Ino scanned the dark horizon, watching for anything that might look like an army marching toward them.
Being on a team with Hinata wasn't what Ino had expected. She would never admit it, but she enjoyed Hinata's idiosyncrasies. They were funny, funnier still to tease her or pretend she didn't care for them.
Fuin Rangers? Where did Hinata come up with stuff like that?
Ino didn't regret emotionally blackmailing her dad to move things along. She'd never tell Hinata, of course. A girl needed her secrets. And her father had it coming after interrogating Hinata like he did. Helping convince the Hokage to put them on the same team was the least he could do.
The real problem was her mom.
That relationship had always been testy, all the lectures about what a proper kunoichi should be like, and what Ino's life should be.
It didn't help that her mother had seen the kiss outside the house. In hindsight, Ino probably should've picked a less visible place, but what was done was done. It had led to a series of lectures about proper ladylike behavior, clan responsibilities, and finding a good husband. Never mind that her mom hinted at trying to tie Hinata to their clan, probably for political reasons. It made no sense, at all.
Ino hated that crap. She wasn't drawn to Hinata because of her bloodline, weird wood powers, insane sealing techniques, or even her version of the Fourth Hokage's jutsu.
It wasn't about any of that.
That one kiss in front of her house was as far as she'd let herself go. Not because she didn't want more, but… well, some of the crap her mom said did make sense. Ino had never thought about dating another girl before. She didn't even know anyone who had.
Ino scanned the horizon again.
But she didn't care anymore.
She'd been chewing on this for months. Agonizing over clan duty and over her feelings for Hinata. But it was obvious Hinata liked her at least a little. That silly grin every time they met wasn't subtle. Neither was how comfortable they were around each other. Not to mention the clones. They hadn't a single subtle bone in their bodies. At all.
In the end, Ino knew what she wanted.
Maybe once upon a time, she'd dreamed of a handsome husband. Perhaps someday she still would. But right now? Maybe she should follow Hinata's clone's examples, and what they kept telling her without saying a word.
She pushed away from where her head rested on Hinata's shoulder. The night air was cold, damp wind creeping under the blanket. She placed her hands on Hinata's shoulders and turned her until their eyes met.
She'd made her choice the night Hinata trusted her with her biggest, scariest secret.
Ino's eyes dropped to Hinata's lips. Her breath sped up.
Her first kiss had been a bloody mess. Her second hadn't lasted nearly long enough; Ino's own fault.
Right now, she wanted… She pressed their lips together for just a moment before pulling away.
Ino's face was burning, but it was nothing compared to Hinata's. Her pale skin flushed red, startled deer eyes. The clone's words came unbidden to Ino's mind. 'She's waiting.'
"I'm sorry for making you wait so long."
Ino didn't wait for an answer. Her arm slipped behind Hinata's head, fingers threading through her hair, the other curling around her waist.
It was irresponsible to distract Hinata like this during their night watch. It wasn't something she should do. Screw it. Future Ino could deal with the fallout.
She pulled Hinata in for a deeper kiss. It still wasn't enough.
A breathy moan escaped, hers or Hinata's, who cared. Hinata's hands had stopped trembling somewhere along the way and were now holding on like she never wanted to let go.
Ino didn't know how long it lasted. It might've gone on forever if it wasn't for Karin.
Karin's whispering voice cut through the night. "I'll keep watch."
Ino didn't even pull away; she just turned her eyes to the side.
Karin stood there in the dark, wrapped in a blanket, Nerugui clutched to her chest, wearing a wicked little grin.
"I don't think you two are in any condition to keep watch," she said, nodding toward the empty bedroll. "Why don't you go rest a little?"
She let go of Hinata, who was looking at anything but Karin. Ino stuck her tongue at the redhead, pulling Hinata toward the now-empty bedroll. She didn't even care that Tenten's bedroll was turned away from them, and the girl was suspiciously quiet. Ino couldn't even hear her breathing.
It didn't matter. Maybe with a bit more hurry than needed, she pushed Hinata inside the bedroll, then settled by her side. She didn't even mind Karin's giggling. Ino had more important things to attend to.
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Waking up to find Hinata nestled against her arms was, like all other too few times it happened, something that always brought a smile to Ino's face. She didn't even mind that her eyes burned, dry and gritty from too little sleep.
They… hadn't slept much after returning to the bedroll, hadn't even talked much, mostly hugged, giggled, and kissed. Ino's ears burned, remembering how… daring she had been the night before. Not that she regretted it.
Noise around dragged Ino's eyes from Hinata's peaceful sleeping face.
Nearby, Karin was tending breakfast while Tenten looked like she hadn't slept well. She kept glancing everywhere but at Ino, so intently that she missed her footing and nearly stumbled. A sharp glare followed, which Ino caught. Their eyes met. Tenten's face flushed deeper, she looked away again.
Ino briefly wondered if she should feel bad for ruining Tenten's sleep.
Hinata moved, face nuzzling against Ino's. She mumbled something Ino couldn't understand.
Worth it.
Did she regret kissing Hinata? Heck no! She couldn't wait to do it again. Ino was sure her own silly grin was on her face. The timing however, could have been better. What she had done was stupid. Not about kissing Hinata, that was one of the best things she'd done, but interrupting their watch like that? Keeping others from sleeping when they needed rest?
Stupid.
She'd need to thank Karin later and apologize to Karin and Tenten. Somehow.
But not now. She hugged Hinata again, only to find herself staring into Hinata's dark eyes.
"Was it a dream?" Hinata's voice was barely more than a whisper.
Ino didn't answer. She leaned in and kissed Hinata again.
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Ino made sure everything was packed and organized. They had eaten a quick breakfast and were ready to move toward Wind.
Tenten's face still burned red. Karin had a perpetual grin.
But it wasn't worse than Hinata. Hinata's face had been beet red the entire morning, and she hadn't met anyone's eyes. In the small moments she did, the silly smile was always there, like she couldn't believe the previous night's.
"Are we ready?" Ino asked. If she didn't take charge, they might not do anything today. Hinata was usually prompt in her leading duties, but well, Ino guessed she had somehow broken the girl. And despite everything that happened in the night, Ino still wanted to save as many people as possible.
"Ready," Karin said, tying the pouch around her waist, then yawned.
"Ready," Tenten said without looking at her.
Ino walked toward Hinata. She cupped her still blushing face, and after a quick peck, which left the girl even redder, and now with an even bigger silly grin that Ino had started to love, she asked. "Ready?"
Hinata nodded. Then took off running, not even doing her Fuin Rangers call out. Ino giggled. She had really broken Hinata.
Once they were running, jumping, and dashing, there wasn't much time to be embarrassed, even if it gave Ino time to consider the previous night. She wasn't anticipating explaining this to her mom, even if she was sure her father might just raise an eyebrow, ask if that was what she wanted, then congratulate her.
But that was trouble for the future. Ino had already lost too much time to hesitation.
They travelled until it was time for lunch. Ino might have sneaked away with Hinata to kiss her again. Worth the impish grin from Karin and the stares from Tenten.
They ran for a few more minutes when Hinata's voice sounded from ahead.
"I see smoke."
They stopped and turned to Karin.
"Two of those strange chakras, another one that feels like a normal chakra, but—"
Ino still found it surprising how far Karin could sense chakra. Hinata's sensing ability didn't even compare. Ino didn't even tell the team she'd started to learn her family secret techniques that allowed her to do the same, but she was nowhere near Hinata's range, not to mention Karin's.
"But?" Tenten asked.
"It's someone with a lot of chakra." She looked at Hinata for some reason. "Not as much as Naruto, though."