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DISCLAIMER
I DO NOT OWN NARUTO OR ITS CHARACTERS
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Hello!
Here we have it, the second last chapter of my first fan fiction: Counting On You
I'm sorry for the long wait, I had school and stuff. And I'm sorry this is a very short chapter, but I just didn't know what to write!
Anyways, on with the story!
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Hanging from Temari's fingers were a pair of blue pants with a small tear in the hem. "W-what's that?" stuttered Ino. "Where are the p-pic- Wha-?"
Temari and Kankuro gave her a disgusted look. "You! Out of all people, would kill Sakura!" shouted Kankuro.
"B-but I didn't! You've got it all wrong! Somebody framed me! Please believe me!"
"No, it's obvious you did it, there's no point in denying it."
Temari and Kankuro continued to argue with Ino, while Gaara didn't utter a word. "Something's not right," he thought. "It doesn't seem logical."
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Everybody gaped at Ino in surprise, slowly backing away from her just in case. She looked to the ground avoiding eye contact, her eyes glistening with tears while other people whispered things about her. "I-I just want to say something, w-whether you believe me or not. I- I was framed," stuttered Ino. As predicted, sceptical looks were directed at her, as nobody believed the accused. Except for Gaara.
"Ino... We have no choice but to make you stay with someone responsible at all times, until we can do something else," said Tsunade.
"I know..." replied Ino. "But who would want to stay with me? Everybody thinks I'm a killer."
"I don't mind."
Everybody turned their heads in shock at the person who volunteered. At the back of the crowd stood Shikamaru who started walking slowly towards her. Inside her head, Inner Ino was squealing with excitement. "HAHA! TAKE THAT TEMARI, I GOT HIM FIRST! VICTORYYY!"
But in reality, Ino shakily nodded her head. "T-Thanks Shika. I really appreciate it."
"No problem. As long as you don't bug me too much."
Tsunade cleared her throat loudly. "Ahem. Just a reminder, everybody steer clear of Ino for the time being."
Ino denied this but she couldn't do anything to change their minds.
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In the garden outside Ino's window was a certain lazy teen staring at the clouds on a freshly mowed patch of grass and beside him was the supposed murderer of Sakura Haruno. They were silent for a long time, being preoccupied by cloud gazing and flower crown making when Shikamaru broke the silence. "I know you didn't kill her."
"Huh?" said a startled Ino.
"I know you didn't kill Sakura. And I don't think you'll be killing your number one crush anytime soon."
"I-I what?! How did you-"
"I'm not blind Ino, I see you everyday ogling me from your window. I just chose to not address it because it's too troublesome."
Ino turned a shade of red that would have made Hinata, the queen of blushing, impressed. "I- um..." Shikamaru broke the trail of gibberish that was leaving Ino's mouth with a light kiss on the lips.
"There's no need to say anything, I don't mind it at all."
"YES! I STOLE HIS HEART!" squealed Inner Ino, while in reality she just gave a crooked smile.
"But how did you know I didn't kill Sakura?"
"You're one of my best friends and I know you don't have the heart to kill someone. Plus, I know you wouldn't have thought of pulling off the drug scheme, it was too advanced to fit into your level of academics."
Ino gave a hurt look and pouted.
They went back to awkward silence, cloud gazing and flower crown making.
But in the shadows was a figure silently watching them. "He knows too much," he/she thought. "I have to so something."
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Later that night, the sleepy residents of Konoha Manor headed off to their rooms. Ino was forced to stay in her bedroom with the doors locked at all times, much to her annoyance. But as Shikamaru crawled under his blankets to get a good nights rest, two arms grabbed him. He caught a glimpse if the perpetrator's face and the last thing he thought was "Of course!" before he was knocked out.
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At midnight, Naruto was lazily wandering around the manor trying to get to the kitchen, when he passed the Library and heard some muffled screams. He peeked through the large wooden double doors and saw a trickle of blood streaming down the timber floorboards. Tracing the stream of blood to its source, he saw a familiar teen struggling in someone's arms. Shikamaru. Naruto gasped and ran pushed the heavy doors apart. "SHIKAMARU! HANG IN THERE! I'LL SAVE YOU!" A large cut ran across Shikamaru's neck trickling blood down his t-shirt, while a knife hung mid air above his chest. "Oh well, well, well, what do we have here?" taunted the mystery person. Naruto looked above Shikamaru and saw a familiar pair of pale lavender eyes, so familiar, yet partially unrecognisable. He slowly stepped back, shaking with each step.
"I-It can't b-be-" he said, his face displaying pure shock. "H-Hinata?"
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END CHAPTER 4
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And there we have it! The second last chapter of Counting On You! Hope you enjoyed it and don't forget to review, favourite and follow! Goodbye and stay tuned!