CHAPTER 21: Une promesse non tenue se réalise toujours !
Ino woke up that morning with every tear duct empty and dry. Her face was crusted by last night's tears. She rubbed her eyes and sat up in bed, throwing her legs off the edge. "Sniffle I… I feel fine," she whispered as she lifted herself fully off her bed. 'I guess I have to go downstairs now,' she thought. She didn't bother to get ready as she walked to the first floor. She greeted her dad at the table and walked towards the door. "You have a visitor," her dad called out. Ino continued towards the door, and nudged it open; "Hi Ino," said the Uzumaki who stood behind it. Ino slowly looked Naruto up and down slowly. His bandages were removed, but his hands were scarred. Those hands held a bouquet of black and white roses. His face, she's missed his face over these past few days. "Hi Naruto," she said flatly. She walked through the door's threshold for the first time in days and joined him outside.
"So uh… how have you been?"
"Terrible"
"I'm sorry, I can leave if you want."
"No, No it's ok. I needed to leave the house eventually."
"Common, I want to show you something," said the Uzumaki, dragging his girlfriend through the village streets. Ino followed behind him until they reached their goal, a familiar bbq restaurant. "I don't want to go in there," said Ino. "It's good. Trust me," said Naruto as he walked in the doors; hoping for Ino to follow.
The pair sat down at their booth and just stared at each other. "Why did you bring me here?"
"Closure."
"That doesn't seem like you."
"No, it was Sakura's idea. She said she tried to bring you here earlier, but you refused."
"When did she do that?"
"Yesterday, but your dad turned her away."
"Oh…"
After the awkward silence subsided the pair were able to begin a pleasant conversation.
"I've missed you."
"I missed you too!"
Ino started to cry at Naruto's words, "Thank you sob thank you for the flowers sob thank so so much!". Naruto tried to console her and everything soon became much more pleasant. The pair stayed by each other's side for the rest of the day.
As Ino's heart healed, another started to shatter. Jiraiya walked into the Hokage's office with heavy eyes. "Oi, Jiraiya. I wasn't expecting you." said Tsunade. "Glad to see you too," said Jiraiya, "I just came to say goodbye. I am going to investigate Pain in the Hidden Rain." "Please let me send someone else." "No one else can get as close as I can." "Is this it? Is this how we end up?" "Maybe." "I'm sorry." "Don't be. If you're gonna do anything, bet against me. I know how you always lose your bets." Jiraiya left as Tsunade started to cry.
Later in the day as the sun fell below the horizon, the two blonds sat on the head of another. Lord Forth's monumental head on the mountain was a spot Naruto frequented. He always thought it was the best view in the village, and now he was going to share it with Ino. "I can see why you like it up here," she said, "it's so peaceful." "Yeah," responded Naruto, "whenever I come up here the rest of the world seems to melt away."
"Naruto."
"Yeah."
"I love you."
"..."
"Naruto?"
"I love you too!"
The pair were overjoyed with each other. Both wanting to hear what the other had said, just never had expected to say it so soon. Sitting atop a mountain in the night can lead to strange things. Neither realized where they were after a while, as the night took control of both of them. For one night they would act as one.
Across the nation, as dusk faded a lone amphibian swims in an oil black reservoir. The frog moved itself to a platform and belched a man from its belly. The man would spend his last day collecting one piece of information. A piece of information which would cost his life, but possibly save thousands. Jiraiya the Gallant would die a hero for the leaf and his disciple would keep his will of fire, his hopes, and his dreams.
CHOJI?!
Choji rested in his bed the night before the final phase of his second chunin exams with a heart on fire. He already knew who his opponent was going to be, a student of the old bloody mist. Their battle was splendidly violent, with Choji losing his arm in the first minute. The opponent didn't relax his attacks, but instead got more ferocious. He went for the other arm, but missed and slit Choji's neck. Choji lay dying in the arena, as the people in the stands booed. The battle was a shameful display for the mist and stained their reputation for all in attendance. No one talks about Choji's battle only his opponent. No one could ever forget his pasty white features or his enormous blade. Hozuki Suigetsu, the leaf would never forget that name.