Chapter 2
Entering Konoha was like walking to the gallows. Ino was immediately rushed by two medical ANBU. They escorted her from the secret entrance to the village to the route normally hidden from anyone but medical team staff. She was put into a large room by herself where she was treated for temporary blindness, broken ribs, bruised bones, and several large scrapes.
As they worked on her she could only think of what she had done. How even though she had wanted to Sakura had never said she forgave her. It shook Ino's soul to know her fate.
After three hours of healing and seven hours of rest Ino was escorted to a waiting room where the rest of her team was. Hasuki and the third member nodded to her. The room was large, one made for presentations with a large projector and screen on one side of the room. The other three were lined with seats. Ino sat down across from the door, beside the screen, while Hasuki and the other member sat on the left wall, close to the corner. As she was about to ask what was going on Nyosai burst into the room, Oyama's assistant hot on his heels.
"I'LL HAVE YOUR CAPTAIN'S STRIPES FOR THIS!" she roared. Nyosai was ignoring her. He had removed his mask and had a grim look on his face. "You incompetent fool! I told you not to take rookies for this mission! Now look what's happened there's going to be an investigation into this and you had to fuck it up by-"
"STOP RIGHT THERE! BITCH!" he screamed at the top of his lungs. The three rookies leaned back in their seats. The calm and somewhat emotionless Nyosai of the mission and the happy friendly Nyosai of training was gone. This Nyosai was a warrior, bound only by the name of Ninja. "You forgot to inform me of the personnel involved. How the fuck was I supposed to know that the damn team leader was given a mission of diplomacy and the fuckin' apprentice of the Hokage was going to be in charge of guardig the damn thing instead!"
The assistant glared daggers at him. She was about to retort when Oyama herself walked in. "QUIET! This is not the time for arguing. Hokage-sama, herself, is here to evaluate this mission and the unfortunate events that have taken place. She is in my office reviewing your reports right now. When she is ready we will go to give an oral report, that includes you Yamanaka," Oyama said looking straight at Ino.
Ino shook visibly. Oyama raised an eyebrow and lifted her mask. "Yamanaka-san?" Hasuki asked as he moved from the corner seat to the one next to her. "Are you okay?"
Ino screamed. The sound was loud in the room and made the higher ups cover their ears. When she had finished she buried her mask-less face in her hands. She was quiet for a few seconds before she began to sob openly. Oyama looked from her assistant to Nyosai. She then had a look of realization on her face. The commander of the Testing and Evaluation division had told her Ino's motivation was her best friend and rival, Haruno Sakura.
The woman she had killed.
As Oyama was about to say something the doors opened to reveal Shizune. Her face was sad and her eyes were red. She had been crying. "Hokage-sama will see Oyama-san, Nyosai-san and…" Shizune's eyes moved to Ino. The young woman felt a great sadness from her, but Shizune felt no pity. "Yamanaka-san now."
Oyama told her assistant to get the reports from the other two members and then went to follow Shizune. Nyosai walked over to Ino and helped her stand. He led her out the door and after the two women. Hasuki watched her go sadly.
Tsunade was in a large replica of her office in Konoha. It had been made shortly after the creation of the ANBU to make sure the Hokage would have a familiar environment at the hub of her special forces. She was now reading the report from Nyosai.
Things had gone smoothly up until one genin had to piss. He saw the group of ANBU just in time to alert the two jounin watching the other rookies. Sakura had gone to protect the scroll while Naruto had gone to get the kid. She had arrived in time to see the theft and follow after them. Upon leaving the compound grounds she was alerted to two ninja fleeing from the western edge of the castle.
She changed her target from recapturing the scroll to acquiring a hostage and possible informant. She had been killed by her best friend in an exchange.
Bad business. Tsunade had cried when she first saw Sakura's body, brought in by a blood covered and wet Naruto. He was in worse shape than her corpse was. He had brought her back without food and a minimum of water thinking she, Tsunade, could save the girl, not knowing she had been dead two or more days. And as Sakura's body sat in their morgue to be processed and disposed of…god what a horrible way of saying it…the ANBU team who screwed it all up waltz in.
Tsunade let herself get angry. Furious even. Sakura had been like a daughter to her, she had kept Naruto alive through all of the shit that had happened around him. And now because someone forgot to tell the damn captain…
Her anger faded. Sadness filled it. Then that too faded and was replaced by the calm needed to look at this situation and make the best of it. She only wished there was another choice than the one before her.
"Tsunade-sama, they are here," her secretary said over the small intercom only Tsunade kmew of. Tsunade allowed them in. Shizune quickly opened the doors and made her way to her mistress. Ino was led in by Nyosai.
"…You may sit," Tsunade said. Ino didn't sit; she fell into a large sofa like chair in front of the desk. Nyosai and Oyama saw that the invitation was not meant for them. Tsunade took a deep calming breath and looked at the pathetic girl. "Would you like something to drink?"
"Tea…" she whispered. Shizune responded at once. She moved to a small machine and pressed a button to start it. Within minutes Ino was sipping the warm tea. It had barely any taste, but she wanted the heat. She felt cold.
Like Sakura's hand.
Ino shook so bad she had to hold her tea with both hands and abandon the saucer on the table between two of the three the chairs. "If you can tell me what happened," Tsunade offered after several minutes.
"We…" Ino took a large drink of tea. "We were given the mission to acquire a scroll of great importance-"
"No Ino," Tsunade interrupted. "Tell me what happened with Sakura. Why did you attack her?"
Ino drank the last of her tea. "I…I thought she was an enemy. I guessed Iwa-nin (Stone Ninja). She threw boulders and big rocks so…"
Tsunade glared up at Oyama. The younger of the two Kunoichi was looking at her feet moving her toes in her zori. She returned her glance to Ino, "Why did you stay to fight when Nyosai, your captain, ordered a retreat?"
"I…I knew she would catch up. Plus we heard the other was after us. I decided to use the Shintensen to possess the enemy ninja," her voice cracked. "I would then kill or capture her comrade under the guise of her…" she sniffed. "But…after two or three exchanges she pinned me. Lightning had struck close and I could barely see. I…I cut her with my sword…and I…I…"
"What did you do Ino?" Tsunade asked gently. Ino had been looking into her cup. She now looked at Shizune, and saw that pity had wormed its way into her eyes. She saw Oyama, a look of fear on her face for some reason. She saw Nyosai, his face full of some unreadable emotion. And finally she saw Tsunade, accepting she made a mistake. All she had to do was admit to it.
"I KILLED HER!" she screamed. Spittle flew from her lips. "I killed Sakura! My best friend! I killed her!" she cried. Tsunade stood at once and moved to the young woman she embraced her and held her head.
"Calm down Ino. It's alright." After several long moments of Ino's loud crying subsiding into sobs and finally muffled hiccups Tsunade let go of her and returned to her chair. She took out a folder and looked it over. "Yamanaka Ino."
"Yes Godaime Hokage-sama," Ino looked at her directly. She was ready to hear when her trial would be, when she would be killed. She didn't care if she had a trial or not. She had done the unthinkable. She had killed Sakura.
"After you have one last check up you may return home. You will receive new orders within the next week or so. Will you be ready to carry out your next mission?" Tsunade asked.
Ino gaped at her. Her face wide and gaunt. "You…are serious? This isn't a joke or game?" Ino asked.
Tsunade looked at the folder and sighed. She interlocked her fingers and let them rest on the open papers. "No. It is not a game Ino. The scroll Hokai's team stole was one from the days before the five villages. It was made by my grandfather's shinobi master. Inside were many powerful and forbidden techniques. It was given to that castle's lord long ago for safekeeping. The old fool's great grandson inherited the castle and with that all its contents ten years ago.
"He has been making bids to sell the scroll to us for years. Thankfully when he attempted to send an offer to the Hidden Mist we intercepted the message and sent one of our own back."
"But why aren't you arresting me for murdering Sakura!" Ino cried.
Tsunade looked at the desk and then back at Ino, "All five ninja villages know of the scroll. There has been tension about it for a long time Ino. Several attempts were made in the past to steal it, but only during War when such acts were considered normal. Now since there is a type of truce taking the scroll would be considered an action of building an arm. Or a declaration against those that didn't steal the scroll.
"With that fool trying to sell the damn thing we could lose it to other villages, the best case scenario being Hidden Sand, who we are good terms with. Can you imagine what would happen if the scroll fell into the hands of the Hidden Mist? Or worse yet a criminal like Orochimaru or Akatsuki?"
Ino couldn't believe her ears. They had done this whole thing as a set up! "So…to make it look like we didn't steal the scroll we agreed to guard it against common thieves when he believed Mist representatives were coming to buy it outright?" she asked.
"Correct," Tsunade answered. "This mission, your involvement, and the actions of both teams must be a complete and utter secret. If we were to put you on trial we would have to have a cause. Even if we made an in depth hoax, those who looked long enough and hard enough would see through it.
"If the village were to punish you for your crime Ino we would be plunged into war. A great war with all other villages against us. Your guilt is of no consequence when the safety of the village is in question. Do you understand?"
Ino looked at her. Her eyes darted around the room. She could barely believe what was happening. The fact she had killed Sakura made the illusion of some third party stealing the scroll seem more real. And because of it she could not be punished. At all for a crime she had committed.
"I said," Tsunade, barked loudly, "Do you understand ANBU Private Yamanaka Ino?"
Ino lowered her head more. Her answer was barely more than a whisper, "Yes ma'am."
Tsunade leaned back in her chair and nodded, "Good. You are also forbidden to speak about this mission again, even to those who participated. You may go. The same for you Nyosai." The captain nodded and helped Ino up before he set her cup down on its saucer. As the commander was about to leave Tsunade spoke up, "Oyama, you stay…" she snarled. Oyama stiffened and faced her superior.
As Ino was about to leave Tsunade gave her a last bit of advice, "If you want to be punished Ino, commit a crime we can keep a record of." Ino nodded and left the room.
Outside Nyosai heard the rage Tsunade had kept in check in front of the traumatized Yamanaka. He looked at her and put a hand on her shoulder. "You have to move past it Yamanaka. Things like this happen in the world of ninja. There was a chance it was meant to happen…"
Ino whirled and slapped him so hard he tumbled to the floor. "SHUT UP! SHUT YOUR DAMN MOUTH!" she screamed. "Meant to happen?! Meant to happen?!" she screeched. "Are you saying some divine power ordained for me to murder my best friend?!"
He wiped blood from his cut lip and stood up with the aid of a chair. "You aren't being punished are you? If you forget about her and work it out in your heart you won't live with the guilt." He walked past her and stopped by the elevator, "The best penance is always given by the criminal's heart."
Ino cursed under her breath as he left. She stood alone in the hallway listening to Tsunade's anger. The words were muffled to badly to understand her, but the meaning was clear. Oyama hadn't told them something and because of it Sakura was dead. It was her fault.
Except it wasn't. It was Ino's fault. All hers. And she would pay the price one day. She knew it. She just knew it…
As Ino stalked home she didn't notice anything. Everything was either dark red or blazing black. Every young girl was Sakura's face, blood trickling down the corners of her mouth like joker paint. Every young man was Naruto rage bellowing from his face, conflicting and merging with his sadness.
Every old man and woman was death waggling their fingers at her. "Ninjas kill their comrades every day," he reminded her. "And now you've just given your own village a reason to make you a statistic!" The Noh mask on his face smiled and let out a horrendous laugh.
Ino turned her head back to the road and found her apartment. She walked up the steps and tried the doorknob. It was locked, and her keys were in her locker at ANBU headquarters. She cursed and looked for the scroll, which was also inside her locker. As she was about to turn the door opened and the face of her mother appeared from the gloom of her home.
"INO! Oh thank god you're back! I heard terrible news! Ino come inside Ino…come inside!" her mother pulled her arm and dragged her to Ino's small living room. "Ino…sit down dear," Her father was in the kitchen making a pot of tea. "Ino…it's about Sakura…"
"Sakura?" Ino asked looking at her mother, her face blank. The older woman, born to be a florist and never a ninja, looked away and ran to her husband's arms. Ino watched her until she had to turn her body to follow. She slumped over and held her face in her hands.
Her father, Inoichi, nodded to his wife and directed her to the pot of boiling tea before he saw to his daughter. He entered the small living room and pulled a chair to sit down across from her. He took a deep breath. His daughter was obviously distraught, most likely from hearing the news beforehand or seeing the body.
They, the bodies of all Konoha ninja, were taken to ANBU headquarters to be prepared for disposal. The chances Ino saw Sakura's corpse, were very good.
"Ino," he said softly. "Sakura was…killed on a mission several days ago. Her body was-"
"I know," Ino interrupted. "I killed her."
Her father blinked, "what did you say Ino?"
She looked at her father, her eyes moist. Tears gushed from their corners and pooled on her knees. "I KILLED SAKURA!" she screamed. She fell into a hysterical bout of sobbing. Her father held her and waited for her to stop crying and explain.
It took an hour for Ino to finish crying again before she was able to tell her father everything. Her mother, after seeing the look on Inoichi's face, did not try to overhear. Florists could tell Ninjas everything, but ninjas can tell florists nothing. When Ino had finished her father led her up to her room and helped her out of the heavy jounin uniform she had been dressed in to see Tsunade.
He laid her down on her bed and tucked her in like he did before she became a trainee at the academy. He gazed down at her, her eyes blank and staring, her face gaunt, and petted her hair. He let her sleep and then left the room.
Ino did not sleep. She had merely closed her eyes so her father would leave. The trick had worked dozens of times in the past. Of course she didn't want to talk about things like her feminine hygiene with her mother or boys with her father.
She had just gone against a direct order from the Hokage by telling her father the particulars of her mission. Of Sakura's death. Of how Ino's horrid crime had helped Konoha avoid a total, all-out WAR.
And it was all bullshit.
Ino had killed her comrade. Shinobi law, never mind her pride, dictated immediate suicide. Death of a comrade was common in the world of ninja, death by your own hand was reserved to hunters and missing Nins. It could have been avoided. If Ino had waited for her vision to clear. If she had not been so eager.
If. If, if, if, FUCKING IF!
She rolled into a fetal position and cried. When her sobs threatened to get to loud she grabbed her pillow and muffled them with it. Her thighs ground together, her toes curled and her hands became claws as she tried to forget. Tried to get the image of Sakura's body out of her mind.
But she couldn't. It was there. And it had taken up a residence.
The next week went by in a blur for Ino. From the time she came home and told her father everything to Naruto's visit, she remembered only minor things. The first four days had consisted of being brought breakfast and lunch and dragging her weakened body out of bed for a bad tasting dinner.
The tedium was broken on the third day. By Naruto.
He walked up the steps and knocked on the door. Ino's mother answered and when she saw his face she broke down and hugged him. "Naruto! I'm so sorry!"
Ino could hear them because her room overlooked her tiny porch, and she had opened her window to let in some fresh air. "Thank you Yamanaka-san," Naruto said, very reserved. Ino was surprised. He surely knew what she had done. Didn't he?
Tsunade had been adamant to her about not telling. There was a chance the thing would be kept secret from Naruto as well. That thought chilled her to the bone.
"Is Ino here?" he asked from below.
"Yes…but…she's not doing well Naruto. Would you like to come in and wait for her? She may get up to see a friendly face?" her mother offered.
"Wouldn't we all?" Naruto asked. "Sorry Yamanaka-san, but I have to hurry. Here, this is from Haruno Hana-san."
"Sakura's mother? Oh…yes. Thank you Naruto. Please take care." The door closed and Naruto leapt by the window. Ino had stayed in her bed through the entire exchange. Her adept ninja hearing alerted her to her Mother's immediate movement to the stairs and to her room. "Ino-chan?" her mother asked knocking lightly on the door.
"Come in," Ino said. Her mother opened the door and held up a small black envelope. "What is it?" Ino asked. To her it looked like execution orders.
"It's," she bit her lower lip, "the invitation to Sakura's funeral…"
Ino sat up and looked at it. She held her arm out half way and then stopped. Then accepted the letter. Shaking she took the fabric, which felt like fine felt under Ino's fingers. She popped the string tie and pulled the simple invitation out.
"This invitation is to the funeral of Haruno Sakura, Konoha Kunoichi, which will be held this Sunday. It will be in the hours from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm."
Ino didn't even realize she was crying until a few stray drops hit the paper. She shook her head and let the letter drop to the bed. "Momma…?" Ino asked quietly.
"Yes Ino-chan?"
"I…" she took a large gulp of air. "Need a black dress…"
In Konohagakure Ninja are given no funerals. High ranked Shinobi, or very popular or powerful warriors will have large gatherings of friends and allies. Normally these are for the living entirely as there is no body to view, by the time a funeral has been organized the body has been disposed of by the ANBU.
There is a formal ceremony held one week after the shinobi's death, regardless of attendance, at the Hokage Building. If the family wishes for another ceremony they can ask for funding for the gravestone. Since this is a rare occasion held mainly by families with only one or two ninja most families who ask get the funds.
Now, this Sunday, the Haruno family stands before a bodiless grave. Hana and her husband stand to the left of the small gravestone. The main host of those present had come for Naruto; they are his comrades who recognize him as a powerful ninja. They came to help him through the loss. All attendees were wearing normal civillian clothes. Shades of black to contrast the deep red of the carpet provdided to stand on for the gravside service.
As unsurprised as the group, consisting of the rookie nine as well as Gai's team, to see Ino, they were equally surprised to see a certain raven haired ANBU captain make his rise over the hill toward the grave. In his wake was Naruto his head low, his eyes downcast.
Sasuke led his rival up to the small carpet walkway placed down by the funeral home before stepping off and letting Naruto walk up to the gravestone. On the top were Sakura's headband and a picture of her. He didn't stop until his feet rested against the step that was made from the stone coming from the grass. He fell to his knees. They scrapped against the stone and tore his pants and the skin under the black fabric, but he showed no sign of caring.
They were only pants, and the Kyuubi inside him assured him of fresh skin on his knees within minutes.
"Sakura-chan…" he whispered. "I'm so sorry. I swore I would protect you. Every time. From everything. Even if it was me…and then someone killed you. Because I wasn't fast enough." He put his hand on the stone and dug his fingers into it. His rage became evident. Emotion flooded his aura and filled the small area. Sakura's parents took a wavering step away from the stone as they saw deep gashes form from Naruto's nails. "I swear…" he hissed through growing fangs, "That I will find the one who killed you. No matter their village. No matter who they are. No matter what they represent. Even if they were someone just like me. I will find them and I. Will DESTROY THEM!" he screamed.
He panted. Taking his hand from the grave he pounded on it with his fists. His despair escaped. He screamed. The stone began to break. Cracks appeared on it. The picture at the top of the stone trembled and threatened to fall over many times before Sasuke put his hand on Naruto's shoulder.
"Naruto…you need to calm down. You're breaking her grave," he said softly.
"Yeah…I know…Sasuke-kun," the honorific was spat out like poison. Naruto grabbed Sasuke's hand and stood up, twisting his body as he did so pulling Sasuke close. "When the fuck did you ever care about her Sasuke!" Naruto pushed him.
The young Uchiha was caught off guard so badly he fell back to the ground. "This isn't the time Naruto. Sakura wouldn't want us fighting over her." He held himself up with his hands and tried to stand.
Naruto's foot connected with Sasuke's jaw at such a speed it made a sickening crack. "NEVER SAY HER NAME AGAIN!" he bellowed. "If you do Sasuke I'll rip your snakey tongue OUT!" he roared. Sasuke glared at him. The spark was there. Even if it meant disgracing himself Sasuke would fight Naruto on her grave. No chance to fight Naruto when he was empassioned escaped Sasuke. He activated his Sharingan.
Seeing this Neji and Lee leapt into action. Lee grabbed Sasuke and pulled him to his feet before pushing him into Kiba, who swung their bodies around and began to inform Sasuke of the health ramifications of being near Naruto at this moment in time. Neji went to his friend and put a hand on the front of his shoulder and spoke to Naruto softly.
"Damn I thought would get some exercise," Sasuke thought. He moved past Ino and the smirk, to keep the air of arrogance around himself dropped.
"What's going on?" the commanding voice of Tsunade called as she and Jiraya appeared on the carpet. She saw Naruto, several steps shy of becoming a tailed fox form, and the blood running out of Sasuke's mouth. "Uchiha! Uzumaki are you causing trouble…HERE?!" she screeched.
"No ma'am," Sasuke said. "Just helping Naruto vent some steam…" he walked past her. "Call me if you need a shoulder to cry on Naruto, I'll always be there," he made a chilling tribute to Orochimaru's laugh and left the cemetery in a flash of smoke.
"Bastard!" Naruto said, his eyes following Sasuke's untraceable movements flawlessly.
He strained against Neji's hands. "Naruto-kun. Stop. It was a taunt. He's trying to aggravate you."
"Guess what Neji?" Naruto asked glaring into Neji's silver eyes, "He fucking succeeded." As he looked at Neji he saw Rock Lee and Tenten behind him. Then he saw the others, including Konohamaru and his friends. Naruto blinked and let his body relax. Naruto's anger faded when he remembered where he was. He looked around and felt complete shame. He turned back to Sakura's parents and lowered his eyes. "Hana-san…I'm so sorry. Please forgive me. I-"
She shook her head, "You don't have to apologize Naruto." They, like most of the parents of his friends, had accepted he was not a reincarnation of the demon fox. But the look in her eyes was one of slight fear. Naruto turned to the stone monument. It was in ruins. He cursed under his breath and pulled out of Neji's grasp.
"I'll…pay for a new one," he said at last. He turned toward the stone again and laid his palms on the now uneven top. One on either side of Sakura's headband and picture.
It showed her in a light red kimono. She was smiling and holding something. Naruto knew what it was, it was his arm. He had a copy of the same picture beside his bedside table. When the picture was taken he dared those in the village who had a bone to pick with him to break in. normally he left those thieves and vandals with sprains or mere scratches.
If they hurt her picture when she was alive he would have taken an arm. Now…there would be no mercy. His home, which held many of Sakura's things, was forbidden territory. A cold calm floated over Naruto. He clenched his fingers and balled them into fists. He did this in such a way his knuckles cracked one by one.
"I'm going home." I have barriers to put up he added within his mind. "Hana-san do you want me to give Sakura's things to you?" he asked.
She smiled sadly and shook her head. "No keep them. We'll see you when the will is read so things you have now may be yours by her right."
He nodded. Then Naruto made his way out. He gave a few smiles and words to Tsunade and Jiraya before he walked down the path. Ino had stiffened as Tsunade walked by and had relaxed when the elder ninja had not even glanced her way. Now, as Naruto stalked past her, she felt fear grip her insides.
Yet, as scared as she was, she wanted him to strike her. To show someone truly cared enough to take revenge for Sakura.
Naruto stalked by. He stopped a few feet behind her and turned. "Ino…I wanted to talk to you when I gave you the invitation. But…" he trailed off. she turned to him quickly, like a mechanized doll.
"I know. I was sick. I had just learned of Sakura's death." A lie. A bad one. She felt the eyes of Tsunade. Did Jiraya know as well? What was she even doing here? Tsunade didn't care about Sakura. she cared more for the village. Fear moved to grip her heart when Naruto spoke again.
"I…" he gritted his teeth against tears, "understand. Do you need to talk to anyone Ino?" he asked.
She gasped and looked into his deep cobalt eyes. She saw a need there. A need to talk to anyone. As Ino was about to say 'no, I spoke with my parents' or something else as weak, she felt a gust of strong wind. It had no origin except the front. She held her hair down and her dress closed before looking back at Naruto. The need was stronger.
Before her mind could register what she was doing, "Yes. I would like to talk Naruto…do you have a time or place?"
"No…I have a few things to do first. I'll call you…"
"You," Ino blushed, "have my number?"
"Sakura kept a list of numbers by my phone because I kept forgetting…" he rubbed the back of his head. "I'll see you in a few days Ino. Try and take care."
"I will Naruto." The wind subsided as Naruto left. Ino could swear she heard whispers on the wind. They came from behind. She suspected everyone knew now. Naruto's lack of knowledge was no sure way to know if anyone else knew. The world could be dead and Naruto would be the last one to figure it out.
The prospesct of being alone with Naruto was a frightening one. Not even he would be able to keep doubt from entering his mind in such a setting. His rage and anger would be a thousand times greater than anything even Tsunade could bring on her. Naruto in his purest form was nature's fury. The prospect was like standing before a malevolent typhoon or hurricane.
But still, a calm voice and happy face to help her ease her pain.
That she didn't have.
Her pain wasn't of a mourner.
Her pain was of a guilty murderer.
When her mother wanted to take care of her, nothing could get her to move. But Ino always tried to be rid of her, especially since she desperately needed to be alone again.
"Are you sure it's all right for us to go Ino-chan?" her mother asked. The older woman started fretting over the clothes Ino had thrown on after the funeral.
Two days ago.
Ino sighed and put on a fake smile, "Yes mother it's fine. I just feel bad taking advantage of you. I need to do some work. You know Godaime will have me on missions soon enough." Her mother smiled back and nodded. Eventually she did leave.
Inoichi told his wife he would be right after her. "Ino. Our family still has standing. I could try and find out how this happened."
"And how would that make me feel any better father?" Ino asked. She turned from him and headed for her stairs. "Especially if it was all one huge mistake?" As she disappeared from his view he let out a soft sigh and left.
Ino watched her parents go, fussing and fretting as they do, from her window. As Naruto had felt it, a cold calm washed over her. She turned to look out at the eastern view from her apartment. The visage of the Godaime was there staring out emotionlessly. Sakura had been her best pupil, truly her successor.
And because of the damned village she put her murderer back on the streets. Ino suddenly felt disgust toward her fellow Konoha. She looked at the civilians with an anger she didn't know she had. After a few moments she pulled away from the window. She could stand to see her no longer. Even if it was only a fake.
'Even if we made an in depth hoax, those who looked long enough and hard enough would see through it.'
BULLSHIT! By the time that happened Tsunade, Oyama, and even Ino would be bones in the ground. No one alive at the time would give a damn. The Kages (Shadows) could easily work it out.
Except they wouldn't. Even if the scroll mystery wasn't solved for another thousand years Ninja villages had long memories. These memories lasted longer when an enemy had made fools of them.
Ino could read the human soul as easily as any Hyuuga, mainly because she used her power to circumvent other souls. She knew no matter what pathetic excuse Konoha came up with to execute her they would be found out in time. the only question was how long would it take to change the story? Decades. Maybe even centuries. Maybe even a few months after she finally does pass away.
Her death would be made into a martyr's. Sakura's murder and her trial (if they ever did give her one) would all be linked to two young women who gave their lives for a successful mission and prosperous village.
The thought made Ino sick.
Her anger had made her feel odd. Her throat was dry and her hands were cold.
Like Sakura's.
She turned from her window fully and went down to get a glass of water. She entered her kitchen and saw a small parcel. She picked it up and read the return address. It had an address that didn't belong in Konoha. Her mind looked at it and immediately the translation for the code form in her mind the answer. "ANBU headquarters," she thought absently. She hadn't been there since she had left after her report.
She ripped the brown wrapping paper off and found a plain white box inside. She opened it and deposited the contents onto her kitchen table. It was the summoning scroll for the contents of her locker at headquarters. Her body acted of its own will when it put the box down and opened the scroll. She channeled her chakra and put her hand in the circle.
In a neat little pile her clothing, armor, mask, and sword appeared on top of the scroll. She moved them and rolled it before depositing it in her pocket. She was about to take them when she remembered she hadn't cleaned her sword. It would still have…
"Her blood on it."
Ino slowly took the sword from the seemingly organized pile. She took the sheathe in her left hand and the hilt in her right and pulled it out.
When the blade was completely free Ino gasped. Red. From the perfect curved tip to the guard, it was blood red. Splashes and splotches had once sparsely coated it. After it had been sheathed the blood was still wet and had spread along the entire length of the blade.
Ino's cool shattered like the stone at Sakura's grave. She began to breathe heavily. She felt rain pelt her bare arms and face. suddenly she couldn't see. Her arms shook violently and she fell to her knees, realizing her entire body was shaking.
She still held the sword up.
She heard the crash of thunder and the crackle of an infant forest fire. It filled her with dread and excitement at once. She saw her enemy. (It's Sakura.) She rose quietly from the floor (the grass and mud covered ground.) She raised her blade. Its silver (red) sheen flashed in the blast of another lightning bolt. Her enemy didn't even turn as the clean (dirty) blade ripped into her. Through her heart and out her chest.
Ino fainted.
The phone rang loud in the kitchen. When Ino had fainted she had hit her head on the floor and she was disoriented. She grunted loudly. Sitting up she realized she was not well. Her fainting spell had been brought on not only by her flashback, but by her lack of sleeping and eating the last two days as well. She coughed into her fist and stood.
When she went to pick up her phone she couldn't, because her sword was still tight in her hand. She put it down, through a massive force of will, and reached for the phone again. As she picked it up she heard a click and a sigh of relief.
"Hey! Is Ino there?" a slightly less merry than usual voice asked.
"Y-yes," her throat was so dry. Well, she had come fro a glass of water in the first place. "I'm, here."
"Hey Ino it's Naruto. I wanted to know if you still are up for that talk?" he said. She heard the need in his voice. Or maybe it was her own need reflected back through him.
Her head still hurt, but she did need to eat. "Yes. I'd love to. When and where Naruto?"
"I was thinking this little sushi place near the main gate?" he said.
Her stomach rumbled. "I'd love some. Where do you want to meet?"
"There's a small walkway in the park surrounded by Cherry Blossom trees you know it?"
'Naruto took me to this wonderful place Ino-chan. It was right when the cherry blossom bloomed. He made them fly around us with a wind technique.'
"Yeah I know it."
"I'll see you in an hour then?" he asked.
"Yes…an hour."
"Good! Bye Ino, see ya then." He hung up without waiting for her reply.
"Bye…" She took a huge gulp of air. She put her hands on the kitchen counter and let the phone fall of the hook. She covered her mouth with her hands to stop herself from retching. But she saw the sword. And the blood. And barely made it to her sink.
