Ino Blink of the Eye

2. The flower of sadness

Irises were the top seller these days, and Yamanaka Ino was frustrated. Her least favorite flower, the iris had always meant a tragedy was about to occur. She was not sure what was to come, but it would leave her hurt and upset. Of that, she was sure.
She had a mission to do so she called down to her parents as she reached the top of the stairs and was pulling on her vest and belt.
“Okaasan, Otousan! I am leaving. I’ll be home in three days tops. Keep well.” And she rushed to the door.
Once outside she hurried through the town to the meeting place where her partners on this mission were to meet the team leader.
She missed the old days with Shikamaru and Choji under the watchful eye of Asuma Sensei. Now she had made Chuunin and was being assigned to other teams for the benefit of the mission. Today she was to leave with Neji, Sakura and Lee, under the guidance of Shino who had been made a Jounin only three months before.
It was a B-class mission and the danger level could have taken it to A-class if they didn’t have such well-trained Ninjas available.
Her teammates were waiting just outside the big gates, and Shino was squatting before a bush and examining the leaves as she walked up and greeted them. The Aburame Jounin stood up and turned to them.
“The weather will hold, but I want to take extra care. Lee you need to be our back up so I want you to take the rear position, Neji will take point so he can watch for possible hindrances. The rest of you stay with me, and help to watch the sides. We need to make a speedy trip there and the chances of interception are high. We have to avoid that, at all costs. You know the mission, so let’s get there as fast as we can.” And they all nodded and took their positions.
Taking to the trees, the group made good time. It was late in the evening when they arrived at the Hidden Village of the Deep Roots. An elderly man greeted them. He informed them, that their contact was away and expected back in the morning.
Shino nodded to the man who led them to a hut and told them to make themselves at home. They unpacked bedrolls and prepared to sleep until the contact arrived.
The village was quiet. Crickets chirped and jumped from the stems and leaves of the Irises that bloomed outside the hut.
Night was cool and calm and peaceful. Serene even.
A shadow separated himself from the wall of the hut and moved away. The flickering light of a fire twinkled in his wake. It climbed the wall and licked at the lumber of the hut. Smoke filled the interior and rolled out of the two windows and the only door. It took surprisingly little time to engulf the entire hut and burn it to the ground, taking with it all that was inside.
The elderly man stood back and watched, his bent back straightening and his wrinkled face, looking less wrinkled. He laughed loudly and his body shook with his guffaws.
The shadow that had set the fire found him and demanded of the man.
“I got them, every one of those stupid Konoha Shinobi was in that hut. They are all dead, so pay me what you promised, Tanashi.”
The old man turned on him and scowled. “I will pay you when I see their bones in the ashes.” And he turned back to the fire.
The fire was dying now, and the smoke curled up and around as it ran out of fuel and was slowly starved to death. It dwindled down and sputtered out. The old man, Tanashi stared at it in confusion. It should have lasted much longer.
The old man turned to the shadow ninja and was surprised to find him gone. He looked around and was captured by a pair of arms around him and holding him immobile. He froze from struggling as it became clear that he was held by his own man and that five Shinobi were walking up to him from the trees behind the hut.
Neji carried an inactive Ino, as Sakura looked on. Lee and Shino took the lead and walked directly up to the surprised elder.
“You have been caught by your own tricks. Tell me, Tanashi, where is the mist villager we were to meet here this day? We were on time, and he was not likely to have left before greeting us.” Shino asked, crossing his arms over his chest and glaring at the man.
It would have been more convincing without the sunglasses, but the effects were similar enough.
“He . . .” the man stammered looking toward another hut in the distance, and Lee hurried over to it. “How did you get out? How did you know??”
“Wooden building, Termites. It was not difficult to see that you were not being exactly honest with us.” The leader of the team said, as Neji stepped forward and activated his byakugan.
“Your pulse rate is fast, your heart is beating at an abnormal rate. There is far too much stress in your body. You are still hiding something.” He said, and Shino lifted one arm.
A small swarm hovered there, and he concentrated on the old man.
“These are a special breed of bugs, they love the taste of overactive blood. They will find you a tasty treat, and it will be a painful slow death.” He said.
“Okay, the guy you were supposed to meet told us that the target you were hunting is gone. He disappeared and they think he is headed for your precious Leaf Village. You wouldn’t be able to get there on time, if I am correct about the condition of the contact.”
Almost as if on cue, Lee came back carrying the badly abused and unconscious body of a young man. He hefted him and nodded to Shino. Sakura stepped forward as Lee placed him on the ground. She raised her hands over his body and a light glow appeared.
“What do we do now?” the man who constrained the elder said.
“You should let me go, fool.” The old man yelled at him.
“As if.” He returned looking at Shino.
“If he can travel we head back to Konoha. Sakura?” he addressed her as she worked.
“Just a little more.” Sakura said, concentrating and moving her hand to his face and head. “He’s very injured, but I think he will be safe for travel. We should go now.” She said, rising as Lee hefted the injured ninja.
“Okay, Ino back in your place, we leave now!” Shino said, his stance becoming offensive, the swarm at his hands hovering menacingly.
The man behind the elder jerked and released his boss, as the body in Neji’s arms became animate. Ino pushed away and stood, joining Shino in preparing to be stopped.
“How, what?” The shadowy figure said, looking at the others.
“Eww, that was a gross place to spend so much time,” Ino muttered as she looked at him.
“Everyone, Go!” was Shino’s command and they scattered and disappeared from the village leaving the stunned pair behind.

:::Oooh, dang that was chapter two. Sorry it's building so slow. I have to do it my way.

To Reviewers:

Robin - Pace yourself. If you know anything about my stories, you should know that none of them are really short. This one? I don't even know how long it will be.

Ruka - I like your e-mail address, cool. And yes I agree, Genma is a very underloved character who deserves better. I have to add a lot for him, cause so little is known about him. Anything you can tell me, I'd love to hear. E-mail is in my author page,*hint*

Serenia - I see you found this one, too. YEAH!. Welcome to the side fic that promises to be an epic of its own. I love cliff hangers, wait till you see!!! And the reference to this one, (such as it is) was just added to the other fic, 'Not you, Too!' chapter 4.

I'll be posting this as quickly as I can, but I am overloaded this week. So, patience is a virtue.