Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Naruto is the property of Masashi Kishimoto

Ino in a Time Loop

Chapter 8: Can't Fight Fate

Have you ever heard the expression, the more things change, the more they stay the same? I've learned that the hard way. I spend the last loop, and the ones before it, with Shikamaru and Choji as my team-mates. This loop, I manipulated Sakura into altering the teams, and ended up with Sasuke and Shikamaru on mine. Now, I'm back to being with Shikamaru and Choji.

Surprised? So was I. I thought we had a good thing going, Sasuke, Shikamaru and I. Sasuke added a lot more diversity to the team than Choji did with his clan techniques. I guess we either didn't have that deep connection most great teams had, or Sasuke wanted to move on to other things.

It happened almost two years to the day we became a team. One day, out of the blue, Shikamaru and I were told that Sasuke had requested reassignment, and that Kakashi would no longer be our instructor.

Sasuke was joining the Hidden Leaf Village's counter-insurgent agency, presumably to use the training he'll get to help in his ambition. I don't know it he wants to become an ANBU captain like his brother, and I'm not sure of his chances if he does. Kakashi would be taking a lot of high ranking missions, as ninja of his calibre were rare, and he'd be better suited taking them than teaching anyway.

So, Choji was re-assigned to out team. He was promoted during the last chunin exams, making us all chunin. We didn't need a higher ranked ninja to accompany us anymore, but we still spent most of our time on c-rank missions, and the occasional B-rank. We still need the experience after all.

Choji's time as Kurenai's student did him some good. While she couldn't help him with his clan's techniques, she was much stricter then Asuma ever was. Choji was in better shape then in previous loops, probably from training harder, and had learned a lot of counter-illusion tactics.

I'd say I benefited more from Kakashi's training then Asuma's, as I learned a lot about lightning manipulation from him. Not as much as he taught Sasuke though. I don't resent him for that, as I have all the time in the world to learn everything there is. Huh, I hope Orochimaru isn't in a time loop. I can't imagine how powerful he'd get if he was.

Hmm, I think Shikamaru is stronger as well, at least physically, but only because Kakashi makes us spar a lot against Sasuke. Neither I nor Kakashi will let Shikamaru quit a spar either, or we'll use a low level lightning technique to give him a shock. Shikamaru has had to work out more just to be able to dodge them.

All things considered, we might be better ninjas and stronger on our own now, but I had more fun on team ten than team seven. It's harder for us now, as the three of us have to readjust to working together. Even though we're old friends, we didn't click as a team right away. It'll still take some time before we do so. At least I have my memories of being on team ten in past loops to help me. I just hope we have enough time to become a good team before Akatsuki moves out.

As for Kiba and Shino, no they didn't get put back on a team with Hinata. She's still receiving a lot of training from her clan. Just between you and me, I don't think they like how much she emulated Anko. Now Hiashi is training her in proper Hyuuga decorum and the gentle fist constantly. Now that Hinata has a backbone, I think she'll do fine.

Poor Haku though. Hinata has him wrapped around her little finger. I don't think he minds though. He was once an orphan turned apprentice/tool of a missing-ninja, now he's the boytoy of the heiress to the Hyuuga clan. I think Anko has taught Hinata too well.

I hear he's quite happy. The Hyuuga clan, while stoic, is the family he's never had. Haku's demure nature helped him adapt quite fast, and he's picking up a lot of high class mannerisms. They've also helped with his physical conditioning, since they specialize in hand-to-hand combat. Haku was always good with his bloodline, but now he has the physical strength to support it.

He's still in over his head though. Like his new allowance. As he's currently a ward of the Hyuuga clan, and not betrothed to Hinata yet, they've given him a modest spending allowance. Compared to the money he used to make on the run with Zabuza, it's like he has a small fortune. I took him shopping once to show him around, and we had a lot of fun. Damn it but that boy looked better in most dresses and kimono than I did. No wonder Naruto thought he was prettier than Sakura.

So Haku and Hinata are doing fine. I don't know how long it'll be before they're under pressure to have any children, but I think both are focusing on their training and careers for now. I'm pretty sure they're looking forward to starting a family and having children of their own, but in a way, we're still children ourselves, and have a lot of growing up to do.

Oh just listen to me, I sound like a wise old woman who thinks she's a kid. Technically I am, so I want to enjoy it while I can. Things are going to get pretty bad soon, so I should enjoy these days while they last. By the time I'm sixteen, I might be fighting in a war, so I should be ready for it.

I can focus on that another day though. So, back to Kiba and Shino then. Yeah, I have no idea what they're up to. Sorry to keep you in suspense and then give you nothing. All the missions I've been on lately have gotten in the way of keeping up to date on my vast information network, which some incorrectly refer to as gossip. I do not gossip, I seek out the truth by whatever means necessary and inform only those who need to know of it. It's not my fault they can't keep any secrets I tell them. Shut up, you know what I mean.

If I had to guess, I'd say they're on missions like me. I don't know if they've got a new team, but since they're tracking and information gathering specialists, it's a good bet their skills are being put to good use somewhere. Hopefully I'll see them again soon.

If I was still working in the hospital and not the field I'm sure I'd have seen them at some point. Unfortunately, I can't keep a shadow clone active long enough there while I'm away on a mission to find out. Even if I tried, if it dispelled at a bad time for me, the information feedback would be a major distraction. So, I don't keep any shadow clones active while I'm outside the village.

That only leaves Naruto and Sakura. Well, them and Gai's team. They're still a team, and all chunin as well, except for Neji, who's a jonin. Out of all twelve of us, He's the only one, but I think that's because he's a year older, and therefore had more experience to help him. I'm sure Sasuke and Naruto will be promoted soon enough. They're both strong enough, and have proved themselves ready for it.

Right, right, Naruto, don't rush me. He's been training with Jiraiya when he isn't taking missions. In my past lives, or at least the previous one, their training consisted mainly on working out Naruto's weaknesses. Anko did that already, so they were able to focus on his strengths.

Naruto, in my previous life, also told me they had a lot of fun, as they spent a lot of time traveling around Fire Country and the surrounding nations, and enjoyed their time together. Jiraiya also introduced Naruto to his contacts, and showed him the basics of running a spy network. I must say, it's invaluable information. I'm not sure if Naruto's been taught that this time. I still think he's going to be the next Hokage, so his training must be focused on that instead.

He and Temari are still a couple, from what I've heard. Naruto has had to learn a lot of proper behaviour to maintain their relationship, what with Gaara being Kazekage and all. Naruto wasn't too pleased at first that Gaara beat him to the top spot. Still, considering how Gaara became the Kazekage, I don't think Naruto would have wanted to become Hokage that way. Besides, it's better for him this way. His relationship with Temari, and her connection to Gaara will help him when he becomes Hokage someday.

As for Sakura, she's still traveling with Tsunade. I hear from her from time to time, mainly through postcards as our paths have never crossed. She's enjoying her time studying under Tsunade, and apparently Tsunade is enjoying it too. Maybe she'll even come back someday. I doubt it, but soon we'll need all the help we can get.

It's funny, but I don't think she has a boyfriend yet. It would be hard to maintain a relationship while on the road all the time anyway. I'll have to help her when she gets back, it's what a good friend does. Although, it'll be tricky. She became quite intimidating studying under Anko. I'm scared to see how she'll turn out after training with Tsunade.

Do you know why civilian doctors need a good bedside manner? It's because they don't have ninja powers to keep their patients under control. Sakura's temper was bad before, I don't know what it'll be like now. I can see Naruto and Lee being good for her because they can take a pounding, but Naruto is taken and I doubt Lee would like Sakura now anyway. Who would be good for her now? Bah, I'll figure it out later.

So yeah, that's pretty much it. While I tried to make some major changes, and I definitely did, some things will never change. Maybe that's for the best. Still, does that mean some things are destined to happen? That no matter what I do, there will be events beyond my control, so all I can do is accept it and pray it all works out?

Akatsuki will be moving out soon. From what I recall, Kakuzu and Hidan first went after the host of the Seven Tailed Horned Beetle since Kakuzu was from the Hidden Waterfall Village, while Konan and Nagato went after the host of the Five Tailed Dolphin Horse.

I've sent out warnings through my usual methods, but I'm not sure how well they'll be received. Things have gone good so far, but that's here in the Hidden Leaf Village. I'm not sure if word will get out to the other villages. I'm not too familiar with how their information networks work.

It terrifies me sometimes. I have all this knowledge, but how do I best use it? I can secretly inform the higher-ups in my village about what's to come, but what if they don't believe me? I've gotten lucky so far, but I'd feel terrible if I knew a tragedy was about to happen, I did my best to warn everyone about it, and they didn't believe me.

I suppose all I can do is continue what I've been doing and hope for the best. Unless I want to become Hokage so I can have access to the power to use my knowledge, that's all I can do. No, being Hokage is Naruto's dream. I'm not going to take that from him. If by some circumstance I'm offered the position in favour of Naruto, I'd turn it down. I have no desire to be Hokage, but Naruto does, and that's what will make him a great Hokage.

I wonder how Naruto would do in a time loop. Would he find a way to become Hokage as fast as possible, and use his foreknowledge to save the world, rather then subtly manipulating everyone like me? Personally, I think he'd take things head on, and bear the responsibility himself. I can just see him fighting all of Akatsuki by on his own, if only so no one else has to risk themselves against them. I suppose he would be strong enough to do so, and win. Especially if he was in a time loop.

How would he deal with finding his true love though? Would he still pine for Sakura, or would he move on, and find love with someone like Hinata, or me? At least Naruto has the benefit that even if he starts off as the village pariah every loop, Hinata still loves him regardless.

In a way, I'm kind of jealous. I've never gotten that kind of admiration from any boys before. At least, none that I'm aware of. Even Sakura had Naruto and Lee, two very nice guys, practically worshipping the ground she walked on while she only had eyes for Sasuke, just like me. Or at least, like I used to. I don't know anymore.

The thought occurs to me, if Naruto was in a time loop, and he had yet to get over Sakura, would he keep trying until he gets together with her? He would have the advantage of the loops to help him. What if he did get together with her, spent a wonderful life with her, but the loop still reset? He'd have to win her all over again, and risk losing her too.

That leaves me wondering more and more often, how can you stay faithful to your soul mate when they don't know they're supposed to be faithful to you? Or do soul mates even exist? Does that mean I was meant to be with Naruto, and I've lost him? Or that he and Temari won't work out, and I'll be the one to ease his broken heart? It's all so confusing.

When I was young, I always thought that Sasuke was the one for me. When Sasuke and Sakura became a couple, I was devastated. Naruto was there for me, like I was for him, and I'm glad he was. It wasn't the best way for us to get together, but it helped create a bond between us that wasn't there before. A part of me will always love him, and cherish the time we spent together, but I'll always feel guilty that I had never let go of my feelings for Sasuke like he did for Sakura.

Well, I'm sure of it now. I was Sasuke's team-mate for two years, and he's not what I thought he was. In fact, he's quite different from what he was in the previous loops. I guess the changes I made, and not being on Naruto's team in particular for him to influence him, have made him a different person.

Does that mean Sasuke can still become the kind of man I would love, as long as the right circumstances were met? That all I have to do is create those circumstances, and Sasuke will fall for me? Maybe I already have created the circumstances that Sasuke would fall for me, but they're the ones where I don't fall for him. I'm his team-mate, someone he has had to trust, I've supported him and haven't acted like I used to around him. For all I know, I could be his number one choice for his future wife and mother of his children.

Ugh, once upon a time the possibility of something like that would have been my dream come true. Now, it sounds more like he just wants me because I would be the best suited to helping him revive his clan, not because he loves me.

Besides, he's still focused on his goal of killing Itachi right now. That's probably why he transferred off the team. He's moving on so he can get his vengeance sooner. I guess if I consider Sasuke a friend, I'll have to support his decision. If Naruto was part of my team, and moving on meant he'd become Hokage sooner, I'd support him. Heh, I bet Naruto would turn down the offer and stay with me, er, I mean our team, just so he can have fun with us a little longer before he has to take the serious job. He's unpredictable like that.

So, do I move on from Sasuke, now that I'm sure we wouldn't work out except under the perfect circumstances? I think I should, but there's this nagging voice in the back of my head that says I should keep trying until I do. Weird, I'll have to look into that later.

The alternative to finding the perfect version of Sasuke in a loop, or at least one option, is that I stay faithful to Naruto. I would either wait for him to become single again, which he might not, or just find a way to get together with him in the next loop, and stay single for the rest of this one. I doubt that last idea is an option, as my clan will pressure me into marrying someone to continue the family line. Not to mention, what if Naruto ends up with someone else? That would mean he's not really the man I'm meant to be with. If so, then who would it be? What was the point of being with Naruto than?

Ugh, I can't think about this any more. It's starting to make my head hurt. That's really bad, considering I'm a Yamanaka and a trained medic, my head should be indestructible. I need to take a break. I have some time off before my team's next mission, it's time I paid a visit to the hot springs. Perhaps some rest and relaxation will help me. I really hope this headache is nothing. It probably is, right?

Author's Notes: Well, that still wasn't as long as I would have liked, and nothing too major plot wise happened. If anyone's curious about the timeline, it's a little over three years after the start of canon, and close to the start of Shipuuden.

I've been rethinking my long term plans for this story. While the ending, at least the ending that reveals the source of the loops, and not Ino's ending, will not change, Ino's story might. Let's just say, if I had finished this much sooner, it might be a very different story then the one it will someday become.

That said, I think I'll take a break on this for now until I've solidified my long-term and short-term plans. I'll be alternating between Zabuza's Seven and Piece of the Puzzle for now, and I'll come back to Ino in a Time Loop once PotP is finished. That shouldn't take too long, as I only have a few more chapters of it planned. Hopefully this chapter will be enough to tide everyone over.

I'll be taking everyone's reviews into consideration as well. Tell me what you all think, just keep in mind it won't be the final deciding factor. Will Ino keep trying until she gets her perfect loop with Sasuke? Or will she stay faithful to Naruto, who may not be faithful to her? Is Ino's headache benign, or indicative of something far more sinister? What is the source of the time-loops? For answers to these questions and more, stay tuned! Same Ino-time, same Ino-channel!