Adult-FanFiction.org : Naruto

Genjutsu Gone Right	By : sandman-nobody Category: Naruto > Het - Male/Female Views: 159777 -:- Recommendations : 7 -:- Currently Reading : 19
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any characters used within. nor am i gaining any monetary payment.

Chapter List
- 8
- 9
A/N: Okay guys, here is chapter 9 just in the nick of time. For those of you still looking forward to Vault, don’t worry I haven’t forgotten. Work’s just been keeping me busy this month and I might be a day or two late. But it’s almost finished. That’s all I have to say for now, so enjoy the chapter and let me know what you think. I always love to hear from you guys.
Chapter 9
Tag(s): N/A
Girl(s) N/A
Beta: Lordsofembercelica
Words: 8,237
"Well, don't you both look precious…"
Looking back on his relatively short life, Naruto wondered if there had ever been a moment where his own actions had come back to bite him in the ass harder than right now.
The answer was a resounding and obvious no.
Sakura, Ino. Ino, Sakura, his eyes shifted between the two girls who were busy trying to stare the other down into submission. Ino was slightly taller and had the advantage of being able to look down on her one time friend, but Sakura's eyes shone with a danger and mental fragility that spoke on an instinctual level that she was not to be messed with.
Maybe it would have been better if they were actually glaring at each other and everything was out in the open instead of Ino returning the forced, glacial smile Sakura had approached the young couple with. That false friendliness which was in many ways worse than if they had just started fighting each other right then and there, especially since now the villagers were staring as they walked by, confused more than anything at the odd spectacle. Unfortunately, Naruto found himself in much the same mindset of trying and failing to understand how things could have gone so sour so quickly.
His date with Ino had been going so well too, even if he hadn't been expecting it. To be honest, he wasn't sure what he had been expecting, but still found himself pleased with the results. Enough to continue their evening towards dinner, enough to kiss her, and enough to remember the sensation of her nearly naked body in his hands even when the situation demanded his full attention. Suffice to say, Sakura seeing them together had shifted the mood a fair bit.
“Actually, why was she even here?” the blond wondered? Only a few hours ago she... It had been hard, watching her walk away from him without saying so much as a word, but at the same time it had helped him, emboldening his courage enough to try and see if he felt anything for her blonde former best friend. There had been a moment, just a moment where she'd looked back at him with an expression he didn't quite know what to make of, but… Whatever her reasons might have been, her actions made it clear she had no interest in mending what they'd once had. What he hoped they could still have. So why did she look upset now?
Well, okay, maybe 'upset' was a bit of an understatement. After knowing, chasing, and dating her for the better part of his life he knew the subtle tells when something was bothering her. Although, something told him you didn't need a map to read that she was furious.
Green eyes, usually so warm and bright were now frozen orbs of jade with an edge sharper than any kunai. They stared into Ino's, matched only by her smile in tone as the lovely pink lips stretching across her face pinched together to make her false cheer into more of a grimace than what she was trying to present.
Even if she had pretended like nothing was wrong, there was far too much rage behind her expression to keep the emotions at bay. In all his years the young ninja had never seen the girl as pissed as she was right now, and he couldn't help but stare at her with a combination of excitement and fear so powerful that it was difficult to think of anything else.
Whatever her reasons, she was here, right now, and talking to him! Well, just one sentence, but it was still more than she had spoken to him all week. Hope was a dangerous thing, but Naruto was a foolish boy who couldn't help but celebrate her sudden appearance. Though, considering the fact he was currently on a date with another girl, that probably wasn't the best idea.
Guilt burned in his chest at that thought, and he turned back to Ino feeling strangely worried. Their time together so far might have been short, but he'd genuinely started caring about the girl who had fallen so in love with him, whether he realized it or not. As such, the idea of her being sad hit him with the same pang of distress that had driven him to work so fervently for his pink haired teammate's happiness. It was the same sense of responsibly that he took upon himself as soon as he realized someone was precious to him.
This was a dangerous trait to have for a shinobi, but it was that same emotional honesty that pulled so many to Naruto's side despite his obvious lack of social experience. Every expression from his heart was powerful, far more than most realized. When he wept, the sadness poured out from the very core of his being, when he smiled, the joy was so pure it infected those around him regardless of their mood; and when he cared about someone, it was more binding than any contract or oath.
True, he was at heart a decent person, and tried to help when he knew someone was in need, but when it came to those he cared for, nothing was held back regardless of how small or great. He would give them the shirt off his back if they were cold, put them first in every way so long as he knew it would make them happy if sad, and he would protect them with his life should they ever be in danger. It was a simple, but integral part of who he was, to the point it practically defined him.
Now, for the first time he found himself faced with the prospect of two people he cared about at odds with one another. And even before they turned their attention on him, he could feel the enclosing sense of reality that he might not be able to satisfy both of their expectations.
Never before had he imagined something could possibly frighten him as much as a world where he was alone.
For the time being, he settled for a measured expression, making sure he didn't seem too happy by the pinkette's arrival for Ino's sake, while keeping himself from looking too bothered for Sakura's. It was the only neutral option he had, and until he knew exactly what was actually going on between the girls it would be the only one he even considered.
"Well?" Sakura asked, finally popping the bubble of silence. Beyond them, the village market was still very much alive with all the background noise one would have expected, loud voices calling out sales and discounts for their weirs, overburdened carts groaning from their heavy loads, and various animal cries sounded from every direction. "Nothing to say for yourself?" The expression she'd been forcing cracked an inch as her 'smile' dipped into an accusatory frown. But Ino just rolled her eyes, brushing the other girl's accusations away like any other annoyance in her life.
As far as Ino was concerned she had nothing to be ashamed of. No matter what Sakura thought of the two blondes, she wasn't about to let the pinkette ruin her and Naruto's first date. True, after everything that had happened between the three of them obviously there was some fault on her end. But she was not going to apologize for falling in love, nor would she feel bad about the methods she'd used to gain her date's attention. After all, Sakura was just bitter that she'd been stupid enough to actually break up with him and let him go, only to regret it once she realized it was too late and just what she had given up.
At least… she hoped it was too late.
Ino's smirk remained fixed despite her doubts. Rather than deny her rivals claims, the blue eyed girl decided it was best to show exactly how close she and the blond boy were now. So, without a hint of shame, she just shrugged her shoulders before sashaying towards her date with a not so subtle sway of her hips until…
Both Sakura and Naruto watched in disbelief as she wrapped her arms around one of his, trapping it between her breasts and almost purring as she smiled at her former friend.
The meaning behind the gesture was clear, after all Sakura couldn't deny the obvious claim her rival was trying to make when she was holding Naruto to her like a child clutching a doll to her chest. She might as well have yelled, "Mine!" for all the maturity it displayed. Regrettably, even if she could see through Ino's actions that didn't mean she was immune to their effects. And despite herself, Sakura couldn't deny the burst of jealousy that exploded within her at seeing another woman touch her teammate in such a way.
Jealousy that she had to stifle, less her feelings come to light. But just as she could see through her former friend, Ino seemed just as capable of seeing through her if the way her lips curling in such a shamelessly smug state of satisfaction were anything to go by.
"Don't we just!" the blonde challenged, pressing her breasts even harder against the boy's arm while shifting her weight to rub them along the firm surface. Even with her bra and dress preventing any direct contact, their make out session from a few minutes ago still hummed through her body, keeping her knees weak and the tips of her breasts hard. Feeling her date shiver under her, she had no doubt he could feel the effects of his affection and was picking up on the not so subtle reminder of what she had to offer.
"Besides, you broke up with him, remember? What business of yours is it who he dates? Or me, for that matter?" The dare didn't go unnoticed as Sakura was forced to take a step back, her face twisting into an expression of worry. For someone who complained about always thinking too much, she'd rushed in pretty fast with no explanation for her confrontation. Suddenly, all her plans to mend her and Naruto's relationship were out the window.
Ino watched the girl and felt relief suffuse her chest. That had been a gamble, and a risky one at that. But she knew she could always rely on the brainy nerd backing down from any kind of confrontation. Some might call it dirty, but this was a war as brutal as any conflict between nations with a prize more valuable than any territory. A prize she now had claim to, marked by her firm grip and the rather visible colors he now wore.
Tightening her fingers against Naruto's shirt, a sliver of worry returned despite her small victory. Yes, she was scared, far more than her airy and smug demeanor belied. She'd been expecting this moment after all. Just not this soon, having hoped that they would have the chance to go on at least a few more dates before Sakura caught wind and confronted them. That would have given her the time to worm her way into Naruto's heart and steal whatever space the pinkette had once occupied, and then build enough strong ties and pleasurable memories to ward off any chance of him leaving her for his longtime crush.
Right now she had her foot in the door, but that was about it.
She wasn't stupid enough to think Naruto had stopped loving her rival any less than he had a week ago, not after all the years he had chased after her. That meant right now, the only thing giving her a fighting chance was her reliance on Sakura's weak will and complete lack of being able to react to situations or improvise on the fly. Ever since the academy she had always been the type to think everything through, consider each option and weigh them out accordingly. Which was just fine in her book because by the time the pink haired girl's battle plans were drawn Ino would have already won the war with her blond trophy proudly on display.
That did not mean she was cocky however, as it wouldn't have surprised her to find out Sakura had already planned something in case anything like this happened while the two were still together. Not to mention Naruto himself was still as much of a wildcard for her as he was against her. If he thought for a moment Sakura wanted to get back with him, she doubted there was anything she could do to sway him to her side, at least this soon.
Right now the best course of action she could take was to get her date as far from the other girl as possible before Naruto started to realize Sakura wasn't nearly as fed up with him as she had led him to believe. That meant she needed to keep on the offensive and not give Sakura a chance to think, the time to plan, or the opportunity to act. Just keep hammering her down until she was the frightened, self-conscious little forehead girl she'd picked up like a stray puppy all those years ago.
"Thanks for that by the way," Ino said as she lolled her head to the side and lay her cheek against the blond's shoulder. Even as he flinched at the sudden intimacy she didn't let it give her pause. "You wouldn't believe how easy it is to land a good catch when someone else is stupid enough to just leave it and walk away." As though she were showing off just what Sakura had 'walked away' from, she ran her hand down his chest possessively, all the while Naruto stood there pink faced and as awkward as any young man would have in his place.
It was like he wasn't even there, but just some random object they were talking about. The feeling was strange, but also relieving in a sense because it kept him out of the discussion itself. As long as he didn't draw their direct attention he was perfectly safe and could just stand there like he was. Although if Ino kept squishing her breasts against him the way she was he might have to thank her later for picking out such loose pants.
He quickly turned his mind to something else.
"Walked," Sakura shrugged nonchalant, lifting her left hand and then her right before continuing, "stabbed in the back and pushed off a cliff, the same thing really." Narrowing her eyes she dropped the gauntlet, "at least for monsters without any kind of morals."
"Monster?" Ino snorted. "Really, you're resorting to name calling?" she shook her head in mock exasperation. "Listen billboard brow, it's not my fault you don't know how to look out for an ambush. I thought ninja were supposed to always be aware of their surroundings? Maybe you should spend less time dating and more time honing your skills, or lack thereof." She finished with a smirk and slight arch of her back to accentuate her breasts, hitting as many of Sakura's weak points as possible in one go. Unfortunately, rather than become cowed by her attack, it only fanned the young girl's flames.
"Bloated pig, how is it not your fault!? You literally attacked me in the middle of the village with your squad. As in actual assault. I wonder what your dad would say if he knew you used your clan justu against a comrade?" Ino paled at that threat but refuse to let it show. Instead she gritted her teeth against the smile that lifted Sakura's cheek.
"I dare you…" the blonde slowly narrowed her eyes, "because I bet aunty Mebuki would be just as thrilled to find out how you've actually been spending your afternoons for the last month." It was a shot in the dark, but she remembered enough of the stern older woman to know she most likely wouldn't approve of her daughter getting pounded into a mattress day after day. And judging from the way Sakura shrank back it only confirmed Ino's suspicions. She smirked at her return, but only long enough to see the other girl curling her hands into fists.
The longer they talked the more heated the air between them grew. Unconsciously, they'd already started to step closer and closer until Sakura could smell the candy sweet perfume wafting from her rival's throat. It only incited the rage burning in her belly to grow hotter, feeding strength into her deceptively thin arms. Arms Ino knew better than to think were weak having seen firsthand the threat those fists presented.
She'd mocked the other girl's abilities as a ninja, yet against a completely heterosexual woman her strongest skills were rendered useless. If it really came down to a straight up fight she could probably match the pinkette in terms of speed, but if Sakura actually managed grab her and land a hit before she could escape… The green eyed girl's raw physical strength was way more than what Ino could hope to handle without at least a broken bone for her troubles. Before she could stop herself, she found her sandaled foot stepping back on the packed dirt path of the road.
Sakura took a step forward.
Her clenched fist began to rise, only for Naruto to finally make his presence known, placing himself between the two and drawing their attention to him. It might not have been the smartest choice, but he'd started enough fights to know when one was about to go down. And even if they hadn't noticed the small ring forming around them as people stopped to see the two about to go at it, he had. This was getting dangerous on a lot of levels, but he at least could heal from whatever happened to him.
The two just glared at him as he searched for what to say, never having even imagined himself in this kind of situation before. Sweat pooled down his cheek and he swallowed against his dry throat before forcing a smile. "Hey, ah, guys," he slowly lowered his hands, "maybe, can't we all just try and calm down a little?" The crowd that had been building around them started to break away back into the flow of foot traffic in disappointment when it became apparent there would be no 'cat fight' and he sighed in relief.
Unfortunately, it wouldn't last long.
"I am calm!" they both shouted in unison, only to blink and glare over Naruto's shoulders at each other as they had been before. Naruto couldn't help but stare, marveling at just how similar the two really were in every way that actually mattered.
Sakura huffed, taking a step back to rest a hand against her hip. "But," she added pointedly, "say I wasn't for just a moment, I think it would be perfectly understandable considering I just found my ex-boyfriend out on a date with the conniving bitch that broke us up in the first place." The expletive did not go unnoticed, and Ino's jaw dropped as her head jerked back. Snapping her mouth closed her lips pealed back over clenched teeth as Ino returned to her side of the invisible ring to mirror Sakura's attitude.
Ino sucked her breath in against her teeth, showing a particularly unattractive expression as she fired back. "And say I wasn't, I think it would be perfectly understandable considering my date is being interrupted by a flat chested troll who has no business saying anything about who we choose to see."
‘Not to mention he wasn't doing anything to make her go away,’ she silently added, too afraid to actually voice that particular annoyance. She knew better than to give him an ultimatum between her and Sakura, but it didn't make things any less annoying. She turned that irritation back on her former friend, having grown tired of seeing her face. Whatever civility she pretended to allow was gone from her expression as a grave coldness broke the mask of beauty she tried so hard to uphold.
"Seriously, what are you even doing here?" her emotionless tone made the words even more harsh than the situation itself. One would be forgiven for thinking it was impossible that the two were ever close friends. "You don't have any reason to be this upset, you were the one that said you wanted him to leave you alone, remember? And you were the one that said you didn't want to date him. You can't get mad now just because he's starting to see that he can actually do better." The accusation was just as much of a threat. She felt Naruto stiffen at the cruel words, but her eyes stared the other girl down, daring her to make her move. It was time to see just how much she was willing to put on the line, or if this was just another case of Sakura wishing she was stronger than she actually was.
Ino's words were everything Sakura had hoped to avoid, and before she could stop herself her eyes looked towards Naruto, who was now turned to face her. His eyes were light, and his brow drawn up, apparently just as interested in her answer as Ino. Unfortunately, his attention only further stressed what she was already forced to consider.
She had come out with a mission and with the goal in mind of winning back Naruto, then apologizing for how she had been acting. But, that had been before she found him out and about with her arch nemesis. There was so much she didn't know now, too many variables, and she suddenly found herself at a loss for to how to continue.
There was of course the option of coming clean as she had planned on doing, pouring her heart out in front of the entire village about her insecurities and everything that she fought so hard to keep hidden beneath the surface of her personality. But the cold sweat starting against the small of her back made clear just what she thought of that plan, and how much courage she really had. The words were there, right at the back of her throat, just two little words. "I'm sorry." But they refused to rise, not here, not now, not in front of Ino and all these other people.
Because if she was wrong, and Naruto really had moved on, the humiliation of his rejection on top of everything else would destroy her completely.
Her eyes shifted from Naruto to Ino, then back to Naruto as she once again felt herself caught between the shadows of fear and indecision, the same giants she struggled to escape all her life. That the two people standing before her had thus far been the only ones to give her the strength to overcome those personal demons was not lost on her. Their waiting in anticipation of her answer however only forced more pressure on her flailing courage, causing her mouth to open but no words to come out. Finally deciding on her choice, that same fear bore down into cold anger marked by the glare she aimed towards her former friend, as well as herself. Hands clenched at her side, she finally found her voice, and the emotions rolling within her thin frame stressed each letter as they slipped passed her lips.
"I-I could care less who Naruto wants to see," she managed to force out even though the pain of those words alone was nearly enough to send her home right then and there. Without warning, her face angled just enough for the bright green of her eyes to peer through the long curls of her dark rimmed eyelashes. The effect wasn't lost on Ino, who immediately took another step back, despite herself.
"I could care less about him, but you?" she shook her head. "After what you did, there is no way in hell I'm just going to sit back and let you be happy." She crossed her arms having set her bags down and lifting her head high as if in challenge.
All Ino could do was blink.
"Excuse me?" she all but scoffed as she stepped around from behind Naruto. Mouth open the blonde haired girl absorbed her rival's words, well aware that they were the biggest load of bullshit she'd ever heard, which was impressive given how many years she and Kiba had been classmates. That being said, Ino was forced to realize the pinkette had effectively reversed the situation, and now it was she who found herself on the defensive.
It was actually a half way decent lie. Yet even if she was dodging the truth, it didn't change what actually mattered as far as the mind walker was concerned.
Sakura Haruno, the girl who had never once been able to stand on her own two feet, and who had always depended on someone else to protect her was standing her ground and fighting back.
"Well too bad!" Ino took another step forward, meeting the wall of unexpected stubbornness with a haughty display of her own. "In case you haven't noticed, we are already on a date," she pointed back towards the young man who was still stuck staring at the pair in silence. Suddenly thrust in the spotlight, his blue eyes widened and the sweat on his forehead started down the nape of his neck.
"See? He already agreed to go on a date with me. It's done, you're too late, and there is nothing you can do about it," flipping her ponytail over her shoulder she snorted. "Unless of course you're just planning to annoy us for the rest of the day, because I can promise you that we aren't going to let you stop us from have a delightful evening."
Meant to be sarcastic and biting, Ino's Hale Mary came back to bite her on the ass as Sakura's eyes widened with realization. The blonde backtracked immediately, only then realizing her mistake. "No," she shook her head in denial, but the dark smile had already started to stretch across Sakura's pale cheeks. "You wouldn't," she knew deep down that Sakura would. Even if it seemed childish, if it meant making sure nothing 'romantic' happened between her and Naruto, Sakura was willing to make the sacrifice.
It was petty, but given what she herself had done to quite literally steal Naruto out from… under her, she would be lying if she said she wouldn't have done the same thing. After all, she had written the book for how to make another girl's life miserable for crossing you, and had done similar things in the past.
"Seems like you've made it pretty clear what is and isn't allowed anymore." Sakura's confidence tripled at the sight of Ino's flailing attempts to regain her ground, and while she wasn't sure what it was, she could feel something good welling within her at seeing the always confident teen trembling in barely restrained fury. "You stole my body and seduced my boyfriend, so I think turnabout is only fair. You started this war and now you have to deal with the consequences."
Ino could do nothing but glare at her rival, idly wondering if she had always been this annoying, or if this was yet another side effect of spending so much time around her blond teammate. She could already see Sakura had all but thrown off her shame, determined to interrupt them at all the best moments. It's not like she could technically stop her either, not unless she wanted to fight her…and she already knew how that would turn out. Suddenly, it was like her entire day was going down the drain after it had finally started looking up.
"But…" her expression trembled, and before she could stop herself she found her eyes turning towards her date for help. Knowing that it was a mistake even before he opened his mouth.
Naruto blinked at his date, and again as Sakura followed suit, waiting to hear his response and to see which side he would take. Honestly, he was lucky to have been able to stay out of their argument for this long. But feeling his heart rate speed up and a cold sensation settle in his gut, he found himself struggling as to what to do in this little struggle.
He couldn’t tell Sakura to leave. He just… that wasn't going to happen. He didn't care if this was to get back at Ino or him or whatever. Not more than the fact he was actually hearing her voice after what felt like so long. She was talking to him, or, well, Ino, but she was looking at him! And if he got to spend more time with her then maybe it could lead to talking, which could lead to forgiving, which could lead to… something? Something good? Something better than what they had now at least? Even if she said it herself that she didn't care who he was with, he wanted to be friends with her, which is why it was so hard knowing that he couldn't invite the pink haired girl along with them.
He was on a date with another girl. A girl he'd accidently brainwashed into loving him and rendered incapable of loving anyone else, true, but a girl he'd just found a semblance of a connection with. A girl who, not even ten minutes ago he'd been kissing and touching and marveling at how incredible she was while she was doing the same to him! It wasn't even really about guilt any more, at least not entirely. He liked Ino; enough that he wanted to see where these emotions could go given enough time. But his feelings for Sakura were already there and he already loved her, which brought him to the core of his issue.
He needed to hurt one of them, right here and right now. So did he take the possible chance with the girl he loved who didn't love him back, or did he pick the sure thing that he didn't love yet, but might, and who he knew already cared about him more than Sakura had ever shown? It was an impossible decision for the fifteen year old boy to make, and one that grew even more impossible as time stretched and the pair of girls continued to stare him into the floor waiting for his answer. Until finally, an epiphany…
A gasp rose from his chest and his eyes widened as he realized that maybe he was thinking about this all wrong! Maybe he needed to consider what each girl wanted from him rather than what they were asking of him. With Sakura, all she was saying was that she wanted to come along with them on their date. She also wanted to ruin their date, but he could keep her from doing anything too bad. What was important in his mind was that she got to come with them, which actually didn't directly interfere with Ino's plans. After all, what she wanted was for the two of them to get to know each other better. She wanted a chance for them to talk and hang out, along with other things but he wouldn't think about those right now.
What was important was that he could give them what they both wanted and make both of them happy.
His thoughts now settled, he narrowed his eyes into a determined expression as he looked between the girls. Finally settling on Sakura, he moved to voluntarily pull Ino closer against his side. "Sakura," he started, his voice surprisingly firm. The pink haired girl flinched back at his tone, fear coming to life in the face of his rejection. "Me and Ino are on a date, and you need to respect that."
Chastised by Naruto Uzumaki of all people, on respect of all things? Shame flushed through Sakura's features. In contrast, Ino turned a shocked expression up at his cool expression. Blinking, the warmth she experienced while in Sakura's body returned, gentle but firm, and without any of the bitter jealousy to taint the experience. And then… he turned his attention to her, his face still just as impassive.
"Ino, Sakura is my teammate, and if we do start dating or even if we decide to just stay friends I want you to get along. And since Sakura said she wanted things to go back to the way they used to be between you, it just makes even more sense." THAT earned a sharp look and raised brow from the blonde who looked at her rival with disbelief. Sakura responded with a fresh blush, hating that Naruto had brought up that particular conversation now of all times.
"That… that was before…" the pink haired girl finally mumbled. Before she and Naruto had broken up, before her rival had stolen her body and used it to ruin her relationship. Her answer calmed Ino, who for a moment looked as though the entire world had turned upside down.
Naruto continued ignoring both. "I don't care. If nothing else, Ino is my friend, and Sakura is my friend, and that means both of you are going to be seeing each other enough that I don't want you fighting. Which is why…" he took a deep breath, "I think Sakura should come with us." In a comical display, Ino's hopeful expression crashed into the floor while Sakura's downturned features jumped up in surprise.
"This is still our date," Naruto quickly reassured, the nervousness he'd been trying to keep at bay finally seeping through his mask. "We're just going to let Sakura come along is all. We can still have a great time and this way everyone can learn to get along!" Both girls stared at him, only this time it was they who didn't know what to say. Ino especially struggled, hating how things had devolved but nowhere nearly as much as she hated that she couldn't even argue against it. It had been her suggestion that they just go out to get to know each other better after all…
Sakura was inclined to agree with her thoughts, for once. He and Ino were friends? Since when?! It was almost worse than when she thought they were just physical, and she struggled to understand how such a nice guy like Naruto could find anything redeemable about a girl like Ino.
Well, despite the obvious of that she had been grinding against his arm the last fifteen minutes. So, she decided to just ask him just that.
"Why?" she shook her head, pink hair swaying in the breeze. "Why would you ever want to be friends with her? She's the reason everything happened, why everything was ruined between us. How could you do anything but blame her?" Blame her like she had; hate her like she still did! Naruto's eyes widened at the question, and he found himself turning to glance at Ino who did nothing but glare daggers at her rival.
Rather than look confused or rueful, Naruto surprised them both with a saddened expression. Although, it was not for any of the reasons they might have thought.
It was so simple to forget the part he had to play in everything that had happened that day. How his power had been responsible for almost everything. At the time, it had been easy to mistake Ino's lack of interest as Sakura's usual begrudging acceptance, and it was so easy to forget that he'd been the one to push her towards what Sakura had found them in. First the kiss, then the shower, and then everything that followed had been due to him pushing things like he always did.
Sakura thought that it had all been her rival's fault, that she'd taken her body for the sole purpose of sleeping with her boyfriend. And the worst part was, there wasn't even a way for him to make what had really happened clear to her. The best he could do was try and mend what he'd broken, conveying the emotion through his eyes as he answered Sakura's sharp question.
"I think everyone made mistakes that day," he answered with a soft tone. "I'll take my fair share of the blame, I know I deserve it. But if I've learned anything, if life has taught me anything, it's that holding a grudge and hating people who only want to hurt you is exhausting and not worth it. But people also make mistakes, some they can't take back. When that happens, all you can do is decide if they were too big to move on from, or if you still want them to be a part of your life."
Maybe his experience in what he was talking about shown through his eyes enough to convince her, or maybe Sakura's rage had already abated over the last week. For whatever reason, her glare slowly died leaving a trace mix of sadness, shame, and oddly enough, determination.
She wasn't convinced, not entirely. But she could see where he was coming from at least enough to understand what he was saying. As much as she agonized over what had happened, in the end there really were only two choices left for her. Leave and let go of anything that might be, or fight as hard as she could for everything that could be. It was a small solace, but one she thought she needed regardless of the outcome.
For once in her life, she wanted to look back on something and know she did everything she could, that she fought until there was nothing left to fight for. She was tired of giving up, tired of seeing everything she wanted pass her by, and she was tired of depending on other people. There would be no more backing down and no more telling herself that this was just the way things were.
"Okay," she nodded in understanding of her situation. Looking to Naruto first, though when her gaze shifted towards the second blonde her eyes still stung with distrust and no small amount of challenge. "I'll be good as long as she is. We're just three friends hanging out and getting along. Is that alright with you, Ino?" she made sure to stress her former friend's name, showing just how amicable she could be.
Said blonde naturally rose to the occasion.
"The more the merrier," her voice dripped with sugar, contrasting against the clear and pointed stare currently doing its best to stab the other girl through her stupid pink head. "If Naruto wants us to get along then I think it's high time we put the past behind us and started over. I for one can't wait until we're all the best of friends, Sakura." Ino returned the favor, eliciting a spark between their stares that belied anything but cooperation.
Poor, gullible Naruto continued to smile at what he was seeing, simply happy to take both girls at their word rather than their intent.
"Thanks guys!" he stepped towards them both and put his hands behind his head. "Having more friends is always great, right?" His face twisted into a laugh as he was allowed to breathe a sigh of relief. Maybe this could actually turn out alright? He always had been the foolish kind of hopeful. But in a way, it's what made him so endearing. Who else but Naruto could look at his situation and see anything but the start of a much longer and dangerous battle?
"Hey, Sakura! Me and Ino were about to go check out some fancy sushi place, you hungry?" Ino frowned at the free invitation but knew better than to throw a tantrum when standing on thin ice. Sakura was in it for the long haul and now it was time for her to play the good little girl her daddy saw when she skipped into the kitchen each week to ask for her allowance.
"The best in town," Ino smiled pleasantly, only her eyes belying her reluctance. "You still like fish, right? You have to try the fugu, it's to die for," "Hopefully literally," went unsaid in the same surgery tone. Sakura returned her rivals expression, her tone no less pleasant as she politely offered a counter proposal by bringing out the big guns without a shred of remorse.
"Actually," she started, and pretended to think for a minute while Ino went on guard, "I'm kind of in the mood for something a little more… simple." She turned to Naruto, completely innocent in the way she tilted her head and tapped her bottom lip with one finger. "Would either of you mind if we ate at Ichiraku's? I mean, I'm fine with whatever plans you two had, I just wanted to see if either of you were interested?" Allowing the smallest of smiles to twist the edge of her cherry pink lips her gaze peeked towards a cautious Ino who didn't know how to respond right away.
Naruto, however, had no such issues.
"Ichiraku's!" Sakura had to suppress a giggle at his reaction, his head perked up almost like a dog just at hearing the name alone. "Wait, no way, I thought you said you hated them?" He seemed at war with himself as to whether he should be excited or suspicious by this turn of events. The pink haired girl just shrugged her shoulders, shifting her green eyes in a dispassionate way despite soaking up his attention like a sunflower on a hot summer afternoon.
"What can I say? It's been a while and I guess it grew on me a bit. But if you guys would rather have sushi…" she trailed off, already knowing she'd won this round. She wasn't disappointed as Naruto suddenly whipped around to face Ino wearing a pitiful expression begging for her to agree.
Now it was Ino's turn to stare as she struggled to understand just what was happening here. Ichiraku's? The name sounded…familiar but she couldn't quite remember why. Obviously it was somewhere to eat, but beyond that she was clueless. Feeling left out was never a great experience, even less so in this situation where she could feel her rival stealing control from her. Still if she'd learned anything it was better to fake confidence than admit ignorance.
"Um," she stammered, her cool mask slipping for a moment before she collected herself. Being perfectly honest, she didn't really care where they ate, she was just trying to impress the blond boy like she had when she picked out and paid for their clothes, flaunting everything she had to offer him. The only thing that gave her pause now was that Sakura had been the one to suggest it. And of course any thought of shooting her idea down was thrown away the moment she saw her date's hopeful pleading expression. "Sure!" she immediately agreed, laughing away whatever feelings of unease tried to crawl up her spine. "I'm up for whatever, just as long as everyone's happy." At this last bit her expression shifted towards Sakura who'd allowed her devious expression to show from behind Naruto's oblivious shoulder.
Ino wasn't able to retaliate while directly under Naruto's stare, but that quickly shifted as he let loose an excited cheer at the change in direction their evening had taken. Pumping his fist in the air, he didn't hesitate to start down the path towards the familiar stall, careful not to leave his two lady friends behind while still politely (for Naruto) encouraging them to hurry. Both young women quickly started after his waiting expression, allowing him to turn back and hurry towards his favorite eatery.
Watching him, Ino's confused expression shifted as soon as Sakura slipped next to her, matching her pace after retrieving the bags she had set down earlier and wearing an expression the blonde had never seen on her usually nervous face. Whatever it was, it was strangely…familiar, extremely familiar actually but she couldn't place where she had seen it before. If she had to describe it in a single word, she would say that her former friend appeared… confident, almost but not quite intimidating. Something that by itself was enough to warrant a wide expression of her own. Then she opened her mouth, and spoke with an even more eerily familiar tone of voice.
"I'm not the same girl you knew," her words were hushed, just barely loud enough to be heard over the din of the village while low enough to go unnoticed by the boy still marching twelve paces ahead. Her eyes facing forward, she didn't even bother looking at Ino as she continued, "I'm telling you now so you can't say you were cheated or have any other excuse. Don't expect the same little girl who couldn't do anything without your help and who just gave up all the time."
Now looking at Ino, the pressure behind her spirit weighed even more as the blonde swallowed against her throat. "I might not be from a rich family, or have your curves, but I've been putting up with Naruto since our first year at the academy, I've been on his team for three months, and dated him for over a month, so I know him. I know more about him then you ever could just from jumping in bed with him, and I'm going to use everything I have to win him back. You might have always been better than me at everything else, but when it comes to loving Naruto, no one will ever beat me."
Glancing back towards Naruto's easy gait and relaxed posture, Ino could see he hadn't noticed what was going on behind him. Taking a deep breath, she schooled her features back into the same mask of confident perfection she always wore in the face of a challenge.
Her blue orbs turned to meet Sakura's, her will lashing out in an attempt to dominate the competing female. "Sounding a little overconfident there, Forehead." She kept her voice quiet, although her mocking rang clear as a bell. "You forgot I'll have the rest of our lives to get to know Naruto-kun better. Unfortunately for you, all the time in the world won't help you grow a pair of breasts. Whatever chance you thought you had has long since passed, and now it's my time to shine. Don't think I'll go easy on you just because of what's happened. Love is war, and there are only two rules when it comes to war."
"First, the strong win and the weak lose."
Without another word, Ino broke their staring contest to reach for her skirt, and then loosened the cloth belt pulling the material against her tiny waist. Her steps continued uninterrupted as she started to roll the material onto itself, slowly drawing the hem swishing along her calves, then her knees higher and higher. Soon, the impressive length of her smooth, pale legs was almost completely bared, the bottom of her dress reaching just a few inches lower than mid thigh. Only then did she tighten her belt, pinning the cloth in place. Sakura watched all of this with her jaw dropping at the shameless display.
Ino just smirked.
"And second, you are only as strong as your weapons." Flipping her hair over her shoulder, she didn't spare the other girl another glance as she rushed forward to meet Naruto's excited pace. Her arms quickly finding themselves wrapped around his as they had been earlier while she hugged herself to him as tightly as possible. Sakura watched it all silently fuming, but knew better then to act on impulse. Ino only had so many cards to play after all, powerful as they might be. But Sakura had a few up her own sleeve, and allowed the tactical aspect of her brain to play out their evening as she would over any pre-mission briefing.
She was already several moves ahead of the blonde after all. Even better, she didn't need her team to knock out and tie Ino up to crash her date, Naruto invited her, and not because she tricked him by pretending to be someone else. She also knew that she didn't have to dress like an Academy dropout posing for a Playninja centerfold to catch his attention.
Ino might have gotten the highest scores in the preliminary seduction courses offered to pre-graduates, but no one in their class came close to touching her marks for battle planning and strategy. She welcomed her friend to flirt as much as she liked, because by the end of the night Sakura felt confident that it would be the last time she would ever have the pleasure of hanging off Naruto's arm.
That was a promise.
A/N: That’s all for this month. Just letting you know, there is only going to be about two more chapters in this arc before we move onto wave. I know the buildup has been slow and a few of you are getting frustrated by the lack of smut. But that’s the way I like to write. There are a lot of other stories that jump straight into the action without any kind of reasoning or plot but I’ve always enjoyed those types of scenes more when I understand the context and reasoning behind their relationships past, I’m horny. However you feel, don’t be afraid to leave a comment or review. I’m always happy to get feedback. Thank you all in advance.
Next chapter: February – Naruto finds himself on a date with two women who both vie for his affection. If a battle of the heart and neither are willing to back down this time, determined to settle things between them once and for all. Between blond beauty and ruthless strategy, who will capture his heart? And most importantly, how will Naruto handle breaking one woman’s heart? He can only ride the middle road for so long. But then, he’s not called the most unpredictable knucklehead for no reason…
- 8
- 9
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Genjutsu Gone Right