Anko walked into the room and closed the door behind her, looking at Tayuya as she sat on a chair by the small kitchen inside. Across from Tayuya was Yamanaka Ino, a young woman that Anko's only recollection of was an image of an exuberant, undedicated girl that put her efforts on crushes, clothes and hair before anything else. She knew of Ino because of her father, one of Konoha's authorities on information gathering, torture and interrogation, and also because of a few guest kunoichi classes that she taught during Ino's early academy days.

However, after seeing the obliteration of the Nonoko leader, along with his hired samurai mercenaries, and seeing the young woman as she was now Anko knew that the person who held value in frivolities was no longer standing before her. The woman's very gait was impressive: long strides with legs made for making them, hands steady and a perfectly curved spine, and hips that moved sultrily with no observable effort.

Ino's skin was only slightly tanned; not quite bronzed, not quite fair. Anko had trouble trying to find a spot on the young woman to focus on. Her eyes were perfectly polished malachite circles with the edges being darker than the center of her pupil-less irises. Now, her eyes seemed to be missing pupils, but in reality they were simply not black like everyone else's. Anko wondered to herself if Ino saw things differently than most people because of them.

Anko liked to imagine people in terms of the type of snake they would be if they were born as one. To her, Ino was much like the famous sidewinder of Suna in the Land of Wind; the sidewinder moved in a different way than others, as its name suggests, and though it may seem strange or perhaps exotic in the way it moves, its movements are remarkably efficient.

As Anko was taking in the shapely figure of her hips and her petit breasts, Ino spoke. Her eyes were looking out the window in the hotel room as she scanned the streets below for signs of the young blond shinobi.

"That was fast." Ino remarked, her greenish blue eyes lighting up like a fire from the underworld. She had full pouting lips that looked incredibly soft to the touch.

Tayuya's eyes were on Ino's left arm where she wore a bracer that was hooked to her middle finger by a ring to her wrist using a zipper and a series of hooks to keep it in place no matter what kind of movement she made with that arm. The top part of the bracer was made to look like purple snake scales, over a hundred tiny scales of blackened steel, each piece intricately set into the base on the arm. They were so small that Tayuya could barely tell that they were there. Her shinobi shin-guards she wore were similar in make but with even more pieces of armor woven into the material. Tayuya figured it was some type of leather, though she wasn't sure. The fact that she was missing a guard on her right arm didn't go unnoticed, but Tayuya's eyes quickly roamed over the purple top that she wore that showed her midriff, while her pants were low enough to show her well-toned belly and hips.

Anko nodded in agreement though Ino was still not looking at her. She said, "Yeah," and turned to look at Tayuya who still looked uneasy to have the blonde woman in their hotel room, noticing the way her eyes were hesitantly sizing her up, "I'm pretty good at it… I've been getting rid of bodies for a long time."

"How long will he be out?" she asked.

"He didn't say. He wasn't in his normal state of mind. He probably feels nervous because K-city is one of Orochimaru's cities."

Tayuya looked over at Anko and wondered just what the older woman knew about Orochimaru, and what her relationship with the man was… or is.

"I see… to think that he would have such a grasp on our very own capitol. It's a frightening feeling."

"Wait, couldn't you just make him strangle himself and he'd die?" asked Tayuya. "That way we wouldn't even have to fight him!"

Ino grabbed at her arm over the bracer as she continued to search the streets through the parting between the curtains. "I would gladly destroy him if I could… simply knowing him has left me with many-"

Ino paused for a second, eyeing the blond hair of the man who kissed her several years ago.

"He's back."

Anko stood up and walked to the bathroom, closing the door behind her while Tayuya's eyes followed her movements.

"Anyways, why can't you again? You have to be lying since you dealt with those guys back there so easily."

Ino turned to look at Tayuya and the red head flinched, her eyes dodging the blonde's carefully as she began to look down to the floor.

"You didn't notice? I suppose I should explain it… there was a reason why I took hold of that one man's henchmen first instead of simply going for him and sparing all of their lives. I can tell rather quickly when I can or cannot manipulate someone. I guess it's sort of from experience and a lot of practice… but anyways, the only other way I could've controlled him would've put me in a disadvantageous position. I had to clear out his guard to get in close enough to touch… once I'm that close it's no problem for me to take over someone… but even then there are limits."

Tayuya frowned, "Like?"

Ino shrugged, "Well, so far I've noticed that certain type of people can fight or even blatantly ignore my techniques if their will is strong enough. I have to assume that it has to do something with their chakra networks as well, but generally if a person is too strong to kill with a kunai, they're too strong to take over with my jutsu. Unless they're receptive to me in the first place… like someone that I love, or that loves me…"

Tayuya mauled that statement over in her head for a few minutes before letting it go, unsure of what she meant by saying 'love' instead of some other word. Odd, that she would so easily reveal the secrets to her jutsu.

"Those weren't secrets. My jutsu either work or they don't… no amount of preparation can deflect something you cannot see."

Tayuya shot up from her chair in shock, knocking it back as she looked at Ino and slowly came to realize that she may have mistakenly said her thoughts out loud.

Ino chuckled, turning back to the window to reflect on the life she lead as Naruto made his way up to his room.

The two young women waited patiently for Naruto to enter, but as a few minutes passed and the shower went on in the bathroom, Tayuya slowly made her way over to the remote control for the TV and turned it on just as a commercial for a local martial arts tournament aired on the channel that came on.

"So… Naruto has not once spoken about you. I am going to assume that Anko knows you though. But how can we trust you? What relationship do you have with Naruto?"

Ino nodded, turning around to sit on a chair beside the bed. She crossed her legs as she watched the television set on mute with Tayuya. The news reported about an international sensation; a competition between the strongest fighters, shinobi, samurai and other warriors alike, was taking place in Kumamoto. It would begin in three weeks and important visitors and delegates from around the world were visiting for the tournament. It was called the Kira Tonamento, or Killer Tournament, and prelims would begin two weeks from today.

"I am not sure about my relationship with Naruto… I am still trying to figure that one out, which is why I am here." Ino turned to look at Tayuya for a moment before turning back to the TV, saying "I wonder if this is something that Orochimaru has his hand in?"

"I wouldn't be surprised. It is a tournament that allows killing, something most martial arts tournaments wouldn't dare tread on for fear of diminishing their honor as a practice and an art."

The look on Ino's face soured as she watched a man knee another man in the skull, breaking his nose, before lunging down upon his fallen body and landing a crashing strike to his chest, finishing the fight. "Interesting how this world breeds monsters like him; it exalts violence and attrition of the human spirit by commending and even honoring the victors of these sorts of ruthless freak shows. There is enough killing in the world… and now this?"

"What is taking him so long?" Tayuya asked, exasperated by the Naruto's slow pace up to their room.

The shower turned off then and shortly after Anko stepped out of the bathroom. Ino turned to look at Anko as she walked out with her hair still wet, her body wrapped only in a towel, but she heard the door to the room opening and her eyes turned back to catch the surprise in Naruto's eyes as he stared back at her, mystified by the woman that was sitting only a short distance away.

"Ino."

Chapter 20: I Watched You Die

Naruto's heart was racing when he picked up the scent of blood coming from the hallway outside of the elevator on his floor. He wasn't sure how, because he couldn't see a speck of it anywhere, but the smell was so strong in his nose that he felt a little bit light-headed because of it. As he walked down the hall, heading to his room as the foreboding smell tampered with his sense of smell, he barely caught a whiff of a familiar scent that reminded him of flowers hidden within the smell so coppery that he could almost taste the blood.

"That couldn't be… what the hell just happened here?" Naruto broke into a run. When he arrived at his door, he gripped the handle with a shaky hand and opened the door.

"Ino." He muttered, flustered at the mere sight of her. With his tongue and throat so dry from his nerves, it didn't matter that he had no idea what to say other than call out her name. They spent so much time apart that the young woman that he saw before him barely resembled the frightened, but strong hearted girl that he knew; the first thing he noticed was that she had changed her hair somewhat, pulling part of it in front of her face to cover one eye. It was still tied in a pony-tail though, and her eyes were exactly the same. He stood upright as he noticed her eyes roaming over his body, taking in his changes just as he had hers. She still did not stand up. Her hands were resting on her knees and Naruto quickly noticed the bracer that she wore that resembled the scales of a snake and he immediately understood the symbolism.

He took a step forward while she watched him. Her lips parted slightly as she breathed, then closed as if sealing off her lungs. She didn't seem quite capable of breathing correctly. Not until he stood directly in front of her and she finally sighed, releasing the breath that she held as he walked.

"Naruto, what's that on your face?" she asked, her eyes avoiding his for a moment, making Tayuya's eyes widen significantly at the first notable sign that the woman had any nerves at all in her lithe body.

Ino gasped when Naruto grabbed her by her shoulders and pulled her into a firm hug. She felt a feeling of warmth grow within her and her forehead pressed into the nape of his neck as she wrapped her arms around his waist, her hands sliding up his back to rub in small circles.

Tayuya slumped in her chair while Anko removed her towel and pulled on a pair of black lace panties after summoning a backpack from a scroll. She pulled out her old coat and buttoned up before moving to grab Tayuya by the arm, "C'mon now. The two of them have some catching up to do. We should leave them alone. We can eat out tonight! What do ya say?"

The redhead blushed at the very thought of leaving the two alone in a hotel room. She glared at Ino, making it easily apparent to Anko that she was jealous of the beautiful blonde. She left with a huff, slamming the door before Anko could get out, making the older jonin open the door again and close it quietly this time to keep from disturbing the couple.

"You asshole." Ino said, finally breaking the silence between them. However, her actions betrayed her words as she still caressed him so fully and affectionately.

"I am." He agreed, still holding her firmly as if he were scared she would somehow escape his clutches. "I can't believe how long it's been."

"You could've at least sent me a letter."

"I couldn't face you after failing you like that… not even in writing."

"What are you talking about?"

Naruto shook his head, pressing his forehead into hers. "You almost killed yourself by using your mind-body-transfer. I could feel you slipping away, and I know that you can't possibly have been good enough at the time to hold onto the jutsu for as long as you had without damaging yourself… were there any side-effects from chakra poisoning?" Naruto asked, his hands reaching down to grasp hers.

She shook her head, "None… just this scar on my arm. It doesn't look too pretty."

Naruto nodded and grasped the arm where she was wearing the purple bracer. He held her hand out, supinated, and began unhooking the clasps before pulling down the zipper.

"No, don't…"

"I need to see it." He said, gripping her wrist just as she was about to pull it away from him.

Ino relented, sighing slowly and closing her eyes as she looked away from him. He pulled off the bracer and let it drop onto the bed beside them. He took a breath to push all worry out of his mind for fear of offending the girl in his arms.

The scarring of the haphazard map on her arm showed a crude drawing of a bridge, a route between two images of what looked like trees that lead down some stairs to Konoha's massive wall where a part of the wall was pressed to activate a hidden door. In his mind he remembered every step even though he wasn't the one in control as he walked it. The marks had healed somewhat, but the scarring was apparent and it was on her arm where it couldn't always be covered. Naruto pressed his finger down on the first mark that was made which was the beginning of the bridge and he slowly followed her drawing as if he knew each stroke she made with the kunai to make it. The worst part of the amateur tattoo was that Orochimaru was written in large kanji along its side; and like a pest, the serpent's name refused to fade in the slightest. It was the largest, most prominent scar on her arm, without a doubt.

"I'm sorry." She whispered, tearing up.

He furrowed his brows. "You did all you could, Ino. More than you should have. I wanted you to just stay home… live out the rest of your life in peace and never worry about him or me again." He wasn't sure if that was what he wanted back then, but it was somewhere along those lines. He realized that he had plenty of time to mature throughout the years.

"You really are an asshole. How could you expect me to just forget about you like that after that kiss you gave me? Don't tell me you were just playing with me when you did that!"

He shook his head quickly, gulping at the anger apparent in her voice.

"Don't make me angry, Naruto. You shouldn't have tried to sacrifice yourself like that, you idiot! Baka! Baka!" Ino gripped his shirt tightly even as she cried into his chest, trying to hide her face so that she could hide her tears.

Naruto held her tight, his cheek pressed against hers as he closed his eyes.

"I know, I am. I am… Ino, why are you here in the capitol?"

"What?" She asked, rubbing away her tears with her arm before looking back up at him.

"What are you doing all of the way out here? I feel like I'm under an illusion…"

Ino bit her lip and gripped the hem of his pants, pulling him close so she pressed her body into his as she gazed directly into his eyes. "Do I feel like an illusion?" His face flushed at the very forward way she carried herself. He knew it wasn't a genjutsu simply because of how brash she was; nothing really changed about her.

He kissed her. She moaned and pulled on the back of his neck, bringing him with her as she fell on her back on the surface of the bed. She bit his lower lip and pressed her tongue gently against the pinched tuft of flesh that she caught in her mouth before letting go and searching his lips for a way inside. He pulled on her so that she lay on top of him as the two explored each other thoroughly. By the time they realized it, the sun had long since set and the moon was sitting curiously in the sky as it peered in through their bedroom window.

Ino gasped when he nibbled on her throat. Her hands found their way under his shirt and she pulled it up above his head while he lifted one arm at a time to get it off.

While kissing along the side of her neck, Naruto took a deep breath to try and draw some of the sweet scent that came off of her beautiful blonde locks. He groaned when she scraped her nails along his back as their entanglement of limbs and tongues continued like the waves of the ocean.

Ino's face flushed when she felt Naruto's; her hands slowly reached down and she felt him carefully, making the blond young man gasp delectably. Their lips met again as her hands worked his belt enthusiastically.

Anko smiled at Tayuya as they entered their own room shortly after their dinner at a sushi restaurant famous for their flamboyant ways of cooking, including using fire jutsu shaped like a dragon to cook.

Tayuya was frowning without restraint, upset that they let the two lovebirds share a room for the night when she knew what the only possible outcome could be.

"What a great place, huh?" she asked. "Hm, we should order something nice to drink to top off such a great night!"

"I just want to go to bed," Tayuya mumbled, walking over to the bed and dropping down abruptly over the sheets.

"Fine, but we should really talk to Naruto tomorrow about this Kira tournament. There is a lot of money being thrown around at places like these and Orochimaru probably has some contacts attending it. It's not too hard to spot them if we're all looking out for them… plus, I know how to get the best seats in the house." Anko suggested, grinning as she tiptoed over to Tayuya.

"What? How do we do that? Wait, what are you doing?"

"Well, we need to really doll you up tomorrow and get you out of that crappy clothing you're wearing… seriously, what's with these shorts? I heard you were stunning when they caught you; why change the clothes you wear after you left Nonoko?"

Tayuya rolled her eyes, "Unlike someone I know, I don't want my clothes and my ass to be the only thing that people see in me when they meet me. I am not superficial."

"Maybe not," Anko said, frowning, "but by hiding away the goods it makes for really lousy first impressions, you know that?"

Tayuya shrugged, crossing her arms.

Anko smiled, "You know, I bet even Naruto might notice you if you dress up a little nicer around him… and maybe stop cussing when you're around him too… what's up with that, anyways? You didn't cuss all night tonight and I rarely hear you say a bad word around me if we're alone."

"You don't make me nervous… well, you do, but not in the same way." Tayuya muttered, sitting up in the bed as Anko sat on its edge.

"I see… well, if you just gave in every once in a while to my advances I bet you'd be a little less nervous… hey, you're eighteen, aren't you? You're legal."

"Yeah, gee, I guess not being a lesbian has nothing to do with the fact that I'm not interested in you in the slightest." Tayuya said, frowning.

Anko laughed. "Well, that's ok then, because I'm not a lesbian either."

"Bisexual. Whatever. Anyways, you are weird anyways. I bet if you were a man you'd still be into men, huh?"

She smirked, saying, "No shit."

Tayuya stared at her for a second before breaking out into laughter. She rubbed tears from her eyes as she continued to laugh, forgetting the predicament that Naruto had gotten himself into, Anko's convincing her to get another room together and leave the two of them alone, and the fact that she wasn't the one getting into his pants tonight.

"I have to go with my father, Naruto. He asked me early yesterday to come along with him today to see the Daimyo's nephew."

"Can I come with you?" he asked, still holding her with his shirt off as they lie in bed with the TV on. There was an accident on the news where a man fell from a six story building nearby and miraculously survived. They were interviewing him on the television, as he was already somehow up and moving again even though he hit pure pavement after falling from so high up. Naruto paid little attention to it, but Ino's eyes were fixed on the screen even as he began reaching up into her top.

"Ah! No, we can't again. Seriously, I have to go. I'll be late if I wait any longer."

Naruto sighed, "Fine. I'd really like to go… maybe say hi to your dad. I liked him; he was always real nice to me, you know?"

Ino looked at him and remembered how her father talked about the boy fondly whenever the conversation came up. She smiled and nodded. "Ok… I think he'd like that. You can come with me, Naruto."

She sighed into the kiss she received and the two young shinobi began searching the sides of the bed for articles of clothing that got tossed around as they slept.

As they were walking into the estate of the Daimyo, where his youngest nephew was kept indoors in light of the tragic events that were occurring around him, Ino whispered to Naruto, "Alright, don't you dare tell my dad that I was with you last night or he'll think we were up to something."

"You want me to lie to an interrogation expert? I couldn't do it back then, how am I supposed to do it now?"

"Well, you got better at kissing, so you should be better at talking too, I hope!"

Naruto chuckled. "We were terrible, weren't we?"

Ino scoffed, rolling her eyes. "We? You were the terrible one. I thought I was getting kissed by a vacuum hose."

Naruto grit his teeth, "Yeouch. Harsh."

Ino snickered.

Naruto swallowed when he saw Yamanaka Inoichi look at him with narrowed eyes. There was something in his eyes that made it seem as if he knew what had happened the other night. Ino looked like her innocent little self, but Naruto was sweating under the inspector's light.

"So you are alive. It's nice to see you, Uzumaki."

"Same here, Yamanaka-san," Naruto replied albeit awkwardly.

"Isn't it nice, daddy?" Ino asked, surprising her father who hadn't heard that word said like that in such a long time. He looked at Naruto and his harsh look seemed to soften a little bit and he nodded slowly.

"Quite nice… come along. We shouldn't keep them waiting. So, darling, I figure that since you're closer to his age you'll be able to get him to open up a little more than I was able to. I do have to warn you that you should be very careful not to let yourself get too wrapped up in his complicated life. He has a very sad upbringing even as the nephew of our Daimyo and his memories can be quite painful to experience."

Ino nodded. "I understand, sir." Her eyes looked fierce as she walked through the door that lead to the room and the young child's bed as he sat up for the first time in months to look at the three of them as they entered his room.

A little weirded out by the way he was looking at him, Naruto tried to avert his eyes until the boy pointed directly at him.

"Uh… hey, what's up…" Naruto said nervously.

The young boy's eyes gazed into his and he stood up from his bed, much to Inoichi's dismay as the older man rushed over to the boy to ease him back into his seat. "He's never done this before, what's going on?" he asked, scared for the fragile boy's health.

"You are Uzumaki Naruto, there's no mistaking it; I watched you die."

Ino and her father turned to look at Naruto as he stood there quietly; drawn into the black eyes of the young boy whose prophetic dreams spelt death for the residents of one of the largest cities in the country.

Author's note: I appreciate the reviews, especially the ones asking real questions or commenting on parts of the story. I think this week will be a busy week, so I may not update until Friday, but we'll see. As I've said, I have a whole chapter written out for the things going on in Konoha but I'm not sure they'll fit in quite well with what's happening right now in the story.

If you have any questions or comments, please send me a private message or review! I welcome any of them. I prefer signed reviews so I can respond to you one by one, and some of you have even had your private messaging blocked so I wasn't able to respond, but anyways, have a wonderful week and we'll see about the next chapter.