A/N: Woah...Didn't expect that many reviews. :p So anyway, for Kinumi, and any other Naruto Forums frequenters, I am the same Sakura Kaijuu. I love using that sn, cuz no one ever thinks of it. Enjoy chapter two!

-- Sakura Kaijuu

P.S. -- Oh yeah. I forgot to say this earlier, but I've made the gang 16- 17 years old. Just for future reference!

-- SK

P.P.S. -- Oh yeah again...I've taken certain liberties with the storyline. Also, there will be spoilers about later manga chapters. If you're not reading the scanlations available on Naruto Fan, then you probably don't even know who Shikamaru is...Whatever. But anyway, I'm saying that in the chase after Sasuke, Chouji and Neji died. Naruto, Shikamaru, and Kiba are all still alive. Oh, and Akamaru. Can't forget him!!

-- SK

P.P.P.S. -- Woah, woah, woah...I think that I messed up a bit in my post post script. What I meant to say was that Chouji and Neji died. I don't have Sasuke as dead. What I meant was "...in the chase after Sasuke (pause), Chouji and Neji died." Sorry that I didn't clarify that...Now I feel bad...

-- SK

*~*

Chapter Two

As Shikamaru stood in the doorway of the Yamanaka Flower Shop, he sighed. 'Women are so troublesome...' he thought. Naruto poked him in the back, "Yeah, yeah...Hey Ino!"

Ino, who was busy arranging some flowers, looked up, "Hmm? Oh! Hi Shikamaru!" Then she notice Naruto lurking behind him, "Hi Naruto..."

Shikamaru cleared his throat. Ino looked back at him, "Sorry. What is it Shikamaru?"

"I have a favor to ask. For Naruto." Shikamaru glanced at the blond boy next to him.

Ino's brow furrowed, "Why would I help Naruto? Give me one good reason why."

Shikamaru nudged Naruto. He jumped and blushed slightly. Without meeting Ino's glare, he mumbled, "Because I want you to help me get Sakura..."

Immediately Ino's eyes brightened. "Really? Why, I'd be glad to help you then! If it gets Sakura away from Sasuke, it's fine by me!!"

"Really?" Naruto brightened up. "You'll actually help me get Sakura-chan?"

"Yes...But not because I like you. Only for Sasuke's sake," Ino continued with the flowers she was working with.

"Well, I'll be going then," Shikamaru stuck his hands in his pockets and turned to leave.

"Not so fast, mister!" Ino shouted. She vaulted the counter and ran in front of Shikamaru. "You are going to help with this plan!"

He sighed. "Why, Ino?"

She glared at him, "Because I said so."

Shikamaru knew better than to argue with that look. It was always too much trouble to argue with people like his mother or Ino. He sighed again and glanced at Naruto, who was looking back and forth between them. "Fine. I'll help. What do you want me to do?"

Ino grinned. "I want YOU to go and find out where Sakura is, and drag her over to the flower shop. I still have another 2 hours to work here, and I need Sakura to get her butt over here pronto."

"What about me?" Naruto pointed at himself. "Where should I go?"

"You should go home. I need you to be out of the way for as long as possible. At least for the next couple of days."

"Um...But I'm on Sakura-chan's team. How does that work at all?"

"It doesn't. But hey, trying is trying," Ino replied, shrugging her shoulders. "Just keep away from Sakura outside of team missions, okay?"

"All right..." Naruto looked a little put out.

"Shikamaru! What are you still doing here?! I sent you on a mission! Now go!" Ino barked, pushing Shikamaru and Naruto out the door.

*~*

Naruto was sulking beside Shikamaru. "Oi...Naruto. What's wrong with you?"

Naruto looked over at Shikamaru mournfully, "I like hanging around Sakura..."

Shikamaru rolled his eyes, "Naruto, you're on her team. You'll see her again tomorrow."

"No I won't...Kakashi-sensei gave us the day off..." Naruto sighed. "So if I do what Ino says, I won't get to see Sakura-chan until Monday."

"Sorry. Deal with it." Shikamaru stopped at an intersection. "I go this way. Seeya later, Naruto."

"Yeah..." Naruto wandered off towards his own home, wondering why he wound up with the most unlucky jobs...

*~*

Shikamaru sighed, 'How do I always get into these situations? It's always so troublesome...'

He came to Sakura's front door and knocked. As he was waiting he looked up at the clouds. When the doorknob turned, he lowered his head. "Good afternoon Mrs. Haruno. Is Sakura here?"

Mrs. Haruno looked at this 16-year-old boy in her doorway asking for her daughter. "Yes. Let me call her."

Shikamaru stood with his hands in his pockets and let his thoughts wander. "Shikamaru? What are you doing here?" Sakura brought him back to reality.

"Oh. Ino sent me on a mission to get you. I don't know why. She couldn't come because she's still working."

"Um...Okay..." Sakura looked surprised. "Wait a second while I get my shoes." She turned wondering what on Earth Ino wanted...

*~*

Naruto sat in his apartment pouting. He wouldn't have called it that, but that's what it was. "Why does Shikamaru get to see Sakura and I don't?"

He punched his Kakashi doll and flopped down on his bed. He glanced at the calendar and realized that today was the day...Suddenly he sneezed.

*~*

"NARUTO?!" Sakura screeched. "What are you talking about?!"

"I want to know," Ino said, leaning on the counter, "what you think of Naruto."

"Why?" Sakura was confused. Shikamaru stood in the door, wondering why he was still there. All he wanted to do was go lay in his field. Away from Ino. Away from Sakura. Away from women.

Sakura and Ino were still talking about what Sakura thought of Naruto. He sighed. He turned to leave, but ran smack into Hinata. "Oh! Sorry, Hinata! I wasn't looking."

The dark haired girl didn't meet Shikamaru's eyes, and stammered, "O- Oh...It's okay, Shikamaru...um...wh-what are you doing? H-here I mean..."

"Nothing really..." Shikamaru turned his head and scratched it. "Ino's making me stay..."

Hinata looked around him to see Sakura and Ino arguing over something. "Oh...um...well...i-is she busy?"

"Nah. If you're a customer, she has to serve you. It's her job. She'll get in trouble otherwise," he grinned.

Hinata smiled weakly and went into the Yamanaka Flower Shop. Ino immediately pushed Sakura aside. "Hey Hinata! What can I do for you?"

"Um...I wanted to get some flowers..." she mumbled, poking her fingers together.

"Oooo...For who?"

"Um...well...i-it's Naruto-kun's birthday soon...and um...I thought I could get him some flowers..."

Ino and Shikamaru looked shocked. Someone who liked Naruto? Without being convinced? They looked at each other quickly, and when Ino looked back at Hinata, she grinned. "So what kind of flowers?"

"I-I don't know. Could you please help me?"

Shikamaru started to walk back into the shop. "Hinata...Do you really think Naruto would like flowers?"

"Do you think it's a bad idea?" Hinata looked worried.

Ino glared at him, "Shikamaru! That's so mean!"

Shikamaru rolled his eyes. "I'm sorry, Hinata. I'm sure that your idea will come off great." Under is breath he mumbled, "God...this is so troublesome."

Then he noticed how Sakura was looking at Hinata. There was no way...no possible way...but it was true. Sakura was looking at Hinata with a twinge of jealousy in her eyes.

Finally, Ino and Hinata decided what kind of flowers would be best, and what could compliment it, and when the best time to pick them up would be. Hinata looked back up at Ino, "Also, Ino, could I have some flowers for Neji-ni-san?"

Ino jumped a little, "Of course. Pick any flower you like. You can have it for free."

"B-but Ino...Won't your parents be mad?"

"I dunno. These are flowers for mourning. Just pick something," Ino tried to smile, but Sakura, Shikamaru and Hinata knew she wasn't really happy.

After Hinata picked, she said good bye and turned to leave the store. "Thank you, Ino-chan." She smiled a little.

"Any time Hinata! Come by next week for Naruto's flowers, okay?" Ino waved as Hinata left. She turned back to Sakura, "Sakura, I need to go now! Come by tomorrow, okay?"

"Um...All right..." Sakura shook her head and left. "Seeya later Shikamaru..."

"Yeah," Shikamaru waited until Sakura was well away from the store before approaching the counter again. "Ino. What are you doing?"

"Getting Sakura to like Naruto," she replied matter-of-factly.

Shikamaru sighed, "I promised to visit Chouji today. I have to leave."

Ino took off her apron, looked away and rubbed her eyes, "Can I go with you?"

He couldn't say no. It was his fault. It wouldn't be fair to make Ino go alone...and there was something in him that said having Ino along wouldn't be so troublesome...His voice cracked as he replied, "Yeah. Er, yeah Ino. You can come."

*~*

A/N: Sooo...How was chapter two? I think it's a little more OOC than chapter one. Next chapter Ino and Shikamaru visit Chouji...In the graveyard...o0o0o0o0o0o...Kawy...Actually it might be at the memorial stone. Cuz they WOULD be heroes. (Neji and Chouji, I mean)