Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Closer ❯ Chapter 34

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

They stayed in Haru Inn for another day with Reiko stuck to her side like glue. It amazed her how right it felt, how easily they interacted with one another given how much time they were separated. Four months for her, but ten years for him. It boggled the mind really! The more they got comfortable with one another in their sudden reunion, the more she prepared herself to answer his difficult questions. And difficult they were. He asked about Sasuke and Itachi. He asked about the contract and about her father. To be honest, she didn’t really know what to say concerning Sasuke and Itachi. What could a ten year old understand really? He was a bright boy, showing her all the things that Aio had taught him in their three days together after he left Earth Temple.

He picked up on things easily and Ino knew from the moment he showed her how good his aim was by skewering a bee against the wall with one of her kunai, that the life as a civilian was not going to be in the cards. He had ninja blood running through him, ninja ambition and ninja skills. Her heart felt a little heavy about it at first. She wondered if her dad felt the same way when she came to him at five, cocky and confident since she just beat five boys in a kunai throwing contest, and declared that she was going to enter Leaf Academy the coming school year. If she could beat those silly boys, then imagine how great a Kunoichi she could be! Daddy, aren’t you proud? But he just looked at her with an unreadable expression before kneeling in front of her with his hands on her shoulder. Becoming a ninja is not a decision to be taken lightly. It is a dangerous lifestyle. She had rolled her eyes and patted him on his cheeks with her small little hands. Daddy, you knew this was going to happen someday right? That’s why you’ve been showing me our clan jutsus!

Ino was folded on her knees next to Itachi, doing serious healing on the things she was familiar with. He hadn’t opened his eyes yet, but his breathing was body temperature was normal. “So you met Sasuke.” She said softly, keeping her attention on her chakra output.

Reiko stared at her, she could feel his eyes study her bowed head. “Yeah. He-he seems alright.”

Ino’s lips lifted. Sasuke seemed alright? “Did you talk about anything?” Like me?

“We didn’t talk very much.” He admitted. “Suigetsu said that he missed you a lot. And Sasuke missed you too. Do you miss him?”

Ino’s heart thumped widely in her chest. “Of course I do.” She said softly, blinking back her tears. “But Sasuke and I…” What? Sasuke killed Itachi (technically) and the others would be bringing him back. “We had to separate for a little while.”

Reiko leaned in, looking down at Itachi. “Do you think he’ll be at the village when we get back? Are you going to tell him about Itachi?”

Ino glanced up a bit alarmed. “No! Well,” Calm down, don’t make him more confused. “Not just yet.” She said. “There are somethings I have to tell him first before I can tell him about Itachi.” Like you. She stopped her healing and put a hand on her son’s shoulder. “Reiko, you have to keep this a secret from everyone. Only me, you, Shikamaru and Choji know that Itachi is alive. If people find out then they could really try to kill him and we don’t want that do we?” Not to mention her team could get into sooooooo much trouble.

Reiko frowned a little, but nodded. “Okay. But could you tell me why Sasuke wanted to kill Itachi? They’re brothers! If I had a brother, I wouldn’t want to kill him. He’s my family!”

Ino’s eyes softened and she leaned in to kiss the crown of his head, pulling him close to her. “I’m sorry you’re so confused Reiko but there are somethings that I can’t tell you right away. Sasuke and Itachi have a…complicated relationship. But just know this, even if you can’t see any of it now, they do love one another.”

“Family is supposed to love each other.” Reiko murmured.

“Love.” Ino sighed thinking of her team, of her father and Reiko. Thinking of Sasuke. “Love is never a simple thing.” It was a complicated thing that was the only glue that held people together after betrayal, anger, jealously, pain, duty and sorrow ripped through their lives. It was tested and timeless but so very complicated.

She held him close, thinking about all these things when a moan made them reluctantly break apart. “Was that Itachi?” Reiko asked. Ino was about to check his vitals again when the older ninja’s hand caught her wrist. Ino peered down at his creased brow. She let her wrist go limp and then he tentatively moved it so her fingers settled on his breastbone. His skin was on fire from a fever. She leaned down as he settled her palm flat. Her green chakra spread over her hand in a low vibration, humming as it passed through his skin into the bone. She felt something, there, hard and round on top of the bone.

“Reiko, get into my bag and pull out my medi-pack.” Reiko scampered across the slick floor and grabbed it, flipping open the battered leather top and pulled it out. She opened it and took out a packaged scalpel and an iodine pack. She swabbed his flesh and then bit her lip as she cut into his skin. Blood rolled from the neat cut, and she grabbed some sanitized tweezers. Itachi was still as death, not even cracking an expression as she dug around under his skin. Finally, the tweezers clamped around the object and she extracted it with a critical eye.

“What the hell is this?” She muttered looking at the black pebble-like thing perched on the tongs of her tweezers. She had no idea. He took her wrist again and placed it on his side, and again she extracted the same bewildering object. All together, there were six of them. She healed the wounds the best she could and patched him up. In her medi-pack she pulled out a slender plastic brown bottle and took out two pain pills, forcing them down Itachi’s throat.

“Will he be alright?” Ino looked down in surprise at the big black cat that sat on Itachi’s side, his long tail curled about him. Reiko’s lips thinned and he looked moodily away from him.

“He should be. He’s doing better than I thought he would.” Ino said with a tired sigh. She was hungry! “Where the hell was Shikamaru and Choji with lunch?!” She huffed, standing and stalking to the window to look for them down in the bustling little town. They left two hours ago! It didn’t take that long to get food!

“I’ll go look.” Aio said. Ino opened the door for him.

“I swear if I’m not with them they slack off.” Ino muttered rubbing her tummy like it would stop it from growling. Reiko snorted a little and Ino looked at him in an amused way. “It’s always been like that.” She grinned. Fifteen minutes later, they came back with an armful of supplies. She always liked shopping and then going through her things in ravenous admiration, congratulating herself on her choices. When she saw bags full of unknown things, even if it was groceries and ninja supplies, that same feeling of delight and pleasure arose. She expertly went bag by bag through the things they gathered, proud that they took the initiative. Choji and Shikamaru hated shopping of any kind.

“Yayy! You even got me some decent shampoo and conditioner!” She exclaimed, pulling the pink bottles from the bags and turning it around to read the back. Sleek and shine for frizzy hair, awww! She loved them more just then. The rain had totally poofed out her hair.

“Are these mine?” Reiko pulled out some simple civilian clothes, a pale green shirt and black pants.

“We hope we got the right size. That’s what took us so long.” Shikamaru tossed an accusing look at her. She rolled her eyes.

“I’m going to shower. Be good for Shikamaru and Choji.” She said merrily before leaping to her feet and grabbing her leather bag eagerly.

Reiko was amused by her and her girly ways. It seemed Shikamaru and Choji were used to it, but he wasn’t. “She has a huge closet of clothes and shoes doesn’t she?” He asked them.

Choji chuckled. “Her dad just finished with renovations on her closet some months back. So yes, she does.”

“Here, might as well eat. She’s going to be in there for a while.” Shikamaru grabbed a large paper brown bag of food and began taking out the wrapped and stored food. His tummy rumbled when he grabbed a warm rice ball. He loved these things (next to tomatoes) and devoured it in four bites. He flushed a little when he saw the other two regard him in surprise.

“At least he doesn’t eat like her.” Choji said, opening some tinfoil and revealing some thick cuts of barbeque pork. “Here, this will fill you up.” He let Reiko pluck a warm piece of meat out. It was still warm and greasy with sweet and spicy glaze on it.

“Here.” Shikamaru unwrapped some boiled fish from its warm tin and set it next to him for Aio to eat. Reiko glared at the cat for a second, before ignoring him. It felt like his time with Sasuke was wasted. If he had only known, maybe he could have stopped Sasuke and Itachi from fighting or something. Aio even said that Sasuke and his team would kill him if he showed them his eyes. Liar.

Ino didn’t take as long as the expected and even left some hot water for him. He quickly showered and dressed in his new clothes. His hair was tangled, but finally clean. He ran his fingers through it, looking at himself in the steamy mirror. If he wore it down, he definitely looked like a girl. And really, long hair was becoming such a pain. Inside Earth Summons Realm, he had the luxury of letting it grown out. Someone was always there to brush it and keep it tame. Now, it was getting in his way. He tied it back up in a messy ponytail. When he exited the room, he stopped dead in his tracks.

Itachi was awake and sitting up. He looked so different from the first time Reiko met him. It was in his eyes, the weight of the world. Ino was kneeling by him and pressed a bowl of rice porridge into his hands. “Here.” When he didn’t make an effort to eat, she grew impatient.

“Itachi, don’t make my use my Mind-Transfer jutsu on you.” She warned. Still he didn’t move so she placed the bowl on the ground and straddled his legs. Itachi looked taken back and when she squeezed his cheeks to open his mouth she shoved food in it before he knew what had happened. “Seriously, don’t be difficult about this.”

He glared at her. “What did you do? Why am I still alive? You—mlf!”

“Jeeze.” Ino stuffed more food in his mouth. “You’re more valuable in Sasuke’s cause alive. What? Did you think you would just leave it up to me and Naruto to finish what you started? Besides,” She sighed. “What if things don’t go as you planned?”

“Who’s to say Sasuke will even honor your request? He could just end up blaming Leaf for everything that you both went through.” Shikamaru said, standing on guard with Choji. “When we get back to Leaf Sasuke will be there. You can tell him everything then.”

Itachi looked through them all, lost in his own world. “I left that place for a reason. I’m not going back there.” He took the bowl from Ino and she climbed off his lap. “Nothing has changed. Not really.”

“Everyone thinks you’re dead.” Ino said, her tone a cross between exasperation and persuading. “Everyone. Even the Akatsuki.” She dropped down, squatting in front of him. “The village thinks you’re dead, your enemies think you’re dead. You’re like a ghost with no more ties. You’re smart, are you telling me that you won’t take advantage of it?”

They arrived at the designated safe house two days later. It was an old family retreat of Choji’s that he assured, was not used anymore. Ino remembered the place. When they were younger, she and they boys would come here and fish and hunt. Well, the guys did the hunting and fishing, she just started the fire for them.

The small two bedroom cabin was all but camouflaged in the dense forest. There was a small garden in the back that was overrun with weeds and wild flowers. The inside was clean having been shut tightly five years ago. It was out of Leaf boundaries. A safe place for now.

“Look! Snow!” Reiko said excitedly, looking up into the sky with bright green eyes. Ino never stopped being delighted when Reiko noticed small things. She hated snow herself, but Reiko was giggling and catching failing soft flakes in his hands. They melted as soon as they hit his warm hands. “Look Itachi!” Reiko exclaimed, pulling on the slow moving Uchiha’s hand. “Do you like snow?”

To say these past few days were surprising was an overstatement. Itachi Uchiha was fine enough to walk and her team had been on edge thinking that it would be beyond their control if he decided up and leave them. But he didn’t make an effort to be rid of them. He actually helped out a few times when lowlifes wanted to take them on while they made their way to the small safe house. He was far from what he was when he died. Like Asuma, his new body reset itself and they had to relearn his skills. He managed to reactivate his Sharingan, but not his Mangekyo Sharingan. But even without that power, he was still a force to be reckoned with.

In Choji’s story about the two brothers and the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, one brother had to take the eyes of his younger brother because when they activated their Mangekyo Sharingan, gradually they began losing their eyesight. The one brother transplanted his younger brother’s eyes into his own and his blindness went away. Ino wondered how much of that story was true. She was tempted to ask Itachi but didn’t know if she should yet. He was still recovering. And she wasn’t exactly sure if he would tell her anything. She was still getting over the fact that he wasn’t disappearing all together. There was nothing stopping him for doing so.

Or so she thought. Looking at Reiko giggling over the snow, Itachi had a kind of softness in his expression. She wondered if he looked at Sasuke the same way when they were younger.

“You think the others are back with Sasuke yet?” Choji asked her quietly. Ino didn’t take her eyes off of Reiko and Itachi.

“I hope. There’s so much I want to tell him.” She snorted. “To fill him in with. Truthfully, I don’t know if he’ll hate me in the end.”

“Why would he hate you?”

Ino felt her mood turn dark. “He spent his whole life training to kill Itachi and I brought him back to life. Don’t you think you would feel cheated if that happened to you? And Reiko. I didn’t mean to keep him from knowing, but Sasuke might think I did.” She sighed and looked away. “I just worry that’s all.” These things had been troubling her for so long. From the moment Reiko was born.

“Mom! Look!” Reiko yelled out to her and Ino looked up, only to have her front pelted with a snowball. Ino blinked in surprise before an all out snow fight broke out. Team Asuma vs Reiko and Itachi. Ino spotted Aio slinking away to the trees, not wanting to get pelted by snow. After, when everyone was wet and cold, they went inside. The atmosphere was relaxing. Reiko was chatting with Itachi a mile a minute. Shikamaru lit a fire and Choji was bringing in their stuff.

Ino prepared something simple for dinner. “We’re going back into Leaf tonight. We have to report on our mission.” She began when Itachi sat at the table where she was placing dinner. “What are you planning on doing?”

He was expressionless, but Ino knew when someone was thinking hard. He was taking too long to answer. “I think you should take a break.” She offered. “Stay here for a little bit and I’ll come and check on you if you want.” He scowled a little. “I’ll bring Reiko along.” She tempted. He looked annoyed at that. “Besides, you can think of what to say to Sasuke when I bring him to you. I’ll even tell him what you wanted me to tell him.”

Reiko came and stood beside her. Ino wondered how much he heard. “Don’t go anywhere Uncle Itachi.” Ino saw him flinch at the ‘uncle’ title. His pleading tone was…masterful. She proudly wondered how much time Reiko spent preying on peoples tender emotions to get his way. One look into those bright, innocent green eyes and people could forget how to breathe. Would Itachi fall victim to him? “You’re still not well and I have so many things to ask you. I’ve never been with my family before.” He slipped his hand into hers. “Can’t you stay?”

Oh how the mighty crumble. Itachi heaved a low sigh. “I’ll stay for a little while.” He conceded.

They left that night and it took three hours to reach Leave Village. Reiko was awe struck.

“Wow! A real hidden village! I’m really going to live here?” Reiko’s sharp eyes picked on the moving shadows that night patrol. Ino had always live in Leaf so she couldn’t see what the big deal was. Living in a Summons Realm to her would seem more interesting.

“What time is it?” She asked whoever would answer.

“Ten thirty. Do you think that the Hokage is still awake?” Choji asked. They were stopped at the gate when the guarding ninja saw Reiko. His partner sent word for an escort into the village.

“What’s going on? Why can’t we go in?” Reiko asked almost impatiently.

“It’s just precaution. We’re going to meet the Hokage but we need an escort since you’re not from here.” Shikamaru explained patiently.  “All hidden villages are like that.”

They got word to proceed and halfway to the Hokage Tower, a group of three ANBU joined them. “A bit much.” Ino muttered.

“Not really. Considering the situation I was surprised she didn’t send the whole ANBU fleet.” Shikamaru said dryly. Only a few people knew who Reiko was. Whose child he was. Ino grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze. The next couple of days were going to be hard on him. He had to adjust to this new lifestyle and keep Itachi a secret.

It was quiet in the Hokage Tower except for the shuffling feet of the large party. An ANBU knocked and the Lady Hokage called them in. Reiko was gripping her hand hard and stuck close to her when the door opened. Lady Tsunade was with Shizune, Ibiki, Anko, Asuma and her Dad. They all stared at Team Asuma before they took in Reiko.

Inoichi had a soft look in his eye and he offered them a comforting smile.

“You Dad showed us the correspondence from Earth Temple. Its funny isn’t it? How you guys met up during your mission.” The Lady Hokage said suspiciously.

Ino had prepared for this. She prepared her team and Reiko for this too. “I had a dream.” She said hesitantly. “Dad, you understand don’t you? I wasn’t sure if it was a real message from the Earth Spirits or not, but I didn’t want wait to find out.” Tears gathered. “I was too excited and to desperate. I had to go and see that’s why I asked for that mission.”

Everyone studied them critically. There was another knock at the door.

“Team Kakashi and Team Kurenai have returned.” An ANBU appeared in front of them. Ino didn’t have to hide her surprise and curiosity. The unease in the room told her that the adults didn’t plan on having her team here when that message was delivered.

“Must have been a dangerous mission of two teams were deployed.” Choji whispered to them loudly. Ino could have kissed him for that cool move.

“This discussion isn’t over, but for now you are dismissed. Inoichi, take your family home.” The Hokage looked closely at Reiko. “Welcome to Leaf Reiko Yamanaka.”

Her Dad opened the door for them. In the darkened hallway she saw a subdued looking Team Kakashi and Team Kurenai. None of them could meet her eye, but when they saw Reiko, their eyes widened. Naruto, Sakura, Sai and Kakashi stared at him with wonder and guilt. Sakura’s eyes watered and her lips trembled and Ino knew. Her heart dropped to her stomach and she tightened her hold on Reiko’s hand. Black dots clouded her vision and her eyes began to burn with her tears. No, they had been so close! Sasuke was out cold!

“Mom?” Reiko’s voice wobbled and she knew he was thinking the same thing.

“I know.” She whispered back thickly. They didn’t bring Sasuke back…