ok sorry this took awhile x3

anyway im just gonna point out now that this chapter might have more mistakes Dx i was tired when i typed it =.=

also in later chapters im just gonna apologize now and say sorry if i get too pervy with it o3o" (not too much tho so your safe XD)

im trying not to rush into things but the next chapter should be better :D

Chapter 9: The Flower of Truth

It was late at night. The stars filled the sky and the moon light up the village. Ino peeked her head out the door of her house hoping no one was around. Nobody was in sight. The kunoichi turned her head towards her parents and silently mouthed an I love you and goodbye. They told her they love her too and motioned her to go. Ino couldn't thank them enough for the support they gave her. Other parents would probably try to stop their child. Ino was thankful. She knew this wasn't gonna be easy. She walked the paths of Konoha silently looking around to see who was out. Not many people were considering how late it was. Most of the people that were out were either monitoring their shop or out partying at a bar. Ino didn't mind being out this late. She liked the night life and the atmosphere around her…well except the bar.

Ino was almost at the Gates when she suddenly felt like she was being followed. She turned around, but no one was there, however the feeling of another's presence remained contiguous. She then noticed a dark figure standing on the corner of a general store. She couldn't see the figure to good so she took a step forward to get a better look. It was a someone watching her. She took another step forward. Whoever it was Ino wasn't going to go down easy if he wanted to attack.

"Show yourself!" Ino demanded.

"Easy, Easy Ino. Geez. It's just me." Ino recognized that relaxed deep tone. It was Kakashi. He walked over to Ino who eased her nerves knowing it was just him.

"Kakashi Sensei don't scare me like that. What are you doing out this late?" Ino questioned.

"I should ask you the same thing." Kakashi responded. He looked at the dark green bag with black straps Ino was carrying on her back. "Going somewhere?"

"W-What? No….I mean…well yes, but…." Ino looked down. 'If I tell him he might try to stop me and I need this.' Ino turned away. "I'm sorry Kakashi Sensei…but I have to go now. Good-bye." In an instant Ino ran towards the Gate not looking back.

Kakashi watched as Ino ran off. He wondered if he should stop her, but he figured he should go and consult her parents first. He hoped there was a logical explanation for this.

Ino ran and ran and ran until she couldn't see the Konoha Gates anymore. When she felt like she was far enough she stopped and got something out of her bag. It was the rugged tan colored map her father gave her. 'It looks like I have to go through Yugakure (The Hidden Hot Water Village) and Shimogakure (The Hidden Frost Village) to get to The Cloud Village.' Ino guessed she didn't mind going through Yugakure, but she didn't really favor having to go through The Hidden Frost Village, seeing as it's always snowing there. Ino wasn't sure if she wanted to go to The Cloud Village either, but it seemed she had no other choice since she didn't know where else to go. She noticed her father circled some areas on the map. They were little villages and rest stops. 'Thanks dad. I can get some warmer clothes and other supplies on the way.' Ino put the map back into her bag and looked back at the now far away Konoha. An instant image of Team 10 popped into her head. Ino was going to really miss them. Then the image started to focus more on her lazy team member Shikamaru. She shook her head in disbelief. 'He has that Sand village girl…..Temari. He probably won't care that much.' Ino turned back around and started her voyage to Kumogakure.

Back at the Hidden Leaf Kakashi arrived at Ino's house. The surrounding was already getting awkward and he hadn't even walked in yet. With a short sigh he gently knocked on the door and waited for someone to answer. He could hear Ino's parents talking inside.

"Honey, can you get that?"

"Sigh…can't you get it? I just got back from a….OW!"

"GET THE DAMN DOOR!"

Kakashi sweatdropped as he listened to the couple argue about getting the door. He finally heard one of them walk up to the door. When it opened it was Inoichi, which didn't surprise Kakashi too much.

"Oh Kakashi, what brings you here?" Inoichi said rubbing the back of his now sore head. He could probably already guess why he was here though. Ino's mom walked up beside Inoichi to see who it was. She smiled. "Well hello Kakashi. Please come in." She said putting her hand out motioning him to come in. Kakashi thanked them, but didn't go in.

"Sorry, I would, but I have some stuff to attend to in the Hokage Mansion in a few." He told them. "I just have something to tell you about Ino."

"You don't have to. Well already know." Inoichi said. Kakashi looked a little shocked that they allowed Ino to leave like this. Inoichi went ahead and explained to Kakashi about Ino leaving and what she plans on doing. Kakashi wasn't sure if he fully agreed with this though. It was dangerous.

"Are you guys sure? Don't you think you should tell Lady Tsunade? It'll get really ugly if you don't." Kakashi warned the couple.

"I was actually planning on doing that in a couple minutes." Inoichi told him. Kakashi looked up at the clear night sky. The moon was full and village was getting a little more silent.

"I'll tell her." Kakashi offered.

"What? No way Kakashi. You don't have to go through the trouble." Ino's mom insisted.

"It's ok I was going to speak to Lady Tsunade anyway."

"Are you sure?" Inoichi asked. Kakashi nodded.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE LEFT THE VILLAGE?" Lady Tsunade shouted at Kakashi. Shizune was standing beside her with a shocked expression. Ton-Ton was asleep on a white blanket on the floor. Kakashi cleared his throat and explained the situation as to why she left. However it didn't seem to change Lady Tsunade's thought about this. She was still furious, but not because she left. It was because she left alone and didn't tell anybody.

"She just got up and left not even saying a word. AND ALONE!"

"Yea. I don't think Shikamaru or Choji know either." Kakashi said.

Lady Tsunade sighed and dropped her head. She had been working for three days straight. She was tired and wanted to sleep, but she still had work that needed to get done.

"Tomorrow morning get everyone up in here. We need to discuss this."

"Are you planning on searching for her?"

"Possibly."

It was almost dawn and Ino had still been walking. She wanted to sit down and rest or nap, but for some reason her legs keep moving forward. Maybe it was because she was afraid something might happen to her in her sleep or maybe the shinobi in Konoha would ketch up to her and take her back. She knew they might try to come and get her. She didn't tell anyone, but her parents and Kakashi probably knows since she did run into him. 'Wait what am I think? It's not like I'm an important ninja or something. They would be better off without me….maybe I shouldn't come….back. Maybe I could find a place in the Cloud Village, if they trust me.' Ino continued her walk in silence still not resting even once.

She was standing in a blank room wearing her normal outfit. Nobody was around her.

'Am I dreaming? Where am I?'

Ino looked around and still saw nothing. It was like she was in a white empty room that had a bright essence to it.

She stood there in silence.

A sudden shock went through her body when she felt someone wrap their arms around her neck and shoulders from behind. She had no clue who it was, but their comfort actually felt good.

She felt safe.

Then it vanished. Whoever it was they were no longer there. It was like they just disappeared in a flash. Ino turned around.

She was alone.

The sun was out and the blonde kunoichi felt its rays on her sensitive cheeks. She slowing opening one of the eyes and felt the ground beneath her. When she sat up she realized she had dozed off on the ground. 'So it was a dream…., but who was that?' It had been two days since she left Konoha so maybe it was suppose to represent something she missed. She sat all the way up and dusted off the bits of dirt on her clothes. The forest was silent, but oddly pretty. Ino stood up and picked up her bag. She was getting close to Yugakure.

'I can't believe this.' Shikamaru was in his room sitting on his bed, his head looking down at the floor thinking. The sun shined through his window and onto one side of his depressed face. He turned his head and looked out the window up at the sky.

Flashback

Shikamaru was walking down the hallway of the Hokage Mansion towards Lady Tsunade's office. 'Great. It's probably about another mission.' As the lazy genius neared the office door he heard some people walking far behind him. It sounded like a several people. He stopped and tried to recognize the voices. As they rounded the corner it turned out to be Choji along with Team Guy, 7 and 8.

"Hm? Shikamaru?" Naruto said with a clueless expression.

"What are you all doing here?" Shikamaru asked.

"Lady Tsunade called us all here. She said it was urgent." Sakura told him. Shikamaru gave them all a concerned look and started walking with them to the office. 'If she called us all in then something important much have happened.'

They all stood in Tsunade-sama's office curious as to what was up. Lady Tsunade was sitting in her chair with her elbows on her desk. The room had an eerie mood to it as everyone waited for Tsunade-sama to speak. Shizune was holding Ton-Ton standing beside Lady Tsunade.

"I've called you all in here to discuss something important. Notice someone missing?" Lady Tsunade asked glaring at them all. Everyone started looking around trying to figure out who she was talking about, but Shikamaru and Choji already knew.

"Ino. Where is she?" Choji asked highly concerned. Everyone looked at Lady Tsunade alarmed by the notice of their blonde friend not being there. Tsunade-sama sighed.

"Ino has left the village."

Everyone grew shocked and wide eyed. Shikamaru was the one who seemed most surprised with those single five words. His heart sank into his gut and his eyes widen more. He couldn't believe what he had just heard. Ino, his Ino was gone.

"Listen I don't want you guys to go after her." She told them. This made Shikamaru almost lose his mind.

"WHAT? You can't be serious. She could get herself killed." Shikamaru insisted. Lady Tsunade looked down.

"Ino is fine…..trust me. Everyone is dismissed, accept Shikamaru." She said plainly. Nobody said anything and did as she said. They knew not to talk back to her. Shikamaru looked down at the hard floor trying not to make eye contact.

"Listen to me Shikamaru, do not go after Ino. This is for her own good."

"What are you talking about?" Shikamaru said finally looking up. "Is she with someone?"

"No…." Tsunade stood up and placed her hands on her desk. ", but I believe that she'll be fine. I want you to believe her too. Do not go after her!" She repeated. Shikamaru clenched his fists.

"Fine…"

End flashback

Shikamaru felt his heart pound harder and harder. The very thought of something happening to Ino wounded him internally. 'I already lost my Sensei. If I lose Ino to I'll…..' Shikamaru brought his knees to his chest and rested his head on them with his hands on his head. An image of the blonde popped into his head. She was smiling….the same way she did after he told her she was special to him. He wished that he was with her. Before he thought she was just being troublesome, but now he wished hadn't.

'Was this what she wouldn't talk about when we were going to the Sound Village? Was she already planning on doing this? Or is there something else wrong?' He looked up and stared out the window again.

'Well wherever you are I'm gonna find you.'

sorry if this chapter is also too long :o

promise the next one will be better ;3

thanks and leave a review :3