:o Two updates in a single day? Yes, it appears so! xD;
I hate cliffhangers just as much as most other people, so I couldn't really stand to leave it unfinished for too long. xD

Okay, so this is Ino's last chapter (and it's pretty short again)! For the moment. And only from her PoV. She'll probably appear here and there in several other chapters. xP

"I found it!" Lee exclaimed. Ino rushed over to him in record time.

"You did? That's great, Lee!"

"Yes." Ino was surprised to hear happy tears in the tone of voice he used. Then she saw what he was holding.

"The shuriken Gai-sensei gave me for my birthday; I thought I had lost it about a week ago. OH, YOU HAVE COME BACK TO ME, MY BELOVED SHURIKEN!" Lee stood and held it into the air. Waves crashed dramatically in the background, adding even more water to stream down Lee's face.

"Leeeeeeeee," Ino growled, giving him the evil eye – or perhaps eyes would be more accurate.

Lee sweatdropped as he realized he had gotten off task. "Um, right. I apologize, Sakura." He got back down on his hands and knees and began searching again. Ino dropped to the ground again as well and continued searching, the sun getting low in the west.

Ino glared at the stupid moon, which had risen as the sun fell without giving Ino enough time to find the ring. She dreaded the next day. Training with Lee and Gai-sensei would kill her.

She found her body again, miraculously untouched for the entire day. She supposed some things had gone right for her. But it was so annoying to be as close as she was and yet not find it.

Reluctantly, she did another handsign and said, "Release!" She was back in her own body and quickly leaving Sakura before her rival had had time to come to her own senses.

Sakura wobbled on her feet for a few moments before catching her balance and standing up straight. What had happened? She had some very hazy idea of what she had done that day, but no details came to mind. Had she been to the scientists that day?

She shook her head. "If I haven't been, it's probably too late now, judging from the looks of the moon and stars."

Footsteps sounded and Sakura whirled around. Kaida leaned against the wall.

"So, feeling better?" she asked.

"I was sick?" Sakura asked in return.

Kaida smiled. "I saw the last bit. It seems Ino used the mind transfer jutsu. Catch." She fished something out of her pocket and tossed it to Sakura, who caught it and looked to see what it was. The invisibility ring.

"But I gave this to Lee," Sakura said, confused, looking up.

Somehow the part about Ino taking control of her body wasn't too surprising. After all, she had done it before. And Sakura supposed she had been right to let Lee hang on to the ring for her today, though she didn't know how Kaida had gotten a hold of it.

"That was what Ino was after. You can yell at me if you want for swiping it from Lee without his realizing, but," Kaida smiled ruefully, "Lee can be too trusting, especially when it comes to you."

Sakura closed her fingers around the jewelry piece. "Um, no. Actually, thank you for keeping it from her." She hesitated only a moment before asking, "Will you fill me in on what I supposedly did today?"

Kaida nodded and grinned. "I wasn't around for most of it, but I can tell you about what I was there for."

Sakura smiled in return. Tomorrow, she would be eating the cookie, right? No, that had been today. If Ino had even gone to the scientists.

Sakura shrugged mentally, figuring she would find out when tomorrow came. Otherwise, she would be drinking the orange juice.

If the number of items Sakura is to test out is any way to tell, this story is probably nearing the end. ;-;
Or maybe not.

*shrug* I guess we'll just have to see what happens, right? xD;

Don't forget to review, or else! Or else I'll make Ino take over your body and review for you! *glares*