Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto! Enjoy

A target would fall to the ground followed by the sound of a sharpened kunai knife falling in pursuit.

Sasuke had awoken bright and early. He had been taking a casual stroll out about in the forest. Something he would often do when he was bored, yet had a lot on his mind. The idea of idly socializing with others members of his team was not something that he found very practical and would rather spend his time alone or training. Stopping for a second he would take a look up to gaze at the sky taking in the sight of the sun rising and enjoying the feeling of the cool yet gentle breeze of the wind. Such a view would ease some of the much had tension that he held within himself towards his brother. Hatred and anger he hoped to one day ease by killing Itachi.

Now that his head had been cleared he would find himself standing in a clearing of circular trees. Such an area would give him the ability to train, and with much anticipation to further develop his skills, while having a pretty good scanning of his surroundings.

A smirk would appear on his face as he would walk picking up the knife along with many others. Sasuke had been training for the past 2 hours as he would wipe the sweat from his forehead. His training would be cut short however as he could hear someone approaching, his guard now fully up, as his would rest his hand against the hilt of his sword; -ready to draw it at the possible unknown enemy.

Ino had been sent on a search, seduce, and assassinate mission as would be expected of all kunoichi's, but it had been awhile since she had done one, so she was a bit out of practice. The mission was mostly a success. She had killed the target, but was walked in on a second after in had been done. So she had to escape quickly. She threw kunai with paper bombs attached, to both sides of the entree way. She dashed out the window as the bombs exploded and ran as fast as possible away from her destination.

Of course getting away wasn't going to be that easy. The body guards of the person I killed knew what I looked like, so she expected them to be on her tail soon. Her plan was to hopefully lose them in the woods, but unfortunately they got back up. She could feel all of there chakra's signatures getting closer. She could spot 10 of them with her senses, but then something through her off guard. It was a familiar chakra, but it had been awhile since she had come in contact with it. She could not put her finger on who it might be, but she decided to go towards it since her situation wasn't getting any better. Maybe this person could help her out.

As she got closer it started to dawn on her who's chakra that is.

"Sasuke"

She spoke under her breath. This may not be as good of an idea as she thought, but it was her best bet. She got to the clearing where she could see him clear as day, but she stayed hidden just in case he decided to try something. After hiding she connected with his head via mind reading. She could hear his thoughts and he could hear hers.

"Sasuke" she said in her mind, so that he would hear her. "Sasuke, it's me Ino. I need to know that you won't hurt me if I reveal myself, so answer me either in your mind or out loud."

"Ino..."

His eyes would widen only a sliver as the raven haired ninja looked into the direction of where the blonde ninja might have been. It would be odd to say that he wasn't surprised that she was there. His hand would relax a bit on the hilt of the sword as he began to relax dropping his guard a bit as she didn't seem to have any ill intent towards him.

But what was she doing out here? Why was she hear so far away from the leaf village and what was her purpose? Was she sent here to get information, to capture him or perhaps kill him? He was after all listed as a wanted rogue ninja. He couldn't help but ponder on these questions as his hand firmed back at the hilt once more drawing his swards and inch from its sheath.

"What do you want?"

Ino rolled her eyes listening to all the different scenarios going through the Uchiha's brain and as much as she wanted to punch him for assuming so quickly, she was running out of time. The enemies ninja were coming closer. So she made the bold decision to just appear 5 feet away from the crimson eyed male. Her long blonde hair flowing behind her. Her blue eyes locked with his red ones and with a stern voice.

"I'm being followed. I am on a mission and it has nothing to do with you, but I do need your help. I may or may not have assassinated the leader of a village and got caught. If you help me take them out, I will owe you one, Sasuke."

He would remain silent from this point on as he cased eyes on the Blonde for the first time. 3 years had been a long time. She had changed a lot form the last time he saw her. To think that she had grown so much, to be able to hold her own for this long against so many ninjas. To have made it this far all on her own. He couldn't shake the idea in his mind that maybe this was a trick. After all she was trained in the art of deception. Needless to say it wasn't his problem nor did he wish to get involved. He held his ground as they circled her paying her no mind. After all, he owed Ino nothing. She was just one less person that he would have to deal with later.

She could feel the chakra of the enemy drawing close. It is risky asking for help from the Uchiha because with a flick of his wrist she could be done for, but then again she would probably end up dead anyway considering she can't out run the others. This is almost a lose/lose situation for her. Her eyes went to the hand that was on the sword. He was ready for combat. Ready to eliminate anything in his way. Ino just hoped she isn't one of those things. The enemy all dropped down behind the blond beauty and charged in her direction. Not caring about the other presence. "Please Sasuke, help me."

Turning his back to her he would simply walk away from her giving her a small smirk.

"You have nothing I could want. Have fun."

Ino figured this was going to happen. She never did seem to be able to trust the Uchiha. The look of surprise didn't go unnoticed though. She had already accepted her fate, so she got out a kunai and was determined to stand her ground until her death. She turned away from the Uchiha to face her enemy, eyed one of them ready to attack.

He simply just didn't care about her or her situation in the least. He did find it a bit interesting though. Such a set up would be perfect for his training. Perhaps now was the time to see just how effective and powerful the alterations of his chidori had become. He turned back around watching as they circled her. His Original idea would be to take them all out not regarding Ino or her safety but that would prove too easy. The challenge lied in curving the attack in a way that would divert around Ino and only hit the enemies, as he had never attempted such a think before. Nonetheless it was practice to him.

"...Chidori Stream!"

Focusing his chakra he would perform the technique as he focused the attack successfully curving the technique around the female striking all of them enemies that surround her leaving them severely crippled and injured if not dead.

Ino watched in amazement and the powerful chakra rushed around her. I gave her goosebumps just being around such power.

The attack was not perfect as a wave of it may or may not have ripped at Ino's skirt and clipped a few strands of her hair. He wasn't a master of such a techniques but he had been working at it for days.

She dropped the kunai she had in her hand and fell to her knees in shock. Her heart pounding as fast as ever. She didn't even notice that he had snagged her a bit, nor did she care. She was just happy to be alive at this point. She wasn't quite sure what had changed his mind, but now was not the time to ask. All she could do was be thankful.

"Thank you, Sasuke"

The male would recollect himself, resting his arms beside himself as he stood straight. He had been pleased with the result although a little distraught at the fact that it touched Ino. It wasn't perfect yet but the technique was getting there. He took a deep breath as his eyes fell shut for a moment and then reopened slowly. Looking around he would take notice of the fallen ninja and then to Ino.

The thought of saying something to the blonde would cross his mind but he instead he restrained himself from making any comments to her. I'm his mind, any chit chat with her was unnecessary and pointless. He would turn around, his back facing her now as he began to motion away from her a step at a time as if he never met her.

She snapped back into her own mind and looked around seeing all the limp bodies laying around her. Her heart was still racing at a million miles a second. She slowly got to her feet and turned in the direction Sasuke was. She watched for a second as he walked away from her. Should she go after him? What would she do or say to him? He didn't have any business with her. Hell she is completely surprised he even saved her. She thought maybe there was still some thing in his heart that he felt towards his old comrads. She had the biggest urge to pursue and find out.

She got to her feet and made her way over to him. As she got a little closer the first thing that came out of her mouth seemed silly to her.

"Sasuke wait, don't leave me here."

After she said it, she mental face palmed herself, but she couldn't take it back after she had already said it. She completely expected him to ignore her and just continue his journey to where ever he may be heading.

"Don't leave you here?...I've been training; becoming stronger so that I can one day accomplish the goals that I have set out to achieve and you think that I'm at worried about leaving you here?..."

Sasuke wasn't much moved by Ino or the words that she had spoken to him. He didn't much care to have a pointless conversation. He didn't dislike her but he didn't see the value in such idle chat. To him this conversation was nothing more then maybe a way that she would try to convince him to return to the village but it had been far to late for that. He couldn't turn back now or more so he wouldn't.

She was actually surprised she got a response from him. She expected him to ignore her stupid cry and just continue what he was doing. It almost made her a bit curious as to why he did stop and comment. While he was talking it gave her a chance to catch up to him.

"If you weren't worried, why did you stop? You could have easily just ignored my ignorant attempt to get your attention and just continued walking. I admit, I'm not quite sure why I cried out. I guess I was just in a bit of shock and you are a familiar face, so I just reacted."

Although he wanted to believe in Ino, he didn't want to take a chance on a feeling. He had come too far to lose his way now.

"So you were sent on an assaination mission? Why would you tell me such a thing? I'm sure that's classified information to a rogue like myself? Perhaps this is all just a trick to get me to come back...to capture me..?"

With a slow pull he would draw the sword. Now stopped in place he would turn around to face her, raising the blade up to hold it out towards her neck.

She completely ignored the fact he had a sword directed toward her. She took in his appearance a lot better. He hadn't changed much, still the dark hair, pale yet tan complexion, red eyes since he never turned his Sharingan off, which she knew was understandable. He still had the same none caring vengeful attitude, but he was at least taller and more built that he was the last time he saw her.

"Yes, I can tell you have definitely grown in power, but the attitude could be worked on a little, still pretty much the same since I last saw you. I only told you because I needed help. I'm not going to spill the details of my mission, that's just ridiculous, but I can say I'm not here to get you back. I'm not Naruto or Sakura. I could careless what you do with your life, if you truly believe that I'm here to try to harm you in anyway, then flick your wrist and end me. I physically cannot stop you, I can admit that."She closed her eyes and waited for his decision

The rogue ninja would feel a bit at ease hearing her words. He didn't really think ill or low of Ino at all. He remembered the days of them being genin; working side by side with her and the other leaf genin. He could remember her always being around to offer her support, even at times when it was completely unnecessary. Times that he had been grateful for and enjoyed. However those days were long gone and a memory of the past.

"What I think is of little importance. The only things that matter are the facts which are, that you stand before me right now. And so I wonder what that truly means for the two of us? You know where I am and you could report my whereabouts to someone else, in particularly the Leaf village. Which, in return could lead to my demise, all because I proved to be too weak to eliminate someone who could of been a possible threat. That is something that I simply cannot leave to chance."

A slight smirk curling to his lips, Sasuke would redirect the blade now angling it toward her neckline.

"You didn't think I would simply let you go did you? You're reverse physcology won't work on me either so you can stop playing the role of the tough girl."

Ino was having a rough day. She has escaped death once today, so he may not be as forgiving this time around. It wasn't going to stop her from trying though. She didn't show it in her body language, but her eyes did show a combination of fear and concern as she slowly opened them. She peered into the red hues of the male before her and the smirk he had on his face, how she longed to see that smirk, but as part of a different scenario. The concern in her eyes were more for Sasuke, he was so lost. This side of him was very different. Never would she have thought he would kill an old comrad, but then again he has tried to kill Naruto in the past, multiple times in fact. She did still worry about the raven haired shinobi in front of her. She started to answer him after he finished talking.

"I'm actually very interested in what you think and your opinion on the matter. Do you feel our meeting each other was by accident or do you feel I had truly planned it? I have always been an open book about my feelings, you of all people should know that and I feel that this here" She pointed to his heart. "is telling this here" She pointed to his head. "something completely different than what you are currently deciding to do, but since you find your self siding with your brain, which you probably think is the smart idea, then I guess I don't see why you wouldn't get rid of me."

Why the hell was she babbling, was this her way of comprehending the fact he was ready to kill her or did she think she could actually talk her way out of it, but he still hadn't done it. The anticipation was going to probably kill her in the end anyway. She bit her lip to try to hide her fear a bit more. She then suddenly felt chakra signatures quicky heading in their directions. They were moving fast as well.

"Sasuke, someone is coming..."