Tsunade crossed her arms in front of her chest, tapping her foot not waiting for a response from Kakashi she continued. "I want you to go to my office and wait for me Kakashi. Shizune dispatch an ANBU to retrieve Inoichi and Jiraiya. I want both of them there as well." Shizune nodded and went off to attend her duties and Kakashi quickly started for the Hokage tower.
Tsunade made her way to Naruto's room. It was still early in the day and it was already the worst she had ever had since taking on the roll of Hokage. She could feel the headache already creeping into her skull. She needed some sake. As she walked she though about what she was going to say to Naruto and how he would react to Sasukes execution.
"Kakashi and Inoichi are going to pay for what they did. How could Kakashi leave Naruto like he was something less then human? Isn't he all about loyalty and team work?" She thought. As soon as she was done checking on Naruto she would deal with them. Making her way down the hall that led to Naruto's room she vaguely hears the muffled sounds of crying.
She quickly walks up to the door and peers in through the window to see what is going on. The scene she sees breaks her heart. She wipes the tears from her eyes takes a calming breath and enters the room.
Ino quickly broke the kiss to see who had just interrupted them. Blushing she looked up to see Sakura standing there in the door way with red, puffy, tear stained eyes, and a look of pure disbelief on her face. Ino quickly recovers. "Sakura what's wrong?" Ino sat down on the chair next to the bed.
Sakura quickly shacks her head shuts the door and walk over to the bedside of Naruto who had rolled over to face away from the girls. She would deal with why Ino and Naruto were kissing later. Sakura took a deep breath and let it out to steady her nerves. "Sasuke-kun was executed just a few minutes ago by Tsunade-sama."
Naruto's breath hitched in his throat, he rolled back over to meet Sakura's gaze, her eyes swimming with unshed tears. "What happened on the mission Naruto? Why did Sasuke-kun have to die?" Naruto continued to look at her for a moment more till he burst into tears. "I'm sorry Sakura-chan. I'm so very sorry.
He kept repeating it over and over again. Ino was shocked that Tsunade would execute Sasuke. Not because she was still crushing on him no. Seeing what really happened at the valley quickly dispersed those thoughts from her head, that and because almost all who went on that mission came back seriously injured most of all Naruto.
It all seemed like a waste to her and seeing Naruto crying like that she could not stand it any longer. "Sakura Naruto is in no shape to answer that right now. Give him some time to deal with all that has happened." She stands up and wraps her arms gently around the crying boy. Naruto wrapped his arm around Ino's waste like it was a life line crying into her stomach. Ino was going to go on but the door opened to reveal Tsunade.
Sakura was stunned once again. What was Ino doing kissing and now hugging him like it was a natural thing to do? What happened between these two? She was about to ask when Tsunade entered the room. "Excuse me Sakura." Tsunade brushed past her doing some hand seals. When she was done she lays her hand on Naruto's forehead and he slumps forward. Tusnada and Ino catch him and lay him back on the bed.
Ino looks up to Tsunade. "I put him to sleep don't worry." Tsunade continues. "Ino I want you to show what happened to Naruto to Sakura. Follow me." Ino nodes and the three of them move to a vacant office at the end of the hall. Once there Tusnada nodes to Ino and she starts to form the hand seals required for the jutsu "Hold out your hand Sakura."
Ino takes hold of the hand and sends the memories to her. Sakura's eyes glass over for a few moments and then tears started to fall again. Racked with sobs Sakura crumples to her knees hiding her face in her hands. Ino was about to try and comfort her but kneeling Tsunade beats her. "I want you to go back to Naruto's room and think about what you just saw he should be waking up again soon.
Ino I would like you accompany me back to my office. I would like you to show those memories to some people and I have a new mission for you." Sakura stood and exited with Tsunade and Ino behind her. The two groups heading in different directions one back to Naruto's room the other the Hokage tower.
Once Tsunade and Ino made it back to the Hokage tower they made there way to her office. Inside already waiting for her were Kakashi and Inoichi sitting. Jiraiya was leaning on the wall. Tsunade motioned for Ino to sit and walked over to her desk and sits down. Placing her elbows on the desk she interlocks the fingers of her hands to rest her chin on them.
Starring hard first at Kakashi then Inoichi she begins. "Ino please show Kakashi, Jiraiya, and your father the memories of Naruto." Ino stands up forming the seals for the jutsu for the third time that day. She places her hands on each of the men's hands Jiraiya walks over and places his hand on top of Ino's. There eyes glass over for the moment and when the memories finish Kakashi closes his visible eye and looks away.
Inoichi on the other hand did not even look bothered by what he saw. Tsunade was seething with anger that Inoichi did not even show remorse to what happened to Naruto. Kakashi at least realized how bad he messed up. Well she was going to fix there wagons now. Ino quickly went back to her seat.
Be for Tsunade could begin however Jiraiya walks in front of Kakashi, looks at him long and hard in his one eye. Without even the slightest of telling movement Jiraiya punches him right in the face. Kakashi and his seat slide back several feet but remain rooted.
"You call your self a ninja of leaf village Kakashi. You're nothing but trash you bastard!" Jiraiya started forward ready for more and Kakashi got up in some attempt to defend him self. Kakashi was stunned. That punch made him see stars."Enough!" Tsunade roared standing up. Jiraiya stopped his advancement on Kakashi who quickly scooted back to his original place. You could not see it but his right check was broken and a couple teeth were loose from that punch.
Tsunade settled back in her chair and fixed her gaze back on the two offending men. In an icy tone she spoke. "Inoichi Yamanaka for disobeying an order by the Hokage and Kakashi Hatake for leaving a wounded shinobi and your own student in the field I am demoting you both to Chuunin." Inoichi's stood to protest but what ever words were on his lips died as Tsunade radiated killer intent.
He hastily sat back down and she continued with a dark look on her face that dared them to try and protest farther. "In addition Kakashi you are removed from your command of team 7. Inoichi, Kakashi if you ever pull stunts like that again…well Ibiki will have two new toys to play with. Furthermore you are both on probation till I say other wise.
You are both very lucky that I need ninja now more then ever after the invasion or I would have you both sent back to the academe. You are both dismissed." Both men promptly stood bowed and exited the room. Jiraiya let out a breath and sat in one of the vacated seats. "I assume you want me to take Naruto on as my personal student now." Jiraiya stated.
Tusnada shook her head no. "Not just Naruto but Ino as well, he is not in the best of shape mentally and I want Ino to keep an eye on him." Jiraiya nodded. "It's a good idea, someone to keep track of his mental health after this whole ordeal."
Ino was taken back by what she just heard. "Excuse me Tsunade-sama but I am probably not the best for this type of job maybe it would be best to ask one of my other relatives, also what about my team?" Tsunade looks at Ino.
"This is an A-ranked mission requested by me Ino. For the time being I want you to spend time with Naruto and look after his mental health. I trust you Ino. You saved someone who I conceder a little brother. Besides I don't know anyone in your clan besides you that sees just him and not the Fox.
As for Sakura she will be temporally moved to your team while you are on this mission." Ino agreed with what Tsunade said about her other relatives. "I will do my best Hokage-sama." Tsunade smiled and reached into her desk pulling out some money. "Thank you Ino. Your fist task is to go get some take out ramen and bring it to Naruto and also inform Sakura of her transfer as well."
Ino muffles a giggle with her hand. Tsunade knew Naruto to well. Taking the money she bows to Tsunade and quickly exits the office. Tsunade lets out a long breath and looks over to Jiraiya. "Sake?" Jiraiya nodes his head while Tsunade reaches into her secret drawer pulling out a bottle and two cups. It was happy hour somewhere in the world
When Sakura went back into Naruto's room she made her way over to the chair next to the bed and sat down. Looking at Naruto lying there, covered in bandages all over the rest of his body. She could not stop thinking about what happened to him at the valley, how he kept his promise to her, Sasuke's execution, and how weak she was compared not only to him but to the genin.
She would not be weak any more. She was going to do something about that. She was brought out of her musing when she heard stirring coming from the bed. Looking back she saw Naruto sitting up looking back at her and in a weak voice said. "Hi Sakura-chan."
Ino got the ramen and quickly went back to the hospital. Not stopping she went strait to Naruto's room. Looking into the room she sees Naruto is awake and talking to Sakura. Not having a free hand she sets the food on an empty food cart near the door. She knocks and enters the room bringing the cart with her.
Naruto looks past Sakura to Ino. "Hi Ino-chan is that what I think I smell?" Ino blushes at the new suffix attached to her name by the ever hyper ninja. "Yeah Tsunade-sama brought us all some ramen." Sakura did not miss the suffix or the blush ether. She was going to get to the bottom of what happened with Naruto and Ino. It was just one more thing to do after she visited Naruto.
"Thank you Ino." Sakura said accepting the offered bowl. Naruto on the other hand was ecstatic at the kind gesture of a ramen lunch. "Oh wow ramen thank you so much Ino-chan!" Ino blushed. She wheeled the food try to him with his ramen and chop sticks. He gulped his meal down quickly while the girls ate at a more reserved pace.
No one said much while eating and Naruto and Ino would steal glances at each other when they thought the other was not looking. Sakura watched Naruto and Ino from the corner of her eyes and she did not miss the glances they were giving each other when they thought the other wasn't looking. When Ino and Sakura finished they dumped there cups and Naruto's. Ino clears her throat to get ever ones attention.
Deciding that now was probably the best time to tell Naruto and Sakura the news. "Naruto. Sakura." She waited a beat and then continued. "Kakashi has been demoted to chunin and also been removed as team 7s leader." Both remaining members of team 7 were stunned. Naruto was the first to recover and asked. "So what is going to happen to me and Sakura-chan?" Ino continued with the rest of the news.
"Naruto you and me are going to be placed on a team with Jiraiya and Sakura will be placed on team 10." All three of them were quiet after hearing what Ino just said. Sakura did not know how to feel about all that has happened this day. It was just revelation after revelation today. It was making her head spin. Deciding now was the best time to take her leave. Standing up she walks over to Naruto and gives him a gentle hug.
"I am sorry I made you make that promises Naruto. It was selfish of me and it won't happen again. You're always going to be my teammate and friend." Standing back up she turns to Ino. "Ino can I talk to you for a moment in privet?" Naruto gave a true warm smile to Sakura as she left.
As soon as they were in the hall and the door had closed Sakura started with the third degree. "So Ino-pig what's going on with you and Naruto?" Ino blushed red with embarrassment. "Why? Jealous billboard brow?" Ino said with a smug look on her face. She did not even know what she was doing with Naruto or were it was going to go.
Sakura sputtered a protest. "No it's just first I see you kissing him then you two are placed on the same team with Jiraiya. I just want to know what happened between you two." Sakura said finishing in a small voice and looking down at her feet. Ino sighed she did not know if she should tell this to Sakura.
Ever since the chuunin exam they have been rebuilding there friendship. "Sakura what you don't know from just watching those memories is that after Kakashi grabbed Sasuke and left Naruto at the valley his mind shattered." Sakura looked confused so she continued. "When I use my jutsu on some one I usually see there mind as an orb. Naruto's orb was broken and scattered.
When I was reassembling his mind as I touched it I saw his memories as a side affect. It was so sad all the memories of him being beaten or tormented by a random villager or a mob, all the hidden glares at him, and even my own father would not help him." Ino eyes began to water and tears quietly fell as she continued. "Hated because of something he can't control.
When he woke up a few hours ago I looked into his eyes and I saw all the pain he hides behind that smile and I did the only thing I could think of to try and end it. I wanted to show him that people cared about him that I was sorry for some of those sad memories and that I care also." Ino wipes her eyes with the back of her and then continues. "Anyway Tsunada-sama gave me a mission to look after his mental health while he recovers and when he is back in the field."
Sakura moved to Ino and wrapped her arms around her in a hug. "Why is he hated?" Sakura asked. Ino shook her head no into Sakura's shoulder and said. "Its Naruto's secret only he can tell you. He will tell you when he is ready." Sakura understood and untangled herself from Ino. "Well what ever is going on between you two just don't play with his heart Ino." Sakura said in a warning tone.
"You're the last person to be giving out advice on this subject billboard brow." Ino said with that same smug look. Sakura turned red and growled out. "Your one to talk Ino-pig! He is my friend I just don't want to see him hurt." Ino nodded her head. He had been hurt enough and Ino was not going to hurt him more. She gave Sakura one more hug. They said there goodbyes and with the Hokage tower in mind Sakura left the hospital. Ino went back to Naruto's room.
Naruto's head was buzzing with all the news he heard about today. Fist Sasuke was executed, next was Kakashi-sensei's demotion and removal from the team, team 7s break up, and lastly Ino's kiss. That was his first kiss from a girl and it was one of the best things in his life that he experienced.
There was something more also. Ino saw his memories and what's more she knew about the Kuubi. He did not know how he knew she knew about the damn fox but it was a gut feeling that she did know. He was brought out of his thoughts when Ino came back in.
While she made her way over to the seat next to the bed Naruto watched her all the way till she sat down. Ino was a little uncomfortable with the way Naruto was looking at her. It looked like he was struggling to figure something out. Naruto finely sighed in defeat. "You know about "IT" right?" he half asked half stated.
"Yes." Ino responded.
"And you don't care?" Naruto asked a little anger in his voice glaring at her.
"No Naruto I don't." Ino said. Blunt and staring him right back in the eyes.
Naruto was taken back by the resolve in her voice. So she knew his biggest secret and really did not care the fox was sealed in him but how did she find out and there was something else he wanted to know. Looking away from Ino and down at his lap.
"How did you find out? He asked in a wispier.
"I used my family jutsu on you to rebuild your mind. Inside I saw two minds yours and "IT's". As I was fixing your mind I found out what "IT" was. I'm sorry Naruto I did not mean to see your memories it is a side affect of the jutsu when used that way." Ino said.
"Its ok Ino-chan you saved my life after all." Naruto said.
A long silence followed in there conversation. Naruto was debating if he wanted to ask his next question. He wanted to know and yet he did not want to know for fear of what he thought might happen. Finely working up the courage he asked or at least tried to.
"Uh…Ino-chan. Uh…umm…why…what I mean is how come you… uh." Naruto trailed off turning red with embarrassment.
"You want to know why I kissed you." Ino finished for him.