Ino dragged her feet on the gritty ground, squeezing small particles of rocks crushing beneath her feet. She knew Obito's purpose for joining her friends gathering was so he could find someone to blame. Thinking about his next move wasn't hard, he mentioned before he found some clues and wanted to make sure. Make sure who fits his accusations the best. That's why she had secretly observed Obito and her friends interaction around the table. Nothing seemed out of blue. Just Obito uncomfortable without his poisonous stick hanging down his lips. Sakura seemed to be less attentive to Sasuke as well. Shikamaru daydreaming to the point his existence seemed a mere shadow of his being. Temari must be clouding his head. And everyone else like they usually behave.

"Stop!"

Confused, she turned around to see Obito following her. Was he done with his conversation with Kakashi? Only five minutes since she started walking away from the restaurant, and that was all he needed?

"Obito?"

He halted by her side, sweats glistened on his blushing cheeks. Why was he flustered? Sun was about to set so probably it wasn't the weather.

"Follow me now." He said, hand grasped hers hastily. Ino tried to release only for him to tighten his grip on her wrist dragging her behind him.

"Where are you taking me?" She questioned, prying her wrist free from his iron grip.

He turned in the corner, a dead end before them. Ino frowned, giving up the prying. He turned to her seriously.

"Ino, hold on me tight." He said, before she can bomb him with more questions his one hand reached behind her knees and lifted her up while the other supported her back pushing her closer to his chest.

Ino widened her eyes at his questionable action, then he jumped up running on the roofs and out making his way to the village gate.

"Obito! Where are you taking me?!" She was panicking, he didn't give her a chance to understand anything. She clutched on his shoulders firmly to not fall down. It's been long since she went this high. It rushed her adrenaline in a positive light. However the man behind the experience wasn't trustworthy so she had to force some answers out of him.

"My friends. You wanted to meet them, right? I just decided you should meet them now since I already met yours." He explained, voice calm and collected.

"But you didn't even ask me! I'm tired right now and do they even know I'm coming and-"

"Ino quite worrying. It's just a meet up and we'll be right back where you're comfortable. Trust me."

She didn't trust him. But this was her chance to find out more about him. Half an hour and they would be surrounded by darkness, it could be a disadvantage or an advantage according to the way she would feel about it.

For now she settled on observing him. His large beautiful eyes captivated her. How ridiculous, out of all people he had to be her stalker. A man like him was hardly ever rejected. Why someone decide to be a stalker? She eyed his lips. They were broader, inviting and glossy- ignore the nicotine smell as he parted his lips once in a while. A stalker is usually afraid of rejection, of unrequited love. Obito had already mentioned he was bad at communication, she agreed with his statement. If he came out and told her the truth from the beginning, would she have rejected him? With her previous mental state, chances were high but not certain.

"Stare at me like that and I swear our destination would be a motel."

She gasped at his bold words turning away, redness spreading on her face. Even her heart started to beat harder, what was wrong with her. He could probably hear her at this rate. He chuckled, using no more words to tease her further and she was thankful to keep her pride or whatever was left from it.

From the corner of her eye she secretly peeked at his side face. It was always his lips her eyes ended up on. They always yelled for attention from her. Pinkish and rough and as he ran his tongue over them they shined with the wetness of his— he smirked and Ino buried her face in his neck. It was embarrassing! But even his neck was warm against her. The hell she was getting hot over him in this situation! She kept closer to his neck, pretending to be afraid of heights while satisfying her sick needs of touching his flesh. He was her stalker damn it!

Ino jumped away once Obito lowered her down. It was dark, barely anything visible other than shadows. She was second guessing her situation. Eerie silence and foggy view clouding her senses. For dear life, she stepped closer to Obito, a false sense of safety was better than none.

"What is this place?" She asked thickly, hand blindly searching for Obito's flesh as she kept her eyes on four sides stressing the whole point over and over.

"They're here, come." He spoke hoarsely.

"Where?" She nearly cried, no longer hiding her mental worries. She would love it if he kept her closer to himself- foolishness! He was her stalker and he led her here. What was she thinking about trusting him like this? If anything, he was the one she had to keep herself safe from. It was foolish to let him have his way and drag her out like this all alone in the middle of a night. She was already unable to defend herself but now even visuals were hardly helping her bad situation.

"You okay?" She flinched when his warm breath hit the back of her neck. Stumbling away instinctively she stuttered out a scarcely hearable yes.

"Ino, are you scared?" He questioned quietly, voice mingling with earth and mist.

She wanted to yell yes, she was terrified and alone and he was the last person she wanted by her side however she shook her head knowing he could barely pinpoint what she meant by her gesture and would ignore all this and go along with his plans without further wasting time.

"Ino, I asked if you're scared?" His voice was laced with threats.

A distress yelped as answer, she tried to hold her ground but fear was controlling and the last thing she wanted was to piss off her predator.

She pinched her eyes tightly as he forced her in his embrace. "I got you, don't worry."

She nodded to please him, and on cue he released her body and opted to place his palm over the small of her back guiding her along.

She eyed the huge limitless rundown building, she couldn't crane her neck to see the end of it as Obito rushed her in. Maybe she appreciated his arms around her, for the fear of lurking hurt souls was there and stronger with each step inside. It smelled of wet earth, chilling smoke and unpainted walls ripped and broken from inside. They stepped over a few obstacles and tore down stairs. She halted. What she was getting herself into.

"Ino?"

What was wise at this point, it was getting worse and worse and she was being forced to walk through it with her own feet.

"Come on now, I know it's creepy. A bit deeper and there are few rooms that are fixed. Let's make it there okay?" He was comforting her but for what.

She nodded to knowledge his kind explanation. He came closer to her, she squeaked as he suddenly lifted her up bridal style. She clutched his shoulders.

"I suppose it's easier this way. Just relax once we're there everything will be okay." He whispered.

Her golden hair was the lightest object in this whole run down building and they were dangling by Obito's side as he merrily walked through the gritty and muddy unstable path. She had attempted to gather her hair on her front but Obito said to let it be. He was enjoying every moment of this situation, Ino figured when he suddenly started to hum.

Finally she saw a door that's paint wasn't scratching down and seemed good enough to stay it's ground for the purpose it was made. He gently bent down for Ino to stand on her feet. He smiled, Ino couldn't see from the darkness.

"We're getting in. I did like to warn you though, don't get too close with them. After all, they're thugs." With that he turned the knob down and Ino held her breath.

The hard door screeched open by force from Obito, light that rushed out blinded her vision, her hands covered half her eyes. Not giving her time to adjust, Obito dragged her inside and the door slammed shut behind them with a loud thud.

Blinking her eyes Ino forced her eyes to see what was inside the room. It was a huge room, a golden light from lanterns that were decorated by lines one after another brightening the room to the finest details. Fluffy couches and a red carpet down. Five people were inside. Four of them sat wherever they felt they could while a single woman stood by the window, her eyes piercing Ino and Obito in a knowing look.

"She's Ino." Obito said, walking towards the couch leaving Ino by the door all alone staring around awkwardly.

"Obito, I know you like to play macho man, but that doesn't explain why the poor thing is frightened." A woman's voice spoke, a low sound.

Ino gulped, maybe it was the most friendliest words she would hear before her doom. But as the time kept ticking, her worries vanished one by one.

"I'm Konan, this is Pein. Over there is Deidara, Sasori. And Itachi. The rest aren't here at the moment. Feel free to sit anywhere."

Ino nodded, unsure where to sit, eyes searching for a suitable place to rest her butt. In the end she walked to Obito's side, since he was the only one she actually knew. Even though he gave her this arrogant look, stared down at her and then completely ignored her existence. It boiled her blood.

"Someone is playing hard. You won't stop talking about her but look at you now! Huh! If I were her, I would smack your face." Deidara teased. Talking about her? He probably mentioned her a lot for him to say that.

Pulling the cigarette pack out, Obito shrugged. "This is why you're not my lover. It's not hard to understand."

"You like your women submissive-"

"I like them whatever way they present themselves to me. Right Ino?" Obito raised his eyebrow at Ino, maybe he was teasing her. But Ino find no humor in the joke. She wanted to leave as soon as possible and sleep the trauma off.

"She doesn't see you worthy enough to answer. She knows your place." Sasori muttered, casting them a single look before focusing on his dolls.

"Shut up!" Obito snapped.

"Ino, Obito told us about your stalker. The thing is Obito's not very bright, only brutish strength and battle knowledge. Other than that, he's very bad at everything he does so he suggested us help you." Pein explained some unnecessary details that left Obito feeling sour.

"How can you guys help me?" Ino questioned unsure what was happening around her. If Obito was her stalker, then how come he asks them to help her?

"In anyway possible, we all have our unique abilities. I hope they're to be proved helpful in your problem."

"Itachi, Sasuke is her friend." Sasori said, glimpsing at the cold man.

Ino shifted her gaze at Itachi, as long as she remembers Itachi was Sasuke's elder brother's name.

"I'm aware, and Obito knows it too. Hope that would force some boundaries." Itachi spoke, eyes blankly in front of him.

Obito shuffled by her side, turning his body towards Itachi. "I'm ignorant jackass, mind explaining those boundaries that you speak of?"

Heavy silence ensured its grip on their throat in a threatening grip. Konan forged a cough, hand covering up her mouth in an elegant manner. "Obito, I'm disappointed in you. How come you and Ino practically live together while we barely have a chance to smell your existence." Ino flushed. They were getting the wrong idea.

"She needs my help. You don't. It's simple."

"And yet she seemed troubled when you got her in. What's happening between the two of you."

Obito paused, he eyed Ino then he eyed Konan, she was waiting for a decent response. "I'm not very good at comforting women, Konan." His eyes turned to Itachi. "I'm the kind of a guy women feel threatened with."

"Of course they feel threatened. Anyone would if you play mind games with them but tell us about Ino."

Obito laughed. His hand reached for Ino's shoulder. She was observing his interaction. The way he behaves around his friend. "I refuse. If I compliment her, I'm afraid someone would end up falling for her. Sabotaging my own plan seems utter foolishness, right Itachi?"

"It is, you never know what thought are brewing inside our heads." Itachi's agreement did more harm than Obito let out. The man clammed up.

Konan heaved, abruptly stood up on her feet then forced Ino up. "I'll show Ino around."

There was nothing to show around, an excuse. It was an escape attempt to dodge stirring trouble by the usually calm Itachi who was provoked to the corner and a rare insecure Obito. Whatever they wanted, they could continue without making a scene in front of a newcomer.

Ino was dragged out, instead of worrying she was glad. It had been suffocating inside, especially Obito's new mannerism and Konan gave her enough sense of decency to overthink the outcome. She couldn't be worse than Obito, she has been kind; unless her bipolar personality came out of nowhere, nothing much was to think about.

"State your business, Itachi." Obito's voice echoed in the room.

"Girls her age do not appeal to me. I've bigger things to worry about than to make love to a silly girl. Your insecurities are baseless." Detached Itachi, merely avoiding enraging the elder man.

Obito tsked. Smirking at his own thoughts. He turned to Pein— a reminder he wasn't alone and the leader still existed. "Sure Itachi. A little reminder, I'm as much of a skilled sharingan user as yourself and what I saw out there, I assure you they weren't my hallucination."

Pein looked up. Obito's instincts were always on point, not that he wanted to doubt Itachi but the said guy's secrecy tends to bring forth festivals after he's done whatever he has in mind. Obito had a plan at the moment, he wouldn't want someone to sabotage it and especially not Itachi who for some reason seemed to take a slight interest in the blonde girl. Maybe because she was Sasuke's friend, or maybe he didn't want the blow of Obito's plans reach his brother… Or something entirely different.

"So she's the girl." Deidara broke the silence. He had been listening and couldn't take anymore of the tension raising for absolutely no reason. One of these days he would turn them into his art.

--

Ino's eyes wandered around the spacious hallway, the wall painted in creamy color, decorated with candles one after another, at every two steps at either side. It was an old styled castle resemblance. Unlike the entrance, things were taken care of, she couldn't smell dust in the air. The flickering of candle was all the sound aside from the thumbing steps.

Konan opened a door, and she turned her head back at Ino. Her face was colder than before and Ino wondered if it was a thugs thing to act cold while alone with her.

"Come in."

Ino quietly followed her and stepped aside as the women by her side gently aided the door shut. It was the same room like before but smaller. Konan walked towards the end, her fingers clutched the curtains parting them to reveal a huge glass window that showed the outside of the rundown building… Or castle… Whatever suited better. She slid the glass and Ino realized it was more of a balcony. Konan paused, tilting her head at Ino as if questioning why she stopped following.

Ino padded to the balcony, a slight fear of unknown intention of the woman hit her but curiosity was winning over every logic at the moment.

She gasped in amusement, cold air hit her hard but the view no matter how deserted it was glistened with freedom. She didn't even realize how high they were inside this ruined building. Maybe around the eighth or ninth floor, she couldn't tell other than it was a high and calming view.

"It's calming," Konan breathed out, walking to the edge grasping the thin sill, the only horizontal piece of wood providing protection from falling down.

And Ino nodded, following her footsteps and stood by her side eyes wide in awe feeling the breeze brushing her hair away from her face, prickling her skin gently.

Gray clouds dancing along the horizon line, chilly wind howling and not a single creature up in the air. Crescent moon shied away behind the clouds occasionally shining its light down on earth. Ino felt her shoulders relax, head clearing up from the stress that had seemed to be lasting for eternity.

"You're adventurous."

Ino blinked. "I don't think so." Where did she get that?

Konan breathed in, she was probably enjoying it as much as Ino herself. Her fingers tapped on the sill. "Why would a sane person from a great ninja village such as Konoha take the trouble to find a criminal to investigate their life threatening problem? No matter what you say, your actions speak louder."

"Personal reasons." The same old answer.

"I would assume you're holding a grudge against your country's military force." Konan chuckled, finding it amusing for it did sound inappropriate. If you've such a bad relationship with your village, why live in it?

Ino shrugged. She had no reason to hate military force, if anything they were Konoha's pride. Personal reasons are personal… But maybe Konan did point out something she was ignorant towards. She never saw herself as adventurous so how come a complete stranger out of nowhere claims such a thing… Worse, Ino was convinced.

"You might think my opinion is biased towards Obito… I won't say much. Only that, take your time to learn him. As much as you've given time to your friends. Appearances are often deceptive, Ino." Konan fixed a stare at Ino, her eyes shining with knowledge and experience– like she knew what was going through Ino's head. Ino averted her gaze.

"I've no bad feelings towards him. I even followed him out here against my better judgment." Konan was Obito's friend. If she told her the truth, Konan would surely expose her to Obito. Ino can't take such a risk.

"You know you're not innocent, Ino. You followed him here for your ulterior motives. Yet again proving my point — adventurous."

Ino stiffened. She can't tell what Konan wants from Ino. Her observing personality was putting Ino off yet, she felt comfortable enough to keep the conversation going. Konan seemed to have a lot to say, she could find out something more about Obito through her.

"I want to learn more about him, that's my ulterior motive, I see no harm in it. Since that's what you want, tell me about him." Was she being too forward, Ino prayed not as she stole a glance at the short hair woman.

"He's a sensitive man, I've never seen him interested in women before — there was one girl but that's not my position to talk about. You're special to him, however he's holding himself back from showing his true feelings. He knows you're not serious with him, he knows you care less about his feelings. That's why I'm telling you, to study him. If you love him back, trust me there won't be a thing he won't do for you." She paused, her hand reached out as she shifted her body towards Ino completely.

Confused, Ino hesitatingly placed her palm in Konan's. Konan smiled in return as she squeezed Ino's palm. Warmness spreading in her hand, Ino waited for Konan to continue.

"You deserve to be loved, you deserve a man who'll fight the world for you. And do you think such a man exists in your village? Someone who will sacrifice the village safety for your sake? Your friends do not understand your pain, they do not understand your heart. If they did, you know you would've never met Obito in the first place. Your urge to find someone out of your comfort zone should be your answer." It all sounded too beautiful, no— not just beautiful but a dream that she longed for no matter how selfish it sounded. Not all dreams are supposed to come alive and this selfish dream of being the utmost priority to her lover was one of those. She had accepted this bitterly back then but now? Was Obito really capable of providing her such a love that only exists in her dreams? For she was sure as hell no one in her own village would be giving up the village's safety — everyone's safety for one single person. Not Sasuke, or anyone else.

As if sensing her inner disturbance, Konan leaned closer to Ino, getting Ino to only focus on her. "You're not a ninja anymore, you've done enough for them. It's time to look out for your future. You don't ask much, only to be loved. If one's happiness is called selfishness, the happiness that won't harm anyone then why care what others think. It isn't selfish to seek out love. Obito will love you like no one. He'll help you become strong. Revenge, Ino. Your revenge from Orochimaru. Do you think you can survive in a world where you're neither acknowledged as a ninja or a civilian. You're hardly holding onto life at the moment. Give him a chance, all he asks is for you to love him."

Is that… All he asks? But… It was too good to be true. Konan was sprouting lies. Because Obito was her stalker. That man had hurt her, lied to her and even told her secret to his friends. He wasn't worth anything other than the torture he forced her through. What does Konan even know or maybe she knows Obito was her stalker and was playing nice… Just like Obito.

Forging a tight smile, Ino nodded. "Thank you, Konan. I'll learn about him. Thank you for this." She assured, and was shocked when the taller woman pulled her in a warm hug. Ino tried best to keep her heart true against all these lies.

Yellowish light shone for a mere second like thunder before the floor shook underneath their feet and less than a second later earth shattering energy burst out from the ground floor.

Konan rushed and grasped the sill, staring down at the mess of flames and heavy smoke spreading down.

"Deidara!!" She screamed furiously.