Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Closer ❯ Chapter 35

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

They didn’t bring him back. They failed. How could they have failed? He was right there! Mere minutes from him! How? How? How? What could have happened in such a short time frame?

She pressed her fingers against her eyes in an attempt to hold in her tears.  Her stomach was in knots and her throat felt tight. She couldn’t even look at Reiko or she would really break down. Shikamaru and Choji gave her meaningful looks. They were feeling guilty about leaving him just like she was.  But she was sure they would get to him in time. She was sure and she had been wrong.

“We’ll talk tomorrow.” She murmured to her team when they reached Yamanaka Flower Shop. They nodded and then they were gone.

The trip up the stairs was quiet. Her Dad’s broad shoulders took up most of the space and Reiko seemed to be dragging his feet. She felt heavy too. Heavy with grief and guilt. All her hopes about their reunion were shattered now.

“It’s a nice place. Cozy.” Reiko’s voice summoned her from her depressing thoughts. “There are a lot of flowers.”

Ino looked around the clean living room, feeling some small amount of comfort that at least her Dad kept it neat. Though cleaning might have taken her mind off of her troubles.

Ino raised a brow. “Cozy?” She looked around the spacious living room and high-end furniture. “What was the Summons Realm like? Did they have houses and stuff there?”

Reiko smirked a little. “Of course they did. Huge houses that had hundreds of servants. My room was pretty big. Almost as big as this room!”

Ino snorted and ruffled his hair. “Guess you’re going to have to downsize.” She looked to see her Dad leaning against the hallway arch with his arms folded. She flushed at his soft smile. “Hahaha, I guess I should introduce you guys huh? Reiko this is my Dad, Inoichi Yamanaka.” She gave a little sneaky smile. “I guess you should call him Grandpa.” Inoichi paled, the realization hitting him all of the sudden. “Granddad? Papas?” She offered with a grin.

Reiko caught on to her game and produced an identical grin. “Feeling old all of the sudden?” He mused. Inoichi looked disbelieving at both of them.

“Oh my Gods, you’re going to be a snarky pain the ass like your mom huh?”

Ino blinked a couple of times before laughing. It felt good to laugh considering what she was feeling when she first got home. Reiko laughed as well. Inoichi rolled his eyes and walked to them, kneeling in front of Reiko. “I’m glad you’re back with us Reiko. It feels good to have my family with me.” He said softly before pulling him into a hug. Reiko hugged him back.

After a while and some tears later, Ino and Inoichi took him upstairs to his bedroom. Her Dad had contracted an addition to be added when they found out she was pregnant. A whole new floor was added to their two story house. The walls were white and bare. There wasn’t any furniture because she wanted Reiko to decorate his room they way that suited his tastes. The window faced Main Leaf and a box of red sleeping poppies hung just outside his window.

“For now, you can sleep with me.” Ino said as they proceeded back down to the second floor.

“Her closet is big enough to be a room on its own.” Inoichi muttered. Ino gave a small glare over her shoulder.  “What?” He feigned innocence. “Reiko are you hungry? Thirsty? Tired?” A yawn escaped both of their mouths at the mention of sleep. “Tired then.” Inoichi chuckled, following them into her lavender and peachy-pink room. One look at her bed and she was rubbing her eyes to keep awake. He pulled her into his arms. “Ino, don’t think for one moment I believe anything you said in the Hokage office today. I won’t force you to tell me or invade you mind to find out the truth. But you’re going to have to tell me sooner or later you know that right?”

Tears stung her eyes and she nuzzled her face into his chest. “I know.”

He exhaled slowly. “Get ready for bed.” He pressed a kiss to the crown of her head. Reiko hugged him goodnight. “We have time to get acquainted now. Really, I’m glad you’re back. It was a hard four months for both of us.”

Reiko blessed Inoichi with one of his heartfelt winning smiles. “ ‘night Grandpa.”

Ino watched a smile blossom on her father’s face. “It’s not so bad once I hear it.”

Once her father was gone, she told Reiko to hurry to take a shower and get ready for bed. She felt a strange manifestation of Mom-Power when he went without protest. She empted out her leather bag out of habit, sorting her tools and weapons and tossing her and Reiko’s dirty clothes in her hamper. She stared absently at her hands, too tired to think really. When she heard the water shut off she managed a soft smile and waited for Reiko to come out. His hair was all tussled from towel drying it and she saw a silver chain around his neck, nestled against his pale, skinny chest. He had on some wrinkled pajamas pants on. She motioned him over to her vanity mirror and began brushing his hair out with gentle strokes.

“You have my necklace on.” She murmured, staring at him in the mirror. He nodded and fingered the cedar leaf. “Sasuke gave it to me a long time ago. When he left the village.” Reiko waited for her to continue. “When we were younger, he lost his whole family. All his clansmen were killed and only he and Itachi remained. Itachi left the village when Sasuke was six and he had been alone since then. His first real friend what a guy named Naruto. You’ll meet him later. Anyways, I never really talked to him at first. A lot of girls liked him and one of them was my best friend at the time, Sakura. You’ll meet her later too. She stopped being my friend when she thought I liked Sasuke too.” At his frown she smiled. “It’s a girl thing. Anyways, I was so mad at her and even though I didn’t really like Sasuke, I pretended that I did just to get back at her. Sasuke knew of course, but I made it hard for him to do anything about it. But over time, I really began to like him. Then something terrible happened. During the Chuunin exams, you know what they are?” He nodded. “A man names Orochimaru gave Sasuke his cursed seal. See, Sasuke wanted to kill Itachi but Itachi is…was…more powerful than Sasuke. He blamed Itachi for what happened to their clan.”

“Was Itachi to blame for what happened?”

Ino began braiding his hair. “Yes.”

“But you can’t tell me about it.” Reiko said in a huff.

Ino smiled. “When everything clears between Sasuke and Itachi, then I will tell you. Now hush. Anyway, what Sasuke wanted was the power to do that and Orochimaru knew about that. His Cursed Seal would give Sasuke that power but it came with a price. Orochimaru had control over him. But Sasuke knew that Orochimaru would give him that power and he left to gain it. It’s very bad for a ninja to just leave their hidden village. After, Sasuke was labeled a rouge. Naruto and some ninja including Shikamaru and Choji left to bring him back. To stop him from going but they failed to bring him back. But the Hokage had me still.”

Ino sighed, her fingers slowing as she weaved his hair. “I trained for two years for a specific mission. I was to get captured by Orochimaru’s Sound Ninja. You see, before Orochimaru got all evil and tried to destroy Leaf, he was a Leaf Ninja. He liked turning Leaf Ninja’s into one of his Sound Nins so he wouldn’t kill me. My job was to gather information on Orochimaru and his apprentice, Kabuto. And to bring Sasuke back. But Sasuke was so determined to find and kill Itachi, nothing I said could change his mind. I couldn’t stay with him either because I couldn’t stand being around Orochimaru and Kabuto.  So he let me go and I came back to Leaf. Then I found out I was pregnant with you and you know the story from there.”

Reiko looked thoughtful. Sleepy, but thoughtful. “And they didn’t bring Sasuke back again.” He finally said. Ino winced.

“They didn’t. I don’t know what happened.” Her voice cracked. “They were so close to him, how could this have happened?” So where was he now? Was he okay? Was he still hurt?

“Things between you guys always seems to be complicated.” Reiko murmured. “Are you going to tell Itachi? Do you think he’ll leave to find him?”

Ino finished tying his rubber band. “I don’t know. I’ll probably tell him but I don’t know what he’s going to do.”

They sat in silence, just thinking. But then Ino told him to go to bed while she showered. She was so tired when she finished dressing, brushing her teeth and hair and lotioning herself. She curled herself around Reiko and fell into a troubling sleep.

The following days felt like she was running. There was so much to do for Reiko and she had to get used to having him with her now. She wondered what it would have been like if she had been given the opportunity to bring him home as a baby. How would her life have turned out then?

Her Dad and Reiko got along famously and the girls that worked at the flower shop fawned over him and his killer smile. He was ten but she was beginning to dread the thought of him liking girls seeing how easily he charmed even Tinsu. She had to be cautions in the future of that disarming ability.  There was no way he could take her down by batting his long long, envious eyelashes at her. Her reason for eating frozen yogurt with him was purely one of her own making. Even thought it was too cold for ice cream. Damn it.

“Grandpa took me to see the academy today. It’s really big and the teachers seem nice.” Reiko merrily jaunted alongside her. “They said after winter break that I can start attending.” He was dressed warmly in a long sleeve dark blue shirt with a back ninja mesh peeking out at the throat and black pants with closed toes shoes. His long blond hair had been cut short, framing his face and making his green eyes look larger. Sometimes his locks would fall into his eyes and he would toss his head back to clear his face.

Ino nodded along, nibbling on her Berry Blast Sweet Sensation.  “I was excited about entering when I was five.”

“Yeah, Grandpa said that I have to take an aptitude test so they can place me in the right year. So you think that you can help me? Maybe Itachi can help too! He’s really powerful and I can learn a lot for him.”

Ino shushed him and looked around. “Remember the ‘I’ name is a big no-no.” She smiled at someone passing. “But if you want we can go and see him. I have to tell him about Sasuke anyways.” She muttered quietly.

Reiko smirked and her eyes widened. Where did he get that? Maybe the Uchiha smirks were inherited! “Right right. That’s why I have to call you Ino in public. Right Ino?”

She winced every time he said her first name. He was enjoying that way too much. “Yeah yeah.”

He tossed her a teasing smile before something caught his eye. “Look! It’s Choji!” He cried and waved him down. Choji had his arms full of bags from grocery shopping. “Need some help?” He pulled some bags from his hands.

“Thanks Reiko.” He said shifting the four reaming other bags to his free arm.

Ino threw away her remaining yogurt and took one of the bags. “Heading home for dinner?”

The streets were getting dark and lantern lights began to glow around Old Leaf. When she first came to Old Leaf, the buildings were shabby and grey but now they looked alive with paint and repairs. The broken roads were neatly paved over and the elder people were more willing to come out and enjoy the evenings and interact with the rest of the village. She introduced Reiko to Himo with a lie telling him that Reiko was just a fellow clansmen. But she could tell he knew who he was to her.

“Yeah. You and Reiko should stay and eat with us. My parents would love to meet him.”

“Really? What kind of food are we going to eat? Is your mom a good cook?” Reiko asked in a rush, keeping up with Choji’s long strides.

Choji chuckled. “Of course! I’m not a bad cook myself.”

Ino giggled. “It’s true. Choji makes all the meals when we have to camp.” They stood on the doorstep of Choji’s home of polished wood and homey scents.

Reiko smiled up at Choji and then looked to Ino. “Can we? I want to eat Choji’s mom’s food.”

She rolled her eyes. “If your mom doesn’t mind us being here…”

The front opened and Choji’s full figured mom stood in front of the three of them. Choji looked a lot like his dad, but he had his mom’s eyes and smile. Her hair was short and black and she wore light red make-up around her eyes with a neutral pink lipstick. “Ino! Of course I don’t mind you being here! Come in come in!”

“You heard us?” Reiko asked her incredulously, following Choji in with the groceries. “How can they do that? Sometimes Ino does that to me too.”

Choji gave a look over his shoulder at her and his mom before leaning in. “It’s a mom sense or something.” He whispered back. Together they began unloading the groceries. Something was already boiling in the stove and she had vegetables and raw beef already cut up and waiting. She liked going over to Choji’s or Shikamaru’s for dinner. Before her team entered the Academy, their families met up traditionally ever other night to share a meal and stories. Choji and Shikamaru’s moms were such good cooks. When it was her and her dad’s turn to host, he would get the flower workers together to prepare the meal since they both didn’t cook much. Even when her parents were married, Ino’s mom never really cooked. At the time, her paternal grandmother was alive and lived with them and she cooked. But she had died a year and a half after her mom returned to Tazo Compound.

So she and Choji’s mom Kirai worked together effortlessly. She dutifully poured the sauces and spices into the boiling water while Kirai added the solid foods expertly when the time was right. Choji was rolling some rice balls with Reiko, patiently showing him how to fold and pat the sticky rice into shape, around the salty fish filling. Soon, the comfortable, neatly organized house filled with savory scents. All four of them began setting the table.

“Wow! There is so much food! Are you sure none of it will go to waste?” Reiko breathed in awe and the expanse of dished that covered the six foot table. There had to be about fifteen side dishes, two kinds of soup and a big pot of steaming rice.

Choji and Kirai exchanged bemused looks before breaking out in a laugh. “Don’t worry. No food goes to waste in the Akimichi Clan!” Choji assured him. Ino nodded in agreement when Reiko looked at her for confirmation.

Choza Akimichi was infamous for his timing. Especially when it came to his meal times. As soon as the last plate of chicken tempera was set he strolled in from work and brought a few people in with him. “Shikamaru?”

He and his family entered the warm house. His mom Yoshino brought extra food in as well. He and Choji exchanged one of those half hug things boys often do. Reiko beamed. “Hey Shikamaru! What are you doing here? Are you gonna eat with us? Are these your parents?”

Shikamaru’s broad shouldered dad, Shikaku smiled down at him. “I’m surprised you managed a breath between those questions. Ino was like that when she was younger too.” Ino flushed and hugged Yoshino in greeting.

“Was? She’s still like that.” Shikamaru muttered, earning a glare from both she and his mom. Ino motioned Reiko over and Yoshino leaned down, bracing her hands on her thighs. She often looked like a stern matron, but Ino knew that she was soft like pudding on the inside. She often gave Ino pointers in getting Shikamaru motivated just like Kirai told her about what kinds of foods got Choji moving. She wasn’t lying when she told the boys that their mom’s were always on her side.

Yoshino’s eyes softened. “Hello Reiko. It’s nice to meet you. You look a lot like your mom.”

Reiko flashed his smile. “I know. I get that a lot. It’s nice to meet you too.”

“Inoichi filled us in on what happened. Still, seeing it make it seem so real.” Choza said. All eyes were on Reiko as Ino introduced everyone to him.

“Ino being a mom is just…” Shikaku trailed off when he saw the ‘look’ his wife gave him. “Well anyways. Make sure you use my boy anyway you can. Shikamaru is a lazy bum, but he’s a good boy.”

Ino smiled. “I know. I don’t know where I’d be without Choji and Shikamaru.” She said graciously, making to boys flush uncomfortably. Their moms and dads beamed at the compliment.

“Let’s eat!” Choza declared and the table filled with chatter and hungry appetites. Her Dad came in an hour later and joined them. Warmth, love, friendship, unity and so much more bonded everyone together. Generations of Yamanaka, Nara and Akimichi were represented with this family tradition. She was glad Reiko was able to be a part of it. He was laughing about their childhood mishaps, teasing her and the boys freely which in turned made the parents pour out more and more of their embarrassing childhood stories. They reminisced about times when they would camp out together, or hold Ino-Shika-Cho training sessions, birthdays, holidays, parties, and childhood fights. Reiko heard bout them all. When everyone wound down, the food was gone.

That night when they returned home, Reiko snuggled close to her. His bedroom had been finished yesterday, but he usually spent his nights with her. “Mom, I’m glad I got to meet everyone tonight. I hate having to call you Ino in public and mom in private. We have so many secrets to keep, but when I was with everyone, with the Nara’s and Akimichi’s, they all seemed far away you know?”

“Mmhum, I know. Being with them renews my willpower because they have high expectations for us.” She said, running her fingers soothingly through his hair. It made him fall asleep faster.

When they decided to have Itachi stay in the small safe house, they agreed to inform one another about when they would go and meet with him. So she told Shikamaru and Choji that she and Reiko would be dropping in for a visit.

When they arrived at the safe house, Ino noticed a few changes. He must have kept himself busy by doing some ground and house repairs. He was in the back, where the garden was. The overrun patch of dirt had been cleared. It was winter so he couldn’t plant anything just yet.

“Fixing the fence?” She asked, dropping a bag full of things he might need like cleaning soaps, hygiene stuff, winter clothes, blankets and food. He didn’t answer, only tapped in some nails to bind the withered wood together. “When you’re done, I need to talk to you.”

Itachi sighed softly. “They didn’t bring Sasuke back.” He said nonchalantly.

How the heck did he know these things? Did he send Aio to spy again? Ino shook her head. “I don’t know what happened.”

He frowned at his work, before looking up at her with serious dark eyes. “I do. Someone got to him before they could.”

“But how?” Reiko broke into the conversation. “They were so close. No one had time to get to him and take him away without those guys seeing. They had a Hyuga with them and Kiba didn’t smell anything.” Ino had explained to him what kind of abilities her friends had. He was introduced to them a little after they returned home from their secret Save-Itachi-And-Don’t-Get-Caught-By-Team-Kakashi-And-Team-Kurenai mission.

Ino studied him. “You know who has him don’t you? Tell me.” She followed him into the house, picking up the bag in the process. “Itachi!”

“A man named Tobi has him. He’s the leader of Akatsuki. He can bend space and time and transport himself in and out of places within seconds. He got to Sasuke before Naruto and the others could.” He told her bluntly.

“Tobi?” She heard that name before, but where? “Why would he want him?”

Itachi raised a brow. “Why wouldn’t he? Sasuke is an Uchiha, and he’s powerful.”

“He took him to replace you in the group then? Sasuke wouldn’t join. You know him, he doesn’t take orders from anyone.” Ino reasoned, trying to force that nagging feeling of doubt out of her mind.

Itachi narrowed his eyes. “I knew him. Sasuke is different from that six year old little boy I left alone. Tobi probably told him lies to get him to comply. Offered him something in return for his services. He’s a very dangerous person and he has very dangerous plans. Leaf will never be safe if those two work together.”

Ino put a hand to her hip. “Plans? Like what?” When he didn’t answer her temper flared. “Really? You’re not going to tell me? Why?”

Itachi turned from her. “Did I ever tell you that I met Naruto before I died at Sasuke’s hand?” He began, making her huff at the change of direction their conversation suddenly took. “I asked him why he wanted Sasuke back so bad. He told me that he thought of Sasuke as a brother.” Ino remained quiet, her curiosity overruling her temper. “He’s still naïve, thinking that all he has to do is talk to him and reason with him and Sasuke would come back. I asked if he would bring him back by force if he had to. For Naruto and for you, Sasuke willingly coming back to the village is a dream right? Wishful thinking. But what if…he decided to attack Leaf? Nara was open to that question from the very beginning, but are you? What would you do if he wanted to destroy your home? Would you protect Leaf or watch it fall?”

Ino stared wordlessly at him. She didn’t have an answer for that. Sasuke could blame Leaf for everything Itachi had suffered, all that he himself suffered. Would she be able to choose between them? That was impossible to do. “I don’t think we would give me a choice.” She whispered truthfully.

“He wouldn’t. He would take you and Reiko no matter the cost. Even if you hated him, even if you fell out of love with him, it wouldn’t matter to him. At that point, you would be a possession, not a person. He lost everything once. Losing you would not be an option for him.”

“What about you? What would you do?” She asked.

His eyes softened a touch. “Sasuke is still pure. He’s easily influenced.”

Ino shook her head. “No. I know what you’re thinking but it’s not true. You guys seem to think that I can influence him and sway him but it’s not true. I’ve tried it before and it never worked.”

“But you have a new bargaining piece now.” Ino turned to Reiko. He was wide-eyed, hanging on every word. “I asked Naruto the same thing. I asked him if he would be able to kill him if Sasuke turned on the village. What was worth more, Sasuke or the village and do you know what he said?” Ino had an idea but didn’t answer the question. “He said that he would save Sasuke and the village.” He snorted. “He’s never had to face something like that before, that kind of decision. But Naruto…he’s a strange boy. When he told me that he would find a way, I believed him.”

Ino’s lips quirked. “That’s his power. That look in his eye, the confidence of his answer and that bull-headed stubbornness is his specialty.”

He gave a soft snort, his lips pulling into a little whimsical smile. “I’m a ghost remember? What I do is to make his dream a reality. It’s something I’ll deal with. You asked me about their plans, but I’m not completely sure about them right now. So I’m telling you, leave it alone Yamanaka. I have my ways, you have yours.” He warned calmly as he began to go through the stuff she brought. She was so tempted to press him, but he had a temper like Sasuke. She remembered the way he reacted at Tazo Compound that night they first met face to face.

“And somehow, my way, Naruto’s way and your way will all converge and bring Sasuke back?” She mused. “So in other words, you’re going to be leaving.” She watched him separate the supplies into three piles. “When?”

“Don’t know. Soon probably.” He murmured absently. “It’s too dangerous for me to stay in one place for too long despite the fact that technically, I’m dead. Trouble looks avidly for me and I need to do things.”

Reiko crawled onto the chair across from Itachi. “Before you go can you help me train? I want to learn about the Sharingan and you’re the best person to help me. Please?”

“There’s Kakashi.” Itachi tried to reason.

“But he only has one Sharingan! You have two!” Reiko groaned in protest. “I’m a quick learner! I swear!”

He looked contemplative. “If it’s alright…”

“It’s alright with me.” She said quickly. “He’s going to be going into the Academy after winter break. Even though he can’t use his Sharingan publicly just yet, Sasuke told me that you’re really good with the kunai.”

“So you’ll train me? When? Can we start right now? I have my equipment and everything. Can you show me some cool jutsus?” Reiko trailed after his uncle excitedly when he left back outside. Ino shook her head and began putting the food away. What would she do if Sasuke turned on Leaf?  Was it part of that guy Tobi’s plans?

Ino and Sakura stood side by side, looking at the Lady Hokage sitting outside the tower, drinking a large bottle of something strong. Her feet were bare, and she didn’t have her ‘sucker’ robe on. She wasn’t the Hokage just now, she was just Tsunade. And she was in mourning. Just like Naruto was in mourning. One of the great Sannins, Jiraiya was dead and Naruto and Lady Tsunade were taking it hard. Kakashi told her team the news. Iruka-Sensei had helped Naruto a lot after but Ino could still see the hurt in his eyes from his loss.

She tried to cheer him up, going to places where he liked, but nothing could really help. Shikamaru took Naruto aside and told him of his experience with Asuma. But it wasn’t really the same. Asuma died, but she brought him back to life. Maybe the thing that got him out of his sadness was seeing Kurenai and her newborn daughter Misa. Shikamaru told him that every Sensei entrusted something to their students. Jiraiya entrusted Naruto with all his hopes and dreams, but now that he was gone it was time to become the one that entrusts rather than being entrusted to. Shikamaru was going to be like that to Misa and Reiko.

That had been two days ago and now Naruto was back on track, helping to decode the messaged Jiraiya left with one of his toads. Every other day she would go to see Itachi. Reiko would train and she would drill him on questions about Pein, an elusive, unknown person of Akatsuki. The one who killed Jiraiya. They also had a ninja from Hidden Mist in TI and her dad was working on breaking his secretive mind. It was a trying time and she felt the tension begin to build in the ninja world of Leaf.

“I never got to know him really. Tobi kept his true nature and power hidden from the rest of the members. He has the Rinnegan and Tobi used him as a front leader of Akatsuki. That should tell you how powerful he is. Killing a Sannin should be a testament of what the village should be prepared to face. Naruto should be ready to fight for his life.”

“He is! He left for training with these humongous frogs the other day.” Reiko piped in. “If anyone can defeat this Pein guy, its Naruto.”

Itachi regarded Reiko silently with a blank, carefully crafted expression. “You have a lot of respect for him don’t you?”

Reiko nodded, eyes sparkling with admiration. “One day, Sasuke will see how powerful Naruto has become too and I want to see it.”

Ino frowned. “See what?” She asked slowly.

He turned to her, lifting a brow as to say ‘duh’. “The fight. I want to see it so bad.”

Fighting. Ugh, he was hanging around Kiba and Lee too much she decided. And he had that defective male-ego-gene that thought that fighting would mend any broken relationship. “Tch. We’ll see about that. Come on, we need to head back to the village.”

“Aww. Fine. Tomorrow then?” He asked Itachi. But the Uchiha just shook his head.

“No. I won’t be here.” He told him almost apologetically. Ino raised a brow.

“What? Why not?” Reiko cried out, looking like his Uncle just slapped him without reason. Reiko was getting more and more attached to Itachi. He would talk about him all the time and tell her the things Itachi told and taught him like they were precious jewels of knowledge. She wondered what Sasuke would think if he knew.

“You’re leaving then?” Ino asked. She knew this was coming, but it still made her uneasy. She didn’t know what he was going to do, what plans he was preparing. He was keeping that all to himself.

“Tonight.”

“When will you be back? You’re coming back right?” Reiko demanded. “Right?”

Itachi hesitated on an answer. “We’ll see.” He finally said making Reiko’s expression fall. “You have those scrolls I wrote for you right? Make sure you practice and study. An over confident ninja is a liability, remember that Reiko.”

Reiko’s eyes darkened a little and he nodded making his hair fall into his lashes. “I got it.”

Ino walked to him until there wasn’t much space between them. She had to make him aware of her so he would remember what she was going to say. “You’ll contact me right? If you find him?” She locked eyes with him.

“Only if you promise to do the same.” He murmured back.

She studied him, aware of how his voice was making her think things she shouldn’t. His eyes were making her feel things she shouldn’t. The closer she got to him, the more questions began to rise within her. “Deal.” She finally said, taking a big step back.

She couldn’t get away from the house fast enough. What the hell was wrong with her? There was no way…no.

Suddenly, her insides clenched in warning and she let out a loud gasp, stopping in the middle of a meadow of withering grass. Her sensors were going haywire. She looked all around her, not able to pinpoint that chakra that invaded her senses all of the sudden.

“What is it? Where are they?” Reiko was almost as sensitive as her. Then she could hear the faint sounds of explosions. Horrified, she grabbed Reiko’s arm.

“The village!” She cried and began sprinting towards the sounds. By the time they arrived, she saw an appalling realization. People were screaming and the sound of buildings falling and roaring fires slapped her in the face.

“Mom!” Reiko clutched her arm, looking terrified at the bodies of some crushed and burned ninja at their feet.

“Ino!” They looked and saw Choji running to them. “It’s an invasion!”

The breath in her lungs was strangled by her throat closing. Above them the roof of a building, a huge black and orange centipede summons slithered from its smoke. She grabbed Reiko close to her, hugging him while he buried his face in her chest. “I’m going to TI!” She managed to yell at Choji and left, practically carrying Reiko. But she had to keep him close to her. She wouldn’t let anything happen to him no matter what!

Reiko managed to squirm from her terrified embrace when they saw the Torture and Interrogation building loom in front of them. She pushed the door open and it banged against the wall. Up the stairs, she found her father’s chakra signature. He was still working on the Mist nin with Ibiki and three others in the Interrogation Pod.

“Grandpa! The village!” Reiko cried out in a high pitched panicked tone stopping short in front of a surprised looking Inoichi.

The building shook and Inoichi cowered over Reiko, pulling him close until it stopped shaking. Ino ran to the hallway to look out of the windows. She scanned the chaos, ignoring the frantic cries of the terrified civilians. Who was attacking the village? Itachi’s words about Sasuke and his vengeance quickly came to mind. But that chakra she felt wasn’t Sasuke’s at all. Then there, just beyond a group of ninja she saw them. A person with a black and red cloak on. They had orange hair and what looked like piercings.

“Akatsuki.” She gasped. Did Itachi know about this? He would have told her if he did right?

Naruto should be ready to fight for his life…