Chapter 08: Masks

By Hibiki

Disclaimer: It's this little sentence which tells everyone how much I don't own Naruto and stuff.

Ino was a firm believer that after a certain point in her career she would lay down her Kunai and replace them with a kitchen knife. It was almost an unwritten rule you had three choices in the matter as a kunoichi once you reached a level in your missions. One was you die in battle before you reach jounin. Two you ignore your hormones and continue on until you reach Tsunade or Yugao's level. Both women live professionally successful lives. However they had no family or lovers. They were the highest of the high, on that peak alone, and frankly from Ino's perspective, at a cost of unfulfilled and discarded dreams. The third was cut your losses before you croaked with a nice tidy nest egg, marry an okay guy, then after a few nice years playing house get cracking on that heir to the family clan and jutsu.

For years the blonde female had great hopes that she could skip both choice one and two right off the bat, and like any other girl her age focused more on boys than building her skills to survive in actual duty as a ninja. She knew how fragile she was, so when words were mentioned behind closed doors, from her mother, her father, worried about her skills in the world, a façade grew to hide these worries. The carefree, bossy Ino emerged. Much like another blonde's mask people stopped looking for the insecure girl under the smiles and flirtatious attitude. Ino Yamanaka was a proud stubborn bossy girl who got what she wanted with attitude and good looks.

Asuma-sensei… Despite his many flaws and everything was her second father. His dying promise to her truly showed he knew her, he had known how she truly felt. A barely capable battle medic nin with one signature move. She relied so much on Shikamaru and Chouji in battle that at times she felt like nothing more than a hindrance, a scared little princess that needed to be protected to be any use. That Sakura, the weakest girl in class had become a beautiful and deadly Kunoichi whose skilled hands could save countless made her wallow in small pointless victories and shallow battles about everything and nothing. But now, feelings resolved and ties mended, she promised on the dying breath of her mentor she wouldn't lose to Sakura… Not in life…. Not in love. Never again.

It was Sakura, despite her yearning to be with Sasuke in the past or that hidden but not quite acknowledged interest in Naruto, who was set to rise above Tsunade. But that path held no one else, she would walk it isolated and by herself. Shizune lost her life protecting that which she held dear during the Pein attack. Ino knew, having been there at the time, that had she walked away she would have lived peacefully with her future husband. Memories of the strong ebony haired woman with her bitter sweet smile tugged at her heart but so deep in her musing the blonde refused to grant them any power over her.

No, Ino was one for option three, that's not to say if Mr. Right never appeared or if she was the only one to capable of some suicide task for the betterment of Konoha she wouldn't take options one or two, she just simply loved life. Asuma-sensei had made her promise, never to loose to Sakura again, and she would honor her fallen teacher. Just not the same as Sakura did with the Hokage. Not as her mentor Shizune either. She would win on her terms and her rules. Besides, she mused, snuggling into the warmth of the body beside her. Mr. right might be right here.

_-_-_-_

The young Yamanaka was cradled in his arms. He knew not when or why she had joined him in the bed, only that her soft blonde locks meshed with his and her breathing was a soothing breeze against his neck.

While her presence in the bed was both alarming and relaxing, his mind whirled with thoughts… His father, His still unknown mother, only briefly mentioned by his… The word Dad still felt strange on his tongue. Then there was Ino's involvement in all of this. Ever since he had woken up to her scent he had known something had happened. Ino had all but disappeared the week following and thoughts of her had drifted in and out of his mind, only coming to the forefront when he saw Sakura-chan, Ino's faint earthy and lavender scent mixing with Sakura's. Then one day there she was sitting in a daze before him. The girl… no, the woman sitting there was not the Ino he remembered. This one smiled and played along with his little quirks. Yet beneath it all there was some sort of sadness that filtered through her smiles. It was always there, he knew it, but in her week long hiatus of the world something profoundly changed in her hiding of it. It worried him, Ino wasn't a close friend, but she was still one who acknowledged him from time to time. Even after a year after the near destruction of Konoha the images of his precious people lying dead replayed in his mind, faces sometimes changing with those still alive in his nightmares. Ino was safe, he promised himself before he irritated her with his presence, until a single name stopped him cold.

"Hitomi."

The name of his sister, the one NO ONE not even Iruka or Sandaime Hokage knew about. Anger and fury at her digging in his mind, until the tears pouring down her face made him pause. He just didn't have it in him to be angry at her, he should be. He should hate her, but all he had was worry and fear for his friend.

What had she seen? How could she see through his Smile? Not one person, not even Jiji or Ero-sennin had seen through it. To be truthful it petrified him. To be so… open to someone. His life was many secrets on top of a lie. No one was suppose to know of the Kyuubi, at least no one of his age… Yet Shikamaru, Sakura and now Ino knew. Fear gripped him, filling his mind with worry. What if his other friends learned of the fox? They all knew he was different, Pein made it apparent but the fact that everyone was distracted by the smoke and debris of their ruined village it was sort of pushed aside and forgotten.

The villagers would soon know of his failure to contain the beast, the old hatred would return, and he would go back to being ignored. If his friend's found out and began ignoring him too, he shivered as a chill ran down his spine despite Ino's warm presence. The thought of being completely alone again pulled at his heart, a feeling of overwhelming pain and terror. The urge to run and hide, to flee the looks was growing… Ino's bare stomach rubbed against him as she shifted, snuggling closer, and the desire subsided.

He wasn't alone in this anymore. His inability to control the Kyuubi had condemned another. Ino's life was now a cursed one, fraught with peril and pain, all because of him. Guilt pooled inside of him, filling him to bursting. If people found out about her, his eyes closed in disgusted remembrance.

"Such a cute little monster, so young and tasty…" The feeling of hands, grabbing pulling, foul lips and unwashed smells. "I wonder if you'll be good… Hehe, I'll play with you. We'll play all night long." Pain, fear, revulsion, anger… unclean. "You nasty little shit, you bled on me. Clean it off… Lick it clean."

Bile rose in his mouth and he slid himself out of Ino's grasp to the toilet just off of the room. The feelings and actions he was forced to feel night crashed once more upon him, rising with the retching as his body desperately tried to remove the taint. Soon the boy's stomach emptied, and the emptiness that he felt of his stomach filled him to his core. He would keep her safe as best he could. But that fear would remain. It was then he felt the rustle of sheets and felt her questioning look.

He refused to face her, using the sink to clean his face. The mirror above the sink showed his neck and the rope to his necklace. The Shodaime's necklace that had helped him stay under the seventh tail form before Yamato-taishou could reverse the Kyuubi effect. However the seal was repaired once more, the voice of the fox was gone. As long as he kept a hold on the foxes power he would be safe. The necklace had a new job, to protect someone who is a short time has become his most precious person. it was with a heavy heart he removed the necklace. It's light blue matched Ino's cornflower blues in intensity.

"Because I failed to hold the fox back you were hurt. Just like Sakura-chan." 'He accidentally hurt Sakura?' Ino was stunned, Naruto's crush on Sakura was legendary. "She tried to hold me back from Hebi-teme when I was in Kyuubi form… And now because I was weak, you are like me… Like Gaara and Kirabee. A Jinchūriki." Ino's body froze at the name.

"I'm sorry, Ino-chan…" He held his head in shame. "I wish I could change it so you didn't have to face this." He placed the necklace upon her. "I'm sorry I failed you."

"Bah, I'm fine Naruto-baka. Seriously!" Her Mask was up. 'No need to worry him, he'd--!'

"Please, Ino. Don't lie to me." His hand cupped her cheek, stroking away a tear as they began to fall.

"Naruto-kun… I'm scared." And she was, the fear she had gained from Naruto's memories had grown, she was like him now, would the village hate and fear her? Would she loose control and hurt someone she loved, all because some person had set a demon upon their village? The unfairness of it all for both Naruto and herself filled what little of her mind that wasn't terrified of what was to come. His arms were around her before she, keeping her from her panic. His soft, trembling voice whispered to her as he held her against him.

"It's okay, your not alone, Ino-chan. I'll protect you… that's a promise of a lifetime."

"Even you couldn't convince Sasuke?" Shikamaru's words hit something inside of Naruto. Her tears forced more pain into his heart.

What? …Sakura-chan, you already met with Sasuke?!" 'She tried to stop him, alone!?'

"Naruto! I beg you!" She bowed low, the first time Naruto could remember anyone doing that, and it was his precious Sakura doing it. Her tears continued to fall even though he couldn't see her face, each drop on the ground tore a little further into his chest. "Please… Please Bring Sasuke back." The first time she refused to call him Sasuke-kun. "I couldn't do it… Only you."

"…" He looked away, trying not to cry at her pain, both what she was feeling, and what she was making him feel. It wasn't fair of her to see it, it wasn't her fault he loved her. "Sakura-chan, you really like Sasuke, huh?" 'I'm so stupid… of course she does, I'm just, the demon brat.' "I know how much pain your in because of Sasuke… I understand." 'Because I'm feeling it right now. I've always known.'

"Naruto…" Sakura's tears grew as she seemed to finally realize what he meant. "Thank you."

"Don't worry!" He smiled, giving her a thumbs up, his voice raspy with restrained emotion. "I'll bring him back." 'Even if I die, because you're one of my precious people.' "That's a promise of a lifetime!"

Ino cried harder. For herself, for Naruto. For their pain. For the fact he refused to leave her.

_-_-_-_

Ino sobbed into Naruto's chest heedless of anything in the room other than the other Jinchūriki's soothing words and strong arms holding her, as if protecting her from the world. She had brought this upon herself, she was the one who entered his mind and caused the Kyuubi to latch on to her. She caused the coming pain for them both, yet all this man seemed to do was keep her safe. She pulled herself up to look at him. The overwhelming concern in his eyes made her blush.

"Naruto…" She felt herself move closer. He was as well.

"Ino-chan…" Their breath mingled, his lips where so close.

"Oi you two, get up. Tsunade wants to see you." Shikamaru stood against the door frame staring at the two with a deadpanned look. "Mendokuse, if you two want to do that put up a sign. It's too troublesome to see."

"T-teme! We weren't doin' anything!" Yelled Naruto jumping away as Ino screeched.

"Shikamaru-baka! How dare you sneak up on me again!" Shikamaru winced and tried to remove the ringing form his ear.

"Hn, Mendokuse blondes." He mumbled as he watched the two avidly look any other direction than each other.

_-_-_-_

It's not a big chapter, but it IS a stopper before the next part of this story. Still about my average 2,000 word chapter.

Next Chapter: Genin

C&C most welcome! The more I get the faster I write!

A big thanks to Celtic Reaper, one of my most loyal readers, and you precious few able to put up with my ramblings and setback as I write this. From here on out it SHOULD flow better as I hate a plot line to follow. Also things start to pick up. From here.