Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Closer ❯ Chapter 39

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

AN: Yeah we’re just jumping in it. Be warned, MATURE content…

He missed this…missed her taste and her heat. He missed the way she sucked on his lower lip before nipping it. Mmm, the pain was exquisite, the way her tongue rolled over it and soothed the bite made his mouth water. He was rising, growing thick and hard with pent up hunger that even his lower belly quivered with need.

He broke from her lips and trailed little nibbling kisses down her neck to her collarbone, running his hands up her purple shirt and pulling it over her head. A long sleeve black ninja mesh was under and he could see the way her nipples peaked under. He untucked that from her pants and it joined her shirt on the ground. He had a chance to marvel at her tempting breasts, cupped in a lacey black bra that made his mouth water and his gut clench. He caught her hands when she fingered the bottom hem of his shirt. He wanted her bare first, wanted her free from all her restrictions.

“That’s not fair.” She whimpered, titling her head back as he nibbled his way down her throat. He could feel how hard her blood was pulsating against his wandering lips, frantic with her budding desire. He eased her onto the bed, hitching a knee between her legs as he crawled over her. He took a clothed nipple into his mouth with a hungry suck making her arch off the bed with a sensual moan. He smirked against her chest feeling empowered by her reaction and twined their fingers, bringing her arms over her head. With slow deliberate stokes of his tongue, he worked his way down to her belly button before letting her hands go to pull the button free of her black pants. He leaned back on the bed, taking the clingy material with them until her smooth legs were bare. Under his lashes, his eyes wandered hungrily down her slender figure. Her Earth Brand was dark in the shadowed room, but he could feel Earth power pulse through it. Like desire pulsed through him, humming and vibrating through his being. His fingers hooked onto the low cut lacey underwear and he peeled them from her like he was uncovering a present. Ino was always groomed, sometimes in a little strip, sometimes in a neat little triangle. But she was bare this time, smooth like a pre-pubescent girl. He pulled them down her legs before getting rid of them all together.

Then he kissed his way back to her, starting at her ankle, up her calf and knee. Her felt her thighs quiver the closer her core came to his mouth. He was straining in his pants, it was becoming rather painful. But he forced himself to go slowly, to savor the softness of her inner thighs. Her hands were on his shoulders, pressing down and trying to stop his progress so he grabbed her wrists roughly and pinned them to the bed while he tasted the first of her moistness. Tangy and sweet, he became heady with the smell of her arousal. She yanked her hands free and covered her mouth to muffle her shriek of shocked pleasure. He tongue dive between her folds and his teeth grazed that sensitive bit of flesh that had her bucking off the bed with a throaty scream. He rolled then flattened his tongue over her, a free hand inching up her trembling belly to pinch a hardened nipple. She hissed, moaning sensuously when he sucked her swollen nub sending her into her first orgasm of the night. She was fisting the blanket, holding on as she spasmed with her release.

Quickly, he undressed and directed her to turn over on her belly. His knees made the bed sink lower and he pushed her head down into the pillows so she was positioned right, with her hips inclined to meet his. He rubbed his length between her folds, coating himself with her moistness. It made her more aroused, he could tell by that purr low in her throat. He pinched the back of her bra to undo the clasp and flung her last piece of clothing across the room. Her cheek was pressed into the feathery pillow, long blonde hair spread across it with her bangs almost covering her flushed face. Then he inserted a finger into her heat, along with his pulsating shaft. He watched her stretch and take him in, bit by bit. Her channel clenched tightly when he filled her completely he had to bit the side of his cheek to keep from finishing before he even started. His abs were tight with control, for a second, he didn’t want to move. He just relished in her heat, in the sight of his complete penetration of her. He rubbed her back, sliding his thumb up her spine making her shiver with a whimper. He removed his finger from her core and her knees parted in the bed a little bit more to accommodate him. He groaned and finally…finally moved. Withdrawing just a little bit before getting into a rhythm with her. Gloved so tightly within her velvet channel Sasuke almost lost control of his speed. She was practically sucking on his shaft with every thrust of his hips. He didn’t want it to end any faster than it should, and he had plans on keeping her moaning and whimpering until the sun came up. He withdrew until he was almost out of her, and then filled her with hard lengthy thrusts making her arch her back with a startled but pleased groan.

He kept his hand on her neck, kept her pressed into the pillows. Around him, her inner muscles clenched and he gritted his teeth. She was going to climax again and she was going to take him with her. It was almost excruciating, how fast his primal sexual hunger began to mount. He wanted to dominate her and he wanted her to scream his name. And he couldn’t lie, part of him wanted to hurt her a little from what he learned tonight. From all her damn secrets.  With his pace getting out of control she was screaming into her pillow as she tightened around him. But then she brought her punishment to an end when she rolled her hips to break him from his punishing assault. That was his undoing. He gripped her around the waist, using his arm to anchor her close while he wildly thrust in her. He had enough rational in his mind to bring her legs together, changing the tightness of her and changing the angle as well. She was getting louder, panting harshly and she gripped the pillow while he throbbed inside of her. He felt himself begin to vibrate and by this point, he didn’t care if he was overwhelming her with his ruthless penetration. He wanted that roaring fire that scorched his blood when he orgasmed. But then that promised explosion suddenly came to a halt when he remembered their earlier conversation. She must have been reading his mind.

“It’s okay.” She panted and rolled her hips in encouragement. “IUD.” She moaned. “Birth control.”

His relief seemed to feed in his frenzied hunger and he vibrated and throbbed savagely. His sac tightened and with a loud roar he let go and brought them together with hard almost vicious thrusts, rubbing her swollen clit with his fingers so that she would join him in their climax. She screamed and buried her face in her pillow. His whole body shuddered powerfully as he emptied himself in her. Stars danced in his vision and his stomach muscles tightened.  When he came back down to earth his whole body felt heavy and sated. His lower back was tingling with his orgasm and he was still buried inside of her, not wanting to lose their link.  He pushed her down completely, breathing hard, head swimming. They were both panting, sweaty and boneless. He fell to the side of her, his chest rising and falling with his labored breathing. Ino was still on her belly, her blue eyes peeking through her curtain of hair.

He waited until he caught his breath before dragging her close to him and rolling her on her back. He kissed her hungrily and pulled her rubber-band from her hair so that he could take fistful of her silky strands. He tangled his fingers and wrapped it around his hand with a twist of his wrist and pulled so she would raise her chin and he could explore her throat again with his lips and teeth. He could feel her pulse beat wildly on the side of her neck. He shifted his weight more fully over her settling between her thighs, hardening eagerly. He pulled her long legs up to his waist so that she could wrap them around him. Her heels dug into his back as he slid back home, into her wet welcoming heat. He braced himself on his arms, rocking over her. She felt hot and soft under him, small and vulnerable. Cradled between her eager thighs, his body pressed hard against hers. Her nipples brushed his chest and he nipped that little spot on her neck that would send waves of pleasure clashing through her whole body. She cried out and shuddered underneath him and he took her lips for another bruising, possessive kiss. The sound of her throaty moans and their hard slapping flesh quickly took him to heaven again. And no matter how hard and rough he pounded into her, she fervently arched up and to met him every time, digging her nails into his back and biting his lip so hard he tasted his own blood.

But pain and passion had always been in their desires. She looked like she bruised easily, like this kind of desire crazed brutality would be too much for her, but he knew she could take more. Take every bite and slap with dark pleasure and give it back to him in equal measure. They had always tried to dominate one another, with him trying to prevent her from topping and her making him loose control faster. Sasuke immensely enjoyed their power struggle in the bedroom.

By the time they climaxed again he had left a pretty impressive love bite on her collarbone and his back felt like it was in shreds. She bucked her hips and it was his turn to be on his back. It happened so fast, he knew she used some kind of chakra induced strength. He felt her smirk against his mouth and he tried to grab her hips, but she forced his hands away, intertwining their fingers and leaning down, spreading his arms slightly to his side while she rose up on her knees and rolled on top of him. He groaned in pleasure into her mouth, her tongue swirling as her hips rolled in a circular motion. Her long blonde hair tickled his thighs and her bouncing breast begged for his touch. She knew how to work her body to please herself and he conceded to letting himself be used. He chuckled mentally and bucked his hips just the right moment while she grinded herself on him. She shuddered over him, purring sensuously, her blue eyes dark with desire before starting her ride with an excruciating slow pace. Power struggles indeed, they could both play at that game…

Reiko had fled the room when he first heard the disturbing noises coming from the room. The loud shower had blocked the sounds at first, but when he had shut off the water he heard low sounds of moaning and groaning. He flushed scarlet and quickly dressed, still sopping wet. Luckily there was a second door that led into the living room space. He stuffed his clothes in his bag and left the room, glowing as bright as tomato. What the hell did those two think their doing? They were supposed to be talking not…argh! Don’t think about that he yelled to himself mentally, stomping down the hallway. He jimmied another room open when his sensors told him that it was empty. It was way smaller than their previous room, but to him it was the perfect escape.

“Stupid hormonal teenagers.” He muttered, kneeling on the clean wooden floor and opening his bag. Had to go and get distracted while they had important things to do. He irritably pulled out two summon scroll, black and white and placed them side by side before digging back into his bag and grabbing his little tin can with little strips of paper in them. Neatly, he wrote two different notes on each one before blowing on the ink and setting them aside. He unrolled the white scroll and bit his thumb to summon a carrying pigeon. He carefully attached one of the notes to the snow white bird before opening the window and gently tossing it in the air. That one was going to Shikamaru and Choji telling them that they found Sasuke and where they were. His next summons was a large black crow with red eyes. It cawed loudly when it was summoned and Reiko hissed at it to be quiet.

“We’re trying to keep a low profile here.” He tsked and attached the other small paper to it with the same message. “Keep your beak low.” He whispered to it before tossing it on its way. He put everything back in his bag and climbed on the twin bed that stood low to the floor. He was exhausted and he had to be on his game tomorrow when he had to face Sasuke. He scowled and let out an annoyed breath. If his parents even get to it. Tch, talking his butt!

She had never been so spent in her life…or numb or sated. Even their first night together back in West Base had never been so…thorough. Her whole body throbbed with lingering pleasure and even though she wasn’t much of a cuddler, she was too exhausted to move her head from Sasuke’s chest. And her cheek sticking to his skin wasn’t helping either. They were covered modestly at the waist, but she just wanted to kick the blankets off. If she had the energy. And she didn’t. How long had they been at it? It seems like time had stopped for them and everything blurred together so she didn’t know. Hours, glorious mind numbing hours of pleasure.

“We still need to talk.” She sleepily told him, wanting to press her knees together to stop her throbbing. Be she couldn’t move an inch. Even keeping her eyes open was a battle.

“Later.” He rumbled, burying his nose in her hair. Ino sighed in content and closed her eyes. Before she knew it, morning had come. And so did her pains. She winced, lazily activating her healing chakra and easing the rawness she felt between her legs. Her whole body felt like she had been put through a brutal training session with Lee and Guy-sensei. She managed to untangle herself from Sasuke’s possessive hold. But it woke him and he dragged her back to him. She was on her side and he gingerly kissed her, licking her top lip for her to open up. His kisses always made her heady and wet. He had such a skillful tongue and put just the right pressure into his kisses that his lips molded her hers in a tight lock. He hooked his hand under her knee and penetrated her smoothly. She gasped into his mouth, still feeling a little tender despite her hasty healing earlier.  

“Sore?” He murmured, withdrawing before he stretched her again with another slow thrust.

“Mmm, we had a long night.” She whispered, her core burning with his tentative intrusion. He rolled her on top of him, totally surprising her in the process as she slid all the way down, burying Sasuke deep to the hilt. Deep, he was so deep her belly warmed with heat.

“Use that jutsu.” He urged, bucking his hips making her bounce on top of him. “Go fast.” He commanded, and she did. She rode him hard and fast, leaning over him, taking a fistful of his dark, oh so soft hair. She made sure they kept eyes contact as she fervently work herself into an exploding orgasm. Their frenzied, intense coupling made his Sharingan become active. She couldn’t force her eyes away and stared wondrously into his new Mangekyo Sharingan, falling helplessly into a black and red word full of blinding sensuous pleasure. Everything inside and outside of her became extremely sensitized, overwhelming her, trapping and drowning her in mindless pleasure. She could feel her medical chakra bloom inside of her, linking with her cursed seal. Sasuke gasped out loud by the intensity of it and griped her pumping hips hard with both hands; she could feel it take over their bodies. It threaded into every cell of her and his black and red world shattered with blinding light yanking her back into the real world. Her belly quivered, her thighs trembled and her orgasm hit her like a typhoon washing the whole room in pale green light. She screamed, only to have Sasuke seal their lips together and swallow it.  He was holding onto her so tightly like he was afraid she was going to fly away. Or maybe to keep him anchored to this moment.

She was violently convulsing, taking his jet of semen deep inside of her while he finally let out that loud satisfied groan that vibrated in his throat. She came again, less violent this time, it tailed onto her last orgasm making her delirious with overwhelming pleasure. She swallowed his exclamation of gratification like he had swallowed her scream. His arms trembled around her and he let his head fall back onto the pillow taking her with him. She could feel the hard beat of his heart under her hot cheek as she managed to gulp in some air.

“What…was…that?” She wheezed, her nerves prickling in tingling awareness as they tried to recover from…whatever that was. Even her chakra core was spasming in delight. She caressed his chest, fingering one of his male nipples in exploration.

“Something…amazing.” Sasuke breathed out stroking her back with same kind of affection she was in small calming circles up her neck, under her hair. She shivered, goosebumps emerging on her naked flesh. She didn’t want to move again, but after they both seemingly recovered, she detached herself from his soft shaft and rolled off the bed feeling her Sutra Healing Jutsu work its magic. Semen dripped and rolled down her inner thighs but she wasn’t sore anymore, only a little shaky. But she had to get out of bed, or they would never leave it! Her long blonde hair felt heavy down her back and she knew it was probably in a complete mess. She looked at the door, reaching out with her chakra to see if Reiko was out there. But he wasn’t.

“What?” Sasuke sat up, looking so mussed and smexy she had to furiously banish her emerging thoughts before she was tempted to slip back into is strong arm.

“Reiko. He’s not in the room.” She said a little worriedly. Sasuke frowned a little and tossed a look at the door. She expanded her sensors, sweeping as much as the inn as she could from her position. There, she felt him and she smiled.

“Did you find him?” Sasuke stood in all his naked glory. Ino’s eyes danced over his well toned form in appreciation.

“He’s a couple of doors down.” She murmured and flushed a little before starting to the bathroom. “We were pretty loud.” And he heard! How would she be able to face him? Sasuke ‘tched’ behind her.

“You were.”

She pretended to look affronted. “We were.” She twisted the plastic knob of the shower, testing the raining water to make sure it was hot enough. The soaps were still there, telling her that he must have left in a hurry. “Poor Reiko…I hope he’s not traumatized by it.”

Steam began to fog the small bathroom and Sasuke pushed her in, pinning her against the cold wet tile. “He’ll get over it.” He murmured in amusement before kissing her.

Ino knew what he was doing and she bit his lip. “Quit taking all the water.” She said trying to push him back away from her so that she could get under it. His hair was already drenched and small rivulets of water ran down his….NO! Don’t let him distract you Ino! He’s hogging all the water!

“Just stand close.” He teased, pulling her into his wet arms, under the hot water. She closed her eyes, letting the water run through her tangled hair and down her face, erasing the sweat and smell of their long long long night. Showering with him was always dangerous. Simple things like washing and rinsing always took them to places that mimicked sex in so many ways and in the end, before they finished they always succumbed to the actual act. He pushed her into the corner of the shower with her breasts mashed against the wet tile. His breath was in her ear, harsh and quickening as he took her from behind. Their unrestrained vocals bounced off the bathroom walls, with him almost as loud as her. The water made her slick and easy to move in and out of and the wet sounds competed with their moans and whispered words of encouragement.

“Harder.” She moaned punctuating the command with a clench of her inner muscles. He picked up his pace and bit her ear lobe hard and then bit that sensitive nerve in her neck, thrusting so deep and hard into her, her nether lips felt bruised. Sasuke had her pinned ruthlessly to the wall of the shower. She felt him throb within her sensitive channel and she closed her eyes tightly when he massaged her clit as he thrust three last times before muffling his cry of completion against her wet shoulder. Ino shivered when the water started turning cold and they quickly rinsed themselves before exiting the water. They had to hurry and dress to get warm again.

Now fully clothed in fresh outfits, Ino sat on the bed and began the task of combing out her long tangled hair. “What time is it?”

Sasuke was folding his dirty clothes and repacking them in his bag. He had on black pants and a zip up white shirt with the Uchiha clan symbol in the back under the collar.  “I don’t know…noon?”

She tied her long tresses into her standard ponytail, clipping in her red berets and messing with her bangs until they fell right. “I’m starving. I wonder if Reiko ate. I’m beginning to feel guilty about not thinking of him.” She checked again to make sure he was still in the inn and found that he was.

Sasuke strapped his bag close. “We’ll get him and get something to eat.” He ran a hand through his damp hair. She knew that habit. He was nervous. There were only a few times (very rare) when she saw him nervous before. He usually kept a cool head. She was getting nervous too, thinking of them all finally being together. She chewed on her lip. She still had to tell him about Itachi and she still wanted to grill him on his involvement with Akatsuki. But her belly grumbled and she sighed mentally. One thing at a time.

She made sure the door was locked tightly (and Sasuke weaved some traps in place) before slipping on her snow boots and cloak. Reiko’s chakra signature was only three doors down and she knocked hesitantly, looking at Sasuke to see that he was a little bit behind looking distracted. When her son didn’t answer she knocked harder and louder. His footsteps stomped to the door and he opened it furiously.

“What?” He snapped looking like he just got up. His short blonde hair was in a tussled mess, and his cheeks were pink, pressed with little imprints of his pillow weave. Ino raised a brow and when he realized who it was, his scowl faded a bit. “Oh, it’s you.”

“Yes me.” Ino said sarcastically. “What time did you go to bed last night?” She demanded, hand on her hip.

He groaned and rubbed his eyes before skewing her with accusing sage green eyes. “What time did you?” He shot back. Ino’s mouth dropped open and she flushed. She could feel Sasuke’s amusement in the air and she gave him a little glare. He found this humorous? The jerk! She was sooo embarrassed and Reiko smug little smirk made her want to smack him. Smack Sasuke too.

“Just get dressed and meet us down stairs.” Ino bristled hotly and pointed him back in the room to do as she commanded. She hit Sasuke’s arm as she passed him in irritation.

“It’s not funny.” She growled, stomping down the stairs. Ten minutes later Reiko joined them outside dressed in dark blue pants and a maroon shirt with his winter fishnet mesh under. There was this underline tension in all of them. When she realized no one was going to talk, she cleared her throat.

“Any place is good then?” She asked and began walking down the bustling afternoon streets of Chi Waters. She had spotted this BBQ place she wanted to try when they first arrived in this village. She blamed Choji and Asuma-sensei for getting her hooked on BBQ. It was the only place they went to after a successful mission.

When the slender, brown haired brown eyed waitress’s eyes landed on Sasuke, she quickly cut off her conversation with a fellow co-worker and scrambled eagerly in front of them all smiles and giggles.

“Table for two?” She flirtatiously batted her eyes.

“Three.” Ino corrected. The waitress glanced her way in disinterest and gave her a fake apologetic smile.

“Right three. This way please.”

She and Reiko exchanged looks. Reiko shrugged and followed Sasuke and Ino blew her hair from her face. “Some things never change.” She muttered before following as well.

She focused on the back of Reiko’s head. Reiko, Sasuke still doesn’t know about Itachi being alive.

To his credit, his steps didn’t falter. What? Why?

We just didn’t…get to it yet.

She felt his irritation through their link. What did you get to then? Does he know about me at least?

Yes. He knows…

And?

And what? I don’t know what’s going through his mind. Just…be easy on him okay?

You think I won’t?

You’re sounding pretty defensive right now.

I’m not defensive!

Mmhum…right.

I’m not.

“Here we are.” The waitress took them to a booth against the wall and blocked the side Sasuke sat on so she and Reiko were forced to sit on the opposite side. Ino let her intent flare and the waitress paled a little realizing that she was dealing with ninja before giving into a little laugh. “Anything to drink?” She backed away from Sasuke.

“Tea.” They all said together. She left quickly and Ino flipped open her menu. She could order two of everything right now, she was so hungry.

“So…where is your team?” Ino smiled behind her menu when Reiko finally broke the ice after a long moment.

Her heart was beating frantically in her chest for some reason. “They should be on their way. They had to get all of our things.” Sasuke murmured. Their tea arrived. “Where’s Aio? He’s not traveling with you anymore?”

Reiko’s composed expression broke a little. “I don’t know where he is and I don’t care.”

Sasuke stared at him in interest. “Falling out?”

Reiko glared into his tea. “Something like that.” He muttered. Ino knew the reason Reiko was angry at the big black cat. He had lied to him about Sasuke. But she knew why he did and she was grateful. Things could have turned out differently if Sasuke knew who Reiko was before Ino could tell him. She didn’t know where he was right now but it looked like Reiko wasn’t going to forgive him any time soon. “Ino tells me a lot of things have happened with you since I left to Honey Kiss Springs.”

Ino turned to him in surprise. He was going to bring this up now? He was a daring one. Or maybe impatient like her.

“And I assume for you as well?” Sasuke said back, easily countering Reiko peaking curiosity.

Reiko smirked. “You could say that. You’re good Sasuke, turning my question into yours. I can see why they call you a genius.” Their eyes locked, green and black undaunted by each other.

Ino raised a brow. Were they…challenging each other? She could feel it building between the two. She didn’t know if that was a good or bad thing right now. But it was certainly interesting and amusing. Male egos were truly a confusing thing that rose up with sight provocation. Ino returned her attention to her menu. Boys. They ordered but even that didn’t change the sparking rivalry developing between father and son.

“They say that about me too and I learn pretty fast. You won’t be able to completely stall my inquiries with that little trick.” She heard the smugness in her son’s tone and she resisted the urge to roll her eyes. He sounded like Sakura just now.

Sasuke seemed amused by Reiko’s haughty talkings. “Is that so?”

Reiko smiled in his disarming way. “It is.”

Luckily their food was delivered. Both she and Sasuke ordered two hearty entrees each. Her first bite of her savory thick beef stew practically melted in her mouth. The slight spicy heat of it warmed her insides. Soup was the official meal for winter she thought fondly. Her grandma would always make her special beef soup when she felt the first bite of chill in her bones. Ino wasn’t much of a cook herself, but it didn’t stop her from attempting to complete the recipe. Her dad was the perfect guinea pig.

Her BBQ pork was sweet and greasy. Choji was always the one who flipped the meat and seasoned it for her and the others. As she chewed, she wondered how her team was doing. Her Dad was probably pissed at her by now and she felt a pang of guilt and longing hit her. She hated saying goodbye to him through a note and it was going to take a long time for her to build their trust again.

“Aww look guys. The whole family is together.” The all turned to that familiar voice. “You were right Karin, we would find them here.” Suigetsu had pasted on a good humor toothy grin. “Cute picture, really.”

“Suigetsu!” Reiko exclaimed in delight. “What took you guys so long?”

Behind him, he saw an annoyed and grumpy looking Karin. Beside her was a young boy with red hair and red eyes. He looked to be just a tad older than Reiko. So serious looking too.

“Karin has a lot of shit to pack.” He hitched a thumb to the red head.

Her magenta eyes narrowed behind her lenses. “I do not you asshole!” Karin smacked him in the back of his head making Suigetsu’s happy go lucky mood slip.

His jaw ticked and he whirled to her with a wild angry glare promising murder. “What did I tell you about doing that you bipolar bitch!”

“Stop.” Ino had to assume the boy who snapped irritably at the bickering pair was Juugo. Why did Sasuke recruit such a young teammate? She studied him in curiously, reaching out and feeling deep dark churning chakra simmering just below his surface. Powerful chakra.

“You guys haven’t changed much. Except you Juugo. Why are so small?” Reiko peered over her looking up and down at Sasuke’s young teammate with concern.

She saw Sasuke absently rub his chest across from her. His team looked expectantly at him to see if they should say anything. “It’s a conversation that we’ll get to.” Was all he said giving his team a meaningful look.

“When?” Reiko demanded, eyes going a bit hard.

Sasuke looked steadily across to him, locking eyes. “Later. Finish eating.” His tone left no room for argument and Reiko flushed and slumped beside her with a pout.

Don’t be like this Reiko. Trust me, we’ll find out what’s up with him. Be a little patient okay?

“Aww, don’t look like that. You make me want to run out and buy you a puppy!” Suigetsu joked, poking Ino in the arm for her to scoot over. He slid his blade off his back and settled close to her, pressing Reiko to the wall. Ino saw the excited look on Karin’s face when she saw the empty spot next to Sasuke, but Juugo beat her to it. Ino covered her pleased smirk behind her tea glass as she took a small sip. Then she felt the Suigetsu’s heavy arm drape around her shoulders and she turned to him.

He was grinning deviously, and knowing his personality, she knew he was intentionally trying to provoke Sasuke. And from the dark, threatening looks they were receiving, Suigetsu had succeeded. She shrugged his arm off to save them both.

“When did you guys arrive?” Sasuke asked calmly, keeping a pointed, warning look at Suigetsu as he played with the ends of her hair.

“Early this morning.” Karin said dismissively.

“There was some commotion around town about some trouble outside the wall. Your doing I assume?” Suigetsu snagged a roll from her plate and stuffed a piece in his mouth.

“It wasn’t me.” Sasuke said catching her gaze. Ino paled a little, faint memories of what had happened last night building rapidly in her head. Kabuto had been there last night and forced some kind of overwhelming power on her. She could still fell it tear through her coils and fill her to abruptly she swore she was going to suffocate under it. The other Ino had emerged and she had to fight with everything she had to stay in place and not go running to him. Her whole body had locked itself in one position and she felt like she was hanging in infinite nothingness. Between two worlds.

Someone was holding her hand. She could feel its warmth and tenderness and she broke from her disturbing thoughts to see Reiko peer up at her with big concerned green eyes. “Do you remember what happened last night? I was so scared when your seal started going berserk and you…you…”

“Pulled three souls from three bodies.” Sasuke finished. Ino lifted her horrified eyes to his steady dark ones.

Ino shook her head. “What?”

“It’s true! I saw it all. I can still hear their screaming in my head and your eyes were all glowy and white like there was nothing but that freaky white chakra inside your body!” Reiko’s voice rose.

Suigetsu reached behind her and put a hand to his mouth. “Lower your voice kid. In big places like this, there is always someone listening.”

Reiko flushed and pushed his hand away looking guiltily around. Ino still held Sasuke’s gaze.

“It was Kabuto…He’s gotten powerful.” She said in a low even tone, digging her nails into her seal.  “I felt him.”

Karin eyed her. “I always wondered what had happed to him. Why didn’t you kill him when you killed Lord Orochimaru?” She looked up at Sasuke.

“He’s not mine to kill.” He said with a small shrug of his shoulder. “But you’re sure it was him?”

Ino sighed, suddenly feeling very tired right now. She always felt a little overwhelmed when she thought of Kabuto and his hold over her. The other Ino was distressing enough, but now she had to deal with this whole new problem. “I’m sure.” She wasn’t very hungry anymore and let Suigetsu finish off her BBQ pork.

“Did you guys eat?” Reiko asked Karin and Juugo pushing his plate to them in an offering.

Suigetsu snagged some of his BBQ chicken. When Karin saw him do it, he retracted her hand with a disgusted sneer. Suigetsu just smack his lips in exaggerating pleasure. “Yes. Earlier. When are we going to leave this place?” Juugo asked, turning to Sasuke who was slowly finishing off his rice.

“Where were you headed?” Reiko asked with a trace of suspicion in his bright green eyes.

Karin’s lips lifted into a vicious smirk and her gaze connected hard with Ino’s. “To destroy your beloved little Leaf Village.”

Ino wanted to laugh at first. She was kidding right? She heard Suigetsu suck in a breath and Juugo looked at her in all seriousness. She finally turned her eyes to Sasuke and saw him stare steadily back at her without an ounce of emotion flickering in his hard obsidian eyes. Everything Itachi warned her about came swimming to her mind in a swell of bitter sadness and denial so fast and so hard that she was finding it hard to breathe.

…what if…he decided to attack Leaf? What would you do if he wanted to destroy your home?

“Why?” That one word managed to escape her trembling lips and she searched his eyes desperately for an answer. “Why would you do that?” She stood up so quickly, her tea spilled on the table.

Sasuke stood as well, stiff and vibrating with dark rage she felt it shake her sensors to the core. “You want to do this here?” He asked evenly in a dead voice that made her insides clench in fear. She wasn’t sure if being alone with him was a good idea, but she was already stalking out of the restaurant. Quickly, they entered the forest, sailing into the trees until she felt they were safe enough away from Chi Waters. She couldn’t feel anyone close to her, but knew Reiko would probably come and find her.

She spun on her heel to confront him. “Are you crazy?! What the hell is going on with you? Akatsuki? Destroying Leaf?” She finally screamed at him, eyes flashing furiously at his ever-impassive expression. “Leaf is our home!” And it’s already been destroyed…

“Not mine anymore!” His stoic expression finally shattered into a mask of pure rage and hatred. “Not after I learned that Itachi had to suffer to keep their peace!” Ino’s eyes widened. Was he talking about what she thinks he talking about? Who the hell told him what had happened? It had to be that Tobi guy Itachi warned her about. “They live on the ignorance of my brother’s death! All of them! Severing all my bonds with Leaf is the ultimate purification!”

Ino’s heart felt so heavy. “Does that include me and Reiko then? We’re part of Leaf Village. Everyone we love is there, all our family and friends. If you destroy that, you’ll destroy us too! Is that what you want?”

He took a step forward and she took a step back. “You won’t be going back there. After everything is wiped clean, after Itachi’s death is avenged, all of us will have a new beginning.”

Ino shook her head, tears threatening to fall from her eyes. “You sound just like Kabuto.” She whispered mournfully. He looked like she struck him. “He said the same thing to me, telling me that he’ll take me away from everything and everyone I know. Don’t make me hate you like I hate him Sasuke. Stop this madness. This isn’t what Itachi wanted at all!”

She blinked once and soon her vision was filled with Sasuke’s black and red Mangekyo Sharingan. He had body flickered so fast, her sensors didn’t pick up on his chakra until after he had wrapped his hand around her neck. The back of her head hit a tree and she winced in pain. His grip on her vulnerable windpipe was loose, but she could feel the quivering restraint flex in his fingers warning her that at any moment, he could begin to squeeze the life out of her if he wanted. She grabbed his wrist with both of her hands.

“And what do you know about what he wanted? Did you see everything in one of your little dreams?” He mocked dangerously.

Ino gulped and forced herself not to remove her eyes from his. “Yes.” He did not expect that answer from her because his whole body stiffened and his eyes widened. “I did see it. It was the last thing he showed me.”

His hand slid from her neck lifelessly, his fingers brushed her collarbone. “What?” Suddenly, he looked up. Startled, Ino looked up as well and saw Reiko drop from the trees. Sasuke jumped back as Reiko stood defensively in front of her, his eyes red and narrowed.

“What do you think you’re doing?” He hissed at Sasuke, his chakra turning hot with fury.

“Move out of my way child, before I make you.” Sasuke didn’t hold back his intent and Reiko faltered in his stance.

But he stiffened his spine and summoned his courage. “You can try and make me!” Reiko shouted back in challenge. The air shifted around them, both Sasuke and Reiko were locked in silent unseen Sharingan battle. She could feel their chakra wrap around them like a cloak.

Oh gods, what was going on? How was this all happening at once?! She didn’t want to say anything, afraid that Reiko was going to get hurt if he lost his train of thought. Deep inside of her, she was fervently hoping that this was all just some bad dream. That Reiko and Sasuke weren’t fighting each other. Then Reiko grunted and held a hand to his eyes. Sasuke broke out of whatever Sharingan spell he was under, breathing hard.

The young boy recovered and quickly went through some seals in rapid succession. “Fire Release: Great Fireball jutsu!” Reiko took in a deep breath, filled his lungs with air and chakra and blew a massive flaming ball from his mouth. Sasuke’s eyes widened and he countered with his own fireball. Both attacks roared loudly together rapidly heating the chilly afternoon air and melting the snow on the ground.

“Stop it!” she screamed at them, covering her eyes from the brightness of the jutsu fires that clashed together like a thousand explosion notes had detonated all at once. But they ignored her, flickering close to each other where they began some one on one taijutsu. Sasuke was fast, years of cultivating and developing that skill made Reiko no match for him in the long run. But Reiko was a genius too. He caught on to Sasuke’s fighting style after mere minutes and tossed in some kunai tricks that she saw Itachi show him which caught Sasuke off guard.

“Stop!” She yelled at them anxiously, looking back and forth at both of them. Her pleas distracted Reiko and Sasuke took advantage of that and grabbed him by the front of his cloak and pinned him to a tree. The initial force, rather than Reiko’s back hitting the tree caused it to crack. Reiko was breathing hard, angrily trying to free himself from Sasuke’s grasp.

“Tell him Ino! Tell him about Itachi or I will!” Reiko yelled at her casting her an extremely furious look.

“Tell me what!” Sasuke yelled, his chest rising and falling with his barely suppressed anger. When Reiko decided that she wasn’t fast enough he growled and turned his attention back to Sasuke.

“Itachi is alive!”