Summary: Ino notices that her fellow ninja have been feeling lonely. Solution? Improve their love lives! But while Ino is busy making matches for others, she never stops to think about making a match for herself... Ino's POV

Pairings: InoSai, ShikaTema, SakuKiba, NaruHina, NejiTen

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Chapter 7: The Truth, and the End

"You... you're lying," I stuttered. I was numb with shock, unable to speak properly. Sai? It couldn't be...

"We wouldn't lie about this," said Neji. "Sorry, Ino."

I was speechless. "How...?"

"He was with Shino and Lee. They were ambushed by enemy ninja and they saw Sai get killed." I didn't care who was speaking. I only faintly heard the words. This was a nightmare, it had to be.

"Shino and Lee managed to get away, but they're sure that Sai is dead."

I shook my head. Sai couldn't be dead, he just couldn't. "Where?" I asked, my voice cold.

"Not far from here, just a mile or two north..." began Sakura, but she stopped when I jumped to my feet.

"I have to go see," I said, rain and tears running down my face. "I have to."

I ran to the gates and through them, not paying Kotetsu and Izumo the slightest attention. I was jumping through the trees, intent on only one thing.

My body was stiff and muddy from lying on the ground so long but I didn't care. All that mattered was Sai. I was faintly aware of the others following me, trying to speak to me, but I paid no attention. Because it was then that I finally understood the truth. Tears continued to flow out of my eyes, but I did not slow my pace. I was determined to find Sai. I could not believe he was dead. He couldn't be. I hadn't even told him yet...

"Everyone, stop. There are people up ahead," said Kiba.

"Byakugan," muttered Neji and Hinata at the same time.

"Seven people," said Hinata.

"The chakra flow of one of them is strange," said Neji. "I think they must be under a genjutsu."

"Sai?" I gasped. Neji shrugged. "It must be Sai!" I exclaimed. "We have to go save him!"

"Shino and Lee -"

"Were under attack! They could have been wrong!" I put my hands on hips and glared at them all. "I am going to save Sai, whether you help me or not!"

"I'm going with you!" burst out Naruto. "I definitely won't abandon Sai!"

The others nodded.

"We should come up with a plan of ac-" Neji was cut off as I began to charge straight ahead, towards the group of people. I wasn't about to stand around and wait. What if Sai was hurt?

There were indeed six ninja standing there, each with a weapon in hand. I didn't even glance at their forehead protectors to see where they were from. I was focused on the figure slumped on the ground behind them, black hair trailing into his eyes. Sai.

A dozen kunai flew towards my face, but I ignored them. Someone (I guessed it was Tenten) threw some kunai of their own and deflected them all. My friends leaped in behind me and each faced off against an enemy ninja. I was aware of the fighting going on around me, but I paid no attention, going up to Sai. Remembering that he was under a genjutsu, I placed my hand on his shoulder and shoved my chakra into him. "Release."

His eyes opened. He stared up at me, and I stared back at him. Before I even knew what I was doing, I swooped down and kissed him on the lips, my arms wrapping tightly around him. He was taken aback by my sudden appearance and the kiss, but relaxed into it. I didn't care that I was tired, and wet and cold. I was in heaven. Suddenly, Sai grunted in pain. I let him go and looked down. There was a huge wound on his chest, covered in blood. It looked like he'd been stabbed.

I turned to call for Sakura, but she was busy trying to get close enough to punch a quick, jumpy shinobi. I would have to help Sai myself.

"Hold still," I muttered to him, and placed my hands over his wound, concentrating my chakra. A green glow came from my hands onto his injury. It was a difficult wound to heal, and Sakura was much better at medical ninjutsu than I was, but I was absolutely determined to save his life. Sai would not die, I would do anything to make sure that he lived. It was possibly the hardest bit of healing I'd ever done, and I was already tired from running all over Konoha, then running all the way there. I pressed on, focusing my chakra and ignoring my pain and exhaustion, and ignoring the rain and the mud. During this time, Sai simply stared up at me, no hint of a tentative smile on his face.

When I'd healed him, I almost collapsed next to him. The stiffness of leaving my body for so long came back to me, and I was weak with relief. Sai was alive. I felt as though all of my troubles had gone away. Nothing else mattered. Sai was all right.

I slumped on the ground next to him, and we supported each other, covered in water, mud and blood. I knew I looked a mess. For once I didn't care. "Sai..."

"Yes?"

"I can't believe I didn't see it before, it was only when I thought you'd died..." I turned to look right into his deep black eyes. "I love you, Sai."

Sai's eyes widened. "I still don't think I understand bonds, but... for some reason whenever you are around I understand them so much better. I think... I think I love you too, Ino."

I hugged him weakly, and rested my head on his shoulder, partly unable to believe it. Years ago, I would go on about no one but Sasuke, and see no boy but Sasuke. Yet here I was, finding myself in love with a ninja from ANBU Root, trained to have no emotions.

"Ino? Sai?"

Kiba's voice awoke me from my daydreaming. I got up shakily, and almost collapsed against Sakura. Neji and Naruto helped Sai to his feet.

"We'd best get back to the village," said Tenten. I caught a glimpse of six unconscious ninja tied up on the ground (sporting a number of impressive bruises and wounds) before I slipped into sleep.

When I woke up I was in the Konoha Hospital. I wondered why, since there was nothing wrong with me. Then I remembered what had happened the previous night. Sai... My heart leaped when I thought about him. I looked around, to find that he was in the bed next to mine, looking at me.

"Sai!" I breathed, getting out of bed and going to sit by him. "Are you OK? How's your wound?"

"The Old Lady said you did a good job," said Sai. "I'm fine now."

I giggled a bit at his nickname for Tsunade-sama. Of course, he never dared to call her that to her face. Not since the first time he tried that. I thought back to what had happened between us the previous night, and I could tell Sai was thinking about it as well, because a faint blush appeared across his cheeks. Sai, like Neji, never blushed.

"I was so worried about you," I said quietly. "When they told me you were dead..."

"I was stabbed, but not killed," said Sai. "They were spies trying to get information about Konoha. That's why they put me under a genjutsu."

I shuddered. "Never mind. Kiba, Akamaru, Sakura, Neji, Tenten, Naruto and Hinata took care of them." I leaned down and threw my arms around him, hugging him tightly. Then he turned his face towards mine and kissed me. I kissed him back, and it was the sweetest feeling on earth. I finally had what I was missing, what I was jealous of. I had Sai, and he had me.

"WHAT?! You two are a couple?!"

Naruto's reaction had been predictable. I almost felt like snapping back sarcastically, "No, we're just walking out of the hospital holding hands with my head on his shoulder, but we're not a couple at all!"

The others' reaction, however, was not at all what I expected.

"All right!" yelled Tenten, high-fiving Sakura.

Neji looked smug, Hinata looked proud, and Kiba was punching the air triumphantly. "We did it!" He yelled.

"What?!" I asked.

"We've been trying to get you two together for ages," said Sakura. "You have no idea how much effort we put into this!"

I was speechless. I looked at our friends, completely at loss.

"What's the matter? You mean you didn't notice?" smirked Neji.

"You... what?!" I was still trying to get a grasp on the situation.

Tenten rolled her eyes. "Well, we've been giving Sai lessons on how to act normal..."

"Which, believe me, took a lot of time and effort," put in Kiba.

"Not to mention the many times we've tactfully managed to get the two of you alone together..." Tenten continued.

"Who's idea do you think it was that Sai paint you, Ino-pig?" winked Sakura.

"What?" I gasped and turned to Sai. His expression mimicked mine. "You knew about all this?"

"They did teach me a few things and recommend I paint you, but I had no idea this was what they were planning..."

"You didn't realise?" Typical. Only Sai could be that blind. Well, it did make sense. After all, I had been wondering why Sai had been acting reasonably normal.

"I can't believe you..."

Sakura smirked. "Well, we did. Anyway, Ino-pig, congrats! Now come on, everyone. Let's give the lovers some Alone Time."

They six departed in couples – Sakura and Kiba, Tenten and Neji, and Hinata and Naruto. In the distance I saw Anko and Kakashi holding hands, and behind them, Shikamaru and Temari, both looking very flushed. I could see Chouji and Ayame, and Hana Inuzuka and Shino in the distance. It seemed like everyone in the village had found a partner. But I could no longer take full credit.

"Sakura told me about dates," said Sai to me, a faint blush on his face. "Do you want to go on one?"

I smiled and leaned forward to kiss him. "Later, Sai. But first, I think Shizune's been feeling very lonely, and I heard Izumo was single..."

The End

That's the end. Don't you just love happy endings? Well, I know I do!

Thanks for reading – sorry it's a short fanfic. It's my first, by the way, I think I forgot to mention that.

Reviews always appreciated!

Hope you liked it!