All around them, the animal-masked men walked, escorting Team 11 back to Konoha.
One of them carried the lifeless body of Yasu, while the others carried Miroku and Kouta, who were unconscious.
Yamato sighed, the last few hours had been stressful.
As he remembered that scene, where Toru slaughtered that ninja, Yamato decided that the mission was over. So he sent a messenger bird, to inform the ANBU forces, hours later, while Ino was still processing what she had seen, the ANBU ninjas arrived, and that brings us to this moment.
"I understand, for someone to be able to maintain in Genjutsu for so long is somewhat surprising" That boar masked man spoke, his voice was somewhat low for the stature he had.
"Yes, it was complicated for everyone" Yamato said as he closed to eyes.
"Senpai, are you alright?" The ANBU ninja asked as he looked at Yamato with a confused expression under the mask.
Yamato simply sighed and affirmed with a slight nod of his head. He was still amazed at what his students were capable of.
Toru and Hinata, both were strong and smart, but Ino on the other hand, she was too proud and selfish, something that went to hell when she saw Toru killing Yasu.
(Ha~ Kakashi-senpai, you said this was a vacation) Yamato zeroed his eyes and let out a sigh.
-Arriving in Konoha, hours later-.
The sun rose in the sky, illuminating everything in its path.
(Toru...)
Ino looked down at the ground as she remembered the moment she saw Yasu die in front of her eyes.
The blood, the screams, the spear and daggers, the look on Toru's face, all those memories made a shiver run through her entire body.
Everything he knew about Toru had gone to shit and now he was left with only a feeling of unease and fear.
(I...)
He still found it hard to walk, after all, what he had seen had left a permanent mark on his brain.
(I don't know what to do...) Clenching her fists, Ino looked down at the ground as small tears peeked between her eyes.
Even if her own life was in danger, all she could do was cry as she begged for help.
She was miserable, she was pathetic, even if she had studied hard enough to become a kunoichi prodigy, in the end none of it helped.
Toru knew that, he was aware of his partner's worthlessness, but still he did nothing about it.
But why not do anything? That was easy to answer, Toru was just waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
"We're almost there, Senpai" Said the man in the boar mask as he looked at Yamato.
"Hm... yes, I have to report everything to the Hokage, we'll take care of the interrogation at noon" Letting out a sigh, Yamato spoke.
"I understand, Yamato-senpai. Then we will take the two survivors, we will also take care of taking the Hyuga girl to the hospital" The man in the mask said as he raised a scroll in his hands.
"By the way Senpai, should we take those two to the hospital as well?" the masked man asked as he looked at Ino and Toru.
"I don't think it's necessary, I already administered the poison antidote into Toru's body, so if he rests for a few days he should be fine. On the other hand, Ino, she only has a small cut on her face, so I don't think that will be a problem" Yamato said.
He still maintained the same neutral expression he had when he saw Toru stab Yasu.
"If you say so" Said the man in the mask.
After that, a few minutes passed, team 11 had just arrived in Konoha.
Yamato opened his eyes a little when he saw Hiashi standing at the entrance of the village.
He immediately understood why the white-eyed man was there, so he decided to keep his comments to himself and continued walking.
As he passed the entrance, Toru felt Hiashi's gaze, for a second he closed his eyes and continued walking.
After that, ANBU ninjas entered the village, two of them were carrying a twelve year old girl lying on a stretcher.
Her arms and abdomen were stained with blood, you could clearly see the battle wounds Hinata had.
Hiashi saw his daughter and a sigh came out of his mouth.
(You were very reckless) Hiashi thought as he looked at Hinata.
Although he had never shown it, Hiashi cared too much for his daughters.
But his pride prevented him from showing it.
"Follow me, please" Said one of the ANBU ninja as he showed him the way to the hospital.
"Thank you..."
-On the way to Ino's house-
"How am I going to explain everything that happened to my father?"-A sigh left Ino's lips as she spoke.
Everything seemed normal, but she was still thinking about what happened the night before.
(Kill or be killed...) Ino thought as she let the wind caress her face.
She was scared, confused, every time she remembered Toru's face, the images of blood and daggers came back to her mind.
(I can't understand it) Ino closed her eyes and tried to forget everything, but she was interrupted by someone holding her hand.
"Ino..."
Hearing that muffled voice, Ino's eyes widened as the wind blew.
She didn't want to open her eyes, she didn't want to hear it, she didn't want to see it.
"What are you doing?" Ino said as she felt Toru dragging her somewhere unknown.
"Let go of me!" Ino yelled, but this made Toru increase the force on his hand, making Ino let out a small moan of pain.
"What do you think you're-!"
Ino couldn't finish speaking, as Toru pushed her, causing her to fall on the ground, leaning her back against a tree.
-One minute before-
Toru was following Ino, the whole stage was already set, she just had to attack and it would all be over.
(Proud, selfish and vain, Yamanaka Ino, I never paid attention to you when we were still in the ninja academy) Toru's eyes flashed for a second as he approached Ino.
(Dealing with you is a waste of time, but... still...)
"Ino..." Toru said as she took Ino's hand.
But she just froze in the same place, she didn't dare to look back, but this was a good thing for Toru.
This confirmed that Toru could show his second side.
At no time did he hesitate, he simply grabbed Ino's hand and dragged her into the darkness of the forest.
She tried to break free while screaming, but Toru ignored her and continued walking.
It wasn't long before Toru reached a place where they couldn't hear Ino's screams.
That's when Toru pushed Ino against a tree.
She fell to the ground as she looked up.
Toru's eyes flashed and an expression of fear formed on Ino's face.
"What do you plan to do, why did you bring me here?"
As her body trembled, Ino asked, but Toru only looked her in the eyes before bringing his face closer to hers.
(It's like my father used to say. If you put two people alone in an isolated, dark environment, they can't help but feel closer mentally. This works even if two people normally hate each other) Toru let out a slight sigh as he recalled those days when he trained together with his father.
That training, which seemed more like torture.
During those days, whenever Kenji hit Toru, he would say some interesting words.
The human mind will always have darkness, no matter who it is.
Remembering those words, Toru spoke.
"Just a scratch was enough for you to start screaming, while crying and asking for help."
Ino's eyes widened after hearing Toru's words.
She didn't understand how he had managed to see her if he was still lying on the ground.
"You, who acts strong in front of others. In the end it just turned out to be the opposite."
"I don't know what you're talking about" Ino said as she looked away.
But Toru grabbed her cheeks and forced her to look him in the eyes.
"You know very well what he talked about."
"Huh?"
Ino realized everything at the worst moment.
"Only I know who the real Yamanaka Ino is. Weak, pathetic, cowardly, a miserable kunoichi who is useless in every way."
Toru continued to stare into Ino's eyes.
Every second that passed made Ino's fear increase, but it wouldn't be enough to bend that girl's will.
"What do you think you're-"
"It would be a shame for all that information to reach other people's ears. What would happen next, can you answer that question?"
"What would happen next? Is this a joke? What right do you have to-?"
"Right? Don't you realize that yet? You should know your place. Do you know who you have in front of you? I know how pathetic you are.
Toru grabbed Ino's hand and lifted her off the ground, making her lean her back against the tree.
"In other words, if you become insolent, I could tell everyone the true nature of the strong and proud Yamanaka Ino."
"No, don't joke, who do you think you are!"
"Someone who knows the real Ino, that's all. Or don't you care about your life as a ninja?"
As Toru moved closer to her, Ino turned her face away to avoid looking at him, but Toru held her cheeks to force her to look at him. She desperately wanted to evade Toru's gaze, but the strength of a man is too much for her. She closed her eyes in a futile attempt to escape.
The pressure of the moment, plus the trauma she had to live through seeing her teammate kill a person in front of her eyes, all of those were triggers that led Ino to this moment.
Ino was sure that Toru was capable of anything, after all she had to see him kill someone.
"What, what do you want from me!"
Ino had finally given up, some tears began to fall down her cheeks soaking Toru's hand.
She was sure that, if Toru revealed what had happened during the fight against Yasu, Ino's life as a ninja would be over.
"Do you... want my body?"
After saying that, Ino stopped struggling as she let the tears slide down her face.
Toru looked at this with the same poker face he always had and spoke.
"Your body? Not a bad idea" Toru's eyes widened as he spoke.
This caused Ino to fall to the ground unable to resist.
Toru took advantage of this and slid her fingers slowly down Ino's thighs.
"No!"
Ino desperately tries to pull away from him, but Toru strengthened his grip.
"Don't resist, if you do I'll tell everyone who you really are."
Those words, as if it was a spell made Ino's body shudder.
"Um... mm..."
(Anger, terror, fear, how many emotions can you experience with the touch of my fingers?)
"Spread your legs" Toru said.
Still with tears on her face, Ino slowly started to open them.
(Even though she is going to be raped, she prefers to keep her reputation...) Toru looked into Ino's eyes, while thinking.
(She's trying to accept the position she's in).
Toru's eyes sparkled, she had managed to get whatever she wants.
Toru's target, obviously not Ino's body, he was just resorting to threatening to change Ino.
Although he was taking a big gamble by showing off like this, the gains from it would come in the long run.
(Those who carry their darkness with themselves attract each other) Toru thought.
That thought that once belonged to his father.
"What are you waiting for?" Ino said as she tried not to stare, but Toru simply walked away, making Ino look confused.
"Our team, team 11" Toru said.
At that, Ino just kept her expression confused and fearful as the tears continued to flow.
"If the current situation continues, our team will never advance. While our individual skills are acceptable, we severely lack cohesion. However, if you decide to become efficient for our team, I will never touch you again" Toru said with a dead-eyed look.
But Ino simply didn't understand anything that was going on.
A second ago Toru was trying to rape her, but suddenly he started talking about the team.
"I hope that, from now on, you understand your position in this team" Toru said.
But suddenly his gaze changed, his bloodlust could be felt in the air.
"And also, I hope we can get along."
After that, Toru instantly disappeared, leaving Ino lying on the ground, tears streaming down her cheeks.
For a few seconds Ino stopped in the same place to think.
(I...)
As she recalled everything that had happened, Ino's face flushed to the point of looking like a tomato.
A second later she got up from the ground and ran off in the direction of her house.