After uploading this post, I realized I focused almost exclusively on the child aspect that intra-Team Ten ships pose. In this brief post, I'll touch on the housing and clan leadership issues.

Housing

I've tried to find a conclusive Konoha map to figure out where all the Nara, Yamanaka, and Akimichi compounds are relative to each other, but it seems fans can't conclusively agree. Needless to say, I found maps with varying results including these placements. However, these maps do show the clans residing relatively close to one another.

Based on the Ino-Shika-Cho alliance's importance and connection dating back to before Konoha's existence, it's fair to assume that the clan leaders would choose to have the clans close in proximity to one another. Therefore, whether an Ino-Shika-Cho couple resides in one clan compound or near them should not be a huge issue. If there is an emergency at the compound, the non-clan leader is able to head to their clan compound quickly. Not to mention all three clan leaders would just meet up anyways since they are allies.

Besides, clan leadership does not require clan leaders to be on the premises at all times. In Boruto, Shikamaru works a full-time job as Naruto's advisor while Ino runs her flower shop when she isn't doing intelligence work. The same goes for Shikaku, Choza, and Inoichi. We see them always together whether it's at the bar, doing ninja work outside of Konoha, or in meetings. Inoichi also works at the flower shop. If an emergency were to happen during the day, clan members would have to go find their leader wherever he is located anyways. Two clan leaders choosing not to live on the premises or live near the compounds should not be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

Clan Leadership

This is objectively the larger issue that I failed to discuss in my last post. Just like how Temari's connection to Suna and the Kazekage posed political conflict interests for Shikamaru's role as the hokage's advisor, what about an inter-clan leader marriage?

We can't really compare this to historical monarch marriages where the princess of one country marries the king/prince of a different one. In those marriages, the man is the sovereign monarch and the woman is merely a political token used by both countries. All the participants in this ship are sovereigns to their respective countries.

There are people from the Nara, Yamanaka, and Akimichi clans who probably would question their leaders' loyalties to their own clans due to their marriage. The one thing that Ino-Shika-Cho ships do have on their side is that their clans are such close allies.

In the last post, I referenced the Shippuden episode "The Legendary Ino-Shika-Cho." Within that same episode, we can hear Team Ten's fathers refer to their relationship as a "brotherhood." This implies that they consider each other family. They also trust each other's children to take care of one another.

When a Yamanaka member uses the mind possession jutsu and someone from Ino-Shika-Cho has to protect their body, they are literally putting their life in their hands, ex: Ino and Shikamaru or Inojin and Chocho.

If the clans and clan leaders cannot trust one another in a marriage involving their own members who they have been allied with for 16 generations, there is no outside clan marriage they can trust.

Absolutely love the days when ideas come like generous rain watering the parched soil. 🪻 Feeding on it while it last… 🥹

Under the emerald canopy of trees, amidst the flickering cityscape lights, the summer breeze oscillated the leaves into a rhythmic lullaby. It eased her into the mood, as her confession peaked.

“Shikamaru, I think I…”

Ino stared at his fingers as her own slithered down to grasp them. Courage did not come easy, but it did anyway, like the optimistic love of a blooming bush clover flower.

She knew that once these words were said, there would be no turning back. But it came out without much thought, when her gaze met his.

At last, that fine, fragile line between friendship and romance that had gone blur and brittle, shattered.

And So It Began

Inofatuation Chapter 6

Sorry for the wait and if you’re still here, thank you! 💜💚

Updates will be slower after this as adulting and working life commitments gets busier mid-year. 😭

But I’m invested in the story line and I can’t wait to see how this unfold as I continue to write it. 🪻

Enjoy!

Sneak peek 👀 Chapter 6: And So It Began

She sounded like she had a plethora of topics to converse about in her head since the war ended two months ago, given the abnormal amount of words enunciated from her mouth. Unaccustomed to this overjoyous demeanor, Shikamaru flashed a caustic smirk as her hands spinned and waved, avidly illustrating whatever she was talking about in the thin air.

In the midst of the acrobatics, her hand accidentally brushed against his arm. He jerked slightly.

Ino's eyes narrowed into slits, the light green irises glowed a shade darker, counting.

One.

The gleam on Temari's face was seriously perturbing, provoking Ino. The conversation continued, escalated into controlled but mischievous giggles as she nudged him with her elbow. He pulled away and ranted.

Two.

The nudge, intentional. But Shikamaru's reaction was acceptable. For now.

Ino's face was calm like a clear sky, but a storm was brewing in her heart. It was a latent feeling that finally found a name, spelt out in green, triggered by her presence.

Ugh. Hate this feeling.

Carelessly, Temari’s elbow landed on his shoulder. A cheeky smile followed.

Three.

He did not budge, even managed a grin.

No. Not good.

The muscles of her face began to twitch, her lips pursed, barely able to maintain composure. Witnessing first-hand the shift of Shikamaru's attention to Temari, Ino bit her lip, seething, as the attention that was hers and hers alone before, slipped away.

Before the war, this was a predictable interaction.