On Your Mind

AN: First attempt at Naruto fic(let). Final warning. Written for the New Blood contest.

This was to be the day.

The day that she finally bested Sakura, the day she finally achieved what Sakura had not, despite being on Sasuke's team for months already.

And the mission objective was all so simple.

Just a kiss.

Of course, there was a slight problem with that desire - the very reason Sakura hadn't beaten her to it. Not matter what devious angle of attack used, Sasuke brushed their advances off as if he wasn't even aware of them, much less interested.

Ino had contemplated using Naruto's apparently effective way of annoying Sasuke to the point of being noticed, but while that might at least gain her the slightest of acknowledgements of existence, it would probably not get her any closer to her goal. It was infuriating to realize that someone like Naruto Uzumaki had gotten closer to Sasuke than her - or Sakura for that matter - simply by being an antagonist at best, a complete fool at worst.

Then again, that very notion had sparked yesterday's flash of insight, now set in motion. Ino smirked to herself. In her opinion, even Shikamaru wouldn't have come up with something so brilliant.

Which was probably the reason she didn't bother to consult him for his thoughts on the plan.

She pushed aside the branches of the bush she was hiding behind, looked out at the small wooden bridge across the river. She'd had a long and fairly civil talk with Sakura the night before, and learned team seven was to meet up here this morning. Barring the issue of Sasuke, they could agree on most things, could still get along rather well. Friendships die hard, despite rivalries.

Sakura had not noticed the sleeping potion Ino had slipped into her glass of water during a momentary diversion. The dose had been tiny; it would be impossible to taste - and just sufficient enough to make the model student oversleep for half an hour or so.

There was no need to worry about the team seven teacher, Kakashi. Ino had learned enough about him through Sakura to know he was never on time - at least not for their early morning meet-ups. Only the gods knew what kept him from being prompt. Yet, this suited Ino just fine.

At the distant sound of gravel crushed under foot, Ino ducked back behind the bushes again, obscuring herself as best she could while still keeping an eye out for the two boys crossing the bridge. Naruto was in the lead, grinning wide, ever so often turning to deliver a taunt to Sasuke, then taking quick steps away before Sasuke could react - not that he did, short of a grunt or monosyllable comeback.

Indeed, Sasuke looked rather fatigued for so early in the morning. Ino shrugged it off just as Sasuke shrugged Naruto's zest off. The boy had probably not slept well that night.

It didn't matter to Ino. In fact, it was just so much better, for what she had in mind.

The plan was brilliant - but also desperate. And her best shot at getting that kiss.

From so many failed attempts, it was clear enough she wouldn't achieve it without fairly drastic measures. Sasuke seemed to grow alert whenever she approached him these days - almost as if he expected she'd do something.

Not that he was wrong.

It appeared there was only one person who could get close enough to even attempt that kiss these days. Only one who could slip by Sasuke's defenses fast enough to deliver the unexpected. She smirked to herself. That was probably the best part - the fallout from this would all come down on Naruto, and not herself, if she did it right. Still, while she would be the one to actively experience the kiss, she'd have preferred sensing it with her own lips.

It couldn't be helped. Naruto was to be her medium. A quick Mind Transfer to the noisy klutz, a snappy taunt to Sasuke, provoking a quick fight, wrestle and tumble - and with some luck and careful maneuvering, they'd end up in a position permitting the long awaited kiss.

Naruto made another lousy joke. Sasuke reacted with barely a grunt, came to a halt at the end of the bridge, their designated meeting place for the day. Ino frowned. While Naruto acted as loud as ever, he occasionally spoke a mellow sentence to his teammate, most of which got the same thrilled reception as the jokes she did hear.

She closed her eyes briefly, shook her head and took a deep, calming breath. It was now or never. Slowly, she did the signs, positioned her hands and hoped the underbrush wouldn't interfere with the Mind Transfer. She aimed - followed Naruto as he veered to the right, kicking up rocks and muttering about their teacher's lateness, then back left, asking Sasuke where Sakura was. Ino clenched her teeth. Why couldn't Naruto just calm down for a moment? Her plan required that he stood still long enough for the transfer to go through successfully, and he did not seem willing to do that.

Worse, her plan started to fall apart at his next utterance.

"Sasuke, I'm going to go look for Sakura - I think something's happened."

Snort. "She's late, that's all. It's only been a few minutes-"

"We're talking Sakura here, Sasuke! She's never late! Something's up, we should go-"

"Do as you like," Sasuke cut him off. "Kakashi will be here soon - she's probably on her way here. Go if you want, but make sure you get back before Kakashi shows up."

Naruto nodded, turned to walk away-

Ino gaped, then focused again. She could wait no longer; it was now or never. She took aim - and initiated the Mind Transfer.

Darkness.

Distantly, she heard the ruffle of leaves, knowing it was her body collapsing into the underbrush. She reached around the new mind, slowly gained control of it. Her new host smirked in triumph, then let the expression fade away. It was time to pick a fight. "Hey, Sasuke, what do you think-"

She stopped cold. That wasn't Naruto's voice. She opened her eyes - his eyes, looked down at his hands, his dark shirt and white shorts-

She muttered a curse, looked around. Naruto was already gone, and she'd ended up in Sasuke instead.

He was going to kill her after this, that much she was sure of. Worse, after going through all of this, including blowing her every chance with Sasuke, she would still not have gained the kiss she sought.

She sensed out, gained mastery of her host body, touch, taste and smell following sight and hearing - and then, something that faded her anger and frustration.

While not quite what she'd planned, this remained a great opportunity - and since it would be her final one, she might as well take it to extremes. Her nerves reported things she had not felt before - literally. She looked down at the discrete bulge in Sasuke's shorts, and grinned. She took a quick look around, fingered the lining - but halted. No, here wouldn't do - besides, if she was to admire this body in full, she'd need a mirror, and-

A glance at the river. No, not an option. Her pocket, she remembered. She had a small compact mirror in her pocket - on her own body, hidden in the bushes. She nodded to herself, walked hurriedly over there. Soon, she'd get to see Sasuke's-

"Sasuke?"

A low growl in her throat, she turned to face the familiar face she knew that voice belonged to. "Sakura..."

Sakura stopped a good ten feet away, held her hands together before her chest, not entirely facing him - or rather, her. "I'm really sorry I'm late - I overslept. I don't know why - I've never done that before." Sheepish smile. "It's a bit embarrassing, actually." She took a quick look around. "Where's Naruto?"

Ino shrugged. "He went looking for you," she answered, wishing she could have made that satisfying voice say any number of other things - like, 'I love you, Ino'. Then again, for a limited time only, she could do that and more - but Sakura was in the way.

"Oh..."

"Maybe you should go find him. He's probably gotten lost already, and Kakashi will be here soon."

Sakura raised a brow, then shrugged, walking closer. "Naruto might be a bit daft, but he's not five years old. He'll be back in time." Barely an arm's reach away, she stopped, cocking her head to one side. "And what's gotten into you this morning?" Faint smile, stretch to cup cheek. "Had a rough night?"

Ino took a step back, just late enough for Sakura's fingertips to brush her cheek. His cheek. Their cheek. Damn it. "I'm fine," she growled. "I just-" glance at the bushes, idea, quick grin. "I need to pee, okay? Wait here, I'll be right back." Without waiting for Sakura's reply, she started jogging in that direction.

Sakura had been momentarily stumped by that announcement, her mouth left open for a few seconds - before she reached for her shurikens, and promptly sent one into the dirt but a handbreadth from Sasuke's foot. As not-Sasuke turned to give her a look of surprise, she was already prepared to launch her next attack. "Who are you, and where's Sasuke?"

"S-Sakura?" Ino glanced down at the shuriken, back at Sakura's attack posture. This could be bad. Tentatively, she leaned down to pick up the knife. She studied it, then sent it flying into the small copse of trees beyond the bushes. She - he grinned, walked slowly up to Sakura, arms raised in surrender. "Fine, what gave me away?"

"Sasuke would never use the word pee - and he'd certainly not announce his intentions like that." Knives at the ready, Sakura kept her body as a coil ready to spring. This impostor - was it a mere copy technique, an elaborate disguise, or something worse? Where was Sasuke - or Naruto, for that matter? "Who are you?"

Soft snort. "I'm Sasuke."

Frown. "Liar!" She attacked.

Ino barely ducked in time, glad Sasuke had great reflexes, not weakened by her hostile takeover. Just as swiftly, she managed to grasp Sakura's wrists, twisting them enough to make her lose her grip on the shurikens. Sasuke's strength was of good use. "I'm not lying," she answered. "I am Sasuke." Quick glance down, grin. "This body is, at least."

Sakura was at a loss. Worse, this impostor had defeated her, was about to-

His lips met hers. Her surprise faded with the soft pressure, with the warm breath across her cheek, with the quick sweep of tongue to upper lip at their parting. Memories of a past summer's day, a mellow breeze in the air, a wildflower meadow and experimentation in kissing flashed before her senses. She'd been kissed like that before - but that had been- "...I-Ino?"

Not-Sasuke smiled at her bewildered expression. "Got it in one... Always knew you had a big brain behind that big forehead of yours." Ino let go of Sakura, pushed her gently back. "Did you enjoy the kiss?"

Still gaping, Sakura finally regained control of her jaw. "Ino, what in the world-"

"I didn't intend for it to work out this way," Ino cut in. "I was aiming for Naruto. If anyone could do a good body-tackle of Sasuke without raising his suspicion first, it'd be him. Unfortunately, he bounced around too much for me to get a decent aim. I missed, and by then he was gone. I'd never have thought I'd be able to take over Sasuke, though - he must have been really fatigued."

Sakura flagged a brow.

Not-Sasuke shrugged. "Let's face it, even he got further than we did - Naruto has at least kissed Sasuke once, even if it was an accident..."

Sakura looked away, muttering "Naruto and Sasuke have kissed more than once..."

Ino could feel Sasuke stirring to life again, only registering as a tingle at first. She was losing control. "What do you mean?"

Wry lopsided grin. "You mean you haven't noticed? Ino, they're together. They're dating - and perhaps even more than that. They're trying to be discrete about it, though."

Not-Sasuke's jaw hung loose. Ino worked to get it back up, focusing her strength. "Sakura, what the hell are you-"

Faint snort. "Why do you think Naruto was so chipper this morning? Why do you think Sasuke is so weak he hasn't thrown you out yet? It's been much more than three minutes, Ino."

She lost control of the jaw again. Was Sakura saying Naruto and Sasuke were- She shook her head, felt the tingle spread throughout Sasuke's body, felt his rage. It was only a matter of seconds now, and she still hadn't-

She glanced towards the copse, forced herself into a flat-out run. There was still time, if barely. She went into the underbrush, found her body resting in over a thick-leaved bush. Hastily, she tilted her head, his head - and kissed herself, softly at first, more urgently as she felt Sasuke struggle free - and right before fleeing back to her own body, she stuck his tongue into her mouth, returning just in time to catch it on the retreat.

Sasuke pushed away from her at first chance, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and glared daggers at Ino. "Ino, what the hell were you thinking? I'll fucking kill-" He'd reached for his shuriken, but just as he touched the cold metal, a warm hand touched his. Quickly glancing from hand to owner, he paused.

"Don't," Sakura simply said. "It's your own fault, Sasuke."

"My fault?" He jerked away, faced her. "It's my fault Ino hijacks my body and abuses it? Do you know what she was going to do? I read her thoughts, and couldn't do anything to prevent it! I am the victim here, so how come it's my fault?!"

"You know Ino has strong feelings for you - like you know I have - but you didn't come clean, did you? I've told you that you should make your relationship with Naruto public knowledge." Brief chuckle. "Not that there can be many left who haven't noticed." She looked to Ino. "Except Ino, that is. Can you really blame her for making a desperate attempt at getting your attention?"

He glared at Sakura, at Ino, back at his teammate. With a growl of a grunt, he spiked the shuriken in his hand into the ground, turned and stomped away to cool off.

They watched him go, awkward silence overcoming them - only to be broken by the distant yelling of Naruto, by the sounds of it ambushing an already weary Sasuke. They exchanged smiles, started snickering at the sounds of mock battle.

Ino shook her head. "I never would have guessed..."

Sakura walked closer. "I didn't believe it at first either. It wasn't until I caught them kissing I knew it was true." She extended her hand.

Ino accepted, stumbled to her feet. The Mind Transfer technique was always a great drain on her. She sighed. "I guess we've both lost out, then..."

Half a smile. "I wouldn't say that..."

"Oh?"

She put an arm across Ino's shoulders. "I got a kiss from Sasuke, didn't I?"

Ino gave her a look, broke out in a smirk. "And you beat me to it by minutes - but I got tongue as well."

Sakura's grip tightened. "Can we call it a draw?"

Attempted shrug. "Fine by me..." Hesitation. "Of course... it wasn't really Sasuke for either of us..."

Tempered giggle. "I'm afraid he wouldn't be as willing, even if we asked nicely."

Ino tentatively returned Sakura's half embrace. "I suppose you're right..." She glanced at Sakura's cheek. "Maybe we should just drop the middle-man, hm?" Quickly, she leaned in to lick the spot she'd been sighting out.

That Sakura chose that moment to turn to look at her, made it all the better.

Lips are lips. Who needs boys, anyway?

-end-