Year Five

Relationships

Inokoto knew that her father and uncle had a fight after their talk.

He hadn't been allowed to train her. He hadn't taught her much, he was in fact a lousy teacher. Inokoto didn't think it was worth the strain it had put on their relationship. She didn't like it when anyone around her fought. She herself liked fighting with other, especially those she cared for. It was a secret, but she loved a good debate with Fugaku and Shikadai.

She tried not to think about her father and uncle's dwindling relationship as she was swinging on a swing in the park where her parents had forced her to go. To see other children her age they had told her. Sasuke, Sakura and Fugaku would be there later she had been told. She didn't care, she saw them all the time anyway.

It seemed like everyone around her was in a constant foul mood bickering and fighting all the time. Inokoto liked it better before when her mother used to wake her up in the evening when Itachi had told her something funny. She liked it better when her parents were calm around each other, comfortable, when Itachi told her horrible jokes, and she told him about her day at work. They were getting there, slowly. Inokoto wished they would hurry up.

Boruto was swinging next to her trying to gain as much speed as possible, Inokoto was hardly moving with her feet still on the ground. Hinata was anxious while Naruto cheered his child on. Itachi and Ino was sitting on a bench laughing and occasionally pushing each other.

This was the highlight in Inokoto's life. Her parents were getting along again. Itachi didn't smell of the other woman's perfume as often as before either. Inokoto was hoping she never would be formally introduced to her. That her father would forget about her and only have eyes for her mother. It seemed like it sometimes.

Someone who only seemed to have eyes for her mother was Shikamaru. She often found him staring at her mother when they were together. She didn't know what to think of it. They had been friends all their lives, but Shikamaru had a girl and her mother had her father.

Inokoto didn't know if it was right. She didn't know what was right, nor what she wanted. She was confused and feeling hopeless about the situation.

It wouldn't be the worst thing if her mother felt the same way about Shikamaru as he clearly felt for her. He was kind and sweet to Inokoto and she really, really, really liked Shikadai. He was the only child her age that was on the same level as her. The only one who seemed to understand her even if he didn't want to.

If their parents got together he would have to play with her, and that all the time. He couldn't run when they were living together and his father would make him play with her all the time.

But if Ino was with Shikamaru she wouldn't get to spend as much time with her father as she wanted. She didn't even know if she would want to live with her mother or her father.

She jumped off the swing as it started creaking and Boruto was about to swing around the pole something she and Hinata knew would end in disaster. She ran over to her parents and made room for herself between them.

"All the other mother's and father's kiss."

She said it casually. She had observed it herself, she also knew why her parents never kissed. They weren't together like all the other parents. She looked at Itachi's impassive face as he gazed into the woods ignoring the situation. Ino looked down at her child with her mouth slightly open and eyes wide.

Ino hadn't noticed that Inokoto had become aware and interested in relationships, especially romantic ones. Itachi on the other hand had noticed her looks, how she studied couples and seemed to take everything in. It had only been a question of time before she would ask about the fashion of her parent's relationship.

"But then again we aren't like all other parents."

Inokoto sighed. She had also noticed that no one compared to her parents. Not even uncle Sasuke compared to Itachi and they were brothers. Sasuke fought often with Sakura, and then they were glued to each other the next day. Her parents seemed to be a constant. They laughed, whispered in the hallway, shared looks, jokes, house but never saliva.

"I know, I know, you have a girlfriend and mother keeps stringing along married Shika."

Inokoto jumped off the bench and ran over to Boruto to stop him from crippling himself. He loved playing "I Spy." It was the only time he sat silently, somewhat silently.

COCOCOCOCOCOCOCOCOCOCOCOCO

Inokoto is savage.

Smartasswolf: As always, glad you liked it! It's about time someone teaches Inokoto to kick some butt. I actually wanted to put Itachi yelling at Sasuke in the story, I love making him yell at Sasuke as some undisciplined child. Sasuke is a pretty, pink princess, we all know that. His mental age is still 13 I would guess. Itachi tortures Sasuke by besting him in everything. I know, the system is still faulty which this story will exploit to the fullest. Why did I suddenly get the idea that Inokoto would be the child that has a hit-list? Congrats on being the first who has ever guess right on one of my stories, as far as I remember. I'm impressed!

Uchiha: Now I suddenly felt bad for Itachi going from a band of criminals to dealing with Sasuke and Ino's shit. Anyhow, he said I guessed wrong. He was thinking about the time he was a single cell void of thought and personal choice, when he just existed. Inokoto is a history buff like her father, so she was bound to read something about it. I wanted to make a big deal about her finding out, but she loves her father unconditionally, and like her mother, she's a daddy girl for certain.