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

Chapter 34: Cold Shadows

Days turned into a blur at the hospital. Choji still lay unconscious, and Ino felt the weight of worry pressing down on her chest. Despite her efforts to stay strong, she couldn't shake the anxious thoughts racing through her mind. The only thing that seemed to lift her spirits was the knowledge that she'd be on a mission with Shikamaru. But even that was tinged with uncertainty.

Ino stood at the entrance of the hospital, arms crossed tightly over her chest as she waited for Shikamaru to arrive. She had been giving him the cold shoulder ever since she saw him with Temari, and it felt easier to keep her distance. The tension between them was palpable, but she refused to acknowledge it.

When Shikamaru finally approached, his expression was neutral. "Ready to go?" he asked, glancing at her sideways.

"Yeah," Ino replied tersely, avoiding his gaze as she walked ahead of him.

Their mission was straightforward: retrieve some important documents from neighboring villages. But as they traveled, Ino's silence grew heavy, the air between them thick with unspoken words. Shikamaru would occasionally try to make small talk, but each attempt was met with short responses or complete silence from Ino.

"Why are you acting like this?" he finally asked, frustration creeping into his tone. "Did I do something wrong?"

Ino shot him a glare. "No, you didn't do anything," she snapped, her heart racing. She didn't want to let him in, didn't want to explain her feelings or the jealousy that bubbled beneath the surface. "I'm just busy, okay?"

"Busy with what?" Shikamaru pressed, his patience thinning. "Because it seems like you're just avoiding me."

Ino clenched her fists, trying to keep her emotions in check. "Maybe I just don't want to talk about it," she retorted, quickening her pace.

They reached the first village, where they needed to pick up the documents. As they walked through the bustling marketplace, Ino felt Shikamaru's presence close behind her, but his attempts to reach out felt like a weight she didn't want to bear.

"Look, I know you're worried about Choji," Shikamaru said softly, matching her pace. "I am too. But shutting me out won't help either of us."

Ino stopped in her tracks, her heart pounding. "I'm not shutting you out!" she insisted, her voice a little louder than intended. "I just need some space!"

"Fine," he said, raising his hands in mock surrender. "I'll give you space. But you know you can talk to me, right? You don't have to go through this alone."

His sincerity pierced through her defenses, and for a moment, Ino felt the urge to tell him everything-the jealousy, the confusion, and the fear of losing him to someone else. But instead, she turned away again, muttering, "Let's just focus on the mission."

As they entered the village office to collect the documents, Ino felt a heaviness settle over her. Shikamaru might have been right, but she couldn't bring herself to admit it. The cold shoulder was her way of protecting herself, even if it was slowly tearing at their friendship.
Later that night, they found themselves at a small restaurant, their usual hangout spot. They sat across from each other, sharing a plate of grilled meat, but the tension was thick enough to cut. Ino couldn't shake off the silence, the weight of her thoughts pressing down on her.

Finally, she broke the stillness. "So... do you like Temari?" she asked, trying to sound casual.

Shikamaru raised an eyebrow, caught off guard. "What? Where's that coming from?"

"You said she was attractive a while ago," Ino replied, her voice steady but her heart racing.

He leaned back, crossing his arms. "Is this why you've been acting so weird lately? You're curious about my feelings for her?"

Ino felt a flush of irritation. "What? No! I just wanted to know, that's all."

A smirk tugged at the corners of Shikamaru's mouth. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

Ino rolled her eyes, trying to mask the sinking feeling in her stomach. "Well, it's not like I'm interested or anything," she retorted quickly. "It's just... well, you know..."

Shikamaru's expression softened. "Are you handling the Sasuke situation well?"

The mention of Sasuke sent a wave of unease through her. "Yeah, kinda... mostly," she admitted, her heart sinking at the reminder of their loss.

"Good," he said, his voice more sincere than she expected. "You know, it's been really nice to talk to you like this again."

Ino nodded, a small smile forming despite herself. "Yeah," she echoed, feeling a warmth spread through her chest.

They finished their meal in a comfortable silence, both lost in their thoughts, yet feeling a little closer than before.