Chapter 14

1 month later, start of exams

It had been a wonderful month right up till the end when Anko had to start pre for the exams. I was currently in the observation box with the sensei watching people fall apart under Ibiki's intimidation. To my surprise Hinata did not drop out despite Naruto's absence. It seems she was too distracted to be scared.

Eventually with only 15 teams left Anko broke through the window with a banner. 'THE SEXY AND EXPECTING ANKO MITARASHI!' "Wait WHAT!?" I shouted when I read the banner. She seemed to glance up at the 2 way mirror and wink. Ohhhhh she was gonna get it for telling me like this!

Many within the observation room were surprised as I was by the announcement. Although many gave me weird looks after my outburst. I ignored them and tried not to blush and give it away. We were not exactly a secret but I also knew for a fact that almost no one was told about us and public appearances and the rumor mill was all that spread the word. Still I did not want to be interrogated about our relationship at the moment.

I went to the forest of disappointments and waited for the start signal before I snuck up behind Anko and swatted her ass with maximum force. "Yoooouuch!"

"How about an explanation!" I said as she turned to look at me still rubbing her backside.

"I wanted to surprise you."

"...annnnnnd?"

"I wanted to make you embarrass yourself with all so many jonin watching." She admitted mumbling a bit toward the end.

"I am thrilled honestly,,, but don't think for a minute you won't be regretting this decision next week." I was grinning like a loon by the end, unable to contain my excited joy at the news. I wanted to be stern but now was clearly not the time.

5 days later

The exam passed without incident as Sasuke was not participating therefore the snake decided to bide his time. I still kept a close watch for Anko the whole time.

After the second round there were only 5 teams left, team 9, team sand, team 10, team sound, and team grass. It seems that the team who the snake would have killed for a disguise were actually decent. Team 8 failed for reasons unknown but they were in good health back at the village so it really did not matter to me.

Ino POV post second exam

I saw him watching from the balcony as the Hokage gave his speech and we learned of our first matches for the finals. I had chickened out of talking to him before but there was only so much that throwing yourself into training can do. I squared my shoulders and walked over to him after the announcements were finished. "I want it off." I demanded. He had no right to do this to me.

"I don't know, pretty flower, I think it's good for you." He responded with a small grin that I wanted to whip off his face. "Why should I? You don't have the guts to even ask for help removing it so why would I give in to your demands, rather than weight for you to give into my demands?" He was right of course I had no leverage since he had no decency.

But I had done some checking and he tended to bet on various things quite often, all I had to do was figure out a bet I knew I could win. Then after securing Shikamaru's cooperation I just needed to meet him here, and trap him.

"I have a bet for you." That immediately got his attention. "If you win I will join your stupid harem, but when I win you will remove the seal and apologize to me." His grin grew downright predatory.

"What's the bet little flower?"

"You will face Shikamaru in a shogi match." His gin faded a bit at that HA now to make certain he agrees. "Unless that is, you're too chicken."

"I accept the challenge little flower, and I will meet you and Shikamaru tomorrow at noon at your flower shop." He said that and walked away, but at least he wasn't smiling anymore.

Loki POV next day

It wasn't easy not smiling when Ino made her bet. The ability to win shogi is based on 3 stats: Int 10/10, Creativity 250/250, Tactics 231/250. This would be a cakewalk in all likelihood.

I met them at the flower shop and to my surprise Inoichi was there as well. He looked like he might murder me. "You little shit! You think you can enslave my daughter over a game of damn shogi!?" It was a reasonable thing for him to say as a father but now I had to fish for how much he knew.

"So it seems Ino has told you some of what is going on here, but for clarity why don't you tell me what is supposed to happen here today."

He snarled at me a bit more, but did eventually start speaking. "You and Shikamaru will play a game of shogi. If he wins you will pay Ino 15,000 but if you win Ino is supposed to join your damn harem… Over my dead body!" He was back to snarling again but his lovely wife was now pulling him away from me.

"So why are you mad at me then?" I asked with a smile on my face and a plan forming in my mind.

"Because you think my daughter is worth a damn game of shogi you bastard!"

"Wrong!" This seemed to catch his wife's attention and even bring him up short. "You think that I am the one undervaluing Ino. Rather it is Ino who is undervaluing herself I would think." Now I had everyone's attention. "You see Ino believes she is worth a maximum of 15,000$, that is after all what she chose of her own free will to put on the line. I however was willing to go much higher had she demanded seems to me that by making this bet I stated through my actions that Ino is worth a minimum of 15,000$. As for the game of shogi… that was Ino's choice as well, she did in fact choose every facet of this contest except for the time and location."

Ino was now frowning at me deeply, but her parents were much less negative in their feelings toward me. They knew full well that ninja simply could not back out of bets or refuse to fulfill terms. Not wanting to push things at the moment, I sidled up to Shikamaru and made my first move.

2 hours later

I clearly had Shikamaru on the ropes, this game had dragged on far too long with him constantly adopting that silly 'thinking pose' thing. With every piece I captured the Yaminakas became far more nervous. They would alternate between staring holes in poor Shikas head or glaring daggers at my own. It was clear to both myself and Shikamaru that the game was over and I had won, but he was clearly kicking himself and not wanting to admit that with his current audience and the high stakes.

He looked me in the eye, a clear plea for something. I moved a piece in a manner that would allow him to begin trading pieces till the last man. It would not change the outcome but if he took the bait it would let him truly loose rather than give up. He took it. The game lasted for nearly a whole extra hour because of this, but the gratitude was clear on his face for those first few moments, it told me I had at least some of his respect despite the situation.

When the last move had been made and he was defeated it was clear that the Yaminakas were feeling rather depressed. I decided to try to be the good guy for once. "I don't know what plans you may have had,,, but Ino isn't dying. She can visit you and you can visit her. Other than missions there should scarcely be a day when you can't see each other."

To my pleasant surprise her parents nodded at me with some warmth and gratitude in their eyes. It wasn't the best start but they were at least open to me being a partially decent person. "I will see you in a week at this address for your move in, take that time to settle your emotions and make lots of plans with your family." I left the store.