Description:
During the early stages of rebuilding post war, Kumogakure reaches out to Konohagakure for assistance with an interrogation that requires the skilled hands of a Yamanaka clan member. With Inoichi gone, the Yamanaka clan decides it's time for Ino to step up to the plate. As she journeys to Kumo, she struggles between her inner turmoil of losing her father while caught up in dismantling a coup in a foreign land. Their agenda: take over Kumo from the 4th Raikage before it can heal. To make matters worse, she can't shake off this Kumo nin from the past who, turns out, has a lot in common with her.
Chapter 1
Did he appear
because I fell asleep
thinking of him?
If only I'd known I was dreaming,
I'd never have wakened.
The sun smiled on Konoha today, the weather was warm but not overbearing, the perfect time for the village to bustle. Citizens were out and about rebuilding the village or their own personal lives, Ino included but from the confounds of a building. She sat out on the terrace of Konoha's main hospital as she took her lunch, reading a book and soaking in the happy noise of people below.
"Ono No Komachi, really?" Shikamaru said walking out on the terrace in his standard Konoha uniform.
"I'm on break, don't bother me." Ino retorted, taking a bite of her rice and setting the gently used book down. His presence was sensed far before he spoke.
"I know better than that after all these years." He sighed, taking a seat beside her.
She could tell he wanted something but continued lazily chewing her food. This is the one time in her entire 24 hours she can have one moment to herself, so she preferred taking breaks alone in the outdoors these days with her flowery poetry.
"It'd do you some good to recite some to Temari, she'd love it." Ino teased with a mischievous smirk. She mostly acted like his and Chouji's bossy big sister but she could play the role of obnoxious younger sister when she wanted.
"Yeah, sure she will," he rolled his eyes, annoyed at the subject. Things weren't fully official or open between them, so Ino used it as artillery against him.
Even though things felt awkward between the two lately, they shared a comfortable silence of having lost their fathers at the same time. Maybe that was it? Grief was making them both act in strange ways. Both were wrapped up in their own specific village and clan duties. They didn't get to hang out as InoShikaCho in recent days and the two were feeling like lost puppies under the pressure of it all.
"If you need to talk about something, I'm here." Ino finally turned to face him.
"I was about to say the same to you!" He chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Your gaze has been so… intense lately."
"Yours too."
"It always has."
"No, it's always been bored, big difference."
The two let out a laugh in their throats at the same time. Bickering was good. It felt more like a time that felt distant and fleeting.
Ino stood after a moment and began to pack away her unfinished lunch. "My lunch break is almost over. Don't you have any place to be?" She scolded in a way that only Shikamaru and Chouji could see as caring.
"I came here to talk with you about something." He stood himself, acting as though the action were a heavy burden.
"Well, if you came to say something important, you sure wasted all our free time before."
She looked at him as she slipped her medical nin robe over her purple shirt and skirt, watching his expression turn.
"The 6th hokage spoke with the Yamanaka Clan earlier for a mission, and they unanimously decided that duty should fall onto you. Stop by Lord 6th's office later when you can."
They examined each other's expressions for a moment until Ino broke hers to grab the bag, shoving the book inside.
"I see, I'll stop by then."
"Being a representative of the Yamanaka is a drag, I know. I'm in the same position." Shikamaru gave a rare moment of vulnerability and laid his hand on her shoulder. "In case no one has told you, you're doing a great job of it."
Ino fought back tears she had been stowing away for a private moment. "You have, too. Now leave me alone before I get emotional at work, you lazy bum." She tried not to let her voice crack.
He gave a side smile and sighed. "Alright, guess I'll find my way back then. I'll see you at the office."
She let him walk out first and watched him as he went. He was starting to look more like his father by the day, was she as well? She felt the place where he laid his hand on her, remembering the words. Things were becoming pristine clear in her mind how much she loved Shikamaru and Chouji as brothers as well as teammates. Finally making some sense of the lifelong InoShikaCho bond outside of battle.
Stepping through the door with her bag over her shoulder, Ino greeted Shizune standing by.
"Oh Ino, I saw Shikamaru and he said you needed to go by Lord 6th's. You can take off for the rest of the day and go there."
"I'm fine, I can stop by later."
"You and Sakura work too much. I'm sure you'll have a mission to prepare for. Really, go." She assured, already looking back to her clipboard, walking away.
Shizune worked even more than she and Sakura, Ino sneered at the woman's back, thinking how she could use her own advice.
The main hospital was not a far walk from the hokage's tower, so Ino walked there without making haste and jumping on the buildings. If it were an emergency, she would have known but she still didn't want Lord 6th to keep waiting, Shizune had a point. Thinking of what kind of mission she could be assigned at this time while everything was still so raw across the continent, she made her way towards his office.
"Ino, there you are." Kakashi greeted her before she could beat him to it.
He seemed exceptionally miserable stuck behind that desk all day but he still fulfilled his duty like any kage would.
"I know you've been running around between the hospital, the Sensory Division and even Intelligence with Ibiki and I'm sorry you're being kept so busy."
"I don't do anything I don't want to." Ino assured with an embarrassed smile. "I'm doing my part just like everyone else."
Kakashi nodded solemnly, "I hate to take you away from your important work but I have a mission that you've been nominated for."
Ino nodded, standing to attention.
"The Land of Lightning has requested assistance in an interrogation of a possible high profile terrorist they captured. They reached out saying that this is a mission perfect for a Yamanaka as your clan can go in where very few others can. This was originally open to any skilled Yamanaka but your clan elders and myself believe you to be the most up to the challenge."
"This is… a sort of mission you would have given to my father." Ino replied with realization.
Kakashi smiled behind his mask and nodded.
"I'm ready whenever needed." She said with conviction.
"This mission does not require you to bring anyone else, but if you'd be more comfortable with backup from someone like Shikamaru, I can spare them."
Thinking on it for a moment, she shook her head, not wanting to drag him away from his work or his new budding romance. Temari was in town and it'd be cruel of her to get in the way of those rare moments.
"I think I can handle it alone!" She gave a brave front. Her father wouldn't have needed anyone escorting and neither did she.
Kakashi's assistant standing by silently handed her the folder with her mission details.
"You'll be met with a Kumo nin at the halfway point between our countries, they'll give the rest of the info then." She spoke to Ino. "This mission shouldn't take too long, but there could be unforeseen bumps in it, so take your time. We have to show Kumo and other villages we're here to cooperate fully."
Ino held the folder and reality hit, her father was also gone on long missions like this solitary from InoShikaCho when needed. Except then it wasn't in the name of international friendship.
She wouldn't disappoint anyone.
"If Kumo is requesting assistance, it must be important. I won't fail you."
Rising before the sun, Ino made her way to the Konoha Gates, she was half surprised to see Shikamaru and Chouji waiting there.
"The sun is barely out, just what were you thinking?" Ino huffed at them.
"So loud, so early." Shikamaru yawned.
"We just wanted to see you off, I heard from Shika that you were going on a foreign mission and may not be back for a while."
Warmth rose in Ino, a comforting feeling of a warm home on a winter day.
"Yeah, but you didn't have to drag yourselves out here. You look half dead." She regretted her own use of the word dead, not realizing what kind of traumatic response it ignited in her. "But… Thank you. I'll miss you both." She softened her tone.
Chouji gave her a smile and a doggie bag, no doubt some sort of snack his mother made and insisted he send it this way.
She accepted it and put it in her travel bag for later use.
Shikamaru gave her a nod and a hand on the shoulder, similar to yesterday but more serious than affectionate. "Listen. If anything looks off during your time there, don't hesitate to come back. Do your job and leave."
"Shikamaru, have more faith in the alliance we have now." Chouji said, opening a breakfast bar.
"I have complete faith, but anything funny could happen at any moment there. I just mean be careful and don't get involved in their inner politics, is all."
"Do I look like Naruto?" Ino flipped her hair.
The three of them shared a laugh.
"I appreciate you're worried about me going off on my own, but I'll be back to yell at you before you know it." She winked and adjusted her bag over her shoulder, showing she was ready to head out.
"We're worried but not because we think you can't handle it." Shikamaru defended.
"We're just used to InoShikaCho." Chouji added.
"That's crazy, we all go on separate missions all the time." Ino rolled her eyes, walking backwards towards the exit and into the start of her mission.
They waved her goodbye and she disappeared in a flash.
"It's wrong to feel worried, isn't it?" Shikamaru sighed, rubbing the back of his head.
"I'm not sure why you're fixated on it, honestly." Chouji munched thoughtfully.
"I don't know, I'm not one for hunches but things feel… off."
"Everything feels off lately." Chouji defended. He had the biggest heart on the team and Konoha in general. He was so trusting, especially his teammates. Shikamaru could feel his confidence and trust in Ino and the alliance.
Shikamaru yawned. "Yeah, that's true."
"Besides, if it's taking too long, we'll just go there, right?" Chouji smiled, finishing off his pre-breakfast snack.
"She'd kill us through brute force or nagging to death." The shadow user groaned, not even wanting to expend mental energy on that scenario.
They wouldn't admit it, but they missed her terribly when she was gone.
The Yamanaka Heiress had been traveling for six hours by jumping through the forest with only minimal breaks to catch her breath before deciding to take a lunch break towards the edge of the Land of Fire.
She came across a familiar shrine on the side of a paved road that many Konohagakure shinobi took while leaving the land. It was one of the last spots of safety before venturing into hostile enemy territory.
'Well, not hostile anymore... probably.' Ino assured herself, it wouldn't be like before… most likely. Even though everybody was preaching peace, there was an ingrained PTSD that involved leaving the confines of her land and mingling with shinobi. The war was one thing, everybody acted on instincts. No matter how much she hyped herself up that the world was finally evolving, there was that core of her that would always look over her shoulder for enemies.
She sat on the bench outside the shrine and pulled out her map, glancing over the route she was provided to take for her reconnaissance with the Kumo escort. She would need to take a path through Yugakure and be escorted the rest of the way through Shimogakure.
Yugakure was a nation that had pitted themselves to become peaceful even before the war, so slipping by was not an issue, even in the past. It was a much more desirable route than Sound Village. She decided to herself she would push to get through as much of the land as possible so she could stay the night in one of the million hot spring cities before meeting with the ally the next day.
Before heading off, she took a look at the small temple behind her. She knew this area sent many monks to study in ninja academy before coming back to service. They were the land's first line of defense in the past if there were ever suspicious activities on the border.
Everything inside was quiet and the building had taken some hits during the war from mass evacuation. Ino decided to approach it and send some prayers with a small donation for the cause. Any shinobi would do the same, no chances were taken.
'Would it be dumb of me to pray for a nice guy to come along soon?' Ino wondered. Even though she was hyper-focused on the village, she still had the fantasy of at least one handsome man panning for her affection. 'No, I probably shouldn't… Please, let me prove my worth on this mission!' She exclaimed silently and sealed the prayer. 'I'll pray for a boyfriend when I return.' She promised any God listening before taking her leave.
Early evening rolled around when Ino decided to come out of the fog camouflage provided by the land's natural hot springs and enter into a small, vibrant tourist town close to the opposite border. Things seemed to be rebuilding here just as much as other places but still a surprising amount of visitors were walking the night markets. The fragrance of spices and meat cooking made her feel an ache in her stomach she had ignored with the promise of reward later.
She was never the gluttonous type, even sacrificing her performance to maintain a figure in her early days, but with time she learned to manage a high protein diet to sustain herself and health.
Casually strolling through the food stalls looking for a high protein yet delicious choice, she landed on one that was selling grilled salmon.
"Care for some?" The middle aged woman with black hair offered.
"Definitely, it looks delicious!" Ino smiled, watching as the meat grilled in embers of low flame.
"Here we pick a special kind of wood that can be found only in the steam of the hot springs, it's a specialty you can't find anywhere else." She continued, grabbing a ready piece out for the blonde kunoichi.
"That sounds amazing," Ino smiled excitedly.
"You're from Land of Fire, aren't you?" A man called out, Ino hadn't noticed earlier sitting by the woman. He was middle aged like her and she presumed they could only be husband and wife.
"That's right," Ino answered, accepting her food and reaching for some change. "That obvious?"
"To me, at least." The guy smiled through age lines appearing on his face. "I was originally from there. Konoha."
An "Oh, wow." Was all Ino let out. She mostly wanted to get to her food and not intrude on any potential unpleasant conversation. Most people who left their countries were businessmen or escaping unsavory situations.
"Are you here on vacation?" The woman asked, bowing her head receiving the money Ino paid.
"Something like that, I'm passing by." She replied vaguely.
"Oh, a mission then." The guy smirked knowingly. "Do you have a place to stay tonight?"
"Ah, well," Ino began awkwardly. "I was just going to find a simple ryokan to stay at tonight, it should be no problem."
"My sister runs one, you should go have a look." The woman replied. "It's called Sakurako, tell her I sent you and she'll give you a good deal."
Ino nodded politely, not sure if this was a tourist scam or what. But she gave them the benefit of the doubt, they were probably desperate for income after the war.
"Sure, give me the directions and I'll head there." Ino munched through her food, unable to wait any longer.
"Oh, Sasaki can take you, it won't be an issue at all." She motioned to her husband to get off his butt and do something.
"You really don't have to go out of your way." Ino smiled politely.
"It's no trouble," Sasaki, the middle aged man with brown hair, came out from the shelter of the stall and walked around.
Ino noticed with a single polite glance, judging by his physique, that he was a broad man with a history of ninja training. She automatically put her guard up, though the possibility of her being attacked in the middle of a crowd was slim.
Ino bowed to the nice lady and bid her farewell. The two began walking through the crowd, Sasaki took smaller strides to keep pace with her but was polite enough to keep an arm's length of distance.
"So you're a Yamanaka, eh?" Sasaki broke the silence between the two walking through the streets. Ino was more focused on making sure she was safe and alert, while also taking in her surroundings of the lovely town.
Ino gave him a glance and noticed he always walked with one arm inside his yukata as though he were a samurai. He probably had a history of sword training, despite it not being a common technique in Konoha like Kumo.
"I'm not meaning to pry," He said again with a grin on his face. He was a large guy and had a rough exterior that matched his gruff voice.
"Not at all, you're right, I am. I guess I'm pretty transparent." She smiled at him, then looked back ahead.
"Sure, anybody that knows who the Yamanaka are can spot one." He pointed out.
"That's fair," she conceded, clans with close-kept bloodlines did tend to be more uniform in appearance. "Especially if you're originally from there."
"I was," he began, taking her for a turn down another busy road. "But that was long ago. I built my life here instead, I guess I was too selfish for the life of a ninja village."
Ino paused on that statement. It wasn't out of the ordinary for ninja to call it quits and go rogue for their own leisure, but she didn't come across the types much under such diplomatic circumstances.
Soon they stopped in front of the inn. The place was not big but not small either. Just the kind of medium-sized inn she would have chosen on her own. She deserved a bit of luxury but she wasn't going to splurge. It was very traditional in aesthetic, made of gorgeous bamboo and she could already see the hot spring steam ascending behind it.
The sign read Sakurako just as promised.
Quickly Sasaki called out a name and a woman that looked similar in age and appearance to his wife came rushing out.
"Oh my, a new guest?" She asked with the same kindness as her sister.
"This here is a Leaf Ninja, she's looking for a place to stay the night so please treat her kindly."
The woman bowed and Ino walked towards her.
She turned back to Sasaki and bowed. "It was great meeting you and your wife, thanks for everything."
"I think it was fate," Sasaki kept his knowing grin. "I'm sure we'll see you again soon."
He left just as fast as he had come. Ino found the statement extremely peculiar.
"Pay no mind to him, my brother-in-law is an ex-ninja and loves when you folks come into town." She smiled. "I hope the inn is to your satisfaction, if it's not, I'll be happy to direct you elsewhere. I know we're a humble establishment here."
As Ino was led inside she thought the place was a picture-perfect ryokan that you would expect in its mid range price. She shook her head to the woman, "Not at all, it's perfect! I just need a place to stay the night and hopefully get a nice bath before I head out in the morning."
The woman nodded, "We can do all that, I'm sure. Please come this way."
As Ino was led to a room she couldn't help but notice chakra signals that were not ordinary civilians. Nothing amiss or hostile seemed to be going on. 'They probably like catering to ninja, we are an easy bunch to please.' Ino sighed to herself.
Whatever it was, it was not her problem. So long as nobody got in her way.
A/N:
Here is my multichapter fic I've wanted to put out there forever because I loved Cee since the first time I saw that aloof Kumo nin! I have 17 chapters written as of now, so I'll probably post the first few now the post them weekly as to give myself time to continue writing it.
Note: I aged up Ino to being 18 when Asuma died instead of 16.