CHAPTER 49(Ino-Shika-Cho)

Read auxiliary chapter World Info before starting the story.

Please read the author's notes. (Examples and explanation of moves and changes etc)

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CHAPTER START---

"Checkmate, you're still bad at this..." Shikamaru jokes while moving to reset the shogi board.

"Eh, thinking for an entire platoon isn't my thing, that's why I've got you," Jin shrugs.

"Good thing you're one of the strongest pieces then," Asuma points out before puffing his cigarette.

The trio was currently sitting on Shikamaru's porch in his backyard catching up on what Jin missed while away to train.

"Still can't believe you shot up to my rank that fast, you're something else Jin," Asuma points out.

"You should be celebrating, the better I do the more time you get to spend with, well... you know," Jin gives him a teasing smirk.

This earned a small blush from Asuma as the man looked away.

"That means less work for me too, so thanks," Shikamaru moves his first piece forward.

"Yeah well I'll be working a lot for the foreseeable future, Orochimaru is still out there after all," Jin casually mentions, Asuma immediately frowns at the mention of his name.

"Guess we've got the same goal then," the older man says.

"Mhm, they've all gotta go for the leaf to be safe after all, no knives at our back."

"All?" Shikamaru questions, a bit of apprehension in his voice.

"Sigh, something you wanna tell me Shikamaru?" Jin moves his pawn forward on the board.

"About Sasuke."

"I figured, what about him?"

"Do you really think Naruto can't bring him back?" Shikamaru stared at Jin's visor as he spoke.

"Do you think it's worth the risk?"

This caused a tense silence to befall the conversation, Asuma looked between both the young men, unsure of what's about to happen. On one hand, he wanted Orochimaru and everyone allied with him dead, but on the other, he knew the effect Naruto had on Shikamaru and how much Sasuke meant to the blonde.

"I don't think it's ever a bad idea to trust Naruto, if that makes you feel better," Shikamaru breaks the silence.

"Everyone seems to trust Naruto more than actual logic, even the most logical person I know," Jin points directly at Shikamaru," I always trust logic above everything, almost everything...I trust you Shikamaru."

"What do you mean?" Shikamaru isn't exactly sure what's happening here.

Taking his King from the playing board, he holds it up facing his friend.

"I said I'm no good at this kind of stuff. My skills are hitting things and people until they break, that's it, I plan on being the most powerful piece, and I might very well be one day, but I'm still gonna just be a piece on the board," he takes his king and places it at the front of Shikamaru's pieces, facing toward himself.

"You're the one I trust to point me at the right people, because you're better at this stuff than me remember, so fine, I'll let Naruto chase his friend around. But if he fails..."

"He won't, but yeah I get it, I just don't wanna see my friends hurt anymore." Shikamaru frowns as he looks at the game board.

"I'll consider this the first order you give me then."

"First order?" Asuma asks, finally speaking up in the conversation as Shikamaru seems too preoccupied at staring at the two kings on his side.

"Yeah, I think the only person from our generation fit for the role, is Shikamaru Nara, he's the person I'm betting on to become Hokage," Jin gives him a wide smile.

Shikamaru's head snaps up to stare at his friend, this was the first time anyone ever said this to him. He'd never given it much thought before now.

Unlike him however Asuma already considered this, how could he not after seeing the boy develop with his very eyes, a small smile forms on his face as he sees Shikamaru's frozen expression.

"Don't have a heart attack just from the news man, breathe," Jin jokes to lighten the mood as Shikamaru recedes into his thoughts.

"It's just... I always figured you'd be Hokage. Talented, smart, great and scary reputation. You've already got a high bounty and you beat the one-tailed beast," Shikamaru admitted.

"The best soldier doesn't always make the best leader, I'd only be good in war times, you'll be better at keeping the peace."

"Wise words from someone so young," Asuma points out.

"Yeah, the rest of your team is walking this way, I can feel them," Jin tells them.

Shikamaru and Asuma immediately locked eyes for a moment as if to have a silent conversation.

"What?" Jin asked, a bit annoyed at being ignored like that.

"Uh, you've...kinda been the motivation for someone..." Asuma awkwardly says, scratching the back of his head and looking away.

"Ino?"

"Yeah," Shikamaru confirms.

"So?"

"She's probably gonna try to fight you, she thinks she's got something to prove, whatever you did left an impact on her. She's been training like crazy with medical and combat jutsu," Asuma shrugs.

"I already beat up team 8 before coming here, don't feel like having any more boring fights today," Jin casually admits.

"Should I be worried?" Asuma asks.

"Nah she's still pretty so you're fine, Kiba's face might need time though."

"All good then."

"Having you around is so troublesome sometimes Jin, now I'm gonna have to listen to Ino blab more than usual....what a drag."

After two more games of Shogi, their lifetime score was currently 83-0, in Shikamaru's favor.

"JIN!" Choji greets them, his voice carrying far as he jogs up to his friends.

"Yo Choji, how've you been?"

"Me? You're the one that left for months, uh, new blindfold?"

"Visor, and I'm the same guy just a bit stronger and more relaxed now," Jin shrugs.

"Welcome back Jin," Ino says in a flat tone, her eyes unblinking as she fixes him an intense stare.

"Uh, hi princess...you look," taking in her appearance up and down, Jin couldn't help but stare for a moment. Seeing her on paper was one thing, but with the real deal standing before him he couldn't help the smile on his face, gone was her skimpy and useless skirt and top, now she wore purple combat pants and a top that actually covers down to her hips, a much-needed change, "beautiful, probably still the annoying princess though," he can't help but tease her.

"You too...I-uh, I mean, you look good too," she fakes a cough just to focus herself, " I'm stronger now Jin."

"Congratulations?" he really isn't sure where she's going with this.

"I'm a better Kunoichi, I've been training no stop for two years, we've all been doing our best to catch up to you," she gives him a firm nod.

Glancing around the room he sees Choji and Shikamaru also nodding along with her.

"Uh-huh, I already beat up team 8 today, do I need to beat up your team too Asuma?"

"I'd rather you didn't," the jounin answers, "but that's on them," he shrugs.

"No. Just me," Ino declared.

"Awe c'mon, I started the last fight but you guys are supposed to be better than that, and lazier too," Jin frowns at her.

"I've been training two years for this, please..." her glare got more intense if that were even possible.

"Hmm, fine. But you're buying me dinner after, haven't eaten properly since I got back this morning..." he groans while getting up, sparing himself from another shogi loss, ignoring the surprised look she sent his way at his terms.

---15 Minutes later, Team 10 training field...

Ino and Jin were standing barely 50ft apart. Both his hands were in his pockets as he stared at her with bored eyes beneath his visor.

"Whenever you're ready princess, I'm getting hungry."

The rest of the field is completely unoccupied. Ino asked her team not to come, this was personal according to her. They trust Jin not to hurt her, at least that's what Shikamaru said to avoid having to make the trip.

Without warning, Ino immediately began a full sprint toward Jin, drawing a kunai in her right hand in reverse grip she began swinging at him.

With practice ease he blocked all her strikes, never taking a step away as he kept himself in the same spot.

In one smooth motion, as he blocks one of her strikes with his own blade, she deftly drops a smoke bomb between them before leaping away.

"I'm a sensor too princess, I'm not moving so show me what you got," he taunts her as the smoke clouds envelops him.

A sudden surge of chakra is felt from his right, he lifts his hand up just in time to absorb the jet of slicing water shot at him.

"Water Cutter? Didn't know you were capable of that..."

"Two years is a long time!" She yells back from behind him.

Immense heat is felt behind him as a giant fireball slams into his absorption barrier, completely disappearing.

"You can absorb chakra like that?" She asks, the smoke now gone, blown away by the fireball.

"Yup, I'm a serious problem on the battlefield, come find out," he teases her.

Taking a few deep breaths to steady herself, Ino wasn't used to stacking elemental attacks, the chakra was a bit much for her as a sensory ninja.

She rushed in once more, a kunai in her hand again as she sought to confuse him.

*POOF*

Smoke appears in front of her, she exits running side by side with a single clone, dividing her remaining chakra in half, she has to finish this with taijutsu.

As the clone runs to his right she flanks left, both intent on confusing him with a pincer attack.

As they swing for their first strikes, a wave of force washes over them, not enough to ragdoll her but just enough to pop the clone. As it disappears a vice grip locks around her hands. Her fingers are unable to even drop her blade.

Pulling her hands to her side, Jin puts her hands together and holds onto both of them with one hand. The girl tries her best but simply isn't strong enough to break his grip, as she rears back to headbutt him, a desperate attempt, he speaks up.

"Don't, you'll ruin that pretty face before you even scratch me," he takes his now free hand and casually removes his visor, exposing his brown eyes to her.

The compliment only made her angry glare that much worse as he meets her gaze.

"Let.Go."

"Not until you tell me what the hell got into you, you aren't acting like the Ino I know...knew."

"Good!"

"Good?"

"What, you wanted the weak little..." hesitation was clear on her face as she cut herself off, refusing to meet his eyes.

Jin released her hands, allowing them to fall to her sides. She just stood there with her head down waiting for him.

"Weak little what Ino?" his voice was gentle, much like he was when he played brother to Karin.

"You, when I... when I didn't want you to go after Sasuke, you called me a traitor..."

"Mhm, you put a crush before the safety of the village, like a traitor would, what's wrong with what I said?"

"I---" her voice cracked, her eyes were watery but she didn't feel right letting him see her cry like this," I want to be strong, I don't want to be someone you hate, I-I---"

Jin cuts her off with a tight hug, pulling her to his chest and letting her quietly cry her feelings out.

"Two years dealing with his Ino, that couldn't have been fun, but I recognize all the progress you've made, I shouldn't of ignored you, I'm sorry."

After a minute of comfortable silence, Ino finally spoke.

"What now Jin?" her questions could of referred to a million things, but only two came to mind for him.

"Now, I'm gonna stop being a problem for all our friends, it seems that everyone wants to take a leap of faith against logic and leave Sasuke to Naruto, so I'm gonna do that until things get too bad," he gently pats her back.

"What. You?"

"Yeah, for the sake of my friends right?"

'And for the sake of keeping my plans on track mostly,' he thought to himself.

"That's...thanks, Sakura's terrified that you'll go hunt him down, she'll like this news," Ino squeezes him tighter.

"Huh, still a hopeless fangirl, he becomes a terrorist and still has a fangirl, some guys just have everything."

"You've got a fangirl right here," she quietly murmurs, just enough for him to hear.

"Nah, I won our fight, I've got a princess that owes me dinner..."

END CHAPTER---