Chapter 43

After giving out a flower bouquet to Naruto for Sakura Ino handled her store like usual. The sale today was quite good as after Naruto eight more customers came. It was quite a lot for a flower business on a normal day.

Ino was very pleased with the sales and would definitely boast about it in front of her parents when they'll return from doing their mission. It was around half past five in the evening and was close to shop's closing time. Considering the good sale today Ino felt like closing the store half an hour earlier than usual so she started winding up her work.

By six in the evening Ino was all ready to pull down the shop's shutter when she saw a familiar figure walking with great difficulty towards the direction of the hospital.

'Isn't that Naruto? What's wrong with him?' Ino thought to herself and the moment she did she saw Naruto falling on his knees in the middle of the road as his head smashed on the road with a thud.

Seeing the gasping and painful expression on his face Ino couldn't help but rush towards him as she shouted "Naruto! What happened to you!" before she saw a face she would never forget ever in her life rushing towards her...

______

Ino open her eyes while gasping for air. Sweat covered all her face as she felt a sense of relief from waking up from the worst nightmare that she ever had. She tried moving her upper body up from the bed trying to lean her back on the bed rest when she was met with the intense burning sensation from her pubic region making her scream in pain.

Hearing Ino scream suddenly after waking up Naruto couldn't help but call her name "Ino..."

Hearing the voice Ino suddenly paused as she turned her head to look at Naruto. Seeing Naruto and linking this to the pain that she felt Ino quickly realised that what happened was not a nightmare but a reality.

The moment she met eyes with Naruto his face soon merged with the face of the lustful person who tormented her. Her body's flight mechanism activated unconsciously as she ignored all the pain that she was feeling and quickly moved towards the walls.

"S-stay away from me..." Ino said with an obvious fear in her voice.

"Ino but..." Naruto tried to say something as he attempted to move towards her but was interrupted by Ino as she shouted this time "I SAID STAY AWAY FROM ME YOU BEAST!!"

Naruto listened to her and stayed where he was as he waited for Ino to calm down. Ino also took this opportunity to calm herself. Seeing that Ino was now in a state to listen Naruto said "Ino I really didn't mean to do that..." Naruto tried explaining but was met with a sharp retort from her.

"I don't care whether you meant to or not...it's a fact that you did it anyway! Why!! I just wanted to help you and you did what? You assaulted me and then raped me!!!" Ino cried out loud, tears started welling up in her eyes the more she continued.

Seeing that Naruto remained quiet Ino continued. "You think your being quiet now will make me forgive you?! Never! I'll never forgive you for this." Ino said huffing loudly by now...each of her words plunging deep into Naruto's guilty heart like daggers.

"I know. What I've done to you is not forgivable at all. I even wanted to kill myself to pay for my sin but realised that it was not my decision to take now. It's yours. So Ino..." Naruto kneeled down on the ground and slid a Kunai towards Ino and continued "...get your revenge. I know this won't solve anything but atleast you'll feel better making me suffer for what I've done to you." Naruto said and closed his eyes.

Ino paused for a second before bending down to pick up the Kunai and slowly moved towards Naruto. When she was close to him she sat down so that she could be at the same level as him.

She slowly raised the Kunai up and thrusted it down, her target Naruto's thigh.

*Stab*

'Why?!'

*Stab*

'Why?!'

*Stab*

'Why?!'

*Stab*

'Why?!'

*Stab*

'Why did you do it?!'

*Stab*

Ino finally stopped her hand. The Kunai was now stabbed deep in Naruto's thigh with her hold still on it. The blood from his wound slowly exited and made a small pool of blood below Naruto. During this whole time Naruto didn't made any movement but one could see tears falling down from his closed eyes and wipe the few droplets of blood that splashed on his face.

Ino who was also covered in droplets of blood from Naruto's wound finally couldn't suppress it in as she bursted out crying.

"W-why d-did you even do it if you're regretting it enough to die by my hands!" Ino said angrily.

"I spoiled your life... because of me you won't be able to live a normal life ever again. It's only right for you to take my life away so go forward don't hesitate."

Ino couldn't make herself do it because if she could she would have already done it by now. In her frustration she removed the Kunai from Naruto's thigh and said as blood gushed out of his wound. "Death? That would be too easy for you! Live with this guilt all your life. That's what you deserve. A life worse than death."

With that's said Ino left the room towards the washroom to wipe the blood off her and also to freshen herself in the process. Leaving the stunned Naruto their alone.

"A life worse than death..." Naruto repeated. The more he thought over it the more it made sense. Wasn't he trying run from the consequences of his actions by trying get himself killed. Living everyday while being reminded of how he ruined Ino's life would be far more torturous for him than death.