The air was warm making her sweat but she didn't care as she stood there waiting like so many others. Waiting for the return of the men who where friends, husbands, fathers and in some cases grandfathers to the people left to defend Konoha as the men went behind enemy lines. She winced as the gash on her side throbbed in pain., the medic ninja's had told her she needed to be resting but the moment she heard they were coming home she bolted to the front gates like so many of her fellow female ninja. So here they stood waiting for a sign or a glimpse of the men making their way home .She like many others where eager to see how many where coming back, how many where left standing and how many where injured, and how many, even though she hate to think it where being carried home never again to see the village or loved ones again.
She waited with baited breath as figures could be made out in the distance getting closer with each second Who they were she could not tell. As they drew closer the others broke out in yells of joy tears streaming down their faces as the men got close enough and begun to enter the gates some smiling glad to be back others morning for the fallen as they carried them in one by one. She pushed her way through the crowd her heart racing as she went. Finally she stopped a tear sliding down her check as the older ninja smiled standing next to his old friend, as he looked to her holding open his arm for her. She smiled a weak smile ruing in to his arms letting them close around her. After a moment or two she looked up at him, tears streaming out of her eyes. Anyone could see she was in pain both physically and mentally He looked at his daughter with a smile as she asked the unspoken question that was eating her insides with one look she looked from her father to Shikato and back gaining a confused look from the older Nara as Inoichi gave him a it figures look and a smirk then her realized Shikato was confused.
Inochi sighed letting go of his little girl he moved aside reviling the younger Nara a little bit farther to the back of the returning group setting down one of the fallen. Ino Yamanaka smiled for the first time in the three years since the war started as she ran past her father. Shikamaru Nara only had time to blink as he was tackled by Ino her arms encircling him in a hug he looked confused at his father. Then he looked down at Ino who had tears streaming down her face once more as she buried her face in his chest. Confused by his teammate's actions he spoke "Ino? What's wrong with you?"
Ino moved her head slowly so that she was looking into his eyes. "Can't you just let me have one random moment Shikamaru?" there was a change in her voice her noted it was tired and gentle not in the least bossy.
He shrugged "I still don't understand why you are being so troublesome the moment I got back"
She smiled a sad little smile "I thought I lost you" before glairing up at him "Now hug me back Shikamaru Nara before I get the urge to hurt you!!!!!" she demanded in her Bossy little tone and with shaking hands he wraped is arms around her
"Damn troublesome woman" he mutted
Shikato looked from his son to Inoichi and laughted "I thought I was missing something"
Inoichi looked at Shikato and laughted "By the looks of it your son still is"