*I don't own Naruto or Naruto Shippuden, it all belongs to Kishimoto. Please R&R, I appreciate any and all feedback. Now on with the story.

New Horizons

If one word could be used to describe her inner turmoil it would be despondent. The loss of hope and courage was the only way to explain not only her all around being but all five of the boys before her and all the Rookie 9. No not 9, 8. He was no longer a part of them, a part of Konoha.

Traitor, deserter, rat, renegade; the list was endless, how she had been so blind to the truth was not only sickening but a major error in her judgment. Something her clan specialized and prospered in. She could hate him and blame him all she wanted but she ultimately knew Naruto, Kakashi, Sakura and herself were to blame for being so ignorant and oblivious to the signs that pointed to doing what he did and now they paid for it.

Choji and Neji had nearly died for someone that had turned his back on his home so easily, for the scum of the earth. Kiba had almost lost his best friend and Lee his ability to continue doing what he loved. Naruto had broken his 'life time promise' to Sakura and most importantly lost his true self when Sasuke chose to walk away, take all that Naruto had given him burn it to the ground and left him for dead.

Shikamaru had suffered mentally the most in her eyes. He failed his first mission as leader and as a chunin but also realized how much others would be dependent of him and his leadership. It killed her to see them look so defeated, desolate as the Godaime told them all of the lost 'comrade' that was now turncoat, an enemy nin that would be killed on sight if he did not cooperate if captured. She didn't even bother trying to comfort Sakura the girl just kept crying, she actually felt the sudden urge to slap her. Was she also ever so stupid to cry for such a terrible person? Yes despondent was a fitting word.

Leaving the Hokage Tower and walking behind her two slumped team mates made her realize something. She was pathetically inadequate, weak, something incredibly difficult to admit to herself. Out of everyone she had graduated at the top, not counting Shikamaru. He was a genius after all, lazy but a genius nonetheless. By that logic she should have been one of the strongest shinobi/kunoichi of her year but she wasn't. She was at the bottom tier somewhere not meant for her.

Looking up she noticed both her teammates were turned looking at her, uncertainty in their eyes. Had they said something to her, were they waiting for a reply? Before she could answer or say something Choji spoke up, "Ino... I'm sorry we couldn't bring him back. We knew how much you liked him. We just weren't strong enough..."

This is what he was apologizing for? If anything she should be the one apologizing for being so stupid and fickle for 'loving' such a vile person. At that moment she felt sick with herself, they should be more worried about their own well being not some false feeling of what she believed loved to be. Shikamaru didn't really seem sorry they weren't able to retrieve Sasuke but she knew he at least cared about her and her feeling thought he'd never admit it out loud.

She didn't like any of this. No she would never make them worry about something so assening and would definitely get stronger to be able to protect her boys and go along with them on their next mission. She had wasted enough precious training time pining over the traitor. He was no longer 'Sasuke-kun' to her he was an enemy nin, a deserter who abandoned everyone and everything so easily without any remorse and would pay the next time she saw him.

Looking into both her teammates eyes she finally spoke up, "No I'm the one that's sorry for being so foolish and childish. I'm okay, you two should worry about your own well beings. I'm going to go home now, things to do." With that she gave them a small reassuring smile and left leaving a confused Choji and a stunned Shikamaru.

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Shikamaru's POV:

Something was off with Ino, she normally should have been in tear asking, no demanding for an explanation as to why he hadn't asked her to come along on the mission. He had expected her to be furious with him, to become a punching bag of sorts while she let off steam. At least cry for losing her precious Sasuke-kun but no she took it in strides and was rather quiet, something completely out of character for his blond friend.

When Choji apologized he thought that was the moment she'd snap, instead they received reassurance and an apology. An actual genuine apology. This was not proper Ino behavior, hell this scared him more. He at least knew how to deal with her when she got into one of her tantrums as he had deemed to name them. Watching her leave he felt a strange urge to follow her, if anything to just ask and double check to make sure she was really okay.

The look Choji gave him made it clear he wasn't the only one thinking Ino was acting strange and out of character for herself. Suddenly Asuma appeared in front of them, a cigarette dangling between his lips with a somber look on his face. "Choji your father has asked me to tell you to head home. You still need your rest." With that said Choji gave him a nod and started going off in the direction of the Akimichi compound.

Shikamaru had taken that as his cue to leave, maybe he'd nap for a week, kami knew he needed it. "Not so fast. We need to have a talk and although neither of us want to have it we both know you need it." With a tight squeeze to his left shoulder he sighed and reluctantly followed Asuma. That nap needed to be a month long and kami knew he wouldn't be getting it anytime soon.

They went to training ground 10, under the large oak tree he liked to nap at was their shogi board. If there was anything Asuma knew about Shikamaru it was that the only way to get him to open up would be through Go or Shogi. Asuma knew this was a critically important time for Shikamaru, your first mission always stayed with you.

He didn't want his student to have self doubt or hesitations about his promotion and as a shinobi, he wanted to be a shoulder to lean on for all his students and if he was able to lessen whatever pain or frustration they felt the better.

As they were setting up the board Asuma finally spoke up, "What's on your mind little deer? You seem to be thinking rather hard." Shikamaru slightly stiffened when he noticed the nickname Asuma rarely used on him and how he was now under observation. "Just thinking on strategies I can use on my next mission to ensure everything comes out well. To make it a priority to keep everyone safe." Asuma looked at him thoughtfully, Shikamaru must have really been shaken up by this failed mission if he was talking so openly. Usually he had to pry him up a little to at least get one worded answers or grunts.

"I know how it feels your first mission as captain or leader is always tougher than most. It stays with you forever, but you need to understand that this wasn't a ordinary mission. It was a high ranking mission, one that had a lot of unaccountable surprising factor that no one could have foreseen no matter how much of a genius one is. I'm positive that if the Hokage had more insight and information on those Oto nin and what Orochimaru had planned she wouldn't have sent a new Chunin and four genin." He stopped to take a deep puff of smoke, slowly releasing it.

"Now I'm not in any way saying you didn't do well or I didn't believe in your abilities but even you with that genius brain of yours must understand that even though it was a failed mission you did incredibly well. Everyone came back, no one died and to most that is what matters." Looking at his student with a look of commiseration he continued.

"Don't beat yourself up or blame yourself about what happened. I know for a fact Choji doesn't blame you and he'd be really upset if you did. Keep at it and next time strategies better, you'll see you have what it takes. Remember there was a reason why you were promoted and no one else." Asuma soon realized they hadn't even started playing, he had ended up giving Shikamaru a pep talk.

Usually Asuma was uncomfortable doing such things but as he saw fat droplets fall from his students eyes he knew that his lazy genius had not only gotten the message but wouldn't ever let him down. All Shikamaru could do was nod and choke out a strangled "Yes Asuma-sensei."

With that Asuma grinned widely at him and gave his head a lazy pat before getting up and leaving Shikamaru alone with his thoughts. Shikamaru knew he would do everything in his power to succeed in all future missions and keep everyone safe. That was his new nindo, his ninja way.