Hello out there. Yes, I decided to rewrite Innocent. Yes, I'm a fool, but that's not the point. On with the show!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Chapter 2: Forever Alive, Forever Gone
"There's the demon boy! Get him!" The mob was closing in on a frail looking Naruto. He was crying and curling up into a tight back. The wish on his lips. The wish for someone, anyone, to rescue him. He waited for the blows with his eyes squeezed tight, but they never came. A shadow fell over his body, and it didn't seem hostile. Naruto opened his eyes and saw an unmasked ANBU standing before him. He was addressing the mob with a stern face and an official scroll.
"Anyone who touches this child shall be punished by the Uchiha clan," the ANBU said. His dark eyes spoke of red and danger. Naruto scrambled to his feet and hid behind this ANBU. He felt safe with this teenager. The mob dissipated because nobody wanted the Uchiha clan's wrath. "Hello, little one. My name is Itachi. I'm going to be taking care of you." The ANBU smiled at Naruto. Naruto never felt happier that someone smiled at him. He smiled back.
Ino groaned as she woke up from her nightmares. She looked at the clock beside her bed and felt slightly nauseated. It was three in the morning, and Ino knew her nightmares were just going to continue. Naruto's memories refused to go away ever since his suicide. Everyone took that hard. Ino rolled over in her bed and looked out the window. The moon casted pale light into her apartment as she drifted into thought about the memories. He lived a painful life, and she only just reached the time of Itachi.
"Why would people be so cruel?" Ino muttered to herself. She gave up on sleep and went to take a shower. In a few hours, she'd be at Naruto's funeral. She would, like everyone else, come to the fact that Naruto was actually dead. Ino was just surprised the blonde lasted so long. "Naruto, why didn't you give up?" Nobody answered from the shadows. Ino didn't care. She jumped under the warm spray of water and wondered about Naruto's life. He really was a good man and a hero of the ages. As Ino slipped into her shoes, she silently hoped that once Naruto was put to rest, his memories would be too. The blonde interrogator got up and walked out to say goodbye to a great man. She couldn't bring herself to wear his favorite jacket as a tribute. It hung on the back of its chair like it was suppose to.
INNOCENT
Even though she lived in horror, Ino thought funerals were the worst kind. Not many people would dare to go to Naruto's funeral. Kakashi was in the front, holding a haggard Sakura together. Kurenai stood with her students and child. She didn't know Naruto well, but she was like family to Hinata, who needed someone there to support her as she bawled. Gai and Lee were crying loudly while Tenten and Neji silently mourned. Temari and Kankuro stood near Choji next to Ino. There was a boy, maybe thirteen, in the back with his mother and an elderly man. The kid just wouldn't stop crying. Iruka, Anko, Ibiki, Shikamaru, Gaara, and Choji carried the casket. Even they looked worse for wear. Ino pitied the schoolteacher as he lost his brother.
"Today, we say goodbye to a hero," Tsunade began. Ino tried to listen, but her mind wandered to Naruto's memories. She got up like a robot when it was time to say goodbye. Something stopped her from joining the line right away like she normally would. He couldn't be dead. Uzumaki Naruto couldn't die. He was supposed to come back and get his stupid jacket that clashed horribly with everything except black. Ino was the last one to go. She took the white flower and couldn't let it go. It took everything inside her to get her to drop the white flower onto the casket. She turned away to see Kakashi and Tsunade looking sad before her. "Ino, it'll get better." Ino didn't believe her.
The funeral ended quickly because Tsunade wanted to keep the citizens calm. Ino was again the last to leave. She sat in her seat and looked up at the memorial someone built. She didn't notice it before, but Naruto's picture was just an old file photo. He was smiling and looked like nothing could hurt him. Tsunade walked over and sat next to her. She was holding Naruto's hitai-ate and just stared at the worn symbol. Most shinobi get new ones once the symbol fades.
"Here, he willed this to you. This and a jacket that you apparently have," Tsunade said. She gave Ino the hitai-ate and patted the young blonde on the back. "One day, you'll see. The pain stops, and you can think clearly of him. You'll stop wondering about what could've been." Ino didn't know why Tsunade was telling her this. "I know how terrible it feels to lose the man you love." Ino couldn't speak as she sat there and cried. Tsunade just sat there as a form of silent comfort.
INNOCENT
"Ino, are you okay?" Sakura asked as she came to the cemetery. It brought Ino back to where Naruto was alive and giving her a stupid jacket for the cold. Ino wiped the tears away. "You look terrible." It wasn't a mocking tone. It was only concern. Ino didn't know what to say. Forehead had no idea of what went on between Naruto and herself. She looked at the blonde man's headstone and wanted to smile. He wasn't in pain anymore. "Ino, did you clean the stone off?" Sakura sat next to Ino and waited. She was patient for Ino's sake.
"Yes, I didn't want his gravestone to look bad. He was a good man," Ino muttered. Sakura looked at Ino. The bags under her eyes were darker, and there wasn't any happiness in the blue eyes. The black and orange jacket Ino was wearing hurt to see, but Sakura understood it was for Ino's remembrance. Ino stared at the carved name as she thought of Naruto's memories. They weren't going away. "I miss him, Sakura. I don't want to do anything anymore. Maybe I should talk to somebody." Ino was gone. She was deep in her mind, where Naruto was happiest. Sakura didn't know how to help. Eventually, Ino stood up and silently left the cemetery. Sakura didn't follow because she could never reach Ino.
Ino stood on the street outside her apartment as it slowly began to rain. She wanted to laugh at the irony about it. The cold water reached her soul through the many layers guarding it. It wasn't enough to wash her clean. It was just able to stop the aching. Ino closed her eyes as she breathed in the clean air. She was taken into a Naruto memory of the day the jacket became hers. She remembered the rain, his voice, and his smile. She remembered the cold and the warmth of his being.
"Ino?" a voice said. The blonde interrogator jumped and looked at her teammate. Shikamaru looked concerned and stepped closer. "How are you holding up?" Ino felt angry. She didn't want to tell him anything. It wasn't his business to deal with her. "I heard from Sakura that you weren't dealing with Naruto's death very well." Forehead sold her out. Ino should've known. She frowned at the shadow user and wanted to stamp her feet.
"I'm doing just fine. What does she know?" Ino shouted. She turned and walked into the apartment building. She wasn't going to stand in the cleansing rain when it was tainted by bad feelings. Ino took the stairs two at a time and rushed like she was running from a terrible past. She snuck into her apartment and locked the door behind her. It was there that she sat against the wooden barrier and thought of Naruto again. She wasn't in his memories. She was thinking of her own memories of Naruto. Funny, she had only good times with Naruto. It never mattered how annoying he was. Ino was always happy when she was with Naruto. It was something that just was.
INNOCENT
Everyday seemed to get worse. Ino spent many hours in a stuffy room describing Naruto's imprisonment and the tragic Uchiha battle. Ibiki and Tsunade already declared Naruto innocent, but there was something bothering them. She was questioned everyday on every aspect of Naruto. At night, Naruto's memories flowed through her mind. She passed through his childhood and made it to the Valley of the End. Every wound was seared into her own memories. She would wake up, sweating and crying. The emotional pain was the worst part.
Only Choji and Shikamaru dared to come to her house. She looked terrible each time. Two weeks passed Ino by as she lived within Naruto's memories, her own terror, and a stuffy room with Ibiki and Tsunade. Choji visited her more than Shikamaru, who was busy with Kurenai. He would sometimes just sit there in silence as Ino didn't move off the couch. She was in so much pain. It hurt to see Shikamaru and Choji sitting on her chairs, trying to fix what was wrong.
"Ino, do you want to come with us to see Aki?" Choji asked quietly. Aki, the only kid of Asuma and Kurenai, was loved by many people. Ino couldn't remember Naruto ever getting close to the baby. She had seen the memory of him being beaten for even looking at Aki. Suddenly, she wanted to block Naruto from her mind. "Ino? You okay?" Ino looked over at her teammates. Shikamaru was brought back to a prison cell with a blonde man who decided life was too hard. The stare didn't belong on Ino. "If you don't want to go, you just have to say so." Like an actor, Ino snapped into a happier look.
"Sorry, guys, I've got some things to take care of. Tell them I said hi," Ino said with her voice far away. She just looked at them with that happiness. It worried them because Naruto's mind was a burden that never left her go. Shikamaru regretted getting Tsunade to let Ino do the interrogating. "If you two don't mind, I need to get going. Stuff to get done." Ino got up nervously and took off. Shikamaru and Choji realized she didn't seem to notice it was her place.
"Something is definitely off with Ino. I'm following her," Shikamaru said. He walked out with Choji loyally following him. Kurenai and Aki would just have to wait for them. Tracking wasn't a strong suit for them as they watched Ino weave through the crowds like a ghost while they got stuck. It was Market Day, and merchants from all around came to sell their goods for special prices. It didn't take long for Ino to disappear. Shikamaru and Choji were lost in the sea of people and hoping to whatever god there was that Ino didn't go off to hurt herself.
Ino had found her way into an old Christian church. It was for weddings (like shinobi cared) and for civilians. Normally, shinobi had no use to follow the teachings this church offered. Konoha had many different churches for the different religions, but shinobi weren't seen attending. God didn't like those who kill others. It didn't matter to Ino though because she felt like this was the place to hide out in. Her shadows didn't follow because they wouldn't think to look in a church. Ino walked down to the altar and looked up at a giant wooden cross. Why was this place so important? A memory flashed before her eyes of Naruto, as a child, finding refuge beneath the cross and had a bit of a religious part to him. It was his choice to believe in a god, and Ino wasn't going to speak against it.
"What is missing? It feels like something big is gone," Ino said to the wooden object. She almost laughed out loud about talking to an inanimate object. She didn't believe in God because her father told her God didn't love murders. Ino sat down on one of the benches and kept watching the cross. Why was it important to this church? The answer was in the back of her mind. A man had died upon one similar for everyone's sins. Why would someone do such a thing? He loved everyone and accepted his fate to save. Ino smiled, thinking how similar an attitude that man and Naruto had. They saved because they loved. Ino drifted into sleep as she relaxed in the bench. Her dream wasn't of Naruto's memories.
Ino was in a forest, but she recognized it as the forest that was right outside Konoha. Konoha wasn't there; it wasn't in existence yet. Just an idea in a man's head. Everything about this place felt strange but familiar to Ino. She yawned and stepped out of the tent. A man was sitting by a fire, cooking some fish. His shirt was gone because it was very humid. Ino felt unwavering care about this man, whose face was shadowed until he looked at her. Naruto smiled at her. Everything about him was the same, right down to the whiskers. Something fluttered through her body.
"Ino, darling, we're going to be meeting up with Hashirama and his brother, Tobirama, about their idea for a village. Konohagakure is what I think he called it. I'm not entirely sure. We'll finally be able to stop traveling and settle down. It's exciting!" Naruto said, grinning. He looked back at the fish to make sure they were cooked. "Hungry? I bet you are!" Something in the bottom of Ino's stomach caused her to feel more nauseated versus hungry. Something was bad to happen. As Naruto passed her a fish on a stick, a man walked out of the trees. Something told Ino it was an Uchiha, but the dark hair and eyes confirmed it. He looked a lot like Sasuke, but he was dressed in blood red armor.
"Hello, Madara," Naruto said. His voice was strained to be polite. "It's been awhile. I'm still siding with the Senju clan. Nothing will convince me otherwise." Madara nodded and disappeared out of thin air. Ino was sure he didn't exist. "What the hell?" A minute later, Madara reappeared as the tent behind Ino went up into flames. Something was screaming inside. "The baby!" Naruto ran into the fire and pulled out a burning, screaming bundle. Ino reacted out of shock and brought their bucket of water. Naruto put the baby in the water, but Ino knew the child was dead. Something broke in her heart. She wanted to bawl. "Ino, stay back. I'll avenge Taro. Don't you worry." Ino didn't realize she was crying until them. What was going on? It was too late though. Naruto charged with just a fishing spear to kill the powerful shinobi. Ino watched in horror as Naruto attempted to kill Madara, but he was just too fast. He finished off Naruto in an instant. Ino couldn't keep her silence any longer.
"Naruto!" Ino screamed as he fell. Madara's eyes turned to look at her. The sharingan spun and kept her in place as she was terrified to move. As soon as the sword was to hit her, Ino blacked out.
She shot up and off the beach, covered in a cold sweat. The dream felt so real, too real to be just a dormant memory. She caught her breath and sat back on the bench. Ino looked around to see if the caretaker came by or not. The only other person sat on her bench. His brown hair looked messy, and his white clothes were pure and seemed to glow. He smiled at her, and Ino had an odd feeling that he knew everything about her and this situation. She just smiled back.
"That, Ino, was the last memory of your fourth reincarnation," the man said softly. Ino didn't move. "You and Naruto were supposed to come to Konoha with your son, Taro, and assist the First in the building of the village. The devil worked against me in Madara and killed you and Naruto." The anger in the man's tone at the end scared her. "This is the fifth reincarnation. Out of the five, you've only fallen for Naruto four times. This carnation's mindset worried me." The man looked away and then back at her. "Do you love Naruto?" Ino was too confused to even ask what his name was or how he knew hers. She thought about his question. She had always pitied Naruto when they were kids, and when he gave her his jacket, they were connected. Friends wasn't right, and loved just didn't fit. What were they? Naruto's thoughts came to her. He was crushing on her those final days, and that's why he kissed her in the prison. This wasn't something she could just begin to understand. Naruto and her were connected, and she always felt that by some degree.
"We're connected," Ino said, stupidly. The man didn't judge, but he smiled. "I've always felt that, more so after he gave me his jacket." Ino hoped that the answer was good enough. On the other hand, this guy might find her utterly insane and leave her to her loneliness. It didn't matter anymore though because she was fine being insane.
"Would you like to save Naruto for the first time and fall in love all over again?" the strange man asked. Ino found herself just silently nodding and listening attentively. "You'll be taken back to the end of your mind jump in the prison. You see, once you left his room, he tied his ropes. You need to stop that, and keep him alive. No more reincarnations. You've reached your limit." Ino was confused about the limit and how she would save Naruto, but she just wanted to save him. "There will be people trying to stop you, but ignore them. They're the devil. Goodbye for now, Ino." The world went black.
FOREVER ALIVE, FOREVER GONE
How was that for a second chapter? Let me know what you think please. – Kyuubi