Suspirium

The slap resonated on the walls of the space, echo bringing the humiliation forced upon him to the ears of those who shared a similar fate as him, those who were brought during the sunny mornings of childhood. As he was used to, the blow was hard enough to dislocate his jaw and it was forced into place again for a well-placed punch at the other side of his face, courtesy of his teammate. Danzo glared at Torune with eyes narrowed –the man tensed under the inquisitive gaze and made no further motions, the silence stretched until it became unbearable, it was clear that Leader knew the intention masked in cruelty.

"Oh, Torune," Leader said, walking towards him and placing his hand on his cheek, his thumb gently caressing his skin. "Should I punish you too?"

Torune didn't seem to relax on the displayed kindness, "yes." He replied, "for I've offended you, Danzo-sama." There was no doubt on his voice, he had accepted whatever discipline their Leader had chosen.

Fü blinked, felt blood gathering on his mouth that he did not spit, swallowing it instead –Leader didn't like when they fouled the rooms, he blinked, pain climbed on his eyelids and dark spots reached his eyes. He felt the rope trapping him to the chair burn his skin, yet no complaint, no words went through his mouth, he hadn't been allowed to speak. He indulged in his curiosity and watched the little puddle gathering at the corner of the room, he traced its origin to a single line of water cascading down the wall, and he wondered how far down they were.

Danzo-sama tsiked, and he returned his gaze to the floor, seemingly allowing Torune's infringement to go by unpunished. "Do not help him, he brought this upon himself." Fü allowed his head to fall further down in shame, watching Danzo-sama's feet reach his side. It was true –Danzo-sama told no lies, made no mistakes, if he said it was his fault, then there was no other one to blame. Danzo-sama's knees creaked when he lowered himself to look at him directly, a small smile dancing on his lips was witnessed when Fü raised his head, "didn't you, Fü?"

He nodded, the blood coming out of his wounds forced his mouth shut –yes, yes, if Danzo-sama said…

"See?" the Leader turned to look at his teammate, when he returned, it was with a proposition, "break his nose." Torune broke his nose, the hand that so gently tried to fix him now broke him to pieces –Fü didn't mind, their relationship had always been like this, ups and downs and a few broken bones between them. "After everything I did for you –everything I allowed you," the man shook his head, disappointment lingered in the sound of his voice and that hurt far worse than whatever physical pain they could inflict on him. "There's still loyalty for them inside of you."

No –no, Fü shook his head and closed his eyes forcefully when a new hit landed in the side of his face, Fü had renounced to his bonds long ago –too long ago, there was no more wish of protection inside him but for Konoha and Danzo-sama, he would never ever, put that in jeopardy for anything else.

A new slap, this time mockingly weak, reached his sore jaw, "who am I to you?" Danzo-sama asked.

Fü's mouth hurt, but it wasn't a pain he couldn't overcome, a tooth had become loose due to the constant beating, and he kept it in place with his lips, "Danzo-sama, Leader of Root, my leader." He rasped out, blood falling from the corner of his mouth.

The mighty leader wrinkled his nose and glanced at the sleeve of his tunic, where a single red point of Fü's filthy blood had dared to stain the cloth, "would you die for me?"

"Yes." He replied immediately. Watching his leader tap the dirty spot with his index finger, he stretched his hand towards Torune, who adoringly took it and cleaned the stain with a handkerchief. Fü couldn't help the jealousy bubbling on his tongue –he was raised to want nothing but be a good soldier and a useful servant; now, he was none.

Danzo wasn't looking at the man gently cleaning his clothes, focusing his gaze on the failure tied in front of him, Fü lowered his eyes in shame. "Would you die for Konoha?"

"Yes." It was automatic, Fü saw a silver thread of hope –of pardon, and took it without hesitation, his body leaned forward in his excitement and the rope dug itself on his skin, the broken rib screamed for his attention, yet he ignored it.

Danzo-sama licked his upper lip, his chin wrinkling and his scar deepening, "for Inoichi?" He continued, his tone of voice almost bored –as if he didn't care about the answer, Fü was almost hurt. He saw the man retrieving his hand from Torune, who passed him his cane.

"No." He shook his head once more, his neck hurt due to how much they had mistreated it –he deserve every single one of their punches, "never. I possess no loyalty towards him."

"Then why," Danzo grabbed him by the chin, the only thing that kept the pain from claiming him and pulling him under was him being used to it, "did you fidget in the roof when he announced his daughter's disappearance?" The man's countenance was a testament of his self-control, Fü knew how replaceable he was –he never dared to think of himself as essential, his life was to be dedicated to the survival of Konoha and nothing more. He'll die and would be burned and cried by no one. "Do you think I wouldn't notice, child?"

"Never, Danzo-sama—"

"Is this consequence of what was promised to you?" Danzo-sama asked, his nails digging in Fü's tender skin, moving his jaw from one side to the other and making his eyes water, "do you think I don't know what was signed in between her whore of a mother and your father? The marriage that was to be held in between the heir and the prodigy?"

"Danzo-sama…"

"Don't dare to interrupt," he said, "I know you visited her, I allowed it to pass without consequence since you had been just brought to me –is still your desire to mate with her after all these years? Don't you see how different you both are? How your control over their secret techniques are far above anyone else's? Why would you reduce your value that much as to desire her?" He cocked his head to the side, "or it isn't about her at all? It's your heart still mourning for that family?"

"No. Danzo-sama," Fü replied, his voice muffled by the effort it took to move his mouth when Danzo's hold remained unmodified, "I'm loyal to you."

Danzo blinked, his cane tapped the floor once, "if I asked you to teach me the Shintenshin no Jutsu, would you do it?"

Fü swallowed, this wasn't even a hard decision to make, "yes."

A pause, and then, "if I asked you to kill that woman, can I trust you will do so?"

"In an instant," Fü replied with enough conviction to believe it to be true.

Danzo's hold softened, and the pads of his fingers gently traced the marks his nails left behind. "These disappearances can't go unnoticed," he spoke while gesturing with his head to Torune, who understood the order and immediately untied him, Fü almost slumps forward before regaining his wits. Danzo continued, "something, someone, is targeting this clan –we need to find who; furthermore, we need to find the reason behind it. Should they try to steal their secret technique, such thing should not be used against Konoha…"

He paused, turned to look at Fü again, "If Inoichi dies, without an heir, who would become the new clan head? Oh," he played with his cane, watching it twirl in his hand, "wouldn't be a disgrace to have an entire family without a proper leader, Fü?"

Fü perked at the sound of his name, he nodded, "of course, Danzo-sama."

"In any case," the man turned, gave his back to both of them, Torune didn't help him stand, but he felt his hand linger slightly on his shoulder, "let's hope nothing happens to Inoichi while on his quest, and that his daughter is brought… alive." There was a smile on his voice, "if not, well," he paused, "perhaps you'll be able to visit your family again after all."

Konohagure no Sato – four months ago

It had been long since he was able to sleep in his own house. More often than not he found himself collapsing on hard, old mattresses in headquarters, too exhausted to care how much his back hurt once awake, another restless night under his belt. The department was small enough to not be too expensive, it wasn't common for him to reside there for more than a handful of days each month, and expending much money to rent a big space he would barely live into was counterproductive. He had been one of the lucky ones that Danzo-sama had allowed to live outside their private building, years upon years of loyal service had warmed his leader's heart to the idea, and the thought of him being most of the time away from the village's borders was what finally convinced him to grant him this wish.

It was dark inside his department with the curtains closed. He opened them with a quick motion and allowed the moonlight to bathe the small place. His bed almost shone under the faint light that came from the window, besides it, a futon that had been too expensive but that felt like clouds under his sore back and a petit dresser chest with another change of clothes and clean sheets. Three things were all he possessed, but to Danzo-sama, that was three things too many. He didn't turn on the light.

The smell of confinement was particularly strong in between the wood panels of the floor, he had been absent for more than a month, so he pushed the window open, Konoha's warm breeze taking away the scent slowly.

He knew that his leader sent people over, they weren't careful enough to clean completely their chakra trails, perhaps they did it on purpose to remind him that this was something that will never –never, be completely his because not even his life was his own to command. Whatever the reason, he had never told Danzo-sama of his knowledge in the same manner that Danzo-sama hadn't told him about his curiosity. If they found any irregularity, he didn't know, but he was always so careful, he always made sure that he left nothing of importance behind when leaving, always closing and cleaning the place of his presence. It has been almost a miracle that Leader had conceded one of his desires, he was not going to jeopardize it by relaxing.

He opened the chest and took out the sheets, dusting them in the open window, it was at no avail that he tried to fix the way they smelled, his only two options were to go to the lower floors to use the faucet and white soap in order to wash them, which will leave him sleeping in a naked mattress, or to use them as they were, unpleasant smell on his nostrils. He had slept in worse conditions, so he clothed his mattress and quickly lay, relaxing his spine against the cushions.

To those watching him, which he knew they were, this will just mean a precaution, he made a point of always stretching his senses as far as he could while on missions, even when the danger had long passed, and this concealed no different reason in the men watching him. He stretched and stretched his sensitiveness, closing his eyes, wave of invisible chakra mist touching and trespassing both flesh and bones, walls unable to conceal its presence. He had been called a prodigy amongst those of his clan and he had never questioned it. Now, with his weight rested on the mattress, his true intention concealed as a safety measure, he stretched in search.

She hadn't left the village, there were few times where he hadn't been able to find her in between the borders of Konoha's walls, signifying her departure, and it had filled him with unpleasantness. It has been a long time since he was able to sense her presence in the complete intimacy of his department, and he licked his lips with excitement.

It was impossible for him to shut her down completely; even when on duty –and, sometimes, in the company of Danzo-sama- he was able to pick up bits of her presence, she walked around the fog of his sensing without noticing the way it sent a shiver down his spine, forcing him to conceal his trembling breathing.

Wonderful, oh so wonderful she was, he had to bite his lips in order not to whisper it out loud, the confession reaching unwelcomed ears. How a person could feel the way she did, silk petals against cool skin, he still couldn't believe the existence of such chakra paths, her energy owned him in a way no other could. He had been told that his own chakra felt like pinewood and grass, a perfect flavor for his teammate's bugs, but what did Torune know about enticing flavors.

He had been promised her hand in marriage when he was a child still attached to his clan, before Danzo-sama recruited him. His father had been so sure of his prodigious mind that he talked to the Council to arrange the marriage if the heir was to be a girl, Himari –her father's cousin-, had been delighted at the thought, her belly round and huge.

However, it was a promise that was not destined to be fulfilled, soon after he was taken away after his father's tragic demise, and he was forced to forget whatever loyalty that lay to his family and clan.

She was five when he sensed her for the first time, her energy small as a hummingbird. He spotted her from the roof tiles he was perched on, sent to spy on one of the other recruits that was later on killed by his own hands –his loyalty hasn't been with Root, and that was unfathomable-. She walked with her back stretched while barking out instructions of a game he wasn't interested in learning, her strong vocal cords compensating for the week chakra pool she possessed at that age. Wonderful, he had whispered, quickly slapping a hand on his mouth, the man at his side glanced at him –he couldn't see the expression behind the mask-, and on the night that followed he was punished for his misstep, while she probably slept safely on her room.

Mesmerized by the feeling of her he ventured more and more into clan compound borders, defying Leader's patience, he was a rebellious boy back then with faint airs of teenage youth. He spoke to her two times in total, once when children, once during Suna's attack –he had seen her alone and fainted by the platform, how could he not run towards her?

When kids, it was her who sought for him when noticing his presence under the shadow of a tree –he had been careless, seeing her from afar, how could he focus in concealing himself?-.

He had confessed what was of her that he loved most, nose pressed against her ear, venturing the tip of his fingers on her skin. Wonderful, he could not stop the frantic beating of his heart, as close as they were, her chakra surrounded him and besotted his senses. She was just a child, her curiosity shone in her gaze. He was almost eleven years old and only able to hold himself enough to kiss just the corner of her lips, it hurt physically to watch her go, and he forbid himself from returning.

She awoke that day a desire that grew hungrier the more he aged, watching her change before his eyes, his senses. She was older now, an adult at her clan's eyes when granted the chünin title and he could, if allowed, touch her, get drunk in the feeling of her. Danzo-sama would have him killed if he knew to whom his heart belonged.

He felt himself growing harder at the feeling of her, a reaction that he used to loathe when younger. She was to be adored, touching his shame while thinking of her felt preposterous, but his body wanted it, his body yearned for it, and the more he forbid himself from the pleasure the worst it got. Just a peek at her energy was all it took to send him spiraling down again at her feet.

In the mattress of his bed he lay, hand deep on his pants and lips sealed trying to conceal the sound of his pleasure, he went at a slow pace, his hand stroking gently. Having her was a dream not to be fulfilled, he knew, but the deepest part of his mind couldn't stop wanting, he lived by that want, he pushed himself harder and forced himself to survive by that want. Oh, to touch her, to touch her will be his doom, he almost comes at the thought of his hands caressing her skin, pressing the tip of his fingers in the most intimate parts of her. Had he been able to stay in his clan, he would have, they had promised it.

To think about it, ah, it was almost too much, she –so perfect and gorgeous, commanding him to kiss her mouth, her neck, to wet her bosom with his tongue, he couldn't help to moan out loud, damn whoever that heard. How much he wanted – how much he desired to taste her, entirely, completely, to hear his name escaping from her lips during her release, to be inside her and claim her his with his seed.

He came almost screaming her name, gasping for air, wonderful as she was.

Konohagure no Sato – present day

His sandals sank on the mud and he stretched his senses, no one had followed him, it had been years since he had come and many more since he had used what Mother Nature now hid, they had destroyed the passage with Earth Justus many moons ago –further away moons than the one stained with the blood of many Sharingan and innocents children.

Inoichi stood just above what used to be the entrance that now was as tightly shut as any other piece of land that, unlike this one, lacked a tunnel. It had been such a worm task to build a space without being noticed, a difficult task that his clan fulfilled! Oh, he could still remember the face Fugaku made when he had told him, the man was completely surprised at this development. He never saw the Yamanaka as a clan worthy of recognition, but even he had to admit that flying under the radar of Root was a remarkable achievement.

And even he didn't know to which extent his ambitions stretched, Fugaku had no idea how far Inoichi was knitting his plot, such a convenience it was that he had to push so little to see the mighty old leader succumb to his people's wishes, Konoha had worked on Inoichi's favor while digging its grave. The realm had stretched so much the tread of their patience and gratitude that, logically, it snapped.

(Was Inoichi the one who pushed or was Fugaku the one behind his strings? Inoichi couldn't tell and yet, he chose to claim it as a personal victory, not even he had to know who the real mastermind was. It was such an exciting dance in between them!)

But the worst happened and, somehow, against all odds, Konoha came out silently victorious, Hiruzen called an emergency meeting that Inoichi was forced to attend. He was thankful, for there was such a fixation with the Uchiha clan that every other family passed as innocent with almost no difficulty, he sent a silent prayer to the roof of the building and hoped it reached the ears of grieving ghosts.

Inoichi was used to be vacant of emotions, but grief overtook his heart when he learned of the cleansing. Grief for his plan, grief for the mighty old clan that he admired and envied so much. Without the Uchiha, every clan will be far more scrutinized, and so Inoichi's dreams had to be put to rest.

'There's no easy way to say this, Fugaku…'

'Then say it as it is.'

'Itachi… he…'

"I did try to warn you, didn't I?" He exhaled and his breath broke the breeze around him, water drops landed on his mouth and lips, he swallowed and squinted his eyes when a particular powerful wind arose. Had Fugaku done something sooner… but how was he supposed to blame a man for succumbing to a treacherous heart? How could he expect a man to kill his progeny when the sole thought of harming Ino made him collapse to his knees?

Down, down, down stood once the passage he walked when younger, full of resolution, hope, and fear. Fear for his family and his life, fear for what he will have to endure. Fear of the treason he was committing and fear of betrayal. He worked so hard for things to change only for them to stand tall and mighty and immovable.

Yet, if he had to bend, shouldn't be for a clan with the strength of untamed beasts? Sasuke Uchiha shared both the blood of a leader and the blood of a traitor, which path will he walk? To whom will he plead loyalty to?

So much did Inoichi sacrifice, so much fire arose on his veins with one simple glimpse of turquoise eyes much like his own, such an innocent being should not go through the same.

Did Ino remember? If so, how much did she know of what he did during Suna's invasion? It had been so quick, such a glorious victory! He heard the birds sing and the trumpets of triumph play on his eager ears when Hiruzen's last breath abandoned his lips! He couldn't believe Orochimaru had accomplished what he had been trying for years!

I'll burn your legacy to the ground – he had spoken the words he dreamed since that meeting! Oh, how much he had wanted to climb the table and scratch his fake tears, his fake mourn of a clan Inoichi was sure he sent to kill! He couldn't help it, he mocked the mighty Third and allowed him to know, allowed him to see Konoha's future. Everything he and his predecessors built will be burned to his foundations!

Inoichi's remembrance allowed a laugh to echo through the treetops, a broad smile eating his cheeks and wrinkling his eyes, such passion he possessed, such desire to shred everything to pieces –a turn of events he never thought happening, something that –once again, brought him to the brink of hopefulness. And yet –!

Inoichi's smile disappeared slowly, for what came after stripped the previous triumph from its shinning, and now, once more, the precious light of his life had taken away the thrumming of victors, only allowing misery to climb through his veins.

"Where are you, my love?" He spoke to the earth below him, tears dancing and thickening his eyelashes before crashing down against the grass, he supposed that it was too soon to feel mournful, but when it came to Ino, it was difficult to reign his emotions. He was a logical man, a cold one, so many lovers begged for a little of his attention, for space inside his heart –Himari had tried to gain his love alongside his seed, yet he denied her –he denied them all.

But Ino –his precious innocence...

It was this easy to break him, he knew his lines were thinning, but he thought nothing of it –that damn Danzo, it was so obvious that his heir's disappearance had lightened his curiosity, and there was nothing worse than attracting such attention. He'd speak with the Council to prevent any slips –that damn child was at Danzo's service, and any mistake through either voices or their telepathic connection will bring the Uchiha's fate to their own doors.

Inoichi exhaled and cleaned the tears of his eyelashes, glancing at the sky and the sun shining low through the treetops, orange against dark green –in a few hours, he'll embark in his quest alongside his clan's best; Shikamaru had insisted on backing him with some of his forces, but that will only put a target behind his back –and Inoichi needed him clean of those still for his plan to work.

Let this be just a scare.

A/N: And so, the plot thickens.

Many things to point out: The second scene of Fü touching himself was written months ago when I started to write the second part of the story, I noticed that it didn't quite fit the pacing anymore (if there's something I don't like, it's the repetition of things, and in this particular chapter that happens twice when speaking about Ino and Fü's arranged marriage), but I couldn't bring myself to delete it or let it to rot. My question is, should I come back and delete it? Does it serve any purpose at all?

Second, Fü is the character that told Ino about her chakra (The Crow - CH Tick Tock) and the person that first saved her during the invasion (The Crow – CH Awake). It was a revelation that I wanted to do sooner, but I couldn't make it fit the story. Just in case, this isn't a Harem fic -not everyone will be attracted to Ino, I just enjoyed the idea of Fü being attracted to her -since they're from the same clan and marriages inside the same clan don't seem to be a weird occurrence.