Disclaimer: Naruto ain't mines, but still my nice story

Author/Editor's notes: Okay so forgive me okay? i was flooded this week, so i didn't really have time to think of a great chapter. BUT i do have a nice one to follow this one. Be sure to check in next sunday!

Chapter 12: The Night Before the Storm

Tenten's party was ruined and the fight had last the entire night. The group broke off in the fork in the road. Shikamaru walked Ino home. When they arrived in front of her house the flowers suddenly began to blossom. "What the?" Shikamaru spoke. Ino watched the flowers open, then her vision began to fade. She stumbled backwards, "What's going on Shika… I don't…feel so …" Ino collapsed on to the ground.

Flashback

She was Sakura, she was a konuchi of Kohana. Her name brought strength to the hearts of many. She is Ino, she is a konuchi of Kohana. Her name brings courage to the hearts of many. They were, the two flowers of Kohana.

They have been through many battles together. Every time they were together Kohana never seems to lose. They're bond was so strong not even the sands of time can break them. Until that fateful day, when Sasuke came to choose, his strongest flower. The two friends, who had been together forever, came face to face in duel to win the heart of a boy who had sworn to protect the winner forever. The battle raged on, between the two blows after blows, skills after skills. They were equal in strength and in will. Both wanted to win and neither could afford to lose. Then came the breaking point between the two. Sasuke spoke up in the middle of the fight. "The one who truly wants my heart will surrender now, she has nothing else to prove." Sakura and Ino stared at each other. It was a test to see what they wanted more. To lose the chance of becoming Chunin and become the love of Sasuke, or to press on to becoming a Chunin. The two continue to stare at each other, both waiting for the other to make the first move. "If there is no will to fight, then I shall declare this battle a draw and neither participant will continue," the judge of the battle called out. "Wait…" Ino stopped the judge "I will…surrend…" Before she finished Sakura flew into her face. "Too bad Ino, you missed your chance at BOTH things." Sakura's attack sent Ino into the wall. "The winner of the match, is SAKURA," declared the judge as he held Sakura's hand up into the air. "Good job Sakura, I shall choose you, for you have the strength that Ino doesn't," Sasuke took Sakura hands and left the arena with her.

Shikamaru jump towards the rubble, he quickly cleared the debris by throwing some pieces that could easily outweight Chouji. "INO," Shikamaru shouted as he digged through the pieces. Finally he founded the unconscious girl and severly injured from the long fight. He smiled as he held her in his hands "you fought well Ino," he praised her.

"Hey Ino wake up?" Shikamaru gently tap her in the face. Ino opened her eyes, blinked a few times before finally sitting up, then looked at Shikamaru. "I've never thought losing could be so wonderful," Ino spoke out randomly. She had lost the chance to be Sasuke in the past but now she has Shikamaru. "Eh? What are you talking about Ino?" Shikamaru asked her again. "Oh nothing Shika… you will never figure it out even with your IQ." "Women, so troublesome" he muttered. "Hey Shika, mind if you came over tonight, I'm not feeling that well," Ino pleaded Shikamaru. "Uh…well this was strange, a girl asking a guy to come over at night? What is wrong with this girl?" Shikamaru thought. Eventually he gave into Ino's famous whining ability.

Later that night, Ino walked out on to her balcony and stared at the stars. "They postponed the Chunin exams ever since Sasuke took off with Sakura," Ino spoke to herself, "I want a rematch, but first I need to learn some more skills before I pulverize that Sakura." "Yo…Ino" Shikamaru yelled up, "open up the door." "You are a ninja Shikamaru, it doesn't take you much to reach my balcony right?" Ino joked. Shikamaru walked up against the wall until he reached Ino's balcony. "Hey Ino, I got something for your wounds," Shikamaru said as he searched his basket. He took out a bottle all wrapped up nicely with a ribbon on top. "Oh Shika… you didn't have to" Ino lied as she blushed. Shikamaru opened up the bottle to reveal … a bunch of chess pieces. "WAH? WHAT ARE THOSE?" Ino yelled at Shikamaru. "Umm.. chess pieces? I figured you can learn a thing or two from playing me. I was getting bored, I beat my father seventy-two times before I came over. It helps releases stress and really makes you think like what is your opponents next move? What would be the best counter attack? Master this game and you will have learned a new skill for a real fight." Shikamaru described in full detailed. Ino had a hard time figuring out what piece does what movement so she, taped faces on to each pieces. "Uh Ino, I get that you're trying to learn, but did you have to put your face on the Queen and mine on the King? Hmm Neji are the rooks and Tenten are the Knights. Hinata as bishops but why is Naruto a bunch of pawns. Isn't one annoying enough?" "Well let see, umm I don't like having my looks shared so I can only be the queen, you're too lazy to move so you're the king. Neji is crazy at taking out pretty much anything in his way, Tenten is always jumping head first into a fight. Hinata doesn't like to attack directly in front of her and Naruto is always annoying everyone with his shadow clones," Ino smiled happily.

After two hours, Shikamaru still haven't beaten Ino yet. "What the, Ino has no idea what kind of fortress she built with her pieces. What an amazing tactic, using pawns as decoys for her bishops to slowly pick off my army. Some how she manage to seal off all four sides with her rooks." Shikamaru bit his lips, "man this isn't going too well for me." "Hey Shika, let's finish this silly game some other time, how about we go out for a midnight training session? I got something i really wanna try out."