was true that he felt a lot of people coming in this direction.

“I just know! They’re friends of ours and want to bring him back. Right now, we have to think about Ino and Itachi.”

But his dad…Sasuke…there was so much he wanted to tell him! Did Sasuke even know about him? He found it hard to think he did. If he knew then he would have said something when he was with him. It was all so confusing!

“Reiko…”

“Don’t talk to me. You lied and told me that Sasuke wasn’t my dad!” He snapped angrily at Aio. Then a new thought quickly came forth and he whipped his attention to the Itachi slung over Chubby’s shoulder. If Sasuke was his dad, then Itachi…Itachi was…his uncle? His dad and his uncle were trying to kill each other? Why? Why was his family so messed up?

His head was filled with his thoughts on this. So much so that he was beginning to get a headache. But they didn’t stop moving further and further from Honey Kiss Spring. He hoped that whatever ‘friends’ they were talking about made it safely to Sasuke’s side. It would be a dream come true if he had both Ino and Sasuke by his side. Then they would be a real family. Maybe Sasuke and Itachi would be able to overcome their differences and Itachi could be a part of his life to. That would be great as well. He held that candle of hope deep in his heart.

They traveled as much as they could before Chubby complained that he couldn’t go on. “Just a bit more Choji. There’s a small little village not too far away where we can rest.” The tall guy said. Chubby aka Choji shifted a limp Itachi to his other shoulder and nodded along. Earlier, when they were at a comfortable enough distance away from Honey Kiss Springs, Choji had shrugged off his cloak and covered Itachi with it. Reiko could tell the tall guy was getting tired of carrying Ino too. His arms were beginning to shake with her weight (even though she looked like she weighed as much as a feather). The silence was thick and he could feel Ino’s team’s unease. He was like that too. He didn’t know who they were and how nice or mean they were too. And he wasn’t talking to Aio no matter what. He was glad the big black cat looked ashamed and guilty. It served him right for not telling him who Sasuke and Itachi were to him.

He remembered how strong and confident Sasuke seemed to be. He saw how much love and pain Ino poured into her kiss (though it grossed him out slightly but that what moms and dads did). He hated the fact that they had to leave him behind. And even though he didn’t know the tall and skinny guy (he wished he knew his name!)  very well, he trusted in the assurance he gave that the others would get to Sasuke. He hoped Sasuke’s team was by his side as well.

“There.” Reiko was in front of the group and pointed to the small town that hugged a small river. Their feet made hollow noises as they crossed the sturdy wooden bridge. Luckily a moderate priced Inn was one of the first buildings that lined the black brick streets when they entered the average sized village. They booked the largest room they had with Choji explaining sheepishly that Ino and Itachi had drank too much when the inn keeper gave the unconscious pair a dubious look.

Both of Ino’s teammates slowly made their way up the narrow stairway with grunts of labor until they finally reached the large spacious room and carefully placed them both on the clean floor. Reiko immediately went to the closet and pulled out all of the blankets and pillows. He worked diligently arranging a place comfortable for both Itachi and Ino. He hovered over his mom, looking over her with large watchful green eyes, clenching his fists on his knees, wanting to touch her but feeling afraid to do so. His eyes were glued to her ever breath and every flutter of her closed eyes.

“When will she wake up?” He managed to ask, looking into the faces of her exhausted teammates. They looked like they were ready to fall into a dead sleep.

“Probably in the morning or afternoon.” Lanky said with a long yawn. He crawled over to Ino’s side and gave her a look over, then looked at Itachi. “I don’t know about Itachi though. Ino will know when she wakes up.” He yawned again and then his bleary brown eyes looked to him. “I’m Shikamaru Nara, and that’s Choji Akimichi. We’re part of Ino’s team, Team Asuma.” He gave a little smile. “You look like her a lot. I was there when you were born.” He snorted merrily. “Screaming and waving your little red fist as you bellowed.” Reiko flushed, feeling a little embarrassed. “It’s hard to imagine that was only four months ago and now you’re here. How old are you?”

“Ten.” He answered. “I think I remember you. I don’t remember a lot since I was just a baby.” He said quickly. “But your voice…it seems familiar to me.”

Shikamaru looked a little surprised, but pleased as well. “You probably have a million questions. I hope, in time, we can answer them all for you.” He sighed. “But for now, we all need some rest.”

Reiko looked at Ino and nodded. He was feeling pretty tired now. He took off the heavy top layers of his stained and dirty robes until he only wore his thin undershirt and baggy green and white bamboo printed pants. When he turned around he saw that Shikamaru was out cold and Choji pulling a blanket up to his chin.

“Reiko, sleep next to your mom. She would like that.” He grunted softly. Reiki didn’t know why tears suddenly stung his eyes, but he lowered his head. Was that really okay? He thought as he slipped between Itachi and Ino numbly. Was this really happening? Was he really touching his mom and burying his head in her neck? Why was he crying? Sobbing like a five year old? He slipped his arms across her slender waist, feeling his tears soak his hair and drip into his ears. He shouldn’t cry, but he was happy. So happy…

It felt like a dream to her, a happy but scary dream. Ino Yamanaka was lying on her side, her head in the crook of her elbow, looking or rather, devouring Reiko’s peaceful face. Her baby, her little son that she found sprawled between her and Itachi when she woke up. Everything that had happened yesterday seemed like it happened hours ago. She dreamed about it, dreamed about Sasuke. Then, she felt something, a little weight of a skinny arm across her chest, and a skinny leg on her own leg. She forced herself to open her heavy eyelids and was greeted with a most glorious sight. Even the sunlight seemed to smile at the sight for it settled over his sleeping face.

She inched her fingers close to him, gently, lightly caressing his soft, cool cheek. Her slender fingers arched over his eyebrow, across his long long dark brown eyelashes, down his nose and then mouth and then cheek. He twitched and she smiled. What could she say when he woke up? How could she explain things to him, past and present? She wished her dad was here, he would know what to do.

Ino weakly pushed herself up in sitting position, rubbing the sleep from her eyes with a little yawn. Everyone else was still asleep, even Itachi looked like he was still sleeping. Aio seemed like he was awake. He was perched atop the tall oak dresser, eyes closed and purring a bit. She glanced out of the window, noticing how bright the sun was in the clear blue sky. What time was it? Afternoon for sure, late afternoon. Everyone must be so exhausted from what had occurred yesterday. Even her body ached from using her seal and doing the Body-Soul Exchange jutsu. Emotionally…she was exhausted as well. The whole thing with leaving Sasuke behind and then finding that Itachi had Reiko…her head was still whirling.

She extracted herself from the heavy blankets, gently moving Reiko’s limbs off of her. She unhitched her cloak with a snap of the button at her throat and kneeled beside Itachi. For some reason, her medical chakra always recovered faster than her regular chakra. She was able to roam her glowing green hands down the length of his body in a hasty check-up. Like with Shoji’s body, Kabuto had done something with Giro’s body as well. But this time, she had to find out what it was and deal with it on her own. She could just imagine the chaotic commotion she would cause if her team brought Itachi into Leaf Hospital. She smirked at the thought. But, she knew all of this before hand and was prepared to deal with it.

She sat back on her legs, rubbing her eyes again after exhaling a loud sigh. Then she stiffened when she saw Reiko stirring awake. Her heart pounded hard in her chest, part from panic, part for anticipation and partly from excitement. This was it, what could she say? How should she act? What did she call him? Son? Reiko? Kid? She swallowed hard, forcing herself to stay in place and wait until his eyes found her. And they did, those beautiful sage green eyes with sweeping lashes still unfocused with sleep. He looked as nervous as she felt. His hair was in a slightly askew ponytail, little silky wisps of it fell around his heart-shaped face. She could see so much of herself in him, but then she could see little hints of Sasuke and Itachi in that little face as well.

“So—” She didn’t even get to finished her awkwardly put together first word before he launched himself into her arms, not caring that he was on top of Itachi. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and neck, holding him close as he whole body shook. He wasn’t crying (like she was), but his whole body just seemed to vibrate with unsaid relief. His head was tucked under her neck and one of her hands was buried in his hair, under his sleek ponytail. He felt so warm against her, so…alive. It was like the first time she held him after he came screaming into the world, cradled in her arm with so much trust and love, she felt unworthy.

“I missed you so so much.” She whispered to him and he tightened his hold on her.

“Do I get to go home with you now?” He murmured back. They broke apart, with Ino taking his face in her hands. She anxiously searched his glittering eyes, drinking him in once more.

“Of course.” She whispered fiercely, absolute protectiveness swelling in her whole being.  “No one will take you away from me again.” She vowed and closed her eyes before planting a kiss on his forehead. “No one.”