Later, they regrouped for they could not find Shikamaru anywhere. Naruto was glad that Ino and Sakura had simmered down after his temporary retreat.
"Where is he?!" shouted Naruto stomping his feet, "I even look-"
"He's just too smart," interjected Ino, sharing a glance with Sakura. Sakura delicately shuddered.
A sudden smooth voice cut through their disturbing thoughts about Naruto, "Checkmate."
The three glanced toward the right where an easygoing Shikamaru played his favorite game. The person playing against him glared and demanded a rematch. Shikamaru sighed and set the board. Intensely he studied the board once it was his turn.
Ino grinned in a mischievous manner, "This is the perfect distraction. He's never lost a game and I don't think he intends to start now. Next time it's his turn and he's planning his moves we'll get him."
Waiting for the right moment, she watched Shikamaru and rushed forward snatching at the back of his hair and taking down the ties holding it up.
His straight dark hair tumbled down until it reached a few inches above his strong shoulders. His bangs were parted with a few flipped to the side in attractive way. His hair looked even darker than before and Shikamaru's eyes widened in shock at feeling of loose hair flowing around his shoulders.
People gasped and gawked at the boy who had always had his hair pulled tightly into a high spiky ponytail. At the same time, Ino tightly gripped the ties in her hands and gaped at the sight of her teammate.
Fear replaced the lazy-eyed look in Shikamaru's eyes as he caught sight of numerous girls staring straight at him without blinking. Nervously Shikamaru's mind calculated his surrounding and noted any means of escape. He looked toward a certain Sharingan wielder and gave a sigh in relief.
"Sasuke is right over there," he stated pointing in the Uchiha's direction. Some glanced over but most kept their eyes on Shikamaru and began to surround him.
"He's hotter than Sasuke-kun!" a few girls cried. The others agreed and they all shouted, "Get him!"
They rushed forward and Shikamaru quickly used a Jutsu and vanished in a poof of smoke. Soon the idea of searching for his favorite hideouts came up and they were filled with excitement at locating him.
Ino, Sakura, and Naruto stood still in disbelief. Even Sasuke was shocked and silently he felt relieved.
"H-he- Uh Shika-" Ino stuttered fidgeting with the hair ties. She glanced down and she held them to her chest and smiled.
"Well, I guess, I'll be seeing you two later," she replied brightly. Sakura's attention was diverted and she glared at Ino.
"Ino, you better not even-" Sakura began as Ino raced off in amazing bursts of speed. Sakura was not going to let Ino get her claws on Shika-kun and hurried after her.
Naruto felt so confused and he frowned, "Now Shikamaru has a fan club! Where's mine?"
At that precise moment, Shikamaru rushed into the Hokage's office and swiftly grabbed at his extra hair ties in his pocket and managed to fix his hair. It soon was perfectly smooth and in its usual style.
"Tsunade-Sama," Shikamaru asked respectively easing back into his calm state of mind.
"What's the matter with you?" asked the Hokage as she finished filing her annoying paperwork. She wished Shizune would hurry back so she could give this stuff for her to file.
"Troublesome girls started chasing me," Shikamaru smoothly muttering closing his eyes.
"What did you do?" Tsunade inquired curiosity and a hint of laughter in her face.
"Nothing. . . But when Ino undid my hair tie. . . "Shikamaru shrugged his expression lazy as he settled into the chair opposite her.
"So why are you here? And don't think I'm gonna protect you," Tsunade warned, feeling slightly ill about some lovesick girls giggling and screeching around her office. She would not have any peace.
Shikamaru mumbled, "It's such a pain but I need a fearsome bodyguard."
"There's only a few Shinobi here, since many are away on missions," informed Tsunade handing out a sheet with names of possible suggestions.
Shikamaru easily dismissed any girl who was once a Sasuke fangirl. And he quickly noticed there were few guys on the list but none was tough enough to handle fangirls. If he had not known better, he would have considered the thought that Tsunade was matchmaking. But he dismissed that thought and he quickly checked through the list and one name stood out. He thought of all the ones he could have chosen and knew instinctively this one was it.