The original Ino-Shika-Chou is getting an addition to their squad and Shikaku is not happy with the Hokage's choice. Shikaku/Yoshino. Pre-Canon Naruto. Rated K.

The Fourth Man
Chapter 1

Minato stood somewhat awkwardly behind the Hokage as two-thirds of the Ino-Shika-Chou trio stood in front of the desk. The Third looked them up and down before meeting their eyes. Injuries were evident on both the men – a bandaged arm and lots of bruises for Chouza and cuts on the length of Inoichi's legs.

"I am adding a medic-nin to your team." The Hokage's voice was deadpanned. Minato looked at him in shock – no one had managed to penetrate the friendship of the three men, not Chouza's wife, not Inoichi's girlfriend.

Inoichi balked quickly, "We don't need another man, Nara has –"

"Nara can't heal himself," the Hokage raised his hand to silence Inoichi, "And his abilities have not made much of a difference lately."

"With all due respect, Hokage-sama, we work best alone," Chouza attempted to reason, but Minato could tell the Hokage would not be swayed on this. He hadn't even paused in his smoking, the pipe still solidly perched on his lip.

The Hokage sighed, smoke filling the air, "Yes, the famous Ino-Shika-Chou formation, I know." He rested his head on top of his raised hands, "I also know it allows you three to support one another's reckless behavior. Something I can no longer allow."

Inoichi huffed, but remained silent as he traded a look with Chouza. Minato could see the gears in their heads working – thinking of ways to ditch the medic already.

"You will not be able to work any A or S-Ranked missions without Yoshino," the Hokage stipulated, seeing the same thing as Minato.

"Yoshino?" "A woman?!"

Minato knew Shikaku was not going to take this lying down – the control freak that he was and the womanizer he pretended he wasn't. Eyeing the Hokage Minato began to wonder if that was the reason this meeting was taking place while the Nara was incapable of coming.

Shikaku was lying down in his bed, staring at the ceiling in absolute boredom. The medic-nin had already stopped two of his escape attempts. A broken leg and the pain meds were slowing him down or she never would have been able to.

"Now, if you try to leave without my permission again, I'll sedate you," the woman was infuriating. He pulled on the restraints a bit to test them, she immediately tightened them.

He glanced at the leather binding, seeing how they cut into his skin he spoke, "Isn't this a bit overkill?" She ignored him and he sighed, "Troublesome woman."

She glared at him for a moment before moving to his leg. She began to form hand-signs to mend bone, but Shikaku scoffed at technique.

"Those won't work," he said, watching her movements with amusement, "You have to set the bone before you can fuse it back together."

"And what exactly do you think I did when you first came in?"

Shikaku yawned, thinking back to his first conscious memories after the mission, "Made a lot of unnecessary noise to wake me up?" She growled and he added, "Oh, and you tripped me after that."

"You were trying to escape!" Hands on her hip she glowered down at the Nara before moving her attention back to his leg. With a final deep-breathe she made the necessary hand-signs, trying to ignore Shikaku's gripping.

"Can I leave now?" Shikaku yawned again, "I'm suppose to be meeting with the Hokage." She eyed him for a moment and then patted the leg she'd just healed. He started, cringing at the pain where the leg was still sensitive.

Smirking, she said with voice dripping with acid, "If you wanted to meet with the Hokage than you shouldn't have gotten yourself injured." Shikaku tried to argue but she pressed on his leg again. Once he was silent the medic-nin left the room, "I'll go get that sedative now."

She stalked out the room as he called insults after her. At the door she ran into Chouza and Inoichi, with a quick scowl they parted for her.

"Finally, some decent company," Shikaku struggled against his restraints as he attempted to gesture angrily, "Get me out of here before that crazy broad gets back."

Inoichi immediately began to laugh. Chouza smiled nervously at the confused Nara. No one touched his restraints. This was going to be interesting.

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