"Shikamaru!" Ino called going through the front door of the Nara household.

"Oh, Ino!" Mrs. Nara came out of the kitchen stirring a bowl of dough in her hands. "It's good to see you."

Ino bowed. "You too, Aunt Nara. I've come to talk to Shikamaru. Where is he?"

"Choji came and they went off somewhere. Those boys."

Ino smiled. "You can't blame them. This is the first time in months we've got the day off."

"Well, tell Shikamaru to come home in time for dinner. Go and catch up with them."

"I will. Thank you!"

"Ne, Shikamaru?" Choji said, grabbing the plastic bag of sweets and snacks he just bought.

"What is it?"

"Do you think I'll ever get married?"

Shikamaru gave his friend a surprised look. "Why's this coming up so suddenly?"

"I'm going to be the next head of the family and I'm in charge of passing on our will to the next generation," the pair began walking down the street. "But, girls these days all want a strong handsome guy like Sasuke or you."

"Hey, don't put yourself down so much. You're strong and handsome enough," Shikamaru grabbed a chip from the bag Choji had just opened. "Anyways, women are a pain. I'd rather not think about them."

Choji gave Shikamaru a curious look. "You and that Sand girl get along pretty well in my opinion."

Shikamaru started choking on the chip and Choji had to pat his back until he had a hold of himself.

"We are not bringing that up again," Shikamaru said with teary eyes from the choking. "Ino always manages to bring it up. I don't want you to start doing it too."

"Fine. I won't talk about it. But you do seem to like her," Choji said with a sly grin.

"Shut up."

Choji chuckled.

The friends have ended up on their usual spot at the rooftop with the bench. They looked up at the clouds that were traveling lazily across the sky. The sounds of chips crunching did nothing to interrupt the comfortable silence shared by the old friends.

"I miss being a kid," Shikamaru suddenly voiced the thought that had been in his mind for a long time. "We weren't bound by all these responsibilities and all we did was run around and play."

"But now we can make a difference in our home," Choji said opening another bag. "We can change it for the better and lead younger ninja to the right path."

"Yeah, I guess."

"Hey! Guys!"

Shikamaru sat up and saw Ino leaping toward them. She joined them with a big smile on her face.

"Two things!"

Shikamaru and Choji looked up curiously at her.

"Temari-san is coming!" Ino said, intensely observing Shikamaru.

"Yeah, I know," he said, swallowing another chip. "Tomorrow, right?"

Ino blinked, getting caught off guard. "Yes. How did you know?"

Before Shikamaru could answer Choji cut in. "Because he likes her."

Shikamaru stared at the pair of them with half lidded eyes. "It's not like that, okay!"

"Oh! He's turning red!"

Ino giggled and Choji chuckled.

"I knew because the Fifth told me she was coming to prepare for the Chunin Exams. I'm to be her escort."

"Aw, come on Shikamaru," Ino playfully punched him. "Just admit that you like her already. You're wasting valuable time."

"Just like I am now?"

"No, we're your friends and teammates. You're required to hang out with us," Ino pointed out, she collapsed beside Shikamaru and grabbed a chip from the bag. "I miss hanging out like this. We've been so busy these past few years. In a blink of an eye, we'll be old and useless."

"Well, this just got depressing."

"It's true..."

"At least being old and useless means we won't have any problems. Nobody will be in mortal danger other than the danger of falling down and never getting back up," Choji pointed out.

Ino sniggered. "I've fallen and I can't use chakra to get up," she said mimicking a commercial.

"You have no idea how much my mom complains that that'll be her in a couple of years," Shikamaru said, stretching his arms. "What the heck is a chakra warranty for old ninjas anyway?"

"No idea..." Ino sucked in a breath of fresh air.

"Didn't you say you had two things to tell us?" Choji asked.

Ino popped up in a sitting position and grinned wildly at them. "Asuma-sensei and Kurenai-sensei are officially dating!"

Shikamaru's eyes widened slightly. "That's great."

"They deserve it," Choji nodded.

Ino's smile slid off her face. "Times are really changing, huh?"

"For better or for worse. At least our teachers are happy."

"Yeah, but..."

Shikamaru yawned. "It won't do you any good worrying about what's going to happen. Just enjoy the here and now."

Ino smiled up at the clouds. They were moving slowly as the breeze led them through the blue sky. In a few seconds they could no longer exist or they could even grow in size, but they had no control over which would happen. To disappear completely or to multiply in strength.

Shikamaru peeked from under one eye at her. He knew what she had been thinking and he himself also had those thoughts once and a while. Life taking away their comrades, throwing the most foul obstacles in their way. Watching helplessly as someone you hold dear is crumbling apart in your arms.

Shikamaru sighed. "I'll tell you something to cheer you guys up."

"What?" Choji and Ino said.

"I really do like ****."

"I knew it!"