Authors Note: Now then here's chapter two. This chapter wasnt originally supposed to be this long but I revised and added a bit. Now I have to say somethings about this chapter. There are some very intense moments in this chapter. Now this is rated T and i want it to stay that way so there is nothing too graphic, but I needed a situation like this to happen for Ino to gravitate to Naruto a bit more. I donot condone any of the actions taken against Ino and this is the only time anything like this will ever happen in my story. I hope that by the end you guys see how this chapter sets up the others for a long time. Sorry if i angered anyone as well but i needed something different than Naruto saving Ino from death, and I tried to make up for it with more humor in the beginning. Well I hope you enjoy.
I do not own Naruto, I wish I did cause then I could make Sasuke openly gay. Haha! My only Sasuke Bashing in the series.
A Flower's Friendship. A Fox's Loneliness.
Ch.2 A Flowers Innocence meet's Fox's Rage.
Naruto and Ino arrived at the Land of Flowers on their third morning out and quickly got to work. Touring the streets of the town the target was supposed to be in Naruto and Ino took up casing their surroundings and actions of the people.
"They all seem…nervous? No that can't be right." Ino said thoughtfully.
Naruto shook his head and looked around the rooftops. "No they are nervous, you can practically feel it emanating from them. Look up there."
Naruto motioned almost imperceptibly but Ino caught where he was looking. Her eye's darted forward to the large blocky building northeast of them. On top of the roof, cleverly hidden, were several masked ninja. While on the ground several beggars littered it's entrance.
"Ten to one those beggars are disguised thugs. Whatever this guy is doing it must be big. Why didn't Baa-chan tell us more about this mission?"
Ino shrugged and the two blonds went to the inn they were supposed to stay at. When Naruto checked in and entered the room he yelled in fright. Ino ran to catch up and entered the room to see Naruto on the ground with foam around his mouth.
"Naruto!" She rushed to him and tried to shake him awake. "Naruto what happened?"
Naruto rose a shaky hand and pointed forward.
"T-t-there's only one b-b-bed."
Ino stopped holding Naruto and rolled her eye's. She got up in a huff and set their stuff down. Naruto had finally recovered enough to sit up and Ino grabbed him by the collar and dragged him out the room.
"Now then let's see what we can find out." Ino said to Naruto.
Naruto nodded and created several kage bunshins. The bunshins all ran off in different directions and Naruto nodded farewell to Ino. Ino walked out of the alley they were in and situated herself in the middle of the little square. She imperceptibly made several hand signs and her consciousness expanded and found it's way into several minds at once.
'And she was totally like-'
'-boss just couldn't let me-'
'-wife. She'll also be my best -'
'-then get it over to the warehouse. Chief said that if we fail again he'll gut us and get someone who can do the job right.'
'Bingo.' Ino thought and focused on the people where the thought's were coming from.
After a few hours of investigating Naruto and Ino met for lunch at the café they had decided as their meeting place. Naruto ordered a sundae while Ino just had some tea.
"Why not get something cool and sweet? It's blazing out here." Naruto asked.
"I'm on a diet and I cant afford to gain any extra weight." Ino said coldly. Then Ino asked the waiter to change the order into an iced tea. She looked over at Naruto who was grinning and Ino went red with annoyance.
"Any way's did you learn anything?" she asked.
"Yeah. A large group of people have been causing lot's of trouble up on the east side of town. Several crime waves have occurred and lately the local law has overlooked any violations in that side of town. Also I inspected the building where all those ninja and thugs were at. It's just a dupe, a fake. I bet the real base is in the east side slums. The building is more like holding facility. Over three hundred people their all in chains. Do you have any idea as to why?"
"Yeah, that's because I found out what this man does." Ino shivered and stared at Naruto. "The man is a slaver. He steals people and sells them to the highest bidder as slaves. It's sickening, and the people are mostly homeless street children."
Naruto had to shove aside his initial wave of fury, but still Ino was able to hear the growl escape from him. 'That's why Tsunade said nothing. If she had told Naruto the whole story he'd have rushed to the kids aid instead of planning something out. He feels to deeply about something like this.'
When Naruto tensed even more she cocked her head at Naruto. 'That's not all. There's something other than anger there.'
"Naruto what is it? Why are you acting like that?"
Naruto shot a look at Ino which send shivers down her spine. Then he relaxed a bit and spoke quietly.
"I cant let those kids get hurt Ino. They don't deserve to suffer the way I did."
"What do you mean?" Ino asked.
"I was a street urchin Ino. When I was young the orphanage I was staying at kicked me out. I was alone on the street's for two years before I signed up for the ninja academy when I turned eight. That's when Iruka-sensei found out about me living on the streets. He took me out to ramen, the first real meal I had had in what felt like forever. Then he took me to see old man Hokage and he gave me my own home."
Ino felt her eyes water a bit. She had known Naruto had been friendless and awkward as a kid but homeless? She couldn't imagine the pain he must have felt.
"I have to help those kids anyway I can. I don't know how but I'm going to get them out tonight."
Ino smiled at Naruto determination and caring attitude. She had really misjudged him before.
"Well then you'll be happy to know that I discovered a way in. Seems the target is a real pig. He has a thing for blonds, his cronies bring him a new one every night. It's completely disgusting and I wish I could murder him for it but at least we have a way in."
"No." Naruto said.
"I'm sorry?"
"I said no. We'll find some other way to get in."
"Naruto, I have to do this. I had to scan so many minds to get this information that I've got a headache. It's not like I haven't been on a seduction mission before, we have to act in this."
"I'm not going to let you do this Ino-chan. it's degrading, and disgusting and your above having to do something like that for a mission. Besides, it's way too dangerous. What if something happens?"
Ino was caught off guard by Naruto response. She didn't hang out with the blond often yet he was incredibly troubled at what she was proposing to do. Was she that important to him? Did he really care?
"Naruto I hat that have to do this, but how else would we get in?"
"Your not the only blond here Ino-chan."
Ino blinked and realized what Naruto was getting at. She had had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach at doing what she said, and Naruto had just managed to save her. 'Like always' she thought.
Naruto and Ino cased the base out. It was a cruddy run down warehouse but Naruto had discovered that it had multiple hidden levels underground. Naruto went over the plan with Ino one last time.
"Alright, after they 'capture' me track us through the shadows. Security is lax since this base is a secret but that doesn't mean you can get careless."
"Right. I'll follow you all the way up to when the send you in to meet the target. Then I knock them out, get the info, and we escape before any one's the wiser."
"Good. Oh here come the search party now. Ninja center fold!"
Naruto transformed into his girl form and leaped down the building. Ino watched as he pretended to be lost and ask the search party if they could help. The two men nodded to each other and grabbed Naruto by the arms. Naruto pretended to struggle and was led back to the base. Ino followed in silence and entered the base after them.
"Where are you taking me what's going on?" Naruto, Naruko, yelled. Ino nodded and followed the sound of Naruto voice. She had told Naruto to warn her with codes and she stopped. A small patrol of guards went past and didn't notice her as she hid. She got up and continued to follow Naruto's voice.
"Stop, please stop! Why are you doing this!"
Ino sped up. Naruto had just confirmed that they were heading to one of the lower levels. She hurried forward and saw Naruko and the two men descend to a lower level and groaned. If they were going underground then the escape would be a lot harder.
Just then Naruto accidentally hit his head against a door frame and his illusion broke.
"Oh crap."
"What the hell?" The first guard yelled. Naruto elbowed him in the face and kicked him away while Ino grabbed the other guard and rammed leg into his neck dropping the guard like a rock. Naruto and Ino moved forward and kept hidden. It wouldn't be long before the guards were found and they had to find the target as quickly as possible. They found a lone guard and captured him.
"Which way Ino?" Naruto asked after she searched the guards mind.
"Down this hall. Then to the left and down one more flight of stairs. Hurry this guy was supposed to report I back in in five minutes."
The two hurried to the room and stopped. Ino took a deep breath and entered.
"Why hello there my little prisoner." The man said.
"Wh-what are you gonna do to me?" Ino asked feigning fear. "Are you going t-to hurt me?"
"Oh no. Trust me it'll all be fine. You may even learn to like it. Some of the others did."
Naruto had to physically restrain himself from crashing into the room and trying to kill the man where he stood.
"P-please, j-just don't-don't-" Ino began to shed tears and the smiled evilly moving towards her.
"Come now, it's alright. It'll be much better if you just let it happen.'
The man came closer to Ino and she suddenly rose up, her hand's formed into a sign.
"Mind Scan Jutsu!"
The man stopped dead and Ino began to rummage through his mind searching for everything related to his slaving business, hoping she could find some of the things that Tsunade wanted. Just then alarms blared through the base. Naruto looked down the long hall to see several thugs and guards turning down to get to the boss and protect him. They slowed down slightly at the sight of Naruto then ran with renewed determination.
"Shit! Ino hurry up, we gotta go!"
"I'm searching as fast as I can!"
Ino had found most of the info, but she needed to erase everything that she took from the man's mind. Naruto made several kage bunshins and his small army began to fight with the guards and thugs. When he was half way through with defeating them a small force of ninja rounded the corner towards him.
"Oh give me a break!" Naruto ran forward leaving his clones to deal with the rest and created several more kage bunshins, all shouting. "Bring it on!"
Naruto and his clones fought against the ninjas and had a slight advantage. As the last of the thugs were beat down the remaining clones went to help in the massive fray. Ino finished using her mind scan jutsu and the man fell to the floor. Naruto and his clones finished off nearly ten ninja but only two clone remained as five more ninja swarmed them. Ino ran out the room and made a hand sign.
"Mind Destruction Jutsu!"
Ino made one of the ninja to turn on his comrades and slit one of their throats before getting killed himself. The three other ninja destroyed the last of Naruto's clones then ran full force at Naruto.
Naruto focused energy into his palm and slammed it into the charging ninjas.
"Rasengan!"
The orb of energy hit the first ninja and blasted him backwards taking out the two other ninja behind him. Naruto breathed heavily at having to beat so many people at once and smiled over to Ino.
"Thanks Ino-chan."
"No probl-" Ino got cut off and slumped to the ground as she was hit on the head from behind. The boss was standing up, hot fury in his eye's and a large glass bottle in his hand's.
"You bitch!" he spat. " Oh, your going to pay for playing with my mind."
"Ino-chan!" Naruto shouted, moving to help Ino. Suddenly he was grabbed by his neck collar and flung backwards down the hall. Naruto crashed against the floor and looked up to see a new ninja smiling at him.
"Are you alright sir?" the ninja said to the man behind him, never taking his eyes off of Naruto.
"Yes, yes, I'm fine. Just kill that brat and let me enjoy my new toy."
The boss looked down to the semiconscious Ino and laughed. He reached down to her and tore off her shirt. Ino tried to get up and fight but the man slammed the bottle into her head again nearly making her black out.
"Stupid bitch! Keep trying to fight it and you'll suffer much more than that!" Then the man began to grope at Ino's body, reaching for a nearby rope. Ino was barely able to speak and cry.
"P-please, no. Help. Naruto help!" she shrieked and the man kicked her in the ribs, breaking a few. Ino cried out even more and Naruto focused, rising up to help Ino.
"Ino-chan!" Naruto rushed to try and help her but the ninja moved in front of Naruto.
"Get the hell out of my way!" Naruto yelled, charging the ninja with a kunai in hand. He swiped and stabbed at the ninja, clipping the ninja's arm. The ninja kicked Naruto away and threw a kunai at him, Naruto doing the same. The kunai hit in mid air but the ninja advanced on Naruto and grabbed his leg before Naruto could land. He threw Naruto against the wall and punched him in the gut. Naruto elbowed the ninjas head and kicked him back,. He landed on the ground and charged towards Ino. The ninja dashed and threw several kunai hitting Naruto's back. Naruto turned and the ninja drop kicked him. Then the ninja grabbed Naruto's head before he hit the floor and rammed it into his knee. Naruto spat out blood and grabbed the mans leg pulling him down. The ninja broke free and twisted mid-fall, landing upright, while Naruto pushed himself back up off the ground making several kage bunshins.
"Move! I wont hesitate to kill you if I can save Ino-chan!" Naruto bluffed.
"I seriously doubt you could kill me even if you tried!" The ninja laughed back.
"Kyaa!" Ino cried out. The boss had stripped Ino bare and proceeded to beat her. Ino was bound from behind, her arms and legs tied with rope, and she was still to groggy to escape from the bonds. Tears flowed down her face as the boss slapped her again.
"This is going to be drawn out and painful, so get used to it." The boss said evilly.
"N-n-na-ru-to…he-help…please! No. No!" Ino cried out in pain and fear.
"Heh, heh, well it looks like your little girl friend there is-" The ninja was suddenly struck in the face with Naruto's glowing fist. His chakra cloak surrounded him and his eyes were red cat slits filled with fury. Naruto didn't have the time to use sage mode so he opted out to the Kyubi to help finish this quickly.
"You protect such an evil man, and you enjoy it!" Naruto yelled. He extended a giant chakra paw and grabbed hold of the ninja. The ninja felt his bones break and screamed in pain.
"I'm just a tool!" The ninja pleaded.
"Your no tool, you're a monster!" Naruto formed a rasengan and slammed it into the ninja's chest. The ninja crumpled to the floor, wheezing out in pain.
"But I wont kill you. I'll leave you in fear instead. If I see you again, your dead!" Naruto turned and saw Ino silently crying, eyes closed in fear, as the boss began to undress himself. White hot fury coursed through Naruto and he was suddenly in between the man and Ino. The boss yelled in shock and Naruto placed one burning chakra palm on the mans head. The boss began to scream and struggle until Naruto spoke.
"You've tortured and destroyed the lives of countless woman and children for your sick desires! You don't deserve to have a life, not after all the atrocities you've committed! And now because of what you did to Ino-chan, you wont have one!"
Naruto darted his chakra tail forward and stabbed through the boss's heart. He crumpled to the floor and his lifeless body burned out Naruto's rage. He deactivated his chakra cloak and turned to Ino who was scrunched into a ball, eyes shut and crying. Naruto rushed to her and wrapped her in his jacket. He picked her up and fled out of the building, Naruto went so far as to sneak out of the village incase any of the goons decided they wanted revenge. He put her down when he thought they were far enough away and undid her bindings. She was silent the whole time, as if she wasn't even there.
"Alright Ino-chan, I have to go back and get our stuff, wait here and I'll-" Suddenly Ino threw herself at Naruto and held onto his shirt, crying into his chest.
"Naruto, he was- he was-he-gonna-ra-ra-" Naruto held Ino tightly and caressed her, tears streaming down his face, trying to calm her down.
"Shush now, it's okay Ino. He cant hurt you anymore. He cant hurt anyone anymore." Ino felt herself lose strength and she fell to her knees, drawing Naruto's Jacket tighter around her pale body. Naruto sat next to her, his arm around her. Ino leaned on him and cried a bit more until she couldn't cry at all.
"It's okay Ino. I promise, you'll never have to face that again" Naruto motioned to get up so he could go and get their stuff but Ino held onto his arm. Naruto turned and looked down into her eyes.
"Please…don't go." She said. Naruto nodded and sat back down, holding Ino. Ino leaned into him more and felt comforted by his presence.
Three days later Naruto and Ino arrived back to Konoha. Ino was healed slightly by a medic ninja at a passing hospital and was able to move around enough that the two got their in the afternoon. As they gave their report to Tsunade Ino excused herself to go home and rest.
"Of course Ino. Thank you for your time." Ino nodded, mumbled a good bye to Naruto, and walked out the door. As she closed it and turned to walk away she heard Naruto.
"That was bullshit Tsunade!" Naruto said angrily. Ino froze by the door.
"How dare you speak to me like that you-"
"That was horrible what you did to her! How can you look at yourself! Her father or someone else from her clan could have gone but you chose her! You knew the target liked blond girls!"
Ino couldn't believe it. Was what Naruto saying true?
"…Yes I knew, but Naruto you have to-"
"No! You basically sent her there to get raped for information! Is this what you've gone to? I thought you were better than that!"
"Naruto! We needed this info! If one girl had to suffer for a hundred then-"
"No! Never do that again! It's not right or fair. If you ever send one of my friends out to do that-"
"Are you threatening me Naruto?"
"No Baa-chan," Naruto spat. "I'm telling you. Do that again and I'm gonna make you regret it. I'll leave." Naruto moved and opened the door. As he came out he saw Ino running in the opposite direction. Naruto sighed and went back into Tsunade's office to see her staring out the window.
"Tsunade, listen. I don't take back what I said, but I'm sorry…and I need your help."
Tsunade turned to him, wiping a tear away.
"I have to do something right now, but if it's alright, I'll be back in an hour."
Tsunade nodded and Naruto left with flowers on his mind.
Naruto arrived at the Yamanaka home a few minutes later. Ino wasn't in the flower shop so instead he knocked on the door. The door flew open and Naruto stared face to face with Inoichi Yamanaka. Ino's father.
"Naruto? Well this is a surprise. What brings you here?"
"Well sir, excuse me but is Ino home?"
Inoichi raised his eyebrows in surprise. Ino had come home and locked herself in her room.
"Why do you ask Naruto?"
"Well…I think I need to apologize." Naruto darted his eyes and Inoichi grew a bit suspicious.
"Naruto I respect you. I think you're an excellent shinobi and you've proved yourself to be a hero to this village several times over. But understand, If you hurt my daughter I will kill you."
Naruto shuddered and looked Inoichi in the eyes, he could tell he was serious.
"I-I understand sir. It's just that on out last mission…I wasn't good enough to protect her."
Inoichi lowered his eyebrows and nodded in understanding.
"She's upstairs in her room. She wont talk to anyone though." Inoichi moved away from the door.
"That's okay, I was planning on doing most of the talking anyway." Naruto moved past Inoichi and up to the house. He found Ino's room and knocked to no answer.
"Ino?" Naruto said quietly. "Ino are you in there?"
"…Please Naruto, leave me alone for now."
Sigh. "Ino at least hear me out. I'm gonna say what I have to whether you agree to it or not."
"…Fine"
"Ino…I'm sorry. I'm sorry for not being faster to get to you. I'm sorry for not being strong enough to protect you from what you faced. I had to do something I hate to do to be able to protect you, and I'm sorry that it had to come to that to keep you safe."
Ino was sitting on her bed now, staring at the door. She cried silently, not expecting to feel…what exactly? Comfort? Friendship? Naruto was baring his soul here and Ino felt the pain and sincerity of the apology.
"I know you heard my argument with Baa-chan, and I'm sorry about that too. Ino…you're strong and confident and soon this will be behind you. Listen, I'm taking time off from missions for a while so if you need to talk or something, I'll be here. Just know you never have to suffer alone. Well, bye Ino-chan."
Naruto walked out the door and was bid farewell by Inoichi. As he walked back down the street to the Hokage's office Ino stared out the window looking at him.
"Thank you Naruto."
Authors Note: Well I hope you enjoyed the chapter. I will be updating soon and it will build more on Naruto and Ino's relationship. What does Naruto want to ask Tsunade, how will he handle having taken away a life for the first time, and why is Naruto taking time off of missions? And what will he do now that his next date with Sakura is little less than a week away! Find out more in chapter three, "Train me!" coming as soon as I type it up. And Dont forget to review. If you dont I'll sick my ninja ghosts to haunt you. Thats right I can do that.
Oh and before I go I have a request, I could really use some beta readers so if anyones interested just send me a message. Thanks!