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

Chapter 35: New Beginnings

The sun dipped low in the sky, casting a warm golden glow over Konoha as Ino entered the barbecue place, her heart light with the familiar scents of grilled meat and spices. The chatter of friends and the sizzling of food filled the air, creating an atmosphere of camaraderie and joy. It had been a few months since Choji had woken up, and since then, everything had slowly fallen back into place.

Ino spotted Shikamaru and Choji at a table, their faces lit with laughter. As she approached, she felt a wave of relief wash over her. It was as if the shadows that had lingered in the corners of her heart were finally dissipating. They were a team again, as they should be.

"Hey! You made it!" Choji beamed, his cheeks slightly fuller than before. He was slowly regaining his strength, and the light in his eyes was a testament to his recovery.

"Of course! I wouldn't miss it for the world," Ino replied, her smile genuine. She slid into the seat next to Choji, feeling the warmth of friendship envelop her.

Asuma entered the restaurant, a relaxed smile on his face. He waved at the group before making his way over. "Glad to see everyone here! I have some news," he announced, his voice booming with excitement.

Ino exchanged curious glances with Shikamaru and Choji, anticipation building. Asuma took a deep breath, clearly excited to share. "I'm officially dating Kureni!"

The announcement hung in the air for a moment, and then a cheer erupted from their table. Ino jumped up, clapping her hands together. "That's amazing, Asuma! I knew you two would hit it off!"

Shikamaru smirked, a teasing glint in his eyes. "Took you long enough, didn't it?"

Asuma chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment. "Yeah, yeah, I know. But hey, now that we're all together, it really feels like the team is back to normal again."

Ino felt a surge of warmth at his words. Despite the ups and downs of the past few months, they had come through it all stronger. She caught Shikamaru's gaze, and for a fleeting moment, an unspoken understanding passed between them. They had both been through a lot, but they were still here, together.

As the evening wore on, they shared stories, laughter, and a generous spread of food. Choji dug into the dishes with gusto, his appetite seemingly returning with a vengeance. Ino couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort in their familiar routine, the bonds of friendship knitting them closer together.

In the back of her mind, the remnants of her earlier feelings for Shikamaru lingered, but for now, she pushed them aside. They were a team, and that was what mattered. She could focus on enjoying the moment, celebrating their victories, and supporting each other as friends.

As the night deepened, Ino felt a sense of belonging wash over her. Surrounded by her teammates, with laughter echoing in the air and food filling their plates, it felt like they could conquer anything together. Maybe, just maybe, things would continue to look up for them all.