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

Chapter 22: The Mission

The sun rose slowly over the small town on the outskirts of the Hidden Leaf Village, casting a golden hue on the rooftops as Ino Yamanaka finished her morning routine. The events of the previous night lingered in her mind-the laughter, the shogi games, and the way her heart raced whenever Shikamaru spoke. She shook her head, trying to dispel the warmth from her cheeks as she made her way to the meeting point for Team 10.

As Ino arrived, she found Asuma leaning against a tree, Choji munching on some snacks, and Shikamaru staring off into the distance, his signature lazy expression in place. Ino felt a familiar flutter in her stomach as she approached.

"Good morning, everyone!" Ino called out cheerily, attempting to push away her thoughts about Shikamaru.

"Morning, Ino," Choji replied, a smile spreading across his face as he offered her some chips.

"Thanks, but I'm good," Ino said, waving her hand dismissively. She noticed Shikamaru glance her way before returning his gaze to the horizon.

"Alright, listen up!" Asuma began, straightening up. "Today, we have a mission. We're heading to a small town where some suspicious activity has been reported. Our task is to gather intel on two rogue shinobi who have been spotted in the area. We believe they might be targeting Naruto, so stay sharp."

Ino nodded, her heart racing. Recon missions always brought a mix of excitement and tension. She could feel her focus sharpen as Asuma laid out the details. "We'll head out shortly. Make sure you have all your gear ready. We'll meet back here in thirty minutes."

The team dispersed to gather their supplies. Ino found herself standing next to Shikamaru, who was casually leaning against a wall, arms crossed behind his head. She felt an urge to say something, but the words caught in her throat.

"Are you ready for this?" Shikamaru asked, his tone relaxed as he looked at her.

"Of course! Recon missions are my specialty," Ino replied, a hint of confidence in her voice. "Besides, it's not like we'll be in any real danger."

Shikamaru chuckled softly. "Don't underestimate the unexpected. But if anything goes wrong, just let me handle it. It's a drag to deal with complications."

Ino rolled her eyes, half-exasperated but also amused by his laid-back attitude. "You're so lazy, Shikamaru. But fine, I'll leave the complications to you."

A few moments later, Asuma called everyone back. With their supplies gathered and spirits high, Team 10 set off towards the small town. As they traveled, Ino found herself glancing at Shikamaru frequently. Despite his laziness, there was something about his calm demeanor that reassured her.

When they arrived at the outskirts of the town, Ino noticed a shift in the atmosphere. The streets were eerily quiet, and a sense of tension hung in the air. "Stay alert, everyone," Asuma instructed. "We don't know what we're up against."

The team split up, each taking different paths to cover more ground. Ino moved cautiously, her senses heightened. She and Shikamaru found themselves partnered together, and she felt her heart race at the thought.

"I'll take the lead," he said, gesturing for her to follow. Ino nodded, keeping close as they navigated the town.

As they passed through narrow alleys and crumbling buildings, Ino couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. "Do you feel that?" she whispered, glancing around nervously.

Shikamaru nodded, his expression serious. "Yeah. Stay close to me, and we'll keep an eye out."

As they moved deeper into the town, the silence became more oppressive. The buildings loomed around them, casting long shadows in the midday sun. Ino focused on her surroundings, but her thoughts kept drifting to Shikamaru. Despite the tension, being near him brought her a strange comfort.

Suddenly, a rustle from a nearby alley caught their attention. Ino's heart raced as Shikamaru motioned for her to stay quiet. They approached the alley cautiously, their senses on high alert. Just as they peered around the corner, two figures came into view, clad in dark cloaks with red clouds. Ino's breath caught in her throat.

"Are you sure the target will be here?" one figure asked, a calm and chilling voice that sent shivers down her spine.

"Itachi," the other replied, his tone smooth yet threatening. "Once we locate him, we can't afford to be interrupted. This will be quick."

"Let's make sure to eliminate any distractions," Itachi said, his voice cool and detached.

"Who are they?" Ino whispered, her eyes wide with fear.

"I don't know, but they look dangerous," Shikamaru murmured, his brow furrowing in concern. "We need to get back and warn Asuma."

Before they could retreat, the figures turned, sensing their presence. Itachi stepped forward, a predatory smile on his face. "Well, well, what do we have here? A couple of little shinobi playing at being heroes?"

Ino felt her heart race as the tension escalated. "We should run," she urged, but Shikamaru shook his head.

"Not yet. We need to find out what they're after."

Suddenly, the air shifted as the two Akatsuki members moved closer, and chaos erupted. Shikamaru quickly positioned himself to shield Ino as they prepared to flee.

"Now!" Shikamaru shouted, and without hesitation, Ino took his hand. They bolted down the alley, hearts pounding in unison.

As they ran, Ino could hear the soft thuds of footsteps behind them. "This way!" Shikamaru urged, leading her into a narrow passageway that would give them an advantage. They dashed through, their breath coming in quick bursts.

Once they were a safe distance away, they ducked into a secluded corner, pressing against the wall, trying to catch their breath. Ino looked up at Shikamaru, who was scanning their surroundings, his expression serious yet relieved.

"That was too close," Ino whispered, her heart still racing. "I can't believe we almost got caught."

Shikamaru let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. "Yeah, it was a drag. I didn't think we'd run into someone like that."

Ino couldn't help but smile, the tension of the moment lifting slightly. "But we got away," she said, a sense of relief washing over her. "I'm glad you were here with me."

He turned to her, his expression softening. "Same here. I wouldn't want to be stuck with anyone else."

A small blush crept onto Ino's cheeks at his words, and she looked down, embarrassed. "Right... well, we should get back to Asuma and tell him what we saw."

"Yeah," Shikamaru replied, a faint blush visible on his own cheeks as he looked away. "Let's not keep him waiting."

As they made their way back to the meeting point, Ino felt a warmth in her chest. The adrenaline of the encounter had forged a bond between them, and even in the chaos, there was a sense of comfort in knowing they could rely on each other.

When they arrived, Asuma was already waiting, a worried expression on his face. "Where have you two been? I was starting to get concerned."

Ino took a deep breath, still feeling the rush of their narrow escape. "We... we saw two rogue shinobi. They were after Naruto."

Asuma's expression hardened. "What did they look like?"

"One was really tall, with blue skin and a shark-like appearance," Ino described, trying to recall every detail. "The other had long black hair and red eyes."

Shikamaru added, "They were wearing cloaks with red clouds. We didn't catch their names, but they were definitely dangerous."

Asuma nodded, his brow furrowing in thought. "It sounds like they might be part of the Akatsuki. We need to inform the Hokage immediately."

Ino and Shikamaru exchanged glances, a mix of unease and relief passing between them. They had survived an encounter with formidable foes and gathered crucial information, but the reality of what lay ahead weighed heavily on them.

As the team set off to report back, Ino felt grateful for Shikamaru's presence. In the face of danger, they had found strength in each other, a reminder that they were not alone in the fight to protect their village.