Yamanaka Ino; 5 Years Later

Age 17

-His Eyes-

The jounin exam hadn't been easy this year. Not that I had taken it in a previous year but it was definitely one of the most difficult things I had ever done.

Even as I waited in the Hokage's office, pretty sure that things went well for me, I still had doubts about whether or not I would be walking away with a new vest. However, the fact that Sasuke was invited to the Hokage's office as well at the same time somehow boosted my confidence. He had done exceptionally well at the tournament and there was no way he wouldn't be promoted.

It was pretty quiet in the waiting room, Sasuke wasn't saying anything and I was too nervous to. The room looked extra large and time seemed to be standing still.

I felt Sasuke's hand cover mine suddenly. I looked over at him, he was still facing forward, staring at the door. He didn't even have to say anything but I instantly felt calmer.

I don't know how much longer we sat there but the door suddenly opened and we both stood up. I clutched Sasuke's hand tightly. Maybe a little too tightly because I could feel his hand twitch slightly.

I saw a familiar face peek out from behind the door and walk out, in his hands was a small bag.

"Hey Shikamaru!" I greeted him as he looked the two of us up and down. He gave me a slight wave as his excuse for a greeting as he closed the door.

"I have to make this quick." Said Shikamaru as he pulled two green objects out of the bag. Two green vests! "Congratulations. The both of you have been promoted to the chuunin rank."

"Chuunin?" Sasuke asked with a raised eyebrow as he took the vest from Shikamaru.

"Jounin." Shikamaru corrected himself with an annoyed expression as he turned to leave. "Sorry I can't stay."

I waved at his turned back as Sasuke put his vest on. I miss talking to Shikamaru sometimes but he always seems busy with Hokage-like business. How did HE manage to climb up so high so fast? Last time I checked, he was just Shikamaru.

"It looks great!" I told him as I put my own on and modeled it for him to see. "I knew you'd get yours."

"Yeah, I was pretty confident about it." Said Sasuke as he reached around his shoulder, tightening the size of his vest.

"You know this means we have to go on harder missions." I said, attempting to reach behind me to tighten mine as well. Suddenly, I felt Sasuke's hands on my shoulders as he spun me around and began doing it for me. It kind of made me blush feeling him do this but it's not like I minded.

When he was done, I spun around and reached my arms up and wrapped them around his neck, giving him a small kiss for helping me.

"Should we celebrate?" I asked him as I played with the hair on the back of his head.

"Probably." He responded with a nod and a smile. Call me old-fashioned but I just loved looking into his eyes when he smiled. Because he doesn't smile much, I take it when I get it, I suppose. I wanted this moment to last.

Of course, like Murphy's Law, just as I thought that, the door burst open and three extremely loud figures walked in.

"Seriously though…training in the mountains is going to be great." Said Kiba as he entered.

"Imagine the three of us getting on the same team!" Naruto announced.

"I wonder who our teacher will be." Wondered Chouji.

"What are you three doing here?" I asked to Chouji more than anyone else.

"Consolidation." Chouji replied. "We were put on a team and told to come here to meet our teacher."

"Ohh…" I said with a nod. I had heard of it but it's not like I knew much about it except for the fact that it existed. "So it's you three on a team now?"

Chouji nodded with a sigh. I couldn't help but laugh about that. I know I wouldn't want to be stuck on a team with Naruto and Kiba together. They had a tendency to be loud.

The door that Shikamaru disappeared into earlier opened suddenly. I don't know what was on everyone else's minds but the person who walked through it was definitely the LAST person I was expecting. Ever.

"Welcome students of mine!" said the newest person in the room. "I am your new consolidation teacher. MAITO GAI!"

Gai then proceeded to strike a pose that definitely made his green spandex suit seem all the less appealing.

Gai then came down from his pose slowly.

"Five students?" he asked questioningly. "I was told that I was to be assigned THREE but if that is the number then so be it!"

I looked over at Sasuke who had paused from his heated conversation with Naruto to look at Gai. Mind you, it's not like they were having a friendly chat or anything so I decided that it was a perfect time to leave. I grabbed Sasuke by his sleeve and dragged him out the door. "Time to go now."

Sasuke didn't resist much as we went outside and closed the door behind us. I wish we hadn't been interrupted in there because now there was very little chance of continuing from there.

"I'm kind of glad I was able to become a chuunin before consolidation!" I said with a laugh as I envisioned poor Chouji having to spend an extended period of time with Naruto, Kiba and Gai and NO ONE else.

"Jounin." Sasuke corrected me. I hadn't meant it like THAT.

"I know that, Sasuke." I said giving him a playful push. I don't think he likes being touched a lot as I've come to notice over the years. I refrain from it as much as possible but I think he's warmed up to me because he doesn't seem to mind anymore.

"I worked hard for this vest." He said as he tugged on it. "I want it to be acknowledged."

"I know." I said with a smile. I couldn't help but smile when he gets all passionate. Even though it can be a bit annoying, it's still funny.

"Can't kill Itachi as a chuunin…" he said but he faded toward the end. Almost as if he hadn't meant to say that last part. Or say it out loud at least.

I didn't know what to say after that so the two of us were thrown into an awkward silence. I know I didn't want to touch the subject of Sasuke's brother with a forty foot pole so I waited for him to bring up another subject.

But of course, considering he's Sasuke, no such subject was brought up.

"So…" I started, grabbing his hand. I wanted to bring back up the subject of a celebration but before I could continue, there was another interruption. Only this time, it was ten times more annoying than the previous one.

"Sasuke!!" came a sing-song voice from behind us both as we both turned around instinctively.

"Sakura…" Sasuke said slowly, giving her an uncomfortable wave. I don't blame him for being uncomfortable around her. Even though they were on the same team, she's been EXTRA tenacious about stealing him away from me. She was even dressed up with her hair all done up and plenty of make-up decorated her face.

"I heard the good news!" she said, stopping in front of us to catch her breath. She looked down at our joined hands with an angry stare. "You can let go of him now, Ino."

"I don't want to." I replied, gripping Sasuke's hand tighter. Sure it was petty but that's what she was being so I felt justified.

Sakura was undeterred. As usual.

"I say we go out and celebrate you becoming a jounin." Said Sakura. "As a team of course. Just for old time's sake."

"Naruto's busy." Said Sasuke. I really hope he wasn't actually thinking about going out and celebrating with her! I had asked first! I thought I meant more to him than she did.

"He is?" Sakura said, though you could tell she already knew that. "Then I guess it'll just have to be you and me!"

Then she looked at me with a smirk that told me that she believed that she had won.

"Sakura, I'M going out with Sasuke to celebrate." I said.

"That is SO like you Ino." Said Sakura with a glare. "Wanting to steal Sasuke all to yourself."

"We're celebrating TOGETHER because we were BOTH promoted." I said.

"I've never heard of someone work SO hard to get a guy." She said with a sigh. I couldn't believe what she was saying. "You trained to become a jounin just so that you could win Sasuke's heart?"

I looked over at Sasuke just as he turned to me. The expression hadn't changed much in his face but I wasn't sure if he was agreeing with her.

"Sakura…" I started, a little hurt. "You know that's not true…"

"Do I?" Sakura asked, her face getting evermore satisfied. She reached over and grabbed Sasuke's free hand. "Come on, Sasuke. Let's go…"

She stopped because Sasuke had pulled his hand away.

"Sasuke…?" she asked, slowly.

My heart leapt.

"Sakura, I want you to leave me alone." He said coldly. But not cold enough in my opinion.

"What, you want to celebrate with HER first?" Sakura asked, pointing to me condescendingly.

"I don't want to celebrate with you at all." He said. And that was about as final as one could get.

Sakura looked like she were trying to think of something to say, but couldn't quite piece the words together. Or any words at all. Her eyes were filled with tears and I kind of felt bad for her.

She abruptly turned around and walked away at a quickened pace. Sasuke's grip around my hand tightened as he watched her walk away.

I really wish our friendship hadn't come down to this. There's nothing more pathetic than breaking away from a friend because of a guy in my opinion but Sakura gave me no choice.

Besides, it's not like her friendship had been all that desirable recently so while I was hurt, I wasn't as hurt as I could have been.

However, something way deep inside of me told me that I still wanted to be friends with her and that I didn't want to let all of our happy memories fly out the window.

I couldn't go talk to her now but I logged talking to Sakura away on my mental to-do list.

Perhaps when the subject wasn't so new and fresh in our minds, I'd be able to talk to her about it.

Or even better…maybe I could set her up with someone else. So she'll forget about Sasuke!

Like Naruto!

Hm…Naruto's doing consolidation so he wouldn't work very well. Long-distance relationships never work.

Maybe Sakura just has to figure it all out on her own and find a guy she truly likes and who can appreciate her. Hopefully, that guy will NOT be Sasuke.