Summary: Through absence, Uchiha Sasuke begins to grasp the true value of Haruno Sakura. Post-562, will deviate greatly from the manga. Drabble series.

Disclaimer: Naruto is (c) Masashi Kishimoto and Shueisha, Inc.

IN ABSENTIA

The Tormented Genius

Shikamaru was not one to boast, but he credited himself as being a moderately intelligent individual. Thus, he was quite perplexed as to how the women in his life - predominantly his mother, the Hokage, Ino, and Temari - could so easily influence him into cooperating with their troublesome machinations on a regular basis. He was supposed to be an accomplished tactician, but they consistently found ways to outmaneuver him. To be perfectly honest, it was altogether humiliating to be so frequently thwarted by the fairer sex.

His present circumstance was a prime example. Ino and he were lurking on a rooftop that was not-so-incidentally adjacent to the hospital and, more specifically, afforded them an unimpeded view into the assigned room of Uchiha Sasuke. It did not take a genius to realize that Ino was plotting and, whatever she had concocted, did not bode well.

"Do I have to give you another lecture on the impropriety of stalking, Ino?"

"As if," she flared. "I'm over tall, dark and brooding."

"Sheesh," Shikamaru grumbled. "Then what're we doing here?"

Ino sent him a fierce scowl. "That jerk, Ibiki, blamed me for delaying Billboard Brow's rescue. You don't seriously think I'm going to take his allegation lying down, do you?"

No, Ino was not the sort to put up with such criticism. She may be brash and narcissistic but, in addition, she was a proud shinobi of the Leaf and loyal to a fault. If she felt there was the slightest chance that she had factored into Konohagakure's inability to find Sakura, she would do her utmost to make amends. He simultaneously appreciated and abhorred this facet of her personality, as it was honorable though had a propensity to cause him undue hardship.

"I was informed that Sai visited our shop this afternoon, which is why we're here. He purchased a flower for someone on his squad. So, unless he's taken to wooing Naruto, the inference was that Sasuke had awakened."

"What do you intend to do about it?" Shikamaru stifled a groan for asking; he should not be encouraging his partner's shenanigans.

Hands positioned on her hips, Ino nodded toward the Uchiha's hospital room and haughtily remarked, "Tsunade-sama, Shizune-san and Team Kakashi are all in there, as you can see. They must be talking about Sakura, and I'm going to join them."

Shikamaru drawled, "I have a sinking suspicion that you didn't receive an invitation."

"Hmpf," she sniffed. "Nobody said I was uninvited either."

"That's called splitting hairs," he debunked.

"We aren't debating this, Shikamaru!"

"Okay," he placated. "Even if you can get in, what's the plan once you're there? What's the goal?"

Ino stayed mutinously silent.

"I see," Shikamaru gibed. "You don't have a plan."

"Not all of us are brainiacs like you," was her comeback. "We can't devise multiple strategies in mere seconds. Some of us are doers, preferring to react in the heat of the moment."

"You couldn't devise one strategy," he persisted in teasing.

Instead of witty repertoire, Ino threw him an alarming smile that resulted in a chill running up the spine. Shikamaru saw that her notice had reverted to the hospital room and its latest entrant - a messenger. Not just any messenger but, if memory served, one that was contracted by the Torture and Interrogation Force.

Effing spectacular.

Fate was a fickle mistress, electing to indulge Ino with the break that she had been awaiting. She had a mark and, as luck would have it, he was a minion of Morino Ibiki. Sweet, sweet revenge. There would be no stopping her now.

"Catch me," was his only warning as Ino performed the requisite gesture for her mind body switch technique.

Shikamaru did not waver, hurrying to fulfill the duty in which he had been trained since a genin. With no choice but to stand guard for the lax form in his embrace, the indolent male tipped his head skyward in order to watch the clouds roll past.

"What a drag."

TO BE CONTINUED