Chapter Text
Sakura was struck from the back. the only thing she felt was a sticky, cold drip slide down the nape of her neck, the metallic tang in the air sent shivers through her body. Her legs began to buckle, and her arms of lead fell to her sides, all she could do is call out for her backup. Her best friend. The woman she loved more than anything; Ino yamanaka.
-
Ino heard a crack. Before she could process what had just happened she was at sakuras side. Her hands, drenched in slick red, came to the kunoichis head and desperately started trying to heal what she could.
"Shikamaru she needs immediate medical attention! Can you guys handle these thugs?" before he could get out a word of reassurance she was off with the injured girl in her arms.
Sakura bounced in Inos arms and with every step Ino cringed more at the blood seeping from the crown of the girls head. When she had finally gotten to tsunades house she opened the door in one swift kick.
Tsunade who had been lounging on her couch sprang up ready to fight the intruder. Until she saw her two students, one with a face of utter fear and the other, shrouded in blood. "Get her to the table," she practically yelled at Ino, her adrenaline kicking in at seeing one of her most precious students, one she valued as a daughter in such a state.
Tsunade got to work the second she was layed down, both hands on the young girls temples and chakra flooding into her head. Ino stood in the corner, gnawing at her nails as she tried not to let she tears spill. Her guilt at not being able to protect Sakura was heavy on her mind, but more than anything, she feared that she wouldn't get to tell Sakura the truth-
before she could finish her thought she felt sour bile rising in her throat, and in an instant she was doubled over on her knees emptying out until all that came up was stomach acid.
"Ino! Get it together! Come help with Sakura," Tsunade had to yell to knock some sense back into Ino. They both knew time was of the essence, she could freak out some other time, but right now Sakura needed her.
Ino got onto of the table, hovering over sakura for a better angle of where tsunade hadn't yet healed. her skillful hands trembled as she held together the split in her skull, trying desperately to reconnect something, give sakura a chance, give herself hope.
-
"Like I told you, there's nothing we can do now but hope. She needs time to recover, and even if she wakes up we have no idea what might happen. Serious damage to her brain was sustained, certain parts may need months, maybe even years to fully heal, if they do at all." Tsunade didn't intend to utterly petrify the blonde, but she managed to do so quite effectively.
It was late and the healing had taken a lot out of both of them. Ino was offered the couch to crash on which she accepted without hesitation.
Her exhaustion quickly turned to restlessness, knowing Sakura was in the spare bedroom next to her drove Ino crazy. She would just drop in and make sure she was okay. Just a quick peak.
The darkness veiled her as she creeped into the bedroom. Taking a seat beside the bed she decided to stay here for the night. Slowly, Ino realized that her hand had subconsciously found Sakuras and she was holding her finger. The way she used to when they were kids; eager to become genin, chasing sasuke, constantly fighting, all of these sudden memories from their shared childhood made her sick.
"Why didn't you appreciate you more Sakura?" her question fell on deaf ears. She knew her friend couldn't hear her and there was no point in trying, but she couldn't help but spill everything. "I love you Sakura, not how friends love eachother. I love you like you love sasuke, I'm sorry. And i'm sorry i never told you." Deep down she feared she'd never get the chance to. She didn't want to think about that so she kept talking. "I never even liked sasuke. Honest. It just hurt to see you so infatuated with him, knowing I couldn't compete, I tried to take him from you. Fuck, billboard brow, I really am awful aren't I?" The feelings she'd been fighting the whole day, or rather her whole life finally boiled over. "I love you so much I'm sorry I couldn't protect you, I don't know what I'd do without you..." she buried her face in her arms and cried. "Please be okay," she continued her silent sob and lost herself in fear. It was only when she felt a calm hand on her shoulder that she snapped out of it.
Tsunade had always suspected Ino felt differently about Sakura than friends normally do. The long stares and clingyness that she had let slide as a lifelong friendship had taken a knew meaning now. Tsunade had come to switch Sakuras bandaids and was about to walk in until she heard the beginning of Inos speech. She truly didn't mean to eavesdrop, but by the time she realized she she was, she was in too deep.
"Ino,"
"How long were you standing ther.."
Before she could finish her question tsunade hugged ino and kissed the top of her head. She knew how hard this was for her already, facing the potential loss of her best friend, but with these added complications, she knew Ino must be wrecked.
After a moment of silence, Ino walked to the door and twisted the the handle, the cold stung her hands, grounding her. Sliding on her shoes she practically bolted out of Lady Tsunades house. The blonde was mortified knowing her teacher heard her spill her most closely kept secret. She needed fresh air, and she needed it now.