The mission to retrieve Sasuke didn't go as planned. The idea was for five ninja to go after the enemy force that had captured Sasuke and bring him back by whatever means necessary.
So five ninja fought in the dirt, in the forest and all over spilling the ground with their enemy's blood as well as their own. But despite how many of the enemy they killed the five leaf ninja were still unable to complete their goal, even with the help of their sand village allies.
When they were picked up by the leaf medical squad most of their conditions were critical, some stood on the brink of death. And by that point Sasuke was gone, he had disappeared into the sound village to stat his training with Orochimaru. He left behind the leaf village, all it's Shinobi, all his friends, and especially the five ninja who went to try and bring him back.
Those ninja were Naruto Uzumaki, Neji Hyugga, Shikamaru Nara, Kiba Inuzuka, and Choji Akimichi.
After the mission situation of these young warriors was critical, mist on the verge of death they were rushed back to the leaf village and given medical treatment.
Everyone who knew them, who were on their teams rushed to the hospital to see them.
The group rushed up the stairs and ran down the hall until they came to the emergency room doors.
Once there they all stopped in shock. For sitting outside the doors was Temari, and across from her was Shikamaru Nara the leader of the Sasuke retrieval squad, but unlike the others in critical condition Shikamaru managed to get away with a broken finger.
It was then that everyone rushed over to him. His teammate Ino ran over and hugged Shikamaru tightly. But Shikamaru seemed unresponsive.
"Shikamaru are you ok?" asked Ino."What happened to you? Are you hurt?"
"Shikamaru where is Neji?" asked Tenten.
"And Naruto and Kiba?" added Hinata.
"Did they make it out of there alright?" asked Lee.
"I wouldn't ask him so many questions." Said Temari. Everyone turned over to her."He's had a pretty traumatic experience; I wouldn't bother him so much now." Everyone then turned back to Shikamaru.
Ino grabbed both sides of his face and began shaking him."Shikamaru." she said softly."What happened? Where are the others how are they doing?"
Just then Sakura stepped up."Did you bring Sasuke back?"
Shikamaru took a deep breath and then reached up and pulled Ino's hands off of him. Then he brought his head up to look at everyone.
"That mission was the hardest mission any of us ever went on." He told."We constantly had to keep moving, but slowly one by one we were picked off. With each one of my men dying around me I always had to think of a new plan, but then it seemed as if something else got in the way."
"So everyone else is dead?" asked Hinata.
"No." replied Shikamaru."But they were all beaten up pretty badly."
"Then how'd you get out so fine?" asked Tenten. Shikamaru took a glance over at Temari."There were some other factors in my case."
"But you still haven't answered my question." Said Sakura."Where is Sasuke."
Shikamaru sat silently for a moment."Sasuke has now crossed over the border into the Sound Village." Everyone gasped in shock.
Saukra took a step back and held her hands close to her chest. She felt as if her heart had sunk down into her stomach. She felt many different emotions rushing threw her mind at this point.
Just then the emergency room doors opened and lady Tsunade stepped out. Everyone turned to face her, Shikamaru rose from his seat and stood.
"And?" he asked with a tone of nervousness in his voice.
"Well Naruto and Kiba were pretty beaten up but their doing fine now." Shikamaru nodded his head in some relief."As for Choji and Neji." Continued Tsunade. Shikamaru leaned in closer as did everyone else."The two came in her in critical condition, but we were able to bring them back so they'll be fine."
"Good Good." Sighed Shikamaru.
"For obvious reason I'd like to keep them all here overnight." Told Tsunade. Everyone seemed to have no problem with that but then Shikamaru spoke up.
"Can I see them?" he asked. Tsunade looked down at him.
"They've just been treated what they'll need now is rest." Told Tsunade."You can see them tomorrow."
Just then Ino reached out and grabbed Shikamaru's hand."C'mon Shika." She said as she pulled him."Let's get you home."
But then Shikamaru broke free of Ino's grasp then turned back and sat down right where he was before."I can wait." He said as he sat down.
Tsunade looked up at the rest of the group who seemed to be ready to leave, then she looked at Shikamaru who looked like he wouldn't be moved. So Tsunade decided not to disturb him.
"Fine then." Said Tsunade."But I'm closing up for the night."
"That's fine with me." Replied Shikamaru.
Tsunade then turned and walked back and then looked the doors to the ER, then she turned and walked down the hallway. The rest of the group slowly began to leave as well.
Ino looked back at Shikamaru before leaving. He sat there twiddling his thumbs and looking at the ground.
Then Shikamaru sat there alone, then the lights in the hallway were shut off one by one.
The next morning Tsunade made her way back to the hospital. She opened the door and let herself in, then walked up the stairs into the ER room.
Then as she came down the hallway and turned on the lights she noticed something, a figure sitting there on the bench.
She didn't even have to ask herself who it was, it was obviously Shikamaru. She walked up and approached him.
He was laying down on his side, at some point in the night he must have given in to being sleep deprived.
Instead of straining him with visiting his teammates Tsunade went with a different direction.
She nudged Shikamaru in the shoulder, he slowly began to stir. Then his sleepy eyes opened and saw the fifth hokage standing there. His mouth opened to ask the question but Tsunade stopped him.
"They're still in critical condition." Told Tsunade."I can't let you see them yet."
"When do you suppose I'll be able to see them?" asked Shikamaru.
"Why don't you go get some food." Said Tsunade."I'll let you know when they've been released."
Instead of arguing a battle he couldn't win Shikamaru got up and made his way out. Scratching his head and rubbing his sleepy eyes as he went.
Shikamaru then exited the hospital and made his way out into the streets.
The sun had risen and was now high in the sky and the streets were filled with people going about their daily business.
Shikamaru put his hands in his pockets and began making his way down the street.
Everyone around him simply walked by him, as if unaware of his presence. They walked by him and continued on with their day.
It was a cold feeling for Shikamaru walking down those streets. To him everyone who passed by seemed to be judging him. Judging him on how the mission went, on his leadership skills, and with the turnout of the mission.
So Shikamaru kept walking with his head held down, hands in his pocket and a hole in his heart.
Just then while he was down in the dumps someone came along to brighten up his day. It was Ino.
"Hey Shikamaru." Her bright and cheery voice said behind him. Shikamaru swung his body around and faced her. She noticed first the very dull look on his face.
"Hello Ino." He replied plainly.
"Did you get to see the others?" asked Ino.
"No,no." replied Shikamaru."Lady Tsunade told me off."
"Well then how are you feeling?" asked Ino.
"I've been better." Replied Shikamaru as he looked down at the ground.
"Don't say that." Said Ino as she tried to lighten him up and took a step closer to him.
"My body might be fine." Said Shikamaru."But my mind is another story."
"Oh your probably just hunger." Said Ino."When's the last time you've eaten."
"I'm really not that hungry right now Ino." Said Shikamaru. Just then Shikamaru's stomach let out a thunderous grumble.
"Your body says otherwise." Giggled Ino then she reached out and took Shikamaru's hand."C'mon I know the perfect place."
"What a drag." Groaned Shikamaru.
"Don't be that way." Said Ino."It'll be fun, just YOU and ME."
Ino then dragged Shikamaru to a BBQ restaurant down the street. And then sometime later the two were seated at a table. It was then awkward for a few moments, neither really knowing what to say to the other so they just sat in silence. Normally Ino would just talk and talk and Shikamaru would just listen, but now this time. Finally Ino spoke up.
"So Shikamaru." Began Ino."What was it like being leader of a team?"
"Not as glorious as it sounds." Replied Shikamaru.
"What was the mission like-" but then she was stopped as Shikamaru raised his hand stopping her.
"I don't want to talk about the mission." He said. Ino sat back not knowing what to say now.
"How was everything here while we were gone?" asked Shikamaru. Normally he wouldn't have asked such a thing but he was in a mood to humor Ino because she was in the mood to humor him.
"Oh a lot of stuff happened while you were away." Began Ino. Shikamaru sat his head back and prepared to hear just Ino talking for a while."First off Sakura cried and moaned nonstop about Sasuke being gone. She was always talking about how she'd hop you'd come back with him."
"How she take the news that we didn't bring him back?"
"She took it pretty hard." Replied Ino."She was having a pretty big fit after we left the hospital."Shikamaru nodded his head as he knew sooner or later he'd have to deal with a disappointed Sakura, but hopefully he wouldn't have to do it alone."Oh and Tenten was pretty upset to." Continued Ino.
"Over what?" asked Shikamaru.
"Neji." Told Ino."She often said how she hoped he was safe on the mission. In all honest I think she likes him."
"I don't see you logic in that." Replied Shikamaru."They're teammates of course they care about each other. It's probably the same for Hinata and Kiba or for you and me."
Ino blushed a little at the comment.
"But." She continued."Hinata's nice to everyone, but Tenten's affections were much greater, And of course I cared for your safety." It was now that Shikamaru looked over Ino's shoulder and saw a familiar figure."Just as much as-"
"Hold that thought." Said Shikamaru to her and then he got up from his seat and walked away. Ino was then suddenly annoyed, she turned around and watched Shikamaru go.
Shikamaru on the other hand needed to do this. He walked across the restaurant and over to a distant familiar figure.
Each step brought him closer and closer to the figure and he began to make him out more and more. He had yellow hair and orange clothing. It was Naruto.
Then suddenly Shikamaru stood eye to eye with him. The two looked at each other with soft eyes. Then Naruto reached out and hugged Shikamaru and Shikamaru returned the affection. They looked like two friends who had just been reunited after a war, which makes sense the two had undergone traumatic experiences in their recent mission along with Kiba, Choji, and Neji.
"How have you been?" asked Shikamaru.
"Dumb question." Replied Naruto.
"When did they let you out?"
"Earlier this morning." Told Naruto."They let Kiba and I out but kept Neji and Choji."
"Where did Kiba go?" asked Shikamaru.
"I think he went to go find his team." Told Naruto.
"You know I've got a table over there." Said Shikamaru turning around and pointing."Why don't you come and join me."
"I was actually sent here on a mission." Told Naruto. Shikamaru raised an eyebrow.
"A mission?" he asked."What kind of mission?"
"Grandma Tsunade sent me to find you." Told Naruto.
"Why?" asked Shikamaru.
"Don't know." Said Naruto."She just said to find you and come back to her office."
"Then I guess we have no choice right." Said Shikamaru as he turned around.
"Where are you going?" asked Naruto.
"I've gotta tell Ino I'm leaving." Said Shikamaru as he waled on.
"Ino?" said Naruto shocked. Shikamaru then made his way back over to the table and Ino.
"Who's that Naruto?" she asked."What's he doing here?"
"He came here to get me." Told Shikamaru."So I have to go."
"No Shikamaru don't go." Said Ino as she reached out and grabbed his hand."Stay here with me."
"The Hokage sent Naruto to bring me to her." Told Shikamaru."I have to go."
Ino let her hand slid off of Shikamaru's.
"Fine, go!" she said in an annoyed tone. Then Shikamaru left the woman to vent as he rejoined Naruto.
"Let's go." Said Shikamaru as he walked out the door.
"You were here with Ino?" asked Naruto.
"Yep." Replied Shikamaru.
"Where you on a date?" asked Naruto.
"No." replied Shikamaru.