In days like these Ino wished she could go back to her days before the war. Back then her only dream was to get married to a rich man and live a relaxing walk's distance away from her sister. Now she was forced to shiver in the cold bar, wearing clothes that were so improper she hoped nobody would recognize her.
It had been Kakashi's idea, to have her pretend to be a bar girl for a super secret exchange with an infiltrated contact within Akatsuki. Ino wondered why they couldn't send one of their other spies to do this job, Kakashi insisted that they couldn't trust anyone else.
"Oi blonde, another ale over here!"
Ino rolled her eyes as she filled another dirty mug with the foul-smelling liquid and carried it to the ugly man that had loudly requested it. She missed the gentlemen who used to frequent the flower shop, delicate men, who dressed well and spoke properly.
The door opened as Ino returned to her position and she immediately recognized the man that entered, realizing why Kakashi insisted in total secrecy. Fire Country's second Grand Wizard, Jiraya was currently noted as gone missing after a mission in Sound. Although considering his black cloak with red clouds it appeared he was not missing, but instead he was an Akatsuki.
"Hey girl, can you get me some ale and bread." He grinned at her and Ino nodded, trying to keep her cool. She now understood the gravity of the situation. If Fire found out about the exchange Jiraya was dead, if Akatsuki found out about the exchange, he was also dead. With her heart suddenly beating fast, Ino prepared the ale and bread, taking it to him.
As she bent down to place the objects on the table, he leaned in with a lecherous look. She felt his hand pass over her bottom, and she froze in place.
"Slap me and walk away angrily." He whispered.
Ino reacted immediately, pulling away and slapping him soundly. She scoffed as she walked away from him, returning to her position at the bar. The paper he has slid into her pocket burned in her mind, but for the rest of the night, Ino held off the temptation to reach in and see what's inside. It was only after the bar was closed and she was reunited with Kakashi that she touched the paper, heart racing with excitement at the potential news.
It was written in code she didn't recognize, so with a disappointed look she passed it on to Kakashi, who looked at it intently for several minutes. Ino watched his face carefully, trying to gauge the nature of the news, but as the seasoned spy he was, Kakashi gave nothing away. It was only at the end that he let out a deep sigh, crumpling the paper and throwing it in the fireplace.
"You've been missing your sister, right? I think it's a great time to visit her." Kakashi spoke distractedly.
"And deliver a message to the Uchiha?" Ino knew what the old fox was up to and she wouldn't be fooled.
"Yes. I need you to memorize this, as we can't risk it being written down. Take Sai with you too, what I'm going to tell you is strictly confidential and if it got out it could ruin this country."
"Trust me, I'll get the job done." Ino promised. It wasn't that she was loyal to the crown, it was just that she wanted to know this secret. If it could ruin the country, it meant that she was now going to become someone indispensable to the crown. She was ready to guarantee her future.
The Uchiha's ninth demon lives in the minds of the red cloud.
Ino thought about the cryptic sentence over and over but she still couldn't figure out what it meant. It was annoying her that she knew something so important but that she couldn't do anything with the information as she didn't know what it meant. It placed her in a bad mood, and glared at the bright blue sky.
"What have the clouds done to offend you?"
Her travel companion startled Ino with the words. She looked at Sai in surprise, as usually he avoided conversation that wasn't directly related to work.
"Nothing. I'm not angry at the sky." Ino smiled tersely, surprised she had shown her true feelings so clearly.
The two of them continued trotting forward on their horses. Kakashi had supplied the two of them with horses and resources to help them on their mission, insisting that they leave as soon as possible. Ino hadn't even had the time to properly warn her parents, only leaving behind a letter that she hoped her mother would get soon.
"I don't know Master Itachi personally, but the Uchiha are good, honorable people. I'm sure he won't do your sister any harm."
Ino stared at Sai, wondering why he was so talkative and why he had such a strong opinion on the Uchiha.
"Why do you say that? I didn't think you were close to the clan." Thinking further on him, Ino realized she knew absolutely nothing about Sai, she didn't know who his parents were, where he was born or even how old he was.
"I wouldn't say close. I worked with them for a while." Sai shrugged, maintaining his usual smile.
"You worked with them? Were they the ones that trained you? How old are you again?" Ino suddenly felt the overwhelming need to know everything there was to know about him. She liked knowing people and was embarrassed to realize she knew nothing about someone who worked so closely with her.
"I worked with them before I worked with Master Kakashi. I was not trained by them. I don't know my age, but my brother was a couple years older than me and he'd be twenty-five this year, which makes me think I am twenty-three." Sai answered all her questions dutifully and in order, but now I o felt she had twice as many to ask.
"You have a brother? And who trained you?"
"I had a brother. He's dead. We were trained by Danzo." Sai answered.
"Oh, I'm sorry for your loss. I couldn't imagine losing Sakura so I'm sure you must have a hard time." Ino suddenly felt bad for all the times she saw Sai as nothing more than a convenient tool to do dirty work for her. Maybe that's why he's like this, Ino reasoned to herself, he's traumatized by his dead brother.
"Ino, ahead. Please slow down." Sai's voice switched back to his usual professional tone, and Ino looked to the road ahead. There were a few burly men, bearing swords and axes, blocking the road with a broken cart.
"Should we detour?"
"I'll ride ahead to meet them. Can you handle your horse on the field? It shouldn't be too rough as it hasn't rained in days so the ground will be hard. Take the right and circle around, go as fast as you can and don't stop to look back. Wait for me by the next crossroad." Sai calmly said as he shuffled in his pack for something. Ino bit her lip, suddenly feeling worry towards the man.
"Just take care of yourself. I don't want you to get hurt."
Sai looked up straight at her, meeting her eyes with a different expression, perhaps the first genuine one she had ever seen on him. He looked like a child, surprised and innocent, as if it was the first time he was seeing her.
The moment lasted for a single breath, as he quickly recomposed herself under her stare, returning to his usual fake smile.
"On three. One, two, three!"
Ino took off, lying flat against her horse's neck as she spurred him forwards, out of the road and towards the grassy plains. She heard yelling as the bandits noticed what she was doing, but soon the yelling turned different and she heard the sound of metal meeting metal. She kept her eyes fixed forward, trusting that Sai wouldn't disappoint her.
As soon as she couldn't hear the sounds again Ino slowed down, returning to the road. She looked back to see the broken cart in the distance, but could not see anything beyond it. Instead of moving on to the crossroads she waited there, stopping her animal and dismounting, keeping watch over the small, distant figure.
Eventually another figure popped out, a tall one, riding a horse. Ino couldn't see who it was, but the slimness and the straight, precise pose on horseback told her it must be Sai, and she felt relieved. Ino smiled as he made his way towards her, and frowned when he stopped a ways away.
Concerned that he might have succumbed to injuries, Ino pulled on her horse, walking towards Sai. As she got closer and closer her mouth began to open, as she saw the gruesome image he was. Sai was covered in blood, which painted his arms and torso a deep, gory red. It was still fresh, dripping slightly from his sleeve to his horse.
"I told you to wait at the crossroads." he sighed.
Ino covered her mouth, to hide her expression. She understood why, it wasn't for her safety, but for her sensibility. He had probably wanted to clean up before showing up before her once more.
"I think there's a river if we go west from here." Ino turned around, trying to maintain a calm and collected attitude. She wanted to be a Spymaster, and if she couldn't handle something like this, she might as well give up on her dream. "I'll go with you, to keep watch while you clean up." Ino rapidly mounted her horse again, setting off at a gentle pace. Sai purposely stayed behind her, and she was thankful for his small thoughtfulness.
After that event the journey was easy and fast, with Ino spending most of her time asking Sai different questions about him and his brother. He only gave her cryptically vague answers, but Ino was able to collect enough information to have a general idea of his past.
They'd been recruited by Danzo, who trained them to be soldiers, after his brother's death, Sai worked with the Uchiha Clan, and after the Clan's death, Kakashi took him under his wing. To Ino, Sai made her think of Sakura. He was an example of what could have happened to Sakura if she hadn't been lucky to be left in a loving household.
Feeling that she knew him better, Ino now hoped that she'd gained some of his loyalty. Sai had spent enough time being shuffled around, used by different people. She was now determined to make him choose to follow her, as he'd be an excellent asset to her. And unlike before, she'd take care of him as she cared for Sakura.
"We're almost there."
They had left their horses behind, on a farm near the forest. Although Ino now knew there was nothing scary in that forest, she still couldn't shake off years of frightening stories she had heard of the frightening Konoha Forest and the evil magician that lived within. As she followed Sai through the woods, she felt the weight of those tales on her mind, and wondered how Sakura managed to live there happily.
They turned a corner and Ino finally understood why. A cottage came into sight, small, quaint and homely, with a beautiful garden surrounding it. Ino admired the mid-sized hedges that served as a living fence, neatly trimmed and arranged. Inside there were flowers lining up the cottage wall, and Ino recognized the colors and names of all of them, admiring the good mix of perennials and seasonals. As she admired, someone showed up from the side of the cottage, carrying a bucket full of greens and Ino recognized her sister immediately.
"Sakura!" Ino ran the rest of the way, making her way towards her beloved sister. Sakura looked happier and healthier than Ino had ever seen, her usually pale complexion a healthy pink, her hands a little dirty and a worn apron above her simple dress. This was the Sakura Ino knew and loved, the Sakura that belonged among the flowers and nature, as if she was their queen.
"Ino, what are you doing here?" Sakura set down the bucket of greens and walked towards the gate, opening it to let Ino inside. Without caring about anyone else, Ino crossed the gate, taking her sister into her arms.
"I came here to see you, of course!"
"That's wonderful!"
Ino finally put some distance between herself and Sakura, looking around the garden.
"Is this what you've been doing since you left the capital?" Ino could see Sakura's hand in the garden, as she had used her favorite plants and flowers in its design.
"Yeah. It's been an arduous three months, but I think it's worth it. You should have seen how it used to be, you'd never believe it." Sakura picked the bucket of herbs back up and headed towards the front door. Ino tried to help, but the door opened itself for Sakura, allowing her inside.
Ino hesitated to follow for a second, a final whisper of the tales of the evil magician in her mind. Sai gently bumped her on his way inside, dispelling the last remainder of Ino's doubt.
Ino gasped as she walked in, wondering if she had taken a portal back to Capital City. The inside was identical to the Uchiha Household in the Capital, shocking Ino. As she looked around in shock, Itachi made his way down the stairs, looking at the unexpected guests.
"I got the herbs you wanted. And look, my sister came to visit!" Sakura set the bucket of herbs down by the stairs, cleaning her hands on her apron before taking it off. She seemingly let it fall, but Ino watched it float away towards the back of the house instead.
"It seems we'll be needing guest rooms."
"Not for me, I only came here to escort Miss Yamanaka. I have business in Konoha and I shall leave soon." Sai spoke, surprising Ino. He hadn't told her he had a mission in Konoha. "If I could only trouble you for some water?" He asked. Itachi nodded and soon a jar filled with water and two glasses made its way to the table.
Ino took one of the glasses for herself, suddenly thirsty. She watched Sakura and Itachi discuss something in whispers, noticing how comfortable they were around each other. If she didn't know better, she'd think they were married.
"Ino, you may stay here for three days. I'll come for you on the fourth." Sai told her in a low tone. Ino nodded.
"Whatever it is you have to do, be careful."
"Because you don't want me to get hurt?" Sai asked, for once his fake smile gone. Ino met his eyes and nodded sincerely. His lips twitched upwards before settling into a passive look.
Sakura broke off from Itachi to join Ino. She nodded at Sai, exchanging small pleasantries. As soon as she did her social obligations to him, she turned to Ino excitedly.
"Come, we'll be sharing my room."
Ino allowed Sakura to drag her upstairs to her room, which was the exact same one she had in Capital City. The only difference was this time the room had two flower arrangements and an open window, allowing the sun and wind to come inside.
Ino smiled at her sister, understanding why Sakura insisted on staying with Itachi. He allowed her the freedom and space to flourish and do as she wished, something Ino understood. Just as she had always had big ambitions for herself, Sakura had always wished for a quiet, peaceful life, surrounded by nature and arts, which was exactly what Itachi gave her.
Sakura was excited to see Ino again. She had no wish to return to Capital City, so having her sister around was the best thing ever. However Sakura knew there was something bothering Ino, and she only hoped her sister would take the time to confide in her. She understood that as a spy Ino knew big secrets, and Sakura tried to be mindful and not ask for information she shouldn't know.
Sakura headed back to her room, having forgotten a music sheet she had been writing there. The door was ajar, and she spotted Ino sitting down at the chair, muttering something. Wanting to give her sister a scare, Sakura approached her from behind quietly.
"Uchiha ninth demon… He knew what it was, as expected."
Sakura froze, shocked by what came out of her sister's mouth.
"What is that?" She asked. Ino jumped in her seat, shocked by Sakura's presence.
"Sakura! I didn't notice you there at all!" Ino rested a hand on her chest. Sakura noticed the anxious look towards the open door and quickly turned around to close it.
"Ino, what's this about an Uchiha and a demon?" Sakura asked again, this time more seriously.
"You can't tell anyone this. I heard that someone is looking for an Uchiha's ninth demon. I don't know what it means, but I thought Master Itachi should know. When I told him, I could tell that he knew what it was and I've been trying to figure it out too." Ino explained in a whisper. Sakura nodded, also thinking on it. "I've been trying to think of what the demon could be, it doesn't have to be a demon, it could be an enemy, a summon…"
Suddenly a thought came to Sakura's mind. Something she had read a while ago, something that would be deeply tied to the Uchiha.
"Was he angry? Itachi, when you told him, was he angry?" Sakura asked.
"Hm? Yeah, I think? I swear his eyes flashed red for a second."
Sakura's heart dropped. She looked at her sister, biting her lip.
"Let's go for a walk. It's a cool afternoon so I'm going to grab a shawl." Sakura walked towards her drawer, and leaning deep into the drawer she took the secret she had been hiding. She wrapped it in the shawl, and took it out. Ino looked at her oddly, but Sakura took a finger to her ear, scratching behind it twice, the old sign the sisters shared.
Ino repeated the motion, signaling to Sakura that she understood what was going on. Smiling, Sakura led her sister downstairs. Itachi was sitting at the table, drinking tea.
"We're going for a walk." Sakura smiled.
"A walk?" He asked, and Sakura knew he was curious, as she had never gone for walks like this.
"Well yes, this House has ears and there's something I wish to discuss with my sister, privately." Sakura knew better than to lie to Itachi, and with her bold truth she covered her lie.
"Just return before dark. Wouldn't want you two to get lost." Itachi nodded.
Sakura and Ino agreed to his conditions and set off. Sakura didn't lead them far, just a few feet away from the house, where they could still see it, but were far enough away to be heard.
"What's this about?" Ino asked as soon as Sakura stopped moving.
"Don't be mad at me, in my position you'd have done the same. I stole this from your office." Sakura unwrapped the Uchiha files she had stolen from the castle, handing them to Ino.
"What's this?" Ino took it, and leaning against a tree, opened it.
"I found that by accident one day when I knocked some things over. It had Uchiha in the name, if you read it I think you'll understand why it was hidden." Sakura explained. She waited for Ino to get through everything, watching her sister's reaction. Ino kept her composure through all of it, never once breaking into tears as Sakura had. Once she was finished, Ino closed the file with a sigh.
"I understand a lot of things now, thank you for showing this to me, Sakura. I'll take it back to Capital City and return it to its rightful place." Ino smiled at the nervous Sakura. "And don't worry, I'll make sure nobody knows what you did."
"Thank you." Sakura hugged Ino, smiling in relief. Ino smiled back, but it was not relief she was feeling.
Reading about Danzo's rebellion was a boon to her. A lot of pieces of recent puzzles were falling into place. Ino now understood what happened to Sai, who had probably been the one who tipped the Uchiha to the rebellion, she understood the ninth demon was the Kyuubi, the nine-tailed fox that had caused the death of the Uchiha, and the Akatsuki's interest in it meant that the Kyuubi's scroll had not been destroyed as Tsunade had claimed.
Ino's smile grew. If she were in Tsunade's position, she wouldn't have destroyed something that precious either, and if people found out about it, she'd be desperate to keep it a secret. And yet, instead of delivering this information to Tsunade, Kakashi had given it to the sole Uchiha survivor instead. Things were beginning to be very clear to Ino, and she liked it when she knew everything there was to know about everyone.
The tailed beasts: Alongside the world-artifacts, the tailed beasts are powerful things, capable of the most powerful, destructive magic in the world. There are nine summoning scrolls, each used for a different beast, each of different power levels. The weakest of them all is the Ichibi, the one-tailed beast of sand, which has historically been under the control of Wind. These powerful summoning scrolls are forbidden from any kind of usage as without a deep source of magic, controlling the beast is impossible, and they will rampage and destroy anything in their path. The most powerful beast is the nine-tailed Kyuubi, which took the combined might of Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju to defeat. It is said that neither wizard fully recovered from the injuries they sustained from the fight with the Kyuubi, and after the battle the two of them sealed away the scroll, never to be seen again.
We finally have some answers to some questions that people have asked me. To begin this second half, I wanted to show off the pov of a character we haven't spent that much time with yet but that will have a big role to play. I hope everyone's excited for the big things to come and I look forward to seeing everyone next week!