The Red String of Marriage

A Real Healer - Ino

They bid their congratulations and goodbyes as the sun was rising. They stepped out and down the street, which was slowly filling with early risers.

"Ino. That was pretty impressive. You read the situation quickly and jumped into immediate action."

Ino blushed.

"Kakashi Sensei did most of the work, I just stepped in at the end."

"Don't underestimate yourself, Ino. I couldn't get her calmed down."

Mizuka stepped ahead of them and flipped her hair.

"Well, I'm the real star today, delivering that beautiful baby and all."

Kakashi and Ino shared a look.

"Bullshit, Z."

"That baby was coming out with or without you, Sensei."

Mizuka smirked as she glanced over her shoulder. She threw both middle fingers in the air.

"Go on home; I'm gonna file this birth certificate and be there shortly. Later, losers!"

She strode off that way, both middle fingers visible over her shoulders, heading to the administrative building. Ino couldn't help but laugh.

"She's crazy, Kakashi Sensei."

"Yeah, but you'll never find a more loving, loyal, fun person. You really were great, Ino. See? I told you that you'd be fine. It's less about what you know and more about how you react. Cool heads always prevail."

Ino blushed at his comment as well.

"You two are perfect together. Why haven't you mentioned her before?"

"I have a lot of enemies, and I'm pretty well known throughout the Five Great Nations. And since there are a lot of different shinobi passing through this town, I don't want to put her, or anyone else, in danger by association. Also, I don't want word getting around to the Harunos, since I just spent the last year training their youngest."

"Wait, what?"

"Sakura and Mizuka are sisters. You don't see it?"

Oh my goodness, they were.

"But... Mizuka is so cool and Sakura has a stick up her ass...."

Kakashi laughed.

"Sakura's fine. I think the difference is that she was raised by Kizashi and Mebuki, and Mizuka really wasn't. Z is the byproduct of a teenaged pregnancy and parents who just weren't ready. She basically raised herself. Sakura appears to be their planned child, and their only child as far as they're concerned. But that's why she couldn't come here and study under Z, the sister she doesn't have any idea even exists. But, that's okay, she's where she needs to be, and so are you."

They reached the front door and Kakashi unlocked it, letting them both inside.

"Go get a shower and some sleep, you've earned it."

Ino ascended the stairs to the bathroom upstairs, flipping the light on and starting the shower. She looked at herself in the mirror as the water warmed. She looked tired, but she couldn't help but smile: she made it through her first apprentice assignment: she was a real healer.