Hello! Sorry for the long break. I am adding a few bonus chapters to wrap up Shinki's story. I hope you like it :)
After saying goodbye to Chocho, Shinki left the Leaf Village with a heavy heart. He would have preferred to stay and help Chocho with her treatment, but he had to go back to the Sand Village as soon as possible. Although Chocho had forgiven him for his negligence, he could not forgive himself. He promised himself to become a better man and be worthy of Chocho's affection. Although he was far away from her, he wanted to show his support by sending flowers every day she stayed at the hospital. Chocho wrote him a letter to thank him for such a kind gesture, and since then, they became penpals. Although their communication was very superficial, they usually talked about the weather and movie recommendations; he was happy to have stayed in touch with her.
Back in the Kazekage's headquarters, Shinki worked hard with his Kazekage studies and a demanding shinobi training. He wanted to refine his third eye Jutsu and other techniques to ensure he was ready to aid comrades in the middle of battle. Like any human being, Shinki would get tired from putting himself through such a demanding regime, but he kept going because he wanted to go to the Leaf Village to visit Chocho.
After two months of uninterrupted training, Shinki approached his father to ask for permission to travel to the Leaf Village for a few days but did not specify the reason. Not that Gaara was unaware of the reason, which made that conversation even harder for Gaara.
"Son, of course, you can take time off. It has not gone unnoticed how hard you have been working since you came back from your mission at the Leaf Village. However, before you plan your travels, may I ask you if you intend to visit Ms. Akimichi?"
"Yes, Father. You know that I have been concerned with her condition. In her letters, she said she is recovering, and she would be able to manipulate chakra very soon."
"I am glad to hear that she is recovering. Temari mentioned her prognosis was devastating, but Kabuto provided a lifesaving treatment." Gaara paused, trying to gain some courage to break the news to his beloved son. "Your aunt Temari also mentioned that Ms. Akimichi and the young shinobi that tames snakes are in a relationship."
Shinki's face could not hide his disappointment, even though he was not too surprised. He was mainly upset at himself for not taking a chance to pursue Chocho when he had the opportunity. He told Boruto and Shikadai that he was interested in her. He even told Mitsuki but never mentioned anything to Chocho. He felt even worse, remembering that he failed to rescue her in the mission where she got severely injured.
"Thank you for being accommodating, but I think it is best to cancel my trip for now. Karuri's birthday celebration is coming up, and I would like to help with the preparations. I will go to the Leaf Village another time."
And just like that it was almost time for Karuri's birthday. Tenten and Gaara had prepared a party for their daughter and invited their closest family and friends. They were expecting the Naras, the Lees, and Guy Sensei from the Leaf Village to stay with them for a couple of days.
Temari had mentioned to her son Shikadai in confidence that Shinki was a bit heartbroken after learning that Chocho had a boyfriend and asked him to be nice to his cousin. Shikadai felt for Shinki since he knew that his intentions with Chocho were sincere, so he planned to do something to cheer up his cousin a little while they were in the Sand Village. For that, he recruited Inojin's help.
"I can't believe you talk me into going to a little girl's birthday party in the Sand village on my days off," Inojin said with discontent at the train station waiting with the Naras.
"Common, Inojin. It will be fun. We should take him out for some drinks and help him relax. You might even meet some girls from the Sand."
Inojin did not dislike the idea of meeting girls from the Sand.
At the train station, a trio approached the Naras. It was Rock Lee, Metal and Guy Sensei.
Immediately, Shikadai talked to Metal. "Hey, man! You are cool with Shinki, right?"
"Yup. We train together when my father trains Lord Kazekage in taijutsu."
"Awesome. It is official. Tonight, after the Karuri's birthday party, it's guy's night out."
At the Kazekage's headquarters, after Karuri's party, Shikadai went to look for Shinki to invite him out for drinks. As the fine strategist that Shikadai was, he already had foreseen the possibility of Shinki declining the invitation, but he had a contingency plan in place. He sent Inojin to talk to Araya, Shinki's team member, to join them. If Araya joined them, Shinki could not decline.
"Hey, man. How is everything?" Shikadai asked his cousin.
"I can't help to think you are specifically asking about the situation with Chocho. I am fairly sure my father told aunt Temari."
"Well, there is no point denying it. Mom mentioned you were a bit down."
"You are right—no point denying it."
"That's life. Sometimes it does not go as we wish, but we must go on. Sometimes some drinks might help. How about if we go out tonight with the guys?"
"I appreciate the invitation, but I cannot dismiss my duties."
"Common man, it's just a few drinks. I am not asking you to go on a vacation. I am sure uncle Gaara will be cool with it."
Shinki was unconvinced, so Shikadai put his contingency plan in action, "Common, Araya will be disappointed. He was looking forward to it."
"That does not sound like Araya. He is not a fan of social situations." A skeptical Shinki replied.
"You are right, but he was game because he thought you'd come out."
Shinki knew that it was a lost battle. His father will make him go with the argument that even Araya was going.
In another wing of the Kazekage headquarters, Inojin took care of this part of the mission, talking Araya into going out with them.
"Man, you know better than anyone that Shinki feels down because the girl he likes is making out with someone else. We, as his friends, must cheer him up. If Shikadai were down like that, I'd do anything to help him. ANYTHING. In this case, we need to be his wingman so he can meet some new girls."
A confused Araya replied, "I don't think Shinki is interested in meeting girls. He is focused on his work."
Inojin grabbed Araya's shoulders and, with conviction, said, "Of course he is. That is why we have to help him meet girls because he is too busy with work."
"I am shy with girls or in general. I don't think I can be a good wingman."
"Don't worry, my man. Leave it to me. You and I might even meet some cute girls. And more importantly, let's have fun with friends. We deserve a good time."
Araya was not an expert in matters of the heart, but he realized that Shinki was sad, so he put his trust in Inojin with the hope of cheering Shinki up.
Shikadai and Inojin recombined to celebrate their victory.
"My cousin was not easy to crack, but he accepted to go out for ONE drink."
"Hahaha, he is so stiff. Araya is too, but he is down to go out. I think that the argument of meeting cute girls worked on him."
"Girls? I thought this was a quiet night to get ONE drink with the guys?" Shinki questioned when he unexpectedly entered the room.
Shikadai and Inojin were surprised by Shinki's sudden appearance, accompanied by Araya and Metal.
"I am happy to join you for ONE drink among friends, but if you are looking to meet girls, I am afraid I will have to stay back."
Inojin and Shikadai assumed that Shinki's posture against meeting girls was because he was still dealing with Chocho's new relationship, or he thought he was too good for regular girls that were not from fancy clans.
Inojin was about to tell him to get off his high horse, but Shinki continued. "Many girls from the Village give me attention because of my position or my father. I fear that some girls might be more interested in your titles than you guys as people. I feel uncomfortable putting all of you in such an awkward position."
Shinki's words made Inojin sympathized with him. Being the heir of the Yamanaka clan and a child of the legendary Ino-Shika-Cho gave him lots of attention, and sometimes it did not feel sincere.
"You are right, man. Let's make this outing more interesting by forgetting we are shinobi for five minutes. Let's go incognito." Inojin proposed with a smirk on his face.
He picked everyone's curiosity, including Shinki, so he explained, "Wear your civilian clothes a come back here in 30 minutes. We will be a group of friends from the Land of Tea on holiday."
As everyone was exiting the room to get ready, Inojin said one more thing, "Shinki, lose the face paint. Your incognito look would not work otherwise. And Araya, my man, lose the mask."
Araya was about to complain and back out of the outing, but Inojin got closer to him and whisper to him, "Don't even think about it. Shinki needs you there."
After the 30 minutes were up, the young shinobi met up again so Inojin could approve the incognito looks. Metal chose a nice casual look that flattered his muscles without being showy. However, he did not pass the inspections since he still had leg weights covered by leg warmers.
"Unacceptable!" Inojin said. "Metal, please remove the weights and the silly leg warmers."
With conviction, Metal responded, "I can only remove in a decisive battle defending something special to me."
"How about if you wear them under your pants." Shikadai suggested making Inojin's strict inspection go smoother.
The next one to be inspected was Shikadai. He was wearing his hair down and wore casual clothes. Inojin approved.
Then, it was Shinki. He looked very handsome without the face paint. His look was simple, but because of his disposition, he looked elegant and distinguished.
"Do you own anything that is not brown? It is not your uniform, but it looks like it."
"These are my most casual clothes. If they don't fit the criteria, I am afraid I will have to stay back."
"You are not going to get off the easily. Shikadai switch jackets with your cousin."
Shinki was not thrilled to wear someone else's clothes, but he knew this was a lost battle, and he was going to go out with the boys no matter what.
By the door, Araya was trying to avoid the inspection. Although he was not wearing his usual mask, he was covering his face with his long bangs.
"Araya, you did a great job with your outfit, but you look suspicious with your hair like that. Take this elastic and tight it back."
Showing his face was miles outside of his comfort zone, but Araya was a brave shinobi and, above all, a loyal friend. With all his inner strength, Araya uncovered his face and put his hair in a bun.
The other young shinobi were beyond amazed when they saw Araya's face. He was handsome with beautiful green eyes adorned with long, thick brown eyelashes (he looked like adult Eren Yaeger from Attach on Titans).
Inojin could not contain himself and said, "Wow! All this time, I thought you were ugly. Why do you cover your face? With looks like yours, no girl is going to look at us."
Araya didn't even know what to say. He just blushed.
After taking a few minutes to process Araya's good looks, the young shinobi left the Kazekage's headquarters in direction to a bar.