◊ (Another Problem or Two) ◊
∆ (Grill) ∆ - VP: Shikamaru - ¤ (Hours Later) ¤
"So, you're marrying a troublesome woman?" My dad asked me.
"Yeah, but she's not always troublesome. She's a bit sometimes, but not all the time. I don't really care, I love her." I answered. My dad smacked my back hard.
"See, now you understand why I married your mother." I shrugged.
"Yeah, I guess. Because you love her." He nodded.
"I remember when you asked me the first time." I smirked. I remember too. It was when I first met Ino.
Ж (Flashback) Ж
"Dad, why did you marry Mom? She's soooo troublesome." I said leaning against the wall of the back of the house while my dad punched training posts that were metal. I should have been impressed but I wasn't, I'd seen him do it before.
"Well because… you'll find out someday."
"Man, that's soooo not helpful." I said sighing.
"You'll learn, but more importantly, why do you ask?"
"Cause they're this girl… and she's soooo troublesome."
"Name?"
"Yamanaka Ino,"
"She part of the tri-clan with us Shikamaru. You need to respect her."
"I respect her, she's strong and what not, a good ninja but she's just soooo troublesome. She says that I'm stupid and I am too lazy."
"You are." My dad answered me.
"Not helping." I said.
"I know, but it's not nice to point out character flaws about people."
"You said she was troublesome didn't you?" I nodded. "First mistake, never tell a girl she's troublesome. It upsets girls."
"Like I care, it's not like we'll ever have a chance to be civil to each other. We get along, okay if she's not bashing me over the head. Man, she's troublesome." I complained.
"Shikamaru, go train or something. We'll talk later."
"Whatever."
"Also, think about how you can use her jutsus to your advantage, the logic of dealing and being civil with her, is important." My dad said.
Ж (Flashback Over) Ж
"Yeah, well I guess all those years of worrying about her, carrying her around, protecting her must have rubbed off on me." He nodded.
"It's getting use to the person. Most great relationships build off of friendships." My dad said. "Well we'll be at the wedding, your sister and mother as well."
"Thanks." I said turning around and Ino crashed into me knocking me to the floor. "Hello Ino, can you create a better way to great me?" I asked sighing and rubbing my arms.
"Sorry, there is this weird girl following me around in the place, how'd she get in?" She asked.
Hm… a weird girl. It's not someone that Ino knows, who could it be... Kari! "She looks oddly familiar." Ino nodded. I laughed and pulled Ino over to the other side of the door. Kari jumped behind the wall. "It's alright Kari." I said.
"Who's she, you know her?" Ino asked.
"Duh, she's my sister."
"I've been in your house millions of times, why haven't I seen her before?"
"Kari is shy and likes to hide from them. Like Hinata a few years ago. She's fine. Right Kari?" I asked sighing.
Kari nodded. Ino smiled and walked over to the girl. I wanted to stop Ino but Ino wanted to meet her. "Hey Kari, I'm Ino."
"I know." She responded. Ino turned to me.
"How?"
"Duh, because she's my sister. Like she doesn't know my teammates. Like you said you've been in the house millions of times, she's always known who is in the house but she's never got a chance to meet you."
"Oh, well Kari it's great to meet you." Ino said hugging her. Causing Kari to freeze.
"Um Ino… you're invading her personal space." I said.
Ino stepped back and bowed. "Sorry, I just normally hug people I meet." Ino said laughing.
"Or slap them." I added. Kari jumped behind me. I smiled.
"Hey, that was totally your fault."
"I didn't do anything." I defended myself.
"You were staring at me." I said.
"So, I can't stare at you."
"No, I didn't know you. You don't go around staring at people!" Ino defended herself.
"Whatever Ino, that's how I meet people. I stare at them and judge their abilities. You're my teammate. I wanted to check your level. So I stared."
"I didn't know you. You might want to talk with them, and then judge their skill." Kari ran away into my mom. "Good job Shikamaru." She said.
"You talk too loud. She's very quite."
"She's not lazy."
"Nope, females in our clan, born into it are usually calm and quiet. They make awesome ninjas."
"Her?" I nodded.
"Yeah, she's good but she can't do any shadow techniques but she's extremely intelligent so it doesn't matter, she'll find her own style one day."
"That explains her name." Ino said.
"Yeah, when she was born, she didn't cast a shadow. Shadow users have extremely large dark shadows; she didn't have a shadow at all. So my parents called her Hikari." I said.
"It's a pretty name, so you ready to go?"
"Where?"
"I need to get a dress Shikamaru, you and Neji or going to buy Tuxes, while Tenten, Sakura, Hinata and I are going to buy wedding dresses." I said.
"Oh yeah, I just figured you'd get one when we got there."
"I figured being a representative of Konoha, a diplomat of Konoha; we should dress in their styles, to be safe and all."
"Good thinking." I said wrapping my arms around her waist and kissing her check. "Bye." I said.
"Alright, take care of yourself and also, pick up Naruto to get a Tux as well." I nodded. –Buy Tux with Neji -pick up Naruto –get him them both a Tux: Got it.
Ino, Tenten, Sakura and Hinata left and I walked over to Neji. "You ready?" He asked.
"Yeah, we need to get Naruto." Neji nodded and we walked over to Naruto's apartment.
I knocked on the door. Naruto opened the door. I pulled him outside. "We're going shopping for tuxes for my wedding." I said.
"Alright, where are the girls?" Naruto said looking around.
"Buying their dresses?"
"Can't we see them?"
"Of course not, it's bad luck in a relationship to see the bride before the wedding in her wedding dress." I said.
"Remind me to remember that." Naruto said.
"I will." Neji said. "I don't want to see you mess up my cousin's life." He said holding a fist to Naruto face.
"Neji, we got to go." I said not caring about Naruto very much.
We arrived at the tuxes, and found ones that we liked. Everyone bought two, one for their own wedding, and one for everyone else's' weddings so we wouldn't have to shop later. I wondered how the girls' were doing.
"What to do now?" Naruto asked.
"I'm going to head back to the complex." Neji said.
"How long until the girls said they'd be back?" Naruto asked.
"Dinner tonight, so we have to feed ourselves lunch. Let's go home." I said.
"Alright," Naruto said. Neji nodded and we went our separate ways.
I lay down in the bed and took a nap on the couch. "Shikamaru?" A voice asked awakening me from my nap.
"Yeah Kari," I said not bothering to sit up or open my eyes.
"Ino, she seems nice." Kari said staring at me with bright eyes. I've seen those eyes before. It was one of the first times, she accidentally came across me. In honesty I had came across Ino many times before we were on the team, and because of these moments, Ino and I didn't have a good start.
Ж (Flashback) Ж
I was being my normal self, after a hard day at school, which I slept through. I went to a field that I thought was abandoned and laid down and looked up at clouds. I stared at them thinking about all the wonderful as well as the troublesome things that happened to me this week, mom yelled at me, slept, watched clouds, slept, watched clouds, and mom yelled at me, dad and I trained a bit, and I slept as well as watched clouds.
I closed my eyes and relaxed and then something tripped over me and landed on me crashing me. "I'm so sorry." The girl said. She was so close to me. Her body was resting against me perfectly and she was resting her head next to mine.
"Man girls, you're so heavy." She slapped me so hard my head hurt.
"What was that for?" I asked holding my head.
"A hem. I'm not heavy. I'm extremely light mind you." The girl said. She sighed. Moreover, knelt next to me. She leaned over me and gave me this warm bright smile that reminded me of the cloud reflecting from the sun. "So I'm sorry for falling on top of you."
"And I'm sorry for calling you heavy. I forgot that when someone tripped gravity drastically increases making you seem heavy. I really am sorry." She smiled wider.
"Alright, sorry for bothering you today. Bye." She said running off. She stopped. "What in the world were you doing here anyway, in the grass?"
"Watching clouds?"
"Eh?"
"It helps me concentrate, and think."
"I don't get it but I swear to you, whatever your name is, I will understand you." She ran off that. She's one crazy troublesome girl.
Ж (Flashback Over) Ж
"Yeah Ino's nice, yep." I answered her.
"I want to be like her." Kari said. I opened my eyes and sat up. I smiled at her.
"I think it's nice you want to be like her but you should try to be your own person Kari. You remind me of another friend of mine, I think you should talk with her, and her fiancée. It'll be good for you." I said.
"I know I should be but I don't think I can." She said looking at the ground. I patted the seat next to me and she sat down.
"Being your own person means creating a sense of who you are, who are you?"
" Nara Hikari,"
"Yeah but you need to become more then just your name. You need to know what you like, what kind of person you are, you have to design who you are. Stop sitting on the sidelines and make a life for yourself." I said.
"I'll try."
"Yeah, it's the best I can ask of you. Anything else?"
"Yeah, she's pretty and really nice." I smiled.
"I'm glad my little sister approves of my fiancée." I said leaning back. "She is really pretty and nice but also sometimes quite troublesome. But also Kari." She stopped in her tracks.
"Yes?" she asked.
"I'm sure you'll be someone like her, maybe not exactly like her but in the fact that she's pretty and nice in her own way, so will you." She blushed and I smirked and rested.
"You can go now." I told her she nodded and happily walked out of the room.
"Shikamaru, that was very nice of you. To council her like that. You've grown up a lot." My mom said.
"Yeah but you can't be a ninja and be a baby. You'll get killed if you are. Ino kind of changed me too; I had to protect her because she was important to me."
"Well then tell her thank you for me next time you see her." My mom said walking off. I nodded. Mom has become less troublesome or maybe I'm just being less lazy, nope, that's not it. "Oh and Shikamaru, can you head to your room."
"Man," She is troublesome. I picked myself and drug myself to my room. I felt myself getting warmer. There was something else in my bed. I opened my self to see my own blonde haired beauty in my bed. I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her close to me and fell back to sleep.
There was a huge knock on the door. I sighed. I poked Ino. As much as I wanted to sleep, and I didn't want to wake her up, I had to. "What's up Shika?" She asked.
"Door." She smacked her forehead.
"We have to go to dinner with everyone."
"I thought it was just us and the other two couples."
"It is. That's everyone that's coming." I sighed and walked to the door. It was Neji. I jumped back. Sigh, it was just Neji.
"Come on." He said. I nodded and turned around to see Ino not there. "Let's go then." He said. Where'd she go? I sighed, probably went around the house, to escape getting in trouble.
I walked down stairs to find Ino sitting on the couch. Neji didn't suspect anything weirdly. He probably didn't care but Naruto was staring at my sister.
"Baka, leave the girl alone." Neji scolded.
"But she's hiding and being timid."
"Hinata, why don't you ask her if she wants to come?" Ino suggested. Everyone looked at Ino then to Hinata. "Hinata understands how Kari is, this should work." I nodded in agreement.
"Um… Kari was it?" Hinata said trying to address my sister.
Kari peeked around the corner. "Hai, you need something?" Hinata shook her head. Hinata smiled and nodded. Kari nodded back and we all just watched in amazement. Kari walked over to Hinata. Kari broke out in tears. Hinata smiled and hugged the younger girl. I had never seen Kari cry, or show any emotion.
"It's alright." Hinata whispered and smiled. Hinata took the younger girl by the hand and let her to the couch. Hinata kept smiling and rubbed Kari's back. "You want to come?" Kari nodded and Hinata smiled back. Hinata looked at us. "She wishes to come." I nodded and went into the kitchen followed by Ino.
"What are you doing?" Ino asked.
"Calling the Naruto of her class." I said smirking.
"Shikamaru." I placed a finger on her lips.
"I know what I'm doing Ino, don't be troublesome." She sighed and leaned against the wall.
Marco was a kid who was of course an outcast from his class because he was a jokester, crazy, maniac and was just different. My sister, like Hinata liked obnoxious jokesters which I didn't get but it wasn't in my control. He had orange spiky hair and his favorite color was yellow which tended to be an obnoxious color. That's all I knew about the kid from talking to Iruka.
I looked on the counter, there it was. Kari's book of everyone's phone numbers in her class. There it was a mark next to Marco's name. Silly little sister, you made this too easy to allow me to help you. I picked up the phone and called him.
"Who's calling, I never get called." The boy said happily. It reminds me of Naruto, a lot. That wasn't good.
"It's me Marco, Nara Shikamaru."
"You… Hm. Doesn't ring a bell."
"It doesn't matter, you know Kari?"
"Yeah the shy girl's in my class." He answered.
"Yeah, well I wanted to know if you wanted to hang around with her and a couple of Jounin friends of mine."
"That's sounds awesome. I'll be there." He said hanging up the phone. I sighed, 1, 2, 3. The phone rang again, I picked it up.
"The Nara Complex got it."
"Yeah, yeah, smart head." I hanged up the phone and sighed.
"Bratty dobe," I said. Ino had a smirk.
"So what's he like?"
"Naruto," Ino burst into laughter falling to the floor. "He has orange hair and wears bright yellow." Ino continued to laugh.
Everyone walked into the kitchen. "Ino, up." I said. She sighed and stood up on her feet and sat on the counter.
"Marco is a kid like Naruto, except backward, Orange hair, Yellow Clothing. That's hilarious." Ino said and she passed out into my arms. Everyone was shocked.
"Ino," I said. I held her. "Her mind is gone." I said.
"How do you know?" Sakura asked.
"You carry around her body with a mind a lot, you know this stuff?" I picked up the phone and called Tsunade. She entered the house and walked over to Ino's body.
"What's going on?"
"Her mind left the body without her doing her jutsu." Tsunade asked.
"She didn't need to; there isn't a strong enough bind between her mind and body. She can't stay in her own body."
"What can we do?" I asked.
"Nothing really, she'll come back when she starts running out of chakra and she should stay there but she can't and I'm serious. She can't do mind transfer jutsu for at least a year. The bind is too weak between her mind and her body. If she does, her mind would be two week to ever stay in it for more then a day." I nodded.
"Can't we seal her mind to her body for now?" I asked.
"Only once her mind is back we can but she'll need to develop a lot more jutsus to replace those she can no longer do."
"I'm pretty sure she'd rather make new jutsus then have a chance for her mind to never be able to return to her." I said.
"What should we do?" Neji asked.
"Ino needs to be watched over so you guys need to go out to dinner. We'll do it again, but wait for Marco." I said.
"Marco?" Everyone questioned except a small girl whose name is Kari who kid behind Hinata.
"You know him?" Hinata asked Kari.
"Hai, he is the flunky of or class." She blushed and looked at her feet. Naruto fell over laughing as Ino had.
"He's like me, and Kari's like Hina-chan, this is hilarious." Naruto yelled laughing. Hinata was now blushing as well as Kari.
"I'll take care of Ino, you take go out and enjoy yourselves, understood?" I asked. They all nodded and went to waiting. I secured Ino's body in my arms and stood up. I carried Ino to my room and set her in my bed. I left her there and went downstairs, Marco had arrived and Kari jumped behind me.
"Ohayo Marco," Naruto greeted.
"Hey to you too, what's your name?" Marco asked.
"Uzumaki Naruto." Naruto said proudly.
"I've heard of you, you annoyed Iruka in your class this year huh?" He nodded proudly. "You rock; I'll teach you something that is fun to do during class demonstrations." Hinata looked concerned.
"Naruto…" She said.
"You're right Hinata, we have to go. I'll teach it to you later squirt." Naruto said laughing with Marco. Hinata walked over to Kari, who was behind me.
"I'll tell you something, don't be scared and enjoy yourself." Hinata offered her hand to my sister who took it and Hinata talked with the younger girl helping her sort out her life with her own stories.
I walked over to the door where Neji and Tenten were. "If Kari likes Marco then she's in for a world of troubles and disappointments because he's like Naruto and it look Naruto 15 years to realize his love for Hinata. I should warn her." He said walking over there.
"Neji… let the youth of this new generation enjoy themselves." Tenten said.
"You sound like Lee." He said, wrong move. She playfully smacked him.
"Stop playing around; let them make mistakes so they can better understand it in the future." Tenten said.
"Hinata already made that mistake, why should Kari as well?"
"Because, you can play with love Neji." She said. "If the girl like him, even if I let you interfere, who knows what would happen."
"She's being…"
"What Neji, miserable knowing that she has no chance with him, and she should move on?" Tenten asked.
"Uh… I'm not sure." He said. I sighed, Neji, sometimes I doubt your skills as a fellow genius. Girls are much better at the whole consoling and understanding deal. Leave it to them.
I walked upstairs just to see Ino hadn't moved from where I laid her. I sat next to her. "Ino, you have to come back." I felt a hand on my leg.
"I'm back." She said with a smile. "Shika, lie down and stop being troublesome and sleep."
I laughed. "I never thought you'd be the one saying that to me and… you don't have to tell me twice." I lay down next to her and held her in my arms.
"I thought we have a dinner?" I looked at the clock. It's been about 20 minutes since they left, they're probably already eating.
"They've been gone a while, they probably just got their meal." I said.
"What happened to me?" She asked.
"Your mind isn't bound to you body since it's been separated too long. No more mind transfer jutsu for a year, until your mind creates a strong bond with you body, got it?" I told her.
"Alright, but you're going to help me create new techniques." She said.
"Sure, I figured I would." I kissed her head and we went to sleep.
You are aware that if you do perform a mind transfer jutsu you could be gone forever, right? I asked her but I couldn't say it out loud. She needed to sleep and I didn't want to bother her. However, she just couldn't leave me.
Why did I figure it was too troublesome to love her? I remember because she loved Sasuke. That was the reason why, but somehow that didn't stop me, and I'm sure glad it didn't. I'm glad she loves me back now. I can't say that I'm glad about this arranged marriage because it hurt and scared her so much, but I really am… Hm, word. Well, it doesn't matter. I'm glad we're together is all I can say.
I poked her. "Ow Shikamaru, what was that for?" She asked.
"Nothing, I was just making sure."
"Of what?" She asked looking back at me.
"I'm not dreaming." She laughed without making a sound.
"Shikamaru, most people to make sure they're not dreaming, pinch themselves not poke the person."
"Think logically Ino, what if this was genjutsu or an illusion or it's a person who's using a kage bushin copy jutsu that would disband it." I sighed, she didn't get my logic.
"Are you saying that you doubt if I'm real?" She asked confused and upset. I kissed her, she kissed me back, and she went quite. Kissing girls is both relaxing and life saving.
"No, I'm saying… yeah, I wanted to make sure it was really a dream, not a prank or joke or something." I said. I held her. "I'm sure, and I'm glad it is real because I'm pretty sure I'd be extremely depressed if you're not real." She sighed and rested her head in my chest. "Definitely real." I said.
¤ (Wedding Day) ¤ - ∆ (Sunagakure) ∆
"Weddings are troublesome." I said.
"They are... Why'd you have to go and get married?" My dad said.
I stared at him. "You volunteered me to get married in the first place."
"Yeah, but you decided to invite me to come, troublesome." My dad said.
"Shut up both of you." Neji said annoyed.
"Marriages are great!" Naruto yelled.
"For once I agree with Naruto completely." Neji said.
"This whole engagement was troublesome. I was engaged by force to a Temari girl who wanted to kill me but Ino stopped her and then the Kazekage said we had to marry another diplomat leaving only Ino and I to do it but I didn't want to cause I figured I'd ruin her life but she was fine with it and then now…" Shikamaru finished sighing.
"Complicated." Neji said.
"Troublesomely Complicated." I added.
"Stop with the complaining ane is happy!" Naruto yelled.
"Fine." I said trying to enjoy this a bit more. I walked outside and sat down on a bench. It's all going to be over soon. I hope that Ino and I can be diplomats from Suna in Konoha reporting once and a while, or be totally free of diplomatic duties and we can be free to live however we want.
"Shikamaru, get inside now!" My mom yelled. I sighed. I wanted to watch clouds. I walked inside, walked over to the altar thing, and waited for Ino. Knowing her, she picked a ton of wonderful dresses for everyone and especially herself. I'm lucky that I finally get to marry her in the end.
Finally, Ino came down the isle. She was smiling at me widely. I smiled back. I had to keep her happy, even though this wedding is troublesome, Ino is being less troublesome and I don't mind being married to her. I actually love it.
"We are all gathered here to witness the marriage of Yamanaka Ino and Nara Shikamaru in the name of the Treaty of Suna-Konoha. As long as these two remain married it signifies the bond between our two villages forever more." The marriage was soon over, we said our vows, I do and it was over gladly.
After it was done, I took Ino by the hand outside. "I'm glad that's over." I said. She looked at me annoyed.
"Marriages are too troublesome; I'd rather just be married to you. But to see you that happy, I'd do it again as many times as you like." I said. She smiled and hugged me. I held her too.
"I love you Shika." Ino said.
"I love you too Ino." I said. "You want to go somewhere?"
"Eh?" She asked confused.
"I mean like leave and go somewhere away from it all." She looked around; there wasn't a building in sight.
"Nara Shikamaru, we have a ton of guests here celebrating our marriage and we are not going to leave. We have an engagement dinner as well. So stop wanting to be lazy and skip out on things." I sighed. I figured that would work.
We went into the dinner party. We talked with everyone and kept talking and talking. It was troublesome to talk anymore, so I let Ino talk. It was more of her thing. I smiled, nodded and stood next to her as they talked. I went to the Kazekage while Ino talked, some more.
"Can Ino and I go home and be diplomats for Suna, there. We'll do reports for Suna and everything. I just think after all we did for you, that we should be able to go home."
"Sure, I rather wouldn't like that since all our ninja are dead except for a few leaving us unprotected."
"Don't say anything else, we'll stay and protect you until you're back to strength as you did for us. Understood?" He nodded.
"Thank you Nara Shikamaru."
"Yeah whatever, I've got a wife to get back to." I turned around and smiled. 'Ino's my wife'.
"So?" She asked turning to me.
"Nah, sorry. All there ninjas were killed. They need some protection until they're built up again, as they did for us. Konoha is much stronger and without Orochimaru, there are no threats for Konoha. Suna needs us more." She nodded understanding and looked down. I lifted her chin and kissed her. "Don't worry, once they have a system of Genin going, I'll request a transfer, alright?" She nodded.
"I know how everything is, I can take it." She said I hugged her.
"I hope so, thanks for being so strong through all this. I know it's hard for you." She nodded.
"I'm not going to be much of a help without any of my mind transfer jutsus."
"We're training Genin Ino; they can't do your jutsus anyway. Moreover, you still have all your other ones like mind-body confusion jutsu. That doesn't require your mind to break its seal, right?"
"No, I guess you're right. I guess I can be of help." She said smiling. I put my hand on her head.
"Of course you'd be of help. You just standing there is enough help for me." I said smiling. She hugged me and I picked her up. I carried her to our new house. Since we'd be staying for a while, we were granted all diplomatic rewards including maids, cooks and a house to live in while our stay. Ino and I both got to be lazy now. Yet, she didn't know because she was facing the wrong way. "Close your eyes." I told her. She sighed and then closed them. I took her inside and went to our bedroom in the house. I gently placed her on the bed and sat next to her. "Open them." I said.
"Shikamaru!" She screamed tackling and hugging me.
"What Ino? You haven't begun to see anything yet. This is just our bedroom." Here eyes went wide and she hugged me. "Come on; don't be troublesome, I'll give you the tour." I said smiling.
There were two extra bedrooms and next to our room were a master bathroom and an empty room for who knows what purpose. There is a main floor bathroom and then a large living room and kitchen. She was just amazed as she strutted through the house. "Shikamaru, how did you manage this one?"
"I didn't do anything really, I asked for our diplomatic rewards and he gave me the address and keys to this place. He said 'take care of her and thanks for the help'. I was just as surprised as you were." She smiled and hugged me again. I could definitely get used to this.
Ino jumped around the house, pulling me along. "Wow, this place is awesome." She said finally taking a break and collapsing on the couch while resting her head in my lap. I place my hand on her waist.
"Did I mention the maids and cooks?" I asked. She smiled.
"No you didn't but I swear if you become super lazy because of that…" I kissed her lips.
"I'm already beyond lazy. You're the one who would be cleaning and cooking. You're the one who's going to become lazy. Yet again, with all this work and training I guess we can be not lazy too." She sighed and nodded.
◊ (Epilogue: What Happened While We Were Gone) ◊
∆ (Outside the gates of Konohagakure) ∆ - ¤ (1 Year Later) ¤ - VP: Nara Ino
"Oi Ino, we there yet?" Shika asked.
"Almost, stop being so troublesome." I said.
He chuckled and I wanted to strangle him. "How you doing?" He asked.
"I'm fine, for an 8 month pregnant girl." I said. Yep, I was 8 months pregnant. I decided later in the relationship that I wouldn't mind having a child but I wanted to wait until I was a little older. Shikamaru didn't seem to care however long I wanted to wait but he was very happy when I told him I was pregnant.
He has been extremely caring to my situation. Though I didn't do much to begin with around the house with the maids and cooks Shikamaru did anything I couldn't which made everything easier on me.
I was glad that I still had a month to go because that meant that I was allowed to travel without fear of giving birth on the way. It also meant that I could have the baby in Konoha and it would be a citizen like Shika and I.
We were completely free of most of our diplomatic duties. We just needed to send a report on the well doing of Konoha to Suna every 2 months. Other than that, life seemed to be glorious for us. I arrived at the gates and we held up our passports. Since we moved there for more then a year, we were considered citizens of Suna. Thus, we required a passport.
I walked in the village and it seemed normal, like was had left it. I looked and saw two kids at the playground playing, they had Genin headbands on. They must have been newly picked Genin. I decided to go to Tsunade first to explain everything that happened this last year.
I walked in the office to see Tsunade asleep on the couch. "Ino, Shikamaru, hey." Hinata said walking over to me, stopped before hugging me and gave me a smile. "You too?" She asked.
"Eh?"
"Are pregnant." I nodded.
"Yeah I am, you are?" Hinata shook her head.
"2 weeks old," She said walking over to a small crib next to the desk and picking up a small baby boy. "Meet Tsuyoi." She said. He was so cute and adorable. He of course had Hinata's Byakugan trademark eyes from her clan but surprisingly had Hinata's hair with yellow highlights which signified the ow too individualistic traits of his father. "However Sakura is also, Tenten and Neji's child is 2 months now."
"Man, everyone around here has kids now huh?"
"I guess." She said smiling.
"So what you doing here?" I asked.
"Tsunade thinks that Naruto would make a good Hokage whenever she retires so she's supposed to be training him to do the work but she sleeps all the time so he's left to do it all himself." Hinata said laughing.
"You're not stuttering anymore." She nodded and smiled.
"Naruto helped me fix that, and my other habits as well." I smiled and carefully hugged her.
"Oi, I need to file a report with Naruto. Can I go in?" Shikamaru asked annoyed with all the talking.
"Sure, Naruto, Shikamaru is coming in."
"Alright Hina-chan," Naruto yelled through the speaker. Shikamaru walked in to file our paperwork.
"So how long you back for?" Hinata asked.
"As long as we want, we just send out a report every 2 months, keep in contact and we can stay. I wanted to give birth to the little one her like I was so I decided to ask for a transfer and thanks to Shikamaru's plan we can."
"How long now?" Hinata asked.
"A month," She smiled. "Yep, a month now. Well you get keep working. I'll just sit and wait." Hinata nodded and sat down holding her child and using her free hand to do paperwork.
Eventually, Shikamaru came out and Naruto came out too. He was dressed in normal clothes. "Oi Ino, you're looking pregnant." Hinata sighed. I took a book and smacked him with it. "Sorry, I just had to say it, you're funny."
"Naruto…" Hinata said sighing.
"Sorry Ino, Hina-chan, I didn't mean to be disrespectful. Well nice seeing you guys but Oba-san's lazy so I have to make up for her work now. Bye." He said. I nodded and waved goodbye leaving with Shikamaru.
"Now where too?" I asked.
"Sakura is pregnant but Hinata didn't say whose the father, or who's she married to." Shikamaru pointed out sparking my interest.
"You don't think?" I asked.
"It's possible." Shikamaru said.
"Well I think we'll leave her for last. I want to see Tenten and Neji. As well as their little baby." I said smiling.
"Yeah, whatever." Shikamaru said. I walked to the complex and went in to see a guard there.
"Excuse me, can I help you find someone?" He asked.
"Yeah, Neji and Tenten."
"Ah, Lord and Lady Hyuuga." He said. This further sparked my interest.
He pointed me to the door and left. I walked in and Neji had jumped up while Tenten was still sitting with a little girl playing with her not paying interest to us walking in. "Ino?" He asked.
"A year must make a difference huh?" I asked.
"Yes, especially seeing as you're pregnant, correct?" He asked politely.
"Yeah, and I see you too have had a child since I was gone."
"Not me, Tenten." I was confused.
"What do you mean Tenten had a child and you didn't. You don't mean…"
…Neji wasn't pregnant, I was. He's one for details." Tenten said still not looking up. I laughed and Shikamaru just leaned against the wall.
"So how are you Tenten?" She picked up the baby girl and walked over to me.
"I'm great, and so is little Shushi here."
"Shushi?" I asked.
"It's a rhetorical play on both Tenten's name and what they excel in." Neji explained. "It refers to one who has perfect pin point accuracy aim. While Tenten's name means 'Heaven's Point' as if gifted by heaven to be good at aim." He finished.
"Interesting," I said.
"Yes, it is." Neji said.
"So you are Lord and Lady Hyuuga, I thought that was Hinata's job as heir, to take that over." Neji nodded.
"However Hinata put herself in second in command after freeing me from the seal. She decided to use strength to determine position and as such she put me as head and herself as heir in second in command to keep the peace between head and branches though she is much more powerful then she use to be, rivaling me." I smiled, everything was good for everyone.
"What about Tenten?" I asked. "What's she doing for the Hyuuga Clan?"
"I have no clue, all the Hyuugas insist I have an important job here but no one can figure it out." Neji nodded not understanding his wife's position.
"Her position consists of being a secretary as Hinata is to Naruto and protecting me some how. As well as taking care of the new heir of the Hyuuga Clan. It's considered extremely important."
"I'd do all those things anyway so I don't see how it's that important." Tenten said holding hers and Neji's child gently. "Who wouldn't protect their child, their husband and take care of her husband's family. It's a kunoichi's job."
"I know. Suna did the same thing. Giving us jobs, we'd do regardless of what we were being paid and rewarded to." I said.
"I'm tired." Shikamaru said.
"Well that's our sign to get a place to live and finish up saying hi. Bye guys." I said waving.
"Bye, how all goes well with the house hunting." Tenten said smiling and waving.
"I'm sure it will. Bye Neji, Tenten, Shushi." Shushi giggled and Neji smirked. Tenten waved and we walked out of the mansion, complex thing.
We easily found a place that was almost identical to our place at Suna. The house had 2 guest bedrooms and an extra empty room for the baby's room as well as other rooms. It was great. "Like it?" Shikamaru asked.
"It's perfect." We went to Naruto, the assistant Hokage, paid the fees and went home to leave our stuff there. "You ready to go?" I asked.
"I guess, time to see Sakura and whoever, right?" He said.
"Yeah. I'm hoping but not sure who it is. I just hope that she's married since she's pregnant."
"She's not that stupid is she?" Shikamaru asked.
"No, Sakura isn't that stupid, but sometimes I'm afraid about it." I said looking at the ground.
We arrived at Sakura's house and we knocked on the door. Her mom came and answered. Her eyes widened. "Finally, you came Ino, please knock some sense into Sakura. Please?" She begged.
"Go on." Shikamaru said sitting on the couch as I walked up to Sakura's room. I tried to get it but I was locked.
"Sakura, it's me. Let me in." I said. I heard a faint mumbling and then a door being opened. There were tears in Sakura's eyes. I wrapped my arm around her neck and led her to the bed. I would approximate her being 6 months. "Sakura… aren't you…" She nodded.
"I'm pregnant 5 months." I was smirking on the inside for my correctness but I was worried, 4 months to get married or they'd kill her.
"Sakura, are you married?" I asked trying to make sure that it was just a mistake, I wanted it to be.
"No Ino, I'm not." I looked at her left hand, it was empty. I laid my hands on her and took them toward my body. "Ino…"
"You have 4 months Sakura." I said seriously.
"You don't…"
"I don't what, understand? No, I don't understand Sakura. How you could endanger your life like this or is it something else?"
"I'm leaving tonight."
"What?"
"It's a long story." She said.
Ж (Flashback) Ж – VP: Sakura
I was standing on my balcony and enjoying the view of the forest. Then a figure stood behind me and put a hand around my mouth. I tried to scream but this figure knew that I would and made sure I wouldn't. "I missed you Sakura." The voice said. I was scared to death. "Don't scream. It's me, Sasuke." My eyes went wide and I was shaking.
"Hm." I said quietly, scared.
"I'm sure you've missed me too huh?" He said smirking. He gently let go of me and moved to sit on the edge of the balcony. I couldn't move. "You've sure changed before you probably would have hugged me tackling me off this balcony here." He said. His eyes relaxed and he took a deep breath.
"Sasuke?" I asked. Her closed his eyes and nodded.
"It's been a while hasn't it?" I nodded. "How many years 5 now, right?" He asked. I nodded. "Hm, doesn't seem that long. Did you know that Ino and Shikamaru defeated Orochimaru, freeing me?" I shook my head, Tsunade and Ino hadn't told me the details of anything. "I was strong enough then to kill Itachi, so I did." I gasped. "It's all over now Sakura."
"What is?" I managed to say.
"You're wait, that's what you do out here isn't it?" My eyes went wide, he knew that was why I would out here, waiting. "It's been a longer wait for me than it's been for you, you know that?" I shook my head. That's about all I could do.
"What have you been waiting for?" I asked.
"To get to my second goal," I took a step back into the glass door. "Hm. This is going to be fun. K?" He said smirking at me. He walked over to me and laid my face in his hands. Then, he kissed me. I slumped in her arms, he carried me inside. I knew what would happen next but I couldn't move, I was petrified.
Ж (Flashback Over) Ж – VP: Ino
"Sakura, that's horrible." I said hugging her.
"That's why I'm leaving."
"Why again?" I asked still a bit confused. "So you and the baby won't get killed?"
"No, they won't kill me. I have a kunoichi license and I could file for rape. However, I'm not. I'm going to find Sasuke and give him a piece of my mind."
"Sakura… are you sure that's what you should do?" I asked.
"Of course, he came here, uses my emotions against me, gets me pregnant and then leaves. He's so dead!" She yelled and then starts crying. I hugged her. "Worst of all, I know that I didn't care that I'm pregnant because of him. It just hurts to know how he used me, then left."
"Used you, yes. Left, for then, you'd be right. But I'm back." Sasuke scanned over me and he smirked. "I was right; you'd be pregnant by the end of your first year." I stuck my tongue out and stepped in front of Sakura.
"Leave her alone Sasuke," I warned.
"I didn't expect you to be here now but I'm sorry you're going to have to go." He said. "I'm not going to hurt you or her. But I'd rather not get killed and leave Sakura alone with the child… got it." He said.
"Wait a minute; you aren't going to leave her with your child?"
A smile came to his face. "I'm not that heartless. I'm just trying not to get killed here. Unless Sakura would like to stay here and take care of the baby by herself." Sakura was sure confused. She didn't want to leave and be a traitor too, but I don't think she wants to go either.
Tears went down Sakura's face. She was so hurting inside. Sasuke was going toward her. I held my hand out, glared at him, he stepped back and I rubbed her back. "Come on, it's alright Sakura."
"No it isn't, I'm so lost." Sasuke's eyes seemed to be concerned and lighten from their tensed form they held moments ago. "I don't want to leave but I don't want to raise the child on my own. It's just not fair." She said crying. I figured as much.
I stood up, walked over to Sasuke, and punched him into the wall. "It's your entire fault Uchiha Sasuke, you had to come back and mess everything up! You can't just leave her alone can you. She would have been fine if you hadn't come and messed up her life." I slapped him and took a deep breath.
"Sakura you have until tonight to choose. If I stay any longer than that, I'll be killed and you won't get a choice." Sakura didn't pay attention and he walked toward the balcony. "Ino, I think you broke my jaw. In addition, Sakura, I'm sorry for doing this all to you. I really am." He said disappearing off.
After a while, Sakura calmed down. "What do you think I should do?"
"I'm not sure." I said sighing and collapsing to the ground on my knees. "I wish I could tell you what I'd do but I'm not sure about what I would either. I'm going to try and figure some things out. Tell Shikamaru that I'll be fine by myself and to go home." Sakura nodded and I jumped off the balcony. It hurt and I was caught by someone.
"Oi, you shouldn't jump from 2 story levels while you're pregnant Ino." Shikamaru said gently setting me down on my feet. I nodded. "Come on."
"Do you know what's going on?"
"I guessed by Sasuke's appearance that you're trying to get his name cleared." He inferred.
"Do you think I can?" I asked.
"I'm not sure, let's go talk to Naruto." I nodded and we walked to the Hokage's office. I burst in the door.
"Hey Naruto, I need you to help me with something." I said in his office.
"What Ino, I'm busy."
"It's super important involving Sakura and Sasuke." He looked up and nodded. He still even though one of them was a traitor valued them important, more so then paperwork. "I need you to find a way to clear Sasuke's name or at least make sure he'd not killed. Sasuke is the one who got Sakura pregnant so he needs to stay alive and take care of her and the baby." I said yelling practically.
"I understand but I'm not sure if it's possible."
"Try?" I begged. "I don't want Sakura killed because Sasuke decided to be stupid and get Sakura pregnant. It's not like they're married and he's a citizen of Konoha or anything!" I yelled.
"Ino, calm down. If you stress your body out too much you're going to put yourself into labor." I nodded and took a deep breath. "Okay that's better, go wake up Tsunade." He said. I went to the other office and woke her up. She walked in.
"What's the problem Naruto?"
"Is there any way we can free Sasuke of his crimes?" He asked.
"No, if he shows up, we'll have a trial and most likely the jury will decide him guilty." Tsunade said.
"Can't we do anything else?" I begged.
"No." I returned to Sakura's and shared with her the news. Moreover, what she answered back isn't what I was expecting.
"I want him to go with the trial and I'm going to try my heart to save him but if not. He can escape with me but I want to try with all my heart to stay." I nodded. Sasuke walked in.
"Alright then, whatever you want Sakura." He said. Sasuke walked into the Hokage's office shocking everyone and he was put in jail.
¤ (Hours Later) ¤ - ∆ (Trial Room) ∆
"Sakura, everyone is here ready to do as much as they can to help. However, there are a lot of people against this so, I can't assure it either way." I said resting my arm on her back.
"I'll just have to do my best to make sure all understand." I nodded.
Everyone showed up and the judge showed up. He was only there to control it, he made no judgments. The jury took their seats, they were normal townspeople and some ninja though none favored Sasuke worrying Sakura.
"First witness, Nara Ino." He called. I stepped forward. "Are you ready?" I nodded. "What do you have to do with this all, in relation to the victim and subject of the matter and what are your thoughts?"
"Uchiha Sasuke is someone I, about 5 years ago uses to admire which was before he left the village to gain power. I didn't really understand him at all. He was just the head of our class and I admired him. I can't say much about him because I really don't know him all that well. I know that he makes my best friend depressed when he left but his presence kept her happy as long as he was here, and now that he's back. I think that in the case that he got my friend Sakura pregnant, he should have to stay with her and take care of the child too since it's his responsibly just like all his friends have done with their wives and children, after all, it's only fair to Sakura." I said sitting down. The jury didn't really get much out of that statement. I was a testimony really. Sakura was next, but she'd be questioned.
"Second witness and victim of crime number 2: Haruno Sakura." He called. "Are you ready for your questioned?" Sakura nodded. "Explain your relationship to Sasuke prior to his departure."
"Sasuke and I were teammates together and friends. I had a crush on him and I really love him." She said.
"So you were devastated when he left correct?"
"Not so devastated as sad. I knew he was leaving. I was there the night he left, but he said 'thank you' and rendered me unconscious. I was depressed for the entire 5 years he was gone." The jury seemed to want to stop this here but she wouldn't let them.
"What about being rapped?"
"I wasn't sure what to think. I'm still not." She said.
"Can you try to explain better for us please?" He asked.
"I was petrified because of seeing him again. It was so miraculous that I'd see him again. I was so happy and surprised but he was so different. I couldn't barely move, or control myself. He took the lead and I just followed behind doing whatever he said. It technically wouldn't be considered rape." She said.
"How do you feel about being pregnant?"
"I guess I'm happy." Everyone gasped. "I feel happy because I promised Sasuke from the beginning I'd protect him, help him however I possibly could, and do whatever I he wanted me to, to keep him happy. I'm happy about the baby itself. I'm just worried about my friend, its father Sasuke. I really don't want to be killed myself or the baby to lose its life either. However, I especially don't want Sasuke to die. I… I just can't blame him for any of this. It's not his fault he's the last Uchiha, or his clan was killed or that Orochimaru took over his body. It isn't." She was crying. "It's not… it's not his fault. I guess that all hope for the Uchiha Clan if even one of these terms of the case were considered guilty because I or the baby were killed it be the end of the only hope the Uchiha Clan had and without Sasuke that's it because the baby can't become strong on it's own. I need Sasuke just as much as Sasuke needs this baby. It's a circle." Sakura fell to her knees and cried.
"Ms. Haruno, take a seat for a while." I helped Sakura back to her seat. She gave her heart out on that question. If that doesn't change their opinion, nothing will. "Third witness, Nara Shikamaru." They called.
"Sasuke is an Uchiha, my friend I guess. I don't agree with how he treated Sakura in the beginning but him coming back to face his mistakes shows that he's not evil. He's good, I guess. It's too troublesome to go beyond that. I think that he should be forgiven of his crimes because it's not like he did anything directly, he was under the influence of the curse mark and now he's ready to make a stand for his mistakes." Shikamaru said. Then he came back and sat down.
"Fourth witness, Hatake Kakashi."
"As both the subject and victim's sensei; what do you have to say about them?"
"Sakura was really willing to do anything to protect Sasuke. She really does love him and always has. Sasuke was an avenger and didn't want her or anyone to get close to him so he wouldn't have to hurt them when he knew he'd have to leave to kill his brother eventually. Except he couldn't help the fact that Sakura had already fallen in love with him. On his last night that is why he told her thank you, for he was thanking her for always being there for him and he knew that if he came back… she's still be there waiting for him. He knew that his second goal, to revive his clan was secured with the person who he loved and loved him when he would come back."
"So, what would your ruling on this be?"
"I don't know. Sasuke should have taken care of this trial before he got Sakura pregnant and between these two events married her securing the whole thing but he didn't and thus he didn't everything backward. Now, for his mistakes I don't believe Sakura or the child should have to suffer the consequences. I also believe that he should have to take care of his mistakes, the child that Sakura will give birth to in 4 months."
"Thank you, next is… Uzumaki Naruto. Their teammate. Your thoughts on the subject."
"I think Sasuke is Dobe Baka."
"Why?" They asked trying to keep this court civil.
"Sasuke goes and leaves Sakura who he obviously loves and she of course loves him and by leaving hurts her extremely. Then he goes and comes back, gets her pregnant and then leaves for 4 months!" Naruto yelled.
"Order in the court!" He yelled.
"Sorry but it angers me to have to deal with this. I think Sasuke should have to do something because of being a traitor but not being kilt because he should have to take care of the child which is the result of him getting the one person he loves and that loves him pregnant. He's a Dobe Baka! He's the last Uchiha so we can't downright kill him because he has a child and he should have to take care of the child and the women he loves who he got pregnant." Everyone was now confused on how they felt toward Sasuke.
"Now the last statement from Haruno Sakura." Sakura stepped forward. "If this was in your control what would you do?" They asked.
"I just want to have this child, marry Sasuke and have it all over with. Is that too much to ask? I don't want to be killed, and I don't want an innocent child to be killed either. And I especially don't want Sasuke to die because I love him and I'd sacrifice my life for him leaving him with this kid then have him die."
They nodded now that she was done. "Now Sasuke's statement for us." Sasuke was brought out held by two ANBU and he was put in front of everyone. "What do you have to say for yourself?"
"I don't have much to say since I'm not sure what's going to happen next. I just want to say sorry to Sakura for leaving her but I had to because I couldn't revive the clan if my brother was alive because he'd just kill me and the child and that would be the end for the clan since he of course couldn't restart the clan because we'd all be in danger. Sakura, I'm sorry that I got you pregnant. Everyone's right I should have just ended the clan by killing myself instead of hurting you after I killed my brother but somehow I figured it would be better if I entrusted the care of the child to you because of how caring you've been to everyone you've ever met. I don't care about the outcome because I know I'm guilt. I practically rapped Sakura whom I love and respect a lot. However, I disrespected her and got her pregnant. I also did leave no chance denying that. It's not up to me though is it? I don't know what I want. I just want at least Sakura to be all right and if possible her child since she treasures it dearly. I want her happy." Sakura ran over to Sasuke and hugged him.
"I'm sorry." She said falling to her knees and crying. He looked down at her, unable to move.
"Don't be sorry, it's my fault, silly. I got you pregnant and brought all this upon myself. I'm sorry Sakura. I do love you and I didn't mean to hurt you. Take care of yourself, okay?" She was still crying and crying further. It was the hardest thing in the world to watch, it tore me to see Sakura, my best friend like this.
¤ (8 Months Later) ¤
I walked over to Sakura's new house happily while holding Hilo, in my arms. Shikamaru followed close behind as I walked quickly over there. Today was Christmas and everyone was meeting at Sakura's new house. I was glad that everything worked out in the end. I knocked on the door. Sakura holding her child, Hotaru.
"Ino, great to see you!" Sakura said hugging me gently as I hugged her gently back.
"This place is amazing." I said.
"I know it is." She said looking around as if she just showed up here herself.
"How is she?" I asked.
"Fine, tired and tiny." I nodded understanding.
"What you up to?" I asked.
"Nothing much, it's lonely around here without everyone." She said trying to smile.
"It's alright, soon Sakura, soon." I reminded her.
We sat down at the kitchen counter and we talked while taking care of our little ones. "4 more months huh?" I said.
"Yeah, the ANBU said that if we all promise to watch him that he might be able to come to dinner for a while. I still can't believe that this is the first time I'll be able to see him in 8 months, so unfair."
"It's only a year that he's going to be in jail. Then you'll have him all to yourself."
Sakura nodded. "I'm glad that the people were quite sympathetic of me." She said smiling at her child.
"Yeah, I was worried how idiotically the announced it." Sakura nodded.
Soon Tenten, Neji, Hinata and Naruto all showed up together since they were finishing up their events with the Hyuuga Christmas before they could come here.
There was a knock at the door. Sakura handed me Hilo and ran to the door excitedly. She tackled Sasuke who had been escorted here by an ANBU onto the ground. "Great to see you too Sakura, mind if we go inside where the ground isn't quite as hard?" He asked. Sakura waited for Sasuke to be freed and listened to the orders and brought Sasuke inside.
"Sakura, where is everyone?" He asked. She led him into the living room. I stood up and handed her, her child who she handed to Sasuke. He had the gentlest happiest little smile on his face. I was glad that they forgave Sasuke and that Sasuke and she had gotten married 2 months after the trial before Sakura gave birth saving her life and the baby's.
"What's her name?" He asked looking to Sakura's face.
"Hotaru," Sakura said smiling. He nodded. It was a beautiful name, meaning firefly. It was the perfect name for a girl who was born into a Clan that excelled in Fire Jutsus.
"I like it." He said. He kissed her cheek and took her hand guiding her to one of her couches. "She's beautiful Sakura." He complimented further. She nodded and rested her head on his shoulder admiring how he tended to their child though he hadn't seen her before.
Naruto was poking Hinata's arm for some reason. "What in the world are you doing Naruto?" Sakura yelled across the room. Sasuke looked up with a bemused look on his face.
"Hinata took out 6 people today that were trying to attack her clan and I'm trying to figure out what makes her arms so special that she can do it." Sakura and I laughed and laughed. Neji and Sasuke just looked as if it was a normal event, which it was. Tenten was sighing and looked at the ground shaking her head feeling sorry for poor Hinata. Shikamaru had fallen asleep on Sakura's couch and wasn't paying attention to anything obviously.
Christmas was great for anyone, and everyone here but it was especially great for Sasuke and Sakura who were finally together. We were sitting at the dinning room table when I burst out into laughter and collapsed to the ground.
"What's up with her?" Sasuke asked.
"Ino, what's that funny?" Naruto asked.
"Shikamaru was right after all." I said.
"He's a genius, of course he'd be right Ino." Neji said.
"No but this was so off I thought for sure he'd be wrong."
"About what?" Sakura asked.
"He said some people are too lazy to love because it's too troublesome in their life to care and I could never find a case of anyone else matching that example but I did." I said.
"Who?" Sakura asked.
I pointed to Sasuke who was confused and surprised. He was too lazy to love Sakura because it was too troublesome to worry about her when he left so that he would have a chance to love her. Shikamaru was right." I continued laughing. Then Shikamaru walked in the room and picked me up setting me in the chair.
"I'm alright right; get it through your head. Let's eat I'm hungry and It's too troublesome to explain my statements any further." I nodded and we all continued to eat and enjoy the wonderful meal Sakura and I had worked together to make. He was always too lazy to Love and for him, it was too troublesome to care any further than it was required to.
The End.
A/N: Well that's the end, I was planning on making it a one shot but I didn't turn out that way so have a good time, review and keep reading because it's good for your eyes. Bye, Girl of Light Writter: Aniecä.