AN: Okay, I know it's short. But think about. My last update was two days ago. I, personally, am very impressed with myself. And it was the natural place to break.

Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 5:

Ino entered Sasuke's cell, eyes downcast and body language penitent. Inwardly though, was another matter entirely. She was seething. She did not want to play the part of the pathetic Sasuke fangirl. Besides, it's not like he would buy it now anyway, he'd seen that she hated him – she'd made no attempt to hide that feeling. This whole idea was completely ridiculous.

For his part, Sasuke eyed her warily when she entered his cell. Something was different...

"I – I owe you an apology," Ino stammered. "I fear I was a little – overzealous – in my interrogation of you. It's just, you betrayed me once-" Ino paused in an attempt to collect herself, tears rolling openly down her face. "I mean, you betrayed Konoha once already and it is – it was – my duty to make sure you are no longer a threat."

Ino stepped towards the Uchiha and placed a hand on his. He stiffened, but made no attempt to resist her advances.

"I-I told Tsunade-sama that you had no ulteriour motive in coming back. You're free to go now – I just hope you can forgive me-" Ino managed to force out before she threw herself, bawling, into his arms.

Sasuke was unsure of how to deal with this new, emotional Ino. On the one hand, she seemed much more like the crazy, compassionate girl he remembered. On the other, though, this new image didn't fit at all with that of the cold-hearted interrogator he'd grown accustomed to over the last month. Still his arms circled around her to give her a small measure of comfort as he gently rubbed her back. This was the closest he'd gotten to her and he wasn't going to pass up the opportunity.

Perhaps it was this knowledge that caused Sasuke to come to his final decision. Until he figured out what was going on, he was just going to go with it and enjoy having Ino curled up on his lap.

Ino almost stiffened in shock when she felt Sasuke's strong arms wrap around her. But her training kicked in, so instead of jerking away she melted against him. Now she was just confused.

Locking her gaze with his, Ino leaned her chest against his as she asked the important question. "Did – did you really come back for me?"

Keeping their gazes locked Sasuke looked at her in silence. Ino shuddered under the intensity of his gaze – it was like he could see right through her. Slowly, Sasuke nodded.

"Yes," he said, his voice hoarse with emotion. "For you."

"But – why?' she asked helplessly. Unable to hold his gaze any longer she dropped her head and leaned it against his muscular chest.

One of Sasuke's hands crept up her back and began to stroke her hair. "I don't think you'll believe me, but after I killed Itachi, all I could think of was you. Nothing else seemed to matter. Please – you have to believe me," the Uchiha said desperately. "Just give me a chance."

Ino stiffened. She couldn't take this anymore. Tsunade should have let someone else cover this – anyone but her. She wasn't ready. She'd never been ready when it came to him.

Pushing away from him she looked him in the eyes once more. It was Sasuke's turn to feel intimidated, they were as cold and sharp as ice.

"Why?" she asked, and her voice matched her gaze. "So you can leave again? I think you've used up all the trust anyone has a right to."

Pulling herself away from his arms she stood up. "You're just lucky that the decision isn't up to me," she snapped, before whirling on the spot and exiting his cell.

Sasuke stared at where she had left, the memory of her golden hair shining as she spun away from him stuck on permanent repeat in his mind. What was he going to do now? Despair, deeper then any he'd felt thus far, sunk into him. He'd lost her.

--

"See, I told you seduction techniques wouldn't work on that ice-prick," Ino grumbled, feeling horribly humiliated with herself for having gone that route with him.

"What are you talking about?" Tsunade asked, eyebrow arched in amusement. "He sure looked talkative to me."

"Yeah, but he's still trying to pretend he came back because of me," Ino countered.

Tsunade was silent for a short moment. When Ino noticed her Hokage's lack of response her gaze darted over to see Tsunade looking at her contemplatively.

"Ino, I have to consider all the options," Tsunade said gently, knowing this was the last thing the girl wanted to hear.

Ino just looked at her, confused.

"What if he's telling the truth?"

The confusion on Ino's face was replaced with shock, and she spluttered, incapable of forming coherent words.

"Ino, he came back of his own free will, and all of his actions and words point to the fact that he's telling the truth. We have to seriously consider the possibility that he came back for you."

A wave of fury rolled off of Ino. "Well, if he did he can just turn right back around. I don't want him here!"

Tsunade responded with a chilling tone of her own. "Ino, Sasuke will be a great benefit to Konoha – if we can ensure his mental stability. And you seem to be the most capable of doing that at the present time.

Ino froze, unsure of where Tsunade was headed.

"So I think we will release Uchiha Sasuke – into your care. You will be responsible for re-integrating him into society.

Ino's mind was racing. There had to be a way out of this! "But if your assumptions are correct, and I die, then he'll just go back on his revenger's kick and betray Konoha again," the Interrogation specialist protested.

"And that's why you will be relieved from active duty until he is mentally stable," Tsunade finished. "I doubt I need to tell you that it's in your best interests to re-integrate him into society as quickly and as successfully as possible."

Ino looked like she was about to refuse, so Tsunade dealt the finishing blow. "Ino, this is a direct order. You will complete this mission." The Hokage's stern gaze lightened as she tried to warm Ino up to the idea. "It's S-ranked, by the way, since we don't know the dangers Sasuke could present, and you'll be payed accordingly."

Somehow that didn't make Ino feel much better at all.

Shoulders slumped in resignation Ino nodded her agreement and stalked back into Sasuke's cell.

Tsunade watched her with a bemused expression on her face. The young kunoichi's feelings about the Uchiha traitor must be strong, she mused. Ino never hesitated to throw her life or anything else on the line for Konoha, but this – this she tried to refuse. It was definitely interesting, but also why Ino was perfect for the job - that is, aside from Sasuke's presumed feelings. It meant that she would be looking out for anything that would allow her to be rid of him, and so would catch if he was lying sooner than anyone else.

The real question in the Hokage's mind now was how to get Sasuke to let go of the blonde after his rehabilitation. Would any of this even work?

Just to be clear, all that crap in the cell - that was acting. Ino is not falling for Sasuke again. I'm only on the fifth chapter, after all.