Shikamaru was one of her oldest, most trusted friends and while she knew he was no pushover, Ino still worried about him. She'd never stop worrying about him and Chouji, such was the bond between teammates but as of late, she and the Akimichi clan heir saw their comrade less and less. Ino had let Shikamaru be, for a time, thinking that he wouldn't appreciate her meddling. But the blonde could only ever be so patient.
His genius resembled a curse at times, she realized. People, hell, all of Konoha, had relied on the Nara brain ever since its founding. With Shikaku gone, the burden rested upon Shikamaru' shoulders now. Ino knew a thing or two about that. Some days she could feel Ibiki trying to burn a hole through her skull with his staring.
Like he'd will Inoichi back to life by doing so. If only it were that simple.
She knocked once, she knocked twice on Shikamaru's front door, waiting. When there was no response and the sound of approaching footsteps didn't grace her ears, Ino sighed heavily. He was inside. His chakra signature told her as much. "I will break down your door if you don't let me in." she threatened loudly, as though they were twelve again or fourteen and they had yet to know the horrors of war.
"Kami help you if I do and I see you lazing around. Is sleeping and watching clouds all you are good at?" Ino couldn't do anything, but nag. If she didn't, her heart would break for the shattered man she considered family.
Silence. The absence of any 'troublesome woman' wording left her feeling empty and more concerned than earlier. Ino knocked on the door again, more urgently. Not out of anger or even annoyance, but out of worry. "Shikamaru please." she pleaded. "I need to see you. And I won't leave until you let me." Ino insisted, voice gentler than earlier, but still loud enough to ensure that he'd hear her.