I don't own Naruto. Spoilers for the latest chapters of Naruto, just warning you
Across Time
Chapter 8
Team
The first time the Ino-Shika-Chou formation actually worked was with Inoichi, Shikaku and Chouza who graduated the same year as Team Jiraiya-Minato, Mikoto, and Zeno and as Team Sakumo-Fugaku, Hiashi and Hizashi. Their team was simply headed by Shikaku's father Shikato.
However in the beginning of Team Shikato, Inoichi and Shikaku did not get along and Chouza was very shy and not assertive at all. Shikato was a Nara, so laziness was in his blood. So as Inoichi yelled at Shikaku to get off his lazy ass to help with the retarded weeding of an old lady's garden that was their mission and Chouza munched on some food while looking scared of the yelling Inoichi, Shikato wondered what he was going to do with this team.
They had complimentary jutsu but clashing personality which was the main problem in the past generations. The Yamanaka was high strung people, the Nara was lazy, and the Akimichi usually had self-esteem issues from being bigger than others. Shikato sighed as Inoichi forced Shikaku into an impromptu wrestling match.
This was going to be hard, thought Shikato as he got up to pull apart Inoichi and his son from killing each other.
A month passed since the formation of Team Shikato and still no improvement in the teamwork area. Shikato was seriously getting annoyed.
"Alright, boys," said Shikato, sighing. "You are all being troublesome, so I decided to get Hokage-sama to give us a simple teamwork mission. You have to spend form the hours of six in morning to five at night together without fighting with each other and getting to know each other better. No causing trouble, got it?"
"Whatever," Inoichi said.
"Yes, sensei," said Chouza.
"Che, troublesome," said Shikaku. Shikato prayed to Kami-sama that this plan of his was going to work.
So the next day Shikaku, Inoichi and Chouza met at the training grounds at six in the morning. They had no idea what to do or rather why they were doing something so ridiculous.
"So we have two hours before any food places or stores open," said Shikaku, "what are we going to do to kill time?"
"Train," suggested Inoichi. The other two shrugged and they began simple stretches. Then they had a three way spar. After the spar, they went to go get something to eat at Chouza's urging. They stopped at Ichiraku's where Team Jiraiya were eating.
"Hi," said Minato, cheerfully, as he slurped up his ramen.
"Grow some manners," snorted Mikoto. The Team Shikato members rolled their eyes at Mikoto's reprimand, like she could talk. After talking, Shikaku insisted to go cloud watching. Inoichi thought it was going to be boring and Chouza wanted to stop for some chips. They got to the lazy Nara's favorite spot and lay on the grass watching the clouds go by.
They munched on chips, but other than that it was relatively silent. By the afternoon, Inoichi insisted they go girl watching. Shikaku and Chouza did not see the point because Shikaku thought girls were troublesome and Chouza knew girls did not like pleasantly plump guys, but Inoichi stated that they did what the Nara and Akimichi wanted so it was his turn to pick.
Surprisingly, the three men would look back on that day as an eye opener. Shikaku and Inoichi started to help Chouza with his self-esteem issues. Shikaku and Chouza helped Inoichi calm down more. Shikaku was still lazy but he seemed to do more things when asked, politely.
Shikato was proud.
"Hey, Inoichi," said Shikaku, as one of his best friends, stood in front of the memorial stone.
"Shikaku," said Inoichi. "How's Shikamaru?"
"Getting better, what about Ino," asked Shikaku.
"She's basically fine, but she refuses to leave the hospital constantly checking up on Chouji, Shikamaru and Haruno," said Inoichi, sighing. "I'm surprised Kakashi isn't here."
"Yeah, I think he's spending most of his time with Uchiha, Uzumaki or Haruno. That or Shizune is making him stay in the hospital," said Shikaku. "Sensei is upset."
"Yeah, I figured he'd be," said Inoichi. "Didn't he tell us that we're the best thing to happen to him?"
"After my mother died in Kyuubi's attack, Sensei changed but when he started training us, he was happier," said Shikaku. He never really called his father 'Otou-sama' or anything. "Have you checked on Chouza's wife?"
"She won't come out," said Inoichi.
"Her response was the same for me too," said Shikaku.
"I can't believe it," said Inoichi.
"Chouza did what he had to," said Shikaku. "I'll miss him."
"Me too, I'll miss him. And to think that once upon a time ago, we didn't work well together," said Inoichi. Shikaku snorted and Inoichi smirked. "I better go check on Ino."
"Yeah, Yoshino will want me home," said Shikaku. Both began to leave but no before turning around and to smile at each other.
They will forever be a team, even in death.