A/N: Sorry for the long wait again! Hope everyone has been keeping safe! Also I just want to say thank you to everyone who is still hanging onto this story. To everyone who has been marking this story as a favorite and a follow. My other stories as well. It never fails to make my day and it always warms my heart. It has pushed my lazy ass to keep writing. So thank you once again! :D Can you believe that this story started in 2016? It's been four freaking years!
"Listen, Chouji! I got a letter from Temari!" Ino's eyes sparkled as she skipped down the office aisle towards the large man seated at the corner desk.
Surprised, Chouji lifted his head from the papers that he was auditing and faced the excited blonde. A bubbling Ino was not a rare thing. But anything related to the princess of Suna was always a curiosity. "What does it say?" he inquired, his curiosity building. He had been awaiting news from Suna. But he had expected news from Shikamaru, not Temari. So this was quite unprecedented.
Ino grinned widely and proudly, holding the letter from Temari as if it was a prize. "Said she needs my help and will explain further once I am there."
"That's certainly rare of Temari to ask for help," Chouji reflected, rubbing his chin. "It must be something huge for her to ask for your assistance."
Ino slammed her hands on his desk, making Chouji jump. "I know, right?! I am so intrigued! And I'm so happy she asked me to go there! Ahhh!" She was clearly pumped.
The gentle ninja smiled. "You will be able to give support to their relationship. I envy that."
"Then why don't you come with me?!" Ino's eyes gleamed.
"But then our whole team will be gone.. I don't think Kakashi will allow it.."
"Bah! There's no urgent matter right now in Konoha as opposed to this! This is definitely urgent! Plus if I tell Kakashi that Temari is asking for my help, he would probably agree that you would come with me because it has to be something big! And what if something happens to me when I am traveling alone? Or when I am over there? Shikamaru would definitely be busy and his enemies are definitely Konoha's enemies as well. And I can just imagine that if they see me there, they might attack me, kami forbid. So you see I really really need you to be there also, teammate. What will I do if I-"
There was only so much the nice Chouji could take. He held up his hands in surrender. "All right, all right. I will go with you. After Kakashi gives his consent."
Ino shrieked in glee, jumping up and down. She was definitely down for adventure.
Chouji flinched good-naturedly but could not help but smile as well. He had been worried for his friend and his engagement. He truly hoped they were doing fine. If they were not, well, he will try to aid them as much as he can.
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After getting Kakashi's consent and after three days travel, they arrived at Suna in the covers of the night.
It was Temari herself who welcomed them in the dead of the night. She brought them down into descending winding stairs and into a dim hallway which lead to a lone small closed off room.
Before she reached the door, she turned abruptly back to them with a serious, almost dangerous, look on her face.
When Temari met them outside, she had only said, "Come with me." Ino and Chouji exchanged looks but followed nevertheless. They thought Temari probably just wanted to talk to them in private, especially if their mission was a secret.
But Ino was not to be deterred. So even when Temari turned on them with that look that could frighten kids and animals off, Ino blurted out, "What in the world is happening, Temari? Are you and Shikamaru okay?"
Temari's expression shifted from dangerous to downright deadly.
Ino and Chouji both held their breaths. When Temari still had not said anything after a good ten seconds, Ino reached out hesitantly towards her shoulder. "Temari?"
Shaking her head, Temari re-arranged her face into a calm gaze. "Sorry, I'm... just tired."
Chouji replied soothingly, "Take your time, Temari. We are here to help you."
"Yeah, Temari. It's okay if you'd rather postpone this to tomorrow if you're tired," Ino added.
"No," Temari said sharply. "This matter cannot wait."
Both Konoha ninjas quieted, waiting. They both noticed her slight trembling. Fear? No, that does not suit Temari at all. Fury? Definitely. But who was she furious at? Ino wondered.
In a harsh whisper, Temari started, "There was an incident a few nights ago. A female… broke into Shikamaru's room."
Both leaf ninjas' eyes widened. That was interesting.
"She.. created a ruckus. Anyway, Ino-"
"What kind of ruckus?" Ino interrupted, her curiosity getting the better of her.
Temari's face closed up.
Ino sensed it was something Temari did not want to talk about but dammit, this seemed juicy. "If we were to help you, don't you think we need to know?"
"It's not of consequence," Temari bit off.
"But-" Ino tried to say but Chouji held her shoulder and shook his head.
Temari stared at both of them warily before speaking, "Look, Ino, you'll find out anyway when you go and do your mind technique on this witch. She is imprisoned in that room."
Ino fixed her gaze onto that room. "So you want me to look into her mind and uncover what exactly?"
"If she was ordered by the Elder to create that ruckus."
Ino gaped. "That sounds like treason." Chouji slowly nodded in agreement. This was definitely an enormous issue. Beyond what they had expected.
"I am hoping it is. It would make our lives easier."
"Well then, you can count on me!" Ino grinned.
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Ino stared intensely at the scantily clad shackled witch. This was the female who broke into Shikamaru's room?
She had a feeling she already knew what she would see in this female's mind. Temari's animosity was quite telling.
As she approached, the woman lifted her head and narrowed her eyes. "Who the hell are you?"
"You don't need to know."
Ino lifted her hands to her forehead in her signature move. The woman glared and screamed, "You better stop whatever the hell you're doin-"
The irate witch slumped forward as she lost consciousness.
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When Ino came back to her own body, she let out a sigh of exasperation. She turned and sped out of the room.
Once outside, she asked Chouji to give her and Temari some time alone.
"So did you find out if the elder gave her orders?" Temari asked, her gaze steady. The sand ninja's face was like a blank canvas.
She's definitely keeping up her guard, Ino thought. Such a stubborn woman. She almost tsked aloud.
"You were right. She was involved," Ino confirmed, her unwavering eyes set on Temari's closed face.
"But you know that you can't use my testimony, right? Being Shikamaru's friend and all."
"I'm aware of that. But knowing that is at least something that will give us a bit of an advantage," Temari remarked.
"But how will you use it to your advantage?" Ino asked curiously.
"We'll work on it. Thanks, Ino. You and Chouji may rest. I'll bring you to your quarters," Temari replied, already stepping ahead to lead the way.
But Ino would not have it. She caught Temari's wrist. Temari paused, looked back and down to her captive wrist. She then lifted her face to crook an eyebrow at Ino.
"Sorry," the leaf ninja said, letting Temari's wrist go. She peered into Temari's face that gave nothing away. "Don't you want to talk?" she blurted out.
For a while, Temari did not say anything. Ino thought Temari was going to pretend that she didn't know what she was talking about.
"I don't think that's necessary," Temari said firmly but not unkindly.
Ino was not going to allow that. She was Ino, after all. Persistent to a fault. "It's not Shikamaru's fault. Surely you know that."
"Ino," Temari said with a tone of warning.
"No, I know you must be feeling awful. As a woman, I know what you must have felt when you saw that," Ino stated, impassioned.
Not a peep came out of the sand princess. Not even the rustle of her clothes sounded. Stillness became her.
"I just want to say, don't let your chaotic feelings ruin the relationship you've built on for so long. I know this might be presumptuous of me, even a little hypocritical perhaps, but what you guys got…." Her hands motioned towards Temari. "...cheesy as it may sound… it's worth fighting for. Also you know that Shikamaru came to Suna to fight for you."
When Temari finally spoke, she said in what started as a low calm voice, "Don't you think I know that? Don't you think I know I'm acting irrational? Do you think I like acting this way? Do you think I enjoy battling myself for the past few days like some lunatic?"
For once, Ino did not have a ready reply and she also noted the wavering tone at the end of that speech. She knew she was witnessing a side of Temari that was rarely allowed to be seen. It was, in a way, flattering. However, it was the wrong time to be feeling that.
In an almost resigned tone of voice, very unlike her, Temari uttered, "This is something I need to figure out on my own."
Ino found her voice and gently said, "The thing is you don't need to do it on your own."
Temari bore her gaze onto Ino, as if she was seeing her for the first time.
"We're Shikamaru's friends, making us your friends as well. I know you're not used to opening up but perhaps we can surprise you." Ino held her breath, knowing that Temari could easily refuse and even make fun of the offer. But she knew, maybe, this was how she could help Shikamaru during his grand fight. This would be her share for all the things he has done for her. For putting up with all her antics since they were kids. She knew, right here and now, it was crucial that she get through to Temari.
Nevertheless, she braced herself for possible scorn or rejection.
And Temari completely surprised her by replying, "Let's grab some drinks."
To which Ino said with a self-satisfied grin and complete and utter relief, "I thought you'd never ask!"