ꜱʜᴀᴅᴏᴡꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍɪꜱᴛ | ᴛᴇɴᴛᴇɴ ꜰꜰ|

Chapter 83

Ino was sitting on a bench in the training grounds, absentmindedly twirling a kunai between her fingers. The sun was shining, and the air was thick with the scent of fresh grass and blooming flowers. She had been lost in thought, replaying her earlier conversation with Ugetsu. She had seen the flicker of hope in his eyes, and it warmed her heart.

Just then, Shikamaru approached, his hands tucked casually in his pockets. He looked over at Ino, noticing her distracted state. "Hey, You look like you're deep in thought," he remarked, settling down beside her.

Ino gave a half-hearted smile. "Just thinking about Ugetsu and everything that's been going on. He's really struggling, you know?"

Shikamaru nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Yeah, I can see that. But I've been wondering... why do you like him so much?"

Ino blinked, caught off guard by the question. "What do you mean? He's a good person! He's been through so much, and he's still trying to fight through it all. How can you not admire that?"

"Admiring someone is one thing, but love is different," Shikamaru said, tilting his head slightly. "What if he doesn't feel the same way about you?"

Ino bit her lip, contemplating his words. "I... I guess I don't really know. But I want him to know that I care about him. I want to support him, to help him heal. It's just... it feels right."

Shikamaru looked at her, studying her expression. "You know, Ugetsu is different when he's around Tenten."

Ino's brow furrowed as she processed his statement. "What do you mean by that?"

"He just lights up, you know? When they're together, he seems... lighter. Like all that heaviness he carries disappears for a little while. It's like he can actually smile and laugh," Shikamaru explained, his tone more serious. "And I've noticed he's more at ease, like he's not constantly fighting against his past. It's a stark contrast to how he is around others, including you."

Ino frowned, her heart sinking a little. "Are you saying I'm not enough for him? That he doesn't feel that way about me?"

"No, that's not what I'm saying," Shikamaru reassured her, glancing at her with a hint of exasperation. "I'm just pointing out that Tenten brings something out of him that maybe he doesn't see with anyone else. It's complicated. Sometimes people connect differently, and it doesn't mean they don't care about someone else. You just need to understand where he's at emotionally."

Ino let out a frustrated sigh, frustration bubbling up within her. "It's not fair! I want to be the one who helps him. I want him to see that I care about him, not just as a friend but more than that. But I don't want him to be with Tenten!"

Shikamaru raised an eyebrow. "You're acting like you can control his feelings. Love doesn't work that way, Ino. You can't force someone to feel a certain way about you. If he's drawn to Tenten, there's not much you can do."

"I know that!" Ino snapped, a flash of anger crossing her features. "But it doesn't mean I have to just sit back and watch! I care about him, and I want him to see that."

Shikamaru sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Then maybe you should talk to him. Be honest about how you feel. If he doesn't reciprocate, at least you'll know. But if you keep bottling it up, it's only going to hurt you more."

Ino looked down at the kunai in her hand, contemplating his advice. "You're right... but it's scary. What if I tell him and he doesn't feel the same? I don't want to lose our friendship."

"Sometimes you have to take risks, Ino," Shikamaru replied, his tone softening. "You'll never know unless you try. But you need to be prepared for any outcome."