Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Forgotten Ties ❯ Chapter 8: His and Her Circumstances ( Chapter 8 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Chapter 8: His and Her Circumstances

The drizzling of the cool night rain had stopped, and in the calm silence of the after rain, Ino shivered slightly and brought her arms closer, walking out of the medical compound and into the streets deep in thoughts.

It has been three months and eighteen... or is it nineteen...? ... Ok, forget it.

It has been three months plus since the ten of them are stationed in the Hidden Village of the Sands. Looking around, everything seems to be back to normal now. Houses, shops and buildings have been rebuilt, though there were still some ongoing works on a couple of them, like the Kazekage's tower. The dead were properly buried with a memorial sculptured especially for the KIAs while the wounded were in good hands. To top it all, the eccentric Kazekage, Gaara, much to everyone's surprise and utter relief, returned on his own three months ago, though in Ino's opinion, his behavior has been getting suspiciously more eccentric than ever... ...

Anyway, peace and business has resumed and now, even Konoha shinobis can be seen almost every corner of the streets, either helping out some trivial chores or carousing at some roadside stalls or restaurants.

Looking around, it seemed that nothing has happened before.

"Good evening, Ino-chan! Are you feeling better today?"

A kindly voice snapped Ino out of her reverie. She halted her tracks to meet a friendly oba-chan with a collection of wind chimes in her hands.

"Yes I am. Thanks for the concern." Ino answered politely with an assuring smile. Her gaze then went to the wind chimes tinkling away against the soft breeze, in which she couldn't help but run her fingers through every one of it. "Are those hand-made?"

The oba-chan chuckled, "Yeah. It's made by me and I'm giving some away. Here you go." The oba-chan untangled them and handed Ino one of the wind chimes that was adorned with dried sakura petals.

Ino took it with a smile. "Thank you."

"Well, I have to go now! See you around!" The oba-chan then skipped into the boisterous crowd.

Ino admired the wind chime in her hands and widened her smile, thinking at last peace is brought back at the Sands, which leads her to think that it would not be long before they will receive Tsunade's order to head back to Konoha. The homesickness suddenly overwhelmed her and she felt this desperate need for the moment of finality of this mission to arrive. She can't wait to feel the grounds of Konoha beneath her, to breathe in the air of familiarity, to hear their home birds chirping in the mornings, to feel the balmy breeze caressing every part of her body as she trained on her usual grounds.

But most importantly, she really missed the Konoha folks. Not that the Sand folks are any worse, but didn't they say that family are always the best? She missed her parents and she imagined that her dad would be sweat-dropping from her mom's persistent nagging. She missed Tsunade and she imagined she is having one of her 'breaks' now. She missed Shizune and imagined she would be painstakingly nagging at Tsunade's ears, begging her to get back with her work. She missed Asuma and imagined he would be at a corner enjoying puffs of smoke while watching his Gennin subordinates doing their missions. She missed Izumo, Kotetsu, the kindly folks of the neighborhood and she even missed the noisy irritating kids from the Academy and the super unbelievable thing is, she actually missed Konoha's most perverted geezer, Jiraya as well!

Ino chuckled quietly at the thought when a shadowy figure amongst the crowd caught her attention. Her cheery outlook was immediately replaced by shock and recognition as she stood rooted to the ground.

The figure in question was standing relatively still in a distance among the crowd and staring at her. She was wearing a black cloak adorned with red clouds. She is also wearing a fisherman's hat and most of her face was veiled, with the exception of her left eye. Her shoulder-length brown hair was swaying with motion along with the breeze as Ino felt her smirking at her.

(It's her!) Ino realized, feeling her heart thumping faster and faster against her chest. Suddenly, these words flashed across her mind like a bolt of lightning - "Have Sakura heal her."

"That wasn't a dream..." Ino muttered as her mind involuntarily wanders back to earlier where she was down with delirium in the hospital.

-Flashback-

She was down with fatigue initially, which soon developed into fever. As the wounded were many and most of the wards were already packed, she had to share a ward with Temari, who had a ward all by herself because of her volatile temper.

For as long as Temari came into the picture, Ino had never liked this Sandy woman.

Not that Temari has done anything harm to her but she just doesn't like the way she talked, the way she walked, the way she carried herself and her fashion sense simply sucks!

Using her noble Sand ambassador status as a perfect excuse, she always liked to stick around Shikamaru and act as if they are the best team around, for whatever mission Shikamaru undertook, she is always involved! And whenever she tried to talk to Shikamaru, this proud woman would always put her down. ALWAYS! And the hurtful part was that the super idiot Shikamaru would somewhat agree with her and dismissed her away as if she was some dust getting his way! Though sometimes... sometimes he would... anyway! There was never once she felt him on her side. Instead, she felt him drifting further and further away from h.. them. Shika-Ino-Chouji, they were the originals! Since Temari's appearance, everything changed and it totally pissed her off!

And it didn't help matters when Shikamaru looked pretty upset upon learning her sorry condition. And she found herself somehow gloating at Temari when she knew that she was paralyzed from head to toe... Thanks to Sakura. In her opinion, it was a fate worse than death.

-End of Flashback-

Sakura.

Thinking of this lady in question, Ino looked at the wind chime in her hand. As it clinked in accordance with her hand movement, the dried sakura petals reminded her of her best friend since childhood.

(I guess the person I missed the most is Sakura.)

The words played over her mind once more - "Have Sakura heal her."

Ino jolted her head up at the crowd that instant, but the cloaked figure was already gone with the wind. Staring at no one in particular, Ino is set, friend or foe, she is going to seek this Akatsuki member out. And the first clue lies in of course, Sakura, since they were fromthe same organization.

She flashbacked again in the hospital when Temari and her were in their usual sarcastic moods when Ino felt the strain in her head and called upon a truce. She was about to fall asleep when she heard Temari whispered furtively, "There's someone."

Before Ino knew it, Temari passed out.

Ino hardly had her eyes open when she felt a warm hand on her forehead. Then she heard a female voice, "I see."

"Who-" Ino barely made a whisper.

"Shh."

"What-"

"I'm healing you. Stay quiet."

Ino knew it was true when she started feeling alive again. She felt the hand slipping away and when she opened her eyes, her savior was already facing her with her back.

From the way her head turned from side to side with her hands pressing critically on Temari's body, Ino reckoned she is accessing Temari's condition.

She then took the chance to access her. The first thought of her being Sakura crossed out when she saw strands of brown hair lurking behind her fisherman's hat. How was that possible anyway? The last she heard from her sensei was that Sakura was still in critical coma. She focused on her face instead. She tried to catch a glimpse of her looks, but realized her face was veiled as it was obvious just from looking at her sides.

It was then Ino thought the cloak looked familiar. And in that instant, the word 'Akatsuki' registered in her mind.

Ino froze. An Akatsuki member was here yet was left undetected! Either Shikamaru and gang are sleeping or this one in front of her is simply on a different league as them!

Ino stayed flat on her bed, unmoved as she tried to figure a way out. She can't go heads on with her, for she is still short on chakra. Not to mention that feebleness still plagued her. She can't scream. It will just get herself instantly killed or worse, a whole lot more along with her. So the only way out now is perhaps to reason with her, since she seems to mean no harm. If she was to cause more destruction to the Sands, she would have heard news but so far, there was none. If she was to kill her, she would have done so instead of treating her.

"Finished your assessment?" The Akatsuki member tilted her head slightly to Ino when she spoke, causing Ino's heart to skip a beat. Can she read her mind!

(Shit! Did she perform some jutsu on me while I was distracted!)

The Akatsuki member gave a snort, before turning her attention at Temari, "Do you want to save her?"

Ino frowned. What is she trying to say? Ino felt offended as she tried to sit up from her bed. "Well, should we say, can you heal her?" Ino folded her arms with her legs crossed, giving a humph with her eyes narrowed. "Don't think by showing off your superficial medical skills would convince me that! Even Tsunade-sen-"

"I didn't say I can." The lady interjected with a calm and somewhat nonchalant attitude. But Ino thought she sensed amusement in her voice as well. She was about to retort when the lady voiced again, "But I know there is a person who can."

Ino closed her mouth in response, assessing the credibility of what she just said. And the next thing happened so fast that Ino was unable to produce any defensive reaction. She felt her eyes closing and her body falling back on her bed as she vaguely caught the veiled Akatsuki member facing her.

And the last words she heard before passing out was "Have Sakura heal her."

-End of Flashback-

"It's not wise to stay in the crowd when you're unwell, you know."

Ino was reeled back to reality when she whirled around to find Shikamaru standing right behind her. Her gaze went to the ground.

Shikamaru thought it was weird. Usually, Ino would retort or somehow answer him. Maybe her fever or fatigue has gotten into her but still, Shikamaru finds that Ino's recent behavior is arousing his suspicions. He can't help but feels that Ino is distancing herself from him, whom he can't figure out why and it's disturbing him. He started to wonder what has he done or said to cause such change in Ino's attitude towards him... ... ... ... ... ... supposedly... ... none.

Women are the most troublesome AND unpredictable creatures, Shikamaru concluded finally. But still, he can't help but worry over her. He caught her walking aimlessly in the streets earlier when the gang was eating in the restaurant that Ino passed by. She met this oba-san with a collection of wind chimes in her hands and she received one with a charming smile. She was smiling to herself when her hands suddenly dropped to her sides and the smile on her suddenly died. It's like she saw someone in the crowd but she didn't move. After a moment, she played with the wind chime in her hand, as if nothing happened. It was then Shikamaru got suspicious and decided to check her out.

"Ino." Shikamaru started to say. In a quick move of hands, Shikamaru tried to place a hand on Ino's temple, but she managed to dodge it by smacking his hand away.

Shikamaru frowned.

"What's the matter with you? Something is wrong and you're not telling me."

"I'm fine!" Ino snapped, feeling an unknown irritation creeping up her mind whenever Shikamaru tried to get this up close and personal with her.

When Shikamaru stood there saying nothing, Ino thought she is letting her emotions getting the better of her, which she knows she shouldn't. Shinobis must not show any emotion in any situation and have to put the mission as his first priority. Isn't that what's taught to her?

"I'm still feeling a little unwell, alright. I only come out to get some fresh air."

"I see."

Both remained silent for a moment, before Shikamaru brought up the one topic that Ino hated the most.

"So how's Temari?"

Ino bit her lip, her grip on her wind chime tightened as she snapped, "Why don't you go see her yourself!"

Has the gap between them become so wide that they can only talk about Temari, Temari and Temari! He has been fussing over her since the day they were in the Hidden Village of Sands and DAMN! SHE HAD ENOUGH!

Shikamaru's brows creased into a scowl. Just what the hell is the matter with Yamanaka Ino! Is it so wrong to ask about a friend who happened to share the same ward with her? She has been acting hot and cold towards him for these past three months and hell, ten out of ten times, it was him who gave way! And YES! HE HAD ENOUGH!

"Fine!" Shikamaru answered with a growl of anger, throwing his hands up before turning his back to walk away from the temperamental woman. So much for worrying about her!

"Fine!" Ino rejoined, obliviously jerking the wind chime in her hand, causing it to tinkle more than it should as she too, walked away in the opposite direction, the Akatsuki kunoichi all but forgotten.

-+-+-+-+-+-

The Akatsuki kunoichi who was on Ino's mind a while ago narrowed her visible left eye to her left.

She was on her way to Konoha BUT someone is hindering her.

At first, she thought it would be either Konoha or the Sand trailing after her, but then she crossed the possibility out.

If Ino had already told on her, they wouldn't just send one shinobi after her, wouldn't they? And it couldn't be Ino herself as well. The blonde lass shouldn't have enough chakra yet to trail her this far. Besides…

This one has been following her for quite some time already. Most probably from the moment she stepped on the grounds of the Sands.

She murmured an expletive. This tracker is also pretty good.

She was only able to detect him now.

When she thought she lost him days ago.

Weighing the situation, she decided to feign ignorance about it. She needs to get to Sakura in the shortest time possible and since this trailer showed no signs of wanting to step out of the shadows, why not just continue with what she has to do?

Yeah. Waking Sakura is her topmost priority now. As long as their mole remained sleeping beauty, they will never accomplish what they set out to do.

So this one, would have to wait.

She leaped swiftly from tree to tree, using the moonlight as her guide to the place where she used to call home.

-+-+-+-+-

Uchiha Sasuke narrowed his eyes at the Akatsuki kunoichi moving adroitly somewhere in front of him. Determining the route she is taking, Sasuke reckoned she is most likely heading for Konoha.

And the discovery totally repulsed him.

That was one place that reminded him how weak he can be. It was also a condemnable place that the Uchiha swore never to return.

But, why was she going there? Sasuke started to wonder.

Earlier, he was monitoring the situation of the Sands in and out. Simply put, he was in the Sands for as long as Naruto and gang were. Although he was careful, there were also times where he was nearly discovered. But he managed to get away before he was really discovered.

Days came and go and just when Sasuke started losing his patience, she appeared.

Keeping a very low profile, she lurked among the people, seemingly assessing the village as she moved around with disguises. Sasuke immediately recognized her identity the moment he caught her with the infamous cloak and hat, which she cleverly disguised the minute she was in the Sands. And he noticed she was deliberately avoiding the ten of them, for whenever anyone of them came near, she would always slip away and observed them in a safe distance. That's when his curiosity was piqued. Why was she avoiding them?

And she was pretty good, in Sasuke's estimation. She sensed he was following her the moment he was on his toes but all she did was to get away from him instead of challenging him.

Again, she shunned.

Atypical, considering she was one of the Akatsuki's.

And she did one unexpected thing that totally baffled Sasuke.

She actually treated Ino.

And left.

Her actions were totally off the line, in Sasuke's opinion, which is why he decided to stay in the shadows with the intention of finding out what her motives were. Of course, there were also other reasons. Tracking a shinobi in the same organization asItachi, it would be easier to acquire his whereabouts, rather than hopelessly wishing that he had some unfinished business with the Sands.

It was almost dawn now and Sasuke kept his watchful eyes on the kunoichi. She was constantly moving throughout the night, only taking short rests from time to time. Her hastiness in getting to Konoha only baffled Sasuke all the more.

Suddenly, the thoughts linked fittingly in his mind.

Was she going for Sakura?

Before he could help himself, he threw a kunai at one of the trees that the kunoichi was about to pass.

Startled by the sudden move, the kunoichi halted and swiveled around to face him. Sasuke landed on a branch not afar from her and they stared at each other for a moment.

“You finally decided to show.” The kunoichi simply stated. She raised an eyebrow when she recognized the pair of crimson cold eyes staring right at her.

(So it's Itachi's younger brother, Uchiha Sasuke. No wonder…)

Sasuke smirked. “So you know.” Then he narrowed his eyes. “You're heading to Konoha, what's your purpose?”

“You think I'll tell?” The kunoichi countered with a hint of sarcasm. “It's none of your business anyway.”

Sasuke clenched his fists. It's none of his business? Perhaps she was right. It was indeed none of his business now when it comes to Konoha. But when Sakura comes into the picture... … … … … he is making it his business, period.

“That's not for you to decide.” Sasuke stated.

The kunoichi lifted her fisherman's hat and looked at Sasuke with a slightly tilted head. She was wearing, Sasuke noticed, a ring on her right hand ring finger that stated `medic' in kanji.

“You're contradicting, Sasuke-kun.” Strands of her shoulder-length brown hair got into her way and she brushes it off, her unmasked left eye never leaving the younger Uchiha. “What is your purpose?”

(I should have expected she knows me. Hn…? Is the scratched emblem of her forehead protector the… the Leaf…? ) Sasuke thought with surprise and tried to keep his patience in check. This kunoichi has a way with words and it is irritating him. Not to mention he had no recollection of her being a shinobi of Konoha. “Identify yourself. And that, was my question to you. Answer it or die.”

“So what answer would you like to have?” The kunoichi answered, shrewdly bypassing Sasuke's question.

Sasuke gritted his teeth and his stare intensified. He can't believe he is letting this kunoichi leading him by the nose! But he decided to give her One. Last. Chance.

“The truth.” Sasuke said.

The kunoichi snickered. “You can't handle the truth.”

That's it!

The nerve in Sasuke snapped as he lunged at her with a growl. “I assumed you choose death!”

BUT when his fatal blow was only an inch away…

“I'm going for Sakura.” The kunoichi stated calmly.

Sasuke froze his moves.

And if truth be told, his moves actually froze her blood.

(That was some impressive speed he got there… One second late means bye-bye for me… and he didn't even activate his Sharingan… I'm glad I hit the point. Damn…looks like the rumors about him are true… … … … Just how are you going to deal with him huh, Itachi…?)

“You're going to assassinate her?” Sasuke hissed, getting straight to the point.

The kunoichi stayed quiet and studied Sasuke while weighing the situation she was in. Meeting Uchiha Sasuke was certainly unexpected. She decided she mustn't fight him, for she needed her charka for Sakura. Escaping was also out of the question. Because if that worked out, NOW wouldn't be happening. But she noticed he was pretty uptight about Sakura…

(He stopped when I mentioned Sakura. Now he even wants to know what I'm going to do to her. Wait… is that concern I saw in his eyes? If that's the case…. …)

“Answer me!” Sasuke growled and grabbed her up before slamming her down onto the tree trunk.

The kunoichi flinched from the pain but made no defensive reaction. Instead, she lowered her gaze and chortled, quivering her shoulders as she allowed herself to be pinned by Sasuke on the trunk.

Sasuke yanked her up and hissed, “What's so funny, bitch?” before delivering a thigh kick towards the kunoichi's abdomen, causing her to choke.

Still, Sasuke was baffled as to why she made no efforts to defend herself.

The kunoichi looked up. “You are so hotheaded, Sasuke-kun. The two of you are as different as day and night…” The kunoichi's visible left eye twinkled with intent, “You and Itachi that is.”

Immediately, she got flung away, in which she reflexively grabbed on to one of the tree branches and gazed at the fuming Sasuke, who already had one of his fists against the tree, a sign to show he was really pissed about the comment. She didn't expect he would fall into such petty tricks but she guessed the elder Uchiha does deserve such huge reaction after all.

(Getting myself killed only defeats my purpose as well. I guess I should stop the provocation and get on with business…)

Sasuke glared daggers at the Akatsuki kunoichi. He hated to the core when people compared him with Itachi. It's not like they are twins or whatever it is for the matter. So what if they are both from the Uchiha family?

The fact stayed.

He killed the whole Uchiha clan and he is the avenger of their clan. Are they really that blind to see this fact?

As his stare intensified, Sasuke decided he would make the kunoichi regret that she ever existed. He would torture her beyond her wildest imagination and make her tell Itachi's whereabouts, before letting her rot in the wilds without a burial ground to rest her soul. She would rot in hell for eternity, Yeah, that's what she gets when she provoked this Uchiha.

“Why don't we cooperate?”

“…” Sasuke was a bit taken aback for he didn't expect this coming from her. He narrowed his eyes. What the hell is she talking now? She is suggesting collaboration? For what!

(Is she up to some tricks?) Sasuke thought then.

“You know, you help me and I help you.” The kunoichi stated, as if Sasuke didn't understand her words. “To tell you the truth, I'm not going to assassinate Sakura.” The kunoichi paused, rearranging her outfit. “Instead, I'm going to save her.”

“…”

The kunoichi paused again, this time observing the expressions of Sasuke, whose scowl deepened with his jaws tightened. “As you might know, Sakura is in critical coma and may die any time. Not only she suffered two Sharingan attacks, she also has some old wounds inside her. That's why she is in such terrible state right now.”

“…”

The kunoichi smrked at Sasuke's hesitation. “And mind you, even the medical specialist, Tsunade, can't do anything about it.”

“…”

“If you think I'm lying, that's fine with me. But-“ The kunoichi drawled deliberately, her expressive left eye beaming with anticipation. “If you aid me in treating Sakura, in exchange, I will tell you where Itachi is.”

“…”

“Hn?” The kunoichi thought it was weird. Wasn't he supposed to be excited about the offer? Why was he acting so calm about it? Though, she wasn't really expecting his help about intruding into Konoha but since she can't shake him off… that's the best thing she can do now.

“You expect me to believe that?” Sasuke countered skeptically.

(So he was still suspicious of me. Well, he should be.) “No. But it's all up to you really. Help and we all gain or hinder and we all lose.”

Sasuke gave it a serious thought. “What old wounds were you talking about Sakura? And why are you helping her? Didn't you guys want her dead? How did she get involved with the Akatsuki in the first place?”

The kunoichi cocked her eyebrow. She didn't thought he was the inquisitive type. And she couldn't well tell him the truth. To feed him with perfunctory answers was also not an option. He was too witty for that. She signed, “First, she suffered an unknown mind technique four years ago, which she would suffer attacks from time to time.”

“From who?” Sasuke interrupted.

“I don't know. When we got her, she was already like that.”

The Uchiha lowered his gaze and the kunoichi thought he had him there. “Second, it was Itachi and his gang who wanted her dead, not mine.”

Sasuke looked up and frowned, his temper beginning to show.

“To tell you the truth, I'm not supposed to go to Sakura. The organization would be hot on my heels if they know about this.” The kunoichi lied cleverly, not forgetting to close her eye as if on rue.

“Then why are you doing this?” Sasuke asked.

“Sakura was on my team. I can't bear to see her like that. And like you, I hated Itachi.”

“And?” Sasuke probed, his voice devoid of emotions as he straightened his shoulders.

“And she got involved with the Akatsuki because of you. That's what she told me. She wanted to help you in your revenge.”

Thr kunoichi watched as Sasuke muttered something under his breath. Inwardly, she knew she scored victory against Uchiha Sasuke. “That's my answers to your question. Believe it or not, the decision is yours.”

“Let's get this over and done with.” Sasuke replied coldly, his gaze wondering upfront where a couple of Konoha buildings came into view.