Didn't You Know
Ino stood in front of the target practice logs in the small training field next to her home. It felt good to have Sai back from his missions. The day was nice so she joined him at the target practice logs. Somehow this became an obsession of his to practice so much his accuracy here lately. Sai finished target practicing and sat in the grass relaxing.
"Raido is a very private guy," Ino said recalling her conversations with her temporary bodyguard.
"All of us are really," Sai replied and motioned for her to sit down next to him in the grass. He was grateful that her conversation swayed toward trivial and away from the dark topics swirling around in his head.
"Did you know he is married and has a child," Ino asked finding a comfortable position on the grass.
"I did know that," Sai said. He had the urge to play in her hair and just relax. For weeks he had been going here and there doing this and that and he was tired out. One of the reasons he picked Raido was because he could understand his family situation.
"Really, you know that he was a married man" Ino looked at him disbelief on her face.
"Sure. He never really goes on about his personal life and he's very protective of his family especially because she's a civilian," Sai said.
"Does this civilian have a name," Ino asked.
Silence. Sai wasn't about to engage in gossip. There were plenty of reasons for a Shinobi to keep their personal lives to themselves and he respected that.
"Oh come on I can find out on my own," Ino said.
"You talked to him all this time and never asked him these questions," Sai said and added, "now you are grilling me like I'm on trial, shameful."
"I didn't want to pry. People were saying that Raido was involved with Tsunade-sama. I even embarrassed myself asking him about that," Ino said playing in her long blonde hair which seemed even longer to Sai than ever before.
"I wondered why that rumor got started," Sai said as he genuinely wanted to know. It always amazed him how social networks developed overtime.
"Don't look at me I just heard it," Ino said.
"If he is so happily married and with a child; one has to wonder why a rumor like that would get started in the first place," Sai said.
"Do you think someone purposely put out a rumor to destroy his marriage or something," Ino asked.
"That I don't know," Sai answered although it probably wasn't a real question and Ino just needed to figure something out loud.
"Even if he were bothered by it he wouldn't show it. You guys are trained in deception remember," Ino said.
"I wouldn't deceive you," Sai said.
"You couldn't if you tried," Ino said flirtatiously.
"Overconfidence…never mind," Sai said.
"Have you met her before," Ino asked.
"I have," Sai said. There was no reason not to answer her simple questions he decided. He just wouldn't volunteer the information.
"Your answers are too short. Is that all you have to say," Ino asked annoyed.
"I really don't understand your curiosity. When we were dating we didn't go around telling everyone about us," Sai said.
"People knew and they were just respecting our privacy. Raido is on a whole new level of privacy," Ino said.
"Well look at Sasuke and Karin. There are a lot of people who don't know about them, even now," Sai said.
"I would still be intrigued by them if I wasn't a part of the circle of friend's who knew them," Ino said.
"Fair enough I guess," Sai said.
"I feel so bad for Sasuke and Karin," Ino said.
"Things can change," Sai said.
"Things will change. All Shikamaru ever spoke of was how he would help Naruto change this world we live in for the better. It is way past time that Naruto start on this journey of his being the Hokage that he talks on and on about," Ino said.
"Like I said things can change."
Sai was willing to do whatever it took to change things. He didn't know what he could do to help Sasuke with Karin's predicament but he was willing to do whatever it took to help. To think that only a few years ago he would have done his duty and assassinated Sasuke had that been the order. Now they were friends. Not as close as Naruto was to Sasuke but Sai shared a bond with him that was like brotherhood.
Sai needed all the friends he could manage. They kept him sane and kept meaning to his existence. There was life after losing a brother like Shin and the first thing that helped him was making true bonds with Naruto, Sakura and Yamato.
Ino had different bonds on her mind. She worried nonstop that something could be wrong with her child. She didn't want to complain or tell Sai that she was still suffering. Listening to Sai talk about change she wondered just what it took to change the parameters of the jutsu cast on this village.
She had been through it all positive thinking, meditation, brain activates and nothing seemed to work against this nightmare jutsu. At the very least she figured the Yamanaka clan could come up with a counter jutsu. Nothing changed and the weeks just continued to roll by.
Physically her health was suffering. She tried her best to look like she was alright especially around Sai. Mentally she was suffering but she was tough and trained to endure the worst situations. Her overall health took a slide and that was the worse because it was like a self fulfilling prophecy. Her child's health was indeed in danger because of all the stress she had to endure.
"Have you spoken to Sakura," Sai asked.
"Sakura is very busy," Ino replied. She really didn't want to discuss this problem but it must have been written all over her face for Sai to pick up on it.
"I can tell you are struggling. Do I need to drag you to the hospital," Sai asked.
"No nothing like that. I am taking care of myself. I feel ok. I'd just rather not talk about it today Sai," Ino said.
"I feel helpless right now. I feel like I've been fighting the battle on one side and I come home and the war is being lost on the other front," Sai said.
"Sai I can't talk…not now please," Ino begged the tears streaming down her face now. She balled up her fists and wiped them away quickly cursing her hormonal self for breaking down.
"Can I hold you then," Sai asked. Ino nodded and leaned into his embrace. It always surprised him just how much holding her could accomplish. Sometimes just being together like they were now was all they needed.
Sakura's plan was the one ray of hope holding them all together. So far the only thing that worked was a combination of using Katsuyu and the weapon that TenTen's group developed. The next attack they were going to layer it with a Yamanaka Jutsu and hope that technique could do damage to the attacker. Ino was trying to prepare herself for the offensive but so far the enemy hadn't attacked.
Shikamaru had even suggested that Temari have their child in Suna where she was unaffected by the Nightmare Jutsu. When Ino sat down and talked with Shikamaru he seemed his usual self but changed when he suggested that Ino might benefit from moving temporarily to a village like Suna. The Yamanaka clan wanted the child born in the village of course but even the leadership were willing to see the plight ahead of Ino.
000
The hospital was buzzing with activity. Sakura stood in an exam room listening to a reporting ANBU. Everyone else had cleared the room and left the two of them alone.
"I understand thank you. You can leave and tell Kakashi-Sama Katsuyu is ready for any new cases," Sakura said and went back to work charting.
The ANBU left the room as quietly as he came. The information was serious. In the time that the enemy lessened its attack on Konoha the Nightmare Jutsu had been reported in all four remaining five major villages. At least two reported deaths linked to the Jutsu have been reported. Sakura counted them as four losses.
"So Sakura-san it has spread even wider," Kaori asked.
"Yes your guess is correct but for now do not tell the villagers to cause alarm. Right now all we need to do is treat the incoming patients not start any rumors," Sakura said.
"Understood," Kaori said.
"I'm going to head out to the Yamanaka place and check on Ino. Would you finish charting these results for me," Sakura asked.
"No problem," Kaori said.
"If you have any problems Shizune promised to stop by later today and I will be back later as well," Sakura said.
"Of course please tell Ino we are all thinking of her," Kaori said.
"Yes I will," Sakura said.
The world felt as if it were rushing to Sakura. She wanted to speak to Naruto about the latest development.
Why now after all that had happened and after saying goodbye to Sasuke-kun? What does the enemy want from us? I must be close because they moved from us to our allies.
Sakura couldn't stop her mind from racing as she rushed to get to her friend's house. Ino wouldn't call for her but Sai was concerned so she'd check on her. Although she knew just how difficult it was to be pregnant and not want anyone to worry so much for her condition.
The village seemed normal as she rushed through the streets. So far there was no sign of panic which was a good thing. Sakura could only hope that this kind of peace would last for some time.