Just to let you guys know there WILL be SasuIno, Nejiten and maybe a little Naruhina. Sorry for Sakura-fans but she will not be showing up frequently.

In my story, following the episode where Rookie 9, Lee and Neji help Gaara, Ino has in fact trained under Tsunade just like Sakura. Once again, ideas are always welcomed! Also, please note that the story will start off very slow.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

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His foot left a branch only to land on another. Each step he took brought him closer and closer to the place he had struggled to leave. Orochimaru stood in the middle of the arc they had formed to surround Kohona. Surprisingly enough, Akatsuki had decided to join them in this war. Though they had only sent Itachi and Kisame. It had been an odd day for Sasuke, walking down the corridors of their hideout only to come face to face with his brother. His first reaction was shock, then anger. He felt chakra rush to his arm, his hands moving into the familiar stance of the Chidori, but a sickenly sweet voice stopped him. 'Sasuke-kun, don't scare our guests now. Go back to your quaters.' He never did find out why Akatsuki had joined forces with them, but Sasuke suspected it had something to do with Naruto and the Kyuubi.

Thicker than Blood

Chapter I

'Sasuke-teme! You're mine!' Naruto lept off from his place and the battle began. All civilians and newly appointed genin cells had left for Suna after movements from Sound was detected. Shinobi and Kunoichi alike trained and pushed themselves well past their limits, and now, it was time to show everyone just how much they grew. The day they had long ago saw coming has arrived, and they were ready. They had to be.

Battle cries errupted. The sound of metal against metal, steel against flesh and explosive tags filled the air. Weapons soared through the air swiftly killing off most of the enemies closest to Kohona but none of the ally nins. Ino glanced over at Team Gai. She felt sorry for TenTen sometimes. Having to deal with an overly energetic Gai-Sensei, an exact duplicate (from the hair, to the eye brows, to the jumpsuit, Ino thought they were related), and an anti-social Neji (she never really understood exactly what TenTen likes about him), it would've droven any lesser person insane. But they pulled through everything life - or as the old Neji would've put it, fate - threw at them. As TenTen started her descent from using Soushouryu, Ino saw Neji automatically moving closer to TenTen, ready to protect her in her time of vulernablity. This reminded Ino thought of the many times TenTen almost sacrificed her life in order to protect Neji's blindspot. Their team work, and the fact that they would willingly lay down their lives for the other was something Ino could never hope for - because she was Ino, no genius like Shikamaru, and no adorable food-lover like Chouji. She was just a Kuniouchi, a flowergirl, anyone could replace her...- and she was jealous.

After landing another swift kick at an enemy's groin, her eyes found Sakura mercilessly punching men out. To some extent, Ino admired the girl. After all that happened from Sasuke's betrayal, to Tsunade agreeing to train her, to the war she had never given up hope that Sasuke would come back for her. Even after all he put her through, after all the things he said to her, did to her, he still had her undivided love, she still believed that he loved her that he had put her on the bench that night becaues he cared. Ino deserately wanted to yell at her, hit her, anything to make her realize that Sasuke wasn't going to come back for her, that he wasn't the one who put her on the bench, she was. Ino wanted to tell her that if he did come back, it wouldn't be for her. Ino no longer believed he would come back for herself either.

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'Sasuke-teme! You can still turn back. Come fight alongside with Kohona. Orochimaru's just wants your body, don't you know that?' Sasuke was hit by a wave of deja-vu, hadn't someone, many years ago, told him the same thing? 'Kohona will always welcome you. You can still turn back Sasuke. It's not too late' They had decided to take their battle somewhere in the Forest of Death. Sasuke thought it fitting, since that was when everything began, it should end here as well.

'I didn't come here to talk, Naruto I had already told you once, I'm different than you guys. I have gone too far to turn back now. I need power, and Orochimaru can give me that. Afterall, all I need to do now is kill you and I will possess the Mangekyou Sharingan. Then, I can defeat Itachi.' Black started to flow onto his skin, almost like ink spreading. He could feel the power pulsing through his veins.

'Kage bunshin no jutsu!' Sasuke couldn't help but hide a smirk. If Naruto thought he could fool him with such a mediocre trick, then Sasuke would have to do something about that.

'Katon: Housenka no Jutsu!' Small balls of flame shot from Sasuke's mouth successfully hitting Naruto and his bunshins. Waiting for the smoke to clear up, Sasuke stood still, listening for any indictation as to whether or not Naruto had stood up, but he didn't. Once Sasuke could see again, he was surprised to find Naruto gone. Had they all been bunshins? He had no time to contemplate on that matter though, something was coming down. Naruto missed by a hair's length.

'I see you've improved, Dobe, but you're not the only one that trained with a Sannin and you'll have to do better than that if you want to live.'

Naruto growled at Sasuke. 'I'll show just how much stronger I've gotten!'

'Rasengan!'

'Chidori!'

Both men charged at each other, and this time, Kakashi wasn't there to stop them.

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'I see time has been kind to you, Tsunade. Still as strong as ever I see.' Dodging another chakra enhanced kick, Orochimaru prepared to summon more of his snakes. He knew that chances of him losing this war was slim. All he had to do now was get rid of Jiraiya and Tsunade, he trusted Itachi and Kisame would get Naruto soon. Then, he would be named Hokage. He would show Sarutobi that he was capable of being Hokage. He would show what he was capable of doing to Kohona and make him regret ever discouraging him.

'This ends here Orochimaru!'

Simultaneously, three sets of hand seals were made, and together, they all bit their thumbs to draw blood.

'Kuchiyose no jutsu!'

They never had been good at togetherness, maybe somewhere up there, Sarutobi would be proud.

TBC