To start, thank you to all those who have offered to share the Narutard love in the form of manga/anime information. I've been spending the past few days watching important moments over on YouTube, along with consulting my own personal Naruto, Sasuke/Shikamaru, and Neji. I must say, Naruto is a writer's dream category—there are so many different characters, relationships, and events to write about. My head is spinning with the possibilities.

This next scene was originally supposed to be Part 3 of the series, but…well…the original Part 2 is a little harder to write than I originally thought because it focuses on two people who I've yet to see interact at all in the show. Personally, I think of it as another challenge. In the meantime, I'm stalling for time by switching around the order, doing a little bit of editing, and instead focusing more on the awesomeness that is Chouji. Yay Chouji!

As one of my favorite chapters of the series, I hope you all enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it.

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"The Scenario Series"
Part 2 of 10
by Tsubasa Hane

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Her mind was already gone by the time he finally found her, expression as distant as the clouds she stared at so absently. They were on the very same hill their lethargic teammate would normally be, and whether she realized it or not, she had assumed a nearly identical position he would. Both hands were tucked behind her head, with one knee bent. The other leg was propped up by a few blankets, heavy bandages wrapped tightly around her swollen ankle.

It was late in the morning, and already the warm sun smiled down upon her. But the aura he sensed coming from the girl felt anything but warm. If anything, it was nearly frigid with sadness. Not because of her ankle, he knew. She'd sprained it the previous day during their usual training. No, if anything, she's been thankful for the brief vacation. Such a temporary, minor setback was hardly something she would get frustrated. Something else was troubling his friend and teammate.

"Mind if I sit?"

She blinked rapidly a few times, turning her head towards him. The sound of her teammate's voice seemed to have snapped her our of her stupor, and only then did she realize he was there.

"Oh. Hey, Chouji," she greeted him warmly. "What are you doing here?"

He shrugged casually, for lack of a decent response.

Almost instinctively, she shifted her position a few inches to her right as an unspoken welcome to join her. One which he, in turn, wordlessly accepted. There had really been no need for such a motion, as the mountain hilltop was easily large enough for all of the former Rookie 9 and Team Gai to share comfortably. But it was the meaning behind it that mattered, and so he took his usual Indain-style sitting position without question before reaching behind for his knapsack.

The two of them remained in a comfortable silence for a good while. During that time, he managed to dig through his belongings enthusiastically until emerging with a bag of his favorite potato chips: barbecue-flavored, extra crispy. A gentle breeze carried the mouth-watering aroma to his nostrils as he broke the seal, and he reveled in the delicious scent. He was about to reach in for the very-imporant first chip—second only to the last chip—when he hesitated, and looked to his right.

The long blonde ponytail she always wore was strewn about the grass around her head, a few strands randomly blowing in the wind. Being on temporary hiatus, she had opted for casual civilian clothing that day as opposed to her usual kunoichi ensemble. The last time he recalled her wearing it was back during the chuunin exams years ago. He didn't mind either way, honestly; she was always pretty to him.

But that wasn't what caught his attention. Her face had once again twisted into a small frown, and the distant look in her eyes was so different from the normally cheerful sparkle he always knew them to hold. He stared at her for a moment, before glancing to the bag in his hands, then back at her.

"Hey, Ino?"

"Hmm?" Again, she lazily turned her head towards him.

"Would you like a chip?"

She stared at him blankly for a moment, as if not having registered what he had said. Her eyes traveled to the bag, and for a moment, he was certain she would decline. Offer up some lame excuse about having to keep up with her diet. Personally, he never understood why any girl would one to deprive herself of food just to attain a figure she already had.

Which was why, to his pleasant surprise, she shrugged her shoulders and reached into the bag. "Thanks, Chou."

He waited for her to have the first bite before speaking again. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"What do you mean?" she answered, looking away nervously. "Talk about what?"

"You know what." He stated, reaching in for a few bites of his own. "This mood of yours wouldn't have anything to do with Sakura-san, would it?"

For a moment, she looked like she was about to protest, but ultimately sighed in defeat and nodded. He grimaced. The young mednin had returned shortly after her most recently shambles. There hadn't been a scratch on her physically, as he remembered, though neither a coherent sentence passed through her lips, nor could her eyes make contact with anyone. She'd refused to speak to anyone aside from the Hokage, and almost immediately following, was granted a week away from her duties at the hospital, missions, and even training sessions.

Nobody could figure out what was wrong with her. But she did, he knew. Sakura never said a word to her since the incident, but somehow she had figured out exactly what had happened that night. She knew Sakura better than anyone, knew the look in the kunoichi's eyes. A look she hadn't possessed in years. One didn't grow up as childhood friends with someone without being able to tell such things.

"But that's not all," he stated. She lifted her head in surprise at his boldness. "You're worried about her, but there's also something else bothering you."

Getting over her initial reaction, she smiled sheepishly at him. She may have been able to read Sakura like no other, but it paled in comparison to how well he knew her.

"It's…kinda silly, really."

He shook his head, and in all seriousness, replied back, "If it's something that bothers you, then it's anything but silly."

With a weak laugh, she closed her eyes for a moment and tilted her head down. The hair that had come loose from her ponytail blew across her face. She hesitated from answering him for a moment, and he simply waited with patience until she was ready, understanding that it was something more important than she was willing to admit.

"I suppose it started shortly after Sakura-chan came back," she began softly. Her head remained lowered, and he almost had to struggle to hear her. "She was distraught, she was upset, and she was clearly shaken. But at the same time, as horrible as she feels…she's still able to hold herself together after something like that. She's become so much stronger over the years, both physically and emotionally."

"And that's what upsets you?" He raised an eyebrow.

"No!" She shook her head hastily. "No, that's not it. No exactly. I mean, I'm happy for her that she's grown up so much and all. I used to push her all the time when we were little so that she would. It's just…" The words died on her lips as she trailed off, leaving unspoken words hanging in the air.

A particularly strong gust of wind blew across them just as she lifted her head, and a few randomly strands of her blonde bang tickled his face. Instead of trying to push them out of the way, however, he put down in now nearly-empty bag of chips. Even a food connoisseur such as he knew some things were simply more important than enjoying a new bag of potato chips.

"It's not just Sakura-chan, though," she continued on, staring straight out in front of her. "TenTen-chan's one of the most skilled kunoichi in all of Konoha, not to mention how unbelievably mature she's grown to be. True, most anyone would seem mature compared to Lee-san and Gai-sensei—" he smirked at the comment, "—but she and Neji just seem years ahead of us all. And don't even get me started on how much Hinata-chan's grown since our days in the academy!"

"But they're not you, Ino," he pointed out gently.

"I know that," she groaned, leaning her head against his shoulder. "That's not what I mean. I just…"

"…feel left out?"

"More like left behind."

After a pause, he shifted his weight enough so that she was forced to sit up and look at him. A frown had appeared on his face, and this time it was he who stared straight ahead. She knew him well enough to know that it wasn't her he was frowning at, though; like their genius teammate, he too grew almost unnervingly solemn whenever in deep thought. A trait the boys picked up from one another over the years, she supposed.

"I would have to disagree," he stated.

She tilted her head to the side curiously, silently urging him to elaborate further.

"Do you remember the day we were assigned our genin teams?" He asked. "Your initial reactions to being placed on a team with Shikamaru and me?"

She nodded, and couldn't stop herself from wincing slightly. It wasn't one of her proudest memories: how childishly she had complained about not being on Sasuke's team…the distinct feeling of disappointment at who she had been "stuck" with…passing judgment before even giving the boys a chance…

"I won't lie, Ino. You acted like a selfish, spoiled brat who wasn't getting her way." He expression had yet to change, though the words he spoke held no signs of contempt or disgust behind them. "You and Sakura-san had such a rivalry going on at the time that you were both willing to sacrifice an important friendship that took years in the making, one very similar to that of Shikamaru and me…and for what? You dieted yourself to the point of near-starvation, despite being the thinnest girl I've ever known in my life…and for what?"

At that point, she looked away in shame. Hearing him list her faults in such a way only made her hate the way she had been even more. A hand quickly reached for her chin, however. Urging her to look at him. He had shifted positions again, turning his body to face her more directly. A very distinct blush colored both his cheeks, and he quickly released his hold on her the instant their eyes met.

"You say you feel left behind…but in some ways, I think you left the other girls behind. Our team is one the strongest anyone knows, not such much physically as internally, and you're a huge part of that." He darted his sight away from her shyly. "The little girl you still see yourself as…she's gone, Ino, replaced by a mature, wonderful woman. As beautiful on the inside as she is on the out."

"Chouji…" she breathed, eyes softening at his words.

He lifted his head, trying to hide the oncoming redness with a wide smile. "After all, the old Ino would probably never have been willing to just sit and talk with me like this, would she?"

Teras welled up in her eyes, though she paid them no attention. Being careful not to disturb her ankle, she leaned forward and very slowly pressed her lips against his cheek, then pulled back just enough to repeat the motion , this time lightly brushing against his lips. The contact lasted less than a second, and she pulled away before he had a chance to react.

"Thanks, Chouji," she smiled genuinely. "You have no idea how much that means to me."

"Anytime," his expression mirroring hers, he reached up to gently wipe away some of the moisture on her cheeks, before motioning to stand. "Suddenly I'm in the mood for some pancakes, or something. It's been ages since I've eaten. Wanna come with me?"

Shaking her head slightly at the boy's never-failing appetite, then looked up at him. "Well, I don't know about pancakes, but you you want, we can head abck to my house and I'll make you some sandwiches."

His eyes lit up in delight. "Really?"

"Of course," she laughed. "You deserve them."

His eyes widened in delight, and he quickly moved to help her stand up. Along the way, he reached for his forgotten knapsack and chips. While she reached for her crutch, he peered into the nearly-empty bag, before holding it out for her to take.

She looked inside, and gasped. "But…Chouji…"

"I know," he smiled. "I want you to have it."

Her heart melted, knowing how truly meaningful the gesture was for him. Without taking her eyes away from his, she graciously accepted the bag and reached in for the very last chip, left lying at the bottom. As she bit into it, the barbecue flavor nearly overwhelmed her taste buds, and suddenly, she understood why he had always been so adamant about never letting anyone else ever have the last chip.

Until now.

He grabbed her blankets still piled on the ground, and together the two shinobi wordlessly headed back into the village. They paused only once in their journey, when Ino realized something:

"Hey, Chouji?"

"Yeah?"

"Speaking of Team InoShikaChou…where the heck is Shika, anyway?"