AN: I have received many reviews about Shikamaru's actions. I know Shikamaru is very ooc. I fought a lot about whether to let all that in or to rewrite it. I will say this: Shikamaru has been stressing for over a week about Temari's wellbeing. He truly believed that she would be safe with Ino instead of him. When he found out she was hurt despite everything he tried to do he snapped. He was angry Ino didn't protect Temari and more angry at himself for not being there. The thing he thought would bring most safety turned out to be the most dangerous thing and he couldn't bear that. As for Kankuro he just brought up all those feelings in Shikamaru again especially if he was with her she wouldn't be that badly injured.

I have decided to rewrite the chapter and integrate all this information. I hope you understand.


As the sun started to peak over the horizon, a blonde haired girl slept in a hospital bed. Her hair cascaded around her head, down from its normal style. A heart monitor beeped steadily as she took steady breaths. As the sun rose high enough to start to lighten the room, the boy stirred. His body was contorted abnormally in a chair by the bed, presumably from his efforts to get comfortable. His eyes fluttered open and he groaned rubbing his neck. He glanced at the girl and a sharp intake of breath was heard. The sun was glinting off her blonde hair giving her an almost halo-like appearance.

"Please wake up," he murmured holding her hand.

"Five more minutes," she grumbled.

His head snapped up.

"Ino!"

"What?" she snapped opening her eyes. "Chouji? Wh-what's going on?"

"You're in the hospital Ino. Do you remember what happened?"

She gasped trying to get up. "Temari! Where is she?"

She screamed weakly as she put weight on her broken arm.

"Ino calm down! Temari's… well she's in the hospital," said Chouji quickly trying to calm her down.

"Is she going to be ok?"

Chouji hesitated.

"We don't know. She lost a lot of blood. She's in a coma now."

Ino winced. "Does Shikamaru know?"

"No," said Chouji shaking his head.

"Why didn't you tell him?"

Chouji blushed. "Um… w-well I was m-more worried about you."

Ino blushed.

"R-really?"

"Well yeah. Hokage-sama said if Kankuro hadn't shown up-"

"Kankuro! That explains the clacking noises. It was his puppets." (AN: I thought I had dropped enough hints for you guys to get that Kankuro saved them at the end of the last chapter… from the reviews I got I don't think I dropped enough)

Suddenly Ino frowned.

"Shikamaru's gonna kill me." She threw off the covers.

"What are you doing?" exclaimed Chouji standing up.

"Going to get Shikamaru," she replied as she maneuvered herself to the edge of the bed.

"You can't! You just got back last night and you're still injured-"

"I am doing this with or without you," snapped Ino. "You stayed with me, imagine how Shikamaru would feel if no one told him Temari was in the hospital. So are you going to help me?"

Chouji sighed. "Do I have any choice?"


Chouji and Ino, covered in bandages and her arm in a sling, eventually reached Shikamaru's house. Their trip was interrupted every now and then by Ino having to stop and lean on Chouji to catch her breath. This was followed by heavy blushing by them both and them stealing glances at each other.

"Shikamaru!" Ino called out.

Yoshino opened the door. "Shikamaru is… Oh Ino!"

"Yoshino-san please tell me Shikamaru is here."

"He's up in his room."

"Can we go up?" asked Chouji.

"Oh you don't need to do that. You rest Ino and I'll just get him to come down." She turned and yelled up the steps. "Shikamaru!"

"Not now Mom!"

Yoshino smiled sweetly to Ino and Chouji.

"He'll be right down," she said before stomping up the stairs. Ino and Chouji could hear the sounds of a fight upstairs before Shikamaru trudged down the stairs muttering to himself. He looked up and saw Ino.

Oh god no.

He was at the door in a second.

"Where's Temari?"

"Ino's fine Shikamaru thanks for asking," replied Chouji sarcastically, angry he could just ignore Ino's injuries.

"Chouji," whispered Ino, putting a hand on his arm.

"Temari was followed here by missing-nin who wanted to assassinate her," explained Ino.

"Where. Is. She?" repeated Shikamaru, seemingly towering over her.

"We went to go fight them. There was three of them. Temari saved my life but… she's in a coma," replied Ino finishing the story.

"What?!?!" yelled Shikamaru.

No!! This wasn't supposed to happen! I stayed away. She shouldn't have been hurt!! Ino was supposed to keep her safe. INO!!!

He grabbed Ino and started shaking her. "I trusted you! How could you let this happen?!" Ino cried out in pain and Chouji punched him in the face.

"Dude, what the hell is your problem?! Ino's badly hurt! If Kankuro hadn't shown up both she and Temari could have died!"

He flinched.

I almost let her be killed.

"Temari," whispered Shikamaru before dashing off to the hospital.

"Why that-"

"Chouji stop," pleaded Ino holding her injured arm.

"Ino!" he cried wrapping her in a loose hug. "Are you ok?"

Ino grimaced than nodded. "Don't blame him Chouji. I don't think he knows what he's doing. He's very angry and upset."

"That's no excuse!"

"But it is my fault. If I hadn't let my guard down-"

Chouji took a deep breath and pressed his lips to hers effectively cutting her off. When they broke apart Ino smiled at him.

He blushed. "You were being silly. It's not your fault. Kankuro told me it was a miracle you had held them off that long. You're just not suited for a close range fight and you were at a disadvantage."

"Thanks Chouji." She winced. "Let's go back to the hospital."

Chouji laughed. "I warned you," he said before they headed back to the hospital.


Shikamaru burst into the hospital. He grabbed a passing nurse.

"Where is Temari?"

She glared at him. He quickly realized he had grabbed Sakura and released her.

"Where is she?" he asked again.

"That's a little better," she sighed and pointed down a hallway. "Second door on the left."

As he rushed down the hallway, he saw the door open and Kankuro stepped out. He caught sight of Shikamaru and his face twisted in anger. He raised a fist and punched Shikamaru in the face.

"That's starting to hurt," mumbled Shikamaru.

"What the hell do you think you're doing here?" growled Kankuro.

"Let me through."

"No! It's your fault she's like this!"

Shikamaru growled.

I know that dammit!!!

He quickly ran around Kankuro into the room. He stopped short.

Temari lay on the bed, hooked up to many machines. She was wrapped in bandages.

"Why weren't you with her?" raged Kankuro. "With your stupid shadows she wouldn't be here!"

Shut up. I can't take it!

"I-I wasn't her guide this time."

"Why?" demaned Kankuro.

"I was trying to keep her safe," he replied trying to convince himself as well.

"What, by shoving her off on your teammate? Bullshit. You were being lazy weren't you? I told her you were too lazy."

"I wasn't being lazy!" yelled Shikamaru getting into Kankuro's face. "Do you think I would do this on purpose?"

I was anything but lazy trying to protect her!!!

Kankuro sneered. "How do I know? You always complain about being with her!"

As their voices got louder, Temari's heart monitor began to speed up. Eventually they noticed.

"What's going on?" yelled Shikamaru.

"I don't know! I'm not a medic nin!"

"Will you stop yelling at me?!"

"You started it!" replied Kankuro as nurses started running into the room as they heard the fight but their attention quickly turned to Temari. Her heart rate was still speeding up.

"I started it? You punched me in the face!!"

Sakura rushed in and quickly assessed the situation.

"Both of you out now!"

"Why?" they shouted turning to her.

"We don't need to worry about you while we're trying to help Temari. Now out!!"

"Temari!" Shikamaru turned back to the bed. He could no longer see her, too many nurses were in the way.

"Out!!" yelled Sakura as she pushed both of them out the door.

Shikamaru stared at the door. He could hear the nurses yelling at each other when the beeping of the heart moniter stopped speeding up. His eyes widened.

He turned and bolted out of the hospital, the long tone of a flat line following him.


AN: I am back at college safe and sound. I hope this revision helps you understand Shikamaru's actions better. I like it better too. Thanks for reading.