Deathrosekitty- Thank you for being my first review! And of course I won't throw in anymore ShikaIno, it's just too typical. I'd like to write a KabuIno. I'm pretty sure there aren't many of those out there…but Kabuto will just have to play the bad guy in this one. I think I've seen your name somewhere before. I probably read a few of your stories or you probably reviewed some story I read too. But Anywho, thanks for the review, it makes me very motivated. I seek praise, but I'm a sheltered child like that (:
Sammy08- Thanks for being my second review and giving me another one. Heh, reviews make me oh so happy! I like SasuIno too [:
KaRin- Thank you (: I see you everyday, so you know my gratitude.
Sasuke-Um, thank you and I'm glad for your love of ponies and your hobby of picking your nose…?
Kosumi- I dig your review! Heh, makes me not want to disappoint you with a crappy chapter, so I hope chapter three meets your standards. Thank you for reviewing (:
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One month later
"Let's do it again," said Kabuto.
"Can't I just let her take over me? She'll be too weak to do it herself," sneered Sasuke.
Ino glared at him. "Shut up Uchiha."
He gave her a bitter a look. "What did you say to me, Yamanaka?"
"Come on you two," said Kabuto, trying to break up the tension. "Ino-chan, get ready. This will be our last time for today."
"Yeah, bring it on Yamanaka-pig."
Ino did her seals and lunged her spirit into the Uchiha's body. She tried to hold her grounds in his mind, but his own spirit came out. "You think you can take over my mind? You're just a weakling, you know that? What makes Kabuto think the hundredth time will be different?" He started to fight her off.
Sasuke had reached Ino's boiling point. Anger rushed through her blood. She wasn't going to let him get rid of her so easily. Her spirit's anger burned him and she began to gain her control. The battle between the two raged on for barely a few minutes, but the mental stress made it seem so much longer. His spirit started to recede, and for a split second, she gained power over his body. Sasuke's body fell to the ground. Ino was exhausted, but Sasuke's spirit came back and pushed her back out.
The two panted sat down, panting as they tried to gulp down as much air as possible.
"That was a huge improvement," said Kabuto. "I think you're ready to take over most minds. Sasuke's head is a hard one to penetrate."
She didn't say anything. She didn't even look at him.
"Ino-chan," began Kabuto, "you've been so…different lately. Did I do anything wrong?"
"What you do shouldn't concern or affect me in anyway." Sasuke smirked at Kabuto as she got up to leave.
It was nighttime. Although it was impossible to tell being underground, her own body acted as a clock. It told her it was time for bed, and yet, these past few months, she couldn't get to sleep at night on her own. She needed the help of the dagger. Taking out a kunai, Ino thrust it deep into her heart. She craved the pain without knowing why. Her body had learned to heal itself faster after mortal wounds. Soon, she would be able to stay conscious. It wasn't as bad as she thought it would be. She was addicted to the pain. As the mind numbing sensation passed throughout her body, she laid herself down to bed to succumb to sleep.
A week later
"Did you hear?" murmured a voice to another one.
"About Orochimaru's death?"
"Yes, but you don't really think he could die now, do you?"
"I hear he was working on a girl to make her immortal."
"Was she a success?"
"She hasn't died, yet." The two figures walked off laughing.
Rumors were flying around about Orochimaru's death. No one had come around to say anything official yet, but there were more rumors of prisoners being freed. They said it was the Uchiha that had killed Orochimaru.
Ino sat down, contemplating on what she would do without Orochimaru. She had no clue what it felt like to have a father, but Orochimaru must surely be something equivalent to that in her life. Her loyalty was devoted to him and she was completely dependent on him for her well being.
Kabuto appeared at her door, wearing a dark cloak. In his arms, he held another one. "Ino-chan, I think you have heard about Orochimaru-sama?"
She nodded.
"Come with me then. We have to leave."
Just then, Sasuke burst into the room. "Ino, don't go with him. He'll just use you. Come with me instead."
"Look who's talking. Ino-chan, who's treated you better all of these years? Who has looked after you and cared for you? Who helped you train and gave you company when you were alone? Surely not Sasuke-kun."
"You called me a tool!" yelled Ino fiercely. "You said you wouldn't care whether or not I died!"
"See, he doesn't really care for you. He just wants you for your powers," added in Sasuke.
"Ino-chan, where did you hear that? From him?"
"I heard you telling him in your office."
"Ah, how low someone would steep to soil the image of another. How do you know he wasn't lying, that the person you thought was me wasn't just a clone he made himself?"
"That's a lie!" exclaimed Sasuke. "Why would I do that?"
"Ino-chan, he just wants you to help him track down Itachi. Really, he doesn't care for you."
She looked from one man to the next. Really, she wanted them both to screw off, but that didn't seem like a choice here. "Where will you go?" she asked the two of them.
"We have to stop at the leaf village first."
Before Kabuto could say where he was going, Ino had chosen who she wanted to go with. "I choose Sasuke." She grabbed the headband and the purple outfit from under her mattress. Sasuke smirked at Kabuto. He was about to say something, but they walked out before he could.
"Good bye…Kabuto-kun," said Ino softly as she left with Sasuke. She was finally leaving, but doubt filled her. This was all she knew and she was leaving it without much thought. She swallowed back her uncertainty and continued on.
Ino had never been outside the compound before. The air above ground was fresher and the light was clearer than the artificial ones the machines made. Suigetsu, Juugo, and Karin were already waiting outside.
"Finally," said Suigetsu. "She's the last one right?"
"Yeah. Let's get going."
"I don't see why you needed her," scoffed Karin.
Sasuke ignored that comment. Ino spoke up. "We're going to the leaf village, am I correct?"
"Yes, but just for a short while. We need supplies."
"How long is a short while?"
"About a day or so."
"What if I don't want to go with you?"
Suigetsu and Karin glanced at the two, but didn't say anything. "Then that's just too bad," said Sasuke coolly.
"Look, I just want to return home."
"You don't even know that place. It's not your home."
"It's where I came from."
"Trust me, it isn't. You belong with the rest of us."
Ino fumed, but didn't reply. Suigetsu started to pant for air. "Hey, how about we take a break?"
"God, you're such a wussy," mocked Karin.
"Shut up," said Suigetsu. "I haven't been let out of that cell for over a month." He started to gulp down water from a bottle he carried at his side. "Are we there yet?"
"If we were there, do you think we would be walking?" screeched Karin.
"Okay, okay, just stop your nagging, damn it."
"Stop it you two," said Sasuke before Karin could say anything back. "I want everyone to cooperate. From this day forward, we're a team. Our goal is to find Itachi."
Suigetsu smirked. "Ah, acting like the leader again, are we Sasuke? We don't want you to die from your arrogance, now do we?" He smiled and said, "Just kidding." Sasuke only gave him a look.
"So…" began Suigetsu, "are we there yet?"
Karin exploded.
They finally stopped, to Suigetsu's relief. It would take a few more days to get to the leaf village. Ino went behind some trees and changed into the purple clothes. A nostalgic feeling came to her, but she couldn't really say why. She wrapped the headband around her waist. As she was coming back, two large birds in the sky stooped down, each with a figure standing on top. They were both wearing long black robes with red clouds dotted all over. They were both men. One had long blond hair and the other short black.
"You're traveling with the Uchiha, un?" asked the blond man as the birds landed in front of her. It looked eerie, and on closer inspection, she realized they weren't real birds but were instead made from some smooth substance.
"Yeah, and who are you?" she asked. Ever since the Kabuto incident, she stopped acting so polite.
"Deidara, un!" introduced Deidara. "The one and only infamous exploding clay artist. That guy there's name is Tobi." He nodded in the other man's direction uninterestedly.
"Heh, she's pretty, sempai," said Tobi. "Maybe we can kidnap her or something."
"Tobi, you idiot!" yelled Deidara. He smacked him on the head. "Shut up!" He looked at Ino once again. "And what is your name?"
"Yamanaka Ino."
"Ah, well we have a proposition for you, Ino-chan." He grinned at her. "Either you come easy, or we take you the hard way. What will it be?"
"What do you want from me?" she got into battle position.
"Well, it doesn't really matter to you, but a certain Uchiha has killed Orochimaru. I was the one who was supposed to kill him, but since he's already been killed, I'm here to kill his killer, you following me?"
"I see."
"And since you've been traveling with him, I'm assuming he would miss a pretty face like you, un. So how's about you lure him for us, yeah?"
"I don't think so. I've got to get somewhere myself."
"But you see, we're not really giving you a choice as to whether or not you can come with us. The fact is, you have to come with us. You understand?"
"And if I don't?"
"I'll blow you up." He took a bit of clay from his pouch and formed it into a bird. "See, this thing will explode when I want it to. You don't want to scar your little pretty face, now do you?"
"Yes, well, there's one thing you don't know about me."
"And what is that?"
"I'm immortal."
"I've heard of you, un. There were rumors that Orochimaru was creating an immortal. Who knew he'd choose a chick? Well, since you've decided to come the hard way, Tobi, get her."
Tobi wasn't on the bird. "Oh shit," she cursed as she turned around and saw him right behind her, holding up a big rock. He hit it on her head and she fell unconscious.
"Fuck it, Tobi! We'll be lucky if she doesn't get a concussion! Damn it, you're so useless!"
"Yo, Uchiha!" yelled a voice. Ino tried opening her eyes. Everything was still blurry and her head hurt really badly. "Look who we have here, un!" Ino could hear Sasuke cussing in the back. She was still disorientated, and when she tried to move, found she was bound by something hard. At a closer look, she realized it was the clay. "If you want her back, you'll have to follow me. Alone, un!"
"Sasuke, just leave her," said a voice that Ino recognized belonging to Karin. "She's pretty much useless, so let's go. I mean, if she's weak enough to get captured by him…"
"He's an Akatsuki member. It would've been inevitable."
"Are you really going to risk your life for her?" Even without looking, Ino could tell she was pouting.
Sasuke sighed. "We need everyone. Stay here, you three."
The giant birds began to move to an opened field. "Tobi, move a few meters away. I'm going to start things out with a bang, un!"
"Hai, sempai!" The bird under Tobi and Ino moved farther away. Deidara was visible between the trees. "Heh, sempai is going to totally cream that Uchiha!"
"Oi!" called out a voice. Tobi turned only to see Ino standing in front of him.
"What the hell?" he looked back at the other Ino, only to be hit on the back of the head by the first Ino.
"That was just too easy." She turned into Karin. "Suigetsu, try breaking the clay with your big ass sword."
"Yeah, yeah," grumbled Suigetsu. He grabbed the sword and forcefully brought it down on the lump that surrounded Ino. Cracks appeared and it broke into many pieces.
"Damn, that hurt." Tobi on the ground began to stir and stood up.
"Juugo, grab him," commanded Karin. Large arms came from behind Tobi and grabbed him. "Let's head towards Sasuke." They all climbed on top of the giant bird.
They could see Deidara laughing maniacally and Sasuke standing below him, still cool and calm, but a few scratches marked his body. "Learn to appreciate art, boy!" exclaimed Deidara.
"Yo, blondie!" called out Suigetsu. "Look who we have here!"
Deidara turned his head towards the crowd. "Hi, sempai!" cried out Tobi.
"Damn it, Tobi! Did you HAVE to get caught?!" Deidara yelled angrily.
"We'll trade you. Uchiha for your sidekick."
"You're not worth an Uchiha, you know, but the Leader will kill me if I come back without you. Damn it, Tobi! Fine, but I'll be back!" The two birds landed on the ground.
Sasuke hopped onto the bird. "We'll give him back to you once we're a few hundred meters away. However, you have to stay on the ground. You can look for him later."
"What the hell?!"
"Take it or leave it."
"I hate you, Tobi!" Deidara's bird lowered on the ground. He grumbled incoherently under his breath.
Suigetsu chuckled. The bird flew up and away from Deidara.
"God, Yamanaka, it's barely been a day and you get caught, already. You're so incompetent!" screeched Karin.
"Gomen nasai," said Ino, almost inaudibly.
"We could've used all of that time walking! And another thing-"
"Aw, just shaddup, you old bitch," said Suigetsu.
"What did you say to me?!"
"Thanks to Ino, we now have a faster way to get to the village."
"I think," began Sasuke, "that it's about time we drop off our friend." He signaled to Juugo.
"Wait, you're not going to just drop me from here…are you?!" exclaimed Tobi.
"Why yes, yes we are," grinned Suigetsu.
Juugo let go of Tobi and down he fell.
The village of the leaf loomed in sight. "We should get off the bird now. Who knows if he'll be able to track us with it." The bird lowered and they left its back. "Suigetsu, just as a safety measure, slash it into pieces."
"My pleasure," grinned Suigetsu. He began hacking at the bird. It laid on the ground in large pieces.
"Let's head out. We have about an hour or so to go."
"But Sasuke-kun," whined Suigetsu. "I'm tired! Can't we take a break or something?"
"We've been riding on a giant bird, you idiot!" yelled Karin.
"Yeah, and trying to stay on it and not falling off has made it thirsty work!" He grabbed a water bottle that hung from his side and began drinking it. "Aw, there's no more!" He threw his bottles at her. "Get us some more, wontcha, Karin?" He flashed a smile at her.
She turned red with rage, but before she could say a comeback, Sasuke interrupted, "It's a wise idea. Let's go Karin. You two stay here."
"You mean we get to go together alone, Sasuke-kun?" There were stars in her eyes when she looked at him. He grunted and they headed out to look for a source of water.
"God! Karin! She's such a douche bag!" exclaimed Suigetsu as he sat down. "I mean seriously, what's up with her always clinging onto Sasuke like that?"
Angry stomps could be heard behind them as Karin appeared again, with Sasuke by her side. Suigetsu turned around and faked a nervous smile. "Hey watsup, Kar-…Kar-…watsup Kar?" [Heh, watch this and you'll get it: go to you tube and put it after the dot com part/watch?vgibBWFp-fD4 i had no clue links weren't allowed...so it screwed up this part..but I fixed it! You may commence reading
"We forgot the bottles…" said Sasuke.
Slowly, Karin was turning red again with fury. "WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU, ASS HOLE?!"
Needless to say, even if Deidara couldn't see them, he would be able to track them down just by listening to Karin's ranting.
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Eh, when I was writing this chapter, it seemed to drag on. I went to Japan for a week, so I didn't have much time to write it. Sorry this chapter isn't so great…it had so much potential too. But I promise you it'll get better! I had writer's block for like ever so I'm happy I didn't just give up. I'm aware that this chapter has a lot of logical flaws, but…I just want to get through this side plot (: Please review! Oh, and please point out any grammar or spelling mistakes. I was kind of too lazy to look over the last part.