Chapter Text
Shikamaru Nara didn't want a 40th birthday party.
It was only natural that everyone decided too celeberate the next day with Shikadais 20th birthday and Inos 40th.
It was insanely hard for Naruto and Lee too keep the secret.They had too avoid the Yamanaka flower shop for Naruto it was easy he was the Hokage and busy.
Shikamaru was Naruto adviser and in his own office head down once again he'd been even more tired the last few months than usual at first he thought it was a cold he even went too Sakura for help but she just laughed in his face and told him it was a matter of his own heart.
What the hell did that mean?His heart failing?
She said no with a smile asked him more questions and it turned out Ino was the freaking cause for hus heart beating faster.
Now anytime he saw Sakura she smirked at him quickly before returning too talk too Ino or whoever she was talking too.
His heart went faster again thinking about Ino again.It was only a month earlier he realised he had feelings more than friendship,beyond their Ino-Shika-Cho bond and he also had the crazy thought too touch her hair it was even longer now and it looked silky soft.
Six hours later they were back at his house the home was set up and Ino and Shikadai both suprised thinking they were going too have their yearly auntie and nephew dinner for his birthday.
It started a month after Temaris death.She took Shikadai.Choji took Shikamaru.
That night Shikadai cried into her arms and she hugged him tight comforting him.
After that every birthday was the same for them atleast.They'd go to Shikadais faveourite place too eat always so both were on the way when they were blindfolded by their team members.
Choji led her by hand and Inojin led Shikadai by hand also and they arrived at the Nara compound where everyone yelled suprise!
Their blindfolds removed Ino and Shikadai greated the guests one more happy on the outside than the other.Shikadai found Choucho eating and went too her and Ino went too her friends hugging them and sitting down and if she felt Shikamarus eyes on her she pretended not too notice but Sakura certainly did and gave him a thumps up and she also defiently told Sasuke cuz he hid a laugh.
After a few minutes Asumas daughter came Mirai wanted too play Shogi so he they started too play or she did atleast cuz Shikamaru was too busy looking at her eventually he was punched not hard and broken out his haze and faced by the now 22 year old who was also smirking and said:So Auntie Inos who's got you all mopey.
He was now glaring at her whilst moving his piece saying:I don't know what you're talking about.
She laughed.
The second person too figure out and laugh at him.
What was with all the laughing at him.
So he liked Ino hard not too she was beautiful,pretty,kind even at blue eyes not dark like the sea but like the pale sky on a summers day,her hair was also long he wanted too play with it....Would she let him play with it probably not,then that took him too a memory almost fifteen years earlier when Shikadai was playing with Inos hair Inojin was drawing beside her and Chouchou gave her flowers putting them randomly in her hair she was unbothered she didn't even notice Temari and hiself returning home.
Temari had taken a picture and she glared at her son too smile as he was Inos arms he did.
That picture sat in the hallway of his house now with dozens of other picture frames some in a need of dusting and others clean.
It came time for the two cakes.Shikamaru with Choji brought out hers,Chouchou and Inojin brought out Shikadais.
First was Ino,they sang Happy Birthday and Sakura looked directly at him before putting her arm around her friends neck saying:Wish big.
That made Ino blush for some reason and she smiled closing her eyes and blew out her candles next was Shikadai and like that an hour later everyone was starting to go home they did have too stop Hinata from cleaning up alomg with Tenten.
Slowly everyone did leave Sakura tried too wake Ino but he said too leave her Sakura holding Sasukes arm told him toi behave with a grin on her face.
First of all his son and all his friends were sleeping upstairs,second Ino would put him where ever Kaguya was sealed even if he tried also thirdly she didn't like him like that right?
He covered Ino in a blanket and left the room trying not too think about play with her long blonde silky hair.
He put his head face down into pillow once again.
Of all women he had too go and fall for her.
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Ino Yamanaka felt his eyes looking at her for months and at first she was like or he's just a concered friend but no they kept looking but she didn't react not infront him at least.
She blushed like alot,her pale skin looked like she had heat rash too the normal eye but Sakura was with her one day in the market she felt Shikamarus eyes and Sakura looked at her and then looked at Shikamaru only a few feet away who was staring into Inos back and said:Oh my god you like him.
Ino covered her besties lips and whispered yell:No need too shout it.
Sakura just grinned and said:You should say something.
Ino:Like what?Hey Shika i like you like really like you like i want you too be mind and i be yours.He loved Temari okay and that kinda love is like one in a lifetime love.He'll just say Such a drag and walk away and NEVER talk too me again.Also our clans have been interconnected for eighteen generations you know how much history that is?
Sakura watched her friend get increasly riled up and her skin red and even more till she heard Inos voice break a little and she looked at her face their was tears small ones but they were coming.
She hugged her friend telling her too calm down and Ino did saying:I really do like him.
They went too Sakuras after that.Ino spoke about her feelings over a glass of wine before going home.
Ino was alone that night.Inojin had a mission.
She crawled onto her bed and covered her self head too toe.Her long hair covered her too it'd be all knotted by the morning and she'd regret it but right now all she can so was think about him.
You see falling for one your bestfriends since literal birth is a weird feeling in a away.
What the hell she told herself she ended up being awake all night she through her covers off and got ready for the day half awake.
She almost fell asleep making breakfast and eating it she slapped herself and rushed too the Kohona Barrier Team headquaters her clan members knew better than say good morning as she looked half dead.
At around two pm she left for lunch...tell her why she bumped into Shikamaru Nara at the hotpot place he moved hiself and told her too sitdown he was waiting for Choji...
So she sat waiting for thirty seconds Choji hugged her happy too see her she pretended not too see Shikamarus eyes glare at him for touching her.
It was a few days later the birthday party where Sakura was subetly teasing her infront of Tenten and Hinata...
Ino ended up sleeping their from being tired the next morning she woke up and stretched and realised she wasn't at home she was at Shikamarus he came in a few minutes telling her breakfast is ready.
They sat on the floor and ate their breakfast in silence as the adult kids were still asleep.
Ino didn't want too look up too see him staring at her she might combust from that alone so she got up too clean but he grabbed her arm saying he'd do it and she should get going for the day...
So she left leaving his home the Nara clan members the older ones waves hello and smiled at her as she walked at a fast pace leaving the compound as she pretended she did feel his eyes on her as he smoked out the door of his home watching her disappear out the gates.
Getting home she just plopped her body onto her bed and screamed into her pillow so voice was muffled from what she didn't know maybe Sais ghost looking at her.
Why did it feel like betraying two people she loved,Temari and Sai.