Author notes: This one is a little long before the sickfic part starts, so the chapter is quite long. Also, I created a new original character. I don't know why, I decided that not only Neji in his new life had a younger sibling, but Ino too.

Ino was focussed on her chakra, trying to execute what Lady Tsunade had asked her. Tsubane, Sakura and Hinata were all watching her perform what they had already done with success. The four of them were training under Lady Tsunade and Shizune to become medic ninjas. Tenten had tried it as well, but it was very clear she had no talent in being a medic. She was always more combat oriented. Nevertheless, this was an intensive training on top of what their respective sensei teached them, and clan training as well for Ino and Hinata. Today was an exam before they moved on to a topic Ino felt she'd excel in: plants used for remedies and antidotes, and also the poisonous ones and what to do to heal someone affected by them. By working with her mother, Ino had learned to identify many flowers already, and learned about their properties. Also, she had some blurry memories from her past life in which she had trained under Tsunade, so it made things easier, coming back to her when the Sannin or her assistant explained something.

The phone in Lady Tsunade's office rang.

"I'll answer it," Tsubane said, leaving the room. It was her house as well, after all. Maybe the call was for her.

Ino was inattentive for a few seconds because of the call, but she saved her exam just in time. Focus, Ino, you can fix this, she thought.

For the next few minutes, she forgot everything bothering her, giving her all for the exam, but then, Lady Tsunade interrupted her. Why? She had regained control and was just about to pass the exam with flying colors!

"Your mother is on the phone," Tsubane announced, giving her the object.

That explained why she was interrupted. Lady Tsunade promised her it wouldn't affect the result, she knew Ino had done well. Ino took the phone, frowning. She was annoyed, her mother knew about the exam! What did she want that was suddenly important enough to bother her daughter?

"I have to go help your aunt to take care of your cousin, they both are sick, and she's too weak to take care of him. So I need you to come over to the flower shop for the afternoon shift. Also, your little brother finishes the academy at noon today, and I'd prefer him not to come over to your aunt with me, to avoid getting sick too, so if you could watch him…"

Ino's first reaction was frustration. She had planned to hang out with the girls for the afternoon, before training with her father. She had been postponing clan training for a while, because the medic training was too exhausting, and her father wouldn't be happy if she asked for another night off once again. But now, she had no time for herself or friends, and she was annoyed. Also, she wasn't fond of watching her brother. She loved being an only child in her previous life, but in this timeline, Ino's parents had a son when Ino was five. Itsuki was in Hanabi's class, they had just started the academy recently. Ino decided that if she was forced to work, she wanted it to be on her terms. Her mother would really piss her off if she refused what Ino was about to ask.

"I know you usually hate when I have friends over to the shop, but can I invite Hinata, Sakura and Tsubane over?" Ino asked her mother. "We could even look at your flower encyclopedy to get us started with our next training."

"Alright, if you promise it won't impact your customer service, and because it's relevant to your current training. If Itsuki wants to invite someone, you can let him, but only one friend and that is if your friends stay with you to watch them. I know he'll become jealous if I don't give him a similar permission."

Ino smiled. It was the first time her mother let her do that. She wasn't sure if she'd tell her little brother about inviting a friend though, unless he complained. Tadashi and Hanabi were not known to be the calmest children around. She hung up and told the news to her friends.

"I can't hang out with you, though, my parents are away on a trip with other members of the clan and Neji and I are supposed to take care of our sisters. Neji has training this afternoon, so I'll be alone with his sister and Hanabi for a while," Hinata said.

Ino's mother had only said Itsuki could have one friend. Amaya was the nicest kid currently at the academy that Ino knew, and Itsuki loved her dog. While Hanabi was energetic, Amaya had a tendency to be able to canalyse her, and Ino preferred those two to Tadashi, who was a ball of energy that would definitely screw the flower displays. So she called her mother back, explaining the situation.

"As long as the Hyuuga are okay with it, and that no client complains about Amaya's dog."

"If they complain, that's their problem, guide dogs should be accepted everywhere, mom!"

She had heard Neji and Hinata reporting issues Amaya had, merchants not accepting her into their shops, especially when food was involved. It was so unfair. Ino had promised her friends that the flower shop would always allow her inside. It was not Amaya's fault if she was blind.

They all went to the academy to fetch the kids from school. Itsuki pretended to be mad about having to spend time at the shop. When he had started the academy, a few students mocked him because he knew a lot about flowers and loved them, claiming it was not man-like. Since then, Itsuki pretended not to be interested, even though it was clear in Ino's head who would take over the shop when their mother retired.

"I like the flower shop," Amaya said. "I love smelling the flowers and trying to guess what they look like. Will someone describe them to me?"

Tsubane laughed. "We have some study to do, but I'm sure Itsuki or Hanabi will be pleased to do it."

Ino smiled at her friend. Did she know just how passionate Itsuki was about flowers, when his friends weren't there? Ino knew her brother so much that she saw right through him. He was trying to hide how excited he was to tell all about flowers to Amaya. He was trying not to blush as well.

"I can describe them to you, Amaya, and even tell you what mom told me about them."

They spent the afternoon in the shop. Itsuki even helped the customers for Ino when she had her head in the books, trying to explain something to her friends. The only thing Ino couldn't ask her brother to take care of was to get the customers to pay, because he didn't know how to handle the register, and their mother wouldn't teach him that for a while because he was too young. Hinata also reminded her sister that the shop was not a playground, but the children mostly behaved well. In fact, when she noticed how attentionate Itsuki was to the customers, Ino felt like having a little brother wasn't as bad as she made it out to be most times. After all, she loved him, even though he drove her mad sometimes.

The afternoon went on, and they were just about to close the shop. Ino had put back the encyclopedies in her mother's bookshelf in the backstore and was at the register waiting for the last clients to finish before counting the money they made in the day. Tsubane was hiding in the backstore because Arashi was there to buy her flowers for their date the next evening, and Sakura was helping him pick some flowers out. Hinata was reading to Amaya just outside, enjoying the sun, and Hanabi and Itsuki were helping another customer. But that customer seemed unhappy. Itsuki was trying to calm the man down, but it didn't seem to be working. Ino was about to approach when she heard, "Where is the manager?" and she knew she had to step up. She took a deep breath.

"I'm the one in charge right now, what can I do to help?"

"How dare you let a dog at the entrance of the shop, and why are children working?"

"They are under my watch and they are helping because they like to do it. They are not employees, but Itsuki is very good at and loves giving advice for flower arrangements!" Ino said, trying to calm things down. Her little brother was a bit panicked by the man's behavior, and he deserved the compliment, because it was true. "And as for the dog, as far as I'm concerned, I can't and I won't refuse guide dogs. Amaya and her dog Yuri are always welcome here, they are friends."

He started yelling about dogs being disgusting, having to endure the Inuzuka clan in the village, and whatnot, and ended up starting to insult the Yamanaka family for having kids and children work for them. Ino saw red, she knew how much work her mom put into the flower shop, and while she was paid to work, her brother did it without anyone asking. Itsuki felt the same way about the client, but he didn't have the customer training Ino had gone through, and started yelling as well to defend his family.

"I don't listen to children, and you should know the customer is always right, young man! I want this bouquet free because he yelled at me!" the man argued.

"I'm afraid I can't do that," Ino said, trying to keep her voice calm even though she was raging on the inside. She didn't want to encourage bad behavior in her shop.

"Well, in that case, I don't want it, but it's going to be your loss!"

The man tossed the bouquet Itsuki had made him, taking a few flowers from the arrangement to throw them on the floor. Ino was stunned. Was he going to take them out one by one to show his anger? The man was acting like a toddler throwing a tantrum.

"Hey! That's not nice!" Itsuki said. He was insulted, it was his work, and his efforts to put up a nice bouquet. Ino sensed the frustration and disappointment in his voice.

"Not nice, you say? Take this!"

The man held Itsuki's head, and threw the flowers at him, almost forcing them into his mouth. Ino clenched her fist. She didn't allow such acts on her little brother. It was her job to protect and defend him.

"You get out, and I don't want to see you ever again in my shop!" Ino yelled at him. All her friends, who had been watching the scene, started to get into a defensive position, ready to kick him out physically. Ino knew the civilian stood no chance against her, Hinata, Sakura, Arashi and Tsubane, the latest coming back to the shop area, alerted by the commotion. Even Hanabi was ready to fight. He recognized their genin headbands and left.

"Good for him!" Hanabi said.

Ino tried to calm down as Itsuki was trying to spit out the flowers that entered his mouth. The place was now a mess.

"Would you all mind helping to clean it up while I manage the register? Itsuki, can you finish making Arashi's arrangement with Sakura? The fastest it's done, the fastest he can pay and I can close." She didn't want Arashi to feel rushed out, but Ino wanted to have time to make something to eat before her training with her father.

That's when Ino noticed some Lily of the Valley on the table next to them, and turned to Arashi, pointing to that bell-shaped flower. "This plant is highly toxic to animals, so depending on who you are gifting it to, I wouldn't put any in it."

Ino said that trying not to name Tsubane. She had a pig at home. But Sakura and Arashi looked at each other confused. Sakura talked first. "I saw a mention of it when we studied your mother's notes earlier, so I didn't take any chances." She turned to Arashi. "Did you add some afterwards?"

"No!" He then whispered, trying not to be heard. "I would never try to hurt Tsubane's pig."

"Alright, so who put them there?" Ino said. Her heart started racing. While Amaya's dog was extremely well trained, she hoped Yuri didn't take one to chew on. She asked Hanabi and Hinata to make sure, knowing Amaya would likely not know.

"I haven't seen Yuri eat anything other than the dry food we just gave her outside," Hinata said. Hanabi confirmed.

Ino suddenly relaxed. Likely it was one of her friends or Itsuki when they were with another client, and said client changed their mind about the flowers and they were still there. She put them back in their places, and washed her hands before going to the register, where Arashi was now waiting.

"Thank you to all, I've never seen the flower shop getting clean this fast," Ino complimented when Arashi left, and she started counting the money inside the register.

She miscounted and was about to try again, when she lifted her head up. Itsuki still had a broom in his hands, but he was doing nothing with it. Ino's heart suddenly filled with worries. She didn't even check on him after the incident. He must be hurt by the civilian's acts. She decided to approach him.

"Hey, I'm sorry about earlier. The man should have never talked to you this way. It's okay if you're shaken up."

He looked up, tears in his eyes, and hugged her tightly.

"Can you help me with the broom, I don't know why, I feel like my vision is all blurry, and I didn't cry I swear!"

Ino was tempted to laugh at his defensive attitude and her little brother trying to keep his pride, but Itsuki suddenly seemed pale to her. She noticed him stumble as he tried to move out of the way.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm a bit dizzy too."

Ino gulped. She suddenly recalled the man putting the flowers in Itsuki's mouth. She felt her heart racing suddenly. "Anything else? Itsuki, that's very important. Talk to me and tell me anything that feels wrong."

She didn't want to pressure Itsuki, but she couldn't help but think of all the flowers in the shop, and how dangerous some of them were if ingested. Itsuki started to scratch himself on the arm, and at first, she took it for his usual behavior when he was unsure of something, but that was until she realized there was possibly the start of a rash. She noted it mentally, but it was not a symptom that was very threatening for now.

"My skin is itchy, and I'm starting to feel weird."

Ino made a sign for her friends to approach.

"Itsuki, do you remember which flowers were in that man's bouquet? The one who yelled at you?"

He seemed to think a bit, but Ino had never seen her brother this unfocussed before. Ino's brain was racing. Her brother had likely ingested something bad, and she didn't know what could happen.

"Tsubane, go into mom's office. Grab the encyclopedia we were looking at earlier, it could be important. Take the wireless phone back with you, in case we need to call your mother for help."

She then turned around to Hinata. "I know you were all going home, but can you go into the Yamanaka compound? I don't have my aunt's number in mind, and we have to tell mom."

Ino gave directions to her aunt's house, but considering her friends had never gone there, she felt the Byakugan was the logical way to go, which was why she tasked the Hyuuga family specifically. Hanabi was happy about the sudden mission and looked to feel useful. Ino also took something that she assumed had her mother's scent on it, and gave it to Amaya. "In case it can help your dog to find mom."

Itsuki started naming a few flowers, but those were unharmful to humans. He finally admitted. "I wasn't able to spit all of the flowers, I think I swallowed a few by accident."

Itsuki had dropped the broom, and Sakura leaned to get it. She suddenly stopped. "There is some half eaten flower here, it looks like the one we wanted to prevent Arashi from buying."

Ino's heart sank. Itsuki didn't weigh much, so who knew how many flowers it took to cause problems to his system very badly. Those flowers were not only toxic for animals, it could hurt humans too. Tsubane came back with the book. "Sakura, look into the entry on Lily of the Valley in the book. I want to know if it'll pass on its own or we have to bring him to the hospital. Tsubane, do you think your mom is still home, or Shizune? I'd prefer having a medical expert here."

"I'm calling her right now."

Itsuki started complaining that his stomach hurt too.

"Vomiting is a common symptom," Sakura said, as she read the page. At this point, Ino preferred her brother to throw up if it meant his small body rejected the flowers and it would stop the harm.

With the start of medical training she had in this life, because she had forgotten a ton after traveling from her first, Ino made her brother sit on a chair and tried to use her chakra to get an idea of how much damage he had in his body. But Sakura and Tsubane were better at it than her, so Sakura took turns to assess the child. "His body is definitely reacting," she whispered.

Tsubane hung up the phone. "Mom isn't answering, but I think she might have a shift at the hospital starting soon. I think we should go there directly."

Ino nodded, and took Itsuki in her arms to carry him, thinking he was too dizzy to walk. They were not out of the door that he started projecting vomit on both of them. Ino was beyond disgusted, but she kept her composure. Her little brother needed her more than ever, and they didn't have the time to stop and clean themselves. His life could be in danger.

"I wrote a note for Hinata that I'll leave on the shop door, so that your mother knows where to find you," Sakura said. "Do you need help carrying him, or do you prefer we finish cleaning the shop and closing? I don't know how to close the cash register, but I can at least lock the door."

Ino grabbed the keys in her back pouch and tossed it at her friend, who returned right away to the back room, likely to get supplies for the vomit on the floor. Tsubane followed Ino, the encyclopedia in hand still.

They made it to the hospital, and Tsubane stayed with Itsuki while Ino went to the reception to explain the situation, giving the information they needed on Itsuki to register him in the system. Ino's mother soon appeared, which Ino was very grateful for. She was trying her best not to show her panic and stay strong for her little brother, but she was starting to get very scared as they waited, Ino holding a bucket next to Itsuki.

"Hinata told me he got poisoned from some lilies, how did that happen?" Her mother sounded both panicked and mad at Ino.

"I'll explain later, but I swear it's not my fault or his! Nor any friends."

Lady Tsunade approached them. "Let's take Itsuki into a room, I'll take care of him and do my best to get the flowers and its poison out of his body. Can you walk, buddy?"

Ino let Lady Tsunade leave with Itsuki and her mom. She let herself fall on a chair. She felt exhausted, and tears finally ran out of her eyes.

"Hey, I'm sure you did everything you could, he's in mom's hands now and she'll fix him," Tsubane said, a hand on Ino's shoulder. "You should go take a shower, you'll come back after, it might take a while before he's alright and they allow visitors anyway."

Ino slowly nodded. She knew she stinked from the vomit. Itsuki was in the best doctor's hands. She had to have faith that he'd be okay. "It was my job to protect him and I failed real bad…"

An hour later, her father got back from work when Ino left the shower, and wondered where his wife and son were. Ino explained what happened.

"I swear, if I know which customer did this to your brother, I'll have his head!"

"I hope mom will let me ban him from the shop. He really scared Itsuki. The man was yelling and no matter how I tried to defuse the bomb, it didn't work."

The phone rang. It was the hospital. Ino was almost scared to answer, fearing the worst, but she had to.

"Ino, your brother is allowed visitors now. He should be out of danger, but they are still monitoring him. He asked you specifically. He thinks you're mad at him."

What? How could she be mad at her brother for something he didn't do? Ino suddenly was relieved. "I'm on my way with dad."

Ino ran to the hospital. Most people who visited friends or family came by the flower shop to give an arrangement to their sick loved ones, but with what happened, it was the last thing Ino wanted to do. Instead, she stopped for a minute in a candy shop. She didn't know if Itsuki was allowed to eat sweets, but if he couldn't, it'd be something to look forward to when he got better.

Her brother was sleeping when she got there, but he did look less pale.

"Lady Tsunade neutralized what makes those lilies dangerous, but he's probably going to eliminate what's left of the toxin by urine. She told me he was lucky that you and your friends were with him. Had he been alone or with his friends and no one reacted…"

Her mother started to tear up. Inoichi approached both of them, before looking at Ino specifically.

"I wasn't very happy when you started training medical jutsu because you spend less time with me training, but I see some benefits now. One day, you'll be the one specialized in poison," her father said. Ino looked at him, grateful. He and she were not on the same page regarding the recent training.

Ino stayed in the hospital room watching her little brother's every breath until she was kicked out for the night. She kissed him goodnight, and left. She was more determined than ever on her training with Lady Tsunade now. It was not something she did to try to beat Sakura at, it was something she wanted, so she could help her own team, or anyone who needed it. While she preferred going on missions than staying back in the hospital, knowing medical jutsu could be helpful at any given time. She was even more motivated to train for the next subject with Lady Tsunade now.