Author note: I came up with the plot one day in church because I was really really bored…

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, Masashi-sensei does.

Mystery Man

By Me…

It had been three years since he left to train in the Village Hidden in the Clouds. He told her that he would be back soon. Three years isn't soon. She began to worry, thinking the worst. She wondered if he was ok, or if he died. That was the last thing she wanted. She wouldn't be able to live without him.

She was sitting in her mother's shop dreaming of the day that he'll come home, and everything could be normal again. Three years! She thought. How could training take 3 years? It's not like he's training to be Hokage, he told me he didn't want to be Hokage. He's already a Jonin, why would he train for that long? Our country is at peace, so he can't be training for war. He would have come back here by now…Breaking her train of thought, her mother came into the shop and sat down near her.

"Ino, what are doing sitting in the flower shop so early? And by yourself?" Her mother asked.

"Nothing… Just thinking." She replied.

"Are you thinking about Shikamaru again?" Her mother asked with a sly smile sneaking it's way on her face.

"No." She said quickly, her face turning pink. Her mother's smile staying there, even broader this time.

"Are you sure? You've been quite distracted lately. And you have a reason to think about him, about three years, right?" Her mother was not giving in to her daughter's shyness, and avoiding talking about him. At least out loud.

"……" She could not speak, she didn't want to.

"It's hard losing a teammate, especially one whom you've gone through a lot with." Her mother talked as if she felt her pain. But her mother hasn't lost someone she loved, for she still had a father. And she loved him.

/Flashback/

"Ino, I promise I'll be back soon, don't worry. You either Choji." Shikamaru said calmly, as if he was just going on a simple mission.

"Fine, but don't stay long. Training will be boring." Choji said munching on his usual bag of chips. Shikamaru started walking away from his two teammates. And Choji started walking for his house. Ino stood there. Then something clicked in her mind, that Shikamaru was leaving the village for some period of time. She started running in his direction.

"Shikamaru!" Ino yelled from some distance behind him.

"What is it now, Ino?" He asked, confused.

"I'll… I'll miss you, Shika." She said, then kissed him on the cheek, her face turning a shade of pink. He started to blush immediately. Ino then walked back to her house, unaware that Shikamaru would be completely changed upon returning.

/End flashback/

She sighed as her mother left the room, and continued to worry.

Days passed and there was still no sign of him. Until one night a stranger came into Konoha….

I went a little bold crazy…. Next chapter it will be longer!!! Review people… it makes people happy.