Ocean Ripples
by N.A. Nery
Summary: What would happen if Ino had been placed in Team 7 instead of Sakura? A lot of course, considering she doesn't even like Sasuke and tolerates Naruto.
Warnings: Slight-AU, swearing, OOC-ness, character death, slight character bashing, lime
Disclaimer: Characters and canon storyline belong to Kishimoto.
Acknowledgments: Thank you to Marco (the kulboi) for helping me write and proofread this chapter.
Chapter 21
Ino focused on performing the transplant. She didn't get why Madara had trusted her to do the surgery. Did he think she was that faithful? Nah, he probably thought that she was just another disposable girl. Besides, he could easily kill her.
She sighed in relief as she started wrapping the bandage around Sasuke's head. It was finally done. She kept half an eye on Madara. Sasuke sat up, gingerly placing a hand on the bandages that now covered his eyes.
"Don't," she warned. "You need some time to recuperate so lie back down." If his eyes weren't covered, she was sure he'd be rolling his eyes at her again. again?
"It's working," he murmured. "I can already feel myself getting stronger." She snorted. Why did she have to fall for such a power hungry fool? Didn't he know that his revenge would not satisfy him in the end? She blamed Madara for corrupting him but she knew it really was her fault.
She sighed. "You need to rest for a few days," she said in her medic voice. "Don't strain yourself."
Sasuke grunted in acceptance and lay back down on the stone bed. "I expect you to feed me," he said. She narrowed her eyes at him. How dare he treat her like a slave.
"I expect you to know how to respect a woman," she hissed.
He froze, not expecting an answer like that from her. What? Did he really expect her to willingly do anything he asked? As if! She was Yamanaka Ino and she had her pride, thank you very much!
"I'll bring you food but that's it. Good luck finding your way to the stupid toilet," she huffed.
Surprisingly, Madara chuckled. She immediately tensed. His aura was disturbing and really, really cold. Just being in the same room as him made her quiver in fear.
"Zetsu, lead her to her room," he ordered the plantlike guy. As she followed the black and white Akatsuki, Zetsu, through the base, she couldn't help but feel like a prisoner on her way to the gallows.
Run!
Find an escape route.
Zetsu led her through the base, making the tour as confusing as possible. He really made sure she wouldn't be able to memorize the place. She snorted, as if that would stop her from exploring the base on her own.
They finally arrived at a corridor with one door at the end of it. "You're staying in there," he said. Then he disappeared into the earth just like that. She shrugged and entered the room. It was plain and boring. She pursed her lips. All she could think of was how tasteless the whole place was.
She sat on the bed. She wouldn't call it her bed, as she knew this was only temporary. A few days and she'll be out of here. War was coming, and it was coming sooner than they had all anticipated.
xxxxx
"Open up," she ordered. Sasuke was such a stubborn, prideful, annoying asshole! She sniffed. She didn't want to do this either but since he couldn't see and his hands were still slightly burned and broken from the last fight with Danzou, it was inevitable. She pouted as he refused to acknowledge her. "I said open up."
"I thought you didn't want to feed me" he snorted.
"I don't," she said. "But I have to." He seemed confused and conflicted, and she didn't blame him. She was a walking contradiction. He sighed and finally opened his mouth. She smiled. There.
He sighed again and beckoned her to sit beside him on the bed. She blinked at the gesture but shrugged it off and did what he said. His arm snaked around her waist and pulled her close, as he buried his face in her neck. She wondered what he was thinking .
xxxxx
Ino yawned as she snuggled into the warm pillow beside her. It was way too early to get up.
"Wake up," someone murmured. She frowned. Didn't she just say it was too early to get up? She huffed in protest and hugged the pillow harder. She was not going to get up. She heard a sigh as the pillow moved. She growled as she held on tighter, thinking that the person was wrenching it away from her.
Human.
That's when she realized that she only had one pillow, and it was under her head. Almost too scared to, she opened her eyes and was greeted by the familiar crimson Sharingan.
She chuckled in embarrassment. "Sorry," she murmured and released her vice grip.
"Hn," he grunted and got up. She tilted her head as she realized that he was shirtless . When did she fall asleep? And in his bed, too. Seeming to sense her staring, he faced her and smirked. She rolled her eyes. Overconfident ass.
"Why're we up so early?" she yawned. He raised a brow. She frowned as he unwrapped the bandages around his head. Impatient as always.
"Training," was all he said.
She scrunched up her face. Training already? It was way too early; the sun hadn't even come up yet! She watched him strip and enter the bathroom. It was her turn to raise a brow. He could've done that in the bathroom, and yet he did it in front of her. Was that an invitation? She grinned. If it wasn't then she'd just say he asked for it.
Besides, it would save a lot of precious water.
xxxxx
She watched as he moved through the various white Zetsu's; a hurricane of power and destruction. He weaved through his opponents with the ease of a seasoned warrior. Ino snickered every time his guard fell and one of the Zetsu's got a hit on him. He ended by releasing his Susano'o, effectively killing the rest of the opponents. His sharigan really was impressive. He didn't even seem fatigued or anything.
"Hold still," she sighed. They were near a spring, and she was attempting to heal him. He had severe burns, a broken wrist, and a lot of cuts ranging from mild to life-threatening. He took training to a whole 'nother level, this guy.
"Hurry up," he mumbled. She snorted. Like he was in any condition to order her around. She smiled slightly at him. He was still the same impatient bastard from the Academy days.
"There," she declared. She wondered why he was taking too long to open his eyes. Oh. A grin started forming when she realized he had fallen asleep. She chuckled as she caressed his cheek. "I love you."
Her shoulders slumped. Did he love her too? She wished he did, but she wasn't sure. His knack for hiding his real emotions was frustrating her. Couldn't he just be straightforward for once?
A lone eye opened. Ino smiled softly at him. Was he actually awake? Did he hear her then? She bit her lip in anticipation. What would he do now?
Sasuke sat up and stretched. He looked around and took note of how many Zetsu's he'd defeated. Then he started walking back to his room. She frowned at his back. Sure, just ignore her.
They reached the point where their paths would have to separate. She glanced at his back before sighing and heading towards her room. A hand shot out and caught her. What? She looked at him questioningly.
He didn't answer. Instead, the Uchiha led her down further into the base. She didn't know where he was taking her but she found that she didn't care. Anywhere was better than her room right now. She'd just end up brooding if she was left on her own.
Sasuke led her through a serious twists and turns, thoroughly confusing her. Every hallway looked the same, and every turn was disorienting. How on earth was she going to get back on her own? She jogged lightly, trying to catch up with Sasuke's brisk pace. Jeez, what got him so agitated?
"Where are we going?" she finally relented. She was really, really curious. They'd probably been walking for half an hour. The base couldn't have been that big.
"We're almost there," he acquiesced. She shrugged and caught up with him. He'd long let go of her arm and she missed the heat he radiated. Decision made, she intertwined their fingers with a small smile. Her smile grew bigger when she felt him squeeze her hand. To her, that little action was worth a million words.
"I missed you, too," she grinned cheekily. He snorted and held her hand tighter. Yep, she definitely liked him better when he wasn't killing things and thinking about revenge. He may have been a pain in the ass, but he was her pain in the ass.
They reached an expansive room with an underground waterfall. Her jaw dropped to the floor. It was beautiful! The ground was covered in grass and small flowers, and there were trees too! She laughed and ran towards the waterfall. She breathed in the fresh air that always surrounded these water bodies. She smirked as she turned back to Sasuke. He raised a brow in question. Her answer was her clothes hitting the ground.
Skinny dipping was the best.
She heard Sasuke's chuckle from behind her, followed by a small splash. She grinned and faced the dark-haired beauty. "How deep is this?" she asked. She knew waterfalls could make pretty deep plunge pools.
"You should be able to tell," he said.
"How?"
"Your element is water isn't it?" At her nod he continued. "Just close your eyes and feel the water around you."
And she did. She withdrew into herself and felt her surroundings. It was a great feeling; it felt like she was one with nature. She smiled. The pool reached three times her height. Not that she cared, she could never drown. Water was her element.
She felt his arms encircle her waist as he nuzzled her neck. She sighed in content, the water beneath them solidifying so they could stand.
"I love you," she said.
He grunted and made no other indication of even hearing her. She chuckled. He didn't need to, because even if he tried to deny it, he loved her too. It was all in how he protectively held onto her, how he would sigh with pleasure when she played with his hair, how he leaned into her every touch. She knew. For love didn't need to be communicated in words.
xxxxx
"Be still," Sasuke ordered as they crept along the walls. Why did they need to be so sneaky? She huffed. Whatever it was, she was getting impatient. Yamanaka Ino wasn't known for her patience.
A white Zetsu appeared, and he seemed to be looking for something. Ino pursed her lips. Why hide from the guy if they were on the same side? Unless… Ino stared at Sasuke. What was he planning?
She started when a black flame erupted from nowhere, consuming the Zetsu whole and effectively killing him. She sucked in a breath. That was the famed Amaterasu, a black flame that couldn't be put out. Ino kept close to him, not wanting to be anywhere the ever-burning fire that proceeded to burn the Zetsu.
"Where are we going?" she whispered, sensing the delicacy of the situation.
He glanced at her. "You'll see soon enough."
They continued to sneak around, avoiding any clones that happened to pass their way. Ino wondered why he was being so sneaky. And why he was attacking any Zetsu that seemed to realize they were there.
They reached the outside and Ino was glad to finally feel the sun on skin. It was warm and bright, not like the damp and dreary base. She inhaled the cool afternoon breeze and relished in the openness around her.
Still the same.
Ino huffed. Yeah, she was still the same, so what? At least she was consistent! Kind of. Sasuke turned an amused eye at her. She glared in response.
"Let's go," he said. He ran forwards and disappeared into the dense forest. She sighed and went after him. "Look out for anyone aside from ourselves."
"Multiple Zetsu clones at three o'clock," she reported. He nodded and headed towards them.
A battle ensued once the clones realized that Sasuke had killed the original Zetsu. She smirked, pulling out a summon scroll. They were a big group, close enough together to wipe out easily. She summoned her water and began her jutsu.
Easy prey.
"Water style: First Wave!" she murmured. One thing she learned was that you didn't have to shout the name of your techniques. It was just a pride thing, letting your opponents know what jutsu they were going to die by. She watched as most of the Zetsu's drowned and died within her mini tsunami. Sasuke looked on with approval before summoning Susano'o.
Run!
Ino tore away from him as she was attacked by a clone from behind. She quickly erected an earth wall. Hey, just because she had a natural affinity to water didn't mean she couldn't use other elements. She just really sucked at fire, that's all.
She dodged the punch thrown her way by a Zetsu to her right and jumped up at a low kick from another. She grunted and kicked her legs out in a split, effectively knocking them away from her. It was anti-climactic but she finished them off with simple kunais to the neck.
She glanced back at Sasuke. He was decimating the numerous clones. She shrugged and used the Mind Disturbance Jutsu on one clone, making it fight the others. Why do the work herself when she could get others to do it for her? She really loved this jutsu.
Sasuke finished the rest Susano'o and Amaterasu, but kept one alive. He didn't even have to look at her for her to know that she had to 'interrogate' the clone. She mumbled a small apology before literally mind-raping him.
War.
Ino left the now dead Zetsu clone's mind. She heaved a heavy sigh. "Madara's declared war and the five countries have banded together to fight. The last remaining jinchuuriki are being hidden by the Raikage," she said.
"You're getting better at that," he commented. She smirked at him. Of course she was. She hadn't been idle these past few years. "Move out."
A/N: 100 reviews! As a reward/celebration: SasuIno!
(Marco still says it should've been NaruSasu)