The Hidden Heart of the Nausicaa Forest

I do not own Naruto. This is a complete work of fiction. Enjoy.


Chapter 5 – The Brightness in the Abyss

Ino laughed and shook her head. 'That Temari and Shikamaru would end up together, you'll see'. She had just left the training grounds to go home. It was already late and Ino wanted to hurry up and get home to take a shower. She then noticed a shortcut through a dark alley.

'Well… I'm not sure about this but I bet I can fight off any creep who causes any trouble'. She entered the alley, watching carefully in the corner of her eyes.

She walked as quickly as she could to get out of there before anything happens. Ino was about to finish passing a 'dead end', when she heard someone in there. She stopped and quickly hid behind a dumpster to get a better look. It was a girl with long black her. She couldn't see her face because her back was to Ino. Ino then noticed the girl wasn't alone. Ino saw a pair off hand squeeze the girl's butt. Ino's raised an eyebrow.

The girl just came here to making out with a guy? Ino sighed with relief. She then noticed something familiar about those hands. While she pondered this the girl let out a squealed, " Stop it Neji".

Ino's mouth dropped. The girl moved to reveal Neji. Neji's arm was around the girl's waist when he realized they weren't alone.

Tears filled Ino's eyes.

She couldn't watch anymore and ran. Neji realize it had been Ino and that she had seen the whole event. Neji started after Ino. The girl however held him back. "Let go!" Neji at the girl's confused face. " Neji, where are you going?" Neji pulled his hand out of her grip and ran. He glanced back to see the girl's shocked face. 'Girls, you make out with them once and they think they're engaged to you'.

ﻌᴥﻋ

Hmmm, what's that smell… Flowers? No, it's smells different. More fruity and sweet. What is that strange aroma?

Blue eyes opened sluggishly. Blinking a few times, Ino raised her head from the cold ground. There was a sharp pain in her head and dizziness.

After a bit of recovery, she surveyed her surrounding but couldn't see a thing. It was dark. She peered above her to see a dim light emanating from the giant hole they had fallen through.

Hole! Ino's memory rushed back to her. She recalled the hole and everyone falling through it. Everyone! Where was everyone? Ino pulled herself up, she struggled to get into a sitting position. Her entire body was throbbing in pain. When she touched her head, she felt something wet. She tried looking at her hand to see what it was but to no avail.

It smells like blood.

Ino hugged her knees tightly and hid her face between them. It's so dark. I'm all alone. Where is everyone? Naruto. Hinata. Lee. Sakura. Sasuke. Ne-. Ino lifted her head. I have to get up and regroup. She searched the ground nearby for her equipment but nothing turned up. Ino sighed in pain. Moving was too much for her but she had to get her energy back and find the others. Carefully getting up, Ino waded through the darkness with outstretched arms. Eventually, her arm something. It was a tree

Tree? How is there a tree down here?

She moved a little further and hit another tree. Ow! Trees. They're everywhere. Is there a whole giant forest under the forest of Nausicaa? Blue eyes followed the dim lights coming out of the holes and decided to use it as a guide.

Suddenly, an eerie blue light shone from her right. It was faint but still bright enough to see. Then another light shone to her left, then her front, until it completely engulfed her. "What? The blue lights are coming from the leaves of the trees." She stared at the glowing trees that encircled her, pink lips parted with amazement.

She walked around trying to find for anyone or anything, that's when she noticed a body lying on the ground. It was on the other side of a small stream ahead.

She ran towards the body filled with anxiety and fear. With two jumps Ino got across the stream to where the body laid. From a r view close, Ino notice that the boy had black spiky hair. Ino knelt down beside the body.

"Sasuke, wake up."

She peered at his face. A few scratches and dirt but he looked unscathed from what the girl could tell. Lifting his upper body, Ino gently shook the boy awake. Dark eyes opened to see two worried ones staring back at him.

"Hmmm. What's going on?" Sasuke sat up grabbing his head in discomfort. "I'm not sure but it looks like we're in an underground forest. Hidden underneath Nausicaa forest." Sasuke stared at her.

Ino had dried blood on the left side of her head. "You're bleeding." Ino touched her head and winced.

"Oh, It's nothing. How about you, are you feeling okay?" Sasuke glared at her then turned his head to the side. "I'm okay. My head hurts a bit but I'm fine." Ino could tell he was lying.

The Uchiha boy struggled to stand up but managed. Ino tried to help him but he pushed her hand away. Once up, he tried walking forward but grimaced in pain.

"There's more, isn't there? I saw what the beast did. It took you down with it." Sasuke didn't look at her.

"Do you smell that? I smell something sweet," said the boy distractedly. He inspected one of the dimly lit trees to see a few blue and purple striped fruits hanging from its low branch.

Sasuke walked towards the tree and reached up to grab one of the fruits. Alerted, Ino went to stop him. But when she approached the boy he had already taken a bite.

"Delicious," said the Uchiha with a mouthful of fruit.

"Do you think it's safe to just grabbed a strange plant and eat it?" Sasuke did not reply to the blonde. It was he was spellbound by the berry he was eating. Earlier, Ino only had access to Sasuke's right side and saw no injuries. On his left side, however. Ino took a peek.

She gasped as tears filled her eyes. "Sasuke, you shouldn't keep things like this a secret". There was blood dripping out of his left shoulder to his chest. Sasuke ignored her and continued enjoying the sweet delicacy of the berry.

"Take off your shirt" Ino was looking around the ground.

"Why?" The boy nonchalantly took another bite of the fruit. He looked so vulnerable to the blonde.

"Where's your bag?"

"I guess it must have gotten lost on the way down."

"Sasuke, I'm serious. I guess I'll use what I got. Now take off your shirt. Oh, and I'm not asking you, I'm telling you." Sasuke turned his attention to the frantic girl. With an annoyed look on his face, he obliged and pulled his shirt up.

Since it hurt to take it off by himself, Ino helped him. "What are you going to do. You have no supplies". His eyes widen as he saw Ino take out a kunai and undo the bandages around her thighs. He couldn't help but watch as her thighs started to reveal.

As he watched, he felt an odd sensation in his stomach. He wanted to touch her and caress... What is wrong with me, he thought. Sweat started to drip as he watched, unable to resist. Hunger and lust filled him. His hand twitched.

"Sasuke is something wrong?" Sasuke snapped out of his trance. " Nothing's wrong" His dark eyes pierced her blue eyes.

She smiled at him. " Okay. Well I got bandages now, so don't worry about what we can use".

Ino held the bandages but hesitated to put it on. Staring at the naked torso, Ino slowly reached to touch his chest but she suddenly pulled away.

She didn't want to touch him in fear that her old feelings would come back and take over. At the same time, she didn't care, his body was intoxicating.

"Ino, hurry up" Sasuke noticed her gawking at him.

He smirked to himself. Ino was nervous but tried to get over it. Hands shaking, she quickly and neatly put on the bandages. When she was done, she quickly looked away, studying the ground. Sasuke was satisfied with the job she had done. His eyes lingered on Ino who has still blushing and who's hands were shaking on her naked thighs.

Sasuke could no longer control himself and pulled Ino into a kiss.

Ino was so shocked. She couldn't believe that Sasuke, the guy who always ignored her, was kissing her and it felt great. All her old feeling started pouring out of her and she returned the kiss. His wet tongue licked her lips, hungry for her taste. She open her mouth and his tongue entered her mouth.

Still on the ground, Ino's leg were spread, Sasuke in between with his left arm around Ino's waist. A moan escaped Ino's lips. He kissed her neck slowly while his right hand traveled down from her waist to her thighs.

Before he could go any further, a twig snapped. Ino and Sasuke sprawled apart. Ino panted and moved her eyes to see what it was. A few feet away stood a weird black and purple striped squirrel. Sasuke and Ino sighed in relief.

' I thought it was one of the others. I'm happy it wasn't'.

Ino watched Sasuke put back on his shirt and get up to walk towards the river.

She did the same and followed him. Both sat close the rivers edge and started cleaning up. Ino took the leftover bandage she had and dip it in the water while replaying the past event in her mind. Sasuke was quiet the whole time as he washed his face.

He didn't know what to do, confusing clear in his thoughts. Was he developing feelings for her or was it always there? Not only had he kissed her, he had touched her in a way that made him feel good in an awkward way. He was disappointed that they had been interrupted but at the same time glad. like he said it had been awkward and awkward for him wasn't exactly the greatest feeling to have or one you wanted to keep happening.

Who knows how far they would've gone. His mind was going crazy. What is wrong with me! He glanced at Ino. She was cleaning off the dried blood on the side of her head. He made up his mind to forget the whole event.

"We should get going and find the others. The faster we find them, the faster we could continue the mission". This pissed Ino off.

"Fuck the mission. How could you just pretend that didn't just happen! You kissed me, you touched me in a way no one ever had done before and now you're going to fucking mess with my feeling like that! Like it doesn't fucking hurt!" Sasuke couldn't respond to her sudden outburst.

"I was already hurt once. I don't want it happening again" Ino quietly said this with tears streaming down her face.

Hugging herself, Ino shut her eyes tightly with her face looking down, her hair slowly covering her face. Sasuke felt a sudden pang of guilt run through his chest. A thousand thought ran through his head as he was assuring himself that he didn't intend to hurt her and certainly to an extent to make her cry.

Trying to find a way to calm the sobbing blond, Sasuke turn his head around unsure before sighing. He then sat next to her and stroked her head gently.

Ino stopped crying, his gentle touch eased her. Brows furrowed, Ino stared at the smiling boy. It wasn't fake, she thought, does he really care?

I think that did the trick...quick thinking Sasuke. His hand moved from stroking her head to holding her face. With his thumb, he wiped away her tears. Ino, a little surprised at his actions, gazed into his black eyes to see if there was any meaning in them. Ino sighed and pulled away from him, taking this chance to tell him.

"Did you even notice Sasuke? I stopped chasing after you... And now because of that kiss, my feelings for you have returned… I don't want to let you go again..." Ino hugged him and Sasuke returned the hug, embracing her tightly in his arms. After the hug, her head slowly fell against his chest, weary from all the excitement.

"Hn, I'm not sure why I did why I did…It just feels like something woke up inside of me suddenly." Sasuke stared at his open hand as he spoke, "Maybe I've always liked you and I didn't know it…" Ino smiled at those words. Her eyes fluttered shut and she fell asleep. Sasuke watched her, then turned his eyes to his open hand. Opening and closing it, clenching it into a tight fist. It was stained with a light violet color.

Hn.


Author's Note

Hoped you enjoy this chapter. This was a Sasuke and Ino focused chapter, it is a love triangle after all ;)