Hold Fast Hope

by Maguffin2

She ran and suddenly found comfort from Him. His past and origins become her puzzle, and he comes to find new questions for himself. Naruto/Ino, Current Manga Based Spoilers. Discontinued/Rewriting.

9. The Crow's Swirl and the Waking Fear

First, I'd like to thank: CrabbyOldHobbit, thinking-about-it, CelticReaper, grumpywinter, Mrs-N-Uzumaki, Type-R, Dark Ravie for their reviews.

BS2- Anti-Meridian- ..is still not available on iTunes. Couple my frustration with that, and waiting for SONIC CHRONICLES THE DARK BROTHERHOOD, with planting WEPEAR BERRIES in Pokemon Pearl for a contest item (130 of 'em, for the SURFBOARD!) and you have one disgruntled author.

Combined with Kishimoto throwing me a bone- which promptly SCREWED OVER MY PLOT COMPLETELY! And you have

UPDATE LAG! WOO!

I'm still going to use my idea, and I'm still going to be using the Naruto S. filler (this chapter actually) but yeah. I'm not going to be exact with the Sora filler (so be aware now that this chapter may have some.. Jumping). I don't even remember any of those new characters' names. -laughs- So they won't be in here. You won't hardly see 'em anyway, and you'll know which character was who I'm sure.

End of note: SAGE NARUTO IS AWESOME!!

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Look children to the eastern sky
When you hear the voice say your last goodbyes
Look there to the eastern skies
When the ghosts take hold of the men who died
Look children to the eastern sky
When your fathers weep and your mothers cry
Look children to the eastern sky
Look children to the eastern sky

Anberlin- Misearbile Visu (Ex Malo Bonum), New Surrender

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There were cries in the night, the smell of blood, smoke, and fear burned in the air as the growls and cries of dying men were heard. Harsh breathing against the chains, the pain, the agonizing reality of what was going on.

It was completely unnatural, and should not have occurred.

Yet it was, the chakra burned at the touch, his skin peeled in the wake of that destructive force. The feeling was completely new and unwanted, and it had never occurred until that night.

Then, sweet mercy came and stopped the internal flame.

Naruto gasped as he awoke to the twittering of birds and sunshine, sheets soaked with sweat and cold fear. He sat up slowly and brought a hand to the side of his face, 'Just what in the hell was that?'

It was day number three that these nightmares had been occurring. Like someone else's memories, 'Maybe… Kyuubi's?' were running through his head, laughing at him in their obscurity.

'Did this happen in the past?'

Perhaps we shall see.

Naruto froze. The furball rarely spoke to him directly without his purposely going to the seal and seeking him out, 'So you have no idea what that dream means?'

Silence met him. The Kyuubi wasn't going to speak to the ball of dirt anymore then necessary, and that was just fine with Naruto.

It was better that way.

The fifteen year old Gennin decided enough was enough, and got himself out of bed.

'Today's going to suck… dattebayo'

Meanwhile, Ino Yamanaka stretched as she walked through Konoha looking for a good place to eat breakfast with Sakura. It'd been a while since they'd spoken and she had questions to ask.

Sakura eyed her with an unusual quirk, "How can you handle wearing that?"

The blond kunoichi blushed to herself and looked at her current attire. Usual netting, and purple ensemble, topped off with Naruto's orange and black jacket.

Her inner fashion guru was sobbing.

Ino laughed awkwardly, "It's a little cold this morning, don't you think?"

Sakura looked at her friend's outfit, "I think pants would have done you more good then that thing."

Ino blinked, only to glare at Sakura, "As his teammate, I would think you could talk to him about his tastes in colors. He likes you well enough, I'm sure if you dragged him out and found something he'd buy it to please you."

Sakura looked to the ground in annoyance, "Of course he would. But that's manipulative…"

Ino nodded, "Exactly. If the colors really bother you, you could just tell him."

Sakura snorted, "As if that'd stop him."

Ino paused mentally, 'No, it wouldn't, would it? Does he wear those colors because he has to, or because he wants to?'

Both girls stopped in time for Yamato to appear in front of them, "Sakura, we've been summoned by Tsunade-sama."

Sakura looked to Ino apologetically, "It seems we'll have to post-pone the girl chat."

The blond waved offhandedly, "It happens. We'll just have to re-schedule."

The pink kunoichi nodded and left with her temporary sensei, leaving Ino alone in the street.

She sighed and walked towards her favorite Tea and Coffee House.

Ino entered Ran's shop, the light chime of a bell being the only thing to announce her entrance. "Welcome to my shop, favored customer!"

The blond looked over and smiled at the chocolate haired owner, "Good morning, Ran."

Ran blinked, "Oh, Ino! It's been a while since you've visited." The older girl looked Ino over quickly, "And I see you have an interesting accessory today. Now, would you like the usual or something else?"

Ino felt herself blushing (that really needed to stop before it became a problem) as she shook her head, "No, today I'd like a cup of your special green tea and some strawberry daifuku."

Ran nodded and went into the kitchen, leaving Ino to choose a window seat for two. She rested her chin on her hand as she watched people stroll by, starting their days peacefully and full of normalcy. Ran placed Ino's order in the middle of the table and sat across from her, knowing the shop wouldn't be busy for a while yet, "It seems you're rather melancholy today, Ino."

Ino started a little, surprised she had spaced out, "Ah… yes, I guess so." She took her tea and stirred it idly, "I have a lot on my mind." 'And most of it deals with Naruto! The least likely guy to be mysterious, dark, and obscure!'

Ran nodded solemnly, her blue eyes dimmed a little, before brightening in slight mischief, "Ah, poor Naruto-kun… it seems his prized jacket is still out of his reach, neh?"

Ino flustered, "Ran! That's… well, uh…"

The shop owner laughed kindly, "Oh Ino, you really do seem to have a lot troubling you."

The kunoichi sighed and fell back in her seat, "It's true. I've been pondering Naruto's past a lot lately, and I've been discovering some unusual things and… ah, well… It's all just gelling together."

Ran nodded and looked up a little, in contemplation, "Would you mind if I told you a story?"

Ino studied her friend for a moment, "No, I wouldn't mind at all."

Ran took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly before beginning her story, "I grew up with a boy who was incredibly obsessed with old texts and stories. He would babble on and on about the past, and the unusual clans and jutsu he discovered. Due to his interests, people had a hard time connecting with him… and since I had grown up with him, I was all he had. Slowly, I realized I loved this friend of mine more then as a friend, and he became an incredibly precious person to me… but then one day, he disappeared."

Ino blinked, "He… disappeared?"

Ran nodded, "After he had gone missing for a week I went to his house to see if he had returned. Nothing was moved from the day when I had seen him last, it was like… he had been spirited away or something."

"Was he… ever found?"

"No. To this day, Shinichi is still… utterly and completely gone." Tears built up in the shop owner's eyes as she looked to Ino directly, "Don't let what happened to Shinichi and I happen to you. A ninja's life can be long or short, and love can easily be lost. Do everything you can with confidence, and even if your feelings are rejected, you at least can have no regrets… because life is simply too short to be burdened with them."

Ino felt the tears build up in her eyes as she reflected on the Fourth Hokage's note, and the face of a red-haired smiling kunoichi… the faint smell of cigarettes and rain filled her senses as she lifted a hand to her face to wipe away the tears in a sudden rush of emotion, "Yes, life really is… much too short to make second guesses."

Ran nodded, "Ino?"

The kunoichi looked to her friend, "Yes?"

"Be good to Naruto, alright? I don't want to se him anymore hurt then he has been already…"

Ino studied Ran carefully, "Have you… heard something?"

Ran smiled in a somewhat fake way, "It isn't… It isn't anything I can really talk with you about."

She was surprised, and yet not.

All of the "adults" were like that when dealing with Naruto, weren't they? 'I'm going to get to the bottom of this.'

She never would have guessed some of her answers were going to literally end up on her doorstep.

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Ino jumped at the sudden flurry of activity that had entered her shop, and before she even understood what was going on, Naruto slammed his hand on the counter of the flower shop and pointed behind him, "Do you see anything at all interesting about this… this teme here behind me!?"

The kunoichi tried to shake off her nerves and looked at the other highly disheveled boy that had been dragged into her shop. Cropped grey hair, blue eyes, unusual clothing (a monk of the fire temple perhaps?), a snide smirk, and the air of someone who felt they were better then someone else in the room.

The blond girl quirked an eyebrow, "Who's that?"

Naruto grabbed his hair in frustration, "He's-!"

"My name is Sora, and I have no interest in wasting my time talking to some girl about flowers and their tastes in boys."

Ino clenched her teeth and fist, 'I HATE this guy already! Who the hell does he think he is!? BASTARD!' She slammed a fist to the counter, "How dare you come in here assuming things of me! I'm Ino Yamanaka, student of the Godaime, Tsunade-sama! If you dare demean me and my family's business, I can promise you you'll regret it DEARLY!"

Sora sneered and pushed the door to the shop open, "As if I care about your opinion anyway."

Ino took a deep enraged breath, "THEN STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM OUR SHOP!"

Sora glared at her as the door shut, "No problem there."

With that, the newcomer was gone, leaving Naruto with an enraged kunoichi on his hands.

"That Sora…" Naruto rubbed his head a bit, "He's so frustrating! But, I have to keep an eye one him." He looked to her apologetically, "Sorry about that, I'll be sure to buy a flower or two to make up for it, alright?"

Ino blinked, "Uh… sure…"

She watched as Naruto left, and then jumped, "Naruto!"

The boy stopped just as he was about to release the door and looked to her confused, "What?"

Ino left the counter and stopped halfway to the door, "Uh…" She hated herself for feeling so awkward, "Are we… friends?"

Naruto blinked and took a step back in the store, "Huh?"

Ino clenched a fist, "I… I'd like to know if we're friends Naruto."

He looked at her for a moment before smiling, "Of course we are. Haven't we been friends since we were Gennin?"

She looked at him and blinked, startled, "Wh-"

Naruto waved, "Ma-ah, well, I better catch up to that jerk before he causes more trouble, see you later Ino-chan!"

With a flash of orange, and a yell ahead of him, Naruto, the most surprising ninja, left.

Leaving Ino a little confused, and perhaps, guilty.

'Has he… really thought of us as friends since our Gennin days?'

She let the fact sink in for quite some time, and slowly, a smile found its way on her face. 'I won't loose, Asuma-sensei, I won't!'

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Naruto awoke in the middle of the night, his breathing heavy as he stared at his cracked and peeling ceiling, "That dream again." This was dream number six, and it was starting to take a toll on his body, 'How long will I have to deal with this?'

Perhaps, until Sora deals with his inner demons.

Naruto felt a sheen of cold sweat immediately surface, 'Wha- Who?'

You know. I gave you some of my power, didn't I?

Oh good Lord in heaven.

Naruto closed his eyes tightly, 'I'm just dreaming, I'm just dreaminimjustdreamingdreaming DREAMING!'

Like a crow settling itself in its nest, something silenced, and Naruto fell asleep once more.

"Naruto."

He looked at Ero-sennin in annoyance, "What?"

The old man regarded him for a moment, putting down his pen, "It's been quite some time since we've started training you in using Kyuubi's chakra, and communicating with it, correct?"

He blinked, confused, "Yeah, so what?"

Jiraiya leaned back slightly, "You need to get a better grip on your emotions, Naruto. If you don't, the people around you will get hurt by your own hand, and it gives the Kyuubi a stronger reign of control."

Naruto paused, thinking this over, "So…"

Jiraiya sighed and looked him dead on the eye, "If you fail to keep your head in difficult situations, one day, Kyuubi might devour you. No matter how much thought has gone into that seal the Fourth placed on you, it can only do so much- and it is starting to weaken."

Naruto woke up once more, his nerves a jumbled mess as he jumped up and ran to the bathroom, only to be met with purple-tinted eyes, 'It's true, it is and oh god I'm being haunted by a dead man.'

He needed help, fast. But who could he turn to? Who in the world could help him?

Ino flashed in his mind, and the memory of her Mind Switch Jutsu. 'Her father's on call for interrogation, isn't he?' Ino and her family's jutsu would be perfect for this sort of thing, right?

The Kyuubi flashed in his mind then, making him shudder, 'No. No, no, no. That would be bad, wouldn't it? Sakura… I can trust Sakura knowing and accepting me, but Ino?' He shuddered once more as he imagined that confrontation, 'Definitely not a good idea.'

He dressed and finished his morning routine, only to come to a realization, 'Just the other day I told her we were friends ever since we were Gennin, and now I'm backing out? As if we're total strangers?'

He grabbed his right arm, remembering their awkward embrace by the river. 'No. We are friends. It may not have seemed like it at the time, but we've been friends since then… and… she is the first person to ever give me that kind of affection willingly… She… she deserves to know, just as much as Sakura-chan, doesn't she?'

A ninja must have a clear mind, this hold even truer for someone such as yourself, a Jinchu-

'SHUT UP!'

Naruto gasped and felt dizzy at his mental outburst and flurry of thoughts.

This was getting out of hand far too fast, 'I need to talk to Ino.'

He hurried out of his apartment and quickly found himself on Ino's street. He made his way to the shop, and found it closed. 'It really is too early for this, dattebayo.'

Naruto sighed and went around to the side door and knocked awkwardly. He was really the type to just waltz in…

Yuuna opened the door in confusion, "Naruto-kun?"

He looked at her sheepishly and smiled, trying his best to seem calm, "Uh… is Ino-chan available?"

She blinked, "Ah, yes. Hold on, if you don't mind coming in for a moment…"

Naruto brought his hands up, as if to placate her, "Ah, uh, no, I'll stay out here, thanks…"

Yuuna arched a brow, "If you say so."

She left him at the doorway, leaving Naruto to hear some mumbling before Ino appeared before him, "Naruto-kun?"

Naruto shuffled a little and rubbed the back of his head awkwardly as she looked at him strangely, "Uhm… Ino? I need some help…"

The kunoichi paused and looked behind her a moment, "I'll be out for a while!"

Yuuna replied, "Of course! Be sure to eat, Ino!"

Ino rolled her eyes, "Yeah, yeah…" She closed the door behind her and took Naruto's arm, dragging him along.

He was startled by her action and fumbled in his steps and words for a few moments, "Uh, Ino…"

She looked to him, "If you're coming to me for help, it has to be important, right?" Naruto nodded dumbly, "Alright then. Would the park be good?"

Naruto looked at the park that had appeared on the horizon, void of anyone, "Uh… sure."

The girl nodded and continued her march as the boy simply allowed her to drag him, he needed to collect his thoughts anyway.

Once they reached the park, she lead him over to the swings and sat, aware of the fact that he was incredibly nervous if the unusually cold and clammy hands were anything to go by. "Alright Naruto. We should be able to talk privately here."

Naruto nodded and joined her on the swings, wrapping his arms and hands around the old chains, "I… I've been… no… uhm.."

Ino observed him, "One thing at a time."

He looked at her confused for a moment, and slowly he realized she could tell how mixed up he was. It was embarrassing, "Right… Well, I haven't… told anyone about this… so you'll be the first. You see… when we were trying to find Sasuke last time… just before we ran into that Madaara guy, I ran into Itachi Uchiha…"

Ino jolted, "What?!"

Naruto ignored her and kept going, "He did something to me… he said that he had 'Given me some of his power' while I was trapped in his genjutstu… and, while at first I wasn't sure if it had actually happened… I think… no.. I… I know he did give me some of his power… and perhaps a little more."

Ino was shocked, "What… Why are you telling me this?"

Naruto felt sweat trail down the side of his face as he looked at her, his masks torn off, leaving him a total wreck and making the extent of his fear obvious, "Because, he's in my head Ino, and I need your help straightening this all out before I loose it and accidentally give Kyuubi control."

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Sorry if the chapter jumped too much, I have to re-locate and watch the Sora filler arc… the later episodes, to clearly remember how things went, and to finish this out nicely without being as vague as I was this chapter- Of course, I'm mostly relying on the readers to make up their own story on how the Sora arc could have gone if Asuma wasn't there, since he's quite dead in this story by this point in time. That, and who wants to read an exact re-make of something you've already seen within the series? (I also didn't want to make you guys wait over research, since then I would take much, much longer to update.)

Well, hope you enjoyed it, and sorry that the quality of chapter 7 is one of those random miracles of the world that happens once in a while. -sweat-

Oh yeah- who knows what anime/manga Ran and Shinichi come from? -laughs at her lameness-

Please Review!!