Category: Naruto

Genre: Action/Romance

Characters: Nara Shikamaru, Yamanaka Ino

Pairings: Shika Ino?

Rating: T or M.

Summary: War is upon Konoha. Shikamaru and Ino prepare for battle. Will love bloom over the battlefield? Lemons. R&R!

Warning/Note: There will contain lemons, so if you don't feel comfertable with reading lemons, please skip that part or do not read. Shikamaru and Ino are around 19/20 years old in this story and this is set in the future and Sasuke has returned. This story will contain major spoilers for people who have not read up to the current chapter in Naruto (manga).

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any characters from Naruto. They are all copyrighted from the author, Kishimoto.

This story was edited by my beta-reader, Candace.

Three Simple Words

The horrible sounds could be heard from every corner of Konoha. Dust filled the air; the sky was a dusty gray. The people of Konoha could see Sound troops lining up around the border of the city. One ninja yelled to another, “Send word to the Hokage-sama. War is upon us!”

In the training fields….

“Damn!” Shikamaru cursed. What was that sound? Sweat ran down his face. What threw me off target? He stared at the target. ‘One inch from the bull’s-eye.’ He frowned. Then he turned to face the center of the city, there he could see smoke and dust rising. Troubled, he started to sprint towards Konoha.

“How troublesome.” He murmured.

In the distance, Ino sat on a bench and sharpened her tools. She wasn’t much of a tool person, but every ninja must be prepared for war. ‘For years our nearby cities have threaten us with war.’ As if on cue, she heard the sounds of the bombs. Her head turned to face the center of the city; there she saw clouds of smoke rise above the ground. Worried, she gathered her things and ran towards the city.

As Shikamaru ran towards the Hokage’s office, he saw a nearby figure waving furiously at him. “Oi, SHIKAMARU! Did you see the smoke?”

“En.”

Suddenly Hokage-sama’s guards came up to them and said, “The Hokage wishes to speak with you two, together.”

“Oh, ok.”

In the Hokage’s office

“I’m going to tell you straight out that you do not have a say in the matter. Since you two are both Jounins, I will be sending you out to war.” Tsunade-sama said.

“What?” The both said, shocked.

“Hai, you, Nara Shikamaru, will be in shipment #1 and you, Yamanaka Ino, will being shipment #2.

“Ah, Hai.” They both said, sort of disappointed that they were not in the same shipment.

In Ino’s room

“I can’t believe it; I’m going out to war. I can’t believe it. Oh well, At least Shikamaru’s in the war with me.” Ino stated as she packed up her things.

With Shikamaru on the street

“SHIKAMARU! Don’t leave us! We LOVE YOU!” Shikamaru’s raging fan girls yelled.

“Chh…how troublesome,” Shikamaru said and smirked, “You shouldn’t say those kinds of things. You don’t love me; it’s just a stupid crush.” Shikamaru left, leaving his fan girls heart-broken.

‘Those three words are special. They only have meaning if it’s coming from the right person. That would be her.’

‘Let’s see… I’m shipping out tomorrow morning at 9 o’ clock.’ “Ah…. how troublesome. I have to go pack.”

When Shikamaru reached his apartment he saw Ino standing by his door.

“En? What are you doing here, Ino?”

“Huh? Oh Shikamaru. Hi, I just came here to wish you good luck tomorrow. You know, since we might well…. yeah.”

“Oh I see. Well no use standing out here. Do you want to come in?” ‘How surprising.’

“HAI!” Ino yelled with a fox like smile. Sort of like this

Shikamaru opened the door.

“Hnn…. you’re apartment pretty clean. I thought it would be messier, since you’re kind of lazy.”

“Thanks for pointing that out. You’ve never been to my apartment?”

“Nope, but you’ve been to mine!”

“Hnn.” He said.

Do you want something to eat?

“Hnn? No thanks, I’m trying to slim down.”

“You know, more guys would like you if you’d put on some more meat. How about this, I make you some hot chocolate.”

“Well, how can I refuse hot chocolate? Sure!” ‘Does he really think so? Maybe if I do put on some meat, I’ll attract more guys…. maybe even him. Wha-what am I thinking! I don’t like Shikamaru! No way! Do I?’

“Here you go.”

“Huh?” Ino responded without thinking. There was Shikamaru with her hot chocolate. Ino snapped out of her daydreaming and took the hot chocolate.

“So Shikamaru, are u scared about going into battle?”

“Nah. It’s what we have been training for all those years at the academy.”

“Oh. Well I know you’ll do great.” Ino said. She took a sip of her hot chocolate, nearly burning her tongue.

“Ow!” Ino screamed. Shikamaru stood there and smirked.

“Stop smirking at me like that!” Ino said, bonking Shikamaru over the head.

Shikamaru stood up and sat next to her. “You’re so cute when you’re embarrassed.” Then he paused ‘Did I really just say that?’

Ino’s eye met with Shikamaru’s. They stared into each other’s eyes, not moving to break contact. They could see the desire for each other.

“No, don’t be silly!” Ino said with a fake smile. ‘Did he really mean that?’ She started to blush a little.

“Shikamaru, since you are going to battle tomorrow, I just wanted to say that I’m rooting for you. You’d better not die on me.” Ino commanded. “Understand me!” She said in her usual loud voice. I want to see you on that battlefield when I get there. You have to promise me … that you’ll be there, the same strong, smart guy you are now, and more importantly alive.” Ino held out her pinkie and said in a determined, sincere voice, “PINKIE PROMISE ME!”

Shikamaru was taken back by Ino’s words. “Ino…wha...”

Ino grabbed Shikamaru’s pinkie and hooked it onto hers. Yet at that moment, Shikamaru locked his lips with hers. They embraced each other in the other’s arm, held by the touch of their kiss. They were both stunned at their and each others action, but they made no effort to break away.

Inside Shikamaru’s mind he thought, I promise. I promise you that I will love and protect you always.

Inside Ino’s mind raging thoughts raced through her.

‘Shikamaru, what are you doing. I-I don’t love you, I can’t love you, but your lips taste so warm and nice. I feel like I’m melting by his kiss.’

Standing there, still kissing, they both were amazed by their lip lock. Shikamaru finally broke their kiss, and lifted Ino up. As they kissed, once again, Shikamaru’s tongue licked Ino’s lower lip. Begging for entrance, Ino accepted and parted her mouth just enough for Shikamaru to push his tongue in. His tongue explored the treasures of her mouth and all the wonderful tastes it contained.

Shikamaru could no longer take it. He could feel his hormones rushing and raging through him. He knew this was his chance, believing that this might be his only chance, if he could not keep his promise to Ino. He was not going to let Ino slip through his fingers when he finally has her.

He slowly inches towards the bed. Ino, finally getting the idea let him lead her slowly towards the bed. Shikamaru slowly places Ino on the bed. He looked into her eyes, asking for her permission. Ino, now so taken by the actions of Shikamaru and her own unsure feelings of love towards Shikamaru, nodded in agreement. He smiled as he took off his shirt. She took her fingers and traced his chest. All the muscle outlines turned her on. He slowly started to take off her shirt and her skirt until there was only her bra and panties on. He stared at her beautiful, slim body. Ino began to unbutton his pants. Shikamaru kick it off until he was left with nothing but his boxer. His boxer though could not hide his horniness though. Ino, with her finger, slowly traced her finger up and down his body. Shikamaru couldn’t take it anymore.

“Ino, may I?

‘Please Ino, let me.’ Shikamaru’s thoughts begged.

Ino’s thoughts were so hazy and her oncoming feelings towards Shikamaru clouded her judgment, that she simply nodded her head in agreement.

The Next Morning

Shikamaru eyes peeked open. The first thing he saw was Ino and her beautiful face. The sky shined through the window by the bed. Ino and his arms and body were intertwined, and he thought about the amazing night they had. His hands stroked her face.

‘Wow, what an amazing and not troublesome night.’

Flashback on the night before

“Ino, may I?”

Shikamaru smirked in amusement. It was a great night for the both of them. The moment she nodded in agreement, all he could do was stare with interest. ‘Her most precious gift, her virginity, she’s giving it to me. Ino…INO YAMANAKA…the strongest girl in Konoha… the girl who never lets her guard down…to me…ME!’

Ino’s eyes were filled with mixed emotions- - awe, fear, love, passion. He could not tell which one was dominated. But after some silent moments, he could tell her fear subsided, and her desire took over. He could feel as he longer could hold it.

“Ino, this might hurt at first, but don’t worry I know you’re strong…it will be over soon and a greater feeling will take over.”

Ino nodded again. He pushed in slowly, which was easy since she was wet already. He pushed until he came across a resistance. He looked at Ino. She nodded to me as she grabbed my shoulders to brace herself. I pushed in further and could feel her trembling, holding in her scream. I held her tight. I kissed her before she gave in. After the night had end, we were both exhausted for our nightly activities. Panting, we looked at each other and we fell asleep in the other’s arms.

(A/n This part was written by my beta-reader with me to somehow manage to hold her back from EXPLICT details…tried to keep this part as clean as possible)

Back to the Present

While he daydreamed about the night before, he glanced over at the clock, which read 8:45 am.

“Damn! I got to go! How troublesome…” He moaned, but the true reason he didn’t want to go was because he wanted to be with Ino. This might be the last they would be together.

He quietly and softy untangled his arms out of Ino’s and got out of bed. He then put on some clean clothes, packed, grabbed some portable breakfast and left Ino. Right before he left though, he took one last good look at Ino. For the first time, he smiled a sincere and genuine smile. Outside, he walked down the hills of Konoha. Taking in the fresh air, and staring at the clouds like he use to do with Ino. Ino….

In Shikamaru’s bedroom

“Mmmnnnm. Uh, I’m so sore…what happened?” Ino looked down at her bare breast.

“NANI!” Ino yelled.

‘Oh my god! What happened? All I remember was going into Shikamaru’s apartment, talking and then…. her mind wandered into the kiss.” Then she saw flashes of what happened the night before. The kiss, taking off clothes rolling in bed with a certain someone, all just small flashes and clips, but Ino pieced them together and figured out what had happened.

“Oh my god…oh my god…” Was all she could say, but then she noticed next to her was empty. ‘SHIKAMARU!’ She glanced at the clock. 8:55 am. Then she stared out of the window. Faintly, because of the blinding sun, she saw a figure walking down the hills next to his apartment. “AH!”

She tossed on some blankets, wrapped it around her body and ran out of the apartment. She ran to towards the city to the top of the hill and she yelled…

At he bottom of the hill

Ino…

“Alright men, you have received your instructions and get ready to travel to the battle lines. Take a good look around for some of you; this will be your last time. Take off.” The Konoha leader yelled. With the final words, the ninjas took off, but just before, the fainted voice of a familiar girl was heard in the distance.

“SHIKAMARU! YOU BETTER KEEP YOUR PROMISE! DON’T YOU DARE DIE ON ME OR I WILL HAVE TO KILL YOU ALL OVER AGAIN!” Ino yelled with a hint of laughter in her voice and a smile on her face.

Shikamaru turned his head towards the hill and smirked. ‘Ino…don’t worry about me. I’ll find my way back to you, I promise.’ With a grin on his face, he performed his jutsu and a rush of wind and leaves surround him until he vanished.

At the Top of the Hill

As Ino finally her message, she slowly watched the ninjas disappear into thin air until only one remained. In the distance, she swore she could see a smile on that certain ninja’s face before disappearing as well. Shikamaru…I’ll meet you there…

Part 2

Shikamaru….. I’ll meet you there…

The Next Morning

“OK! Is everybody ready?” yelled the ninja.

“Hai!”

In the crowd there was one familiar face, Yamanaka Ino’s.

“OK! TAKE OFF!”

With those last commands, the men and women of shipment 2 took off, leaving the rest of Konoha staring in the distance, but one girl stood behind for a second or two, examining the city.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be back. I won’t die. Goodbye Sakura, Naruto, Hinata, and everybody else. Shikamaru, I’ll meet you there.” Ino whispered and she took off.

(A/n Sakura and they aren’t going to the war because they’re needed around the city.)

In the Battlefield

“DAMN! CHOUJI! WATCH MY BACK!” Shikamaru yelled. ‘Dammnit! There are too many freaking sound troops.’ They were both covered from head to toe in blood. At that moment, a sound ninja approach Shikamaru from behind. Luckily, Chouji was there to warn Shikamaru.

“Shikamaru, behind you!” Chouji yelled while stabbing a sound ninja in the face. Shikamaru turned and threw shurikans at them, taking off their heads. Shikamaru thought to himself, Where is Ino, she was suppose to be here already…

Ino

SHRRRRUUUUUUUUUU

“Shipment 2 Konoha ninjas have just arrived.” Yelled one Jounin to the next.

“OK!”

One Jounin from shipment 1 informed the ninjas from shipment 2 of the situation.

“Ok? So now, go out there and fight your best!”

“HAI!”

With those words sound ninjas sprinted towards them; slaughtering all in their way.

Clink

Clink

CLINK

Little sparks of fire emerged from the clashing of Kunai knifes. ‘Where is Shikamaru?’ Ino thought. As she fought the ninjas, she spotted Neji, who was an ANBU.

“NEJI!” Ino yelled.

“WHAT?” Neji said, chopping off some ninjas head.

“Do-clink-you-clink-know where-clink clink clink-Shikamaru is?” Clink

“HE IS IN THE SOUTH PART OF THE BATTLE FIELD! WHY?” Neji screamed while stabbing a poor sound ninja in the neck.

But before Neji could get an answer, Ino was already sprinting away.

As soon as she had heard, she had sprinted over, but every step she took, more sound ninja’s attacked her. She fought her hardest, killed most of them. Her usual golden, silky hair was now a muddy, red blood color. Her face was splattered and stained from all the times she had slashed a sound ninja across the chest. She knew she was the strongest women ninja in Konoha, except to Tsunade-sama of course, but for some reason she could not fight as well. All she could think about was to get to Shikamaru, so they could fight side by side like when they were kids.

She streaked across the battlefield. Jumping up and down to avoid more sound ninja’s. ‘Shikamaru, Dammnit, stop showing up! I have to get to Shikamaru!’ As she ran she threw shurikans and kunai knives at sound troops. Every moment she ran, she fought, every moment she fought she ran. Everything was just to get to Shikamaru. ‘Dammnit, wait, Shikamaru….’ She had just jumped and fought single handedly 5 sound ninja’s with one kunai knife.

Clink

Clink

Clink

Sparks flew across the air. The sounds of clashing metal could be heard across the battlefield. In the end the five…or maybe six sound ninjas lied on the floor, dead. Ino had several wounds and injuries, but refused to give up.

Shikamaru

Shrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Clink

Bang

Clink

CLINK

Flares flew into the sky. Shikamaru was in a head to head, hand-to-hand combat. He couldn’t use his famous Kagemane jutsu because the whole battlefield was dark, meaning that there was no shadow. All he could do was hand-to-hand. This one particular ninja was a tough one to beat. Their kunai knifes were lock in with each other, and they were both struggling with all their strength against each other’s kunai knife. Finally they both broke apart at the same moment and charged again, but Shikamaru being the genius he was, instead of charging at the ninja head on, ducked the ninja’s attack and then stabbed the kunai into the other ninja’s face, winning the fight. ‘Ino where are you’ but Shikamaru had no time to think, this was war, not those kiddy play wars her use to do when he was a kid, this was real war. It’s either fight or die, if he died, then he would never see Ino again. Then that would be troublesome. He started wondering when it was that he fell in love with Ino. He didn’t know he just did. If this war tore them apart, then life wouldn’t be fair, but he thought to himself, all’s fair in love and war.

Hokage’s office

“Tsunade-sama! Tsunade-sama!” Shizune yelled, “T-The-the,” she panted, “The sound ninja’s have planned a surprise attack!”

“What do you mean, Shizune?”

“It means that all the people out on the field right now are going to die!”

“NANI? What do you mean? How so?”

Shizune started to explain, and as she did, Tsunade’s face started to turn more and more grave.

“So that means that all the people in shipment 1 and 2 will die?” Tsunade asked, in a low whisper.

“Hai…” Shizune said, even sadder than that of Tsunade’s.

A few minutes before, Sakura had heard their conversation. She had heard of the sound’s plan, and how all the people of shipment 1and 2 will die. Tsunade, of course, had noticed that Sakura had been standing there, but made no effort to stop the conversation.

“Tsunade-sama…. is this true?’ Sakura asked.

“H-Hai…” Tsunade’s face was pale and solemn.

Tears flowed down Sakura’s face. More and more appeared, just flowing down her face.

She was thinking of all the people there and Ino. For once in her life, she had felt guilty about the time she had broke their friendship, all those years ago. How she had left Ino for Sasuke, Ino wasn’t mad anymore. She has become Sakura’s friend once more. (A/n Sasuke had come back to the village and was now an ANBU leader; he and Sakura had gotten together. Sakura was a new jounin now. Don’t get me wrong. I like Sasuke. He is my favorite character.)

“So…..Shikamaru and Ino…” Sakura had no need to finish her sentence and she needed no answer; the look on Tsunade’s face could answer all. They were all going to die.

Ino

Ino’s mind raced, is Shikamaru still alive……Of COURSE! He wouldn’t die I know it! I’ve known him forever, since we were little kids. He is a true genius. He also made me a promise, a pinkie promise. Even though he is lazy-bum, he would never break a promise.

Yamanaka Ino, too, would neverbreak a promise. That, as Hinata had put it, was her ninja way. Even if she would lose all he hair, beauty, skin, whatever. She would live on for the sake of those who she cared deeply about, and she knew Shikamaru was that way to.

Shikamaru

Splat

More blood had just been splattered on Shikamaru’s face. Was it never ending? Chouji had been sent to the hospital a few minutes ago, he had been severally, and maybe fatally hurt, Ino would not be happy about this. So now remained Shikamaru, with no partner, until Ino arrived; and he knew she would. She was stubborn like that. If she said she would be there, she would, wanted or not. There was no changing it, and that’s just the way he liked it.

Shikamaru stared out into the distance, looking at the setting sun. He could see countless ninjas dead on the ground, just lying there, but he was no fool. He could also see more alive ninjas then dead; the fight was not over. He was thinking to himself until he happened to realize that he didn’t have time to think. He was in a war. ‘I wonder were Ino is.’

Ino

Some ninjas’ could see a certain blond, red hair streak across the field; dodging whatever was in her way, and if necessary, killing them. Ino no longer had her hair in a ponytail, mainly because she could not put in a ponytail. Some sound ninja had heard about how much this Yamanaka Ino girl loved and pampered her hair, so they planned to use it to kill her. To grab her hair and force her to give up or they would cut her hair, but what they didn’t know was that Yamanaka Ino was not those petty girls who loved their hair. Sure she liked it, and tried to treat it, but she would not let them think she was weak, pathetic girl. (A/n Sort of how Sakura said during the Chunin exams, “All you care about is your beauty and hair!”) Never underestimate her, or you will pay for it. So when they did that, she just simply said, “Go right ahead, I dare you to.” They were shocked, but never the less did. You know what Ino did? As they cut of her hair, she waited patiently. When they were done, she stood up, and as she did, if you saw the look on her face, you could see that is was strong and confident, but most of all mad. Not because of what they did to her hair, but that once again someone saw her only as a vain girl. Her blond, but now rusty red hair, fell down, right over her face and body. Single strands floating gently to the ground. Her hair was now to her chin, it was ragged, uneven, layered, as people would say now, textured to the max, they had cut, cut and cut, while she simply let them, but even though they had ruined he long hair, it was still beautiful, straight and silky. (A/n it sort of looks like when Ino was a child, but more rugged and her face was more beautiful and mature.) Now she would show them just what they were messing with.

2 minutes later

The sound ninjas were dead, severed and there was the sound ninja’s blood everywhere, even on her.

“See, I told you not to mess with me.”

With those parting words she left, to find Shikamaru.

Shikamaru

Somehow, Shikamaru always felt as though his heart was connected to Ino’s, so suddenly he felt as if a needle pierced his heart.

“Ino…….”

He had defeated most of the ninjas in the southern part of the field, but it would take hours to reach where Ino was. Then he saw it. In the distance he saw them.

“Oh my god…”

Ino

‘I’ve been running and killing for hours, how freaking big is this field?’

Then Ino had spotted Tenten lying down on the field, blood squirting out of her mouth.

Her eyes widen in shocked.

“TENTEN!”

Ino ran over to her.

“Wha-what happened to you?” Ino said, on the verge of tears.

“Or….Oro….Oroch….Orochimaru…” Tenten whispered in her final breaths.

“No, no, don’t die on me. Please, don’t die. “

Tears were forming on the edge of her eyes. She had never really had a close connection to Tenten, but she hated to see anyone she new die. That was her weakness, but no matter how much it hurt, she would never let anyone see her cry. Not even herself.

“Ino…..please tell Neji that…..I…Love ….him…. “With those last, sad words, she died in Ino’s hands.

“No, no…”

With heavy and mixed emotions, Ino looked for a Konoha ninja transmitter. She remembered that certain Konoha ninjas had transmitters that are connected and radioed to all Jounins. She prayed that Neji had on too. She grabbed the transmitter, still holding Tenten in her arms.

“Can anyone hear me? Hello? Anyone?”

The line remained silent….static could be heard. She suddenly noticed her surroundings. She estimated she was in the southwest part of the battlefield. It was empty and barren as of her emotions and heart. She now knew how important it was to always express one’s love for another. But being so distraught over the death of Tenten and that Neji may never of known of Tenten’s special feelings towards him, she realized that she might die and Shikamaru may never know how strongly she cared for him.

“Hello? Hello?”

Ino stared at the transmitter. It was Neji…

“NEJI? NEJI?”

“Ino? What is it? It is all clear in the North. The only part with sound ninjas left is the southeast, and northwest. I’m heading over to northwest sector.”

“Wait Neji, does that mean that Shikamaru is ok?”

“We don’t know for sure, we are just guessing that the south is cleared. We haven’t got a report from them yet, but I wouldn’t worry to much, we got some of our bests over there.”

‘Thanks god…’

“Never mind! Neji! Listen to me!”

“WHAT?”

“I’ve got Tenten over hear.”

“Really? Tenten, are you ok? Answer me.”

“Neji…..she,” she could feel herself wanting to cry again, “She’s dead.”

The sound of Neji’s breath stopped.

“Tenten...no don’t lie to me. SHE IS FINE! STOP LYING!” Neji screamed

“Neji, I’m sorry, she’s dead.” In had a grave look on her face, mixed with sadness and emptiness.

“No…no...”

“Neji, she wanted me to tell you that she loves you.”

Tears started flowing down Neji’s face, Ino could hear them dropping on the transmitter.

“I-I love her too….No! NO! Tenten…..don’t die on me.”

Ino had heard enough. She closed the transmitter. She decided she could comfort Neji; she had no idea what it felt like to lose someone you love. She couldn’t help him. She tried to feel like she had lost her parents, that hurt, but one lazy face popped into her head. If Shikamaru died….then that would hurt the most.

Shikamaru

He saw them, all lined up. Straight in a row over the sunlight-bathed hillside. He watched as the sun went down covering the field with a red-blood like color. It was getting later and later and the sky was a dark, dangerous grey. With the last of the sunlight he saw thousands and thousands of them in shadow. He knew, right away, that even all assembled and prepared, there wouldn’t be enough ninjas to fight them…and there wasn’t enough time to call backup. Ino….Where are you?

He analyzed the situation; most likely, all of them would die….

Ino

She laid Tenten on the cold, bloody ground. She looked so peaceful. She then called Neji once more.

“Neji, can you read me. Over”

“Hai.” His voice sounded so sad.

“Where is your location?”

“I’m in the northeast. Everything checks out here.”

“Hm, Neji, I know that my position has no right to say this, but I’m ordering you to come over to take Tenten back to Konoha. And yourself too.” Ino’s voice was solid, unmoving and firm.

“But-But Ino, the war.”

“Don’t worry! We’re winning right?” She said with a BIG grin plastered over her face.

“Ok.”

“Alright, now Neji, please tell me. Are there any other people we’re close with fighting, other than You, Shikamaru, Chouji, Tenten and me? “

“No. Naruto, Sasuke, Hinata, Shino, Kiba, Sakura, Lee, Kakashi and everyone else are back in Konoha.”

“Ok. Come and pick up Tenten. Then you to go back to Konoha, and if Tsunade-sama asks you why, just tell her I said so. I’ll deal with the consequences later. Tenten in is the southwest. You’ll see her. I’m going to Shikamaru.”

“Hai.”

“Hm.” Ino was just about to hang up.

“Ino?”

“Yes Neji”

“Thank you.”

A sad smile crept across her face.

“Hm.”

The transmitter turned off.

Neji’s POV

Why? Why does Ino want Tenten and me to go back to Konoha? He, being a genius, though for a second. He thought about Ino’s personality. You’d think she wasn’t that kind of person, but then he thought harder about her movements and her deeper personality and about how Shikamaru always described her. She is doing this for us, she doesn’t want anymore of her friends to get hurt, like Tenten did. She really is a good person…

Ino

A blond-red haired woman streaked across the empty battlefield. She was almost there. Just a few hundred more meters. The battle was almost over. Was Shikamaru still alive? Then she saw. Hundred of sound ninjas rushing towards a certain pineapple head guy baked with a deep blood color from the setting sun. The Pineapple headed guy looked down covered in shadows. It was Shikamaru.

Shikamaru…….

Shikamaru…

SHIKAMARU!

“It’s Shikamaru…It’s him.”

A huge weight lifted off her shoulder, but it was soon replaced with an even heavier one. She noticed the ninjas rushing towards Shikamaru. Her heart stopped as she stared off into the distance.

Shikamaru

‘I’m sorry, Ino…, I fought my hardest, but there is no getting out of this.’

As Shikamaru looked over his fallen comrades, he had no choice. It was his duty to follow his heart and his honor to fight and die for Konoha, especially the one that meant the most to him. Ino…………… please forget about me …. For I don’t know if I will ever see you again…he thought slowly to himself as he prepared in his position to attack.

He looked back at his exhausted remaining troops. He could see the look in their eyes. He stood up and shouted to his remaining troops. “Well men, it’s been well. I’m not going to lie, but we may die out here. If you have doubts, family back home, or loved ones…,” Ino “then please retreat” he said with sadness on his face. After moments of silence, Shikamaru looked up and show that no one had left and they stood proud and strong. And in Union they said “We fight to the death for Konoha!”

Shikamaru looked over them with a proud look. “Alright men. Attack!”

With those last words, the ninjas ran to meet the enemy head on. Ino stared from a distance. ‘Shikamaru, you have turned into the man I was hoping you would be’ and with tears in her eyes. I promised myself that I wasn’t going to cry, I promised myself. The damn tears won’t stop.

“I’m going to fight too. I’m not going to be weak.”

She ran……..

She was a 50 meters away, with Shikamaru in sight. Thousands of sound ninjas surrounded her. She stared in shock.

They attacked. Cutting her from limb to limb. Blood splattered everywhere.

“Arg!”

No, I can’t die, I promised Shika, I promised.

“Give it up, you can’t win against us!”

no….

no….

NO!

Blood squirted from her mouth.

“Don’t-Don’t under ESTIMATE ME!”

Clink

Clink

CLINK

She was fighting one against, she estimate, 15 to 19 sound ninja. The odds were against her. Then again, she would just have to show them what they were up against. It was a fierce battle.

Shikamaru

In the distance, Shikamaru and his men could see that the ninjas were preoccupied with something else. They soon came into view. Thousands on sound ninjas were rushing towards them, but in the front was Ino, fighting 16 sounds ninja, by herself.

Shikamaru’s POV

Ino….Is that Ino? She’s alive! But Ino…..What happened to her. Her hair, its red…and short….She looks like she was beaten up….Did she run all the way over here…to be with me? Did they do that to her….

Fury boiled inside Shikamaru

Wait, she is fighting all alone….she getting killed……Help her! HELP HER! HELP HER!

But Shikamaru’s body couldn’t move. He was so shocked that his body was paralyzed, unable to help the most precious person to him. He was useless.

“Shikamaru-sama…Shikamaru-sama! SHIKAMARU-SAMA!” His ninjas yelled.

“We got to help her! NARA-SAMA!

But Shikamaru couldn’t move….

‘Ino…Ino…’

“INO!”

Ino’s head turned.

CCCHHHHHUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRUUUUU

A sound ninja stabbed a kunai knife right through her heart…

Shikamaru stared at her.

Ino was frozen in midair, held by the knife. She looked down at her chest, and blood trickled down her mouth.

Everything was hazy, then dark…

Shikamaru

Ino….no…Is she dead? Ino...INO….INO!

“INO!”

Shikamaru sprinted, his blood ready to kill. ‘They killed her! THEY KILLED HER!” His teeth were locked, gritting together.

His men stared at Shikamaru, watching him charge at the sound ninjas.

“COME ON! LET”S GO!” one of them shouted.

Shikamaru

Shikamaru charged through the field, slicing countless ninjas head, his men right behind him. The ninja that held Ino, about to slice off her head, was suddenly killed by the ever angry Shikamaru. Shikamaru’s eyes were not the same. They were fierce and merciless. His eyebrows were furrowed staring at Ino’s face, her beautiful face, covered in a red-blond hair. Life as he knew it was over. He might as well let the sound ninjas kill him. ‘I mean what is the point to live if Ino wasn’t there in my life?’ Faintly, a certain promise he made to a certain girl lingered in his mind. The pinkie promise I made to Ino. That is the reason he had to keep living. She wouldn’t stand for a guy breaking a promise. That is so important to her. She wouldn’t break her promise! She isn’t that type of girl! She made me that pinkie promise, the on top of the hill. She would keep it! She wouldn’t let herself die. He wouldn’t either.

Shikamaru took Ino out on a hilltop, like the one by his house. It reminded him of what Ino had said, right before he left. He laid Ino down.

“Ino…Ino…Ino…INO…INO…INO! WAKE UP! YOU PROMISED ME! YOU PROMISED ME! REMEMEBER! THE PINKIE PROMISE! YOU CAN’T BREAK YOUR PROMISE!” Shikamaru started shouting, he hadn’t wanted to, but he couldn’t help it. It hurt so badly. Seeing there, dead. Not responding.

“How could I have been such an IDIOT? WHY? INO DON”T LEAVE ME! HOW COULD I HAVE THOUGHT THAT A STUPID PINKIE PROMISE COULD HAVE KEPT INO ALIVE?” Tear flowed down Shikamaru’s face. He couldn’t stop them. He was now pounding his fist into the ground, making dents in the wet soil.

“A promise did keep me alive.”

Shikamaru looked up. There was Ino, struggling to get up off the ground. The look on his face was priceless. He looked as if he had just seen an angel, or something like that.

“Ino…How?” But before Ino could answer, Shikamaru pulled her into an embrace.

“Shika….”

Ino’s mind wandered.

Flashback from a few minutes ago in Ino’s POV

‘Huh? Where am I? What’s going on?’

“HOW COULD I HAVE THOUGHT THAT A STUPID PINKIE PROMISE COULD HAVE KEPT INO ALIVE?”

‘Huh? Who is that?’

Ino eyes slowly peeked open. The face of a certain someone appeared.

Shikamaru & Ino

“Shika…UGH!”

Ino’s chest started aching. She looked down, there was a kunai knife, stabbed right threw her chest.

“My chest…”

“Ino! I have to get you to a hospital!”

“No, it’s ok. I’m fine. It doesn’t hurt at all.” She lied, the pain was unimaginable. Her heart had a hard time pumping and everything was hazy. She felt like she would pass out again.

“No! Ino, don’t lie to me! I’m not stupid you know!” The look on Shikamaru’s face was worried and stressed.

“But, Shika, I want to fight side by side, like when we were kids! UGH!”

“No.” Shikamaru’s voice was so stern, that not even Ino dared to argue.

Shikamaru picked up his transmitter.

“Hello? I need a Helicopter stat! NOW!”

“Ok, ok. Where is you position?” Tsunade’s vice echoed through.

“I’m in the south end. I need a helicopter ASAP!”

“Ok! We’ll be there soon.”

Click

Everything was hazy…Ino could barely, see.

“Shika…It hurts…”

“Hold, on hold on. The medical staff is coming.”

“Ah,” Ino whispered.

In the distance Shikamaru and Ino heard his men shouting for help. They were hundreds of yards away.

Shikamaru looked in distress. He didn’t know whether to go to his men, or stay with Ino, till he knew she was safe.

He was about to chose Ino when she said,

“Don’t worry about me. GO!” Ino had a grin on her face, but her eyes were stern. He didn’t argue.

Just before he was about to leave, he told Ino this,

“Ino, I want you to know. I love you.” He leaned in and gave her a kiss, long and passionate.

Ino felt the same way, but she was so shocked at hearing those words, she couldn’t talk.

‘I love you too!’ She thought, ‘Say something!’

Shikamaru parted and look at Ino. His eyes were pleading to Ino to say those three magical words back to him. It didn’t come. Shikamaru’s heart felt as if it had been stabbed a hundred thousand times.

“I-I understand.” His voice was emotionless.

‘No! I do love you! I do!’ But from the blood loss, everything was growing more and more dark.

He got up and left. He tried to look dignified, but his heart couldn’t take it any longer. He broke into a run. He was running away so that Ino wouldn’t see his tears.

Shikamaru was a hundred yards away.

‘I can’t end up like Tenten and Neji. Tenten didn’t tell Neji in time. This might be the last time I see Shikamaru. I can’t let it slip away. Right threw my fingers. I got to tell him now. This might be my last chance. This is it!’ Ino yelled to herself.

The sky was a dark, deathly grey. The dark grey clouds covered the sky. It looked like the world was sad. In the distance you could hear a single black crow, cawing in the distance. One lonely caw, trying to bring back its friends. The field was dirty, war-stricken, empty, barren, dusty and cold. A cold wind blew over Ino’s face as she stood up. Her hair swayed in the wind.

“Shikamaru!” Ino yelled,

“I LOVE YOU!”

In the distance, one ninja’s head turned…and smiled… …

6 months later………………….

It’s been 6 months since Shikamaru and I shared that moment together on that deserted battlefield. I willingly let my guard down and told him my true feelings. Even for me that was extremely hard. It was all a blur. All I remember was the prolong silence we shared. All I could remember was I fainted from the loss of blood from my wound and the next thing I saw was the hospital ceiling. Ever since that day, I could only think about that day and Shikamaru…where are you….?

Ino thought deeply and profoundly in her hospital bed. Today she was getting released from the hospital after 6 months of extreme care from her almost fatal wound. However, she could only think of one thing. Even with the war still going on, she could not wonder where Shikamaru was.

Flashback ……. A week ago

“Nurse! Shipment 1 just came back…. Many are in need of intensive care…HURRRYYY! HERE THEY COME…” an internee shouted as he passed Ino, who was slowly walking back to her room.

Ino only could think of one person…. Shikamaru…. ‘Are u back? Oh My God…are u even alive?’ Ino thought the worse and struggled not to cry. ‘I promised Shikamaru I would be strong and not allow myself to cry. Shikamaru, you had better be alive. I’d better see the lazy smirk on your face…that smile that makes me helplessly to do anything but smile right back’ Ino thought as she proceeded to her room.

Present…..

Since that day, she could only think about Shikamaru and where he was. As days went by, she started to accept that Shikamaru possibly didn’t keep his promise. ‘Shikamaru, I will kill you if you didn’t keep your promise’. She thought was she packed for her leave. As she walked out, she heard a familiar voice, a voice that screamed a devilish grin.

From a distance in the Hokage’s room

“Well you guys kept up a good front. I was almost certain that you wouldn’t be alive. You were completely outnumbered. Shikamaru, I been dying to know. How did you win that battle?” the fifth Hokage said in a curious voice.

Ino, curiously, tiptoed towards the room and peeked in through the keyhole.

The next person, Ino could not make out his face, but she recognized the voice almost immediately.

“Yes. We were indeed completely outnumbered. We were down in many numbers, but as we were about to retreat, we (the sound ninjas and the leaf ninjas) were equally numbered. And thanks to the time and our position, we were facing east on the hill and thanks to Naruto, I used Kage Bunshin no jutsu, and my clones used my shadow jutsu to fight with us and hold off the remaining sound ninjas. They retreated.” The stranger said.

“Why, Shikamaru, your IQ really does prove to be worthy. I must say I’m impressed, that must have put a huge dent in your charka, but to hold all those ninjas off. You really do deserve your title as a Jounin, but I must ask. From what I heard, how could you use Kagemane no jutsu? I thought that there was no shadow.”

“Yeah, that is a mystery to me too. Your guess is as good as mine.”

“From my knowledge, your clans Kagemane only advances to that stage if you’re protecting someone important…”

A faint blush appeared on Shikamaru’s face.

Ino gasped at the name…Shikamaru…..

With Ino’s faint gasp that was barely even auditable, Shikamaru turned his head slightly towards the door and smirked.

“Well let’s just say I made a promise and I keep my promises. That was my motivation.”

“Well say no more. You did good Shikamaru. You’re excused.” Silence….. “Ino’s waiting for you outside the door, you may go to her.”

“I know. I know, How troublesome…”

Tsunade-sama had a faint grin on her face.

Ino jumped back at those words.

“Well don’t keep her waiting.”

“Thanks.” Shikamaru said as he walked out and stood in front of Ino, only a couple of feet away.

“Hello Ino. I kept my promise like I said I would. I see you have too. I guess you can’t kill me now” Shikamaru said with a smirk and a shrug.

Ino looked straight into his eyes. Without speaking, she got up and hugged Shikamaru with all her might. She was so happy; she was speechless.

“Thank god Shikamaru!” Ino said hugging him tight. Shikamaru thrown back with Ino’s reaction, finally raised his arms and hugged her back.

“Let’s go for a walk.”

“Alright.”

They walked out until they reached the hills. The hill where they last saw each other before the war. As they looked at over the valley, they remained in silence. They finally got eye contact and stared into each other eyes for what felt like an eternity. Finally Ino spoke.

“So, I’m glad you’re unharmed and you came back safe. You are certain a genius. You deserve to have that IQ of yours….”

“Ino, on that last day, before you left the battlefield. You said something and I wonder…do you really mean that …you know...you said I love you.”

Ino stared off into the red sunset and smiled.

“Because if you didn’t. I understand considering the situation and all.” Shikamaru said quickly. “I mean we can just pretend it never happened and ….”

Shikamaru never got finish that sentence because he was cut off by Ino lips touching his own. Shocked by her actions, he gave in and embraced her to the fullest.

When they finally broke off, they stared into each other’s eyes and Ino leaned over to his ear and whispered…

“Yes, I meant every single word. “

Shikamaru could not help but smirk and they remained on that hill staring at the stars.

Yes Shikamaru I meant every word. It’s amazing what those words mean. Their meaning is infinite. Yet to me ….they mean one thing to me…their meaning to me are universal and simple….

Those three simple words…

-The end-

Hey! Thanks for reading! I know, I know! It was a LONG story! 34 pages! Haha, I’ll try to make the next one shorter! Did you notice how I tied things in like Neji and Tenten’s sad love, and the ever-important promise? Well, thanks for reading! Please Review! Just for my sake.

-Kristine X3-

P.s. Trivia: Did you guys know that I wrote this story when I was 11?