Title: Dinner Surprises

Artist/Author: hungytiger11

Rating: G

Characters/pairings: Shikamaru, Ino, Chouji

Summary: Being the story of grumpiness, barbeque, career options, and love.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto nor any related image, character, plot etc. No profit is being made.

Without any discussion, it was a universal agreement among Team Ten to make their way to Yakiniki-Q to eat and discuss the meeting they'd just attended. Looking over at the grilling pit Shikamaru rolled his eyes; Chouji was fighting with Ino for a particularly good-looking piece. He'd already eaten more than Shikamaru and Ino combined, but that was why years ago the trio had instituted their own version of "going Dutch." Chouji paid half, and they other two a quarter each. Of course, Shikamaru reflected, Ino seemed to convince him to pay for her share on an alarmingly regular basis, with little more than a pout and whine of "Shika-kuuuun."

"Soooo…" Ino drawled out, after another round food had been served and set to grilling merrily. "What'd you guys think of all that?"

Shikamaru grunted noncommittally, and Chouji answered around a mouthful of food, "Well, I guess some sort of meeting like that was to be expected. I mean, we are all nearly jounin now," He paused to glance over at his best friend, "And some of have been for awhile now too. Pretty rare, actually for all of a graduating class to make it that far…."

"Pretty rare to have so many in a class, period," Shikamaru added, "I mean, look a Maito Gai's team. Weren't they the only team from their class to even pass the genin test?"

Chouji swallowed, and continued, "Anyway, I think the Hokage and council just want us to be thinking about the future."

"True," Ino said thoughtful, leaning elbows on the table as she waited for the meat to grill. "Though, where most people are heading seems pretty obvious."

Shikamaru perked up just a fraction at that. Some were obvious, but not all. Or was Ino just picking up clues he and Chouji weren't?

"What do you mean?" Chouji asked, obviously on the same line of thought. Ino rolled her eyes. "Well, it's sorta obvious, isn't it? Sakura's already a medicnin. Then Hinata-chan and Shino-san are both heirs to large, secretive clans. Unlike our families, running those clans would be a full-time, political job-"

"Perfect for Hinata-san" Shikamaru muttered quietly. Unfortunately, not quietly enough, as Ino promptly turned to whack the back of his head.

"It is, actually. She doesn't look it, but she's got big plans for her weird family. Anyway, with Naruto always running around screaming he's going to be Hokage, the obvious path for him is Anbu. And looking at Hinata-chan's cousin Neji, its pretty obvious he's on his way there too."

"Or there already," Chouji added. "You can't really tell with masks."

"True," Ino conceded, as she continued to tick names off her fingers. "That leaves just us, and Kiba-kun, really."

There was a moment's silence where the trio just listened to the dinner sizzling.

"I'm trying out to be a jounin-sensei." Chouji announced suddenly. The other two turned to look at him.

"Really?" squealed Ino. "That makes so much sense! You're great with people."

Chouji blushed under the praise, and then glanced to try and pick up his best friend's reaction.

"Asuma?" Shikamaru questioned. Chouji nodded. It would be like his best friend, Shikamaru reflected, to want to give back some of what their late sensei had given them. And like Ino had said, Chouji was good with people. He often surprised people by hiding an empathetic nature in his brawny body.

"The other two from Gai's team are thinking about becoming teachers too," Chouji continued, shaking Shikamaru out of his bout of reflection. "I saw Lee-kun and Tenten-san at the Academy the other day, asking about it. I think Lee wants to be like-"

"Gai-san" the other two chimed in, sweat-dropping. It would figure. How long before there were even more green-spandexed figures running around Kohona sporting thick eyebrows and unfashionable bowl-cuts? All three shivered a little at that thought.

Chouji managed to recover first, and continued on, "His teammate's interest kinda surprised me though. I'd have pegged her as someone who'd want to prove herself by going through the ranks."

Ino nodded wisely. "Well, you aren't wrong. Tenten-chan is rather like that, but she told me once, she's an orphan. Her family all died in the Kyuubi attack. It was thanks to some scholarships she was able to attend the academy and become a ninja in the first place. I think she's always wanted to give back a little, you know. Besides, she's really good at seeing what needs to change for a person to train better. She's the one who's been helping me with weapons practice recently!"

And why hadn't she come to one of them for weapons practice? Sure, Shikamaru thought, he had a reputation for laziness, and neither he nor Chouji were Weapons Mistresses-erm- Masters, but still. He sunk down further into his seat.

This whole evening had been a drag. He'd been forced to go to an incredibly long, and, for him at least, pointless meeting. Ino hadn't even let him sleep through it either, but had jabbed him anytime his eyes drooped. What did it matter what options there were? As far as he could see, the Hokage wasn't going to let him stop being one of her twelve shinobi guards anytime soon, cause she liked using him as her personal strategist! And even if she did, it would likely only be because she had pressured him into doing something suicidal like becoming Anbu or something. The Hokage put you where you she needed you; so what was all this "It's your life!" and "Soon you might want to make some important decisions!" crap about? Though…. Chouji did have a good idea with being a sensei. Shikamaru'd love to be a sensei to Kurenai's kid, when the time came…

Suddenly he felt yet another jab in the side of his stomach. "I sa-aid, what about you, Shikamaru? Or do you think the Hokage won't give you a choice, Oh Great Strategist of Kohonagure?"

He felt himself scowl, as he rubbed the place his female teammate had poked. Since when had Ino been able to read his mind? Wait; don't answer that, he thought.

"Tsunade-sama's pretty good about letting you know where you need to be," he muttered. Looking up, he was surprised to see looks of sympathy on his two friends' faces, and quickly amended, "But its not like I mind, mostly. I like coming up with plans, after all."

"Yeah, but you should have some say, if you're also going to be one of the people going on dangerous missions, Shika," Ino tilted her head to the side as she said this, and he almost would have said she looked concerned.

"I do," he insisted stubbornly. No matter what he thought privately, he didn't want Ino to think he had no say in his life. True, between Tsunade-sama, his mom, and the bossy blonde by his side, he didn't actually have much of a say, but hell'd freeze over before he ever let any of them know that! Besides, he didn't like for Ino to worry, even if it was nice she was worrying for him.

As if to head off an uncomfortable confrontation, Chouji quickly intervened by turning to Ino and asking, "What about you? Have any thoughts on your 'future career?' "

Ino ducked her head, suddenly very interested in poking at the food. "Actually," she said to the table, " I've already sorta been recruited." And before they could demand any more from her, she popped a bit of barbeque into her mouth.

"By who?" questioned Chouji, his eyes slightly wide.

"For what?" ground out Shikamaru at the same time. He leaned in towards her, senses suddenly hyper-alert. The way Ino kept fiddling with her chopsticks was making him nervous. She wasn't generally a fiddler.

"Um," Ino swallowed and looked very determinedly at the table. "I'm not sure. Who, I mean."

"Ino, how can you not know who?" Chouji asked slowly. Shikamaru gripped the table. Only way not to know, was if a person didn't show their face, and if they didn't show their face that meant…

"Well, its kind of hard, with the masks," Ino explained apologetically, finally looking up. "Of course, I'm not sure they want me to specifically be in Anbu. Its just…" she paused, as if not sure how to go on. "Its just, you know…. having a Yamanaka is pretty useful. For spying and stuff."

"Ino, you can take over people's bodies, but then your body is left wide open. No way that's useful." Shikamaru pointed out. He was aware his tone sounded hard, but damnnit! No way Ino should be out there pulling stupid stunts like leaving her body unprotected to go spy in enemy territory! That's why their jitsus worked they way they did. So she wouldn't be unprotected. Idiot girl. Now he'd have to follow her into Anbu just to make sure she didn't die. Troublesome.

Unfortunately, his tone hadn't gone missed by the other two either. Chouji was trying to stop a small grin for some reason, but Ino leveled a glare at him. "I know that. I'm not stupid. But, that's just for starters. Daddy is teaching me more advanced family techniques. He can control a lot of people's minds, all at once, and he never even has to leave his own body. Its like… many spies for the price of one. But…." Ino paused and glanced over at him, lighting-quick, with an unreadable look. "There's something else I'm considering too."

There was another lull in the conversation as the other two waited for Ino to go on. Getting impatient, Chouji finally resorted to kicking Sikamaru's shins and nodding meaningfully towards the blonde. Great, Shikamaru thought. For once the girl wasn't chattering on, and it somehow fell on him to get her going again. Still, this was vital information. Who knew what other crazy stunts Ino would be running around doing, if he didn't stop her. Especially if she was hesitating to tell them after admitting Anbu wanted her as a spy. What did she think they'd dislike more than that?

"Well," he drawled out lazily, leaning back in order to fake an air of unconcern. "What is it?"

Ino mumbled something, and he cocked an eyebrow. "What was that?"

"I said," she replied, looking up from the table. "I'm thinking of joining the I&I."

He felt himself almost fall out his seat. Ino? Their cheerful, overly emotional, Ino torturing people? Okay, so she had a violent streak Shikamaru was sometimes a victim of, but it…. hurt, just a little, to think of someone he loved (liked- just liked- damnnit!) to be doing something like that. How could doing that, day in and day out, not change a person? It couldn't, plain and simple. His mouth felt dry as he coughed out, "What?"

"Its not like its that crazy, Shikamaru." Ino defended. They stared hard at each other, each trying to out-stubborn the other. Chouji leaned back, avoiding any eye contact, and quietly went about picking at the food.

"Look, there's a lot our family techniques can do. Did you know, I can compel a person to tell the truth with a touch? Or that I can walk into their heads and rip their memories out of their brains? Or that I could change those memories and shove them back in? These aren't bloodlimits, but really, only a Yamanaka can do these family techniques! I gotta be somewhere they're going to really make a difference, and even I can see that is going to be either spying or with the Interrogation and Investigation unit! Are they a little hardcore? Yeah, well, so what? Butt out!"

Her face was red and her eyes were flashing. Panic overtook him, as he realized she was trying not to cry. Since when had what Shikamaru thought made such a difference to Ino? She always made him feel like such an idiot, 200 plus IQ or not. He wasn't suppose to be able to making her cry.

Turning from him, she took a few calming breaths and continued on. "Besides, there are other advantages it would have over spying. No more…. Kouinichi Missions." God, Shikamaru hated that euphemism. Sleeping with the enemy took on a whole new, literal meaning to kounichis. And more than the term, he hated thinking of his spunky, blonde teammate doing Kouinichi Missions. "Spying also means being gone for really long periods of time. With the I&I, I'd get to come home every night. You know my father'd get lonely all by himself, and it'd be easier… to keep my promise to Sensei about you. And Chouji." Ino trailed off to a murmur at this point. Asuma's death was still a sore subject to bring up, and with that remark the tally just went up to two mentions in one night.

"And…." Ino began again in a rush, looking everywhere, but at him. " Well, there's this boy, and its not like I'd be choosing this job because of him, but I really like him. And I know he eventually wants a family. You can't do that being gone all the time. I dealt with that with my dad, and it isn't fair. Wouldn't be to the kids or to… this man."

By the end of her outburst, Ino was flushing red again, this time in embarrassment. It was kinda cute really; you could almost mistake her for Hinata-san she was so red. But who was this boy Ino was talking about? She was normally all a-buzz about her latest crush, not locked-lipped about it, like this. Though, come to think of it, it had been a long time since he'd had to put up with any gushing. How long? A year? Or was it more than that?

"Anyway! Talking about that meeting is getting boring!" Ino swung her legs back and forth under the table, accidentally kicking both boys, her face radiating a forced enthusiasm. "Change of subjects! Let's discuss tomorrow! The festival! Are we going all together or what?"

Shikamaru's head spun a bit from the abrupt about-face, still trying to process the conversational bombs Ino'd just let drop a minute ago. Chouji piped up at that moment, now that they had turned back to safe ground. "Um, no actually," he grinned a bit. " I got a date for tomorrow."

" Ohh!" Ino leaned over the table, smiling broadly. Inexplicable annoyance flickered through Shikamaru, as her attention shifted entirely over to the boy across the table. Why did it feel like she was ignoring him, even though he logically knew she just wanted Chouji to dish out some details? "Tell us, Chouji! It's that new cook at your family's restaurant, isn't it?! The cute one?"

Chouji blushed a little, and Shikamaru felt himself smile too. He was glad others were beginning to see his friend for what he was- a great catch some girl and a great person in general. Before he could add his congratulations though, Ino swung back down into the seat beside him and flashed a brilliant smile.

"Okay then, Shika. Just you and me. You'll be my date, then?" and without waiting for an answer she slapped down some money to pay for her share of the meal, and darted out of the eatery after brushing a kiss across his cheek.

"Thanks!" She chirped, disappearing out the door.

Stunned, he rubbed absently at where her lips had been. He felt sort of numb, but behind that, distantly happy. What had just happened here? Looking over at his best friend, Chouji chuckled, "Boy, Shikamaru. You're in trouble now."

He turned a confused face to the man across the table. "What do you mean?"

Chouji just raised his eyebrows and grabbed his chopsticks back up. " I mean, Ino just practically confessed she was in love with you." Seeing the confusion unabated, he elaborated, "Here. Over dinner. Just now."

Shikamaru glared at his friend. Chouji may think it was funny to joke about his crush on their teammate, but he didn't. "No. She didn't."

That reply earned an outright laugh from the big-boned ninja. "Yes. She did. Come on, Shika. Who else our age has ever mentioned wanting a family? Who else would say something so ….middle-aged? Who else is going on a date with her? Who else is still rubbing at the place she just kissed?"

He started a little at that and guiltily brought down the offending hand. "She didn't…"

Did she? Oh shit. She did. She did. A smile quirked up on his mouth. Only Ino would do something so important in such a backwards way. Slapping down his own share of the bill, he headed out to find the troublesome blonde. On his way to the door, he would have sworn he heard their best friend mutter, " ….like an old married couple already."

He nearly laughed at that. Suddenly, career options or not, the future had seemed to open wide up.