Chapter 1
Ino Yamanaka prides in the fact that she knows everything that’s going on in Konoha. Blame her looks, her uncanny ability to find the juiciest gossips and her skills in being at the right place and at the right time.
But the latest rumor is something so unbelievable that she even doubted her skills. She has ears, eyes, nose and mouth everywhere. She’s the head of Konoha’s intelligence for kami’s sake! No information is shocking anymore, but this one just doesn’t make sense.
“Shikamaru! Open this door or I’ll open it with force!” She couldn’t shake the feeling so she went directly to the involved. If the rumors are true, then it affects her directly too.
Shikamaru Nara gave her a lopsided grin before allowing her to enter his study. There, sitted on the lounge is Kiba Inuzuka, nursing what looks to be a bruised lip.
“You have to have Sakura heal that” She scoots next to Kiba before wrinkling her nose.
“Or you can just kiss it to make it better” Rolling her eyes and shoulders, she stares at Shikamaru, her eyes knowing.
“What do you want, Ino? I have work to do” Shikamaru sat on his desk with a pen in hand, dealing with numbers and logistics.
“Work? What’s that?” Kiba said dryly.
“Go away, Kiba. This is official Ino-Shika-Cho business. Run along like a good dog” Ino started poking Kiba, childish, he thought.
“Choji’s not here.You’re down one man. It so happened, I’m here as a handsome replacement” He winks at her, flashing his fangs as well. It’s endearing but right now she’s running on adrenaline and anxiety.
“I said out!”
“This is Shikamaru’s house! Make me!”
”Fine!” Ino actually started hitting Kiba with a throw pillow. Kiba is hitting her back with another.
Shikamaru puts his pen down, amusement marred his features. They are the new adults and yet here they are. Bickering like children and perhaps there’s some truth to it.
The war took their childhood. They didn’t have time to bicker and fight and be stupid. They all had to grow up. Him faster among the others.
He also knows why she’s here but admitting it to her makes it a truth. A truth he’s not ready to accept himself.
“You heard the lady, Kiba. We’ll talk later. It’s Ino-Shika-Cho business and I can’t break oath by allowing you to hear it” Ino stopped hitting Kiba, the latter prepared to leave still holding the pillow like a weapon.
“Lady? More like..”
“Finish that sentence and I’ll finish you” Ino pulls out a kunai, ready to hurt.
“Women” Kiba murmured before closing the door. Women indeed, Shikamaru agreed.
Ino narrowed her eyes at Shikamaru.
He continues to write. He hates paperwork but that’s what he’s been doing these years. Ever since Shikaku died and Shikamaru is now clan head, the responsibilities fell into him. He couldn’t say no, obviously.
“So it’s true? You’re actually doing it?” She said softly.
“I have no say in the matter. The council said yes. The clan elders said yes. The Hokage said yes. My choice hardly matters” Which is true. He’s done fighting. The war took all the fight in him. He’ll agree and make it easier for everyone.
“That means I have to … and Choji has too ..” He nods with a small smile.
“Blame the Ino-Shika-Cho oaths” Years ago their ancestors perhaps under the influence of alcohol made a pact. Their family to train, grow and protect each other. To be connected as if they’re blood but honoring each clan’s identity by holding onto each tradition while creating a tradition between the three clans.
“Fuck them”
”Fuck them, indeed”. He pulls another paper, this time the one that has the Nara seal embossed. It’s a personal letter, a letter he needs to send to her.
“How can you be so calm? Shikamaru we have to do something. I’m not ready. I don’t even want to. I don’t even have someone!” Ino started pacing. He’s bound to have a headache soon.
”I’m not calm. I’m seething with rage but I have to endure. You know how the oaths work, Ino. You know I have no control about it” He quips with a dry tone.
“But we have control over it! You’re clan head, I’m clan head! We just have to convince Choza that this a mistake! You can’t possibly go down without a fight. I’m on your side” Ino stops pacing, her hands on his desk now.
“Please Shikamaru” He stares at her softly. Ino lost a father a too but even back then she pulled him out of his pain. Ino’s selfless, but even Ino has her limit.
“Alright”
She smiles brightly and he smiles at her back.
“No” Choza answered happily. Too happy, even.
Ino raised a delicate brow, hands on her hips, demanding a thorough explanation.
“Why not?” She asked.
“It is out of my hand. The decision finalized last week. The Hokage wanted an answer from the Nara Elders. But they have not officially notify the clans obviously. I heard the Hokage is planning a meeting this forthnight with us. You’d know, Ino” Choza continues to answer them with a bright tone as if he’s answering a curious child. Unfortunately Choza still sees them as children.
His children, now that their fathers are gone.
Ino gave out a shriek.
“I can’t believe this is happening!”
“It’s not happening yet” Choza adds.
“Why can’t the Hokage pick another clan to play his games? Why does it have to be Shikamaru and now my clan and yours are involved!”
“Consider it an honor that the Hokage recognizes us as an asset to Konoha. This will bring honor to us” Ino sighed dramatically. Choza is a lost cause now too.
“But perhaps you can talk to the Hokage. After all he’s fond of the both of you. He’ll give you answers” Choza sounded like he’s appeasing a child.
“I think I will. Come Shikamaru!”
That’s how Shikamaru found himself sitting at the Hokage’s office on his day off. As if it’s not enough that he sees this office and the Hokage five times a week, sometimes six.
“It was a close door meeting, Ino. Your skills are truly amazing ” Kakashi Hatake seemed impressed.
“We fought a war, Kakashi sensei. Is that not enough?” Ino sounded defeated.
“I understand your sentiments. But then again, I don’t hear complaints coming from him”
It was Shikamaru’s turn to roll his eyes. He knows the decision is final. He knows when to count his losses and this is one of them. Sure there are other ways to go about it — but this is the most effective, his calculations are rarely wrong.
Unfortunately, to choose him was also the correct move. They’re all shogi pieces; the time for him to be use arrived.
“Give it up, Ino” And now she’s looking at him with resentment.
He wants to add more. To assure her that everything will be fine. That this is the right move. But he cannot. He refuses to. Ino is a variable affected, as well as Choji. So he blames their ancestors instead - and the oaths they made years ago that shaped their clans today.
Fucking old people, he thought.
“Reschedule the meeting tomorrow. Ino and I will notify the clans. The sooner we all sit down, the better” And they have to before Ino opens her mouth for everyone to know. He’s not ready for everyone to know.
But someone actually knows.
A couple of people outside of Konoha actually.
Kakashi had planned this with the other Kage. Another silver lining to this predicament is that he knows she won’t go down without a fight. He had, Ino will eventually.
But she won’t. And that excites him.
Kakashi will pay. The council. The elders.
She’ll bring them a storm they cannot weather.
He allowed himself a little chuckle before offering his hand to Ino.
“Hokage-sama” He bids goodbye.
“Lord Nara, Lady Yamanaka” Kakashi smiled brightly.
“It’s asinine” She said to no one in particular. She tore the letter again hoping it will erase the truth it contains.
An alliance that involves a marriage.
A forced marriage between two people who are not even friends. Former enemies.
What does she and Nara had in common aside from surviving the war?
Dead fathers? No that’s not promising.
Add in the fact that he’s younger than her. The same age as Kankuro. She shudders.
Someone will pay, and she’ll start with her little brother.
Her little brother who by sheer dumb luck, is out of Suna.
No one forces her to do anything let alone be a pawn in someone else’s game.
They will all pay. And she will make sure of that.
But for three days she sat with her anger. Three days was a long time to wait that she has crafted a list of things she’ll do to Gaara then the Suna council- none of it ensures survival.
Is she willing to kill Gaara?
His answers and his next course of action will determine that.
The soon to be dead kage acknowledges her presence. She stood at his office door, waiting. Like a predator. Like death.
“Come inside, dear sister” He nods to the chair in front of him.
“I believe you’ve heard of the news?” Oh. he believes? She rolled her eyes.
“I’ve received a letter from Nara about a marriage that involves me. I don’t consent, Gaara. You cannot force me. You have to kill me first” She stopped herself from hitting his desk.
“I see” That’s it? “However my dear sister, this decision was not mine alone. The Suna council agrees..”
“The Suna council answers to you. You’re the Kazekage!” Now she’s on her feet. She will make him see reason.
“Sister, it’s a marriage. Not a life sentence”
“It is a life sentence to me! My life, Gaara. Did you even bother to ask me how I feel about it before offering me like I’m some peace of meat?”
And that’s the truth, isn’t it? A woman is expected to do a man’s bidding.
Women are currencies.
She’s expected to leave Suna. She’s expected to trade her responsibilities to the village to play house. For a husband and a child.
No one expects this from a man. That’s why it’s her not Kankuro. Not Gaara. Because she’s a variable they can let go. Expendable. Invaluable.
All because she’s a woman.
But she’s a woman who had made men cower in fear. She’s not going down easily—she’s taking everyone down with her.
“I’ll talk to the elders” He relented. “I’ll tell them your wishes”
”We will talk to the elders. And we will tell my answer is no. If they want an alliance, we can draft offers. Give them Kankuro if need be. But not me”
He can only nod in agreement.
She storms away wishing her anger remains in his office. Wishing it travels far as Konoha that the Hokage, his council and Shikamaru Nara will cower with fear.