Adult-FanFiction.org : Naruto

Facilitating Between Heaven and Hell	By : ChaCha92 Category: Naruto AU/AR > Het - Male/Female Views: 6098 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Don't own anything in the Naruto universe. Some dude in Japan does. Make no money on my stories either.

Chapter List
- 2
- 3
- 4
A/N: As mentioned in the previous chapter, this was originally in chapter two. Not trying to be repetitive, but I mention it again just in case someone jumps straight to this chapter thinking it’s the original chapter 3 titled ‘Facing the Truth.’ For more info on why I did this, refer to the revised A/N in chapter 2.

Naruto spends the rest of the night in her room thinking. Lying on her side, her thoughts aren't centered on Sasuke, or about how to tell Ibiki or anything related to her pregnancy. She spent enough time earlier discussing those things with Kakashi and Iruka.Instead, her mind focuses on Sakura. Never before has she been more aware of her former teammate's absence from her life than now.

It's been over five years since she has spoken to Sakura. Since before her suicide attempt when her pink haired teammate became incensed when she refused to continue chasing Sasuke with her. Despite all the failures by that point, Naruto had sworn to continue trying until they succeeded.
Until the day Orochimaru captured her.
Naruto easily remembers the details of that day as if it happened yesterday.
Team Kakashi was on a special escort mission when they had an unexpected encounter with Sasuke. Naturally they tried convincing him to surrender between trying to beat his ass into submission, but it just got messier when Orochimaru’s personal quack Kabuto entered the fray with a couple teams of Sound nins, scattering them far from each other with their deadly attacks.
Separated from the others, Naruto raced through the bamboo forest to regroup with them and was about to whip out several shadow clones when Orochimaru blocked her path. It was a great opportunity. Take down the bastard and Sasuke would finally come home.
She didn’t realize at the time it was a carefully orchestrated trap. Too intent on strategizing how to beat the son of a bitch, she failed to notice the snake summons striking at her back until the last second. She managed to dodge its deadly bite, but it gave Orochimaru the chance to wrap his body around her, squeezing until she couldn’t breathe. She remembers struggling to move her hands enough to grab a kunai or something before finally blacking out.
Later she learned Kakashi had no choice but to leave her in the snake’s clutches because Sakura had a concussion and Sai was injured by an explosion. Their injuries were too serious to go without treatment. As soon as he could, he mounted a track and rescue attempt with Yamato and Team 8. Despite their best efforts, it still took over a month and another vicious fight with Orochimaru's cronies to find and save her. Severely battered, but alive.
While she recuperated, Sakura visited everyday. Naruto recalls staying silent each time Sakura rambled on about how they’d definitely rescue Sasuke next time until she finally blurted out she wasn't bothering anymore. That quiet declaration threw Sakura for a loop and it took her days to digest Naruto’s words.
Recovering from her initial shock, Sakura adamantly refused to accept her teammate’s sudden change of heart and began a months long campaign of constantly badgering the redhead to at least explain why she was breaking her word.
Naruto remembers repeatedly telling her Sasuke was a lost cause, but the pink haired girl just couldn’t accept it. Didn't matter what they were doing or where they were, Sakura seized on every chance to demand answers, causing the tension to spread throughout the team until it built to a point of no return.
“Kakashi-sensei!”
The silver haired jounin reluctantly tore his eye from one of the best parts of the book he was reading to glance over his shoulder in time to see Sakura trotting up to him.
“Good morning, Sakura,” he greeted cheerfully, putting the book away so he wouldn’t have to listen to her gripe about him reading it.
“Good morning,” she greeted back. Becoming serious, she asked, “Are you on you on your way to see Naruto?”
“Maybe later,” he replied, confusion coloring his voice. “Why do you ask?”
“Because I was hoping you could convince her Sasuke isn’t a lost cause,” she answered earnestly.
“How about…no?” he deadpanned.
“Why not?” she demanded angrily.
He blinked in surprise at her furious expression.
Becoming serious, he looked her in the eyes before firmly stating, “Because I washed my hands of Sasuke years ago and, honestly, you should too.”
“How can you say that when you went along with Naruto’s conviction he could be saved all this time?”
“Until Naruto stopped believing she could save him, I believed she could.” At her confused frown he sighed. “Sakura, I never forgave Sasuke for all the attempts to kill my teammates and comrades. His actions resulted in injuries for all of us. And after all these years and all of our efforts, don’t you think he would’ve been swayed by now to repent and return home?” he asked, leaning in to peer intently at her.
“Okay, to a point I can agree with you,” she grudgingly conceded. “But why the sudden change? Naruto won’t say.”
“She doesn’t have to,” Kakashi pointed out while straightening up into his usual slouch. Seeing she’s confused again he blew out a harsh breath. “Sakura, you’re the only one questioning her decision. I’m just as in the dark about it as you are, but I suspect something happened while Orochimaru had her to change her mind. Honestly, I’m fine if I never learn the truth, but think about it. If there was anything worth saving in Sasuke, don’t you think he would’ve done something to help Naruto escape Orochimaru?”
Sakura gaped at him in shock before finding her voice.
“Y-you’re just taking her side!” she yelled.
“I’m not,” he bit out tersely. “You’re just refusing to accept Naruto has finally given up on Sasuke.”
He watched disinterestedly as she glared daggers at him before whirling on her heel and stalking away.
Later that afternoon he stopped by Naruto’s apartment, waiting patiently for her to answer the door after knocking. He didn’t want to attempt entry through the window and trigger her to attack him like last time with a kitchen knife. When she recovered her senses enough to get upset about attacking him in the first place she then proceeded to lock herself in the bathroom for an hour until he could talk her out again.
Fortunately, he didn’t have to wait long until the door finally opened.
“Hey, Kakashi-sensei,” Naruto smiled, stepping aside to let him in.
“Afternoon, Naruto,” he smiled back, entering her apartment.
As she closed the door he looked around in confusion at the mess. Chairs were scattered all over the room, one of them balancing precariously through the broken window. The table was flipped onto its side and the bed was completely upended, frame and all.
“Um, what hurricane blew through here?” he asked sardonically, angling his head to look at her sidelong.
“Hurricane Sakura,” she answered unconcernedly. “You just missed the show.”
Stuffing his hands in his pockets, he watched her step over to the window and pull the chair down.
“And why was she trashing your apartment?” he finally asked.
“Because I won’t budge on Sasuke,” the redhead answered quietly.
Sighing heavily, he pulled his hands out of his pockets and stepped over to help her right her bed before righting the table while she collected the rest of the chairs.
“And you let her because…?”
“Better my apartment than me.”
Despite keeping her head down while they worked, he could tell Sakura’s antics bothered her a lot. He was a little surprised at how calm she’s being considering Sakura obviously threw one hell of a tantrum.
“You should report her,” he stated, watching her get a broom to sweep the mess on the floor from the broken plates and glassware into a neat pile.
“Sakura is just being Sakura and isn’t going to change anytime soon,” she shrugged, not looking at him as she grabbed a dustpan. Crouching down, she swept up the pile before hesitantly adding, “Just a heads up, but I’m putting in a request to Baa-chan to be removed from the team.”
“What?” he asked, unsure if he heard right.
“I,” she began, faltering a little. “I just think it’s better if I go.” After emptying the dustpan, she puts it and the broom away in the small utility cabinet then pulls from the same space a piece of plywood.
Arching a brow, he watched her cross the room to the window over her bed. Stepping onto the mattress she fits it into the vacant space.
“Why do you already have a piece of plywood that perfectly fits?” he asked nonplussed.
“For all the times someone thought it was a good idea to air out my apartment without opening the window while trashing it,” came the pat reply.
Stepping off the bed she turned to face him again.
“You can’t tell me our fighting isn’t affecting the team, Kakashi-sensei. I’m not going to change my mind and Sakura isn’t going to accept it. I just think it’s better if I go,” she finished quietly, her gaze dropping to the floor.
“No.”
Snapping her head up, she blinked in surprise at his succinct answer. Recovering, she opened her mouth in protest before he cut her off.
“You’re not leaving the team,” he stated, boring into her eyes. “If anyone should leave the team, it’s Sakura. At least, temporarily,” he quickly amended at Naruto’s stricken expression. “This is between you and Sakura, but I think she needs a break and Tsunade-sama wants her to specialize further in her medical training. I can get Yamato as a permanent replacement. Just let me convince her before you put in your request, okay?”
Naruto considered it before reluctantly nodding.
“If you can’t convince her, I’m going to put in the request. We’ll only keep damaging the team,” she pointed out.
“Don’t worry, Naruto. You won’t have to,” he smiled, reaching up to ruffle her hair before leaving her to finish cleaning up.
Kakashi had to give himself a day to calm down to keep from throttling Sakura instead of convincing her to leave the team. He knew he could do it since she was much easier to manipulate than Yamato. He cornered her at the hospital on a particularly busy day, using that to his advantage and emphasizing she could do a lot more good specializing while giving some much needed space between her and Naruto. He implied that Naruto might be willing to explain her reasons for giving up on Sasuke later and then they could go back to being teammates, supporting and helping each other. Sakura considered it before agreeing to leave his team.
He believed the matter settled. By the time he filed the official paperwork removing Sakura from the team and replacing her permanently with Yamato, he was certain she had left Naruto alone to focus on training.
He believed that until a week later.
With nothing better to do he wandered over to the Tower, encountering Iruka as she walked out of the Mission Room to file completed mission reports in a storage room. He smiled and waved in greeting as they approached each other from opposite ends of the hallway.
"Morning, Kakashi-sensei," she greeted stiffly.
"Morning, Iruka-sensei," he blithely greeted over the top of his ever present Icha Icha.
He was a little confused when she stopped in the middle of the hallway, staring at him intently. Arching a silver brow, he waited for her to say whatever it was so he could continue on his way to get a mission.
"Would you please help me take these to the filing room, Kakashi-sensei?” she asked. “I'd like to talk to you privately afterward."
Kakashi's lone eye widened slightly in surprise, then realization lit up his iris. He sighed resignedly knowing what, or rather whom, Iruka wanted to talk to about. Nodding, he took some of the reports from her arms and followed her to the end of another hallway until they arrived at a small, out of the way storeroom. It didn't take her long to finish her task before she turned to face the silver-haired jounin as he patiently slouched against one of the filing cabinets.
"I'm sorry for bothering you, Kakashi-sensei," Iruka began with her arms crossed across her chest. "I just wanted to let you know you're a failure as a sensei."
Dumbstruck, Kakashi blinked at the academy sensei while trying to process what she just said.
"I understand your desire to treat your students equally and not favor one over the other, or get involved in their personal arguments,” she relentlessly continued. “They're a team and there will be strife. As teammates they have to be able to work out these issues on their own." Her gaze hardened as she glowered at the slightly taller man. "However, that doesn't mean you should allow one to browbeat the other."
Iruka stepped closer into his personal space before continuing.
"Sakura has the right to disagree with Naruto's decision. However, she has no right to continuously harass her over it. She clearly isn't thinking rationally or behaving maturely as a chuunin should. It's up to you," she emphasized, uncrossing her arms and jabbing an accusing finger in his face, "as their team sensei and captain, to remind her that her behavior is inappropriate regardless if she’s no longer on the team."
Kakashi remained unperturbed, until her next statement.
"You’re such a hypocrite,” Iruka shakes her head at him in disgust while placing her hands on her hips. “You advocate teamwork and supporting comrades while idly standing by and allowing Sakura to spit on those beliefs because you know damn well Naruto doesn't deserve the shit being dumped on her."
Once Iruka's initial anger abated, she took a deep breath to calm down somewhat while Kakashi absorbed her words.
"I tried getting Sakura to back off," she continued quietly, dropping her hands to her sides and looking disappointed in her former student. "She was dismissive, harping instead on how she's just reminding Naruto of her promise."
Iruka's intense gaze bored into Kakashi's eye.
"It's clear she mistakenly believes Sasuke will repent his sins the moment he's brought back and will be forgiven,” she tersely stated. “When reality crashes in, do you honestly think she won't blame Naruto? Do you think Sakura will let it go without seeking some form of retribution? Even if things turn out the way she believes they will, does that make her behavior acceptable?"
When Kakashi doesn’t answer, she blew out a frustrated breath.
"If you aren't going to do anything then I'm going to lodge a harassment complaint against Sakura on Naruto's behalf. We both know damn well Naruto would never do it because she's taken your lessons on teamwork to heart and to the extreme. In her mind, reporting Sakura would be going against those lessons."
Iruka glared hard at Kakashi accusingly, causing him to shudder inwardly.
"You need to grow a spine and reeducate your other student on those lessons," she finished definitively before stalking out of the storage room, leaving him alone with his thoughts.
Kakashi spent the next couple of days stewing over Iruka's words. However, despite her verbal dressing down he still tried staying on the fence. Not that he didn’t agree Sakura was going too far, especially remembering what she did to Naruto’s apartment, so he decided to speak to her.
“Kakashi-sensei!” she stated in surprise at seeing him on her doorstep as she left her home for the hospital.
“Good thing I caught you,” he replied easily. “Heading to work?”
“Yeah. Did you need something?” she asked, frowning slightly in concern.
“To talk to you, so I’ll walk with you.” At her nod he fell into step next to her. “Sakura, I thought you leaving the team would give you and Naruto some space before you tried finding out why she doesn’t want to go after Sasuke anymore, yet you’re still harassing her at home about it.”
“Who said?” she demanded indignantly.
“I’ve seen your handiwork,” he drolly replied. “Don’t you think it’s a bit much to throw around her furniture and break her windows?”
“If she’s not listening I’m going to get her attention somehow,” she huffed, crossing her arms.
“Naruto always listens to you, but it’s you who doesn’t like what she’s hearing,” he pointed out. “Why are you demanding answers when she’s not ready?”
“She owes me a reason why!” she snarled, stopping in her tracks to whirl on him.
“She doesn’t owe you anything,” he coldly stated, narrowing his eye at her. “Not after fulfilling her promise to try bringing Sasuke back for the past five years with lots of blood, sweat and tears. For being the smartest girl in your class you’re dense not to recognize a lost cause. Get over it, Sakura. Accept Naruto isn’t going to pander to your whims anymore.”
“And accept you’re no longer my team captain and was never much of a sensei,” she sneered. “Your advice sucks. I’m not talking to you about this anymore.”
Turning on her heel she stalked away, leaving a very disappointed and angry Kakashi glaring after her.
Sighing into the darkened bedroom, Naruto shifts onto her back, throwing her arm over her eyes.
Over the years Kakashi and Iruka gradually filled in all the blanks outside what she had experienced with Sakura at that time. During one conversation, he shamefully admitted it wasn’t until she finally broke and tried killing herself that he realized how intense Sakura’s campaign was.
So finally fed up with her antics and still seething over her venomous words in the waiting room, he decided to take his former student to task when he knew Naruto would live and he was less likely to physically attack her again.
Since Naruto survived her suicide attempt and was safely recovering in the psyche ward, Kakashi sought out Sakura in the hospital. The look of pure terror flashing across her face didn't bother him when he approached as she abruptly broke off chatting with Ino in the hallway. He mused that she still reacted like a genin if she felt losing a clump of hair and having her sensei draw a kunai on her was terrifying.
“Good afternoon, ladies,” he greeted both wary teens pleasantly. Not waiting for a response, he turned to Ino. “I’d like to speak with Sakura privately for a minute, so could you stay close by just in case?” he asked.
Ino relaxed at the look in Kakashi's eye, knowing he had no intention of hurting Sakura as she nodded her agreement. Seeing Ino was okay with the situation, Sakura reluctantly led Kakashi to a nearby exam room and closed the door behind them.
Kakashi eyed his nervous looking former student for a moment.
"I've been learning some interesting things since Naruto's been hospitalized, Sakura. Although I’m not surprised, why are you still badgering Naruto to pursue Sasuke?"
Sakura's wariness immediately vanished as indignation surged through her. Placing both hands on her hips, she glared up at her former sensei.
"I'm not badgering that baka! Naruto made a promise to bring Sasuke home! No one forced her to make that promise and she harps all the time about never going back on her word. It's not much to ask for a damn good reason why she wants to break such an important promise, especially when Sasuke's life it at stake!"
“If Sasuke were that close to danger, he’d be dead already, Sakura,” he drolly pointed out. “But you’re not just demanding answers you really have no right to. I’ve learned you’ve gone so far as to break into her apartment to leave threatening notes and vandalize it when she’s not home.”
Scrutinizing the uncomfortable looking medic, Kakashi let the silence stretch out before stepping closer to loom in her personal space.
"I've got to admit, Sakura, I'm ashamed to call you and Sasuke my students," he intoned, his voice low. "I never thought I'd have two traitors for students. Sasuke for abandoning the village and attempting to murder his own teammate who was doing her sworn duty, as a Leaf nin and his friend, to stop him from making a stupid mistake."
“He’s not…” Sakura tried protesting, but Kakashi took another step closer, causing her to lean back a little.
"You’re a traitor because not only did you abandon Naruto as a teammate and abuse her rights, you’ve spit on the founding virtue all Leaf nins should cherish: teamwork and camaraderie."
“But Kakashi-sen…”
"You owe Naruto a hell of a lot more than she owes you,” he cut across her. “You’ve become worse than trash and I don’t ever want you back on my team. And if he’s ever caught, I’ll suggest Sasuke’s punishment should be to have his eyes painfully gouged out and stomped on before slowly bleeding to death while staked through the limbs to an anthill."
Kakashi's murderous gaze emphasized his feelings, causing Sakura to tremble in fear.
“If I come across the traitor again, I'm going for the kill. I won't let Naruto chase him even if she changes her mind unless she says she wants to kill the bastard."
Sakura stared back at Kakashi in wide-eyed disbelief as he growled out his final warning.
"Stay the hell away from Naruto. If you even look at her cross-eyed, I’ll put you in traction. I barely consider you a comrade, but I'll be damned if I allow you to hurt her or anyone else on my team again."
“You can’t…” Sakura feebly tried protesting, but he was already walking out of the exam room.
“The trash is still breathing,” stated cheerfully to Ino as he passed her in the hallway.
She gaped after him in confusion for a moment before hurrying into the exam room.
Cringing, Naruto drops her arm heavily on the bed before rolling onto her side again to stare out the window at the frigid night sky.
When she found out about their falling out, Naruto insisted to Kakashi that Sakura's antics weren't what broke her. He just smiled and ruffled her hair like always, pointing out her behavior made it inevitable.
Naruto never interacted with Sakura again and they avoided each other as much as possible. Sakura took it a step further and gradually cut herself from all the rookies, feeling they unfairly took Naruto's side and ignored the fact they all had pretty much given up on Sasuke long before the redhead did.
Sighing heavily into the stillness she particularly regrets that her situation with Sakura resulted in killing the longtime friendship between the pink haired girl and Ino.
Moving from one position to another, Ino was in her zone stretching her muscles while patiently waiting for her sparring partner to show up. Movement at the entrance of the training field caught her attention and she straightened up to smile and wave at her pink haired friend crossing the open expanse toward her. Her smile melts off at the frown marring her best friend’s face and the clear tension in her body.
“What’s wrong, Forehead?” she asked in concern when the other teen was close enough.
“What isn’t wrong?” Sakura seethed. “It’s unbelievable. I just got my ass handed to me by Tsunade-shisou.”
Sakura began pacing and doesn’t notice the look of realization dawn on the blonde’s face before morphing into guilty understanding.
“I mean it was bad enough Kakashi-sensei attacked me in between being insulted and denigrated by him after taking Naruto’s side, but he’s filed a report listing any little inconsequential thing he could ever think of I’ve done to the baka and asked I be kept permanently off the team!”
Sakura stopped briefly to give her friend an incredulous look before throwing both arms up in exasperation as she resumes her pacing.
“Even better, turns out Iruka-sensei beat him to the punch and filed a harassment complaint on the baka’s behalf! Yeah, I’m not surprised she’d do that because Naruto was always her favorite and she didn’t get our relationship. But I didn’t treat the baka any different than I always did!” she yelled in frustration, not pausing in her pacing. “Then I hear she got on Kakashi-sensei’s ass saying I was the one going overboard, convincing him to file his report! So Shisou got pissed at all the misunderstandings and lies and busted me down to genin!”
When she passes close to Ino again she stops and grabs the front of her shirt to pull her in close.
“According to Shisou I have to relearn my duty as a Leaf shinobi and some humility by re-taking some academy classes. At 18 I have to go back to the academy!” she shouted, giving Ino a good shake and causing the blonde’s head to surge back and forth violently. “I’ll have to pass before joining a genin team that maybe is short a member to test for chuunin and I can’t continue my specialization studies, much less work as a medic until I become one again!” she yelled again, giving Ino another shake before pushing away to resume her pacing.
“Just to earn a living I’ve got to work as a nurse’s assistant,” she growled in frustration. “You know that’s doing the grunt work like cleaning up puke and bedpans!”
Stopping again in front of Ino, she leaned in while wagging a finger in her face to emphasize her point.
“Then to top it all off, Shisou issued a restraining order against me! I can’t approach or interact with Naruto and I can’t say anything about the baka! If I do, I’ll be dishonorably discharged! It’s unbelievable!” she yells, throwing her hands up again.
“It’s so unfair!” she declared, resuming her pacing again. “I’m being ganged up on when I’m not doing anything wrong! Naruto’s the one who lied! She should be re-taking those academy courses since she’s the original dead last! That’s after she stops acting like a looney and trying to kill herself because she can’t admit she’s a lying idiot,” she sneered viciously.
“Forehead, stop!” Ino commanded.
Sakura immediately stopped speaking and pacing, frowning in confusion at her friend. The blonde takes a deep breath before adopting a patient tone.
“Look,” she began, holding up a placating hand. “I get you’re frustrated and need to vent and I’m willing to listen, but you can’t complain about Naruto.”
“Why not?” Sakura demanded, placing both hands on her hips. “It’s all her fault!”
“Whether you believe it’s her fault or not, Forehead, Tsunade-shisou ordered me to report any violations of that gag order she slapped on you, regardless of our friendship,” she explained patiently.
“Wait, you’d report me?” Sakura asked in disbelief.
“It’s a standing order,” Ino shrugged apologetically before her head snapped suddenly to her right, her left cheek stinging painfully.
Turning to look back at Sakura in stunned disbelief, she reached up to gingerly place her left hand against her throbbing cheek.
“You backstabbing, traitorous bitch!” Sakura yelled, bitter tears stinging her eyes. “Just like with Sasuke!”
The pink haired teen didn’t get the chance to continue ranting as she was sent sliding several yards on her back from the painful punch to her jaw.
“I’m so sick of your fair weather friendship!” Ino growled, stalking toward her stunned friend as she propped herself on her elbows. “Stop blaming others when things don’t go your way. You’ve got a huge responsibility in what goes wrong in your life. Deal with it!”
Quickly clambering to her feet, Sakura snarled in frustration while charging Ino. However, the blonde promptly reminded her of who had bothered taking her training seriously in the years since their first chuunin exam, demonstrating how much she’d improved.
Infusing chakra into her fist, Sakura attempted to nail Ino with a right hook. The blonde gracefully arched back as the deadly blow missed her by centimeters then promptly straightened up and twisted to her left to plant her right knee painfully in Sakura’s abdomen. Doubling over from the pain and the wind being knocked out of her, she didn’t see Ino clasping her hands together while raising them high only to bring them down on hard on the back of her head, causing her to face plant into the dirt.
Blindly reaching out, Sakura found Ino’s ankle and yanked upward while starting to scramble to her feet. Going with the movement, Ino flipped back onto her hands, swinging her free foot into Sakura’s face, causing her to roll away awkwardly from the blow while clutching her nose in agony.
Standing a few yards away with her arms crossed, Ino shook her head disappointingly as Sakura propped herself up on one hand and knees while clutching her bleeding nose with the other.
“Listen, Sakura,” she began firmly. “I’m not telling Shisou about you spouting off about Naruto or about hitting me. I’m even going to conveniently forget about the chakra infused punch.” Her eyes narrowed dangerously. “But I will if you try attacking me again.” At Sakura’s glare she raised a finger to emphasize her point while arching a brow. “You slapped me first when I was only telling you what my orders are. For once you’re gonna listen because I’m not going to repeat myself.”
At Sakura’s continued silence through her angry glare Ino crossed her arms again.
“You need to grow up and leave Sasuke behind. You’re wasting the best years of your life on someone who could care less about you and creating pointless drama over saving his worthless ass. You’re pushing away everyone who accepted and cared for you, all for a silly childhood fantasy. You’re not being singled out. You’re not being picked on or unfairly persecuted.” Ino took a step forward, her pale blue eyes boring into Sakura’s. “I’m not going to be there when you finally pull your head out of your ass and realize how wrong you’ve been and feel like being friends again. I’m done being your emotional dumping ground and punching bag.”
With that, Ino strode out of the training ground, leaving Sakura behind for good.
Ino was upset Sakura broke off their friendship again, but it also came as a relief. She no longer had a front row seat to the traveling drama circus known as Haruno Sakura nor did she have to put up with the constant snide references to her past mistakes and being blamed for things that weren’t her fault, like breaking up their friendship the first time. Ino found it ironic that Sasuke would again be the end of their friendship.
As the weeks drifted by, Ino simply watched from a distance as her former friend reaped what she sowed with her antics and attitude.
Sakura blamed Naruto for everything. She demonstrated zero compassion for her former teammate as she struggled to recover in the psyche ward. Being as much in the dark as her father and Tsunade, Ino knew that whatever drove Naruto to her current state was catastrophic.
It didn’t take long after their falling out for Sakura to manage to completely alienate herself from the rest of the rookies. Understandably the pink haired girl never got as close to the others as she did Ino and her teammates, but there was still a friendship with them. However, Sakura took it as a personal insult when they all corrected anyone who believed her bullshit about Naruto before the gag order was implemented.
Shikamaru and Choji were the ones to kick that off and set the precedent by taking any villager aside to correct their misconceptions that Sakura was an innocent victim of Naruto’s malice. Ino quickly realized her two teammates were right to make the effort for Naruto. So she decided to do her part, especially after her falling out with Sakura.
Needless to say, Sakura was livid.
As she found out what they were doing, she’d tell each of them off. Well, as much as she could without violating the gag order, before cutting them out of her life. No one among the rookies considered it a great loss, though. They couldn’t make her see what she didn’t want to and everyone understood all the choices she made were hers alone. Naruto’s suicide attempt was a shocking wake up call and they would all do their part to never give her another reason to try again.
It was an immense relief to everyone when Kakashi had somehow broken through to Naruto and she was eating and speaking again. So when Inoichi finally started allowing more visitors, Ino gladly joined the other rookies in visiting the redhead regularly.
“Hi, Naruto!” Ino cheerfully greeted, entering the common room of the psyche ward.
“Hey, Ino,” Naruto warmly greeted back, folding up the letter she was reading.
Ino noticed she was wearing the pale orange bathrobe Iruka got her over the hospital yukata as she eased into an armchair similar to the one the redhead occupied near the windows.
“Where’s Kakashi-sensei?” Ino asked, glancing around.
“On a mission.” At Ino’s arched brow Naruto rolled her eyes. “I had to practically beg him to take one. He was driving me crazy. He was getting cabin fever even though he could come and go as he pleased and was starting to annoy the hell out of me.”
“I’m kinda surprised you aren’t the one suffering from cabin fever,” the blonde smirked in understanding. “You’re stuck in here since dad and Tsunade-shisou aren’t letting you out of here.”
“Yeah, well, I’m okay with not getting out yet,” Naruto admits in a quiet voice, surprising her. “I’m not ready to leave.”
Briefly considering it, Ino nodded in understanding.
“That really shows how much you’re progressing, Naruto,” she pointed out seriously. “A lot of patients aren’t that honest with themselves and lobby to get out a lot sooner than they’re ready for, which can be disastrous to their recovery.”
“I promised Iruka-sensei and Kakashi-sensei I’d work through this.” Reluctantly in a soft, guilt laden voice she added, “I see how much I hurt them. I don’t ever want to hurt them like that again.”
Both teens let the silence stretch out comfortably. Noticing the letter still grasped loosely in Naruto’s hand, Ino decided to change the subject.
“Who wrote you?” she asked, nodding at the letter.
Glancing down at her hand, Naruto smiled slightly as she briefly held it up.
“Gaara,” she replied. “When I started talking to your dad, I realized I should probably write him and let him know what happened.” Closing her eyes briefly, she took a deep breath. “It was hard telling him, especially in a letter, but he deserved to hear it from me and not by accident during one of his visits.”
“Isn’t he due to arrive soon?”
“Yeah, in another two weeks. I’m just not sure I want him to see me in here.”
“How’d he take it when you told him about your suicide attempt?”
“As expected, hard. Even in his letters I can tell, but he’s been supportive and encouraging,” she smiled softly before frowning in thought. “I haven’t told him about Sakura. I’m actually scared for her because he’d probably go after her and I’m not talking a few cuts and bruises. No matter how I’d spin it, he’d be beyond pissed and try to kill her,” she explained fearfully. “I just don’t know what to do about it.”
Ino considered the situation before addressing the redhead’s concern.
“I’ll bring it up to shisou. Maybe Sakura can take the graveyard shift while Gaara is here so she’d be sleeping the day away and not run into him. Not like she can take a mission anyway,” she finished blithely.
“Why can’t she go on a mission? Even if it’s a solo one it’d keep her from shooting off her mouth to him,” Naruto reasoned. Noting Ino’s stricken expression, she arched a questioning brow. “Ino?”
Taking a deep breath, Ino held Naruto’s gaze.
“Because of Sakura’s antics towards you, the vandalism, the harassment, the threats and the fact she’s an immature whiner who can’t take responsibility for her own actions and can’t keep her big mouth shut, Tsunade-shisou busted her down to genin.”
“What?” Naruto gasped in surprise.
“Yeah,” Ino sighed wearily.
She spent the next few minutes detailing Sakura’s punishment and exactly what nailed the coffin shut on her. When finished, they sat again in silence while Naruto processed what the blonde told her.
“Don’t feel too sorry for her, Naruto, she brought it all on herself,” Ino emphasized to the downcast redhead. “She selfishly takes without giving, even if all she’s being asked to give is a little understanding and compassion.”
“Yeah, but you know Sakura,” Naruto protests softly. “And not even being able to continue as a medic goes beyond sucking. That gave her purpose when Sasuke left. Is she at least coping okay?”
Ino sighed again. She didn’t want to tell Naruto about their falling out, but it’d be worse to lie to her.
“I honestly wouldn’t know, we’re not talking anymore,” she admitted, stunning the redhead. “Shisou ordered me to report any bitching Sakura does about you since the gag order went into effect. Typical Sakura went beyond pissed in the blink of an eye when I pointed that out to her, so she broke off our friendship again before trying to break my ass into little pieces.” Ino smirked, adding, “I reminded her which of the two of us has been working to improve their taijutsu and handed her ass back to her before telling her to grow up. Her life won’t get better if she can’t accept responsibility for her own actions and learn from her mistakes.” Ino shrugged. “Not that she listened, but I’m not going to be her emotional punching bag anymore.”
“I’m so sorry, Ino,” Naruto apologized sincerely as her gaze dropped to her lap while the blonde stared in stunned disbelief. “I never thought my situation with Sakura would break up your friendship with her.”
“Naruto,” Ino said firmly. When the redhead reluctantly met her gaze she continued. “You’re not responsible for this. Sakura was trying to make me ignore a direct order and choose sides when there aren’t any to begin with. She’s the one with the problem and refused to try dealing with it maturely. It was unfair and unreasonable for her to demand I choose between my friends.”
The blonde gives Naruto a moment to consider her words before continuing.
“I honestly thought Sakura had grown up,” she admitted wearily. “And I sure as hell didn’t think she’d repeat history and pull the same stunt like she did when she broke off our friendship the first time because she found out I happened to like Sasuke.” Ino rolled her eyes, not noticing Naruto tensing at the mention of his name. “I think Sakura got used to playing the victim and expecting others to accomplish what she should be working hard to achieve.” Boring into Naruto’s eyes she added, “If she wants that lost cause back so badly, she should get off her ass and do it herself, but she should be honest and admit what everyone else knows. He’s not nearly as valuable as shit used for fertilizer.”
Naruto sat in silent consideration before speaking.
“Her punishment is still too severe…OW!”
Rubbing the left side of her head, she glared at the blonde sitting with her arms crossed throwing a lidded glare right back.
“She badgered you on a near daily basis, hit you, came into your home and trashed it whether you were there or not, left threatening notes and tried trashing your reputation like your place and you think her getting busted to genin is too severe?” the blonde asked incredulously.
“Well, when you list it altogether like that it sounds like a lot,” Naruto grudgingly mumbled while still rubbing her head.
“Okay, then what if she did all that to someone else?” Ino arched a brow.
“I guess it’s justified,” she reluctantly conceded. Dropping her hand to her lap, she sighed in defeat. “I just don’t want her hating me any more than she does.”
“It’s hate she has for herself that she’s taking out on you, Naruto,” Ino gently explained. Meeting her stunned gaze she continued. “Sakura always hated how weak she was compared to you, Kakashi and that other loser.”
“But she worked hard to become stronger, Ino,” Naruto protested. “She had her own strength.”
“Which she kept comparing to yours and always came up woefully short,” Ino pointed out. “Look, we believed in her, but she could never believe in herself and she hated herself for it. So she deluded herself into believing whatever would make her feel better. And despite what she believed, she had no right to take it out on you. That’s why we’ve all been setting straight anyone who mistakenly bought into her lies.”
Naruto gaped in shock.
“Hey,” Ino smirked with a shrug. “We all may be selfish asses sometimes, but we’re all still comrades and friends and we shouldn’t be trashing each other.” Becoming serious she added, “ None of us care if you never tell us why you stopped chasing that worthless traitor and, honestly, it’s a relief you aren’t risking your life on him anymore. Sakura has no right to try forcing anyone into doing what she can’t do herself.”
Ino waited patiently as Naruto got lost in thought.
“Thanks, Ino,” Naruto smiled softly, her eyes clearly expressing the depth of her gratitude.
Standing up, Ino stepped forward, leaning down to wrap the redhead in a hug that was fiercely returned.
Smiling into the darkness, Naruto pulls the blankets up to her chin. It had taken well over a year to recover from her breakdown, but the quiet support all her friends gave her helped her make it through. Especially Kakashi. He became a prominent figure in her life next to Iruka and both became so much more to her than family. They kept her from slipping too deeply into depression again, making sure she took care of herself and attended all of her counseling sessions.
She guesses she shouldn’t have been surprised to learn he and Iruka hooked up months later and moved in together, but she was still shocked when they told her while insisting she move in with them temporarily after Inoichi finally released her from the hospital. She thought her two senseis barely tolerated each other. Yet they complimented each other perfectly. She’s certain she wouldn’t have survived the ordeal without them.
Curling onto her side, her thoughts return to the present. She can't help but wonder what Sakura's reaction will be when she hears about her pregnancy because there’s no doubt in her mind that word will get around to her eventually.
Although many told her repeatedly over the years to forget Sakura, she can't. She wonders if they were still friends if Sakura would've inundated her with information on what to expect during her pregnancy after she finished scolding her for being careless. As much as she hurt her, Naruto misses her a great deal and wishes she could figure out how to repair their friendship.
The following morning Naruto makes her way to the Torture & Interrogation building adjacent to the Tower. She had refused Kakashi and Iruka's offer of going with her. This is something she needs to do alone.
Much to her dismay she ran into Inoichi first, making casual small talk for several minutes.
Finally Naruto takes a deep breath and asks, "Can I stop by your office later? I need to talk to you."
Arching a brow at her sudden tension Inoichi asks, "If you like, we can talk now. I'm not busy at the moment."
"I do, but there's something I have to do first," she smiles softly.
Reluctantly he nods before pointedly stating, "I expect to see you sometime today."
"Alright," she agrees with a sigh. "Is Ibiki around?"
"He's in the briefing room with the others handing out the day's orders. They should be finishing up about now."
“Where is it?” she asks not knowing where it is.
“Make a left at the next hallway. Third door on the right,” he answers, pointing over his shoulder.
“Thanks. I’ll come by and see you afterwards,” she nods, stepping past him.
“I’ll be waiting in my office,” he calls after her.
The members of T&I rightfully are not the type of people one wanted to get on the bad side of. Yet as scary their reputations are, Naruto thinks they're the rowdiest, most immature group of shinobi she ever met. Which is exactly why she likes hanging around them.
As she approaches, she notices the door is open and can hear voices drifting out. She figures the classified stuff has already been taken care of so they can probably be interrupted without the penalty of pain and/or death.
Peeking inside Naruto notices Izumo and Kotetsu sitting with Anko, Mozuku, Shimon and Tonbo among the rows of tables facing Ibiki standing at the front of the room leaning on a lectern. She figures they're probably Ibiki's minions for the day.
Everyone greets and catcalls when she knocks on the doorframe. Keeping her cool while stepping inside she smiles back and waves.
"Can we ask you a question?” Izumo asks.
"Uh, you just did, but okay…why don’t you ask?" Naruto frowns slightly in confusion.
"Because it's to settle a bet we have with Anko," he reluctantly admits.
“A bet?” At his nod she asks, "Depends. What's in it for me?"
"What do you mean 'what's in it for you?'" Izumo asks indignantly. "You get to see what happens when Anko loses!"
"It's probably related to something private or you’d just come right out and ask,” she retorts while crossing her arms. “So why would seeing Anko lose a bet make it worth my embarrassment?"
Kotetsu shoves his friend's shoulder before taking his turn.
"Then how 'bout we owe you a favor?"
Naruto considers it before asking, "Any favor?"
Both recently minted jounins swallow thickly, knowing they're probably digging their own graves before nodding reluctantly.
"Damn," she replies with a smirk. "Must be some bet if you're willing to barter with that. What happens if you win?"
"Anko has to dye her hair pink," Izumo declares proudly.
Naruto can't resist laughing at that image.
"Isn't that a bit too girly for Anko? Rumor has it she's really a man in disguise."
"Hey!" Anko indignantly protests through the sniggering in the room before deadpanning, "The only reason that rumor exists is because I have bigger balls than half the jounins in Konoha," prompting the entire room to bust out laughing.
Recovering Naruto asks Anko, "What happens if they lose?"
"They have to spend the entire day as Tsunade-sama's guards dressed in women's yukata." Anko grins evilly.
"That's just evil, Anko," Naruto smirks before considering Izumo and Kotetsu's request. "Alright, ask away."
"Are you and Ibiki dating?" Kotetsu asks.
Naruto's eyebrows rose before an evil grin crosses her face.
"That's none of your business."
A furious storm of outrage breaks out from the trio while the rest of the room laughs their asses off. Even Ibiki, who had been silently observing the entire time, shakes his head at his outwitted subordinates while chuckling.
"You agreed to settle our bet!" Izumo protests vehemently.
"You asked if you could ask me a question. We never agreed I had to answer it to settle your bet." Naruto wags a finger while clicking her tongue. "As promised, I let you ask your question. You should've been clearer in what you wanted," she admonishes loftily while crossing her arms again. "And you work in T&I," she tsks while shaking her head. "Well, that's a favor you owe me!"
“That’s not fair!” Kotetsu protests.
“She did hold up her end of the bargain,” Mozuku points out.
“It’s an underhanded, sneaky trick, Naruto!” Izumo adds.
“She’s right, boys, you didn’t say she had to answer it,” Anko reasons.
“You just want to get out of losing, Anko!” Kotetsu snaps.
“That applies only to you two losers, not to me,” she snarls back.
"Enough screwing around!” Ibiki roars in annoyance. “Get your asses back to work before I hand you over to Tsunade-sama for target practice!"
The room clears instantly. They all know Ibiki does not make idle threats.
Chuckling Ibiki walks over to Naruto and kisses her on the cheek.
"What brings you by?"
Naruto's smile drops a little.
"I wanted to see if you could spare a couple of hours. If you're too busy right now, then I'd like to meet with you later when you can."
Surprise briefly flits across Ibiki's face, but recovers quickly.
"We can talk in my office."
Cocking her head slightly, Naruto considers it.
"Will we be interrupted?"
He studies her face for a few moments, suspecting what she might need to talk to him about.
"I'll make it clear to my people that if they value their lives, they aren't to disturb us for any reason. Go wait in my office while I inform Anko."
Naruto nods. Already knowing the way, she heads to his office as instructed. Making herself comfortable in one of the two chairs in front of his desk, she doesn’t have to wait long for him. Once he’s settled in his chair she takes a deep, calming breath.
"I'm pregnant with your baby,” she plunges ahead. “I'm sorry. I've been celibate for so long and what happened at New Years was so spontaneous it never crossed my mind we should be using protection. And I should've thought of it later, but just didn't."
Running a hand through her bangs, she takes another deep breath, feeling unnerved under his steady gaze.
“I didn’t find out until a couple days ago, but I had been feeling rundown and nauseas recently. Thought it was a freak bug I caught. Didn’t even remotely consider the possibility of being pregnant until Yamato randomly mentioned the word ‘pregnancy’ during our last mission after Kakashi blabbed I wasn’t feeling well. So when we got back I snuck out and bought a couple of home pregnancy tests and everything went downhill from there.”
Ignoring Ibiki’s unwavering gaze, she pauses to compose herself before continuing and explaining how the positive test results tore open old emotional wounds. With a soft, emotion filled voice she tells him about all the things Sasuke and the fox did to her that she hid from everyone until now and also explains the real reason she tried killing herself years ago. He watches as she pauses several times to take a couple of deep breaths, struggling to maintain control before continuing her narrative.
Once she leaves the past behind she explains her concerns about Sasuke returning, the Akatsuki and Sasuke's supporters. She expresses her worries about the more immediate threat of Sasuke's supporters because they're the most likely to try punishing her by taking the baby away.
"I'll raise the baby,” she informs him, holding his gaze. “I just wanted to make you aware of the possibility of the idiots trying to take away the baby so you could make a claim if it came to that. That's all I'm asking. You don't have to be involved with the baby if you don't want to."
Ibiki sits studying her for the longest time.
"Do you really think I'd reject you and my own child?"
"I don't know what to think anymore,” she groans softly, combing her fingers through her bangs again. “I'm overwhelmed because there's so much shit I have to consider." Closing her eyes and rubbing them she adds, "I'm not looking forward to telling Inoichi and especially Baa-chan. Both are going to royally pissed I kept what happened with Sasuke and the fox secret."
Naruto's head snaps up when she's startled to hear Ibiki's voice from the seat right next to her.
"Both will be upset only because that information could've significantly helped your recovery." When she meets his eyes he adds, "Both are going to insist you face what happened or you'll never fully recover from those wounds. And you should be completely honest with them because it'll only benefit you and our baby in the long run. As for raising our child alone, not going to happen."
"Why's that?" Naruto arches a brow, indignation coloring her voice. "I'm choosing to keep the baby, so it's my responsibility."
"It's our responsibility,” he sighs, grasping her hand. “After that first night together I did wonder if you were on birth control, but when we got together later I thought I was intruding on your personal business asking about it."
Looking away as she blushes in embarrassment, Naruto grumbles, "I wish you did ‘cause I was too stupid to think about any sort of contraceptive."
Reaching out, Ibiki turns her face towards him with a finger on her chin.
"It's both our faults for not thinking about it." With a wry grin he admits, "I've been in a drought for too long to remember something as simple as a condom."
"I never buy them and wouldn't have had one on hand even if we thought of it."
"It's too late now," he smiles ruefully. "I admit it's strange to think about becoming a father because I never planned on having a family."
"You may think it's strange, but I'm scared shitless. There are far too many good reasons why this is a shitty idea right now." Reluctantly she admits, "I haven't told anyone this yet, but I wondered a couple of times already if I'm being too selfish risking the baby's life just because I want to have it. Being it's mother cruelly puts it at risk."
"This baby is lucky to have a mother like you,” Ibiki’s gaze hardens with his tone. “Even if you were some no name, low-level chuunin, the baby would've been at risk regardless. It's up to us to protect and raise it to adulthood." His expression uncharacteristically softens as he repeats, "You're not going to raise the baby alone or have to worry about all this shit by yourself. If you're willing, we can get married."
Unable to answer, Naruto stares in shock. Smirking at her speechlessness, Ibiki continues.
"Being the head of T&I has it's perks. No one's going to dare try anything against my wife and child. It'll be safer because my family name will also protect you. It's not widely known, but the Morino clan was one of the founding clans of Konoha. There's a certain prestige from that distinction that puts us on the same level of the Hyuga and Uchiha. We were never as stuck up or prissy as they were about that fact."
Ibiki gives Naruto a moment as she busts out laughing.
"Getting married will make it easier for me to take care of you and the baby," he adds when she recovers.
Naruto leans back in her seat, mentally chewing on his words.
"Won't it be hard getting married to someone you don't love?"
"Arranged marriages happen all the time and aren't based on love," he shrugs. "A surprising number of them last and are considered successful. However, in our case, we at least care for each other and can be friends and partners in raising our child." Grinning, he adds, "We certainly cared for each other enough to sleep together as often as we have."
Naruto chuckles and nods before becoming serious again.
"It sounds like the best option," she admits thoughtfully. "I honestly never thought I'd get married, but, then again, I never thought I'd get pregnant again either. I do care for you, so it won't be a problem being married to you." A wry smile spreads on her face. "Boy, for wanting to keep our relationship casual it certainly became a hell of a lot more complicated fast, didn't it?"
"That it did," Ibiki chuckles. "But there's no point in being upset about it. The baby is on it's way and we both have a lot of work to do preparing for it."
"No kidding,” Naruto closes her eyes and groans. “But first I've gotta finish clueing Inoichi and Baa-chan in."
"Would you like some help with that?"
He watches the redhead cock her head in consideration for a few moments.
"I ran into Inoichi when I first came in looking for you. I said I'd like to talk to him, so he knows something's up because he said he'd be waiting for me today. So I should tell him this by myself." She pauses to take a deep breath before quietly continuing. "I know he's not going to fly off the handle and yell at me, but that doesn't make it any easier admitting I lied and withheld the truth from him. I feel like I betrayed him when he's done so much to help me."
"Inoichi would never see it that way."
"Yeah, but it sure feels that way,” she smiles ruefully. “As for Baa-chan, yeah, I’ll need your help. It's getting a little easier with each retelling to talk about what Sasuke did and about my miscarriage, so I'm pretty sure I can manage that. It's telling her I'm pregnant that scares the hell out of me."
Ibiki nods in understanding.
"When do you want to tell Tsunade-sama?"
"Not today," Naruto admits wearily. "I'll probably be too tired after talking to Inoichi. Tomorrow morning after she has her tea is the best time to hit her with bad news," she muses thoughtfully. "Shizune will leave the office satisfied the most important paperwork of the day is done and won't be nagging her about completing more until about mid-morning. Plus, if Baa-chan has any meetings, they're usually in the afternoon and she's really cranky afterward. So yeah, after her morning tea would be perfect."
Ibiki blinks at Naruto a couple of times.
"Damn, you really know Tsunade-sama's routine don't you?"
"Had to,” Naruto shrugs. “With as often as I piss Baa-chan off, if I hit her with the bad news at the right time of the day, the less trouble I'll be in."
"All right," Ibiki chuckles, "I'll plan on coming in late to work tomorrow and will stop by your place to pick you up."
"Can’t. Kakashi and Iruka have basically commandeered my life, so I'm living with them now," she admits sheepishly, scratching her head.
"In that case, I'll be by their place in the morning," he amends with a grin. "It's a good thing they did that, you'll be safer. Besides, we both live in small apartments, so we're going to have to find a place to live before we get married."
"I'll add that to my growing 'to do' list," she sighs again wearily. "But I'd really like to keep everything quiet for the time being. I don't want Baa-chan finding out before we can tell her ourselves."
Cocking his head slightly in thought, Ibiki considers it.
"True,” he agrees. “My people are trustworthy, but when it comes to certain bits of gossip they're just as guilty as everyone else in spreading the news faster than wildfire."
Reaching over, he cups the side of Naruto's face, drawing her into a brief, tender kiss before gazing deeply into her eyes.
"My promise still stands. I'll do my best. You're not alone in this."
“Thanks,” she smiles, placing her hand over his. "I appreciate what you're doing and I'll continue doing my best too.” Her gaze drops as she adds, “It's hard not thinking I'm alone when I'm so used to going it alone for so long.” Looking up, she smirks into his eyes. “You may have to keep reminding me."
Ibiki leans in for a longer kiss.
"I can do that," he states when they break for air.
Helping her to her feet, he guides her out of his office and walks her through the building to Inoichi's office.
After Ibiki leaves her with the blond to return to his duties, Naruto finds it much easier to talk to him than she anticipated. She mentally berated herself for thinking otherwise. Whether she's yelling or stubbornly remains silent, he’d patiently wait until she's ready and always listened to her. Once she finishes, she waits for him to absorb everything as she sits curled up on one end of the sofa in his office clutching a throw pillow, her eyes lowered to the empty cushion between them.
Finally he breaks the silence from where he sat at the other end of the sofa.
"It would've been a lot easier on you if you had just told us all this from the beginning."
Sighing deeply Naruto nods, finally lifting her eyes to meet his.
"At the time I just couldn’t. Even knowing I had people willing to listen, I just couldn’t say it. So I fell back to keeping everything inside.” Her voice drops low as she reluctantly admits, "I was still afraid that whomever I told was just going to blame me. I couldn't bear to hear it was my fault Sasuke raped me or I miscarried when I already blame myself."
"Do you honestly think there was anything you could’ve done to prevent either?"
"There's always that feeling I could've done something," she shrugs.
"Maybe," Inoichi replies, leaning back into the sofa more. "But if Orochimaru was determined to help Sasuke achieve his goal then there wasn't anything any of us could've done differently. As for your current pregnancy and everything being stirred up by it, is that making you think ending your life is a good idea again?"
Holding his gaze Naruto shakes her head.
"All the old shit hurts, but I want this baby." Dropping her gaze again, she admits, "I told Kakashi I'm not sure I can go on if I miscarry again because of the fox. The bastard promised to leave it alone, but I can't trust it." Meeting Inoichi's eyes again she adds, "I've got too much to live for and really not interested in dying right now. There are a lot of really good reasons not to be pregnant right now, but I'm not giving up."
"Good," Inoichi smiles. "Your survival depends on how much you're willing to fight to live. Are you willing to resume intensive counseling again?"
Naruto sighs and nods.
"Not only did I promise the others to face this and deal with what happened, I know I can't ignore it. I tried and it was just too painful when it all came rushing back."
"That's the problem with ignoring your personal issues. The pressure builds up and when the walls crack it can explode all over the place causing more damage. What are your plans for the baby?"
Briefly, Naruto outlines what she and Ibiki decided to do, causing Inoichi's eyebrows to disappear into his hairline in surprise. When she finishes, he smiles broadly.
"Although I never would've imagined you two being together, you make a good couple."
Slightly embarrassed, Naruto shrugs indifferently.
"Maybe, but I thought people were supposed to marry for love, not convenience."
"Not always," Inoichi sighs. "Some couples are lucky enough to barely tolerate each other, yet they remain married because it's mutually beneficial in some way. At least you and Ibiki can claim to at least care for each other."
"True."
"Have you told Tsunade-sama yet?"
Groaning, Naruto rubs a tired hand across her eyes.
"No and I'm not looking forward to it. Ibiki's going with me in the morning to face her. She'll react badly to what Sasuke and the fox did to me, that's a given, but I know it's not directed at me. I'm more afraid of her reaction to being told I'm pregnant."
"There's nothing reassuring I can say to contradict that without it being an outright lie," Inoichi concedes with a sigh. "However, once she gets past her initial reaction, Tsunade-sama will calm down and start doing what's needed to help."
"Yeah," Naruto reluctantly agrees.
"How are you going to break the news to the rest of your friends and comrades?"
Shifting position, she leans back while still clutching the throw pillow and slouches down to rest her head atop the backrest to stare at the ceiling with a groan.
"I haven't thought about telling the rest of the world yet. I've been too focused on my closest people and that's been nerve wracking as it is. I really don't have a problem telling everyone else, I just haven't thought about it yet. I'll talk to Ibiki to see how he'd like to handle it. I'm sure he's like me and would rather keep it quiet. Unfortunately there's no way to keep it quiet."
Nodding, Inoichi chuckles before pointing out, "Ino would be deeply hurt if she didn't get to either plan the baby shower or go shopping for the baby's things."
Naruto couldn't resist grinning.
"Yeah, I forgot Ino lives for that stuff." Becoming serious she adds, "Ino and the rest tried so hard to help me during my hospitalization and really worked their asses off to be there afterward. It'd be insulting to leave them out of the loop."
"If Sasuke does return to Konoha they're going to want to be there to protect you from him," he points out.
Naruto nods before glancing up at the wall clock and noting the time.
"I need to get back to Iruka and Kakashi's place before he sends out his ninken to search for me."
Rising to his feet with her, Inoichi chuckles as he walks her out. To their surprise Ibiki is waiting in the hallway.
"Are you two finished for the day? I want to make sure Naruto returns home safe."
Inoichi looks at Naruto who smiles at him, saying, "I'm done until our next session."
Returning her smile, Inoichi reaches out to shake Ibiki's hand.
“Congratulations, Ibiki." Turning back to Naruto he adds, "Don't stress too much about Tsunade-sama. It's better to get her initial strong reaction out of the way immediately."
Naruto's smile widens as she nods before stepping forward and hugging him. Releasing the blond, she turns to Ibiki who nods in understanding before gently grasping her arm to lead her out of the building.
Inoichi stands in the hallway, watching them until they disappear around the corner with a knowing smile on his face.
A/N: A kotatsu is a low table just about every Japanese home has.
I personally have a problem with keeping my tenses straight, but the switch in tenses in this chapter was deliberate. I wanted to separate Naruto's memories, the past, by using past tense italicizing them. I just didn't want to label certain sections 'flashback.' You guys are smart enough to catch on if I didn't screw it up on my end.
I'm not Sakura bashing here and I'm not trying to make her evil. I am basing her reaction to Naruto's suicide attempt off of a former friend who reacted and said the same thing to a male friend of hers when he tried killing himself. Seriously! She actually told this guy "I'm mad at you for trying to kill yourself. I'm not going to talk to you." She was rather proud of this fact when she told us what she did. So I'm shamelessly using that arrogance for Sakura here. I just want to remind everyone I'm not trying to make her an out and out bitch. Although, a little hatin' can be good for the soul. ;P
Again, thank you for reading and if the urge strikes then feel free to leave a review.
- 2
- 3
- 4
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Facilitating Between Heaven and Hell