Post Hypnotic Suggestion Chapter 2: Memory Diving, a naruto fanfic

Okay, I have a reason for the slow update:

My laptop needed to be worked on and the last two weeks have been pretty hectic.

I apologize for the late update! *Bows frantically*

I was doing laundry and I was thinking, "Crap! I need to update! But…I wanna draw on my tablet…NO! I must update!"

See how conflicting it is?

But hey, you get to see a little blast from the past…

Disclaimer: I know, I know…you're reading this thinking, "Ooh, yay! A witty disclaimer! Those make me laugh~!" No. I don't own Naruto…but I do wish I owned Kakashi. *creepy fangirl smile* Don't underestimate the fangirl.

-o0-

Post Hypnotic Suggestion

Chapter 2

-o0-

Ino's eyes were bulging.

She knew it wasn't the prettiest expression she'd ever made, but what could anyone expect? She was watching her best friend and boyfriend whisper and giggle happily into one another's ears; if anyone deserved to be angry, it was Yamanaka Ino.

She felt a hand settle gently on her shoulder and she snapped her head to the side to pick up Naruto's equally disturbed expression. "I need to talk to you."

They were at a bar with the "happy couple," so it wasn't difficult for Naruto and Ino to slip away from the fawning pair, so engaged with each other that they hardly noticed the departure of the two blondes.

Naruto pulled into the alley, ignoring another couple pressed against the far wall. "So, what's the plan?"

"Well, we've tried asking them outright…but they can't stop sucking face long enough to answer," Ino said bitterly, lost in thought. "I have an idea," she remarked cautiously.

"Explain, explain! The sooner we break them up, the better!" Naruto cheered.

"I've been working with a new technique that allows me to sift through someone's memories."

"That's perfect!"

"Let me finish!" she snapped. "It has a drawback. I can only get a little information at a time. It takes a lot of chakra and energy…and there are some side effects."

"Like what?" Naruto asked.

"If it's an emotional memory, I can sometimes feel those emotions, like…times twelve. Also, since I see the memory from the eyes of the person, I get a little confused about who I am when I wake up," Ino explained, "My dad and I haven't done a ton of tests yet…but those two seem to show up a lot."

"Well, we should still give it a try," Naruto thought out loud. "We only have a week to get information, so we should do whatever gets the job done."

"First we need to knock them out and take them somewhere private," Ino commanded. "I'll take Sakura and you take Shikamaru."

"Where're we going?"

"Sakura lives alone, so we'll go to her apartment."

-o0-

"You ready, Ino-chan?" Naruto asked sitting by Sakura's bed in a wooden chair he had taken from her kitchen.

Shikamaru and Sakura were both lying on the bed with a space between them. Ino crawled into the space, intertwining her fingers with the pair. "I'll dive into Sakura's memories first and then," her voice cracked slightly, indicating her fear of what she might see, "I'll dive into Shikamaru's."

"I'll be here when you wake up," Naruto said soothingly.

-o0-

Sakura packed her things carefully, just enough for what she assumed would be a simple mission; the chances of this mission being like the Zabuza incident were extremely low in her opinion and she regarded Tsunade's caution as unwarranted.

She locked her door behind her and kissed her house key for luck, "Be back in a few weeks!" before striding away from the small building. She could smell the wonderful smells of Konoha and feel the breeze against her face; it was a truly glorious day.

Finally, Sakura arrived at the gate where Shikamaru and the client were waiting. Shikamaru gave a small wave, "You finally made it."

"Where's Ino? Didn't she come to give you a smooch?" Sakura teased good-naturedly, making fish lips at him before bursting into laughter.

"Troublesome woman," the shadow user smiled, shaking his head slowly. "We better get going."

"But really? Where's Ino-pig?"

"I don't know," Shikamaru answered hesitantly.

Sakura placed a friendly hand on his shoulder, "Don't worry. I know the pig and I have our problems, but she has told me some things…she really likes you."

"I'm sure she does, but-" Shikamaru began quietly before cutting himself off, "Let's go."

Sakura watched as he walked away slowly and whispered quietly to herself, "Where are you, Pig?"

-o0-

Ino's eyes flew open and she breathed heavily.

"You okay, Ino-chan?" Naruto stood in his chair with a concerned face enveloping his features.

"H-how long?"

"About twenty minutes."

Ino let out a sigh as she settled herself back down against the bed, "No side effects this time…but it wasn't really an emotional memory."

"How long before you can jump into Shikamaru's memories?" Naruto asked curiously.

Ino looked at her watch and calculated the amount of chakra she had at her disposal. "Another five minutes and I should be fine."

Naruto fiddled with his headband nervously, "That fast? Won't that hurt you?"

"No. I still have enough chakra left for one more," Ino answered with a sigh, "but that's it. Any more and who know what'll happen." Ino cast a glance back down at her watch, "Alright, it's time."

"Good luck, Ino-chan!" Naruto smiled comfortingly, reminding her of Sakura's attempts to comfort Shikamaru.

Ino gingerly clutched Shikamaru's hand and let the darkness overtake her.

-o0-

Shikamaru sat across from his pink haired teammate and watched as she chuckled at something one of the client's personal bodyguards said. He couldn't define what it was that made him wish for her to talk to him…but he kept reliving her playfulness that morning. The way she had made the exaggerated fish face hadn't been particularly funny or romantic, but he'd been overcome with the temptation to kiss her.

Instantly, Shikamaru thought of Ino. Her blonde flowing hair…her feminine curves…but the image wasn't enough for him. Ino wasn't…

"Shikamaru? Hello?" a voice snapped him from his reverie.

"What?"

"You spaced out. Come on, there aren't any clouds out to watch! You can't space out!" she laughed.

"I was thinking."

"Typical genius," she threw her hands in the air comically. "You are the smartest person I know and you can't keep your mind on one joke!"

So the bodyguard had been telling a joke, Shikamaru deduced. "You're the smartest girl I know and you're being unusually playful today," he countered.

"I am?" her face colored as she seemed to ponder his statement. "Must be all those years of being on a team with Naruto, he gets to you after awhile."

Shikamaru instantly thought about her words with jealousy, 'Naruto's known her longer than I have and he likes her…had Naruto ever told her? I know she's blown him off before but that was before…' Shikamaru spat, "…the Uchiha left."

"Excuse me?" Sakura's tone darkened. Sakura was standing with her hands on her hips angrily. "What did you say?"

"I-"

"Good night!" Sakura yelled sternly as she marched to her tent.

Sakura had called him a genius, but he felt like the biggest idiot he had ever known.

-o0-

Ino shot up again and before Naruto could ask if she was okay, she burst into tears. "Bastard! Bastard! Bastard!"

"Ino-chan?"

"You!" Ino roared, "Couldn't you have told Sakura you loved her before all this? If you had been man enough to get Sakura, there's no way Shikamaru would think about her that way!"

"I-" Naruto blinked rapidly. "I-I'm sorry?" he apologized.

"Idiot! Idiot! Dumbass! Bastard! I'm not good enough? I tried so hard to get you to notice me and you go for my best friend! Damn it, Shikamaru!" Ino screamed beating on the unconscious ninja's chest mercilessly until Naruto deemed it time to restrain her.

"What happened?" Naruto asked, pulling her into a hug to stop her furious assault.

Ino cried unhappily and explained the whole thing to him.

-o0-

Well?

Good update?

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I'll go Ino on you if you don't. TIMES 12!

AJlovesKakashi

P.S. Thank you to those who loved the first chapter enough to review and alert!

I loooove you (figuratively-I don't really have a heart. :)!