I don't know what possessed me to write this. I know the show never hints at anything romantic between these characters. Additionally, I really like Kankuro and I'm not particularly a fan of Ino's, so it might seem weird to pair them. But then, putting aside my own predilections, I started thinking about how their personalities might be compatible in a way to induce certain emotions – what all those emotions are, I've yet to determine. But this is how I thought it might happen. Hope you all enjoy this product of my imagination.
As a disclaimer, it's been quite a while since I watched the first part of the show, so I apologize in advance for messing with the timeline or events as they happen. But it's Fan Fiction, so I'm not excessively sorry J
XXX
It frustrated Kankuro to come to Hidden Leaf Village. Everything about the town – from its claustrophobic clusters of trees, perpetually damp air and grossly exaggerated community focus – were set in juxtaposition to the things he was accustomed to and loved. He found contentment in individualism, wide open spaces, freedom, dry air and independence – ideals he found abundantly in his desert hometown.
But come to Hidden Leaf Village they had – he, his older sister and his younger brother. It was the setting for the annual Chunin exams. The trio, most commonly known as the Sand Siblings, had traveled from Hidden Sand Village to participate as a team.
The recent rainfall made an uninviting mush of leaves and twigs that swirled in mud and oozed its way into their sandals. Beside him, his blonde sister Temari, several inches shorter than himself, shivered in defense against the chill.
"I hate this place," Kankuro muttered.
She nodded. Their younger brother – the one with the flaming red hair – ignored them.
To make matters worse, they had just come into contact with a few of the village's shinobi-in-training, although even that seemed too generous a term to apply to Konoha's paltry pubescents. More like a bunch of bozos, in Kankuro's opinion. Except maybe the mysterious Uchiha with his iron-clad stare, somewhat notorious lineage and the revered capability to produce a Sharingan. Kankuro was sure in a fight he could beat the other boy – Sasuke, he was called – but the Sand shinobi had to admit the Uchiha would be a formidable opponent.
Only moments earlier, a young rascal, who was supposedly related to the Hokage, had run into the puppeteer.
Kankuro would have excused the negligence, but the insolence that followed made his blood boil. Then a blonde idiot and the Uchiha had joined in. Kankuro did not support fighting for no reason but the encounter had augmented his already present irritation and he couldn't control his temper. If it weren't for his brother's threat, he was certain things would have ended much more violently.
The remnants of the incident stuck around, however, in his increasingly sour mood and desire to be anywhere but here.
Suddenly, his thick body again made contact with another solid form. Frustration mounting past his tolerance level, Kankuro quickly reeled around, cursing.
"Watch where you're going, idiot!" he snapped.
Almost immediately he was hit with a surge of regret when his eyes connected with two icy blue pools, clear as crystal and alight with indignation.
"Excuse me?!"
Her voice was light and airy, like spun sugar.
"You big oaf," she continued. "How dare you come into my village and talk to me like that! You can go back where you came from, if lumbering along our streets like an overgrown cow doesn't please you!"
Her reaction revolved through his body, building up annoyance and the urge to retaliate, normal sensations for Kankuro. But there was something else. Something foreign. He was slightly cold and constricted, but his cheeks flushed. What was this? With his tongue feeling three times its normal size, it took Kankuro several seconds and a good deal of effort to push out a brusque, "Sorry."
The tall, slender girl made a haughty noise, tossed her long platinum-blonde hair over her shoulder and stalked off.
Still stunned, Kankuro watched her go, his mind finally producing the several words he wished he had said. He never struggled to come up with a retort on the spot. Why now?
"Stupid girl," he muttered for his own sake. To his right, Temari gave him a knowing smile that implied what, the Sand ninja didn't know.
"What is it?" He sighed, still aggravated.
Shaking her head in her typical big-sister, Temari-like way, the kunoichi said nothing.
"Let's move on." Gaara's voice glided through the air like silk – never fast, never slow, never loud, never soft.
Kankuro was glad for the command. He didn't know why the blonde Leaf ninja had left him tongue-tied or why his sister was wearing a stupid smirk like she knew a secret. And he didn't have time to engage these mind games or try to analyze these feelings. That's not what he did. He did, however, have Chunin exams to start and the superiority of Sunakagure to prove.
XXX
Several weeks later, Kankuro got a formal introduction to the girl with the bright eyes and snooty mouth. She did not seem particularly pleased. He did not think it particularly mattered.
Her sensei was explaining to her and her teammates – a stocky boy with wild brown hair and a taller boy who wore a ponytail and an expression slung between boredom and casual confidence – the long history of cooperation between Suna and Konoha and why that was more important than the recent betrayal, in which the Sand Siblings took part.
Kankuro halfway longed to interject with a surly reminder that they had not desired to participate, but they were ninjas and required to act on command, just as the Leaf shinobi would have and should have if the roles were reversed. But he instructed himself, just keep your mouth shut. It's not worth it.
The sensei – Asuma, was it? – was using his history lesson, free of condemnation, as a segue into introductions and informing his squad, now that the dust had settled between the two villages, it was important to hold combined discussions about certain mutual threats facing both regions, and likely the entire ninja world.
The tall boy introduced himself as Shikamaru. He did something with shadows. Temari would not look in his direction and Kankuro chalked it up to the way their fight during the Chunin exams concluded.
The stocky boy was Choji.
Kankuro avoided the girl's eyes but waited for her voice.
"I can't see that it matters all too much since I don't anticipate we will spend much time together, but I'm Ino."
So haughty. It irked Kankuro. But also intrigued him.
While their Jonin leaders and sensei conversed, the Chunin had agreed to lead a training for the younger Genin. The prospect filled Kankuro with preemptive boredom.
In this moment, nothing seemed more insufferable than trying to get a bunch of children to follow instructions. He did not care for children. Perhaps it was due to the strained relationship between himself and his own younger brother. But there seemed no means of escaping the responsibility. Just grit your teeth and bear it, that was his mantra.
Easier said than done, for as soon as the adults had moved on to their responsibilities and out of the vicinity, the entire training enterprise dissolved into a squabble over how it should be set up, which Chunin should pair up to teach what skills and why they were even doing this.
Kankuro was happy to sit back and watch the chaos ensue. It could take them so long to get organized that they would have little to no time left for the actual teaching. That was fine with him. Until the snobby girl opened her mouth.
"I think the better question is why we are partnering with them for this workshop," she was looking in the general direction of the Suna ninja, including the Sand Siblings, but Kankuro was sure she threw an extra annoyed look in his direction.
"Because, Ino, these sorts of activities generate collaboration and goodwill among our villages, which is important given the current geopolitical situation," Shikamaru reasoned with her.
"Oh, come off it, Shikamaru. You can't tell me you like this anymore than I do," she shot back. "It's ridiculous they think we can all just magically work together, after what happened. And with such arrogant jerks, too."
Far from looking upset, though, the ponytailed ninja simple sighed and grumbled, "It's all just a drag anyway."
Kankuro couldn't resist anymore.
"Arrogant? You're one to talk," he drawled. "Maybe you shouldn't gripe about having superior ninja offer to help you train your Genin so they have a chance of not turning out as pathetic as you lot."
Never in his life had he received as vitriolic a scowl as the one Ino fixed on him as she darted forward until she was standing only a foot or two away from him.
"This. Is exactly. What I'm talking about," she hissed. "I can't stand you. You think you're better than everyone else, but really you're just a petty louse with a stupid costume and some dumb dolls."
The angry heat generating from the girl seemed to seep through his skin and spread through his veins. He could feel himself flaring up and it was a nice alternative to the nervous chill he usually experienced with Ino around.
"I've yet to even see what you can do," responded Kankuro, his voice even. "You get yourself knocked out within two minutes, no matter how lacking in skill your opponent is…. Come to think of it, I probably have seen all of what you're capable of, and I do mean all."
So much for collaboration and goodwill.
Kankuro caught a glimpse of the girl's hands moving to form a sign; he reactively went for Crow.
"Stop it! Both of you!"
Temari stood between them, a hand held up in either direction.
"You don't have to like each other, but this is ludicrous. The students will be out here any minute."
"I could've finished it sooner than that," Kankuro said under his breath.
"You are unbelievable!" Ino nearly shouted. Her cheeks were bright red.
"Enough, enough," Temari sighed. "I'm assigning you both to go collect some equipment from the school. It will give you a chance to cool down and talk things through like the shinobi you claim to be."
Kankuro was embarrassed to admit it, but Temari was right. Despite the grueling training he underwent growing up as the Kazekage's son, he was not acting like a skilled ninja. He was acting like a child. And it was all her fault.
Clamping his mouth shut, he started off in the direction of the school. He could hear the girl jogging to catch up to his long strides. He refused to stop or even look back at her. He despised how she made him feel and even act.
"Wait up," she gasped, finally reaching his side.
Huffing audibly, Kankuro stopped but still kept his face locked forward.
"Fine. Be that way. I was just going to apologize for being mean, but if you won't even look at me, I don't see the point."
Her voice sounded injured, but still haughty. Kankuro finally turned his head enough to find her out of the corner of his eye. Her arms were crossed over her chest, her bottom lip protruding slightly, her chin tilted upward. His anger subsided and he felt tempted to smile. There was something endearing about her stance. Even adorable.
"So you're sorry. Fine. Not like I care what you think of me one way or another. You're not that important…"
"There you go again!" she complained, her voice high-pitched and pregnant with annoyance. "Why can you not just be nice? Is that just too hard for you?"
"Fine." Kankuro heaved a sigh, more for show than out of necessity. "I shouldn't have said those things about you. I'm sorry."
"You should be," Ino grumbled. "They were really mean. And they hurt my feelings."
Kankuro rolled his eyes, but a part of him felt ashamed. He hadn't thought about her feelings. He just figured all shinobi were as insensitive and tough as himself, who always viewed "feelings" as a sign of weakness. But gazing at the girl before him, he thought he might be seeing sensitivity personified and discovering its fragile beauty for the first time.
"I really am sorry." He was serious, and the way she looked at him with surprise followed by a content nod, he knew she approved of his honesty.
"Me, too. Not that we're destined to become friends or anything, but I know it will make our leaders happy if we don't fight."
Kankuro nodded. A friendship was improbable – and frankly, unnecessary – but he suddenly realized he wouldn't overly mind spending more time with the Leaf ninja. There certainly were worse things in the world.
XXX
She was glaring at him again, her eyes flashing like zircon gemstones, sending blanket after blanket of charged heat over Kankuro's body. It was not unusual, but this time it felt unwarranted. After all, he had just used Black Ant to stop a falling tree from landing heavily across her tiny prostrate body, which would have snapped like a brittle twig under the weight.
But Ino – or rather Miss Hoity-Toity, as Kankuro secretly called her – didn't "need or want" his help, as she told him incessantly in her high-pitched voice that strained with annoyance at least once every time they were around one another. Now that Leaf and Sand had strengthened their alliance during the past few months, the pair had to suffer through occasional interactions with one another, or sometimes even joint missions such as this one.
"Whatever," he growled in response to her angry gaze. "Next time I'll just let the damn thing fall on you, and we'll see how you like that."
"I would have stopped it!" she snapped back, jumping to her feet, poised to brawl.
Somehow, her voice remained melodic even when she was acting like a brat, and that irritated Kankuro, though he didn't know why. What difference did it make to him what Miss Hoity-Toity's voice sounded like, or even what words it formed, for that matter?
"Yeah, you really seemed to have things under control, what with your enormous talent and all… my mistake."
There they went! The curves of Ino's cheeks flooded with scarlet as they always did when Kankuro used his sarcasm on her. It was a reaction he anticipated and, to be honest, even enjoyed a little.
"You pathetic moron! Why can't you shut up? I did not want you or your siblings to come on this mission with us, but since I have no choice in the matter, the least you can do is try not to act like a complete, piece of -"
"Are you guys okay?" Shikamaru had rushed back to them at the sound of crashing lumber.
"Yeah, just a paper bomb," Ino replied, still glaring at Kankuro.
"We ran into one, too." Shikamaru motioned toward Temari with his head. "There probably are more around. Just a diversion. I'm pretty sure the bandits are still traveling northeast, toward Hidden Sound Village."
"Choji and Gaara are heading in that direction," added Temari, who was trailing the lithe shadow possessor. "We should try to regroup with them."
Kankuro nodded, quickly repacking his puppet. Ino collected a few supplies that had sprawled across the forest floor when she dodged a trap earlier.
Kankuro noticed her belt, which she used to carry her Leaf protector in lieu of a headband, had come undone.
"Hey, let me get that for you," he offered, trying to be nice though it contradicted the normal dimensions of their relationship.
Ino rolled her eyes, but turned her back toward him nevertheless.
As he reached for the ends of the coarse fabric, his hand gently brushed the portion of Ino's lower back that her cropped shirt left bare. The exposed skin was pale, warm and soft … incredibly soft. Kankuro's fingers fumbled. Swallowing hard to dampen his suddenly dry throat, he tried again, this time accomplishing his task. When he finished, his eyes followed the ends of the belt as they draped down, landing on the smooth curves of Ino's firm …
Kankuro cleared his throat and dragged his eyes away from the physical attribute he had just been admiring and reconstructing in his mind, sans a concealing skirt.
"Okay." He swallowed again. "Done."
Ino turned around and gave him a genuine smile, his first to receive from her. "Thanks."
She bounced off after Shikamaru and Temari, clearly unaffected. Kankuro, on the other hand, was having difficulty breathing.
What just happened? He heaved a sigh, trying to shake away the thoughts that sprouted in his mind when he grazed Ino's shapely back. Nothing. It was nothing.
The images. They were nothing. It wasn't like he was going to think about that again, or any part of Ino's body. And he certainly wouldn't remember the touch her skin, as silky and sublime as a ripe peach. … It didn't matter. It was nothing.