"Shikamaru!" yelled a bubbly 13 year old girl. This was Ino Yakamara. The girl which always picked fights with Sakura and was madly in love with Sasuke.
"What?" Shikamaru said lazily. What has he done this time?
"I heard you gave Chouji some information on the new mission and not me!" Ino said, her face red with anger, which to Shikamaru, was cute.
"Well, what could you do? You're a girl."
Ino snapped. She marched to Shikamaru, who was lying on the floor, looking at the passing clouds.
"I, for one, know what girls can do. I am a ninja!" She looked angry, but Shikamaru also sensed a sense of hurt.
"Look, I didn't me-"
"Yes you did." Ino said, taking a seat beside Shikamaru. Shikmaru was used to Ino's outbursts about the craziest things, but today he took notice of how her hair matched the sunlight.
Beautiful, he thought.
"Shikamaru?" Ino muttered. Shikamaru came out of his daze and looked into her deep sea blue eyes.
"I think I really love Sasuke."
"Huh? Why do you need to tell me this? I already know." Shikamaru said. Why did this hurt him so much? He already knew this was the truth.
"Because, I think he might like Sakura." Ino said, tears dripping down her eyes.
"First of all, Sasuke hates everything. Everything. So don't count on that. And why do you care? You could do so much better." Shikamaru said, now sitting up. Ino still didn't believe it.
"But what if he does? I always lose to Sakura."
"No." Shikamaru said. "You got on my team. That has to be a win." He smirked, and Ino laughed.
"But I want to be on Sasuke's team." Ino said, now seeming really hurt.
"I can't help you there. But, you know what?" Shikamaru smiled. "I'll protect you."
"Protect me?" Ino said, looking at Shikamaru. "That's silly. I don't need protecting."
"Then why are you so hurt?" Shikamaru said, letting his guard down.
"This is weird. Is Shikamaru actually taking the time to talk to little old me?" Ino laughed.
"Ino…..I don't want you to be sad." Shikamaru said. Ino smiled.
"I'm better. Thanks Shikamaru. But the reason I love Sasuke so much is because I'm scared."
"Of what?" Shikamaru asked.
"Of falling in love with a lazy, hopeless teammate." Ino teased. She ran away with smile, but Shikamaru frowned. What was this feeling? But he Ino left something he didn't have before.
Hope.