In memorial of Shikaku Nara, Inoichi Yamanaka, and Neji Hyuuga. R.I.P Chapters 613 and 614

Just as Shikamaru had expected, nearly five weeks had passed and Deidara's efforts in aiding to prepare the valley for their scheme were no more than scanty at best. In the end he had only helped out twice for simply a few hours, one of which he spent simply memorizing where the bombs had been planted.

This left nearly all the work to Shikamaru and his best comrade Choji of whom, even now, had left him quite surprised as to how easily he had handled the truth about the fraternal parentage of Ino's baby.

The two of them had never spoke about it as it, oddly enough, was a rather uncomfortable conversation that neither of them really wished to discuss in depth, but what Shikamaru had been told was that during his unconsciousness, after having the tables turned on him and nearly being killed by Itachi and Deidara the night they appeared in Ino's room, Ino had called Choji asking for help getting Shikamaru to the hospital and swore him to her secret then. Choji admitted it had dumbfounded him speechless but never once did he feel right to judge her for anything other than not telling him sooner. Being the kind of guy he was, Shikamaru did not question this as he did not have any reason to since he knew Choji better than anyone and didn't have to think hard to understand him.

"So... just five more days before all of this goes down." Choji mused as he and Shikamaru stood at the entrance to the valley, admiring their work.

"Yeah..." Shikamaru grunted back, trying to calm both his nerves and fears. "Everything's set. Let's return to the village and rest, we'll need the energy for the two day journey back and..." He stopped his sentence there, knowing Choji was already thinking the same.

"Let's pray that Deidara does not betray us and that we succeed...after all, it's not like we can afford to lose, right?" Choji eyed his friend with serious eyes and a slight smirk painted upon his lips. Shikamaru returned his glance and gave a lazy grin. "Right."

Meanwhile, as Shikamaru and Choji made their way back to their own village, they would have been anxious to learn that they were not the only ones making their way to Konohagakure. Unbeknown to each other, both Deidara and Itachi were simultaneously on a journey that they both knew would affect their lives for the remainder of their days.

It was nightfall by the time the four males reached the leaf and their paths changed. Shikamaru and Choji ended their journey at his home where they were greeted by a rather dumbfounding sight when they entered the courtyard.

There before them sat Ino, larger than life and appearing as if she were ready to pop, and a jolly Deidara laughing and chatting around what appeared to be a chaotic buffet of snack and street foods ranging from takuyaki and edamame to candy and botamochi sprawled in disarray around them.

Eyeing them Choji muttered to Shikamaru "We died in the valley didn't we? We tripped a bomb and blew up and now were in an alternate reality. There's no other explanation." Scanning the area again to make sure his eyes were not mistaken Shikamaru answered "I kind of wish you were right." The pair then stepped forward and, hearing the door close behind them, Ino and Deidara turned around and gave the two an energetic greeting. "Hello!" Ino chirped, waving a piece of chocolate at them. "Yo hm!" Deidara grunted, his mouth still full of junk food.

Choji could do nothing but stare at the blonde duo as they enjoyed their feast. Shikamaru on the other hand, allowed a rather humorous thought enter his mind. 'In another time or universe, I bet the two of them would be best friends.' He pondered on that for a moment, imagining Ino out dancing and having herself a wicked time until someone ticked her off, with an extremely metro sexual Deidara by her side taunting and adding fuel to the fire. He shivered to the thought. 'God help than universe.'

Walking over to them, Shikamaru examined the buffet the two were enjoying with a raised eyebrow before grabbing Deidara by the cheek, pulling him to the side, and in a loud whisper yelled, "What exactly are you doing here?"

His teeth exposed and cheek stretched wide, Deidara grumbled, "What the heck does it look like hm? I'm having a makeshift lunch with a pretty lady yeah!"

Shikamaru rolled his eyes. "Not that you moron, why are you here, in the village?"

Just as Deidara was about to respond, Ino cut in. "Leave him alone Shikamaru. He's just being nice to me, seeing as the two of you are gone all the time, I appreciate the company."

Sitting down and grinning as he dug into he junk food, Choji muffled, "It can't be helped Ino, you know we have missions to do. Besides, we come see you every day that were not busy."

Ino scoffed. "Like that makes me feel any better."

Placing the palm of his hand on his face Shikamaru groaned. "I'm sorry to interrupt your dinner with criminal, but I couldn't help but noticing just that, there's a criminal in my house!" He said dully, growing ever more sarcastic near the end of his sentence.

Opening another chocolate bar, Ino sighed. "Well forgive me for being four weeks to my due date, lonely, and bored.

Shikamaru just groaned again, having no response to give the beach ball sized blonde.

"Well, if ya can't beat em, join em." Choji joked, nudging Shikamaru in the arm as he devoured a mouthful of takuyaki.

Staring at his friend with a bored expression Shikamaru replied, "I would, except for the fact that I don't want to be the one to explain to the Hokage why there is an S-ranked criminal in the hospital after my mother came home and nearly beat him to death with a frying pan."

Deidara stopped eating at that statement, his jaw hanging open like a broken clasp.

"Stop worrying Shikamaru, your mom went to the market with a grocery list as long as my leg and your father is out on a mission. Trust me; there is plenty of time to get Deidei out of the lion's den." Ino said as she licked her fingers clean of the chocolate smudges.

Shikamaru and Deidara just eyed her with questionable faces, both thinking the same thing. 'Deidei?'

Shrugging it off, Shikamaru just decided to adopt a temporary laissez-fair attitude towards this unwanted dinner guest until after Ino had gone to bed. Then, the finalization of the plan would begin.

~HornyWolf (I'm Back!)

*Takuyaki- a ball-shaped snack made of wheat batter and filled with minced octopus, tempura scraps, pickled ginger, and green onion, brushed with takoyaki sauce or soy sauce then sprinkled with green laver and shavings of dried bonito (fish). ITS FREAKEN DELISOUS!

*Botamochi- sweet made with sweet rice and sweet red bean paste. (IT'S ACTUALLY BETTER THAN MOST DOUGHNUTS AND COOKIES!)