Chapter 4 took less time than I thought hmm weird, well here it is hope you like it
Disclaimer: don't own Naruto
Chapter 4: Love or Heartbreak?
The next morning seemed to be a sad one, above the village it was dark and felt casted over like the sadness of the villagers had been projected to the sky making the sun remain hidden behind heavy murky clouds. The village gate was open where Naruto and Sakura were waiting for their other team members to join them, Naruto had thrown his bag on the floor next to him as he sat on the floor leant up against the wall, while Sakura had hers placed at her side leaning up against her.
"Sakura? You ok?" Naruto asked his friend as she gazed down at the floor leaning against the wall.
"Hmm" She responded not moving from her position
"Are you ok?" He asked again
"I'm just worried about Ino" She spoke looking at him "I waited up for her most the night and when she came up she looked at me and gave a smile then just went into her room"
"Didn't she say anything?"
"I asked was she ok and offered for her to come and stay with me for the night, but she said she was fine that was it. You seen Shikamaru?" Sakura asked
"He was on the roof of the apartments late last night, just stayed with 'im for a bit before going to bed." Naruto replied
"Did he say anything about Ino?" Sakura curiously asked
"Does knowing what happened matter that much to you" Shikamaru spoke as he walked towards them dumping his bag on the ground
"No, no of course not. I was just worried, about if you were ok" Sakura tried to explain
"I'm fine" Shikamaru spoke normally
"Yeah, you sound so happy" Naruto sarcastically said smiling at him
"Naruto!" Sakura snarled at him, Naruto just smiled at her followed by him looking away from them both.
"...It's fine Sakura..." Shikamaru spoke looking over at him then back to Sakura "I'm guessing he hasn't told you what I said last night"
"No why?" Sakura replied inquisitively Naruto stood up and faced Shikamaru
"You told me not to say anything, I promised I wouldn't" Naruto walked over to him putting his hand on his shoulder they smiled at one another, Sakura looked at them both.
"Please tell me it's not that your both gay" She spoke, the boys looked at her and looked back at each other, quickly separating
"No!" Shouted Naruto causing Sakura to giggle, Shikamaru looked at them both and smiled, "It's up to you whether you tell her or not but I won't say anything" Naruto informed Shikamaru moving back to where he sat.
"It's alright, Ino will probably tell her if I don't anyway...after I ran looking for Ino it took me most of the day to find her...she was waiting outside the Hokage's office, she was going to ask for either more intense training or to be sent on a mission, just to get away from me." He started
"Poor Ino" Sakura spoke softly
The Day Before, Flash back.
"Ino!" Shikamaru ran to her as she stood outside pacing in front of the Hokage's door
"Leave me alone Shikamaru" She shouted walking towards the door, Shikamaru managed to quickly intervene and stop her from entering. Ino started to push and pull at Shikamaru to try and get him out of the way
"Get out of the way! I don't want to see you, I don't want to be near you! Leave me alone! Go find Temari go and finish your kiss! Leave me alone!" She screeched at him but before the end of her screeching she stopped the pulling and the pushing and just clung to his clothes as her head bowed down and her tears fell to the floor.
"Please listen to me, please" He begged
"I want to get away... from this...her...you...anything is better, more training day and night, a mission that would keep me away for months or years anything" She quietly spoke
"You don't have to go anywhere please" He begged again holding his hands over hers looking down towards her
"I need to get away from this" She whispered as her tears fell from her eyes like a waterfall
"I'm on a mission from tomorrow...I'll be gone for a while, you don't need to get away" He told her, She didn't respond to anything. "Please Ino, Please just let me explain, Please I'll be gone tomorrow and I need to explain, Please, I can't leave until I explain, please"
"You have to follow Hokage's orders if she tells you to depart tomorrow you-"
"I don't care what she says, I will stay here until I can explain to you, even if it means rejecting the mission, I'm not going anywhere until I can explain" He stubbornly spoke, Ino lifted her head and looked towards the corridor, her clear blue eyes were filled with water and her face was red. Shikamaru looked at the state he had put her through. "Ino" He gently took his right hand off hers and stroked her cheek, she tilted her head slightly down closing her eyes to release more tears that ran onto Shikamaru's hand, he tried to wipe them away but before he could Ino let go of him and tried to run down the corridor, Shikamaru was faster than her and cut her off, she couldn't stop quick enough and ran into him however swiftly Shikamaru caught her in his arms.
"I just want to explain please...that's all I'm asking... I understand why you want to run away from me but please at least let me explain, please" He spoke softly to her as she clung back onto him, her head buried into his chest after trying so hard to remain from crying in front of him, just letting her tears go without a sound, she finally gave up trying and cried. Shikamaru held her softly stroking her hair. "I'm so sorry Ino" He whispered to her as his eyes began to fill with tears.
Lady Tsunade walked out of her office and looked around, probably looking for Ino, She saw Shikamaru and her standing farther down the corridor he tried to smile at her, she gave smile and a firm nod to him as she retreated back into her office. Shikamaru's attention went fully back onto Ino. "Please Ino just let me explain whether it's here or outside anywhere you want"
"What if I don't want to hear it" She spoke quietly still holding onto him
"Then I'll stay until you will"
"But your mission-" She tried to respond but Shikamaru put his hand under her chin and gently encouraged her to look at him
"Is no way more important than you" He spoke to her "I will reject every mission I will sit outside your door all night long, I will wait no matter how long it takes until you let me explain"
"Why?" She quietly spoke
"Because I...I... Because I...care that much for you...that nothing else matter to me more...Please Ino just let me explain" He pleaded she looked out the window. "Anywhere you want, but please"
"The Fountain...10 minutes...I'll meet you there..." Ino spoke she then released her grip from him and turned walking away back the Hokage's room, when she turned to the door she couldn't help but look back to him. He didn't move from where he was standing, instead he stood and watched her. He saw her look back and he could help but gulp.
"I'll be there" He spoke and smiled, Ino nodded her head slightly as she knocked and went into the Hokage's room. Shikamaru couldn't help be give a sigh of relieve as he then started to walk to the fountain.
Half an hour had passed since Ino and he had separated, sitting patiently on the fountain rim looking up at the stars above him. Shikamaru looked at the moon position, it was around 9 o'clock, he placed his head in his hands and thought of so many things.
"What do I say? How do I say it? Do I tell her all at once, or only parts? What happens if she runs away again, do I go after her or do I leave her? What happens if she lets me explain but then doesn't want anything to do with me?" All these questions were racing through his mind and finally the last question that entered was "Will she even come?" that question was soon answered when Ino walked over to him and sat down.
"...Sorry I'm late...I was talking to the Hokage" Ino spoke
"Its fine, was your talk ok?" Shikamaru asked trying to stop his hands from trembling.
"Yeah, we spoke about my progress on my training...She thinks I'm doing really well with Sakura teaching me"
"That's great" He replied, silence fell after that Shikamaru thought on how he could strike up the conversation on how to explain but nothing he thought of was good. He didn't want to start a new conversation as then she might think he was trying to avoid the topic all together but the silence couldn't keep going on.
"Ino"
"Shikamaru" they spoke both looking at each other, they both smiled and looked away. "You first" Ino told him, Shikamaru took a deep breath
"Thanks for letting me explain....well...it all starting I guess during the mission, Temari kept putting hints about her and me but I kept saying there was someone else. When we came back we found out about the paperwork that needed doing and she said about having a celebratory drink and starting the paperwork the next day which I agreed too. We were both kind of drunk by the end of it and went back to mine, Temari kept asking about who I liked and eventually I told her it was you." Shikamaru explained looking over at Ino, she was looking down at her lap where she had her arms wrapped around her waist.
"She then started to ask why I was a wimp and didn't do anything, so I told her about Choji and his feelings and that I didn't even think you'd give a guy like me a second look let alone take a shine to me. After talking about that I was kind of down so Temari said that You'd be nuts to not like me that's when I turned to thank her for listening when she kissed me...It didn't last long I stopped it when I realised what was happening but when she kissed me my first thought was you..." Ino looked at him as he was looking down to the floor.
"Me?" She spoke giving Shikamaru an opportunity to look at her
"I was already thinking about you then I was suddenly being kissed, for a few seconds I thought I was kissing you but when I finally realised it wasn't I pushed her away and told her to go. The next day I went to see her to ask her to not tell you or anyone about it when she said that she'd do what she'd please and that I best stay on her good side I didn't know whether she was kidding or not but...I didn't want to take that risk...I wanted to tell you myself but I didn't know how to without letting on how I felt" Shikamaru replied, Ino looked back down at her lap while Shikamaru then looked down to the floor.
"Did you feel anything when you two kissed?"
"Nothing"
"Do you like Tem-"
"No" He interrupted "I feel nothing for her...the only thing I have with her is a friendship and a Ninja relationship that's all nothing else"
"Did you like it?"
"No" He responded.
"Is that it?" She asked
"...Yes..." He responded dreading for her next reaction, she stood up
"Ok" She then began to walk away, Shikamaru watched for a second then rushed to his feet
"Wait" He shouted
"What...I let you explain...I asked what I wanted too...there's...nothing else...left to say...is there?"She spoke standing her back towards him looking away.
"...I guess there's nothing left no...but..." Shikamaru replied, he felt more scared at this moment than when he did facing off to an Akatsuki member on his own.
"But what Shikamaru?" Ino spoke looking towards him "If there is anything you want to say then just say it..." She spoke assertively.
"...I haven't got any excuses for what happened...I haven't got anything else to explain...I don't deserve a girl like you...I'd never be able to afford to have a girl like you" Ino couldn't help but smile as she turned more to face him, he slowly walked up to her. "I won't even try to explain why I feel the way I do for you as I'm guessing you don't wanna be standing here till morning...the only thing I've got left to say is I'm so sorry for everything, I'm sorry you found out the way you did and If I could take it back the kiss I would...and...I...hope you can forgive me." He told her finally standing in front of her, Ino looked to the side rather than at him.
"That all?" She asked again, he couldn't help but smile at how she kept asking for more for him to say.
"I guess there's one more thing" He asked her gently placing his hand on her cheek gently easing her to look at him.
"And what is it?" She asked him, He smiled at her and gently stroked her cheek where she then tilted her head towards his hand and looked up at him; he gulped and took a deep breath.
"...I...I love you Ino" He spoke, she finally heard the words she wanted to hear, she smiled at him and quickly moved closer wrapping her arms around his waist resting her head on his chest as he held her close placing his hand on her head resulting in him gently stroking her hair once again, her eyes welled up with tears, he looked down at her.
"Is it that bad me telling you I love you that you cry?" He laughed nervously
"No...These are happy tears" She replied looking at him smiling, he smiled back and gently wiped her tears away. She then placed her head back to resting on his chest as he placed his head on hers they stood there for some time.
"...What now?" He asked
"Hmm?" She sounded
"What happens now..." Shikamaru asked nervously
"Hmmm?" She sounded again, He then tried to look at her and saw that she was starting to doze off, he couldn't help but smile.
"Ok, come on" He said and gently picked her up in his arms and took started to walk towards the girls apartments he was about the turn towards it when Ino stirred.
"No" She moaned
"No?" He queried stopping at the corner
"I want to talk more" She said back as she snuggled more into him
"Ino you're half asleep I've got to take you home"
"You'll be gone in the morning...I want to talk now..." She said trying to wake up rubbing at her eyes
"But you're tired you need to sleep" He tried to persuade her
"I'll sleep later I want to talk now."She stubbornly
"It's the middle of the night Ino, it's starting to get cold and your tired" he tried again, Ino managed to wake herself more up and look up at him
"Well, let's go to your place and talk , then I'll go home later" She said which shocked him
"My- My place?" He stuttered
"Yeah, Sakura will be waiting for me until I get in, I doubt Naruto is going to be awake so it's simple." She responded
"Is Ino ok?" Shouted a familiar voice
"You're actually awake!" She hissed, Naruto come running over "Some people do sleep at night don't wake them up!"
"Sorry! I've been worried about you two, I tried waiting for you at the apartments but you didn't come back so I went to look for you to make sure you were ok" He said to Shikamaru
"Thanks, but I'm fine" Shikamaru assured him, Naruto looked at Ino "We were talking and she started to fall asleep, so was going to take her back to her apartment" He explained
"Oooooh" Naruto replied
"But I'm awake now I want to talk" She protested
"But your-" Shikamaru started
"If she wants to talk to you let her! But probably be best to do it indoors its chilly out here. Well now I know your both ok I'm going to bed, night" Naruto shouted as he ran towards his apartment.
"You sure you wanna talk now?" Shikamaru asked her
"Yes" She answered
"Ok, at my place?"
"Yes"
"Do you want me to put you down?" He asked her
"No it's nice to be carried" She giggled
"Yeah it is but you're not as light as I thought" He joked as he walked towards his apartment, Ino slapped him on his chest "Ow!" He shouted
"Don't say that I'll go on a diet!" She exclaimed
"I wouldn't change a thing about you, you're perfect the way you are...except maybe your temper I would easily change your temper" He joked again he and Ino laughed.
Eventually Shikamaru put Ino down just outside his front door so he could unlock it where he let her in. Ino sat down on his sofa as he got them both a drink, he came and joined her placing the drinks on the table.
"What did you wanna talk about?" He asked
"How long are you going to be on the mission?" She asked picking up her cup and taking a sip of her tea.
"I don't know could be week or a month or so" He replied
"Who's going on it?"
"Kakashi Sensei, Naruto, Sakura and Me"
"Ok" She responded taking another sip of her tea
"...Is that it?" He asked taking a gulp of his water
"No, just wanted to know about your mission first"
"Well, what else you wanna talk about then" He asked gulping his water again
"How long have you felt that way towards me?" She asked looking at him holding her cup of tea. Shikamaru froze for a few second he then forcefully tried to swallow his water that he had in his mouth and coughed putting his glass on the table.
"Ermm...few months...maybe longer..." He replied slowly
"Maybe longer?" She queried
"...A lot...longer than just...a few...months..."
"How much longer?"
"Well, remember my mission with Temari that was 2 months ago...Well I felt that way about you for about....4/5 months....before...then...." He slowly spoke getting quieter and quieter as the sentence went on. Ino smiled at the end putting her cup back on the table while Shikamaru finished off his water straight after.
"Aww" She added
"Is that everything you wanted to talk about?" He asked turning towards her putting his arm on the top of the sofa
"Not quite, one last thing" She spoke she moved up closer to him making him feel a tad nervous "I want to hear you say it again" She smiled starting to blush, he smiled back and looked at her and stroked her hair
"What do you want me to say?" He teased, she giggled looking down
"You know exactly what I want to hear" She nervously spoke back
"...Well I'll tell you...if you can tell me the same" He spoke, Ino looked up at his dark eyes. "I've said it, now it's your turn..."
"What happens if I don't?" She spoke teasingly smiling at him, he smiled back
"Well If you don't then we haven't got anything left to talk about so I'll just go to bed" He spoke mischievously back, beginning to get off the sofa, Ino quickly grabbed him and pulled him down making him become off balance falling down in result making her fall on her back onto the sofa with one leg on the floor and another on the sofa while Shikamaru sat in-between leaning over her. They both started to laugh, Ino stopped laughing while Shikamaru carried on for a few seconds longer. He turned to face her before he opened his eyes he felt her lips upon his only for a second, when he opened his eyes Ino was sat up towards him blushing like crazy facing towards the wall. While smiling she kept looking at him through the corner of her eye's then looking away and repeating this very quickly, he smiled at her looking and acting adorably towards him. He leant towards her and tucked her hair behind her ear and whispered to her
"I'm waiting" He moved back to where he was and looked at her making her blush more.
"You first" She spoke looking extremely shy, something Ino had never looked or ever experienced before, Shikamaru gave a little chuckle placing his hand on her side
"I love you" He spoke easily in to her ear, she looked at him again through the corner of her eye and couldn't help but smile
"I love you too" She spoke back turning her head to face him; he smiled at her and sighed "Why are you sighing!" She protested
"I'm just glad you said it" He explained still smiling at her, he the gently moved her leg from around him placing it down, putting his arm around her letting her cuddle up to him. He kissed her on top of her head and gently rested his head on hers. They sat like that for some time and eventually he looked out of the window and saw the moon's position, it must have been just after 12.
"Ino I think I'd best take you home, it's late" He spoke to her but she didn't move, her head was placed on his chest and one hand around his back and the other was holding onto the right side of his jacket. He looked down to her "Ino?" he gently moved her back to her she was fast asleep on him and groaned protesting when he tried to move her. He smiled down at her and gently moved her arm from around his back and placed it across her waist, and then he moved his hand under her legs and slowly lifted her onto his lap where he carefully stood up holding her. He walked into his bedroom, gently he knelt one of his knees onto the bed as he lay the sleeping girl down onto her back, automatically she turned towards Shikamaru groaning again. He smiled at her and again stroked her hair he leant down to kiss her on her head where she moved and looked up at him smiling, he smiled back at her and slowly leant down and kissed her on the lips, He pulled away and looked at her.
"Do you want to sleep here tonight? I don't mind I'll sleep on the Sofa, or would you rather me carry you home?" He whispered to her kindly
"...No" She replied looking at him.
"No?" He spoke confused "No to what?"
"I'm not ready to go home yet" She said
"Ok well you stay here and sleep and I'll-"
"I don't want you to sleep in there" She spoke to him, Shikamaru looked confused looking around trying to understand what she meant.
"Ok, so you don't want to go home, you want to stay here, but you don't want me to sleep on the sofa?" Shikamaru relayed what she said
"Yes" She replied
"So you want me to go where?" He asked, Ino couldn't help but giggle as he tried to clarify what she wanted
"I want you to stay here with me in your bed" Ino explained, Shikamaru still looked confused over something, Ino thought to herself "He looks so cute looking so confused...I wonder why...wait a minute...he's a guy and I've just asked him to stay with me in his bed alone...Oh boy..."
"Not to do...that" She made clear, Shikamaru smiled and nodded his head.
"You sure you want me to sleep in here?" He asked
"Yes" She replied, he leant down and kissed her again, he then smoothly moved across her to the other side of the bed and lay down next to her, Ino turned over and faced him smiling, He moved and held her laying his head down on his pillow where he closed his eyes. Ino looked up at him she moved her arms to up and around his neck and moved up kissed him softly, he smirked still with his eyes closed
"I thought we were going to sleep?" He asked her
"I never said sleep" She said kissed him again but longer
"But you said that we're not doing...that" He teased at how she phrased it, she giggled and kissed him again which started to form into being more passionate between them, Ino broke it off briefly
"I know, I don't want to do that, doesn't mean that I don't want to anything" She whispered looking at him; he had opened his eyes and gazed into her clear blue eyes. She then moved back up and kissed him again, the passion between them still remained from when their lips last encountered, their slow kisses before turned to an intense desire, he pulled her as close as he could to him feeling the warm of her skin on his, moving her hands down to his waist she grasped hold of him and pulled him on top of her. The intensity, this longed passion, continued only for a few minutes when Ino then pushed him straight off in the middle of the thrill and stood up tightening her pony tail completely confusing Shikamaru.
"Something wrong Ino?" He asked sitting up
"Nope I'm fine, why you not?" she asked normally turning to face him
"Yeah...It's just-"
"Everything's fine now" She smiled cheekily to him
"Everything's fine?" He asked
"Well, I've now erased that previous event from your mind to this new one, the night we first became a couple" Ino explained
"...So were a couple?" He asked
"Yeah, and now that the past is behind us I've got to get home" Ino finished
"...Oh...so that was just too...Ohhh...So nothing more of that was going to happen..." Shikamaru thought out loudly
"You really think I would have gone all out after finding out that news and agreed to date you in one day?" Ino questioned
"I never asked you to start dating me" Shikamaru mentioned as he stood up.
"Oh, my mistake never mind I'll just have to go and find someone else" She spoke nonchalant walking out the room shortly followed by Shikamaru
"I never said I didn't want to date you though" He clarified once more
"Well which is it?" Ino huffed smiling at him
"Of course I want to, don't be daft" He smiled at her as he walked to her beginning to hold her in his embrace, "You sure you want to go home as I said you can sleep in my bed and I'll sleep on the Sofa if you want"
"Nah I best get home, Sakura will probably still be up to make sure I'm ok" Ino replied
"Ok I'll walk you home then" Shikamaru spoke reluctantly letting go of his embrace on her and holding onto her hand, she smiled at him and let him lead the way out and towards her apartment
Finally reaching her place, the moon's position indicated it was around 2, Shikamaru walked her in through door of her building before the stairs.
"I'll be fine the rest of the way, plus if Sakura's there I can taunt her, so don't tell her anything when you see her" Ino whispered
"Hmm...Ok I don't understand it but fine" Shikamaru spoke smiling at her, He leant and gently kissed her. "I'll see you when I get back"
"When you get back? I'll come down and see you all off before you go" Ino spoke she then pulled him in for another kiss before he finally left her to go home. Ino's grin went from ear to ear and tried to do a quiet shriek to herself before running up the stairs. Before she went through the door to her block to get to her apartment she waited and prepped herself to look upset then walked through. When she got to her door and went to unlock it Sakura burst out of hers hugging Ino quickly almost knocking her over
"Are you ok? I tried to find you but found Naruto, he said to leave you and Shikamaru I've been worried crazy! Are you ok? You can stay at mine if you want and we can talk all night whatever you want" Sakura said in almost one breath, Ino smiled to herself then dropped it to continue her act.
"I'm fine, I'll come see you off tomorrow ok, Thanks anyway" Ino said quietly and retreated to her apartment as Sakura did with hers. Ino closed and locked her door where she then couldn't help but let out her giant grin as she sauntered off to her room to finally get to sleep and think that even her dreams couldn't beat reality.
Shikamaru went and sat up onto the roof like he did only the night before, thinking over how things had suddenly changed in just one day, He couldn't help but keep thinking of the night events not only just what happened in the apartment but everything that lead up to it, and everything he cared that much about her. Before long his peace and quiet of remembering was shattered by a loud blonde, not really the one he wanted to come for him.
"Shikamaru you alright?" He shouted as he walked over to him
"I'd thought you went to bed Naruto" Shikamaru whispered
"Nah couldn't sleep I knew you'd be up here at some point so I kept checking, you and Ino alright?" Naruto asked
"Yeah...were fine" Shikamaru smiled, Naruto looked at him inquisitively.
"...Ok you've got a hell of a weird smile on your face...either something's happened between you too or you're lying and something terrible has happened" Naruto questioned sitting down next to him
"What makes you say that?" He asked
"Because you're strangely happy for someone who's just been through this and also you've got her lipstick on your cheek" Naruto smiled daringly sitting down next to him, Shikamaru immediately started to wipe at his cheek
"Wait a minute...."He thought, as he remembered that she never kissed him on his cheek, he turned to Naruto who still was smiling at him but gave a wink.
"Least I know what you two were up to" He laughed, Shikamaru smiled at him, "So you two are....are what?" He asked curiously
"Were together" Shikamaru answered "But don't tell Sakura, Ino said she's taunting her or something, I don't know, don't understand either of them when it comes to each other" Shikamaru laughed
"You're together, so everything's ok?" Naruto asked
"Yeah I think so" Shikamaru smiled Naruto patted him on the back
"See she knows the truth about everything and now you've got her!" Naruto beamed
"What about Choji" Shikamaru's face dropped
"He said it was ok?"
"Doesn't mean it's not going to hurt him" Shikamaru looked at Naruto, who nodded his head in agreement
"Yeah...but I think it would hurt him more if he knew he was keeping his two best friends miserable." Naruto added. "I'm going, I'm shattered! See ya tomorrow" He shouted as he ran off the building
"See ya tomorrow Naruto" Shikamaru replied quietly, he then walked over and jumped down off the building making his way back to his room where he lay down on his bed. Taking a deep breath in he couldn't help but smile at the fact his bed now smelt of Ino's perfume which made falling asleep for him so much sweeter than ever before.
Flash back over
"Shikamaru!" Sakura shouted
"Hmm?" He sounded
"What happened when she met you at the fountain? You got to their then drifted off!"She exclaimed, Naruto remained sat on the floor and grinned naughtily at the thoughts going through his head.
"Oh...nothing we just talked, then I walked her back home and then went to the roof for some peace and got annoyed by Naruto" Shikamaru explained ever so briefly looking over at Naruto.
"Well what's happened between you two? Are you together? Are you not? You two ok? What's going on?" Sakura asked excitedly but before he could answer Ino walked up.
"Hi everyone" She spoke on her arrival looking at Shikamaru smiling. "You told her?"
"Nope, just like I said I wouldn't" He smiled back
"Dude...your already whipped!" Naruto commented looking over at him
"Whipped?" Sakura questioned, Shikamaru looked at Ino who nodded her head, He then smiled and reached out his hand to hold hers pulling her towards him wrapping his arms around her, making Ino giggle, and Sakura Shrieked. Unfortunately for Naruto he didn't cover his ears in time to evade it.
"You two? Together!" She shrieked, Ino then started to shriek along as Sakura pulled her away from her new man to join in celebratory jumping, Naruto walked over to Shikamaru, making the sound and action of a whip at him.
"Just you wait, when you're with and Sakura you'll be more whipped than me" Shikamaru warned
"Nah...She doesn't like me...I think... guess we'll never be more than friends...glad for you and Ino though!" Naruto laughed
"You and Sakura will one day. Just give it time" Shikamaru replied
"I never know where I stand with her one minute it's just normal, us friends with the occasional hit next it feels more than that...I don't get it..." Naruto confessed to him turning towards his friend for some advice.
"Talk to her about it, at least then you'd know what's going on in her head" Shikamaru answered, Kakashi showed up as usual over an hour late walking over to them.
"We ready to go?" Kakashi asked them walking towards the open gate "Hello Ino, you saying goodbye?"
"We were ready and hour ago!" Stated Sakura crossly "Why aren't you ever here on time Kakashi Sensei! If you want us to leave now then why didn't you say to meet here for now?"
"Simple, if I set the time to meet now we'd be setting off an hour later than what I wanted to leave" Kakashi declared making Sakura drop her head down. "Regardless, are we ready?"
"Yes Sensei" Sakura chirped looking up at him smiling.
"When you're ready Kakashi Sensei" Shikamaru replied holding Ino in his arms once again, seeing them together Kakashi grinned.
"Well you better say goodbye to Ino, it might be a while till you see her again" Kakashi informed where he then walked to the man at the gate, informing him that they would soon be departing. Naruto and Sakura walk over to Ino, who pulled herself away from Shikamaru to say goodbye.
"We'll see you when we get back" Sakura said giving her friend a hug, walking to Kakashi near the gate to let the rest of her team say their goodbyes.
"Don't have too much fun without me!" Naruto laughed giving her a quick hug before joining Kakashi and Sakura. Shikamaru walked over giving a gentle pull on her arm towards him.
"I'll be back soon" He spoke looking at her
"Be careful ok..." Ino requested protectively which riled Naruto
"Why only him be careful! Were here too! Don't you want us to be careful and come back? Oh noooo were a thing of the past now you're with him, aren't we Sakura?" Naruto stated crossly but in a joking manor as he turned to Sakura to play along
"Shut up Naruto" She turned and stated to him turning away
"Awww! Why didn't you play along?"
"Because it was stupid"
"Why was it I was only joking" Naruto proclaimed, as he and Sakura started their debate on his joke, Shikamaru and Ino paid no attention to them as they kissed goodbye. Shikamaru pulled away and reluctantly let go of Ino's hand as he went and followed on Kakashi and an arguing Naruto and Sakura to start their mission.
"We'll Camp here for the night" Kakashi spoke setting down his bag looking over the cliff towards the open sea. "We'll start to cross in the morning, rather than risk being mistaken for an enemy on their land" Sakura and Shikamaru walked behind placing their bags down joining Kakashi whilst Naruto made himself comfortable by a near tree and looked over.
"So how we gonna know who Kai is?" Naruto asked, Kakashi turned around to look at him.
"We've got to go to the Mizukage first, just to debrief her of our mission although she should geta messenger bird to expect our arrival. After which we should be able to go looking for Kai and hopefully she should be able to tell us where he is." Kakashi explained
"What if she doesn't?" Naruto asked
"Then we'll try to persuade her and if she is still despondent about us looking for Kai, we'd report to the Hokage and let her resolve it." Kakashi finished
"...Well what happens if she says we can take Kai but only if we can find him. How will we then?" Naruto questioned, Sakura walked over to him and squatted down to his level
"Then funnily enough..." She paused for a minute then tapped him on the head "We'd ask around the villagers"
"What was that for? I was just making sure what was happening" He asked, Sakura smiled and was about to comment when Shikamaru coughed interrupting
"Sakura stop trying to touch Naruto, If you wanna touch him then take him elsewhere and do it so its pleasurable for you both" Shikamaru commented making Naruto laugh uncontrollably and Sakura turn bright pink.
"I wouldn't want to touch him if he was the last guy on earth!" She disputed standing up
"Hmmm...Somehow I doubt that, shouldn't lie Sakura unless you can lie properly and you are one of those people who can't" Shikamaru explained causing Sakura to feel embarrassed and mad, before she could defend herself Kakashi thought it would be a good idea to step in before things got out of hand.
"I think you should all get to sleep, the journey has seemed to have taken its toll on you" Kakashi ordered leaving them to follow and get to sleep.
"Wouldn't be irritable if we hadn't of had to travel half way to only go back to the village as you forgot you're stupid book." Sakura chuntered to herself as she set out her bed for the night. Shikamaru and Naruto did what they were told and begun setting out their beds as well as Kakashi stood and looked out towards the Land of Water.
"So they sent the Copy Ninja and team" Someone spoke causing a stir among the team.
"Who's there" Demanded Naruto, as the mysterious intruder chuckled, As Shikamaru, Naruto and Sakura got ready for battle Kakashi held his hand up for them to back down. "What? We need to fight!"
"Would you try to fight our Hokage Naruto?" Kakashi asked confusing Naruto
"Granny Tsunade? No she'd beat me to a pulp by wh-"
"We wouldn't battle our Hokage and we defiantly wont battle the Mizukage of Kirigakure" Kakashi explained
"Aww Kakashi you never let me have my fun frightening the fresh meat" She chuckled again and up from the water stood a slender women with her blue dress falling just below her knee covering hardly any of her upper torso except for a mess shirt wore underneath to hide more of her bulging breasts while her auburn hair partly tied up in a top knot while the rest fell down to her ankles. Her high heeled sandals met her dress showing her leg slightly in the gap. Naruto gawked at the women standing before him as she chuckled placing her hand on her hip showing her long blue nails. She gazed over the team with her only one visible green eye while her other was covered with a short bang across her face.
"It's nice to see you again Mei, or should I say Mizukage" Kakashi bowed to her
"As is you Kakashi. I got your Hokage's messenger bird, please don't tell me you travelled all this way and you were going to sleep here tonight" Mei questioned
"I wasn't aware that you got the message from our Hokage so quickly. I didn't want to bring the team into your land if you were unaware of our arrival it could have put my team in danger of unnecessary fighting. I thought it would be best to wait till morning." Explained Kakashi
"Tactical thinking Kakashi, I now see what Rin meant" Mei replied shocking Kakashi
"You knew Rin?" He queried causing Mei to look uncertain
"We must get back, come on" She replied gesturing for them to follow as she began to make her way back to her village with Kakashi and the others following.
Shall follow on in the next chapter! Well that's Chapter 4 please Review like to know what you think and chapter 5 should be out soonish! Hope you like it x) xx