Authors Note: I'm very, very sorry for the long wait. I would have updated later but for some reason, Fanfiction wouldn't let me on to my account so I couldn't get on -.-

Sorry for the long wait. There are only two more chapters after this one. I was going to make it longer but, I decided not to. Please enjoy!

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Choza was hiding behind a wall and he signaled for Inoichi to stop when he saw two ninja standing right around the corner talking to each other. After five minutes, both ninja went the opposite way. Choza then slowly walked forward and stopped at the next corner.

This time, Choza turned around to face Inoichi. "Inoichi, do you think you can find out where Shikaku is?" Choza asked Inoichi turning back around to make sure there was no one else before he ran to the next corner. Choza signaled for Inoichi to follow.

"Yes, how do you want me too?" Inoichi whispered when he caught up with Choza.

"I want you to use your mind transfer jutsu to find Shikaku." Choza said looking around the corner for the third time and spotted a ninja by himself. "There's one ninja, now is your chance Inoichi."

Inoichi nodded walking forward and ran throw the hand signs muttering, "Mind Transfer Jutsu!" Inoichi then fell to the ground but Choza caught him before he hit the floor. Choza nodded for Inoichi to go and find Shikaku.

Ten minutes later, the same guard that Inoichi took over, came back looking happy. "Found him," the guard said before falling to the ground unconscious. "Follow me," Inoichi said leading Choza to a cell.

Inoichi then produced a key and unlocked the cell.

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Shikaku was barley conscious when two men walked into his cell. He figured that they were just some more guards wanting to torture more information out of him. So far, he had told no one anything. He had been quite except for the grunts of pain he would let out. The man with blonde hair came over and picked him up. Shikaku didn't mind as long as he wasn't on the hard floor anymore. Shikaku wasn't being jerked around that much and then realized that Choza and Inoichi were rescuing him.

Half way out of the machine, an alarm sounded. Inoichi, Choza, and, Shikaku then were gone in a swirl of wind and leaves. Outside the machine, Shikaku could still hear the alarm going off. Inoichi jumped up into the trees and headed back to Konoha while trying not to jerk Shikaku around.

During their journey, Shikaku was in and out of consciousness. He only caught some of there conversations. When they stopped for water, Shikaku tried to stand up but failed falling back to the ground unconscious.

Later that same day, Choza and Inoichi saw the gates of Konoha. They speed up there pace and headed to the Hokage tower.

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"We want to go help our fathers," Ino said trying to convince Tsunade to let them go help fight the machine.

"No."

"Please, they could use our help," Ino pleaded some more.

"No, all they will do is worry about there children. Now what do you th-" At that moment, Inoichi and Choza came through the door carrying a bloody and dieing Shikaku. "Shizune! We need to get to the hospital now!" Tsunade said and then looked at Ino, Choji, and Shikamaru. "Now you don't have to worry about a thing, now do you?"

Shikamaru saw his dad and disbelieved what he saw. "Dad, what did you get yourself into, you're so troublesome." Shikamaru then left the Hokage tower and went to find his mom.

Tsunade took Shikaku from Inoichi who had his blood all over him and went to the hospital.

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Shikamaru ran into his house yelling, "Mom!" He ran throughout the whole house and finally finding her asleep in bed. "Mom, Dad was hurt and is in the hospital."

"What?" Yoshino asked sitting up in bed.

"Dad was on a mission and was hurt. He's at the hospital right now."

"When did you find out?" Yoshino asked getting out of bed and getting dressed into different clothes.

"Just now. I was talking to Lady Hokage and Inoichi came in to the room carrying Dad. It looked like he was tortured almost." Shikamaru said looking around the room for anything of his dads that he could bring him when he was in the hospital.

"Okay, let's go to the hospital." Yoshino said leaving the house. "Why were you talking to the Hokage?"

"Ino and Choji wanted to go help Dad, Choza and Inoichi but Tsunade went let us. I didn't care though. Well, I mean I did but I knew she wouldn't let us. They were being so troublesome." Shikamaru said sighing. "Let's hurry." Shikamaru said jumping to a roof.

"I'm not a ninja," Yoshino sighed.

Shikamaru ran straight into the door and asked a nurse where his father was. They told him that he was in operating room four. Shikamaru then went to where the nurse told him that his father was. Shikamaru saw Inoichi and Choza sitting on a bench with Ino and Choji. "What happened?"

"We don't know." Inoichi said looking at the ground.

"What do you mean 'you don't know'?" Shikamaru said pacing back and forth.

"He was captured yesterday and we don't know what happened." Choza said looking at Shikamaru pace back and forth.

"Sit down Shika; you're going to wear yourself out." Ino said getting up and placing her hands on Shikamaru's shoulders.

Shikamaru looked into Inos eyes and did what he told her. Five minutes later, Yoshino came and sat next to Shikamaru.

After what seemed like an eternity to Shikamaru, Tsunade finally came out of the operation room and had a smile on her face. "He will live." Tsunade then sat down. "However, he won't be the ninja he once was." Tsunade then frowned.

"What do you mean?" Yoshino asked standing up.

"Some of his chakra networks were damaged so his control over chakra will be that of a Genin or Chunin level. He can still be a ninja but not the one he use to be." Shikamaru leaned his head against the wall and smiled. He's father is going to live.

"When can we see him?"

"Now if you like but he is still out cold. Shikaku won't wake for a couple more days." Shikamaru then stood up and walked over to his father. Everything was still in one piece but he was bandaged on both of his arms. "I'm guessing his chakra networks in his arms were damaged."

"Yes."

Yoshino went over and lay beside her injured husband.

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Three Days Later

Shikaku could hear people talking. He thought it was the ninja from the machine. He went completely still so they didn't know that he was awake but after several minutes of talking, he realized that it was his son and wife talking. After more listening, he discovered his best friends were here along with there children. Shikaku then opened hi eyes and was greeted by Inoichi saying. "Glad to have you back bud."

Shikaku just smiled and looked at his son. He had almost lost everything he had but luckily, he had Choza and Inoichi to thank.

"What happened?" Inoichi asked.

"I was captured and tortured. They wanted information on the council but I didn't say a word. They kept on torturing me but I said nothing."

"Great job Shikaku. Now, you have had damage in your arms, more specifically you chakra net works in your arms. You can control charka that of a Genin or Chunin level. Other then that, you had some major injuries. You had lost a lot of blood." Tsunade explained to Shikaku. "Shikaku...what exactly happened?" Tsunade asked curiously.

"I was attacked by some ninja and then I thought I had them beaten but they then captured me. I was taken to their leader and he had me locked up in a cell. After a couple of hours, I was taken out and bound to a chair by chains. They asked me questions and I wouldn't tell them anything. When I wouldn't answer, they whipped me or they would burn me. They also took kunai and stabbed me with them. After a while, the leader got bored, I guess. Then I was laying on the floor of my cell and I thought that Choza and Inoichi were the tortures again but they then rescued me and now I'm here. I don't really remember the journey back home." Shikaku explained to Tsunade and everyone else. Yoshino looked like she was on the verge of tears. She shouldn't see me like this. She shouldn't have heard my story. I'm sorry my love. "What did I do during that time?" Shikaku asked looking at his friends.

"Nothing really, you were in and out. Most of the time you were out though. There was on point when you tried to stand but you fell and were unconscious." Choza said looking at his best friend and comrade.

"We both carried you. I carried you the most though. Man, was I covered in your blood. Wasn't I Choza?" Inoichi joked.

"Yeah. You were funny at some parts though. You would talk." Choza joked.

Shikaku gave his friends a funny look. "Like what did I say?"

"Nothing we can repeat in front of your son or my daughter," Inoichi said laughing.

"What did he say Choza?" Yoshino asked with a stern look.

"I was just joking. He said 'No, No' most of the time and your name and Shikamaru's should come up too." Choza hurriedly said because he knew Yoshino when she gave anyone that look.

"Good." Yoshino then sat back down by her husband holding her hand.

"So, Lady Tsunade, when do I get outta here?" Shikaku asked.

"Tomorrow maybe," She responded.

"Sweet, you have anything going on tomorrow Shika?" Shikaku asked his son.

"Yeah, there's a wedding."

"A wedding? Who's?" Shikaku asked confused. The last time he was here, Shikamaru hadn't been dating at all.

"Naruto."

"Naruto? Who is he marrying?"

"Hinata."

"Hinata and Naruto are getting married. That's one thing I would never see happening."

"Why not Shikaku-san?" Ino asked.

"Oh, because Hinata is from a highly respected clan and you know what Naruto is don't you?" Shikaku said and then realized that he had said the wrong thing.

"What's Naruto?" Ino asked confused.

"Shikaku, you should be happy that I don't hurt you again." Tsunade muttered.

"You don't really know Ino?" Shikamaru asked in disbelief.

"No."

"He's the Kyuubi's container."

"The what?"

"The Nine-Tailed foxes container." Inoichi explained to his daughter. "You know how the Kyuubi attacked the village? Well, the Kyuubi was sealed inside of him and the Fourth Hokage died in the process. The Fourth Hokage was his father."

"Really, Daddy, do you know that Naruto is going to be the next Hokage?"

"No I didn't, when did this happen?"

"The day you got back. You also know that I'm Hinata's brides maid? I'm in the wedding." Ino said happily.

"Really? That's nice Ino-chan." Inoichi said smiling. Hopefully, his daughter would be married soon.

Shikaku then yawned and Tsunade said, "Let Shikaku get his rest. Everyone out." Tsunade said leaving the room.

"Good night honey, I'll see you tomorrow." Yoshino said leaning down and kissing her husband. "I'm glad that you have such good friends."

"Me too, good night," Shikaku said returning the kiss.

"Night Dad, see you tomorrow." Shikamaru said leaving the room.