Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

REVISED: 11/30/16

Sweet Misery

Chapter 3

Ino stared up at the ceiling as her alarm went off. It didn't make a difference though; she had already been up for a few hours already. She felt tired but restless. The whole night consisted of tossing and turning with her mind not shutting off if only for an hour of sleep. Ino reached over and turned off her annoyingly loud alarm. The silence afterwards was so very deafening. She blinked slowly while pulling herself into a sitting position. A yawn shook her body as her feet touched the cold floor.

She forced herself to get up and get put together. It was going to be a long trek to Suna and she needed to get a move on it. It was six in the morning. Kakashi had come by earlier the day before to let her know that he would meet her at the gate around eight o'clock sharp. Or so she hoped.

"It would be my luck…" Ino grumbled to herself while fixing her bed up. She finished quickly, taking a shower and checking her pack once more to make sure she had everything.

Ino stepped out in the living room and looked around herself. Still being early morning it was quiet outside making it even more silent inside. The living room looked to be untouched for awhile now in which it was. Ino had avoided being alone in the area since her father's death. She even barely entered the kitchen or the shop below. She just couldn't handle being there knowing he would never be in that same room again. Tears welled up in her eyes as she thought about it.

Inoichi was somewhat of a clean freak. He always kept his house clean including the flower shop. He did all the cooking, cleaning, and everything in-between. Being as Ino's mother had left them when she was very young; young enough to not even remember what her mothers' face looked like. Her father never kept any pictures around and if he had them he never bothered to tell or show her. Ino knew from her best friends' fathers that Inoichi was terribly hurt by his wife leaving them. She apparently wanted something neither of them could offer her, Ino thought. And so Inoichi had to evolve himself to doing the house work and as Ino got older she did do her fair share of chores.

The house brought so many happy memories to her. She smiled sadly, wrapping her arms around herself as she tried to hear her father's voice in the silent room. It scared her, to think that she might forget her father's voice, or his laugh. Ino feared that as time went by she would slowly forget all the good things about him like the twinkle in his eye when he knew something that would excite her or the stiffness of his shoulders as he punished her when she got in trouble or, even the warmth and secure feeling of being in his arms. She didn't want to forget any of those things, but she knew eventually she would. Ino was sure that by then it wouldn't be that big a deal but at the moment it was.

A tear slipped down from her glistening eyes, dripping over her cheek and down off her chin. She looked down to see it had landed on her scandal, darkening as it seeped into the material. A sigh escaped her lips.

"I should get going…" She mumbled out to the air and closed her eyes as though she was bidding her home 'goodbye'…for now.

After a minute she turned away picking up her pack and slinging it over her shoulder. She then set off. It was a semi-quiet trip to the village's front gate. There were very few people out at the moment being that it was only seven-thirty in the morning. Ino was sure though that soon people would be walking around with smiles and greetings. Shops would begin opening for the day if they had not already earlier. The sun was slowly peaking over the trees on her left side coming to greet the morning sky that was becoming less dark and lighter as the day was beginning. She sighed before turning to look at the front gate.

Ino felt a smile tug at the corners of her mouth. There at the front gate were all her friends and the Hokage. Tenten and Lee were talking to Sakura as Naruto was chatting to a blushing Hinata. She could see Shino and Kiba standing off to the side with Akamaru lying on the ground. By the lone tree near the entrance was Shikamaru leaning against it with his eyes closed and arms crossed upon his chest. Chouji stood right by him as per-normal eating his favorite chips. Surprisingly Kakashi was on time (for once) having a conversation with Tsunade.

The blonde leader was nodding her head to whatever the copy-nin was saying to her. Ino felt her heart swell with happiness at seeing them all there just to see her off. Sure she expected Sakura, Shikamaru, Chouji, and Tsunade to be there, but not the rest of them. Slowly she walked towards the group as the feeling of sadness replaced her happiness. Ino knew that they all cared; all of them had been there for her in some way, shape or form after her father's death. And now she was leaving them to risk her life to find her father's killer.

She had an empty feeling in the pit of her gut. The blonde brought her hand down from holding the strap of her pack to lightly rest upon her stomach as she tried to will away the sudden sickening guilt eating away at her. For just a moment there as Ino stopped her walking (none of them had yet to notice her) the thought of coming clean crossed her mind once more.

'No! If I keep second guessing myself I'll never get anything done! I'm doing this for a reason and I'm not going to let myself die either!' Ino thought determinedly, trying to her best to boost her confidence up. The memory of her spending time with Chouji the other day flashed into her mind…

Ino was enjoying a nice picnic with Chouji. He was chowing down on one of the many finger sandwiches they had made while waiting on Shikamaru. He was to join them soon he just needed to finish up some paperwork before hand. Ino didn't mind because that gave her a chance to talk with their bigger teammate about her true plans. She was sure he had a small idea of what she was up too, but it wasn't Chouji's style to ask her straight out. He would wait and let her take her time in telling him herself rather than badger her into it.

Ino turned her bright blue eyes to the sunny, cloudless skies above. She knew she was going to miss this. For the next few months the scenery was going to be nothing but sand and more sand. A sigh escaped her lips and she turned to Chouji. It was now or never.

"I'm not really going to Suna for a vacation…" Ino watched carefully waiting for some type of reaction to her words.

Chouji gave none what so ever. He just kept on eating as though she hadn't said a word to him. After a minute he took a long sip from his drink then his eyes moved to look straight into hers. His brown eyes held no resentment at being last to know, all there was within them was his love and concern for her.

"I know. I may not be as smart as Shikamaru, but I sort of knew something was up with you since you announced it. I mean sure you probably fooled everybody else but you can't fool me or Shika," Chouji noted, smiling softly as a breeze drifted through the field they had setup their picnic in. Ino pulled at the grass by her side as she nodded to him. She was right; he and Shikamaru were like her brothers they (unfortunately) knew when something was up with her.

"So…you're not going to try and stop me?" Ino questioned, she brought her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. Chouji just shrugged his shoulders, letting his eyes roam the empty field.

"I'm not sure there's anything I can say to dissuade you honestly. Plus," He turned back to catch her eyes with his, "if it had been my Dad I would feel the same way. All I can do is give you my support and worry…worry a lot." They both laughed at the end. "I believe in you Ino, so I don't have much to worry about in the end…"

Ino felt a real, brilliant smile grace her lips.

"Thank you."

Chouji believed in her and so did Shikaku and Shikamaru though reluctantly. Ino smiled lightly, she could do this.

The blonde started forward once more and smiled brighter when Sakura took notice first. The pinkette waved her hand out, smiling towards Ino while gaining everyone's attention. Ino quickly reached them and was sucked into conversation as everyone came up to her, wishing her luck for the mission and hoping her to be well. She could only nod to all the voices surrounding her.

Kakashi watched beside Tsunade as they waited for everyone to get what they wanted to say out.

"Tell Gaara I said 'Hi'!"

"Please Ino f-feel bett-er soon."

"Don't have too much fun in the desert! Or dry up like a prune!"

"Kiba…shut up…"

"Be careful." 'That's Shino for you, short, sweet, and to the point.'

"Watch out for Kankuro. Oh and don't forget us back home!"

"Thanks for the advice, Tenten."

"Tell Gaara I look forward to our next spar. Good luck, Ino and let your youthfulness shine brightly!"

"Ino, Ino! Tell Gaara I said 'Hi'!"

"Yes, Naruto!"

"Watch out for Temari…"

"What's that suppose to mean? Are you two fighting again?"

"…sigh…"

"Ignore him Ino, make sure you keep up with your medical studying or I'll get ahead!"

"As if forehead!"

"Ino-pig!"

"Fat head!"

"Dumb blonde!"

"Smartass!"

"Piggly wiggly! I'm gonna miss you!"

"I'm gonna miss you too!"

Everyone sweat dropped as the two girls hugged each other tightly. Had none of them knew the girls so well the whole situation would have been quite strange.

"Please feel better," Sakura whispered in Ino's ear before pulling away with watery eyes and a sad smile. Hinata came in next giving the blonde a big, tight hug and did cry as she pulled away. Tenten squeezed in after. Once the girls were done Ino turned to the boys with an evil glint in her eyes. Her arms crossed over her chest.

"I don't care how much of a 'man' you 'boys' think you are, I will be getting a hug from each and everyone one of you. No if, ands, or buts about it."

Chouji didn't need to be told twice. He came up first giving Ino her favorite big bear hugs. She squeezed her arms around his neck tightly. "You can do this Ino. Send me letters especially if you need an ear…or eye." Ino laughed lightly with Chouji at his lame joke. She was going to miss that, his lame jokes.

She released him as Shikamaru came up for a hug and Ino couldn't help but joke how this time around she wouldn't be crying on him. The lazy-nin grumbled out a response close to something like 'Thank god'. Lee came up next giving her a nice embrace where Naruto came in after. Kiba grudgingly hugged her and Akamaru gave her a lick on the cheek. Shino was the last as he stood off to the back of the group. He was very stiff and awkward about the hug but once Ino relaxed in the short embrace he relaxed as well.

Pulling back the blonde smiled at them and thanked her friends for coming to see her out before turning away, picking up her pack that was forgotten on the ground as she got her hugs, and headed the short distance to Kakashi and Tsunade.

"Are you ready for this, Ino? I expect a weekly report on your well being and a report sent to me after each and every meeting you attend. I'm counting on you," Tsunade announced, reaching over and gripping Ino's shoulder comfortingly. She nodded at the older woman.

"I can do that. Thank you, Lady Tsunade." Kakashi coughed into his hand gaining their attention. He pointed to the gate nonchalantly.

"We should head out now if we want to get a good distance for the day in." Ino nodded almost grimly as she turned back to get one last look of her home and friends.

Could she really go through with this?

Ino tossed her hair behind her and smiled brightly at her friends. Yes she could! She waved goodbye to them before walking right out the front gate with Kakashi in toll. The further she walked away from the village, the more important her mission became for her. It was no longer planning and revising, she was doing it. The only issue was Kakashi. Ino wanted to get a look at the area where her father died. She knew it to be in the general direction they were heading anyway, about forty miles west off the direction to Suna. Shikaku had told her before.

The blonde looked to her escort through her long bangs in thought. There was truly no way she could possibly get pass him during the day and since they were taking a leisure trek to the other village she has hope that where ever they stop for that night is close by the area. Even though it has been many weeks since the incident, Ino was still hoping for some type of clue that was left behind. Something that was not immediately noticeable to the untrained eye. Something only her eyes could possibly spot.

There was a lot of speculation about what could have possessed Inoichi to commit suicide.

Ino knew for a fact it was against her father's will. That only meant one thing; a special jutsu. Of course her thoughts ran right to her family's jutsus but that couldn't be possible. She shook her head in thought. Her clan wasn't exactly that big, neither were the Nara, and Akimichi clans which so happen to be the reason their fathers' had created the formation Ino-Shika-Cho. During the investigation her whole clan had been looked through with a fine tooth comb only to come up with no one who disliked her father as the head of the Yamanaka clan. Not to mention not one of them had been out of the village during the time of his death.

So there had to be another type of jutsu much like her own families out there.

It was possible. There were many variations of many jutsus everywhere around the world. Sometimes all it took was a different hand sign, or elemental use for a jutsu to differ from another. So Ino put herself through much reading at the shinobi library, looking up so many similar jutsus that her brain about burst from the knowledge. There were a good hand full that matched up with her mind transfer jutsu, but as variations go they differed in effect. It seemed that not one of them could get the intended victim to kill themselves, at least not without killing the ninja who is using the jutsu.

And so she was back at square one.

Ino looked over to Kakashi once more. He walked casually with his oh so familiar book in his hand and his eye on it. Rolling her eyes, she fought with herself for a moment about what exactly she would be getting out of asking him before just doing it.

"Kakashi-sensei," Ino called out, placing her hands behind her back in somewhat an innocent pose as they walked. He didn't even lift his eye from his book as he answered.

"Yes Ino?" Sighing at only having half of his attention the blonde looked further ahead of them.

"Well…I've been thinking about my Dad's death. More specifically how he died." Ino waited for a nod or anything to let her know he was listening. She jumped at the sound of his book closing abruptly. Turning her head towards him she watched as the silver haired ninja placed his book back within his pocket, providing her with his absolute attention now. She felt a tad nervous by the suddenness of his actions.

"What about the way he died?" Kakashi questioned.

"Oh well…I guess you already know I don't think his death is a suicide. I know he was murdered and I think…it was by a jutsu similar to my clans," Ino stated abruptly, bringing her hands back to her front to fiddle with one of her fishnet arm bands. After a moment she asked, "What do you think?"

"I think you're on to something." She almost stopped walking upon hearing that. She had no idea that Kakashi would agree with her, then again she probably should have with the controversy going on about her father's death. "Ino, have I ever told you about my father," Kakashi inquired, placing his hands in his pockets like he didn't have a care in the world. Ino shook her head.

"No, I don't even think you've ever told Sakura or Naruto…" The copy-nin gave a short chuckle saying, "Oh yeah, I haven't." Ino palmed her forehead with a sigh.

"He committed suicide when I was young before I graduated the academy. He chose to save the life of his teammates and comrades rather than complete a mission that was rather important at the time and was looked down upon for it by many of his peers. Even his friends felt shame for him and he fell into a deep depression from all the pressure and shame. I remember his gradual fall into such a sadden state…but I didn't care because I felt ashamed that he was my father. Pretty harsh, I know but back then things were much darker and harder than they are now. Anyway, I watched my father grow more and more depressed before the day he took his life because of it. And because of that I know when others are suffering from depression or thinking of suicide," Kakashi coughed harshly for a moment before going on. "Your father wasn't a depressed man as far as I knew him and I knew him pretty well. I know the exact shame your clan is feeling because I've already been there before."

Ino didn't think her eyes could get wider. She couldn't believe that Kakashi was telling her any of this. It was a well known fact that he avoided talking about his father and the circumstances around his death. Of course, Ino had already known about it, but for him to talk with her really touched her heart. She felt sort of closer to the older ninja knowing that he had been through what she is now going through. Many older ninja around the village did look to her with pity or shame for her family name, believing so quickly that her father was capable of committing suicide made her sick to her stomach. The only people who mattered to her knew otherwise, but that didn't change the way she felt. It was one of the reasons she wanted to get away from the village too.

"I…I don't know what to say Kakashi-sensei…" Ino felt speechless at the moment though her mind was running circles around her. Kakashi shrugged his shoulders like it was nothing, like they were talking about the weather.

"Let me help you find your father's killer." This time she did stop walking. Her heart dropped down from her body and she felt like she couldn't breathe. He knew! Gasping for some breath after a minute she brought her eyes up to meet his eye in fear.

"You knew about it…my mission…" He closed his eye in a smile and nodded.

"Shikaku told me yesterday." Another shrug. "I already knew you would try something being in another village, but you are more limited there too. So after talking with him I decided I wanted to help you as much as I can. I get many missions outside the village and I can help scope out further for you." Ino blinked slowly before her legs gave out. She collapsed to the ground as her mind tried to understand what it was being told. Kakashi knew about her mission and he wanted to help. It was rather simple but seemed so complex to her. Then a thought came to her.

"Will you take me to the place where my Dad died?" Ino asked keeping her head bowed. It would be so much easier now with Kakashi on board, though that was yet another person involved with her plans. It just seemed that she couldn't keep others out no matter what she did. Who was next? The Kazekage? Yeah right!

"I was already planning on it. If we move our trek to the trees we could get there before sunset. I don't think you will find anything, but it's worth a shot." Ino smiled as she looked up to him.

"Thank you."

Ino and Kakashi dropped down from the trees as they approached the open area. There were some trees damaged with broken branches and missing chucks of bark while the ground was missing patches of grass along with what looked to be scotch marks around the whole area. Definitely a scene where a fight had taken place. Ino walked a little ahead taking a good look around. This was the last place her father was alive, she thought. It left her with a cold feeling in her chest.

"I had been a part of the investigation team with Anbu," Kakashi informed casually, Ino looked back at him as he went on, "Your…Inoichi was found over there…" Kakashi pointed over towards a bunch of bushes.

Ino turned to stare at the spot, willing her legs to move towards it but they wouldn't listen. She felt her eyes water at the thought of her father, so strong and powerful lying there dying from a self-inflicted wound. Ino was starting to feel sick to her stomach. If her eyesight wasn't failing her, she was sure that she could see a dark almost black looking stain on the dirt and grass surrounding that area. A tear slowly rolled down her cheek and off her chin.

Ino felt like she couldn't breathe; she had no idea the emotions she would feel coming here. It helped that Kakashi was there with her; otherwise she would probably be in worse shape. A touch on her shoulder brought her back to reality. Ino took a deep breath, closing her eyes before exhaling.

"Whoever killed Inoichi covered their tracks extremely well. My nin-dogs couldn't find a foreign scent from anywhere here. We may not find anything at all. Are you prepared for that, Ino?" Said blonde nodded. She knew there was a chance (a rather big one) she wouldn't find anything, if elite Anbu and Kakashi couldn't find anything than what made Ino think she could?

'Because I know my Dad. Even if he was under another person's control he would still leave some type of clue. Our mind transfer jutsu can only hold so long and well before the target can block you out.' It takes a strong mind to block them out and she knew her father had a strong mind.

Ino pushed her raw emotions away and forced herself to walk over to the dark stain in the ground. Her stomach churned uncomfortably the closer she got. Once there the blonde blinked and sighed; for some reason she thought there would be some horrible smell near the blood stain. Of course logically there wouldn't be, but being as emotional as she is at the moment; logic just wasn't there completely.

Ino breathed slowly looking over the stain and trying to disconnect herself from the situation so she could find any clues. It was easier said than done.

She felt like throwing up and crying herself dry at the same time. Ino glanced back at Kakashi; he had his back to her and seemed to be looking for clues as well. Turning around, she put her game face on and got to it. Ino sidestepped the blood stain and looked around the underbrush hoping to find something. Her father wouldn't be able to throw anything far off and it had to be hidden well enough that his killer couldn't find it too. The report had said that Inoichi had been in a fight by the bruising forming on his right knuckles and his clothes were a bit torn up.

Ino could only imagine what happened but Shikaku had mentioned they had encountered some rogue ninja earlier that day, so there was no telling if her father had fought his killer before death or…

She got down to her hands and knees going further through the bushes. He had to have put up some type of fight, anything. It didn't help that a month and a half has gone by since that day. She frowned deeply while pushing an annoying branch out of her face. If her father had managed to leave some type of evidence to who his killer's identity is, it may not have survived the weather. It had rained twice in the region and with the heat, wind and humidity it could have perished weeks ago.

Ino felt frustrated as she had searched for a good fifteen minutes with nothing to show for it, but being splotched with dirt on her knees and hands.

"Oh my nails…" Ino couldn't help but whine as she started picking dirt out from under her nails.

"Any luck Ino?" Kakashi called out. She could hear the grass behind her being stepped on. She huffed, "No…"

The blonde pulled out of the bushes to stand hearing her back and knees pop. Ino groaned in relief stretching out more and hearing more bones pop. While stretching her arms she lifted her eyes up to the sky to see the dark night fastly approaching. Another groan left her lips.

"We need to hurry! Ugh! Dad, where would you hide something?" Kakashi shook his head at her antics. He wasn't so sure they would find anything. He and Anbu had searched the area rather thoroughly; there shouldn't have been anything they had not already checked out themselves.

"Ino-."

"Kakashi-sensei up there!" Ino shouted, running to the closet tree and then up it. Kakashi watched her jump to another tree before going up further on that tree. He couldn't see her up there clearly enough so he lifted his forehead protector revealing his Sharingan eye.

He easily caught sight of her and watched as she got close to a…kunai embedded into the bark; it was damn near to the top of the tree, unnoticeable from the ground and probably even harder to see on the tree branches. Ino reached up taking the kunai along with something else attached to the weapon. "I can't believe it…" He mumbled while shaking his head. 'So much for being thorough' he thought with a laugh. He would (after Ino's mission was said and done) mention to Lady Tsunade that they needed to do a better job of combing out areas of investigations better.

Ino quickly jumped down by him smiling from ear to ear.

"How did you see that?" The silver haired ninja asked genuinely curious. It was not an easy spot to locate from down here. Ino shrugged as though it was no big deal.

"I was glaring at the sky for getting darker," she started as Kakashi sweat dropped, "and I could see it clearly when I…" Ino frowned slightly, "stepped right on Dad's blood stain."

Kakashi patted her on the shoulder reassuringly.

"He must have known you would figure it out." The blonde rolled her eyes.

"Doubtful, I just found it by chance," She shrugged before handing the kunai to Kakashi. "That belongs to my Dad; it has his name on it."

"And that," Kakashi pointed to what was in her other hand. Ino looked at the scrape of red clothe that was attacked to her father's kunai.

"It could be from the other ninja," Ino said with hope in her voice.

"Could be, I'll have Pakkun sniff it over, though I am not hopeful that the scent is still there." She frowned, but nodded in understanding. It would be a miracle if the scent was still within the clothe. Kakashi sealed it within a scroll to keep it secure before covering his left eye and pulling out his book. "Okay lets go set up ca-." He blinked his uncovered eye once he realized his book was not in his hand.

Ino looked said book over grimacing upon finding a rather raunchy passage.

"That," Kakashi pointed at the little orange book with a dark, serious tone, "belongs to me. Give. It. Back."

Ino giggled and waved him off, she was feeling ten times better now that they found something.

"Come on, let's set up camp," Ino commented, walking away from Kakashi while flipping through his book without a care in the world.

"Ino, I'm serious," His voice became stern as he trailed after her. She shrugged her shoulders and ignored him.

"Ya know I always wondered what drew you to read these," The blonde muttered as she continued to thumb through the novel. Kakashi glared at her from behind.

"Yes, well I read them for the plotlines." Ino scoffed at him.

"Oh…and I guess the porn is just an added bonus." The copy-nin opted to not reply back and slyly snatched his precious book out of her hands, quickly tucking it away within his pocket.

Ino frowned at her empty hands before dropping them. She knew it was only a matter of time before he took back the book. She didn't really care though; at the moment nothing could bring her down. Ino felt too optimistic about her mission, she was so much closer to figuring out the identity of that ninja.

She smiled brightly to the darkening sky. Things were already looking up!

And that's it for chapter 3! Yays! I am really happy about how this story plot is going in my mind. I already plotted out each chapter up to like ten so all I have to do is get down to writing it! This is going to be Ino-centric by the way if it wasn't very obvious! Hopefully people will review this too cause it's a bit disappointing to find no one reviewed the last chapter. Yes, thanks for faving and following, but giving me a 'it's going great!' or 'can't wait for the next installment' would go a long way for me, plus it lets me know people like this story.

So please review for my sake, plus it really does get my ass in gear and throw out these updates!

ALCzysz17