Ch7 of Ino-cense...
Ino is skimming along so many minds she thinks she might break apart.
She's just finished with one client, and is about to return to the floor of the club. She's used this chance to hunt- rifling through memories and surface thoughts of everyone in her vicinity without having to keep up her shimmer facade.
This is where she sees him first. Next to the bar, adjusting his watch. Makes eye contact with two regulars and smiles slightly, consummate. The type who roll their eyes as if to say, 'distasteful, isn't it, but I'm here for business'.
This is it. He was here tonight, in this club.
Then she sees her prey in one of the dancer's heads. It's just a quick glance over and a wonder if he'll be after her again.
Ino's smile sweetens and she shortens her stride into a cuter sashay- more submissive, bendable. Her hair has been swept up with glittering threads, exposing a long neck.
"Free shot?" she asks; the usual gimmick, holding a tray from the barman. To make it less obvious who she's after she asks a trail of men, until finally she's within striking distance of Tsubaki Moramito.
A wide-eyed, tired but earnest look.
"Free shot?"
His gaze passes over her, fleeting and dismissive. Her target apathetically takes the shot from her, places it on his table and returns to the mindnumbing conversation with two Rice locals about whether Allspice is the same as Five Spice.
Ino looks away, out at the crowd, and runs a hand over the nape of her neck as if relieving an ache. She lets out a silent exhale that gives the very picture of someone who does not want to return to work.
"Can I get you gentlemen anything?"
The Rice locals know her a little by now. One cheerfully eyes her chest and makes a vague noise of interest, downing another sake dish. The other, already rosy-nosed by alcohol, requests a litany of bottles for her to return with. Ino bows and promptly delivers.
This allows her to settle at their table and assist in pouring and serving, rather like a much less classy version of a geisha. There are no shamisen here that's for sure, Ino smiles to herself, as the club's bass thunders on. The two Rice locals are clearly falling into a stupor tinged with bolder and bolder interest in her.
Her target seems particularly uninterested in being there, and almost verges on impolite focus. It's not quite what Ino had hoped for, but she'll try to use the situation anyway.
"Ano, danna," she smiles coyly, deliberately formal addressing him as patron, "this one sees many men making agreements. It is often considered rude not to enjoy the luxuries of the game before the matter is concluded."
Moramito looks at her again, a slight furrow in his brow. He has high cheekbones and a weak jaw, with crows feet slinking into the corner of his eyes. There is a squint there- perhaps he needs glasses and is too proud to concede to using them. She thinks him to be a disciplined sort of man.
She has committed his face to memory, but it is different seeing it in person. With targets, it always is.
They both together look at the Rice locals, who are openly drinking in the female flesh displayed on stage.
"See, danna? Some things cannot be rushed." She nods serenely to herself. Despite the fact she is still Shimmer and therefore currently exposing decollete, midriff and long legs, she manages to pull off an aura of propriety.
Moramito nods, reluctantly agreeing, and his eyes skim over her idly. She can see the idea bubble in his head- toying with the notion of using her for a while. He glances back at the Rice locals and seems to decide they won't be getting down to business any time soon.
"Do you have a private booth, Miss...?"
"Shimmer," she answers, absently tracing a hand along her neck and collarbones. "Who would you like to request?"
"You." He's abrupt about it, transactional- which Ino thanks Kami for because her patience might run out and then she'll fail on this info gathering exercise.
She gracefully rises, to the wolfwhistles of the two sodden Rice locals, and leads him by the wrist to number 7. Most girls don't like number 7 because it's the farthest away from where security tend to be. That's exactly why Ino wants it now.
She shuts the curtains, pours a glass for him and coils into the booth's plastic covered cushions. Fingers interlocked, chin lowered and watching him through her lashes.
"How may I assist, danna?"
"What are your rates?"
"Ah, a business negotiation. You are a focused man indeed!" Ino smiles like a cat with a twitching tail.
"My companions are ill-disposed," he says, leaning back and watching her with increasing hunger. "What else am I to do... your rates?"
Ino doesn't miss a beat.
"Take me to dinner, danna, it's cheaper."
"It's past dinner-time and I'm sure I can afford you." He eyes his watch as though she's stupid. In response, Ino examines her nails, turning her hand over and artfully displaying her delicate wrists.
The silence undoes him. He reaches for her anyway, and Ino stifles a grin and releases a muffled cry.
"Hey!"
Moramito reflexively lets go. He's been in these joints long enough to know that security is probably right behind the curtains (it isn't- Ino picked number 7 for a reason, but hey, he doesn't know that).
"What sort of man are you, to take away your goods before you bought them!" Ino pretends indignancy and brings a harsh blush to her cheeks.
"You didn't name a price."
"I was doing you a favour." Ino moves closer, still affronted, and rests her hand on his knee. "Mama only allows certain services here. If you have other tastes, you'd be better moved to a different locatio-"
"-where you can offer me a cheaper price and you don't have to pay your mama the house commission fee," her target finishes for her. Now that her apparent monetary motive is out in plain speech he seems to relax, having satisfactorily got the measure of her. Just a simple courtesan who's after a better slice of the pie.
He nods, that squint and furrowed brow again, and hunger returns. It's just gone midnight. Still time for another dancer to come in and sate him. Ino thinks about it and realises she may have to give him a hint to get him to come back to her.
"Don't offer rough hits if you can't take them," she says, demurely crossing her legs.
Moramito's eyes light up in greed before being smothered again. He looks down at her hand and legs and his disciplined mind kicks in.
"I can do business with you. Tomorrow then."
Moramito pushes her hard. He's expecting her to have courtesan tricks but Ino's training gives her a high pain tolerance. She lets her mind go blank and fuzzy as he abuses her jaw. She thinks it's dislocated by the end.
She doesn't ask any questions or even look about the place he suggested, except to ask if he would like to see her again. He shifts one heavy meat globule of a hand and laconically points to money by the door. Ino thinks she's fucked up big time.
Except he comes back to the club on business a few nights later, and asks for her to entertain his table. Ino keeps her shimmery persona on firmly, and tells him she doesn't get off work until 5am. So he has her for half an excruciating hour in the private booth.
Ino can't ask questions if she's desperately trying not to asphyxiate. She idly wonders if Moramito deliberately has encounters this way.
She writes her weekly report more depleted than usual. On the one hand, she has news. On the other, it's a mixed bag of progress. She tried mind-brushing him during the encounters but it was solid focused lust. Before and after, he's a careful alert customer and she doesn't want to reveal kunoichi prowess in any form. Ninja expect chakra usage in the background, and Ino is very subtle with her mind arts, but civilians can sometimes see the small stuff by virtue of a sixth sense.
Dear Grandma,
I know this sounds kind of silly, but- I met somebody. I think he's the one. So far I've been too shy to come clean, but he's seen me dance and everything. How did you speak to Gramps, I can't even talk to him without being nervous!
Send my love to Aunt Kimiko, I saw a beautiful azalea bush in a photo the other day and it reminded me of her. Jasmine steamed rice is my favourite dish at the moment.
Love,
Chichi
She signs with a flourish and seals in an addressed envelope. She hopes before the next report there'll be some change, some chink in Moramito's armour. Some loosening of the lips which she can pry open.
Ino is a valuable resource for her village and this is a mission simply to get to the bottom of an extortion gang, who do not yet directly threaten Konoha. This means that Ino will probably choose to disengage before the situation is too precarious. However there is a part of her that bridles, recoils even, at the vague notion of failure. Jounin should be capable and successful. She has earned her rank but there is a chip on her shoulder that makes her feel like she needs to keep earning it.
Houza and Anko go to see the Hokage.
"Mou, what can we do to help Ino-chan?" Naruto asks, sunny blonde hair tilting in the afternoon light. He's the 'Gramps' mentioned in the scroll.
Houza inclines his head at the Special Advisor and former Rokudaime sprawled by the window, the ever present Icha Icha novella in his hand loosely.
Hatake's free eye blinks up at the attention.
"We have three options, Hokage-sama." His tone is dry, and his bearing relaxed. "One: We pull her out of there. If there's no progress, no sense wasting a Jounin. Two: We send support. This takes more of our active duty roster out of commission for an unspecified period of time. Three: We let her continue. She might find something; Ino is a big girl. She can handle herself." It is obvious from Hatake's emphasis he thinks three is the best option, but he wants to give Naruto the illusion of making the choice himself.
Anko exchanges a wary glance with Houza- the Tokubetsu Jounin has hesitance swimming in her eyes, so her companion takes on the task of challenging the Special Advisor gently.
"Hatake-dono makes excellent points, Hokage-sama. I know Ino would not have written us lightly, so her situation must be precarious."
"Kunoichi are adept with those situations, so I have heard."
Both grey haired men steadily gaze at each other, the Icha Icha novel in Hatake's hand falling to one side.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, in the midst of traditional careful politics and positioning, they have both forgotten the most crucial piece of all- The Hokage himself.
"Bah! Ino-chan is in a pickle! We look after each other- that is the Will of Fire and my nindo! Whi-"
"Hai, Hoka-"
"-ich is why we must send support! Which other shinobi on the roster are near her?"
Hatake is the first to recover his composure- Option Two was his worst choice. Houza's mouth twitches; he also sees it as unduly expensive for potentially no gain. But their Hokage's word is the final say.
The Roster isn't written down. That sort of knowledge would destroy a village if it ever reached enemies. Instead, the R&D branches of the Genin Corps came up with a set of chakra-sensitive wires and filaments that form a lattice structure representing their known world.
It is keyed only to work for the Hokage and his Special Advisors, so Hatake bestirs himself to take a look. He thinks he already knows the answer but confirmation is better.
Each shinobi active on a mission appears as their registration number, little tiny flickers of light along wires in their last known location. It's truly a mad work of genius. Hatake saw many things in his days in ANBU but this is one of the most awe-inspiring, a hope for the innovation and progress Konoha can bring to the world.
That said, the technology behind this is still tightly locked down. He doesn't know if it will ever be released voluntarily.
The Special Advisor raises a hand and channels chakra through his palm, watching the lights expand up through the wire map.
"As I thought," he announces, gaze sweeping over the Land of Rice and its cluster of neighbouring small territories, "Moegi Kazamatsuri, Ebisu and... Kiba Inuzuka."
"Would it be feasible to dovetail their existing mission parameters with a briefing and scout for Ino Yamanaka?" Houza asks clinically, with an eye to the logistics.
Naruto chooses now of all times to switch on his improvisational genius mode. "So Ebisu is on a time deadline mission- I think something like a courier drop. Moegi and Kiba are tracking down a convict for local law enforcement."
"Kiba has worked with Ino before," Anko remarks, "He wouldn't need an in person briefing, details could be given vaguely by messenger hawk, and given his scent tracking he could probably find her whatever appearance she takes."
"And there would be no trouble from the messenger hawk's potential flight path?" Hatake muses for a second, tracing his finger from their base in Konoha in a direct 'as-the-crow-flies' over to the Land of Rice. It is largely crossing Fire territory, with some small forays over Grass and Rain.
Anko hums. "Inoichi might have something to say about how we word the hawk's briefing in case of interception, but risks are low."
The Hokage nods solemnly, lacing his fingers together in a way the late Sandaime often did. It worked for a wizened old military leader. On this twenty-something energy ball of a blond, it's just mildly comical.
"Okay then. Send Kiba a hawk, dattebayo!"
Anko and Houza and Inoichi carefully compose the briefing. It has to be short. It has to work for someone not used to deception and intelligence. And it has to not compromise Konoha if it is intercepted.
The three criteria are tricky to fulfil simultaneously, but not impossible.
Inoichi puffs out a sigh as he watches the hawk be released, message encircling its ankle. He knows Ino is capable with her skillsets, but still he worries. The part of him that is Father and Clan Head worries for his beloved little girl. A good shinobi knows his weaknesses, and Inoichi would be a fool to ignore his own.
Inoichi's father told him once that the most dangerous men were those who had recently gained 'nothing left to lose' status. Before that point they can be leveraged, based on fear of what can be taken from them. Too long after, and their rages and emotions wane. The thought of his little girl, her skills negated, potentially trapped in unsavoury positions, makes his skin prickle and his blood pound. With effort, the Yamanaka Clan Head inhales and exhales, trying to return to the glass-like state of awareness he cultivates.
It is not the first time that Inoichi considers himself a risk for Konoha because of his love for others.
The hawk lets out a cry as it passes the village gates. Its hunt has just begun.
"Ai- Kiba!"
"Yeah?"
"Four o'clock- Aerial Movement!"
Moegi tosses him a pair of goggles from her hip pouch. These have built in binoculars.
Kiba sniffs the wind but there is no acrid scent of demolition clay or burning fuel. He raises the goggles and sees a messenger hawk. It's one of the breeds Konoha sometimes send.
"We're likely clear," he shrugs. They're slogging through the Grasslands to the next place an arsonist could hide. Smaller villages and nations without the benefit of a strong shinobi system will sometimes hire one of the Great Five to be the arbiter and executioner of justice. This time Konoha has been called upon to eek out a man who burned down three houses, apparently in retribution for an adulterous wife, and then fled.
Kiba's feeling pretty good, not overly tired, a slight twinge in his hip but nothing major. Akamaru pads alongside him. His tongue is lolling from one corner of his jaw.
The messenger hawk starts to descend, taking ways around updrafts and invisible currents, a slow circle towards them.
"Probably just an update, yeah," Moegi echoes back.
His muscles are starting to tense regardless and she also looks apprehensive. Just in case.
The hawk lets out a little cry and skims above them before wheeling round, angling for Kiba's shoulder. He can't help but reflexively draw out a kunai, reverse grip, ready to take on whatever enemies this new development might bring.
"Grab the message," he murmurs to his partner. Moegi doesn't falter, tugging it off the hawk's ankle. As soon as she takes the message it immediately flies away.
They glance around furtively, looking for the best cover to stop and read this new information.
"There's probably a natural windbank over there," Moegi offers, chewing on her lip, so they settle in the grass where she points, hoping movement will be mistaken for another breeze.
FAO Inuzuka
Added parameter to your current mission. Investigation needed for Young Clover-leaf, Mama Rakushi's 273196 on Standard Map B. Safety is priority. Disengage if necessary.
Kiba immediately pulls out his overlay standard maps. They live in a pocket next to their skin and are made of light flexible armour, perfect for a kunai or shuriken to graze off rather than pierce.
Standard Map B gives a location in the Land of Rice, about 14 clicks from them. Mama Rakushi's sounds like a tea-house, and Young Clover-leaf is obviously a Yamanaka.
Moegi pauses in their deciphering and frowns a moment. "There aren't many Yamanakas who would be on a solo mission right now, and it's got to be someone you can sniff out without their scent to hand."
Kiba watches her face suddenly close off and her nose wrinkle in muted distaste.
"What?"
"It's probably Ino," is all she says after a while.
Kiba unpacks his bedroll and scritches Akamaru's head absentmindedly. He wonders why he's been sent to check on her, hopes she is okay. Does his best to bury that feeling in a quiet mantra of 'pack is safe pack is safe pack is safe'.
The stars look like they're laughing at him as he falls asleep.
A/N: Thank you for your reviews/favs/follows- you keep the content coming! Let me know if there's anything you want to see out of the next chapter, when Ino and Kiba meet up again.
Hope you and yours are safe and well, and happy reading!
~featheredblades