(Ino)

Even though I knew Shikamaru and Chouji were already at the border, and that I would get told off by them for not being there, and for completely flunking the mission, I somehow didn't care at all, and just kept on walking at my leisurely pace..

I just kept thinking that my life was more important right now, and I knew that was wrong! Ninja's should always be able to put there life on the line, no matter what. So why should I be worried about my personal life problems on a mission?

Easy, because I felt like a huge chunk of it was missing.

When I thought of Sasuke like I normally did, I felt nothing. Absolutely nothing. Well… not true, I felt gratitude and friendship. But why do I feel thankful towards him? What did he do other than turn down my love for him?

Maybe he was going to save my life! That would be amazing; I could feel the smile…

Wait a moment I don't feel a smile, I still have this calm expression on my face. Wow, that's new.

I thought of many people and seemed to come with different things for all of them.

Shikamaru: I was defiantly worried about him, but why? He can take care of himself easily against any attack that was happening at the border.

Chouji: Well, pretty much the same, except for… I don't really know. I guess I can relate to him. I don't know how, I just can.

Kiba: Same

Shino: Same

Hinata: Almost the same. Friendship and jealousy. What on earth…?

Neji: Same (total hunk, but nothing compared to Nar- Sasuke, another what on earth!? thing)

Tenten: Friendship (a.k.a. same)

Rock Lee: Same (Totally creeped out by the eye brows, but great ninja. Weird love life though)

Sakura: Best Friend! (Same)

Sasuke: Already went through that

Naruto: -

I came up with a blank for Naruto. I felt friendly towards him. Well, not friendly, something… stronger. Again; why? I am bubbling over with questions today. Nothing seems to make sense. It must be from the check up. And the weird déjà vu feelings I've been getting lately. I'm sure once I reach the border I'll be fine. I'll see Shikamaru and Chouji. They must be so mad! I had to start out late just because I fainted (just like Hinata). But I will get there! Eventually.

I picked up my pace a little, but I was in no hurry for some reason. I just felt like walking. Walking is very nice. Relaxing and calming.

And then I saw a lake. It was green and slimy. But undoubtedly it was a lake.

(Naruto)

I had been running after Ino non-stop for the past 2 days. So 11 days after Ino went missing. I hoped so much she was alright.

I briefly wondered why no one had gone after her sooner, but pushed that thought away and kept going.

I was going pretty fast, faster than my usual speed. I was glad I could go faster, but it never seemed fast enough. No matter how much I pushed myself to go faster, I couldn't get fast enough. If it weren't for Eiko telling me to slow down, I probably would have passed out from exhaustion.

But all my speed paid off when I saw Ino.

She was walking towards the lake with a curious expression on her face.

"Ino!" I called out.

She spun around. For a moment, I thought I saw relief on her face, but then it turned back to curiosity. Did she forget something else, like my name? Or worse, who I am all together!?

"Ino, it's me; Naruto!" I told her while jumping down from the tree I was in.

She just rolled her eyes "Yes idiot, you're Naruto, and I'm Ino. Anyone else you want introduce?" She asked sarcastically.

That hurt, but at least she remembered me. That was a huge relief to me.

"Tell me where Shikamaru and Chouji are." She told me eyeing me.

I frowned in confusion, but soon realized se didn't remember finishing the mission where they fought at the border (and Ino fell in the lake).

"Ino come over here now." I told her. I had thought this through on the way here. I wouldn't approach her, incase the spirit in her was in control and decided to jump in the lake, and finish off what was left of the real Ino.

"Not until you tell me where my team is!" She huffed. I couldn't tell her that they were in Konoha; she would think I wasn't the real Naruto. And I could lie to her, because if she figured out I was lying, she definitely wouldn't trust me.

But I didn't have much choice… lying it shall be.

"They are heading back. The mission was so simple they didn't need your help." I said smiling. I was putting so much effort, but she still didn't trust me!

She stared at me, analyzing the new information I gave her.

I took this opportunity to start to walk towards her. She came out of her thoughts when I was a yard or two in front of her.

She abruptly started walking backwards towards the lake! Not thinking properly, I ran towards her, I had to catch her before she fell into that lake!

But when I was directly in front of her, she began to fall backwards. It seemed to slow to be real. Her foot slid on the slippery mud, she stumbled back into the water, and she fell back, as I leaned forward to grab her. We tumbled into the lake together.

I felt it was all over. Ino was now gone. Only a body remained, and even that would not be Ino soon enough. Every part of the woman I loved was gone.

Hoping to keep her with me, to not lose her ever, I held onto her tightly. Crying tears no one could see because of all the water we were in.

I didn't know how long we spent in there, and it didn't seem to matter anymore anyway. That was until something happened.

Ino kissed me, and wrapped her arms around me, as we floated to the surface…

(Eiko)

I decided to stay behind Naruto. Incase this evil spirit of Ino could see me. I felt safe with him, well safer, I knew there were plenty of dangers out there.

I could feel Naruto's pain. Well not literally but I could picture it pretty clearly. I winced, not wanting anyone to go through that.

I followed Naruto into the lake, trying to give him hope, and courage to get through his heart break.

But, I looked at the girl instead. Instead of seeing a nasty monster as Naruto had said she would be, I saw the best sight I had ever seen.

My twenty your old cousin, being hugged by Naruto.

"Noyora…" I whispered. She didn't move.

Noyora!" I called out.

She stirred, but did not mover from his grasp.

"NOYORA!!!" I screamed out to her, and quickly went to her, and tugged at her hand. That's when I realized this was not my cousin, but a girl, who looked almost exactly like my cousin.

I felt a tear on my cheek side down, despite the water around me. I tugged on her hand again but instead of her hand moving, another one seemed to slide out. It was pale, and practically see-through. I pulled some more, and a wrist came out. I kept pulling until one half of the real Noyora's came out. The real Noyora. My beloved cousin.

I felt like crying out in joy as I tugged and pulled the rest of her free from the body.

Noyora looked at me for several moments, she looked dazed, and confused.

But when she spotted Ino and Naruto kissing, she turned and looked at me.

"Eiko… what are you doing here?"

"We promised never to leave each other…. That nothing would separate us! I stayed behind, to find you." I told her, smiling through my tears of joy. I had finally found my cousin. The one I had waited a 1000 years for.

Her confused face turned into a smile of warmth and thankfulness.

"I'm sorry you had to wait for me. Thank you for honoring our promise," she said to me as we walked together hand-in-hand, into the dazzling light.

(Naruto)

When I felt my back bob on the cold surface of the water, I immediately came to my senses and dragged Ino out of the water.

I thought I had a stranger for a moment, because what I saw in front of me was Ino: with regular blonde hair. I was stunned, and as she fluttered her eyes open, I saw she had her beautiful blue eyes back.

"Naruto." She stated.

"Naruto!" She cried out again, and tackled me in a bear hug.

"Ino," I said to her, and just embraced her back.

We could have stayed like that for hours. Days even. But we both knew we had to get back.

Eventually we did. And we talked.

"Ino. I have a question." I told her.

"Go on ahead," She said smiling at me.

"You know how you were possessed?" I muttered. She stiffened slightly and stopped walking.

"Yes?" She answered.

"Did you only love me, because e of my power?" I asked, gesturing down to the Kyuubi seal.

She looked puzzled for a moment.

"Honestly?" She asked.

"Yes, honestly." I answered.

"Ok. I could have fallen more in love with Sasuke. He had power, he had the curse seal. But you have more. But I'm sill in love with you now. I think I would have fallen in love with you anyway. Noyora just speeded up the process." She said smiling at me shyly.

I was stunned. A couple things clicked in my head.

The reason why Eiko wasn't here was because she found her cousin, who was the spirit that possessed Ino.

Second, one of Sasuke's fan girls (one of the more hard core ones at that) fell in love with ME!

And third, me and Ino were a couple!!

I scooped Ino up in my arms, and kissed her, and walked forward to Konoha. Towards our home, and a new happy future.

Wow. One more chapter and this is over. The next chap will be an epilogue and then I'm done. Amazing…

Well, if anyone is still reading this story since I haven't updated since forever, please review!