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

Chapter 25: did I just confess?

Ino shot up from her bed, heart racing and thoughts swirling. She couldn't shake the panic from her strange dream. It felt so real, and the implications of it were weighing heavily on her mind. She had to talk to Sakura, and she had to do it now.

Throwing on a shirt and some shorts, she barely took the time to fix her hair before bolting out the door. "I need to find Sakura!" she exclaimed to herself, racing down the street toward the ramen shop.

The smell of fresh broth filled the air as she reached the open space of the ramen shop, where she spotted Sakura and Hinata seated at one of the tables. They were laughing together, and the sight brought a small smile to Ino's face, but it quickly faded as her thoughts returned to her dream.

"Ino!" Sakura greeted her, noticing the wild look in her friend's eyes. "What's wrong?"

"I just had the weirdest dream!" Ino blurted out, practically collapsing onto a seat. "You won't believe it! I was talking to Sasuke, and I told him that I don't like him at all!"

Hinata's eyes widened, and Sakura leaned in closer. "What did you mean? You told him you liked someone else?"

Ino nodded rapidly, feeling the urgency bubble up inside her. "Yes! But I didn't say who! I was panicking the whole time, and then I woke up! I think it means something!"

Sakura's eyes lit up with realization. "I KNEW YOU LIKED SHIKAMARU!"

Ino's face flushed, and she opened her mouth to protest, but no words came out.

"W-wait, actually?" Hinata asked, looking surprised.

"No! It's not like that!" Ino exclaimed, waving her hands defensively. "I mean, I don't know! I just... I don't want to hurt anyone! I'm just trying to figure out how I feel!"

Before Sakura could respond further, Tenten, who had been standing outside the shop, stepped in and overheard Ino's frantic confession. "You know, Ino," she said, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow, "these feelings can jeopardize Team Ino-Shika-Choji. You need to think about what this could mean for Choji, too."

Ino felt a wave of anxiety wash over her. "What do you mean? I'm not trying to cause problems! It's just-"

"Just what?" Tenten interrupted. "You're starting to develop feelings for Shikamaru, and your team. That's a lot to juggle."

Ino's mind raced, and she could feel her heart pounding in her chest. "I know, I know! But I just... I don't want to hurt anyone. I'm just trying to figure out how I feel!"

Sakura placed a reassuring hand on Ino's shoulder. "You need to be honest with yourself first. Just take your time, okay?"

Ino nodded, feeling slightly reassured by her friends' support, but the weight of the situation hung heavily in the air. The realization that her feelings could impact not just her relationships, but the dynamic of their team, made her stomach churn.

"Yeah... I guess I really need to think about this," Ino replied, her voice barely above a whisper. She looked at Sakura and Hinata, then back at Tenten, determination igniting within her. "I'll figure it out. I promise."