Disclaimer: The Naruto-verse is not mine! Neither are the characters!
Detective Shikamaru Nara slammed a fist against his newspaper-laden desk. With a frustrated grunt, his free hand ran through his raven locks. A week prior, his blonde boss Tsunade had assigned him to track West Konoha's biggest crime lord yet, a man by the name of Orochimaru. So far, the pineapple-headed investigator could not find a stable lead that did not include a wild goose chase. With West Konoha hoarding the majority of black market criminals, it wasn't difficult to get a few answers. However, the problem lied within deciphering which answers were truths.
He plucked his cigarette up from its ashtray and moved to take a drag. After pushing away from his crowded workspace, he stood up and paced around his dimly lit office, thoughts going a mile a minute. Being the top detective in the darker side of Konoha, he was renowned with the ability to muster up an elaborate plan in under a minute and catch the perpetrator in a maximum of three days.
It's been seven.
"Troublesome…" He muttered aloud, cigarette smoke escaping his lips with every syllable. "Tsunade's going to be pissed…"
He heard a hard knock at the door. "Speak of the devil, you may enter."
A burly man with wild brunette hair trailing behind him was revealed. Choji Akimichi was the son of the great Chouza, an ex-investigator turned restaurant owner. The Akimichi Swirl was located on the cleaner side of town, with all of the rich inhabitants and high class citizens. Chouza was never a native of East Konoha, being born in the ghettos of the western side. Choji was slightly luckier, only having to grow up poor until the age of six. His father had been the Cho in the infamous Ino-Shika-Cho trio. Shikamaru had only joined the detective business to please his father Shikaku, yet found it unexpectedly enjoyable. Besides, he always enjoyed a challenge. Shikamaru nodded to his childhood friend, motioning for him to speak.
"Tsunade sent for you." Choji informed with a nod of his head in return. He closed the door and left the strategist to his thoughts. Sighing, Shikamaru put his cigarette out and travelled to his employer's door. Before he could even raise a fist to knock, her voice boomed, "Enter."
Bracing himself for the oncoming lecture, he walked in slouched with his hands stuffed into his olive trench coat. "Yes?"
She narrowed amber eyes at him, her honey blonde hair reflecting the bright lights of the sun outside. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
He remained silent, knowing like the back of his hand that she was not finished.
"Nara, I assigned you to this case seven days ago, yet you have nothing to show for this past week?! Have you gone insane?! Need I remind you just who Orochimaru is? He is the thorn that has been in our side since the western branch of the Hidden Leaf corps was even thought of! We've been lying low on that man for years, and with him finally becoming more obvious, we need to get leads on him now. Do you understand?"
She did not await his nod as she plowed on. "I suggest you kick it into high gear, Nara. In fact, I'm assigning you to a partner."
An eyebrow quirked on his face, but the rest of his features did not falter. Tsunade nodded and slid a manila folder towards him. He hesitantly stepped forward and opened it. The silence that passed as he read the contents was not at all awkward; if anything, it was tense and filled with anxiousness. Shikamaru closed his eyes as if to digest the information, then closed the folder and handed it back to Tsunade.
"So that's Inoichi's daughter. Hm."
Tsunade chuckled, "What? You've never met her?"
"I have. We're childhood friends, remember? InoShikaCho? But that is all we are, childhood friends. I haven't spoken to that girl – well, woman – in years. She's what? 22 now? The last time I saw her, she was eighteen."
"Geez, Nara. I know she lives in East Konoha, but a four year gap is unacceptable. Either way, it's all still considered Konohagakure. Besides, West Konoha is only 5 miles away from East Konoha."
"Yes, but her father has supposedly been training her to be his successor. If dad's not lying, Inoichi has requested the help of Ibiki Morino and Asuma Sarutobi. No wonder I haven't seen her in so long, she's probably drowning in work from her three mentors."
"Ah, so she'll be the next big thing then… the next one to head the Interrogation department of the Hidden Leaf Corps. She's definitely a great partner for you!" Tsunade grinned, her angry demeanor completely forgotten.
"Yeah well if I'm not mistaken, she'll probably still be the same troublesome ice princess as before. After all, she did grow up in East Konoha. Her entire family is rolling in money, like pigs in mud." An eye roll accompanied his sentence.
The older woman's look grew serious. "Look, Nara. I'm not asking you to like the girl, I'm asking you to find Orochimaru. Since you can't even do that solo, I've assigned you Ino Yamanaka. Got it?"
"When will she be here?"
"She requested that you meet her at the Akimichi Swirl –"
"She requested? Hn." His muttered grunt did not go unnoticed by Tsunade.
"Do not interrupt me and do not question things! Understand? Meet her at the Akimichi Swirl at 5; the reservation is under the name of Leaf. Do not be unpleasant, Nara! This is a huge case and if you fail me, your lineage will never be associated with the Hidden Leaf Corps ever again! Dismissed!"
Shikamaru could only nod stiffly as he turned on his heel to exit, the thought of having another cigarette playing on his mind.
The drive to the Akimichi Swirl from the western branch of the Hidden Leaf Corps was not at all long and tense. With Choji tagging along to see an old friend and get some dinner, the atmosphere of Shikamaru's car was bright with the two of them discussing different things. After arriving at the restaurant and being treated like celebrities by close family and friends, the two sat at a round table in a corner of the palatial restaurant. Three menus were scattered about the surface along with two drinks belonging to the table's inhabitants.
"Tch, she makes a reservation for 5 and is late?" The spiky pony tailed man commented.
Choji frowned, "Relax, Shikamaru, I'm sure she'll be here soon. Besides, it's only 5:16! Maybe she's stuck in traffic or something. You know Ino, she hates being late."
"Actually, I don't know Ino - well at least not the older version. I'm assuming you've kept in touch with her though."
Choji shifted slightly under Shikamaru's gaze. It was almost as if his best friend was accusing him of going behind his back. "I mean, with the restaurant and my family in East Konoha, it's kind of hard not to see her every once in a while. She asks about you, y'know."
"Well she could have at least called or something if she was so interested."
"She's a busy woman, Shikamaru. Besides, you barely answer your phone anyway. It's no surprise that she can barely get through to you!" Choji defended with enthusiasm. "And you're at fault too! You don't call her or even ask about her! No wonder it's been four years!"
"Hey! Sorry I'm late!" A feminine voice called from a few tables down. Onyx eyes carefully analyzed the new comer, with her shiny flaxen hair and bright sky blue orbs. A white smile was plastered onto her creamy face and her violet scarf fluttered about her as she waved. When she arrived, she stuck out a manicured hand at Shikamaru, "Hi! I'm Ino Yamanaka! And you are?"
He stared at her hand momentarily and finally looked her in the eye with a lazy smirk.
"Oh my gosh! Shikamaru?!" She gasped out suddenly with her hands to her face. "It's been so long! I barely even recognized you!" The blonde bent over to hug him, the scent of cinnamon filling his nostrils.
'Maybe she's not the same ice princess as before…' He thought inwardly. Well, until she slapped him.
The surrounding tables had turned their heads momentarily to watch the scene starring the shocked Choji, annoyed Shikamaru, and seething Ino.
"Are you kidding me?! It's been four years! You haven't answered my calls, sought me out, kept in touch! Nothing! Nada! Zilch! It's a two way street y'know!"
Ino flipped her lengthy ponytail with attitude and took a seat. Choji hesitated before speaking up, fearing the wrath of the blonde one. "Uh, we were waiting until you came so that we could order."
She shot a bright grin at him and patted his back. "Thanks, Cho! You're great, but I'm not eating."
Shikamaru silently listened in on the conversation, his cheek still stinging from the force of her slap.
"Why not! We're at my family's restaurant! You've gotta try something!" The burly man exclaimed with true surprise.
"I'm on a diet, but maybe I'll pick at whatever you order."
"A diet?" Shikamaru scoffed, "Aren't you thin enough?"
Ino's arched brows shot up at his remark, "It's none of your business anyway, is it? Oh."
His previous annoyance was suddenly multiplied by ten at her tone. 'Oh is right.'
Ino eyed him once more before turning to greet the waiter approaching their table. His name tag read Sai, and a mop of jet black hair contrasted against his pale skin. If anything, he was the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome, and Ino did not wait to capitalize on it.
"Hey," She greeted with a flutter of her mascara-adorned lashes.
"Hello, Miss Beautiful." Sai responded, his voice smooth and deep. Ino's eyes roamed over the waiter's statuesque build, and Choji could only blush at his friend's blatant actions. After shooting her a small smile, Sai turned to the other occupants at the table. "I am Sai, your waiter today. I see the hostess already took your order for drinks. What about you, Miss? Would you like something?"
"Oh I'd like something, but not a drink." She purred with a smirk.
Sai chuckled, "What would you three like as your entrees?"
Choji beat Shikamaru to the punch, listing off various items since he practically memorized the menu. Shikamaru declined the offer of an entrée, sticking to his iced tea. Sai collected their menus and left.
Shikamaru was the first to break the silence, eyeing the woman in front of him. Normally, he wasn't as easily riled up, but this storm with blonde hair and sky blue eyes seemed to bring out the worst in him. "Do you have to flirt with everything you see?"
His question earned a haughty chuckle and half lidded eyes. "I go after what I like."
'And maybe because he reminds me of Sasuke…' Her inward sigh did not dispel the memories of her ex-boyfriend as much as she wanted it to. She lingered on his name once more before focusing on the large window in front of her.
"Tch." He sat back and drank his tea, pondering the female in front of him. Though Ino held the appearance of a woman with all of her curves and alluring features, she still held the mentality of a teenaged girl: loud, brash, flirtatious, vain, and most of all annoying. Shikamaru rarely worked on cases with a partner, but when he did, he made sure that they were not women. In his elaborate mind, women were 'troublesome creatures' prone to overreactions and mood swings. His mother Yoshino was a prime example of those traits, and to this day Shikamaru tries to decode what made his father fall for a woman like that. After all, he and his father are practically two sides of the same card.
It was a blessing that Choji was there, for when the two would bicker while awaiting the food, he'd come up with different topics of conversation to clear the air. Ino stood true to her words and plucked a few items from Choji's dinner onto a spare plate for herself. Shikamaru barely ate, only sampling one of Choji's items. The Akimichi was the only one to order dessert, and Ino was trying to figure out who was going to pay the bill.
"So, about this Orochimaru character…" Choji began once more.
"Not in public, someone might overhear." Shikamaru reprimanded. 'Besides,' He pondered silently, 'I've already screwed up one case… There's no need to repeat that ever again.'
Blue eyes rolled, "Oh please. If we just keep our voices down, no one will hear a thing. Plus, there's no need to go too in depth. Keep going, Cho."
"Actually, that's all I had to say. I was hoping you guys would carry the convo on."
"Oh! Well in that case, how much do you know about Orochimaru?" She turned to the Nara.
"Just the basics. Crime lord, ranging from drugs to illegal weapons to assassinations. I've questioned multiple underground sources, yet I'm being led on a wild goose chase."
"Hmm… The basics aren't going to cut it, and your 'sources' shouldn't even be counted as sources at all." She appeared deep in thought with her concentrated facial expression. Her tone was more thoughtful rather than scathing, yet her words seemed to have set off the genius.
He bristled slightly, "I understand the 'basics' aren't going to 'cut it.' What do you know?"
"Hey – watch it! This time I wasn't trying to be sarcastic, but if you want me to, I can." She levelled her glare with his. "Don't get all snippy with me either, because clearly you're not all you're chalked up to be if you need a partner after a week of failures!"
The usual zen held by Shikamaru was completely lost. Memories flooded back to his first time taking a case alone, the pain of failure rushed in like a flood. Eyes blank, his face was nothing but nonchalance, but his voice was biting and acrimonious. "Listen, I'm not one of your little maids or servants. Get off your high horse and grow up already. You've been the same all your life: spoiled and egotistical." He paused momentarily, as if recounting something, "Then again, that's all you know. You've never had to work for anything anyway."
"Uh, g-guys?" Choji stammered. "C'mon! We've finally reunited after all these years and this is how we act?"
No soothing words of the Akimichi could assuage the offense taken by the Yamanaka – the anger was clear on her face. "I've never had to work for anything?! Damn it, I practically came out the womb working! That's all my life has been!"
"Really? You look a lot more like 'daddy's little girl' to me. Typical easterner, none of you know true struggle." He fingered a cigarette in his pocket.
Fed up, the woman abruptly stood from her seat and grabbed her purse, storming out with "Just because you know me doesn't mean you know me!" as her parting words.
The table was silent, until Shikamaru groaned with a palm sliding down his face. "Just like her to not even leave her share of the money… What a drag…"
A new story I'm working on! I'm pretty excited about it and I'm praying that I'll have the time to update regularly! Thanks for reading!