Chapter 7

By InNeverland

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. Such is my luck. ;)


"I just wanted that thank you all. We owe you so much." Yumi said.

"Yes, thank you." added a bandaged Fujita.

It was about 2:40 P.M. And the group-minus Makoto- was visiting the Deshi family in the hospital. Luckily no one had been killed or badly injured. Fujita had a few bandages, Rafu had even more bandages, and Taka had the most. But they were all in good spirits.

Ino smiled at their thanks. "It was all Minowa and Misa. They were the ones who rescued you."

Sasuke glanced over at Ino who was looking at him and Jin appreciatively.

Jin looked surprised at Ino's response. She smirked.

Yumi smiled at the group. "I just wish that there was something we could do to try and repay you..."

"That won't be necessary." replied Sasuke.

"But thanks anyway." added Ino.

Makoto then entered the room.

"Alright, I've got out bags and our...'refund.'"

"Oh, good." replied Jin, " Well should we get going-?"

Makoto looked over at the Deshi family.

"It was very nice to meet you al. And I'm glad that your all safe and okay. However, we must be off."

"We were very blessed to have met you all." replied Fujita, "We cannot thank you enough."

"Thank you, Hitomi-chan." spoke up Rafu, "Goodbye..."

"Goodbye, Rafu-kun," answered Ino, "Maybe we will run into eachother again one day."

"In a few years I'll be of legal age." Rafu stated suggestively.

Ino smirked at him. "See ya, kid."

"Hmph."

Ino turned her attention to Taka. "Goodbye, Taka. Make sure that your brother stays out of trouble, alright?"

Taka giggled. "I will. Bye, Hitomi!" she looked over at Sasuke and blushed. "Goodbye, Minowa-san."

Sasuke looked at her surprised. "...Goodbye."

Ino grinned.

Makoto lifted his hand. "Goodbye."

Jin nodded at them.

As the group left the room, Yami called out to Ino.

"Oh, Hitomi, please wait a second."

Ino stopped and turned around. "Yes?"

Yumi lifter her hands and un-did her necklace.

"I want you to have this. My grandmother gave it to me. I want you to have it now."

Ino looked shocked.

"Yumi-san--"

Yumi put the necklace in Ino's hand.

"Thank you." Yumi said, "Goodbye. And be safe."

Ino looked down at the necklace and then back to Yumi.

"You too." she replied. "Goodbye."

Ino waved to them all once more and walked out of the room. She looked at her team and smiled.

"Well? What are we waiting for? Let's go!"


Ino and the others continued on the trail. They had been traveling for almost five hours, and they had no plans to stop for about four more hours.

And after that fire and rescue, Ino had grown to respect her team.

Well, more than before, anyway.

In fact, old feelings for a certain Uchiha had resurfaced, which was something she was battling with inwardly.

"He'll never like you like that. Get over him. You did it once, and you can do it again." she thought. "Sasuke is an asexual being, Ino. He has never shown interest in another person before. He's a loner. Nothing good will come from this. He'll hurt you. Again."

"...Hitomi?"

Ino was snapped out of her thoughts by Makoto.

"Huh?" she replied.

"Are you feeling okay?" he asked her.

"Yeah...Why?"

"Well you have been awfully quite this journey, and you didn't reply when Minowa asked you something."

"Oh? Oops. Sorry." She turned to Sasuke, "Yes?"

"Did you drop this?" he asked as he held up Yumi's necklace.

"What?" Ino felt her neck. "It must have come undone. Thanks."

As Sasuke handed her the necklace, their hands touched briefly. Ino felt like a million butterflies were fluttering around in her stomach. She blushed, and Sasuke looked at her inquisitively.

"ARRRGGGHHH! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! I'm acting like Sakura!" Ino inwardly screamed.

"Are you sure you're that your not sick?" muttered Sasuke.

"Oh, now he wants to talk to me." Ino thought, still blushing.

"You're face is rather flushed." Makoto continued.

"KILL.ME.NOW." Ino prayed to herself.

Jin turned to face her and raised an eyebrow.

"HaHa! I'm fine! Really!" Ino replied, humiliated.

"..."

"Alright then. Let's continue, shall we?" said Makoto.

"That sounds good to me..Ha ha." Ino chuckled nervously, with a little bit of a blush still on her cheeks.

Ino watched as Makoto walked over to Sasuke. He was whispering something...Ino strained to listen.

"...and please watch her to make sure thaat she's really not sick."

Sasuke nodded.

Ino closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead.

"This mission just got even more complicated, didn't it?" Ino muttered.


They had all stopped for the night, and they were currently sleeping-minus Makoto, who was taking first watch, and Ino, who just couldn't sleep.

She had managed to get a better grip on herself. She was attracted to Sasuke, sure, but then again, she found many men attractive. She didn't act on all of them. Why should Sasuke be any different? Sure she wanted him , but did she need him? Nope. Not at all.

And, more importantly, this wasn't the place to start a romance (not that it would ever happen.) She was on an important mission. The Fire Country could be at the brink of another war! That was a whole lot more important than who she wanted to shag.

She was a kunoichi. Kunoichi werestrong, capable, and just plain awesome. She could handle her attraction to Sasuke AND the mission.

Really.

She could.

She turned a bit and looked up at the stars.

The little girl in her wished that her team was here and her dad also. She could ask them for advise and not feel like she was a burden. Though the logical side in her knew thather dad and Asuma would've been hopeless at giving her romantic advise, were they alive and here. They would also tell her that she was a strong ninja who was in the ANBU and a special jounin. She could handle whatever this mission threw at her. She could pull through for Konaha.

Chouji would comfort her and make her feel better, and Shikamaru would tell her how troublesome she was being. They had been in worse situations before. He would also say that she didn't need Sasuke. She deserved someone who would return her affections. Unfortunately neither one was her either. Shikamaru went to be with his 'Sand Princess,' and Chouji was always off with his genin team.

She really did wish that Team 10 could be together again sometimes.

"Growing up sucks." Ino thought bitterly.

Ino sighed and folded her arms under her chest.

Sometimes life really was too complicated.


It was the next day; 7:34 in the morning to be exact. They had only gotten about four hours of sleep each. Ino, however, had only gotten three. Thankfully, they were already getting closer to the Grass Country, and then they would be that much closer the the Earth Country. Ino couldn't wait.

However, Makoto, suspecting Ino of illness, had the group rest a whole lot more. While Ino couldn't complain about resting, she still did not being babied. Jin didn't look like she liked Ino being babied either.

"We had better not take any chances." Makoto replied.

"But we're already behind schedule..." returned Ino.

"You passing out wouldn't help with that." Sasuke said, as he was leaning against a nearby tree with his eyes closed.

Ino gave a long-suffering sigh. "I'm not sick! I'm just—Oh, nevermind."

Ino gave up the argument—which was quite astonishing for her. Maybe she really was sick.

"We'll head off again in about fifteen minutes." stated Makoto.

"Fine." muttered Ino.

"I'm going to use relieve myself now. Excuse me." Makoto said.

"Same here." Sasuke mumbled.

"I'll stay here with Hitomi then." replied Jin.

Makoto cast Ino an apologetic look before leaving.

After their departure, Jin sat down next to Ino on the log.

"...So..." Jin started.

"And away we go." Ino thought, annoyed.

"You seem to have changed a bit lately, and I, for one, do not believe that it's because your sick."

"Oh, really?" replied Ino, "Well I don't feel any difference. Strange."

Jin smirked and chuckled darkly.

"He doesn't want nor need you affections."

Ino stiffened. "I don't know what your talking about."

"Oh, don't even try to fake it." Jin scoffed.

Ino continued to look innocent. Jin turned to look at her again.

"You know, Hitomi, "said Jin, "Minowa and I have worked together before..."

Ino raised an eyebrow, but kept looking ahead. "So?"

Jin smiled wickedly at her.

"We've worked close together." replied Jin.

Ino knew exactly what Jin was hinting at.

"And I would care about this why...?" retorted Ino.

"Just don't get any ideas."

Ino turned to look at Jin. She looked completely solemn.

"Everything okay here?" Makoto interupted.

Ino jumped and looked over at Makoto and Sasuke who had just returned.

"Yeah!" Ino grinned nervously, "Are we ready to get going?"

"Yeah." replied Makoto, "Let's head on."


AN: So what did you all think?? Also, I was wondering what your opinions on Makoto and Jin were...? I really love and appreciate feedback, so please review.

Pretty please.

Also I want to thank you all! I've gotten over 20 reviews now for this story! Thank you to all those who have reviewed! I can't thank you enough!