Chapter 10
How invisibly
it changes color
in this world,
the flower
of the human heart.
A thud hit Ino's head.
THUD THUD THUD
It vibrated through her body.
She slowly opened her eyes, feeling like even that was a workout.
She had fallen asleep with her back against the door.
THUD THUD THUD
"Who is it?" She called out, but hardly anything left her throat. She really should have hydrated when she got back.
"Ino-san?" It was Jinsui.
Ino stood like she aged 50 years overnight and opened the door.
"Oh my, you look tired. I am so, so very sorry. I know you need rest. It's just-"
"I know, the raikage would like to speak with me." Ino left the door open and walked to the sink for a glass of tap water.
"I can tell him you'll be there in an hour, is that good?"
Ino drank the entire contents and nodded.
"After that, I promise I'll let him give you a break to rest. I can tell you need it."
"That's nice of you. I'll be there shortly. Don't worry, I can walk myself there."
Jinsui nodded in confirmation, shutting the door behind her.
Cee was right, she'd need to go by the hospital to get a banana bag IV to jump start her energy and probably some more sleep.
She went to her bag and pulled out her alternative outfit. She dressed herself in a sleeveless black tank top with the Konoha vest over it. Then she put on a black skort similar to her purple outfit. She topped it off with fingerless gloves that went up to her elbows. This was something she usually saved for within the village, especially while she was working on her sensory or interrogation missions.
She allowed her hair to hang loose, feeling the tug of a ponytail increasing her migraine.
When she walked into the office she was not at all surprised that everybody was already there, waiting. Cee and Darui were in their typical positions, standing behind the raikage, both looking over paperwork. Jinsui was off in a corner, helping the raikage handle his smaller affairs as he focused his attention on this.
"I have to say, I'm impressed but not all that surprised that you four came back with a captive so swiftly. Darui filled me in on some of it upon your return last night, but I'd like to hear the rest and what we know." The raikage sat on his sofa in his typical relaxed position.
Ino bowed, feeling solidarity that at least her other two teammates looked as exhausted as her. She must have looked horrid.
"I didn't have time to look around the ryokan, Lord Raikage. As soon as I arrived, the missing nin Sasaki approached me."
"What did he say?" Ae waited. Cee and Darui had stopped what they were doing to listen as well.
"He warned me… to stay out of everything. He said he knew I was here in Kumo helping out and that I needed to inform Konoha it wasn't any of our concern."
Ae, Cee and Darui all simmered on these words.
"So, he's… they're after Kumo specifically? Are they all from one village?" Darui asked.
"'Some are ninja, some are samurai, some of us are something in between.' Those were his words to me." Ino recalled the eerie feeling when he said that, feeling the brewing nature of another potential Akatsuki.
"Samurai?" Ae barked. "I'm surprised samurai allowed some of their own to leave and run wild here."
"He didn't confirm anything 100%, but I put the pieces together to see what it is they want." Ino continued.
She felt the room stand still with all eyes on her.
"It's not the leaders of Hot Stone themselves, but someone in that land is trying to take chunks from Kumogakure. This attack they launched and everything that is to come, will be used as a distraction so they can cause trouble at the borders."
Ae's fist slammed down on the table, breaking it.
Ino flinched but nobody else in the room reacted.
"This band of thieves think they can mess with my village?! Jinsui, you get me the leader of Hot Stones this once so I can let them know they need to get things in order there!"
Ae's anger often manifested from caring when something of his was threatened. That's what Lord 6th had told her before the mission and warned her this very well could happen.
"Daughter of Inochi." Ae turned his attention to her.
She felt her frame freeze again. "Yes, Lord Raikage?"
"I understand you drained yourself holding this missing nin in place until Darui and Jae arrived, along with Cee. I want you to march back, get rest, then interrogate this bastard first thing in the morning!"
"Yes, Lord Raikage!' Ino replied obediently. It wasn't something she had ever done with Kakashi, but he hated the authority he wielded while Ae seemed to suit it perfectly.
"If I may, Lord Raikage," Cee stepped forward. "Ino-san needs some treatment to speed up energy recovery. I can escort her there and see to it she gets treated."
"Very well," Ae nodded, dismissing them.
The two bowed and walked out of the room.
"Lord Raikage, we received a reply back from Konoha on the information pertaining to this Sasaki." Jinsui spoke up.
"Very well, tell me." Ae said, leaning back into his chair, ignoring the now busted table.
"I'll take you to the hospital for the banana bag IV." Cee said as they left the office. "Your chakra should be back to stable by tomorrow morning if you take it and get rest."
Ino hummed in agreement, not bothering to remind him that she could take that IV and give it to herself. Despite her exhaustion, she took this as an opportunity to see their hospital and compare it to Konoha's.
"Do you ever work at the hospital?" Ino inquired, breaking the silence.
"I used to, but not really these days unless it's asked of me, no. I'm more focused on assisting the raikage and other tasks. He can be reckless with himself sometimes, so I need to stay by his side."
Ino nodded, understanding. "I can see that. Lord 6th can be the same, I suppose."
"But you're not his guard?"
"I'm not, no."
"You seem like you'd be suited to be one, though." Cee admitted. It may be because she had so much in common with himself.
"You think so?" Ino asked, never thinking of that before. "My teammate Shikamaru is, but I never thought of myself. I am by the side of Lady Tsunade when needed, but I don't think I'm a bodyguard."
The air felt different between them. Still a tinge of delicate tension but much improved. Cee realized it was all probably on him for the volatile atmosphere before. The Konoha kunoichi could be feisty but overall she seemed easy to talk to and get along with under circumstances.
When they arrived, they saw Amai hanging around outside the hospital. Cee inwardly groaned. He had no problem with the guy before Ino's arrival but there was something about the way he acted around Ino that rubbed him wrong. Was it the sheer desperation?
"Ino-chan!" Amai waved when they inevitably crossed paths.
Cee contorted his face at the -chan suffix. "Don't force familiarity with our diplomats!" Cee scolded the man, his junior.
Amai rubbed the back of his head. "I'm sorry, I just feel so close with Ino-chan, I mean, -san."
That answer didn't make Cee feel any better but he dropped it. Amai's feelings were his business.
"Hello, Amai-san," Ino replied, seeming to grow more tired.
"You two are back from your mission so soon, was it successful?"
"It was," Ino replied smoothly with a smile.
"I like your new outfit, too. It really shows you're from Konoha, it's really cute."
Ino fought off the sparkles from forming around her head and Cee took notice.
"Thank you, Amai-san, I lost my other outfit." She coughed awkwardly.
Cee thought back to her fighting in only a towel and reigned in his composure not to laugh. Now that he thought of it, her fighting in a ryokan yukata and slapping an enemy with a towel was too comedic to be true.
"We have to get Ino-san treatment, now, Amai." Cee announced.
Amai was instantly at her side with concern. "Did you get injured?"
"I lost a lot of chakra. I just need a banana bag IV and some sleep." She assured, trying to put more space between her and the well-intentioned Kumo nin. She wasn't one to turn down a boy fawning over her, but it was hitting her ego a bit being treated so delicately over some chakra depletion.
"I can help you with that." Amai jumped to the task instantly.
"The raikage sent me to escort her, this isn't just for fun, you know." Cee and Amai looked at each other and Ino wondered what was happening.
"It's just an IV, I'm sure you have other things to do." Amai smiled at Cee, but the air between them felt off.
"Technically I can do it myself." Ino sighed annoyed, walking off from both of them and towards the hospital entrance. Usually she'd be an eager observer in such a situation, but she was about to pass out from exhaustion.
She stood at the inside of the hospital door, surprised at least one of them didn't come in after her instantly.
After a minute, only Amai entered, to her surprise. "I'll inform the front desk what you need, follow me." He said.
She looked back and couldn't spot any sign of Cee. She felt a bit conflicted about it but followed Amai, knowing recovery was her top priority and that she'd see Cee later.
Amai began explaining different parts of the hospital and its function to her as she quietly followed, taking everything in.
"I know Kumo is not as advanced as Konoha is in the healing field. Lady Tsunade really put Konoha on the map for that. However, we try our best here."
"That's true but everything seems fine here."
"Well, if there's anything you notice we could improve on, let me know. I'd love to lead the hospital one day."
"That's an admirable goal." Ino smiled, loving to see shinobi passionate about healing.
"Yes, but before that, I'd want to travel to Konoha and learn some things, maybe. There's still things I need to learn."
"Then let's set it up." Ino suggested, following him into a vacant patient room.
"R-really?" Amai stuttered, setting up the IV material.
"Of course, why shouldn't you be able to go? I'll ask Shizune-san. She's Lady Tsunade's first disciple." Ino said nonchalantly, sitting on the hospital bed, waiting for him to begin the IV.
"Thank you," He looked to her, she noticed his dazzled smile and it was contagious.
He sat on the stool with wheels, materials in hand. The banana bag IV was already hanging, waiting for him to connect it.
"Why don't you lay back, I know you're exhausted." He instructed.
Ino was the perfect patient and compiled, he was right.
He applied the tourniquet to her left arm and waited for the veins to pop up.
One thing about medic nins, no matter what was happening, they entered a trance when they began their work.
He felt around with his index and middle finger to spot the best vein for inserting the needle.
It was over in a second with barely even a sting from him. Ino noted that was a combination of a talented medic and also a patient with healthy veins.
He taped it in place and made quick work to attach the end of the IV to it.
"All set, after that you should be feeling a lot better. You should probably get a saline IV too after this as well, just for good measure to rehydrate you. Your veins were pretty weak."
"Sorry about that." Ino smiled sheepishly, "I should have been more aware of drinking water."
"Yeah, you're a medic, if you don't, no one will." He teased.
Everything with Amai felt comfortable so far. She could only imagine how charming he was with his patients and how many people fell head over heels for him. He had that same idol face as Cee, though he was tanner and with brown hair.
Before Ino knew it, she found herself relaxing and feeling the weight of her body increased 10 fold.
"Get some rest while that's going, I'll step back in and check on you later." Amai said, the perfect gentleman.
"I'll be fine, don't stick around for me." She insisted, already feeling sleepy.
She jolted awake, wondering where she was and the time. The sterile smell of a hospital flooded her senses. Realization flooded on her that she was in a Kumo hospital, receiving her IV. She looked up to it and noticed a saline one had replaced the banana bag and that too was almost empty.
She laid back down, already feeling much better. When it was finished she would make her way back to her room and rest for the next day.
A/N: Banana bag IV is a real thing! I already explained what it was in the chapter but just wanted to point that out!