Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Closer ❯ Chapter 36

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

::Chapter 36::

The whole village was being destroyed before her eyes. The streets were littered with debris and people. Some were still alive, some were gone. And she was here in TI with her Dad still intent on breaking the Mist nin’s secrets. Reiko was by her side, holding onto her waist. She could see the way her father’s face flexed, that he was finally getting somewhere. She felt his chakra latch attentively onto a memory. She wished she could see it too.

She turned, feeling Shizune and someone one else just beyond the door. An ANBU. “Sorry for interrupting.” Shizune began with a serious expression. “The Lady Hokage ordered me here.”

Ibiki had his hands shoved in the deep pockets of his trench coat. “Did you find out anything on your end?” He rumbled. Ino pulled Reiko in front of her, hands on his shoulders. He was still pretty scared, but he had calmed down since they first arrived. He had been intently watching Inoichi work before Shizune and the ANBU came in.

“Yes. I will explain immediately!” She then told them about the black transmitter rods that she pulled from the body Jiraiya managed to obtain before his death. They transmitted chakra to the bodies, almost like the way Yamanaka’s clan jutsus did. Ibiki told them about the Sage of Six Paths and his Rinnegan abilities, stating that his jutsus shouldn’t be surprising. She looked to her dad and saw a small trickle of sweat run down his temple before the TI building shook and she tensed. Static from the ANBU’s head piece buzzed in the quiet room.

“It seems they have shown up here as well.” He told them, turning slightly in Shizune’s direction. Ino looked to the roof. Her eyes followed the sound of light footsteps skating across.

“The other ANBU will distract them.” The ANBU said, motioning everyone to an escape. The ground was shaking and when they started for the door the wall before her crumbled. She grabbed Reiko and turned her back to the flying destruction. Her seal activated and blue and white ribbons of chakra surrounded them, protecting them from the flying rocks. She stole a glance over her shoulder and saw a huge head of a rhinoceros summons. Its hot breath hit her when it huffed heavily and she wrinkled her nose at the sour smell.  Its eyes were a disturbing grayish purple color. Was this the Rinnegan? The beast shook its head and then opened its mouth revealing a small woman on its pink wet tongue.

From her cloak, orange hair and Rinnegan eyes, she knew they faced an Akatsuki member. “As I thought.” The young woman said in a hollow, dead voice. Her eyes focused on the rod in Shizune’s hand. “It’s here.”

The building shook again and more pieces of concrete spewed at them but mixed in the flying heavy rocks were white and blue blobs. Lady Katsuya, the Hokage’s summons found a person to stick to. Ino landed on top of Reiko when a big slug landed on her. Her warm sticky-icky slime made Ino cry out in shock. She didn’t ever think she would ever get used to her!

“Yikes! Forgive me Lady Katsuya! I’m just not used to you yet.” She apologized through gritted teeth to keep a disgusted grimace from her lips. She didn’t want to hurt the soft spoken summon’s feelings when Ino knew she came to help.

Her small beady alien eyes widened apologetically. “It’s quite alright.” She assured her before splitting and crawling over Reiko. He didn’t seem disgusted at all. His eyes widened when she first touched him.

“That’s feels so cool!” He breathed, poking Lady Katsuya’s slimy body with interest. Ino slapped his hand and told him to quit. She concentrated in the weight of the slug and Lady Katsuya’s healing chakra instead of the slime. If she thought too much about that, she would likely try and slap her off her shoulder or something.

By now the building was completely destroyed. The second floor had crashed down to the first and Ino couldn’t help but think of the nice lobby of TI. With is soothing fountain and comfy couches. It was all gone now. The walls had fallen around her, leaving the whole party in the open.

Before her were two fierce looking summons, the rhino and a growling four headed dog. Kiba would have got a kick out of it.

“They are powerful Summonings.” ANBU fell from the sky and surrounded them. “Everyone please be careful.”

“How could this be?” She turned to her Dad’s confused question. He was critically looking at the small ninja woman.

“What is it?” Shizune pressed, looking at him from the corner of her eye.

“She was a corpse!” He said, shaking his head from side to side.

“Inoichi please tell me more.” Shizune looked like she was on a good train of thought.

Her Dad frowned and looked around uneasily. “I think in the current situation…” He protested nicely.

“Leave this place to the Black ANBU Ops and me. Get to safety.” Ibiki said sternly. It always amazed her how well Ibiki and her Dad knew each other’s thoughts. Years of working together molded them into the best Torture and Interrogation team since Leaf’s establishment.

It’s me Ino. Listen carefully… Her Dad’s thoughts invaded her mind and Ino grabbed Reiko’s arm to transmit the message to him as well. She still had to touch him to relay a thought because he was still learning their Clan jutsus.

We are moving to the Cipher Division.

That’s where Shikamaru is. Reiko thought back to them.

She nodded in understanding to an ANBU. Her Dad nodded to Ibiki.

Get ready to run. You have to keep up. She told Reiko before her dad yelled.

“Let’s go!”

  She heard Ibiki challenge the Akatsuki member. Ino looked behind her to see that they weren’t being followed. In the distance, she saw a large summon portal open in the sky and a huge waterfall of red clay descended on the rabid looking summoned dog. Reiko was beside her and the ANBU, her dad and Shizune trailed behind them. She led them through the cracked roads and crumbling buildings. Black smoke rose from scorched houses as she passed Old Leaf. She hoped Himo and the old people made it to safety.  They passed through the alleyways, their footsteps steadily pounding against the pavement. Up ahead, she saw the Cipher building relatively unharmed. They dashed behind it and huddled close to the shadows while the ANBU kept watch.

“There are six Peins. Each one can only use one type of jutsu.” Shizune began, her voice low and hushed. “That woman used Summning Jutsu. That means the Pein killed by Lord Jiraiya was resurrected in a different body.”

“And there’s no mistake. That woman was transported to Hidden Mist’s tower as a corpse.” Her Dad said. Ino and Reiko shared a look. A tower huh?

“Did that woman’s corpse have this imbedded in her?” Shizune held up the rod. She could feel a faint pulse of chakra from it. Ino narrowed her eyes and concentrated on that chakra.

“No…I’m sure she didn’t.” Her Dad murmured, looking at it. The chakra around the rod began strengthening. She closed her eyes and felt in anticipation it getting stronger and stronger. Her Dad and Shizune were quietly discussing the rod being transmitters and someone being able to control all six bodies when the chakra grew so large she gasped and slapped it out of the medic’ hand.

“Ino! Why—“

Her dad didn’t finish. An Akatsuki body with long orange hair landed right in the middle of their huddle. Ino met his Rinnegan eyes for just a second before she screamed. A wrapped paper bomb followed right behind. She grabbed Reiko and held on tight, jumping back when the explosion rocked them ground. When the smoke cleared everyone look up to see the Pein with a wide eyed Shizune kneeling in front of him, at his mercy.

“No one move or this woman dies.” He warned, his hand settled on Shizune’s head. Reiko was trembling against her. Was there something she could do? He was watching them so intently she didn’t dare move. They looked on in helplessness.

“Damn it.” Her father hissed, face taunt. The Pein narrowed his eyes.

“Mount Myoboku.” He muttered. Where was that? Ino thought distractedly.  Did he just read her mind? How could that be? He did it in seconds! It took her a good hour just to get into people’s inner doors! A smug little smile creped on that impassive face but then his eyes narrowed once more. “Look at those eyes.” He said, almost disbelievingly. Ino looked down and saw that Reiko had his Sharingan activated. Two tomoe whirled up at him and his mouth was set in an angry line. But the Pein didn’t move, only looked on with unhidden interest. Then his fingers flexed and he removed his hand from Shizune’s head. Something, some kind of chakra wooshed out of her and Reiko gasped. Ino’s world darkened a little when she felt Shizune’s chakra fade.

“What? What did he do?” She asked him, not removing her gaze.

“He took her soul.” Reiko whispered mournfully. Shizune’s body fell forward and slid down the roof. Ino ran to catch her, letting the Pein give one last look at Reiko before he was poofed away. She wasn’t fast enough. Her body hit the ground with a loud thump.

“Shizune!” Her eyes watered and she looked for any signs of life. But she was gone. “Reiko, you said he took her soul?” She asked, wiping her tears with a grimy hand.

He took a step forward and nodded. “I saw it. He just pulled it from the top of her head.” He said softly. He looked pale and frightened. His eyes were bright glowing red. It looked strange when he used his Sharingan. Usually the person she saw use it had dark hair and dark eyes. But Reiko looked so much like her it was unsettling to see him with that Bloodline active.

Her skin prickled and goosbumps emerged. She felt chakra gather all around her. She followed the beacon of power to the sky. In the sunlight something small floated in the sky. She squinted her eyes and reached out her sensors. There was so much power gathering around that thing her seal began crawling from its barrier like it knew better. Like it was preparing her for something.

“Ino.” Her Dad tried to calm her, to stop it from trickling down her arm and up her neck. Her brain felt like it was swelling with her coils. “Ino!”

“Mom!” But she ignored them, getting lost in the wash of power, in the light chakra that exploded over her whole body. Even her mind seemed to detach itself from her surroundings. She felt invincible and light, like she could fly like that man in the sky. She couldn’t fee herself, what she wore or Lady Katsuya on her shoulder. Even though she was holding Shizune, it felt like she wasn’t. She glowed almost as bright as the spark of unleashing chakra in the sky. The roar of the proceeding enemy jutsu should have deafened her, but she didn’t feel any of it. She was screaming, but the sound was ripped from her throat. The only thing she thought was that this world wasn’t hers. She felt like a stranger all of the sudden but she felt like she was needed too. The slug attached to her shoulder, she would need to use it as a medium. Instinctively, she poured all she could into the summons. She needed a barrier, she needed to protect the souls. They were important to Ino. To that other Ino who lived in this village.

But isn’t that who I am? She heard a voice in her head. It sounded like an uncertain little girl.

Who you were little Ino. I am beyond that. Our power and calling has other loyalties.

No, Leaf is our loyalty!

Was your loyalty little Ino. We have to find him.

The other Ino was confused. Him?

Kabuto-sensei.

She waited a heartbeat before a shrill protest echoed in her head. No! Give me back my body! Don’t go to him! He will enslave us!

She was confused. Kabuto sensei would never do that for we were a part of him. Kabuto-sensei is our master little Ino. We belong to him.

No! She felt her chakra ripple as little Ino’s will began forcing the seal back. Her power was rescinding. Little Ino had strength then…then she could hear someone screaming her name and shaking her. She sucked in a breath, feeling the weight of the seal lift from her consciousness. He coils retract, the cursed chakra slithered back to its seal, overcome by her personal chakra. She bolted up to breathe better, coughing and hacking while someone patted her back soothingly.

She blinked and found herself looked into her Dad’s concerned face. She was shivering in distress. What was that? Who had she been talking to? She knew it had to do with the seal. Did it like split her mind when she was in Stage Two? When she performed her Soul Body Exchange Jutsu, she never felt like that before! Like she was battling another part of herself, keeping her from taking over the real her. Her cursed-seal Ino even called her Little Ino. She was like a separate person with a strong loyalty to Kabuto. She was too strong. If she stayed in Stage Two for long, could that other Ino really take over? Kabuto never told her about this before, did he even know? Maybe that’s what he had planned. She thought in dread. He said he wanted her to grow strong, to master her seal. Maybe he knew that this other Ino was buried deep inside of her…

“Mom? Are you okay?” Reiko’s touch made her jump back. Her whole body felt over sensitized and she didn’t want anyone touching her. Her son looked hurt and she instantly felt guilty.

“I-I’m fine.” I think.  She looked beyond her hovering father, over his shoulder. Destruction was all around her so was dust. It was so thick in the air she felt her lungs burn when she breathed in. The sky was brown and orange and it was so very quiet. A giant crater in the center of the village wiped out everything. Her home was gone, the academy, Old Leaf, New Leaf, homes and businesses. The park where she first met Sakura. The tree where Sasuke kissed her. Shikamaru’s favorite hill and Choji’s favorite BBQ place. All of it was gone. The only thing that looked in tact was the village walls. “What happened?” She rasped with wide, disbelieving eyes.

“It was the main Pein. He destroyed Leaf.” Her dad told her solemnly. “Lady Katsuya protected us.”

“Erm, well y-you did as well Ino. Your chakra…it helped strengthen Lady Tsunade’s healing power.”

Ino felt her stomach twinge. “So she used her Creation Rebirth jutsu?” She asked uneasily. That means she released her Yin Seal.

“You looked all freaky when you were glowing.” Reiko muttered, red eyes sweeping over her to her still glowing Cursed Seal.  Ino put a hand over it, willing it to calm down. But it was like it had its own defense mechanism. Even she could feel the dangerous chakra of the enemy still charged all around them.

“I’m trying to control it.” She apologized then suddenly looked around her. “Where’s Shizune?” She cried, scrambling to her feet. Her dad stood.

“Here.” He motioned to the ground, beside him where the ANBU was kneeling. She was still dead, but her body seemed to be intact. “Let’s go find some others.”

The ANBU carried Shizune and she, her dad and Reiko picked their way through the ruins to where she could feel Shikamaru close by. His chakra was like a beacon for her and it made her so relieved when she felt his life force pulse strongly through it. He was still alive and okay. So was his dad, Shikaku. But she couldn’t feel Choji anywhere near and that made her worry.

They were careful to watch where they were stepping. Sharp objects and unsettled dirt was used as cover for unintentional traps. Her foot got caught in one, but luckily, her dad had grabbed her arm and lifted her from the danger. She hoped the ANBU with Shizune’ s extra weight was doing okay. He was carefully following behind, slowly testing his steps as to not wind up skewered by hidden stakes or jagged metal (like she almost was).

Then, she felt a new power catch her sensors. A fresh, powerful chakra that she never felt before. But hidden deep inside of it, she could feel who it was. Her heart leapt happily to her throat. “Naruto is here.” She whispered, stopping and looking to the direction where she felt it. “Dad! Naruto is here!” She said loudly.

“Naruto? Really?” Reiko asked excitedly, his red eyes bright with surprise.

“Yes. He got the Lady Hokage to safety and has mastered Sage jutsu.” Lady Katsuya said from her shoulder.

Sage jutsu? “That’s why he left with the frogs.” Reiko confirmed. “But can he really take on this Pein guy alone? Shouldn’t we help him?”

“Naruto has asked that no one interfere.”  Lady Katsuya told them.

“He knows what he’s doing. If he has mastered Sage jutsu, then he’ll be okay. It’s one of the top tiers of ninja jutsu.” Her Dad assured them, looking very impressed.

Ino smiled. Only Naruto would be able to become that powerful in such a short amount of time. Sasuke and Kakashi had nothing on him once he put his mind to it. And if she wasn’t mistaken, his sensei Jiraiya had mastered Sage jutsu at one time. He was really something.

“I can feel Shikamaru. This way!” Reiko jumped ahead. They crested over a ring of destruction and down below, she saw Shikamaru, Shikaku and some other person. A girl with dirty blond hair and thick glasses. “Shikamaru!” Reiko called out, alerting the others to their arrival.

He looked pretty beat up and dirty. So did the others. “What happened?” Shikamaru asked when he saw Shizune. Ino lowered her eyes a second before taking a deep breath and telling them. Her throat closed in when she recalled the incident.

“I see. So that’s what happened.” Shikamaru looked mournful. “We won’t let Shizune’s death be in vain. We’ll unravel the mystery she tried to solve and find the real Pein.”  Shikamaru told her. “You can whine about all of this when it is over.”

Ino glared at him after he told her that. So what if she was crying! She had feelings! The jerk!

“Shikamaru...” Shikaku looked at the rage in her eyes and turned to his glowering son. “Can’t you say it to her nicer?” He asked trying to save his ass of a son for what he knew was going to come. Ino hissed and grabbed a rock by her. Before she could hurl it at him, someone took it from her hands.

“Dad!” She yelled at him in fury when she looked behind her.

“He’s right.” Her dad tried to reason, avoiding her burning gaze. “The way to make ourselves useful is to find the location of the real Pein as soon as possible.” But even her calm demeanor-ed  Dad was not enough to stop her from exacting revenge for Shikamaru’s crass words. She created a seal and the ground beneath them rumbled. Shikamaru’s eyes became ten times bigger when he saw hand created from the earth grab his leg. His broken leg.

“Ino!” Her dad protested.

“Shikamaru!” The glasses girl cried out, but Ino retrained her with another Earth hand.

“Apologize for being an insensitive jerk right now!” She snapped at him, tightening the hand around his leg. He was stiff, eyes glued to the hand around his leg.

“Ino! Are you crazy?” He shouted, eyes looking wild.

“Apologize!” She yelled again. The fingers steady began pressing together and Shikamaru cried out.

“Alright! Jeeze! I’m sorry for saying that to you!” He said quickly, his breath harsh. “You can whine all you want!”

Ino huffed and rolled her eyes, letting her earth hand grow limp before it turned back into lifeless dirt. “Really, you should know better than to ever say anything like that to me.” She snapped, before standing up and stomping to him. He tried to back away, but a wall of rock and wood debris kept in him place. She grabbed his leg, where she saw the break. “It won’t happen again will it?” She asked in a sweet challenge fluttering her eye lashes.

He pouted before looking away with a ‘tch’. “No.”

She smiled. “Good.” Her hands glowed green to ease his pain. “You!  Girl!” She turned to Glasses. “Find me something to brace his leg with.”

She blinked behind the thick round lenses a few times before scrambling to her feet. “Right!”

Reiko was beside her, smirking down at Shikamaru. “You’re so scary sometimes Mom.” He mused.

“Sometimes?” Shikamaru grumbled. Ino copied Reiko’s smirk.

“I do what I can.” She said airily. Glasses came back with an armful of potential braces. She rolled up Shikamaru’s pants to look at the break. It was already bruising. “This is going to hurt a little.” She murmured before taking a breath and setting it. Shikamaru cried out and gritted his teeth. She quickly suppressed his pain after she tightly tied the wooden braces to his leg.

“Fuuuck!” He groaned letting his head fall back.

“Language!” Shikaku looked appalled and shot Inoichi an apologetic look. But her dad just gave a little smile in understanding.

“Oh Shikamaru! Are you okay? What can I do? Just tell me!” Glasses was fluttering around them like a deranged bee. Ino shot her teammate a knowing look.

You got yourself a fangirl huh? I’m impressed.

Shikamaru rolled his eyes. Shut up.

“Inoichi, you’re a skillful jutsu user.  Are you able to pick up the enemy’s chakra and trace his whereabouts?” She heard Shikaku ask her dad.

“I already tried. But the enemy is constantly changing their chakra frequency.” Her Dad said tiredly. Ino understood. When she first felt the chakra in the meadow after leaving the safe house, it was chaotic. It felt like he was everywhere. “A trace back is impossible. Pein is quite adept.”

Ino sat back on her knees and rubbed the back of her neck. It was true. She was a more skillful sensor than her father and even she was having trouble pinpointing it.

“Use Katsuya as a medium and gather every piece of data available from those who have encountered Pein. The dead may have left some information as well. Even if we have to haul dead bodies, find out all we can.” Shikamaru told them all, taking charge of their dilemma. Ino saw soft pride radiate on Shikaku’s face. Even she was proud of him.

“Wait.” They turned to her father and saw something click on his face. His eyes were wide. “I think I know where to find the real Pein!”

Ino turned to him eagerly. “What do you mean?”

“Did you figure something out?” Shikamaru asked equally interested.

He nodded, eyes hardening. “Back when I looked into the mind of the Hidden Mist ninja who was captured by Lord Jiraiya. His duty was to deliver bodies with his partner.”

“Deliver bodies?” Shikamaru looked thoughtful and Ino was following along his train of thought. A tower. The highest tower. Of course, that’s how he was able to transmit to the other Pein’s. Someplace high without interference was the best place.

“So Pein is somewhere near Leaf in a high place?” The ANBU spoke up.

“So we search all the places close to Leaf at a high altitude.” Shikamaru said quickly.

“We’ll search. You have to stay here.” Ino said pointedly.

“We’ll go in teams of two. Even if you find him, don’t engage in battle.” Her dad instructed.

“Stay here with Shiho and await further instruction.” Shikaku told his son gently.

Shikamaru sucked his teeth in annoyance. “It’s a bitch but I guess I’ll have to do it since I can’t exactly move anyway.” He pouted.

“Lady Katsuya, please let all the stable survivors know about this.” Inoichi said to the slug. “We need their cooperation.”

“Right. I understand.”

“Ino, you’re with us. Reiko—“ Her dad paused.

“I’m coming.” He said stubbornly. “If you leave me with Shikamaru I’ll just leave and find you myself.” He folded his arms defiantly with a challenging tilt to his chin. Aww, he was just so cute, even when he was giving them attitude Ino thought with a gush.

The adults sighed noting the futility in arguing with a head strong ten year old. Even the ANBU sighed in resignation. “He has his Sharingan so he’ll be useful. Stay close to me.” Ino told him with a hand to her hip. “I mean it.”

Reiko rolled his eyes. “Yeah yeah.”

There was a little whimper from Glasses aka Shiho. “This is horrible. The Leaf Village is destroyed beyond recognition.”  Shiho said mournfully looking out over the destruction. Ino knew how she felt. It made her so sad knowing that their childhood memories were all wiped away with the village.

They waited anxiously for the info to gather. She could feel some of Naruto’s chakra waif to them and knew he was in demon mode. Sakura told her that his power depended on how many tails he had. The most she had seen him with was four and Naruto didn’t know friend from foe. She guessed that his attention was solely on Pein right now but she wondered what it was that set him off. Katsuya said that Naruto had been doing good in his Sage Mode.

“We must all evacuate! Get as far away as you can! It’s Naruto. I know because my clone is attached to him. He’s in six tails mode!” The warning rang through the tense air.

Her Dad took a step forward. “But Yamato and Kakashi should have placed a Sealing Jutsu on him!” He said fearfully.

“What happened?” She asked the slug in the calmest voice she could muster. Six tails? That was just unbelievable!

“Naruto became enraged with Hinata Hyuga was wounded trying to save him.” She explained sagely.

“So that triggered his transformation?” Shikamaru asked.  

“Hinata? What happened? Is she alright? Where is she now?” Ino asked with growing dread. What made her want to go out there and put herself in danger? Naruto told them to say back!

“Hinata…told Naruto that she loved him and then Pein…”

Ino’s eyes widened. “She did what? Hinata told that to Naruto?” If she had heard this any other time she would have probably squeezed the breath of out Shikamaru while she jumped up and down with gleeful sequels. But right now, Ino had to admit that Hinata had horrible timing. “Where is she? Is she alive at least?”

“She is alive but she’s needs to be treated for her injuries. I am sustaining her at the moment.”

“Where’s Sakura?” Ino demanded.

“No, the better question is where is Yamato!” He dad said angrily. “What is he doing at a time like this?”

Yeah, and Kakashi. Where were they? After a few minutes Katsuya told them that Naruto and Pein had moved far from the village. She took out one of her special kunais and put it to the ground to feel the vibrations, a seal held to her mouth with the other hand to feel where they were.

“Naruto managed to suppress the Nine-tails on his own.” Katsuya relayed to them after a fifteen more minutes and Ino opened her eyes. That was reliving to hear.

“That big idiot, making everyone worry.” She murmured fondly putting her kunai back in her pouch. She hoped he was okay. Nothing would be the same if something horrible happened to the loud mouth blonde.

“He is currently settling the score with the last Pein.”

“We should be getting ready.” Her Dad touched her shoulder and she nodded and stood from her kneel.

She touched her teammate’s shoulder. Have fun with your fangirl.  But don’t do anything naughty while we’re gone.

Shikamaru was fuming. “Shut up!”

She shot him a grin before leaving them behind. The ANBU broke from them and she and Reiko broke from her dad, Shikaku and an unnamed Hyuga. They began in the south. Her senses were on alert as they sailed through the trees circling to the west. Now that all the Peins were gone she could feel the chakra of the original Pein. Reiko told her she could see it too. His ‘coolness’ chakra. They stopped at a huge towering tree. It looked strange to her for some reason but she restrained herself from going and inspecting it.

“It’s there.” She whispered to her son. “Stop!” She grabbed him by the arm when he was preparing to charge ahead. “You heard your grandpa. We’re not going in there. Besides…” They looked behind her and saw a grim looking Naruto fall on the tree branch next to her. It was a quite four seconds before she sighed.

“You look like a zombie.” She muttered, touching his warm cheek with her fingertips.

He managed a smile. “So do you. I think I see a stress pimple.” He pressed a finger to the middle of her forehead.

Ino smack his shoulder playfully. “Jerk.”

“Naruto, are you really going to go in there yourself? Why do you have to do this alone? Let me and Ino come too!” Reiko grabbed the front of the battered Blonde’s jacket and tugged it insistently.

Naruto looked like he had a lot on his mind. His usually bright blue eyes were dull and almost lifeless. “No. I need to do this on my own. You guys head back to the village.” He sounded so mature to her. He wasn’t the prankster she grew to love. He was a determined ninja right now and she felt her respect for him double in an instant.

Reiko wasn’t easily off put. “But—”

“Reiko, Naruto knows what he doing.” She told him and then glanced up warily. “Right?”

Naruto sighed with a little shrug. “I think I know what I’m doing.”

Ino studied him. “We’ll go back.” She leaned forward and hugged him gently, knowing that he was probably bruised and sore. “Be careful okay. You have to come back alive.”

She felt his arms around her waist. “I got it.”

“Mom!” Both blondes broke apart.

“Reiko! Don’t argue with me.” Ino said in exasperation. “And change your eyes back before we get to the village. They’ll probably be a lot more people out now that immediate danger has been removed.”

He glowered for a second and folded his arms. “Whatever.” He frown faded when Naruto ruffled his hair.

“You looked like Sasuke when you scowled like that.” And he did, Ino thought a little sadly.

“You better come back alive. You still have to go after him too.” Reiko mumbled, his temper receding. He and Ino watched as Naruto jumped down from their tree. “He’ll be okay?” Reiko looked up at her with his pretty green eyes.

Ino gave a firm nod. “He’ll be okay. Come on.”

Four days later, after the battle, after the miracle Pein aka Nagato bestowed on their village, after Naruto’s hero celebration the hard part began. Even though she didn’t use all of her chakra when releasing her Yin Seal, Lady Tsuande still fell into a coma. And word got out about Leaf’s destruction so the council was scrambling to appoint a new Hokage.

On top of all of that, they were beginning to clear the rubble and rebuild Leaf. New faces were arriving day by day to help. For now, she and her family were staying in a basic house. It was one of the first that was built thanks to a talented Capitan Yamato. It still didn’t feel much like a home to her still. They managed to scavenge some personal things from the ruins of their old house before it was swept away. She was happy that at least one of her precious items survived. Her memento box.

“What’s that?” Reiko plopped down beside her in their bare room. He was grimy and sweaty having just come from helping the Academy children and teachers clear away the area for the new school. He was happy to help and to show off. He was going to be another Neji and Sasuke. He was very skilled and becoming really cocky. Even without using his Sharingan, he was looking like a genius to his classmates and teachers. Iruka-sensei was fawning over him and Ino only felt it was right to tell him about his parentage. He was shocked at first and thought she was joking or something. But then Reiko showed him his Sharingan and Iruka-sensei realized that they weren’t lying. He couldn’t quite look at her the same afterwards.

“My whole life summoned up in a box.” Ino said, untying the knot of the damaged and dirty silk purple scarf that held the top closed. “I’m amazed that it’s still on one piece.”

Reiko leaned in. “What’s in it? Something cool?”

Ino laughed. “It’s cool to me.” She opened the top and grabbed the first thing laying on top. It was a newspaper clipping and she unfolded it with great care. “Come and look.” Reiko scrambled to her side and sat down cross legged.

“Hey! It’s you and Sasuke!” He exclaimed. Top Graduating Students Sasuke Uchiha and Ino Yamanaka. The headline read. A black and white picture of them hung among the article. It was when she had grabbed him and kissed him on the cheek with a flirty wink to the camera. Sasuke was scowling, annoyed that she took advantage of the moment. She remembered the heated looks her female classmate gave her. Sakura was livid for two days after. “You guys were the top students?”

Ino grinned in pride. “Of course. Though…Sasuke was always top student. I used to get so jealous of the grades he made because they came so easily to him.” She placed the newspaper cutout to the side of her after Reiko finished looking at it. She then pulled out the notes he left her. The one where he left with Kakashi to train for the Chuunin Finals and the one he had attached to the box of her cedar necklace. The one Reiko always wore. There were some other things too, like her report cards. Some family pictures of the time her parents were married. Lots of pictures of her with Choji and Shikamaru. Birthday cards, her Chuunin certificate and Reiko’s foot print and hand print card. Then, buried at the very bottom was something carefully wrapped in tissue paper. She took it out and handed it to Reiko.

“Here. You might like this.”

He plucked the tape free and unwrapped it. “It’s a shirt.” He said with a frown, holding up the dark blue garment. Ino took it from him and turned it around. In the very back was the Uchiha’s red and white fan clan symbol. Memories of simpler times swamped her.

Are you cold?

Just a little....You’re not cold?

It’s a summer storm. The warm air feels nice…

“Sasuke loaned it to me but I never gave it back.” She murmured, coming back from her memories. That had been the first time they were alone and talked. Them huddled under that hanging cliff seemed like it happened so long ago. She could still feel his body heat on her skin when she slipped it over her head. Then she remembered the way his lips felt pressed to hers that time he left the village. She could remember how hard his heartbeat pounded in his chest when they were reunited at Orochimaru’s base. She could imagine the feel of his fingers on her bare skin, the feel of him inside of her. His smell, his taste, his warmth, his anger and fear, his gentleness and care. She missed it all. She missed him so much it was making her hurt. Like she couldn’t breathe, like her chest was being crushed.

“Hey Mom, don’t cry!” Reiko grabbed her hands and peered anxiously up at her. Sasuke’s voice echoed in her head.

Don’t cry…

She blinked back her tears and pushed her anguish back down and swallowed the bitterness of it all. “Right. I must be tired or something.” She said, stroking Reiko’s cheek. “The shirt…you can have it if you want. Just don’t wear it in public okay?”

He looked up at her sadly. “Okay.” He murmured.

Later that night Shikamaru and Choji came to her house. They looked grave. “What? What is it?” Ino asked them as they shuffled in.

“Is your dad here?” Choji asked, looking around the blank room.

“No. He’s been really busy with Jonin meetings and things like that.” She said, motioning them to the little furniture they had. A raw wooden dinner table and matching chairs. She poured them some tea.

“Where’s Reiko?” Shikamaru asked.

She filled her cup after filling the other two. “Shower. What’s up? Why are you guys looking so serious? You’re making me uneasy. I won’t like what I’m about to hear right?” She settled in her chair and blew on the hot orange spice tea.

They avoided her sharp gaze. “Not really. My Dad came back from a meeting with the Fire Country’s Feudal Lord. Danzo Shimura is the new Hokage.”

Ino’s cup clattered loudly on the table. “What? How the hell did that happen?” She stood up and slammed her hands on the table.

“He all but challenged the Feudal Lord to go against his self-nomination. Tch, those morons as such simpletons.” Shikamaru muttered, disgusted. “But that’s not all. I talked with Sakura and Sai. Some ninja from The Hidden Cloud Village are here. They said that their jinchuriki, the Eight-tails was captured by Akatsuki. He was captured by Sasuke and his team.”

The world spun around her and got colder. She almost forgot how to breathe. Sasuke and Akatsuki? “No.” She shook her head in desperate denial. “No! Sasuke would never…”

“Ino, it was him. They’re sure of it. They wouldn’t come all the way to Leaf if they weren’t sure.” Shikamaru told her sternly.

Ino slowly sank in her chair. “But why would he do that? Why would he join Akatsuki?” Itachi’s warning rang in her head. The one about Tobi and Sasuke working together. She shivered and rubbed her arms to make her goosebumps disappear.

“Your guess is as good as ours. We wouldn’t have expected that from him either. But now Danzo has declared Sasuke as a Rouge Ninja and has given permission for his hunt and capture. Dead or alive. His bounty in the Bingo Book as tripled.” Choji said, rubbing his chin.

“Now are you going to do something?” Shikamaru asked, jerking Ino’s attention to him in surprise. He was standing next to Choji in his Chuunin jacket.

“What?”

Shikamaru sighed and shoved his hands in his pocket. “You think that things will all work out in the end, that’s why you won’t do anything about it. You think Sasuke will find his way on his own, but by now you know that’s not true right? You need to get your head out of the ground and do something about it right now. Before things get worse.”

Choji touched her shoulder. “Ino, you can’t keep running away from this. You have all your pieces set up. You have Itachi and Reiko. You have to find him and talk to him.”

Was that what she had been doing this whole time? Could she really… “But what if he doesn’t listen to me? What if he doesn’t believe me?” She asked them in desperation. She didn’t think she could move him enough. She was afraid he would hate her after she revealed everything.

“You’ll never know until you go and see. Ino, let me put it this way to you. If you don’t do something about him, then we will have to. Us, the Rookie Nine and Guy’s team. I know you. If some other hidden village kills Sasuke, you would go after them. And if you were killed, me and Choji would go after them. And if we died, out parents would get involved. It’ll be an ongoing battle that will never end. That’s why Leaf forces will have to detain him. That cycle of revenge is something Naruto is fighting hard against.” Shikamaru scolded her.

“Ino. This is something you have to do. You can’t just rely on Naruto and Itachi to do something about him.” Choji told her in all seriousness. After, a prolonged silence followed.

“Well?” Shikamaru coached, raising a slender eyebrow. She knew they were right about Sasuke. About all of it. It was hard facing reality but could she really do it? What the hell was going on with him that he had to join Akatsuki? She was so going to kick his ass when she found him!

“Fine. I’ll go but you’re going have to…deal with my dad.” She said finally, rubbing her head.

“We know.” Shikamaru said nonchalantly like he had been expecting that decision. “You’ll have to leave quickly. Choji has a map of the where the battle against the eight-tails took place. If they had to carry him then they can’t be too far from that place.”

“Right.” Ino said, fervently going over her plans for the coming journey in her head.

“And Reiko? Are you going to take him?” Choji asked. Ino bit her lip and looked at the door to her bedroom.

“I think I have to.” She said. “It’s about time I let that idiot know about him and I should be there to…explain.” She sighed. “Besides, he needs to get out of the village and develop his skills more. He’s been feeling suffocated lately.”

“You have to keep in touch with us. Send word whenever you have time.” Shikamaru said. Ino agreed and they left after a while. She waited a few minutes, before entering her room and grabbing her new bag full of new weapons and supplies. Reiko strolled from the shower with a towel wrapped around his skinny waist.

“Oh? What are you doing?” He asked as he dried his hair with a hand towel.

“Get dressed and get your stuff ready.” She told him. “We’re going after your dumb ass father!”