WARNING DOUBLE UPDATE, THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE LAST WEEK'S CHAPTER

Sorry about that :) Due to a lot of stress at school (I can't find an internship for this year, and I need it to complete my studies) I was unable to finish that chapter in time. This is why I decided to do a double update.

Enjoy


Reach for the top
And the sun is gonna shine
Every winter was a war she said
I want to get what's mine

Jezebel, Sade

Chapter 16: The last day

I woke up when Sasuke stirred during his sleep. As always. I remember starting to fall asleep outside, my cousin slightly snoring against me. I had never been able to sleep beside anyone I didn't trust fully. Sasuke and Tenten might be the only people I believed enough to entrust my fragile form to. With the new sense that came with Ino-San's body, I was aware of the moves around us. Sleeping outside was nice, and I liked the refreshing breeze. Though it wasn't secure enough, no place will ever be to me. Hence the light sleep. Even near my precious people.

And with Itachi-Sama's easiness to enter the village and its environs, I had even less confidence in the security of the village. If it had been secured at all. There were people acting against me, playing with my brain. People for whom I was a mere pawn to move on the shogi board.

I doubted those people would appreciate me becoming a player.

First I had to go back to my body, and accomplish the Hokage's secret mission. This would enable me to meet one of the players (other than the Hokage himself, that is). I had to be away from the meeting because my insights and lack of acting skills would endanger me. Plus, Ino-San knew nothing, so she wouldn't stir too much interest in me. In addition, I had been somehow told to use the sensing abilities coming with the girl to identify something about the player.

The Hokage's aim was to give me faith in him. So I wasn't trusted yet, or my loyalty towards him was considered fragile. That meant that unknown player had something to tempt or blackmail me. I'd rather think he wanted to persuade me, since the Hokage himself came to me so I'd distrust the man. A man powerful enough to act in behalf of the leader of the village, and make his orders unstoppable.

Second I had to ensure the security of Tenten's parents. I had given them full access to my archives, which made them easy targets. I should probably see with them whether it was more cost-efficient to hire mercenaries, make it a long-term mission to pay to Konoha, or adopt people into my own clan. I had no manpower yet, and my commercial network was probably using the death of my clan as an opportunity to cheat with the accountancy and steal money from me. But if I managed to get this network working well, I'd gain some strength and recognition.

I was the representative of the Uchiha clan for Kami's sake!

That would mean I'll have to find more people than my friend's civilian parents to delegate my work. That meant untrustworthy people I had to be insured of the fidelity. Plus, I'd probably have to visit all the outlets of the network to ensure they would not leak any information to strangers, and so on. Maybe having some of them move to Konoha.

Third I had to get strong enough to survive in the Chuunin test. From what I had gathered about the last tests that had been done, the percentage of people passing the test was less than one out of ten. I doubted I had the physical or mental abilities to survive. Plus, this was a team effort, and I had yet to meet my new team.

That meant I had tons of work ahead of me.

And what about later? What would happen to me when Sasuke gets old enough to lead the clan and I don't get to decide anymore? What would happen when I would be more effective as a baby maker than a soldier? What about me? What about I wanted? There of tons of things I had to do, because I wanted my clan to rise again. There was even more to do if I wanted to achieve Brother's dream. How would I be able to do that when the only outcome was that I'd become a minor actor?

How could I become a major actor?

I wasn't an important member of the Uchiha clan, I never were. Granted my bloodline was pure and my ancestors honourable, yet I had done nothing major. Maybe things would have been different then, if I had favoured my own prowess instead of Brother's opinion of myself. But in the end, all my live was summed up in a katana blade which missed my heart. All power of the Uchiha clan would go to the heir when he comes of age. Itachi-Sama was the real leader of the clan, but I had no doubt Sasuke would use his status to become the clan head himself.

If Itachi-Sama lost his title, the next head of the clan will be his heir, for now it was Sasuke. Even if I acted instead of the Head of the clan, because we needed someone to do so, I'd lose that role as soon as Itachi-Sama ceases to be on the run, or if Sasuke gets interested in politics. Knowing what my cousin did, the second option was most likely to happen; especially if we kept adopting different viewpoints. But in this situation, there was a loophole. If Itachi-Sama happened to produce an heir, then they would become the next head. The only problem was to find a suitable person to carry the future of the Uchiha clan, and if I did found this woman, I'd have to convince Itachi-Sama.

So before anything, I should keep Itachi-Sama in check. He said I had to wait for him to get my answers. But now I knew two persons who could reach Itachi-Sama: Jiraya-Sama and the other invocator of the Crows. The first one might be difficult to reach, and he still possessed compromising pictures of myself. I'd rather make him pay than ask him for a favour. He might think I had a loose screw or two. Then there was that Yamashiro Aoba left, but I would need Kakashi-San's report first, as well as my own body to communicate with the man.

I had about five days left in a body that wasn't mine. That would prove disagreeable.

At least I could keep my own body close. Therefore, I didn't take Sasuke's offer up since I was still in Ino's body, favouring morning sessions to keep my body fit. I was starting to appreciate the girl a little bit more. She had a sharp tongue and a nice sense of humour that made me smirk from time to time. She had a right set of mind too, behind all her superficial hobbies.

The first weekday of observation was boring. I just looked at my team and Tenten running around like crazy. Gai-Sensei had Ino-San fight against my teammates, her Taijutsu being worse than mine and hindered by the weights I still forced her to wear. She looked really tired, that girl, but protected, liked. I found myself happy that Ino-San get to work in such a friendly team.

The other days were as boring. Every night I was reunited with the clone I had send to the Academy all day. My acting skills weren't good enough, and the teachers started to get suspicious. I hoped the mysterious man would appear soon so I'd get my information and don't blow my own cover. I had Sasuke take the girl in our apartment to get everything go smoothly. I'd be the one to break in our own place every morning (my cousin thought it would be funny to put traps to prevent me from entering), get the two Academy students to run a few laps (inviting Haruno Sakura and Uzumaki Naruto) when we could, and train the lot until it was time to go to school.

The man didn't show up until Friday morning.

Ino-San had been taking a break from a harsh training day. I could see the sweat gleaming on my pale skin, dampening my weed-like hair, dripping from her brow. She had even unclipped my chest binder, letting my chest free. It was true, that day was really hot, and I had the most difficult time staying hidden in my bush.

As I was looking at myself laying inside a fresh river, while my teammates were down the road with Sensei, an old man walked on the forest path. I hid myself, concealing my chakra signature even more. I did good: two teenagers in a uniform I didn't recognize were scouting in the trees. They would have discovered me if I moved. I focused on the old man. He looked as old as the Hokage, as old as Father would have been today, old enough to have known the Clan wars and the First Hidden Ninja War.

He greeted her like this meeting was a coincidence. Then I felt it, that chakra I had felt before. That familiar chakra I had felt on the crow, the chakra from the Sharingan, a chakra I would have never felt if I hadn't had Ino's sensing abilities. That man exuded Uchiha chakra. That man probably hid a Sharingan under his bandaged eye. I felt like barfing. How dare he! How dare he touch one of my clansmen!

And how dare the Hokage use such a pitiful trick to ensure my loyalty?

"Hello Uchiha Yanagi. My name is Shimura Danzô." He greeted her, interrupting my reflexion.

Ino-San got out of the water, my wet hair sticking on my shoulders (should I trim them or keep them in a tight bun again?). I felt the danger on this situation, and I had to grip the branch I was hiding on so I wouldn't step before the girl. I wouldn't know if that Danzô was really as dangerous as I had been told. I had had no way to prove that my Yamanaka therapist really had blocked some of my memories on his orders. I had no way to prove he had been the one to send me to the Chuunin exam next December. But I knew, I did know he hid a Sharingan under his bandaged eye, the Sharingan of someone I had known. Itachi-Sama had the other eye. What was underneath all this?

He looked like a cripple with his bandaged arm and bandaged eye and his walking stick. He was hiding well enough. Even without my Sharingan, I noted the precision of his moves. He was strong, awfully strong. I wondered if the one tricking my cousin was that shady old man. Something told me he was.

I couldn't miss the flinch in Ino-San when she immediately reached the other bank of the river and bowed to the man. She was probably embarrassed by the position the man had found her in. I'd understand her fully: the man had the very same stern face Uchiha Fugaku-Sama had.

"Danzô-Sama." She answered, flushing a little.

"We never met before, please be assured that I apologize for this situation."

"It's not an inconvenience, Danzô-Sama."

"I trust you are a very dedicated member of the Uchiha clan. I am very sorry for your loss."

I almost scoffed at that. Don't tell me such blatant lies with a transplant from my clan. The only authorized transplant had been Kakashi-San's, and from what I had gathered about the man, it had only been approved because it had been a time of war, and the man had been teammate with one of the rare member of our clan working outside the Police Station.

"I accept your sympathies, Danzô-Sama." Ino-San said before her eyes flickered lightly towards my team. "However I cannot lose any more time on my training."

I found myself impressed with her body language and the way she talked. It was me, it was totally me. I felt the same churn in my stomach I had felt when Itachi-Sama had shown me that girl who could have been me. And that man had been able to play my genius of a cousin. I couldn't say if I should be glad such a man considered me as a tool and not as a hindrance.

"If you would grand me a few minutes of your time, Yanagi-San, I think you would never stop losing your time anymore."

She looked up, her interest spiked. That expression on my face was unsettling. My deep dark eyes were gleaming with a peculiar light, her lips were slightly tightened, her chin up in a stubborn move. She wanted to hear what he was saying. As if I would have been interested by such an opportunity. I loved my life as it was, and someday I'll be able to get the answers I wanted. So why was she accepting something on my behalf? Did she saw an ambition in me I wasn't aware of?

"I think the reason you're losing your time in training isn't the training itself, you are working really hard. No, what slows you are your teammates."

"But, Lee-San and Neji-San are really good. I like my own team."

She… was awfully right. I don't think I'd have phrased it that way, but the idea was there. I wanted to stay with these odd teammates of mine. I had this strange like/dislike relationship with Neji-San who was at times an incredible training partner, and at other times an insensible jerk who got on my nerves. And Lee-San amused me, he pumped me up with all his energy, keeping me on my toes and my body in shape. This team was a team of hard workers, we all picked different tricks up to show the others. It may be odd to have teammates and a Sensei specialized in Taijutsu, when I was better in Ninjutsu and Genjutsu, but it balanced me. I had gotten so much better in my body.

Well in my actual body, I felt horribly slow and feeble with Ino-San's muscles.

"Their level is adequate for Genin, but we both know you are better than that. Most of your family members earned a promotion at your age, some more than one. I personally think you are of that kind, Yanagi-San."

"I don't understand what you are implying sir."

"The Council decides who is promoted, and who isn't. Despite your abilities, you haven't been chosen, because the Hokage refused it. He seems to think that you are a dangerous element."

What, me? A dangerous element? In what sense? I mean, right, I was a bit on the crazy side but I got better. I got even better since Itachi-Sama "healed" me. I still don't know what caused all these Sharingan ripples in my mind, but I hadn't any nightmare nor chakra block in my mind. Even the dreams about my past had disappeared. I had yet to try my Mangekyô Sharingan in my actual body, and find most of my feelings back (but that would probably wait other meetings with Itachi-Sama). All in all, I was doing great.

Plus, lots of ninja had mental issues. I had talked to Yamanaka Chieko-San who worked at the Hospital, and she had hinted that all of the things we were forced to do in a mission had an impact on us. Sometimes the symptoms appeared right away, sometimes they appeared later, sometimes it made you sick. In the end, the mind-doctors had to get us back to our feet and make us mission-ready. A lot of ninja had issues. A lot. Well It was only logical. If we were asked to retrieve lost cats and pick up garbage at first, then we had to battle bandits to pick up some stolen treasures, next time we would become the thieves and infiltrate a place crawling with enemies, and the time after it would be to slit the throat of some troublesome noble, then after to battle ninjas of another country, and after, and after, and after…

We were told in the Academy that we would become the hidden heroes of our countries. In the end we were just blunt weapon being sharpened. We were used until we broke, so they repaired us and send us away again in an infinite circle of violence.

And in this world, some criminals dreamed of peace. That was so ironical.

And in this world, girls like myself were considered as dangerous elements by the leader of their village. Now I understood so well why this Danzo-Sama was dangerous. Had I not sensed the Sharingan under his bandages, I would have drunk his words to the very end.

"I represent a certain group of people in Konoha who thinks that you deserve to become a Chuunin. However, this implies leaving your current team."

"But the Hokage, won't he oppose that decision?" she noted.

Good thinking, she didn't ask him about the fact the Hokage apparently decided I was a dangerous element. Even though she didn't carry the same doubts I did with all this story, she knew where to look for. I don't think I'd have been as aware of my situation had I been in my own body. I think the Hokage had anticipated that.

The Hokage didn't want me to work for Danzô, and that Danzô bloke was trying to tempt me by power.

"Don't worry child, the Hokage won't be a problem. He'd understand your need to move on."

Child? Child? It had been a long time since I had been called that way. I frowned intensely, before understanding why that name bothered me so much. I had never been treated like a child before, except by my step family who only wanted fame from me. My eyes widened. That was it! Once again I had become a valuable child to bring fame to others. That is why he said it was "my need" to move on, as if it had come from me all along.

"You would fight the Hokage for me? I am afraid I don't understand sir; I am of no importance."

"You are from an ancient clan of the Village, it would be a shame to keep you lock within these walls because you might represent a danger, considering what happened to your clan."

"What happened to my clan, sir?"

Of course, Ino-San wouldn't know the details. But the tone she had asked that question sounded like an attack. What was the version of that man? I would be curious to know.

"Yanagi-San, I am aware of your morning prayers at the cemetery, as well as your visits to your old compound grounds. You are not the only one who suffered from the loss of a parent. But you won't improve if you don't take the death of your clansmen for granted."

"I still fail to understand your point sir." She said. "It is true a lot of other people died in the village, but that doesn't make me a liability."

I saw the slight flinch she made, but Danzô didn't move. I too would have frowned at his word. It didn't explain why I wasn't considered as a "dangerous" element. First, if I really was that dangerous, that Danzô fellow would have ordered my death, seeing how he was respecting the Hokage's orders. Second, if all the people who had suffered from the death of their clansmen had been considered as dangerous people, most of the village would be forbidden to leave. Plus, I doubted there was anyone in this village who had lost as many as I did, except Sasuke; even though the number didn't count in grief.

Danzô didn't pause, but his tone slightly changed. He wasn't as condescending as before. He hadn't thought the girl before him would think that deeply. Given what he must have learned from me in my scholar results and mission reports, I don't understand what made him think I wasn't smart enough to see such a blatant try of manipulation.

Right, maybe because I would have been manipulated if I hadn't been in Ino-San's body, which means I would never have met Itachi-Sama the other night (or in drastically different situation). Which would have meant I would have been thinking much more about the night I had nearly died, and been distracted enough not to pay attention to all his word. And I would never have known that he hid a Sharingan underneath if I hadn't been in a body with good sensing abilities.

"It does, Yanagi-San. These bonds you still have to these dead clansmen are meaningless relationship. A good ninja should always discern which bonds to keep, which bond to severe, and which bond never to form. Just like your actual teammates, the people you mourn are holding you back."

"You think this is what makes me dangerous in the eyes of the Hokage. Furthermore, I don't like the idea of comparing my teammates with deceased ninjas."

Ino-San's tone was hard. She was getting stressed. This was bad. Sooner or later she would say something wrong and our cover would be blown.

"My apologies, Yanagi-San, my aim was to widen your field of view." He said. "I understand young people such as yourself aren't able to see the world like I do. But I can teach you. I believe there are several things you can learn from me. Itachi-San had been one of my protégé, after all."

Ino-San's eyes widened. Of course she would have known my cousin, at least by name. He had been one of the most famous young ninja in the entire village. So that man had trained my cousin. So their relationship was deeper than I thought. If that was so, why did he send my cousin on a wild goose chase by using a fake me? What was the reason? Was it linked to the pair of Sharingan they both possessed? I couldn't tell.

"Itachi-Sama was?" Ino-San exclaimed.

I gritted my teeth. As much as I enjoyed being a spectator of this extraction of information, I didn't want to get Ino-San too involved in this. She was very capable to go and find the information she wanted. Maybe even to ask Sasuke. I couldn't anticipate what she would be able to do with these information, nor what the Yamanaka clan would be able to.

Hopefully, my savior was none other than Gai-Sensei.

"Pardon my intrusion, Danzô-Sama, but my student needs to get back to training."

"I shall give her back to you, Gai-San. Yanagi-San, we will meet again to discuss your perspectives of future."

He went away. The two boys in uniform moved silently behind him. Gai-Sensei's eyes immediately focused on them and he tensed. Immediately after he was scanning the branches around to find my hiding spot, apparently aware of the fact that I was following his student.

"I don't mind a supplementary student from time to time, but you should return to the Academy instead of skipping classes." he said.

I jumped down the tree, cushioning the fall with chakra. The grass rustled under my feet as I landed. I frowned. I shouldn't have made any sound. I wouldn't have, had I been in my body. Ino-San made a jerky move, unaware of my presence.

"I wish I could see such a dedication the next time we train together." Gai-Sensei casually remarked.

I looked at him, slightly frowning.

"I have always wondered where your limits were. You always come to the team training after three hours of self-training. When we were on a mission, you never broke a sweat. Of course I'd never have sent any of you in a mission too hard for you, but I wondered."

"Yet, Neji-San can beat me easily, and so can Lee-San." I remarked.

"He could at first, but that's because Taijutsu isn't your speciality. You never used any of your jutsu, or mild ones, on any of your teammates, and you've never used really strong Genjutsu against any of them. And you've restrained the use of your Sharingan as soon as I asked you."

"They never went too hard on me either." I said. "They're always hitting each other so hard, but never me. So why should I?"

"We're hitting the heart of the problem, Yanagi. You never had to give too much effort, because there never was any hard mission. In that I understand why people think you should advance in rank, while others wonder about my sanity."

I raised a brow. He was talking about sanity? That Sensei that was always howling about youthness and whatever? He only adressed me a shining smile in answer.

"All in all, I just wanted to tell you that we're having our last mission together as Team 9 as soon as you're ready."

I looked at the frail body of Ino-San, her long silky hair, her sensing abilities…

"I'm gonna miss that." I said.

"Yeah, me too." She said.

We looked at each other. She laughed. I managed a slight smirk. Both Gai-Sensei and her made faces at that. What? I was trying to get better at smiling and all…

"By the way, why were you stalking me all week? You're the one who had the highest chance to make me look like a freak!" Ino-San said.

"I don't really know, I sent a clone all the week and nobody asked questions. I said everyone I was feeling bad because of my new diet, and they bought it. You closest friends all know I wasn't you. I must say Shikamaru-San and Sakura-San are very interesting people."

"What? But they're so boring!"

"They're your friends. Friends are important, don't you think?"

I turned to my teammates and Tenten that had come closer.

"I think I heard wrong." The girl said. "Did you just admit you had friend?"

"And that we were part of them?" Neji-San added.

"Yosh! To celebrate I will make a hundred push-ups! And if I can't make them…"

I turned to Ino-San.

"Should we go home? Your father shouldn't be long, right?"

"Let's go."

I started walking, but slightly slowly. I knew this kind of tease would immediately make Tenten react. I never thought of teasing her intentionnaly before, but I knew her tricks. Actually that very idea of teasing her was amusing me. Gai-Sensei were watching us with a fond smile. Yet, Neji-San's hand reached my shoulder slighly faster than Tenten's. They forced me to spin and face us. I blinked, making doe-like eyes, as if I had been innocent all along.

Neji-San hadn't retracted his hands, when Tenten had. I cocked my head on the side, while gently taking his hand away from me.

"What do you think you're doing?" I asked, slightly scowling.

"Oh, Neji-Senpai! You can do whatever you want to my body!" Ino-San said.

"Not with me inside!" I complained.

"So it's okay when you get back to your body?" Tenten remarked.

"No!"

I felt like I was in the middle of a game I didn't understand. Like everyone knew the rules and made fun of me because I didn't. Quite like when I played shogi against Shikamaru-San the other day. He always beated me at that game. That kid was frightening.

"I'm sorry Neji, I don't think you have any chances with Yanagi."

"Chances of what?" I asked.

"I think she's just super ignorant on the subject." Ino-San said.

"What subject?" I asked.

"You never thought of going out with a boy, don't you?" she asked.

"Going out? As if we were in the same building and we go outside together?"

Ino-San looked at Neji-San whie sighing, Neji-San was looking intensely at me, Tenten facepalmed, Lee-San was making push-ups and Gai-Sensei was trying very hard not to laugh.

"What?" I asked. "Did I say something wrong?"

"We'll explain that to you later." Ino-San said. "You have a lot to learn."

"Cool, I like learning." I said.

"In that case I'm not sure you'll like that." Tenten said, right before Neji-San glared at her.

"Didn't you say we should see if my father was there?" Ino-San said.

I shrugged.

"Sure! Bye guys!"

We went away. I had a lot of questions in my head. Going out with a boy? Did she meant Neji-San? But we were already in the outside, so what did she meant? It was probably another of those jokes I couldn't understand. Well I didn't have much sense of humour so…

We were curiously silent as we walked back to the Yamanaka compound. I looked at my body. Of course I longed to get back inside of it, but… It was very strange to be locked inside someone else's body. I got somehow used to it, and I was still amazed by what I could and what I couldn't do in it. I looked at Ino-San in my body. I looked… softer. I was taller than the body I was in, with a V-shaped silhouette. She had bandaged my chest like I asked her to, yet not as tight as I would have done. There was a hint of my curves under the clothes she had chosen for me.

I had decided for a practical and sober outfit for her, which meant a kaki shirt with mesh and back shorts. Her skin was getting a soft tan I would never have in my own, her flesh curiosly warm. Because I was used to regulate my heat in all times, I always felt fresh in summer, chakra running in my paths. I had done it a bit in Ino-San's body, because it was a habit, but it felt weird and sluggish, alien. The way I walked was different as well, for we hadn't the same silhouette nor the same musles, sometimes I tripped, not understanding why a regular move was so strange to me.

Yet there was some moves that were inherent to her, like a remnant of her personnality. It was the gracious way I woud put silver-blonde strands out of my sight, or the way I automatically tiptoed instead of silently set my heels down and roll up my feet. In Ino-San's body I felt confident in my outer appearance. She was beautiful in everything she did. I think that went with her personnality.

I eyed my very own body. She wore a soft expression I didn't know my face could wear. I didn't know if it was because the corners of my mouth went slithly up, or because of the opening of my eyes (I always half-closed my eyes, in an attempt to protect my pupils). But she exhaled the same confidence that I felt in her body. She was at ease in my skin, allowing herself to sway her hips. I couldn't see the military way I had been educated by my clan, I found the remnants of the perfect bride my stepmother had unsucessfully pushed me to be when I was little. The cothes she was wearing were tighter than the loose shirts I usually wore, showing more of my white skin. It looked like glimmering porcelaine, quite like that Hyuuga princess in the Academy, not that sick chalk-like tone I had all the time. For the first time in forever, I thought I could indeed be a pretty girl if I wanted to.

Great, the infiltration and seduction mission might run smoother than I had thought then!

"What will happen after we go back in our bodies?" Ino-San asked suddenly.

I looked up at her. I hadn't noticed we already were back into the village.

"It seems obvious; we go back to our previous lives." I said.

"Yeah, well… It's just that it's the first time we've discussed so much. I really thought you were nothing but a bookish girl who was the cousin of Sasuke-Kun. But now that I know you, that I know more of your personality, your flaws and all…"

She looked away, just like I did when I was embarrassed. Her cheeks were slightly red, and she was balancing her weight from one feet to the other. I allowed myself another mocking smirk. I knew what she meant.

"We're really different, right? I also judged you too hastily, I think." I admitted coolly. "You're not as bad as I thought you were."

"Do you think we could…?"

"Be friends? Weren't we already?" I asked.

"You really think so?"

Her eyes… no my eyes were really shining, like dark deep onyxes. It felt weird.

"You seem really eager to have my acknowledgement" I remarked. "I hope this isn't about Sasuke. That would seem really weird, you know?"

"Well, I did have to live with your cousin. Even if I was pleased to cook for him at first, I think you spoil him too much. You're doing all the chore, plus that super hard training and all those clan stuff, by the way Tenten's parents gave me this ton of food because you gave them work, and Sasuke-Kun isn't even thanking you!"

"Oh yeah, it really surprised me to have your family members doing all the laundry and all. I felt like a little girl. It felt weird, I'm used to be considered as an independent person after all."

"I get what you mean. At first I forgot to do lots of stuff in your apartment, but it started to get messy, because Sasuke-Kun doesn't really care about that. Then he started complaining about the fridge being empty, but he immediately stopped when he remembered I wasn't you. I felt like he was ordering me around instead of warming up to me. I thought he was even meaner than he was in class."

I thought about the clone I had send to the Academy. I think Sasuke was glaring a lot at Ino-San, and lots of the fangirls were raging about that. But they didn't dare going against her, maybe because of how I had tried really hard to make her body mine.

"Sasuke has reasons not to befriend anyone."

"I think I got that." She said with an acid tone. "Yet, the way he treats you like you're his private maid. Given the way he reacted when I refused, especially after you and him fought each other, you let him do as he pleases, am I right? If you go away, he won't be able to live by himself. You're almost acting like a married couple!"

"I… I don't really talk about that."

"Not even with Tenten."

"She wouldn't understand."

"I think I can try to put myself in your place."

"Touché."

"So why are you giving him all he wants?"

I shrugged. I had started doing that in the beginning because Sasuke was catatonic, and there had to be one of us standing. It had to be me, because I could resist. Even though I had all these nightmares, I was strong. I could withstand all this pressure. I was strong enough. I could protect him, just like his brother had protected him.

"You know what bothers me the most in that?" she asked.

"What?"

"It's the ease with which you both accepted this situation. You both accepted that life. I know you're ready to accept the most suitable husband, even though you like being independent. It's like you want to be at your best when you can still be a ninja, until you fade and become that bland housewife. It's like both Sasuke and you are waiting to be wed. No wonder there are so much rumours about you being his fiancée."

I rolled my eyes. Me being engaged to Sasuke was nonsensical. Fugaku-Sama who owned the right to choose my suitor would have never given me to one of his sons, even though I was the only girl with Madara-Sama's blood in her veins. And now that there was only Sasuke and I left, marrying us to each other would only hasten the fall of our clan, like the Senju clan. Or I would have to make lots of children with the boy, and that very idea made me sick. The idea of a guy touching me didn't sit well with me either.

Weirdly enough, I hadn't felt much of the tingling, nor the hormones bath I had when I was in my own body. I was quite sure Ino-San wasn't menstruated yet. It was a relief; I think I'd have gone all the colours of the rainbow when Neji-San caught my shoulder earlier.

"I hope I won't have to marry him." I said after a moment of silence. "It would be very wrong."

"Did you know who you were supposed to…?"

"I think it was the boy in the family members I was adopted. At least that was what my stepmother seemed to want. I don't know what my clan head had decided."

There were other things going on at the time. I still had to unravel all these political intrigues. And after Brother died, nothing had been the same again.

"It's just sick! I mean, Papa would never try to do anything of that kind against my will!"

"That seems unlikely. I already have troubles to have my own point of view with your mother." a male voice said behind us.

Ino-San jumped, I turned around and was prepared to put my guard up. I had never met her father, Inoichi-San, but I had encountered Inomaru-San and one of the Elder, and I could see their close blood relation.

"Hello girls, I heard you had quite an adventure this week." The man coolly said.

"Papa!" Ino-San exclaimed.

"Yamanaka Inoichi-Sama." I greeted him. "I was told we needed your help with the merge."

His light blue eyes blasted through me. I was embarrassed. I almost spilled the beans about the secret mission and all. I gritted my teeth and clenched my fists. I shouldn't talk, even if my whole body shouted that I kept a secret. The man patted both our head. Ino-San looked away and I fidgeted.

"I hope you both learned a lot from this experience." He said. "Now if you would follow me to my office."

He led us inside the house and into the basement. In an armchair, I noticed an asleep Iruka-Sensei. I questioningly showed him with a move of my head.

"He was more observant than you thought, even though the clone you left attacked him with a discreet Genjutsu. I'll have Inomaru train you better in that field when you get into the T&I department."

"He told you about his job offer?"

"He send me a very long letter of praise; you know?"

I fidgeted before stopping myself. This physical attitude was all Ino-San's. I couldn't help looking away and blush.

We sat on the tatami. Ino-San and I closed my eyes. Her father put his hand on our brows, his smooth voice asking us to relax. I tensed when his chakra entered my chakra streams, enveloping my mind with a coat of energy. At a moment I felt like Ino-San and I were one person. The world was spinning, and I felt so vulnerable, despite the tight grip of Inoichi-San. Yet, I felt so free, not hindered by this body, free to fly wherever I wanted.

And then I felt I was breathing again, but with that dull feeling in my left side. I felt all this mix of hormones and feelings I had felt for so long. I felt grateful. I may have a defective lung, but it was mine. I may have seaweed-like hair, but it was mine. I may be a training freak, a bookworm, but it was me. I opened my eyes and spun my Sharingan. I had missed the feeling of it. The sight of Ino-San in front of me was incredible.

Then I realized that I still could sense her. Not as precisely as when I was in her, but still better than whatever I could have done before. Didn't the elder said we would be keeping stuff from the exchange? I felt

"Uh… Senpai? How do you turn that off?"

Ino-San's skin was red and her clothes were starting to smoke. Woops! Another troubling child to taught Katon Jutsu then!


Minamicchi: thanks for your concern about Yanagi not being in her own body. Don't worry she shoudn't be switching again... Maybe...

RadioPoisoning: Yanagi won't be at 100% but she'll start thinking a lot before kicking major asses. As for her Mangekyô Sharingan, it would be too easy to five it to her yet. Especially when she's never using all her resources (basically she's always thinking something bad might come up, so she keeps some tricks)

Girl-luvs-manga: Yes, Yanagi did thought Itachi came for her and not for Sasuke and thought it was weird. But first, she is persuaded lots of things are revolving around her and sometimes don't think further than that. Second Itachi doesn't want to see his brother because he knows the next time they see each other there will be a dead. And third: Itachi had been led to believe that Yanagi was alive, only to see that she was in the village living with his brother, which made it look like there was another fake living with Sasuke.

See you next chapter!