Chapter 3:
The Second Blonde
Shikamaru sat up. He looked out the window, the sun was not up yet.
He looked at the alarm clock beside him, 4:00, it said. He was supposed to be arraniging the chuunin exam's proctors. His father arranged them to train today, before Shikato'd go out on mission later that day.
The lazy shinobi placed on the usual net jersey with his cargo trousers. He filled up his weapon pouch and kunai pocket with weapons.
"I can't believe I had to wake up this early."
Shikato was already awake and waiting for him at the training spot they had in the forest.
"You're late." Shikato said angrily at the boy.
Shikamaru sighed, 'You're lucky I even woke up.'
They trained Shikamaru's Monster Web Shadow Jutsu, strengthening it.
--
"Shika-kun!" a familiar voice shouted.
A beautiful blonde girl ran to the training Nara's
"Ohayo, Ino-san. What are you doing up this early?" Shikato asked.
"Ohayo, Shikato-san. Tsunade-sama told Sakura and me to study medical arts last night, I just went out." Ino replied.
"Then why come here? You should be at home, sleeping." Shikamaru retorted.
Ino smiled, "Tsunade-sama, asked me to fetch you."
Shikamaru stroked his hair in disbelief, "She wants me there this early?"
Ino smiled, "Not really, I was hoping we could eat breakfast together, can we Shika-kun?"
Shikamaru's jaw dropped.
Shikato laughed to break the silence, "You truly are Inosha's daughter." He bowed his head to the kunoichi, "Shikamau'd be honored to have breakfast with you, Yamanaka-san."
"You don't have to be so formal, Shikato-san." Ino bowed back.
Ino clung on to Shikamaru as she dragged him away.
"Wait, don't I get a say in this?" Shikamaru tried to argue.
"No!" both shinobi shouted at him.
--/--/--/--/--/--/--/--/
Since he didn't have a chance to argue about treating Ino on breakfast, he insisted on Ino to eat at Ichiraku, the cheapest place possible.
"Shika-kun, dad was telling me some stuff last night… I, uhm… wanted to share it with you." Said Ino as they sat down on the chairs of Ichiraku. blush
"Huh? Why would I want-"
"He said that he wanted to talk to Shikato-san about an arrange marriage." She said looking at shikamaru.
Shikamaru sat there and stared her in the face. His face went so white he swore he could have suffocated.
"Dad asked if it was okay with me…"
"Why? Us? How?" Shikamaru said panicking.
"Dad said he wanted him and Sjikato to be finally one family. A lot of generations had already tried to, but this is the first time a boy and girl are of the same age."
Ino's face showed how upset she was.
"What did you say? About if you were okay with the arrangement?" he asked.
"I, uhm, I kind of said… yes." She said as her pale face was covered with red blotches.
"I…"
A light poof sounded behind them. A shinobi wearing the standard chuunin vest appeared from the smoke.
"Nara-san, the proctors are waiting." The ninja said.
"Wait, I…" Shikamaru started.
"Shikamaru!" a woman wearing a fishnet top rammed a punch to Shikamaru's face.
"Your late! Now come on!" Anko shouted as she dragged away the chuunin exam proctor.
Ino was left alone, sitting on the chair of Ichiraku, thinking. What could he have said? What could have happened?
--/--/--/--/--/--/
Shikamaru sat in front of the Hokage's office, waiting. The chuunin exams are a week away. Tsunade was working the lazy ass shinobi to the bone.
'Ino, was she serious? Inosha-san wouldn't do that? Dad would have told me already. Right?' he thought. Even though Shikamaru was a genius he still had a bit of problem with human emotion.
The office door sounded as it opened. A blonde girl together with a pink haired kunoichi walked out the door.
"Konichiwa, Shikamaru." Sakura greeted him.
Shikamaru stayed silent. Everything drowned out of existence he couldn't hear anything as he looked at Ino. The kunoichi just stared at her feet.
"Ino-" he said.
"Shikamaru." A voice soundedfrom the office.
Sakura and Ino started to walk down the hall as an arm pulled Ino back.
"Wait for me. I'll cut it short." He whispered.
--/--/--/--/
After a few minutes, Shikamru walked out from the office. Ino wasn't there. His heart sank.
Shikamaru was stopped at the main door by a beautiful blonde shinobi.
"What is it?" she said.
"Come with me."
Shikamaru led him to the top of the Ninja academy. They sat down on a porch and Shikamaru lay down on the wooden surface as Ino kept her hands on her lap.
"Ino, about what you said."
"I don't want it to trouble you."
"No. I wanted to tell you, that whatever happens, I'm… ready… to marry you."
Ino looked down at the body beside her. She was perplexed by his statement.
Ino lay down beside her fiancé. She pulled herself closer to him. "Boku wa Aishiteru, Shikamaru." She said hugging him. A tear dropped down.