Thought it was You Shikamaru. (Shikaino Shikamaru x ino)

Chapter 11: A Silent Witness

As the second day in the Forest of Death wore on, Team 10 approached the scene, each step carrying them closer to a sight they hadn't anticipated. Ino felt a jolt of shock as she took in the scene before her-a fierce, chaotic battle that made her pulse quicken.

In the middle of it all, Sakura stood, defiant but battered, facing off against a trio of Sound ninja. The bruises and cuts lining her face only sharpened her resolve, her stance unyielding as she positioned herself protectively between the Sound shinobi and the unconscious forms of Sasuke and Naruto behind her. Despite the immense danger, Ino couldn't help but feel a surge of pride-and fear. How did it come to this? she wondered, gripped by an unsettling mix of emotions.

Frozen in place, Ino watched as the Sound ninja closed in on Sakura, one of them grabbing her by her long, pink hair and yanking her backward with a cruel smirk. Ino's breath caught, her fists clenching instinctively. Why can't I move? she screamed inwardly, fighting the paralyzing frustration of standing on the sidelines, forced to be nothing more than a spectator to her friend's suffering.

Then, in a moment of desperation, Ino watched Sakura's gaze flicker to Sasuke, unconscious and vulnerable. Her eyes blazed with an intensity Ino had never seen before. "I won't let you take him!" Sakura shouted, her voice echoing with defiance. There it was-the steely determination Ino recognized from all the times they'd pushed each other during training, the resilience that had once sparked their rivalry. This is the Sakura I know, Ino thought, feeling a swell of admiration that was both unexpected and deeply humbling.

To Ino's shock, Sakura pulled out a kunai, her movements deliberate as she brought it to her hair. With one swift motion, she sliced through her long locks, freeing herself from the Sound ninja's grip as her hair fell in scattered pieces around her. Ino's eyes widened, unable to tear her gaze away. She watched, transfixed, as Sakura stood there, lighter, transformed, her determination stronger than ever. She's really doing it...

The sound of Sakura's voice, now fierce and unwavering, carried over to Ino. "If you think you can hold me back, you're wrong!" Sakura's words seemed to vibrate in the very air around them, charged with a fierce energy that left Ino feeling both awestruck and, somehow, a little left behind.

As the fight continued, Ino felt a surge of both pride and envy. This is the Sakura I've always admired... and envied. She wished, desperately, that she could stand alongside her friend, that she could share in this intense, transformative moment. But all she could do was watch, gripped by her own feelings of inadequacy.

"Let's help her," Ino said, barely able to get the words out through the knot of emotions tightening in her chest.

Shikamaru placed a hand on her shoulder, his gaze calm and reassuring. "Not yet. We have to time this right," he whispered, his strategist's mind already working out the next steps. Ino took a breath, forcing herself to wait, despite the fierce urge to dive in.

She focused again on Sakura, watching each precise movement as her friend held her own against the Sound ninja. Sakura fought with a conviction that was almost palpable, her strikes filled with a new strength that seemed to resonate from a place deep within her. Ino's chest swelled with pride, mixed with a renewed resolve. If Sakura can fight like this, then I can find my own strength too.

As the battle neared its peak, Ino watched Sakura's final, fierce stand with an admiration that outshone any rivalry between them. Sakura, you're amazing. In that instant, Ino made a silent promise to herself-she would find her own way to be strong, to protect her friends, and to stand on equal ground with Sakura, no longer just a spectator.

Finally, as the dust began to settle, Ino turned to Shikamaru, her voice filled with renewed determination. "Now. Let's help Sakura."