For warnings and disclaimers, please see chapter one. Thank you
BOUND
Chapter 14
"You are one of the best…so get out of it if you need to."
A gasp was heard from the back and everyone looked to see Ino with Naruto and a panting Hinata, "Ino…" Sakura mumbles
"What is the meaning of this?" Tsunade asked frowning, "Naruto you are late! And the two of you," she said looking at Hinata who hid behind Naruto and Ino who didn't budge but kept on looking at Sakura, "You two are not included in this mission…"
Ino looked at Tsunade angrily, "I thought Sakura is not allowed to take dangerous mission?" she asked not minding if she was talking to the Konoha's leader.
"Ino…" Sakura said stepping closer to the blonde kunoichi, "Let's talk this out at…"
"NO!" Ino turned her anger at Sakura, "You are not going on a mission!"
"Ino…"
Tsunade sighed and shook her head, "Yamanaka Ino!" she said in her most scary voice that stopped the pregnant woman from eating Sakura alive. There was silence then Tsunade broke it by continuing her briefing. "I got doubts about this mission but we are bound by a contract, the six of you will escort our guests to their village and you all shall leave tomorrow at exactly 0500 hours." She said then looked at Neji, "Hyuuga Neji, you will be the leader and all of you will listen to him." She said it and looked at Naruto with warning in her eyes.
"Hey what did I do?" Naruto asked scratching the back of his head.
"And you Haruno Sakura," Tsunade turned her gaze on the pinkette, "This mission will need a well trained Medical ninja, so I got no qualms sending you with them…but," Tsunade sighed, "You are not in your 100 percent therefore, leave the fighting to the rest and just stand by for assistance, am I understood?"
Sakura nodded but deep inside her she knew that if there's going to be trouble she's not going to stand there and watch her friends fight while she doesn't do anything. She looked at Ino and knew that the blonde kunoichi saw through her. She watched as Ino's face scrunched and knew that there's something brewing inside the blonde woman's head.
"Am I understood Sakura?" Tsunade's voice was stern and the way she looked at the pink haired woman says that she knew what's going inside her head: that she had been there and done that so she better behave.
"Y…yes Tsunade-sama," Sakura meekly said and her eyes found Ino nodding her head.
The blonde sannin then looked at Ino, "And for you Yamanaka Ino," she said catching the other blonde woman's attention, "You are to report to the hospital everyday starting tomorrow at exactly 0800 hours."
"What?" Ino asked bewildered
"You may be out of condition to do missions but you are in a good enough condition to help out at the hospital a little in Sakura's absence," Tsunade said straight forward, Shizune who was behind the hokage cringed knowing that the older blond woman's reason was too weak for the other woman to believe. Sakura on the other hand sighed in relief, she was worried about Ino's safety if she goes out on a mission and this turned out to be a long one, so her mentor asking Ino to report to the hospital everyday was a sure sign that she is taking care of Ino's safety in her absence. Shizune too knew of this but both apprentices didn't voice it out.
"Sakura has not been coming to the hospital for a month now and the hospital had thrived without her! What can I do there?" Ino said frowning thinking that the hokage was just preventing her from doing what she wanted to do. "Besides I'm 5 months pregnant and I can't use chakra to even heal any scratches!" Ino huffed, "And I'm not a medical…"
"You will report everyday at the said time Ino if not," Tsunade's eyes narrowed, "I will be forced to remove you from the ninja service for good."
Ino's eyes widened at the threat, "That's unfair…"
Tsunade grinned, "I am the Hokage, I can be unfair all I want and no one can do about it." She waited for another rebuttal but none came. She watched Ino nod her head in understanding. "Okay, you all are dismissed, Neji," she once again looked at the formal looking jounin, "Give Naruto a rundown of the briefing here,"
"Hai Hokage-sama,"
Everyone dispersed hurriedly, "Hyuuga Hinata, please stay I got a special mission for you."
"Ha-hai," The Hyuuga princess replied timidly, looked at Naruto who made a thumb's up pose towards her before leaving the room with the rest.
Tsunade smiled at the timid kunoichi, "As for you Hinata, your special mission doesn't involve you going out of the village. I need you to keep an eye on Yamanaka. You probably had heard from Naruto the story about Sasuke's warning?" The small kunoichi nodded her head, "I want team 8 to be in this mission to protect Ino… but I don't want Ino knowing about this." Tsunade said sighing, "I will ask you to lead this mission and tell your team mates about it without rousing Yamanaka's suspicion. I want 24 hours surveillance on her."
"Hokage-sama…ano…do you think Ino-chan is in danger?" She asked worriedly,
The Hokage eyed Hinata with her most sincere look, "The guests had requested the strongest ninjas, but they refused to have our anbus, our high ranked jounins, they asked for a Class C mission but refused our gennins, let's all hope they are just quirky that way and this is not a trap to remove the people around Yamanaka. I want them to think that if this is the case, they have won." The blonde woman said, "So I leave this with your team, make me proud." She ended.
"Hai!" Hinata said now with full determination on her cute face.
"You are dismissed, and Hinata…"
"Yes Hokage-sama?"
"You are not to breath this out to anyone…not even Naruto, do you understand?"
"Hai!"
The Hyuuga princess turned and left the office leaving Shizune with her mentor. "Do you really think this is a trap?" Shizune asked in her usual inquiring self.
Tsunade sighed, "No I'm not sure, but it's too much a coincidence that a client would pin point the ninjas they want in the mission." Tsunade watched Shizune's head nod in agreement, "And that all the people he chose were the people mainly involve in protecting Yamanaka, to think they arrived at a time where Shikamaru, Chouji and Asuma are out of the village in a mission as well, I just want everything to be on the safe side."
Shizune nodded her head in agreement, "I'm sure Yamanaka will explode when she learns of this,"
Tsunade took a deep breath and let it out before speaking, "Let's hope that it won't come to that."
Silence
"How did you know about Sasuke's warning anyway?"
The blonde woman grinned, "I don't." her grin widened at Shizune's reaction to her answer, she then turned and walk passed the still gaping woman, "close your mouth Shizune, we don't want anything in there aside from my tongue don't we?"
"Tsunade!"
-0-
The ninjas that have been briefed are all walking along the path that leads them out of the Hokage's tower and into their respective houses, Neji briefing Naruto, beside him was Tenten who butts in from time to time. Lee was walking ahead of everyone, his usual cheerful demeanor missing, he was instead looking down at the ground while Sai was walking behind the green suited ninja, mind miles away from where he is. Hinata who was able to follow walked side by side with Naruto after handing Ino her bag of groceries and the now wilted bouquet, she then turned to where her teammates Shino and Kiba were supposed to be practicing, said good bye to Naruto and promised that she would be at the gate to send the teams off to their mission.
Sakura and Ino were walking behind, no words were exchanged yet.
"Ino,"
"It's so unfair of the Hokage," Ino said frowning, "How can she force me to do that?" she asked looking at Sakura. The smaller woman met Ino's eyes and smiled.
"You can believe me or not, but Tsunade-sama has your best intention in asking you to do that." Sakura said stepping closer to the taller woman.
"My best intention? That's bullying in my dictionary Sakura," Ino's frown deepened when Sakura laughed, "What are you laughing at forehead?" the blond kunoichi said angrily.
"Oh Ino really now, I'm not the hokage and I can see through that head of yours that you have some plan brewing in your head…probably something nasty like taking over Naruto's body to go with me in this mission…" Sakura looked at Ino with mirth when she saw Ino's eyes widened telling her that she actually hit the nail on the head,
"I didn't think that!" Ino said indignantly,
"Okay maybe not…"
"You're pulling my leg Sakura,"
"Okay okay!" Sakura said making an 'I surrender gesture' "But still, Tsunade-sama saw through that and aside from it, she knew that if I leave you alone I wouldn't be able to concentrate in this mission." Sakura sighed and then she looked at her hand that was taken by Ino while they continue to walk hand in hand, "I know you're father could look after you, but really, how many times have you ever listened to him or to your mother?"
"Oi…" Ino looked at Sakura's emerald eyes that were smiling at her, "Okay…a lot…" And she winced when Sakura's eyes told her that it's not just a lot, "OKAY I get what you mean! But report in the hospital at 8 in the morning?"
"Well it's the time she's there and Shizune, so it's a safe time."
Silence
"Be sure to come back Sakura because if you don't come back here, I'm going out there to look for you and then beat the hell out of you," Ino said seriously,
"Oh I'm scared!" Sakura said pretending to shiver from fear
"SAKURA!"
"Of course I'll come back Ino! There's no way I'm gonna miss you and baby Ino's progress."
Ino smiled, "Good," the taller girl pulled their linked hand causing Sakura to step closer still, they look at each other and then giggled, "I'm not going through with this alone Sakura, remember that."
"As if I'm letting you have all the fun,"
"Fun?" Ino said suddenly changing mood from happy to angry,
"Ahhh…no…that's not what I mean!"
"Then you better come back quick so I can show you how fun it is to carry a baby inside!"
"Okay don't get upset!" Sakura said finally eliminating the space in between them and tentatively wounding her arm around Ino's waist. Sakura relaxed when Ino didn't pushed her arms off her, "I'm just kidding Ino, I'll be back before you know it."
Ino looked at Sakura sheepishly, "Promise?"
"Ninja's honor," Sakura said raising her fingers in a swearing position
The blonde kunoichi nodded her head and decided that walking along the road with her in Sakura's arm must be something they should do often. "You can't stop me from seeing you off tomorrow morning then Sakura," Ino said with finality,
"Of course, I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Good," They laughed.
Passing Ichiraku, Naruto, Sai who was dragging Lee, Neji and Tenten went in. Before taking their seat, they looked at Ino and Sakura silently asking if they're joining and the two kunoichi shook their head no, turned their back on their friends and continued walking to their shared apartment.
-0-
"You think we'll succeed?" A man wearing an anbu mask asked another man who was wearing full body, stretchable leather garment made in black and gold. His face was covered by an oni-mask with matching small horn on his forehead.
"We have eliminated the threats…if we fail then I can't help but think of how incompetent you all must be and not worthy of sharing the glory of destroying all hidden nations."
"We could just sacrifice any child…why this unborn one? Do you have any idea who we are going against?"
"We can…but Moloch wants new blood."
The anbu mask wearing ninja rolled his eyes and could be seen if he wasn't wearing his mask. "What's so special about this one?"
The oni looking ninja turned to look at the persistent one, "A child born not from a man, something new for Moloch, he'll be pleased and will grant me power no one in this existence can ever imagine."
The ninja decided to just bit his tongue, he thought damn, what have I gotten myself into…this is lunacy
-0-
"So what did you buy? I hope you're not going to feed me peanut buttered rice again," Sakura said grinning at Ino who was busy arranging the things she bought at the convenience store. Then she saw the bouquet put in a tall jar with turbid water, "…and where did those flowers came from?"
Ino suddenly turned around to face Sakura when she noticed the jealous undertone from Sakura, she smiled, said nothing but just watch as Sakura started fidgeting,
"I was just curious!" Sakura said in defense
"I'm not saying anything Sakura,"
"You're looking at me funny,"
"I'm so not,"
"Yes you do!"
Ino did not reply instead, she took the jar with flowers and then put it on top of the table in front of Sakura, "Actually I made this bouquet at the shop for you…I was so angry learning you will go on mission I dropped it on my way here along with the groceries, thank kami for Hinata, she salvaged it though…" she sadly looked at the wilted flower,
Sakura's eyes brightened at the thought that it was actually for her and not some guy giving Ino flowers. She stood up, stepped closer to Ino and hugged the taller woman, "It's beautiful Ino, thank you!" she said then she released the woman and looked at the flower as if it was the best thing she had for life and this transformed Ino's somber mood to a happy.
"I thought you know…this flower suits you."
Sakura smiled and looked up to find Ino so close to her, then she closed her eyes damn…she's so close…I could smell her from here and damn, what the hell is happening to me…
-you know it, you want to kiss her-
I do
-then do it, what are you waiting for? Christmas?-
But…
-just do eeeetttt!-
But Sakura really doesn't have to do anything 'cause Ino leaned in and tentatively touched her lips to Sakura. The pink haired kunoichi opened her eyes, her face red and emerald met baby blues…
Ino's eyes widened and she tried to back up scared that she had made the smaller one angry for taking advantage of the pink haired woman's weakness, she was stopped by Sakura, "I…Ino don't…" Sakura didn't know what to say, she knew she have to say something but what? Making up her mind, she pulled the taller woman closer again and kissed Ino's lips, this time the kiss was not just a peck, it was something that transcends their feelings as friends.
The blond ninja closed her eyes as she savor the feeling of Sakura's lips on her, tears started welling up from her eyes wetting their lips, "Ino," she heard Sakura called, opened her eyes and realized the other woman had let go, "I'm not angry…I…I wanted to do that…I mean…" Ino smiled at Sakura stuttering, "Then shut up forehead," she finally said and pulled Sakura to kiss the woman once again. They stood there in the kitchen sharing sweet kisses for quite a long time until they decided that it was enough and they need food.
"That was…amazing," Sakura mumbles
"Yes it was," Ino replied before turning around to continue preparing their food, "But however amazing it feels to kiss you and be all over you Sakura, me and little Ino are hungry, we need to eat." Ino then smirked, "It would probably be fine for me to feast on you but Little Ino needs something more substantial…"
"INO!"
"You're so prude Sakura," Ino said laughing, then her laugh died down when she felt Sakura embraced her from behind.
"I really am glad Tsunade-sama is going to take care of you while I'm away because I might go mad out there if I leave you here knowing that you might be in danger."
Ino patted Sakura's hand that was lazily resting on her enlarged abdomen, "I know what you mean, but really it would have been better if she didn't include you in that mission." Ino said pouting, "I'm going to miss you a lot,"
"Me too,"
Silence as Ino continued making her master piece and then she stopped moving, "DONE!"
Sakura looked over Ino's shoulder and cringed, "That's a peanut butter sandwich or a sandwiched peanut butter…I can't tell where the sandwich is…" Sakura stopped when Ino pulled her arms from her, turned to face Sakura with a piece taken from the so called sandwich and put it inside Sakura's mouth, "…mmm this isn't…"
"That's gravy you were seeing and it's not just sandwich, there's roasted turkey on it, don't belittle my cooking ability Sa-ku-ra-chan!"
"Is there enough for the three of us?"
"Oh I made enough to feed even Chouji."
"Great…so…I could…"
"I'll wrap some for you to take on your mission, but don't share it with anyone!"
"As if I will!"
"That's my Sakura,"
The term 'my Sakura' puts a wide smile on Sakura's face, "I like that…"
And the two went on eating side by side