Tick tock

There was almost no sound that accompanied the clock's ticking besides the turn of thick paper pages and the gentle tap of her finger in the wood of the desk. She has been granted permission to look inside some of the hallways of her library –it was for heritage right her own, but she wouldn't be allowed to venture deeper inside it, to its best-kept secrets, until she wears the kimono that signaled her the clan leader.

Under the light of the candle she forced her eyes to rest in between long blinks, the library was subdued to darkness, no windows were visible. The letters of the scroll moved under the weight of her fatigue, she couldn't make sense of what she was reading. Ino had no comfort in the silence now.

She gulped, her eyelids still closed, and noticed for the first time her thirst. How long had it been since her entrance? Ino could not remember how much it passed since she sat, scrolls falling from her shaking arms to the desk with a thud. She had never been a sharp thinker when it came to theories or academic intellect, her best tool has always been the practical way she thought and moved. She learned faster while performing, but when it came to her clan techniques, her father's protection had proved itself to be counterproductive to her learning.

She couldn't blame his feral care, wandering the mind extra-corporeally without having a clear objective could mean a no return. Her spiritual force never to go back to her own body, dooming her to a comatose state that will shut down her organs shortly after.

Her memory was carved with the remembrance of Inoichi speaking to broken parents, gazing down at sleeping children, explaining that there was a peak of Yin Release activity that decreased their quantity of chakra. The further the mind went, the more chakra it needed, and soon enough the pool of energy emptied, and nobody survived without chakra flowing through them. At least, it was a peaceful death. It was a bittersweet comfort.

While not needing a biological predisposition other than yin release to learn her family Jutsu, few people within her clan were either able or allowed to learn the technique. It was a dangerous thing to do, many parents didn't feel compelled into exposing their children to that danger. The control of the yin chakra was particularly difficult, bending it at the user's will was a thing only the Nara clan had been able to master, using their own shadow to encompass the energy and move it as they saw fit. The Yamanaka did not have much grip over it, being able only to move it in a straight line.

But even with that problem sorted out, not everyone was allowed to actually learn the Jutsu. Maintaining the secrecy of the technique was the primal duty of her clan, and the secrets of it was only entrusted in those the Yamanaka Council saw trustworthy enough. It was impossible to keep secrets from their curiosity, and each member that petitioned to learn the technique was investigated to its fullest, they dug out even the furthest member of their biological tree, records meticulously made.

The woman made her way towards her from the single entrance, her figure dark against the sudden burst of light that came when she opened the door. She didn't conceal herself from Ino's sensing, quite the opposite, she sparked her chakra so that even with her weak skill she could still feel her. Her chakra pierced through her as icy glass shards against her skin. It was almost pleasurable.

Ino had asked while infant how her own chakra felt, her hand warmly covered in between Inoichi's fingers. Her father felt like coffee beans pressed against thumbs, and while he smiled, he had not replied to her question. It was after days of begging with bits of well-planted tears that she found a willing clan member under the shadow of a tree. The response he gave her left a hollow feeling in her chest and a weird blush on her cheeks. "Like petals kissing skin", he had said while caressing her face with his thumbs, his nose gently pressed behind her ear, "leaving an icing sensation in their wake," He smiled against her skin, "wonderful, wonderful Ino-chan." She had not understood and the boy kissed the side of her mouth before making her return alone to her house. Ino hadn't seen him since.

"Ah, it's so delightful to see you, Ino-chan." The woman said, Ino had almost forgotten the sound of her voice. It was low, gritty as if it scrapped her throat on its way out, it contrasted roughly against the softness of her beauty, pink lips against pale skin. "Is nice to see our heir so invested in clan techniques," she took seat in front of her, desk between them, "I've heard about your advance to final rounds, how impressive." She gently pressed her bosom against the table, weight resting in the wood, fingers entangled between them as support of her chin.

"Himari-sama," she nodded at her and treated her with the respect that people on the council deserved, of them all she was the youngest, having achieved the position almost thirteen years ago, "thank you." She lowered her head once more to continue the pretense to read, but Himari didn't left, holding her position silently. Ino wasn't able to ignore her presence for longer, the woman had always been able to disturb her.

When she glanced up, pupilless amber eyes were watching her and did not flinch when Ino gave her a harsh look, Himari smiled faintly when Ino blushed at the power of her gaze. "So… a Suna kunoichi, uh?" The woman spoke not concealing the disgust in her voice, "how unpleasant." She added, a strand of her orangey, silky hair falling down of her otherwise perfect bun.

"Temari is remarkable," she said, more in order to antagonize the woman than to defend the kunoichi's honor.

"Of course she is, and I bet you're preparing accordingly to defeat her." She purred, blinking slowly.

"I'm preparing myself to face her at my full potential," Ino corrected, it was one thing to be able to face Temari, but it was another thing to actually defeat her. Asuma had told her about her fight against Tenten and, more importantly, about her comrade's fight against Lee. With the added knowledge of the victory of the other teammate of hers –the puppeteer, she was able to quickly realize that those three had been able to go to the finals showing both quality as fighters and cruelty.

If the Suna kunoichi was able to blow Ino off of her, forcing her to be constantly on the move, then she will not be able to perform her Jutsu. She was more inclined into presenting a decent fight than looking for a win, she knew better than anyone her limits, and Temari, as it turned out, seemed out of her reach. That fact, regardless, made her resentful.

"A shame you weren't able to witness the rest of the fights," Himari said next, succeeding both in ignoring Ino's words and infuriating her by pointing out her missteps. It wasn't particularly new of Himari to stretch the cord of their relationship to a dangerous tension, but Ino couldn't stop herself from giving in to her wish for confrontation. "It would have helped you a long way." How she knew about Ino's ungraceful departure from the preliminary room, she did not know, at this point, it was a fruitless thought to entertain.

Ino chewed glass shards of Himari's chakra and spat out her response, "a shame indeed." It was futile to try to control her temper in the face of the woman whose identity had kept her awake during the nights of her childhood. No one has had the decency to tell Ino the truth of her nature despite her pleads and truthful anguish. Her father even went as far as to forbid her to look, but what good did it do to look for an answer that was screaming in its silence. Ino resembled her father in almost every feature, but her face and eyes shape were absolutely the woman's imprint.

"My, my," Himari chuckled, "well, I guess it can't be helped, I'm sure our wonderful Inoichi-sama will help with that kind of information seeking, isn't he?" She licked her lips, "after all he's so fond of you, Ino-chan, and well, you know how passionate he can be when he desires… something." The innuendo wasn't lost in Ino's ears, she might be young but she knew enough to understand that the statement was far away from decent.

Himari glanced at the offspring she created in exchange for a sit in the Yamanaka council and her eyes shone with no devotion, Ino was absolutely nothing more than leverage. Ino wondered if something as intrinsical cruelty existed, and if she had inherited it from her. "Aren't you venturing in the back room?" She asked when Ino failed to respond, "there're some interesting things there that might help you in your quest."

"Those rooms are forbidden for everyone but the clan head and the most respected members of the Council." Ino was glad when Himari's smile shrunk in a quick motion. She, like Ino, wasn't allowed in the room, having less power than the rest of her peers. "I guess we both are at loss there, I'm not the leader yet, and…" she sealed her lips and smiled innocently, enjoying the peak in Himari's chakra that signaled her distress.

It was a futile victory, Himari's control returned after a few heartbeats. "Of course, how could I forget? That's where our most powerful techniques are guarded," she tried to entice Ino, but she wasn't stupid enough to fall. Noticing it, she tried again, "secrets never to be told to no one but Inoichi-sama."

"The Yamanaka leader, you mean," Ino mumbled, upholding her position as the heir and future leader, Himari have had kids of her own with the man she wedded after giving Inoichi an heir, Ino had no relationship with them and didn't desire one either. She will rule them all.

Himari smiled while she stood, "of course," she said, but it was obvious by her tone of voice that she was lying.

It hadn't been her idea, but Asuma's. She was okay with giving credit when credit was due for the most part, and the man wasn't ignorant when it came to special ninja tools.

Asuma casted a long shadow behind him, Ino turned her head as to see how much it stretched on the dirt, almost expecting it to bend unnaturally –Shikamaru's presence was always, always hunting her-, her own shadow so much shorter in comparison.

She had expected him to be tossing her around like a punching bag, forcing some camaraderie onto her through his kicks, but that hadn't happened. The moment she stepped on the training ground, she saw him sitting on a fallen log, a cigarette on his lips, his eyebrows furrowed. He lifted his chin and smiled at her when he saw her, quickly putting out the cigarette he was, until then, consuming. The last bit of the smoke left his mouth while he stood. Ino felt her cheeks heating as he walked towards her, the sun was soon to fall.

He said no words about what she had done to Sakura, he didn't scold her or told her she had gone too far. Her curiosity sparked inside her and her fingers twitched with the need to ask what he thought of her, but the fear overtook her wonder. She could not handle the look of disappointment in her own teacher but he, like her father, spoke none about it. She wished she was brave enough to ask.

When he spoke, his breath smelled like cherry tomatoes mixed with nicotine, she wrinkled her nose in distaste but kept it under sealed lips. He had been impressed by her performance during the second round and the way she managed to use her Jutsu without Shikamaru's assistance. That much he confided in her. It was hard for her not to lash her tongue against him despite the compliment, she couldn't believe how much her clan was being seen as dependable to Shikamaru's.

Three sheets of paper were put over her nose, Asuma's fingers covering part of the designs, he smirked when seeing her confusion and laughed softly when it evoked no response. "Choose one and ask the right questions only."

Her confusion doubled but she still reached what was being offered with a slight tremble of her hands, "Wh-"

"-Just the right questions, Ino."

For a moment Ino paused and glanced at the papers she had on her hands. There were three designs (one on each sheet) about some weird devices she could not entirely figure out at first glance. She opened her mouth as to ask, but remembered Asuma's words and his interruption at her first question, the 'what is this?' was probably able to be deciphered if she looked closely. Great, she thought bitterly. She was tired enough from reading all day and now she had to think more, just great.

In the first sheet, there was what it looked like a backpack, in the second one a (or maybe two?) pouch, and in the third one what looked like two thick bracelets. All three of them were completely different and seemed to have no correlation, but there was one point that was, indeed, shared.

"Wires?" She asked then, glancing at her teacher with her eyebrow raised.

Asuma smiled faintly, perhaps it wasn't the best way to start with, since the question was too vague, but Asuma indulged her still. "You used one during your fight with Sakura," at that Ino's heart sank, expecting him to –finally, say something about that subject, but Asuma's expression did not change, he continued as if the context in which he saw her use the device she stole was not important. "I thought it might be a good tool to have if you find yourself in a situation to use your Jutsu without Shikamaru around."

Whatever sentiment of anguish Ino was feeling at the beginning of his answer, it was quickly drawn with the anger the final statement brought up, "I don't need Shikamaru." She mumbled, her eyes narrowed and her jaw settled.

Asuma's expression darkened. "You do," he replied, "whether with his Jutsu or to protect your body afterward, you need him."

And now Ino was pissed, she still denied her need for her teammates, she could work her Jutsu without Shikamaru's assistance and in regards to the safety of her body, well, she will sort it out somehow. It wasn't as if she was about to possess someone during a fight with multiple enemies while alone, or that she wasn't going to hide her body while possessing another person, if she had her wires with her, she could trap the enemy and the possibilities of her missing the target while performing will be minimal.

"Ino," Asuma called her, it was likely that he was still talking while she got lost in her thoughts, whatever he was saying, she didn't care.

"So these designs are to keep the wires, right?" She quickly asked, looking at the papers, "I guess each design has its pros and cons, right?"

Asuma narrowed his eyes at her and didn't reply right away, the silence stretched awkwardly in between them but Ino was not about to backpedal, she stood her ground by not looking ashamed. "We will have to talk about this eventually," was the only thing he told her about their previous topic, but moved on to the main reason for their meeting.

"Yes, the three designs have a mechanism that automatically reels the wire to store them inside the device. You can take them out and move them using your chakra, but the further away or the longer you try to move them, the more unstable they become. You can, and Ino look at me, you can exhaust yourself from using them too much."

He scratched his beard, "the first design is like a backpack, it allows you to move freely and hold a thick wire. It will need more chakra, but it will also allow you to hold better and steadier your opponents or yourself." He pointed to the second design, "This one is designed like two pouches that go in each side of your hip, the wire will have to be slimmer than with the first design, a medium thickness I mean, but it might be better to move through smaller spaces, also you will need less chakra to control them, but they are more unstable. The third and last one go in both of your wrists, out of the three, this one is the one that allows you the most movement, and you need even less chakra to control them, since the wires are the slimmer out of the three as well, but it's easier for an opponent to escape."

"Control the wires?" She asked, perplexed, "like, I can't move them without touching them?"

"Not exactly, you need to touch them as to transfer your chakra onto them, it's similar to how puppeteers work –you saw one during the chünin exams, remember?-, but you won't be doing chakra wires, you will use these especially design wires to transfer your chakra and control them for the amount of time your chakra is inside them. That way, you can hold your opponent still, as you did with Sakura."

"Like the chakra strings you mean."

"Exactly, but on a bigger scale, which is why it could be dangerous." He smiled, "so, what do you think?" He asked her, barely giving her any time to think about it.

Ino blinked, opened her mouth, closed it, and blinked again.

She could admit that the designs seemed really nice to look at but she didn't know which one was better for her. The first one seemed the best suited for her to control her opponent and use her Jutsu, but it didn't allow her to move as freely as she would like. Something that will slow her down when escaping wasn't something she looked forward to carry. The second one seemed better, as did the third one, but with the last option, she will not be able to use her arms as freely as she wished to. What if someone grabbed the wire like the sound-nin did? She was not going to be able to defend herself. The second one could be harder to control than the third one, not only because of the thickness of the wire but also because, unlike the bracelets that were in direct contact with her skin on the wrists, she will have to touch the wires before been able to use them.

"How much do they weigh?" She asked instead of replying with her choice.

"You can know the answer to that question when looking at the designs." He replied, shaking his head.

"The thicker the wire, the heavier the dispositive?" She answered.

"Are you asking me?"

"Yes."

"Fine," Asuma rolled his eyes, "then yes."

"Then I think I'm going to go with this one," she said, pointing at the design she chose.

"You sure?"

"I am." She nodded, her voice wavering despite the façade of bravado she was trying to impose.

"Alright then."

He caressed the hair of the lover that lay next to him on the bed, still awake despite exhaustion. White sheets were tangled in between them, exposing his partner's delicious skin to the gentle breeze that came from the only window in the room and the light touch of his fingers. They were tired from their previous activity, having shared moans and orgasms, and it was with pleasure that he saw his partner reach climax twice in the span of an hour before collapsing on the mattress.

It was an ability few people possessed, and to a point, he himself was envious of the vitality his partner's had despite the age they both shared. He comforted himself by thinking that this was a much more meaningful encounter for the other one than for him, it was a cruel sentiment that he was not proud of, but didn't deny regardless.

"I gathered some information," he said, using the nails of his right hand to caress the back of the lover that faced the wall opposite to him, "regarding Orochimaru."

There was a silence that stretched and he made sure to caress the skin he had on reach as to provoke a shiver. "Oh?" Was the final response, indulged by his urgency and the touch.

"The Hokage didn't saw fit to stop the chünin exams peer Orochimaru's request," he started.

"It wasn't a request, it was-"

"A threat, yes, if you feel link calling it that." He licked his lips and stopped his ministrations as punishment for the interruption, the consequential grunt of displeasure was like music to his ears, "which is –pardon me, my dear, a stupid thing to do even under threat. It's clear that Orochimaru has a big scheme planned, and even Hiruzen believes it to be something to do with one or more allies, shouldn't it be better then, to cancel the exams and send those who are potential threats away?" He asked, "if they decide to attack still, then at least we will minimize the risk of other nations taking the opportunity to bring us down."

"But it won't give us enough time to prepare if an attack is to occur," there was a tired, almost bored tone on the voice of his partner, he wasn't unfamiliar with it, but it seemed out of place while discussing a future invasion.

"It's Suna." He declared suddenly, glad to see how the statement made his lover turn towards him.

"Well, that's inconvenient." Was the response, and he was glad to find out –although it shouldn't surprise him, the endless trust he evoked, never questioned how or when he got the information he provided, never doubting his capacity to obtain it or the veracity of it. "Should we tell the Hokage?" And in that moment, he loved the person calmly asking him for instructions, the submission and devotion was so clear that Inoichi couldn't bring himself not to care. Perhaps he loved the loyalty rather than the person, but he still believed it to be a pure, honest sentiment.

He kissed those parted lips with fervor, planting with each swipe of his tongue his own adoration and gratitude, it was everything he could give and luckily it was everything that was asked of him, so he kissed fiercely, leaving them both without breath. "You're the one who should decide, aren't you?" He planted a futile kiss on the forehead, "regardless, I believe that no, dear. We should not."

He made apparent what he was asking for, his partner turned his back on him once more with nothing but an exhale of air through swollen lips, it was almost mesmerizing to see how the resolution to help him once more became clearer and clearer on the tension in their shoulders. "Do you love me, Inoichi?"

It was not an uncommon question between them. "Again with those inquires, dear?" He replied, "I thought to have made myself clear about that subject, don't you have pride on you?"

"I do," there was shame, shyness, "but I can't help to wonder. It's a curse you put me on."

Inoichi sighed, "I care for you deeply, but I do not possess your heart, you're able to love me and love her. I-" He paused, kissed the warm shoulder that was reachable, "I care for you in a way I care for no other, isn't that enough?" His honesty was always appreciated, and he swore to never lie when they were both alone in a closed room.

His lover did not reply to his question, Inoichi allowed it. "Don't call me dear anymore, it feels… awkward." It was an exhalation told to the pillow, it carried tiredness.

"As you wish," replied Inoichi and gave more ministrations on the beautiful, marked skin as a reward, allowing them to sleep until morning.

A/N: The concept of the wires being used as chakra conductors is not an original idea of mine but it's presented in Naruto's manga. During the first stages of the Chünin exams, Tenten uses Wire Strings to move a mirror and copy one exam, and in chapter 49, Sasuke uses the same device to both move and control his kunais, soon after using them to set Orochimaru on fire.

A similar device is the wire attached to the Nuibari (Sewing Needle), the sword from one of the swordsman of the mists, who –like it says on its name-, resembles a needle and has a Wire String attached to the end. Since Sasuke was able to use his technique with precision on the wire he possessed, and with the knowledge of the existence of knives like Asuma's (Chakra Blades), that are "especial-made metal that can be infused through chakra flow with elemental chakra or even Yin–Yang chakra to produce added effects (…) the blades are able to absorb the chakra type of the user, and become the origin of a technique for the user", I believe it is possible for the device I envisioned for Ino to exist. I will like to clarify that this will not allow her a "power-up", is not a device specifically made for combat but for retaining an opponent and, at most, to help her get to higher places.

Like I said before, this is not a story focused on combat, this is just an idea that popped out of my head and that might be of use if Ino ever needs it, but it does not constitute the beginning of an OP, indestructible in hand to hand combat Ino Yamanaka.