Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its affiliates, in any form. I do not own the characters. I believe the plot is mine, but you can steal that if you want to.
Part 1: Squirrel
It's all about acorns. My acorn or yours? Bury or eat? I could spend hours telling you about acorns. You wouldn't understand, though. You're just a silly human. Humans are fun. During the summer I spend hours watching them. In fact, lemme tell you a story.
There were big fluffy clouds in the sky that day. Acorns hadn't started growing yet, so I decided it would be good day to scurry around and watch some humans. I skittered down my tree, and immediately scanned for predators. There weren't any. I did find two - what do you call them? Women? - eating and chatting.
"Ne, Sakura, doesn't that cloud look like a dragon?"
"Yup, and that one looks like a bird"
"There's a paintbrush."
I don't remember the rest. It was very boring. I still stuck around though. There's one human who goes there everyday at this time to eat. I don't know why anyone would want to eat in the grass when there's a perfectly good tree nearby, but I do know that this lady usually leaves behind some good crumbs. One time, she even had walnuts. I love walnuts!
What was I talking about? Oh, yeah! So walnut lady comes by, right on schedule, and sees the two new people in her spot. Now this part I understood. They started getting uppity about whose territory it was. Walnut lady was feeling nice, so she gave the trespassers a warning. Neither one budged, but they did start arguing...
"Get out of my seat"
The one in blue got uppity, "I don't see your name on it."
"Doesn't mean it's not mine."
"I'm still not moving."
"Yes, you are."
"You gonna make me?"
"No. You aren't worth my time, but I have friends who'd be happy to do it for me."
She wasn't bluffing. Walnut lady had some big friends. One of the newbies wanted to just give Walnut lady her seat and move on, but her companion, the same blue girl, wasn't backing down.
"What makes you think you can just boss people around like this?"
"Do you even know who I am? I own half of Akarui city!"
Now the timid newbie really wanted to go.
"Ino, that's Tatsu Maki. She's the biggest underground dealer of anything and everything in Akarui."
"That doesn't mean we can let her boss us around."
"It's just a nice place to sit. Is it really worth it?"
"Sometines, Sakura, it isn't about the seat. It's about pride. You have to stick up for yourself."
I told you, didn't I? It's all about acorns. So, Walnut lady wasn't about to let the newcomer get away with this acorn.
"Listen, little girl, I think it's about time I taught you a lesson."
Walnut lady reached for the upstart's waist and grabbed the shiny thing there. Then she ran off. The two newbies ran after her. The silly humans had won the small acorn, but lost the big one.
Part 2: Sakura
This really was getting out of hand.
It started with a nice lunch, which I never got to finish, and now we're chasing loan shark/drug dealer/all around bad girl Tastu Maki through the streets of Akarui city.
All this because Ino couldn't let it drop. She wouldn't just walk away.
We lost sight of Tatsu.
Figures. This is her hometown, after all. There's no way Ino will give up now, though.
Tatsu has her forehead protector.
Ino stopped running. Finally.
"Hey Ino," I started, "How are you gonna get it back now?"
Ino keeps looking at the crowd where Tatsu disappeared.
"I'm going to hunt her down."
"How?"
"However I can."
There's no point in arguing now. I might as well follow her.
Ah! There she goes again.
What is she thinking?
Where are we? An alley?
ick. It smells like pot back here.
Ino's walking up to one of the potheads.
"Who's your supplier?"
"What kind a question is that?"
He's stoned.
Ino picks him up by the collar.
"One you better answer."
"Aight, aight, don't get your bindings in a twist. I got it from this old man. He runs an antique store at the corner of 4th and vine."
Ino's moving agin.
At least this time I know we're we're going.
Don't run into people, don't run into people, don't run into people...
Geez. This building's as bad as the alley.
Ino slowed down. We're going in.
She doesn't look angry at all.
That's a pretty vase.
Might as well look around. Ino's sure taking her time.
Hm... What's on this shelf...
Vase, vase, bowl, glass ball, sculpture...
"Hey, can you help me?"
"Depends. What you need?"
"I'm looking for a pot."
"Check the shelves."
"A special one."
The old man's going into the back.
How did Ino know...nevermind.
Sculptures.
This one's nice. It's a dragon.
Flower, dragon, Buddha, kami, dragon, kami
He's back.
"I'm out."
"When wil you have more?"
"Depends."
"On what?"
"On when Tatsu decides to send me more."
"I see. That's such a shame. I was planning this major party today, but now it looks like my party'll be a dud."
How can she keep this up?
I would never have thought of that.
"Well..."
"Yes?"
"You could go to this one place. They won't let you take any out the door, but you could try and get some out the back."
"You don't say."
"Yup. Club on the upside of town. It's on Green st. between 20th and 21st. Good luck getting in, though."
"Gee! Thanks!"
Here we go again.
At least we're walking this time.
"So what's the plan?"
"Infiltration."
"How?"
"Simple," she winks, "We'll just use our feminine wiles and devilish good looks."
Somehow, when she says that, I beleive her.
Maybe it's because all these tactics shouldn't have worked.
It shouldn't be this easy to find Tatsu.
But here we are, climbing the chain of command.
Is Ino a genius or just lucky?
I forgot how good an actress she is.
Whatever the case, This will be fun.
"First," Ino says, "We need to go gear up."
"Gear up?"
Part 3: The Narrator returns from parts unknown.
The club had a line. Not one worthy of Studio 54, but it was still a line. Ino and Sakura got in the back and waited.
Apparently, 'gearing up' meant dressing up nicely but still managing to hide kunai in reachable places. Ino chose to let her hair loose. It reached just past her shoulders. She was wearing a tight, red, sleeveless v-neck top and loose black pants.
The finishing touches included 3 gold bracelets on one wrist, a black choker, and pearl earrings. Sakura was wearing a tight black long-sleeved shirt with a yellow t-shirt over it, beige cargo pants, and a black headband in place of her forehead protector.
There was a goon guarding the door. It seemed he was letting people in based on their appearance, but bribes could get you in anyway. Once they were at the front of the line, Ino confidently walked straight toward the door. Sakura followed, nonchalant.
"Where do you think you're going?" The goon seemed agitated.
Ino responded without changing her field of vision, "We're going in."
"Says who?"
"Says me."
"The only way you're getting in is through me."
"Fine then."
Ino made a move to walk right past him. The muscular guard steeped in front of the door, blocking it. Ino stopped.
"Will you let me in or do I have to move you?"
"Lemme make this clear. You're not coming in."
Imagine, for one second, how surprised the crowd was when a petit woman hurled the bouncer who was at least twice her size over her shoulder and onto the street. Imagine how much more they were surprised when he merely picked himself up, let her and her companion in, and resumed his duties.
The inside was unlike Sakura had ever seen. There were bright moving lights, pounding repetitive music, and a large mass of dancing people who probably couldn't pass a sobriety test if their lives depended on it. A DJ stood at a turntable in the back with two four human-sized speakers along the back wall. Being here went against almost everything she had learned as a shinobi, but Sakura's blood was already racing from anticipation.
"Hey," Ino tried to yell over the music, "You go have fun. I have some investigating to do."
"What about afterwards?"
"Don't worry, I'll find you."
With that, Ino went off somewhere. Sakura watched people dancing so she could get the gist of it before diving in. Sweaty people were pressing in all around her. Nervously, Sakura started moving her feet, then her shoulders. No one seemed to care whether she was moving at all. Sakura relaxed, and pretty soon she just another entranced dancer, minus the drugs.
Meanwhile, Ino went to find the highest lookout point. It turned out there was a balcony near one of the rear speakers.
She found a staircase, climbed it, and saw a doorway at the top. Not unexpectedly, the door had its very own guard. This one looked pretty nasty. Instead of the usual muscle heads, this one was a lean teenager decked out in black. There were piercings in unnatural places and tattoos all over his skin. Topping it all off, there was a large, ornate sword hung across his back.
Undaunted, Ino sauntered over.
"Mind if I go in?"
The youth looked her straight in the eye. Somehow, he had made them look red, furthering his intimidating appearance.
"It's the VIP room."
"I know that. I wanna know if you'll let me in."
"Not without direct orders."
"From who? Tatsu-san? It's covered."
"You're lying. She isn't expecting anyone new."
"I'm filling in."
"For who?"
"My boss."
"Like that's gonna convince me."
"Look, If you don't wanna believe me, fine. Don't blame me when Tatsu-san blows a gasket."
"She would've let me know if anyone new was coming."
"I told you, I'm filling in. It's a last minute thing."
"Let's say I believe you. Why should I let you in?"
"All I know is that I'm making arrangements for a deal. I dunno what I'm selling, just that I have a pretty high price range and direct orders not to accept too little."
"So your boss wouldn't tell you what it is."
"Nope. He probably knew I'd have to deal with a little snot like you and end up blabbing the whole story just so you'd let me in. So, I'm going. I hope you still have a job tomorrow."
Ino started to walk away. The boy pulled out a coin, flipped it, and sighed.
"Fine. Go in."
"I'm glad you made the right decision."
"Whatever."
Ino went in, trying not to celebrate. The VIP room was well lit, about 15 ft square, with pillows all over. It was considerably quiet, considering how close the room was to the speakers. A few well dressed people were sitting around drinking and chatting. The center of attention, however, was the Tatsu Maki.
"So I grabbed her stupid forehead protector and ran off. I swear, the little garbage picker practically turned purple."
Ino stood dead center in front of Tatsu and said, "I have a name, just so you know. It's Yamanaka Ino, and I want my forehead protector back."
Everyone laughed. Tatsu waited until the room had returned to quasi silence before responding.
"What makes you think I'll just give it back? How'd you get here anyway?"
"Let's just say I know how to get around."
"Well," Tastu stood up, "You have guts, and I'll give you that. But that won't get your headband back."
Ino watched as Tatsu pulled the valued item from her back pocket.
"You want it? Offer me something."
"How about an explanation of how I got in here, so you can tighten up security?"
"Hm..ok. Explanation first."
"How do I know you won't just keep my forehead protector?"
"You don't."
Ino sighed and started telling the story. All the while, the wheels in her head kept spinning, thinking of some way out, a bargaining chip. She was too preoccupied to see Tatsu signal one of her guests to leave the room on an errand.
"...and that's how I got past the guard at the front of this room. Now hand over my forehead protector."
"Sure." Tatsu tossed it over and Ino promptly returned it to its proper location. "But I have one more puzzle for you,
Ino-san."
Tastu snapped her fingers. A guest walked in with Sakura, who was bound in rope and held by the collar of her shirt.
"What now, punk?"
Ino's jaw hit the floor. "HOW IN THE HELL DID YOU GET CAUGHT BY THIS DRUNKARD?"
"HOW IN THE HELL DID YOU GET IN HERE?" Sakura was equally surprised.
Ino was fuming, "WHAT IS IT WITH BANDITS AND HOSTAGES LATELY?!??!?!"
Throwing caution to the wind, Ino lunged for Sakura, pulling a kunai. Sakura was on the same train of though and had been slowly loosening her knots, so they came undone quickly. Ino grabbed Sakura's wrist and jumped out the window. They landed on the ground and ran toward the hotel. No one followed them.
After they had cleared out, and the initial shock had passed, one guest asked, "Why'd you let them go so easily, Tatsu?"
"That girl has too much dignity to be taken down easily," she replied, "Besides, after all the BS-ing she did, I think she deserves a break."
Part 4: The Aftermath
Later that night, Sakura and Ino had returned to the hotel they were staying at. They hadn't gone to anyplace extravagant, just a bedroom big enough for two futons and a small bathroom. A new moon was visible from the window.
"I can't believe it. You managed to find Tatsu Maki, the biggest name in the second largest city of the largest nation on this planet, in less then 8 hours." Sakura was digging through her bag, looking for a map.
"I am a woman of many talents, you know." Ino meanwhile, was sitting on her futon, watching Sakura.
"I don't know whether I should say you're unbelievably brave or just plain crazy. You're really amazing sometimes."
"I've been amazing since the day I was born; you were just too blind to see it. Besides, you aren't so bad yourself. Not everyone would take on those bandits the way you did."
Sakura found her map and unfolded it halfway. Before burying herself in it, she turned to Ino and said, "Yeah, but I was so scared I thought I was gonna pass out."
"Hey, I was scared too."
Sakura gasped dramatically. "The AMAZING Yamanaka Ino was scared?"
"Of course I was. I just didn't let it control me, like you used to."
Sakura didn't respond and kept looking over her path. Ino let the conversation drop and just looked up at the moon. The comfortable silence went on for quite some time, both girls lost in thought. Eventually, Sakura put up her map and got underneath her covers.
"Goodnight, Ino."
Ino came back from lala-land and turned out the light before laying down.
"Goodnight Sakura."
Big thanks to Xoni Newcomer for reviewing my last chapter! Constructive criticism is much appreciated.