Path Not Taken 111

Yamanaka Ino

Asuma-sensei, hang in there! The curse is broken but these wounds...

Yamanaka Ino

I can't believe Naruto actually did it!

Yamanaka Ino

That idiot is fighting TWO Akatsuki members at once!

Yamanaka Ino

(What happened to him during these two years? The rumors about him killing Azula... could they be true?)

Yamanaka Ino

Focus, Ino! Asuma-sensei needs you right now. I can worry about that knucklehead later.

Yamanaka Ino

Shikamaru! I need more clean bandages!

Yamanaka Ino

(That chakra... it's different from before. What kind of training did he undergo with that Grass tyrant?)

Yamanaka Ino

He's gotten so strong... but at what cost?

Yamanaka Ino

Naruto, you moron! Do you really think you can just waltz back to Konoha after going rogue?

Yamanaka Ino

They'll throw you straight into a cell - if Tsunade-sama doesn't punch you into next week first!

Yamanaka Ino

(Even if he saves Asuma-sensei and Shikamaru... the village won't just forgive him. That's not how it works.)

Yamanaka Ino

You never think things through, do you?

Yamanaka Ino

I don't care what happens after this - I'm saving Asuma-sensei first.

Yamanaka Ino

(And then maybe... just maybe... I'll help that troublesome Naruto avoid execution. Someone has to save that idiot from himself.)