**I do not own Naruto Shippuden or any of its works. It belong to Masashi Kishimoto.
Re-Education
She vaguely remembered coming back home. After a month of recuperating and salvaging everything, it was a blur; working in the medical tents fighting to get everyone well enough to return to their own villages. Helping Tsunade and Shizune heal broken shinobi. Trying to save everyone that was brought to her tent and her heart faltering when someone was lost was a blur. Being furious at herself for not being strong enough to save them, trying her hardest to be this savior all her patients made her out to be. Those eyes that begged in agonizing pain to be saved from the Shinigami himself. How Tsunade, Shizune and Sakura did it all while seeming as calm as ever was beyond her, she swore she'd never get used to it. That was until Sakura finally woke up from her chakra exhausted mini coma. She had sprung into action as if nothing had happened and went about healing patients or going into long surgeries to save them. After seeing her do that and more she knew, she'd get used to the looks of desperation to be saved, the heart wrenching feeling of losing a patient and the grueling gory states of shinobi and having to patch them back together limb from limb.
All of that she could handle but that certainly did not prepare her for this moment. Seeing the village gates, she knew she wasn't ready to tell her mother, her last immediate family member, that her best friend and husband died bravely along with his best friend. How could she even go about this? She was broken out of such thoughts when Choji and Shikamaru, both on each side of her, took her hands. She looked up to them for once unsure of what to say or do."Well I'm going to go with Pa and go check on Ma. Ino, Shika will you two be alright?" Choji seemed hesitant. Unsure on his decision to leave them both. He desperately wanted to see his mother and assure her both her husband and son were alive and well. He also felt guilty though, both his team mates lost their fathers and would have to deliver such unimaginable news to their own mothers. He felt he should be there for them, help them even if he didn't know how. He was broken out of his thoughts when Shikamaru mumbled out, "we'll be fine." And pulled Ino along.
Shikamaru didn't know how he could answer, but knew he had to, Ino was in such a trance and as quiet as he usually is. He knew he'd have to step up and say something. But how could he help her? Sure, he understood exactly what she was going through and feeling but she was the one that always took action. That would comfort and support both Choji and himself when things got bad. She was their sunshine, their little piece of heaven, now she just looked like a husk of her old self. That aside how was he going to tell his mother? How was he supposed to go on living when all his important male figures were dead? Now that he would have to step up and take his father's place. Such shoes could never be filled. Still in thought he pulled her along toward their homes. Living close to each other was always an advantage to them. Now, now it seemed like a twisted joke, one he didn't want to be a part of. He suddenly came to a stop when she stopped walking. Looking back at her somewhat startled he turned to her. Only to see her eyes wide and glossy with question and confusion. As he looked to where her eyes were set on he too became confused. In front of her families flower shop and home stood Morino Ibiki. Yeah if that man was in front of his home he would also be speechless.