Set: It doesn't come up, but they're still five/ six–ish. This is around the same day Ino told off a girl named Ami who was picking on Sakura. (Ep: 41)
Betrayal between comrades is not something young Ino knows. Being from such a peaceful village, during times of calm between wars such treason is actual unheard of to the children. Little did she know her first experience would leave such a lasting effect on her.
The air is crisp from the tension in the field. With the sun setting, and everyone heading home, the perfect mood is set for the scene played out before us. Three girls surround Ino with a bitter look in their eyes. She stands confused, why have they turned on her? They're her comrades, fellow kunoichi so why are they out to get her?
All three take a step forward closing in on their target. Ino doesn't flinch though, she won't let them have that satisfaction of knowing she's even a little scared. Eyeing the one to her left a purple haired girl, Ino notes that she doesn't look as strong as the taller girl to the right, a red afro haired girl. She glares at the leader, Ami. They had never gotten along well; Ami was always too conceited and picked on people who were weaker then her like Sakura. The fact that Ino knew this and still went to make Sakura her new friend burned her inside.
"Ami-chan…" Ino looks directly at her, her voice firm trying not to let her shock show.
"Ino-pig…" Ami gave her a smirk, like she already thought she'd won. Crossing her arms she gives a slight nod and the other two pounce on Ino each grabbing an arm.
She tries to break out of their grip but her struggles fall short, the two had too good of a hold on her. They spread her arms out, making Ino look like a human cross. Ami smirk turns into a sadistic grin; it creeps Ino out. How can they do this? We're supposed to be comrades!
"So, Ino-pig, you think you look as cute as the cosmos?" Her eyes flash red, Ino almost shiver at the sight of this cruel girl.
Mentally slapping herself, she becomes more determine to not show fear. A look of resistance crosses her face. She spits at Ami and a shot of saliva hits directly on her face, "Do you're worst, traitor!"
The purple haired girl on her instantly punches her, as Ami disgustedly wipes the spit off her face. She spits back at Ino and smirks seen Ino squirm. "Spirited, let's see if we can fix that," She reaches down and picks up a rock.
I have to fight back, Ino struggles as if her life depended on it only to receive two more punches, one from each side. A small trail of blood runs down from her lower lip. Able to tug red head on her right in far enough, she bits her arm and the girl screams in pain almost releasing Ino. The purple haired girl punches her head in retaliation causing her to let go and fall to the ground.
Pulling Ino back up they hold her tighter now, no longer allowing her to stand firmly on her own two feet, though, both feet still touched the ground. Ami took one hand and grabbed the back of Ino's hair holding her head in place. "Let's see if you're still a cosmos after this!" Bringing back her arm, Ino closes her eyes not wanting to see, silently saying a pray as she waits for the pain.
Her body tenses. She hears the impact of the rock, but there's no pain. A moment passes. Nothing. Slowly she lifts one eyelid. Shocked, she opens both and stares to see Sasuke holding Ami's arm with the rock dropped on the ground in front of her.
Her mind freezes trying to process what just happened. "Sasuke-kun…" The word escapes from Ami's lips.
"Leave." His word was crisp, and fell home hard. Both girls holding Ino instantly dropped her, causing Ino to fall to her knees from both the lack of support.
Ami not wanting her be on his bad side tried to explain, "It's not what it looks like! We're just-,"
Sasuke interrupts her, "People like you make me sick. Leave." This time his voice sounded more lethal. All three girls sprinted from the scene. Ino smirks as she watches the sight tiredly. Placing a hand on in front of her, Sasuke offers to help her up. Slowly she grabs his hand and he pulls her up.
The second Ino stood up she fell back down. Luckily with Sasuke quickly reflexes he was able to catch her. It was just too bad for Ino that she wasn't conscious to be there in his arms.
---
Ino wakes up to a gentle bouncing and the smell of grass; she smiles she knows that smell. Shika-kun… She smiles softly. Shikamaru carries Ino down a lighted street of Konoha. It's around nine o'clock; the streets were empty with the exception of a couple holding hands every now and then. Ino couldn't help but wonder if they looked like a couple even though he was giving her a piggyback ride instead of holding her hand.
Unaware of Ino regaining consciousness Shikamaru starts to talk, "I'm really sorry, Ino. I should have been there. I should have walked you home today. If I had just stayed at field longer today, I would have been able to save you, you wouldn't have gotten hurt."
It's unusual for Shikamaru to talk this much; he usually found it too troublesome. "It's okay, Shika-kun," Ino whisper in his ear, her voice is rough, a little hoarse.
He almost drops her in his initial shock that she's up, "Ino!" Looking at her he notes the bruises forming on both sides of her cheeks. The blood from her lips stopped a long time ago, but her hair was still messed up from when Ami grabbed her. Trying to regain his composure he asks trying no to show too much worry in his voice, "Are you okay?"
She nods, "Yeah." Licking her dry bottom lip she can still taste the metallic flavor of blood. Memories flood back to her of the events earlier. A bitter sadness of comes her. How could they do that to a comrade? Suddenly a thought appears in her mind, "Hey, what ever happened to Sasuke-kun?"
Turning a street, they were now a few houses away from Ino's house. "I ran into him a few minutes after you passed out. Since he didn't know where you lived I took you home. He told me everything that happened..." Shikamaru decided to leave out the part where her mother called him at five telling him Ino was missing and he'd been looking ever since. The minor details aren't important now.
"Thanks, Shika-kun. Hey, want to know a secret?" Ino squealed happily. He turns into Ino's driveway. All the lights are on in the house, the parents must be worried sick
"Sure," Shikamaru replied knowing it would probably be something like what her new favorite flower is; seriously she changed her favorite flower daily. He stops at the front door, but doesn't let her go just let wanting to hold her close for just another moment.
"I have a crush on Sasuke-kun now!" Ino giggles a little happily. Shikamaru gently drops Ino down to the ground, no longer wanting to hold her. He was hurt, he felt… betrayed.
"That's… great, Ino. Hey, it's getting late, I have to go." He starts to back away towards the street. Turning his face towards the street, he tries to hide his hurt.
Ino nods quickly, "Okay, thanks for carrying me home, Shika-kun!" She runs inside, and Shikamaru hears Ino's parent running to their daughter lovingly then gasp at her appearance.
A cold wind hits Shikamaru's back. He rubs it; the warmth that had protected it earlier was now safely in her house. Now his warmth liked another. His entire walk home felt shallow, empty.
Yep, betrayal wasn't a thing well known to the children of Konoha. But each one experiences there first one day. It was just a sad twist of events that led Ino and Shikamaru to share their first back stabbing on the same day.
A/N: Okay, this was a sad one, but I thought it would be a good change of pace. Besides it gives a good reason why Ino likes Sasuke, even thought she way better off with Shikamaru. If it's any consolation, this also takes place the day Sasuke gets betrayed by his brother. That didn't come up in the story either but yeah… Anyway thanks for the reviews from last time, and till next time!
