Ino didn't make it her mission to pry into the lives of her teammates, but it had been brough to her attention that Shikamaru had been keeping a precious secret from her. Yes, from her! One of his best friends! And that secret was in the form of a blonde, whiskered, orange-loving kunoichi that had saved the Shinobi World.

While she was aware that the Nara wasn't an open person, she'd at least thought that if her teammate liked someone that he would tell her! Let alone if he was dating her!

Sure, Ino liked to gossip (anyone could tell you that) but it's not like she would tell the whole village as soon as he told her... she'd at least wait a day or two before spilling the beans. Like come on, he had to give her some credit.

So, in a way, she was bit huffy as she made her way to Yakiniku Q─their favorite BBQ restaurant. It was a ritual that Team Ten performed in honor of their late sensei, Asuma. All three of them would go to the BBQ restaurant and reminisce on their genin days or the little things that Asuma-sensei did that made him, well, him. Ino put a hand on her heart, closing her eyes as pain shot through her at the thought of her sensei.

It hurt. It always would to speak or think of the man and she knew Shikamaru and Chouji felt the same exact pain when they spoke of the man, but every day it got a little easier than last time.

Ino sighed and was relieved to see Yakiniku's familiar sign and smiled at her two, male teammates. She ran up to them, "Chouji-kun! Shika-kun!"

The two friends─who had been in a conversation─turned to her and Ino didn't even pause as she ran into Chouji's arms, the large man's arms wrapped around her in an instant. He gave her a quick squeeze before passing her off to Shikamaru, who sighed but didn't complain as he held her close.

Over the years, the three were closer, almost like siblings. Ino never greeted them without at least one hug and then another when it was time to say goodbye. At first, it had left her teammates tense and rigid. Then with time, it had become as natural as breathing. Ino was glad that they were as close as they are now and that she had done some changing to be someone that they're proud to call their teammate. But on the other hand...

"So, I'm a bit upset with you Shikamaru." Ino told the Nara as all three of them stepped into the entrance of Yakiniku and greeted the regular owner of the place, the old woman giving them a kind smile and leading them to their regular spot. Shikamaru sighed and just gave her a look, the look that said 'tell-me-why-you're-mad-even-though-I-don't-wanna-know' and Ino sent him a glare.

"Well," she started as they sat themselves at their table and their kind waitress already expecting The Usual Order, "a little birdie told me that you and certain toad-loving kunoichi arw dating? Or was I gonna a the be last one to be informed?" The last question she phrased for both him and Chouji, the Akimichi giving her a amused smile.

Both her and Chouji turned to their teammate as the man made a choking noise and Ino was sure that if he had a drink, the brunette would he spit it out all over their table without hesitation.

"... huh?"

She felt her eyes roll involuntarily, concentration never leaving the stuttering man as the waitress came back with meat and sauces, "What's next? Am I gonna find out your getting married when I see her with a ring on her finger?"

Ino snorted as her friend seemed to get even more embarrassed, his back leaning against his seat and hand coming up to cover his face. She had never seen her best friend blush as hard as he was now, his tan cheeks red as a cherry. She almost wished that she had her camera with her so that she could capture this moment: Shikamaru Nara was embarrassed for the first time in forever. He hadn't even been like this when he and Temari used to flirt a bit.

He must really feel something for her.

Shikamaru coughed into his hand and Ino looked into his eyes as The Nara sat up a bit straighter and gave her a look, "Me and Naruto aren't really.. dating."

"Go on." He sent her a small glare and she only waved her hand at him, motioning for him to continue and once again Chouji was looked to for help, only to receive an amused glance as their answer.

He sighed and turned his eyes to the meat that was now cooking on their mini-grill, "We both.. like one another, but neither one of us want to make the first step."

Ino could hear the strain and awkward tone in his voice and knew that it was taking a lot for the man to spill his feelings to her, he was a person that kept to himself and didn't talk much about his feeling with others. She wasn't one to push him, but she decided that her need to satisfy her curiosity was too much, "What do you mean?"

".. I like her.. maybe even love her and I know she feels the same way that I do, but for some reason I can't ask her to date me and she can't either.. it doesn't seem like the right time whenever I think of asking her."

It wasn't a bad thing that he wanted to wait. In a way, it did seem to be a bit early as the war had just ended and Team Seven was trying to put itself back together after Sasuke left to find his 'way' or that was what she heard from Sakura. Ino didn't think it would be a horrible time to ask, but it certainly wouldn't be an idle one.

Either way, she could see his hesitance when it came to asking her. But even so it would be better if Shikamaru asked anyway! Who knows what could come out of it, he would never know of he didn't tell her or at least drop scenes for her.

"Look Shika," He lifted his head and turned to her, "I know you're scared to ask her out, but.. think about the future. She's admired now and people do have feelings for her, if you wait any longer than she might get tired of waiting and become someone else's girlfriend and you'll be left behind wishing that you told her your feelings."

Shikamaru turned to the grill and stared at the meat that Chouji had been cooking in silence, the larger male giving his best friend a gentle smile and let the man think over every scenario in his head. Ino knew that it wouldn't take him long to pick the right path and turned to Chouji, "Meat ready?"

"Yea, just give it a few minutes."