Wow, already I have something written! This is my first fanfic (ever) so please keep that in mind when reading, and/or reviewing. As time goes on I am going to try and improve my writing skills in all asspects. I appreciate any comments and will take them to heart. I hope you enjoy, and I thank you in advance for anyone who may read/review this.

As a heads up this may be considered SLIGHT AU. Just due to me not basing the story on ALL of the events that take place in the manga/anime and the need for some adjustments but, they will still be ninjas, with missions, and the like.

Disclaimer-I do not own Naruto for if I did Sakura would be cloned and paired with every male to satsify my crack pairing needs.

Chapter One

The air had grown moist and a rain threatened the up coming evening. It was just the beginning of summer and its air was heavy with heat already. Although, the residents of the village made complaints about the weather, the surrounding foliage had lavished in it. Never had the plants taken off so well, nearly everything was in bloom and a sweet aroma encompassed the area. One, in particular was enjoying the unusual climate; a young female ninja who's hair was such a shade of pink that it made the flowers jealous. Perching comfortably in a large tree she watched as her peers, and acquaintances passed by. Earlier, lazing about in a tree seemed to be a good idea but, after a few minutes the young woman grew restless and now she craved excitement. Whoever was to pass by the tree next would become her target. Maybe, if she was lucky it would be Sasuke. If anything it would get him to notice her, and give her a chance to show how much she's improved in the past few weeks. Holding her breath and taking cover in the lush leaves of the tree she became perfectly hidden. All that was left now was the wait.

"How troublesome. Of all days to be stuck training it had to be today. The clouds were perfect for watching and when I finally finish, it appears like it's about to rain." A sigh followed the compliant of the lazy ninja as he began his walk towards his favorite field for his oldest hobby. "Possibly, if I'm lucky the rain will hold off…" He continued his walk, and was moving closer to the rosette predator that lurked over head.

"Perfect" She uttered the words mentally, happy to see that her target was deep in thought. It wasn't Sasuke but, maybe that was a good thing since his reaction may have not been one of being impressed. "Just a little closer" The words ran through her mind as she was ready to pounce and take down her target.

Proceeding, he was now just under the tree and in position for his attacker to strike. With hardly the rustle of a leaf the aggressor leapt from her location and flung dual kunais that pinned the un-aware man to a tree adjacent from the one she was previously hiding in. A triumphant smirk was splayed on her face while her victim frowned with how easily he was caught off guard. A second sigh enunciated from his lips when he saw who had pinned him against the tree. "What a drag."

Approaching him she smiled and removed the weapons she had flung. "I'm sorry Shikamaru. I was just itching for a bit of action. Hope you're not mad."

"I'm not but, I can't say I'm pleased either. I spent all morning in training the last thing I want to do is spar. The clouds are calling for me and I must oblige." Tilting his head back his gaze fell upon the dark clouds that were floating by in the even darker sky. "Why don't you come with me?"

"And risk getting caught in the rain? No thanks. Anyways just like you don't want to spar I don't want to spend any more time lazing about. I spent all morning sitting in that tree." Perhaps she should have waited for the second person to walk by since her target of choice didn't want to cooperate.

"I think you may enjoy it. When was the last time you just kicked back and watched the clouds float by?"

When was it? It had to of been years ago, not since she was maybe five or so. Then she enjoyed it, examining the clouds and thinking of what they looked like but, at that time she was so much younger and was still being teased about the width of her forehead. It was before she had broken out of her shell and had still possessed a exceedingly developed imagination. Would she now even be able to see the shapes she once had or would they just merely be stretched cotton against a blue canvas? "It has been a while but-"

"If it's your fear of getting caught in the rain that is preventing you from watching clouds then that's just silly. What are you a cat? Come on the rain will do you good." He resumed his walk not bothering to wait for Sakura to answer. She would follow, he just knew it. With her having nothing to better to do how could she refuse, he was a genius and being incorrect just wasn't something that occurred.

Silly? Did he just call me silly? The thoughts raced through her mind as she felt the spark for wanting to fight flicker again. "If I watch clouds with you then will you spar with me?"

"I don't need to have someone with me to watch clouds." His paced slowed but, he didn't stop walking. He only invited Sakura to be kind. Cloud gazing was something he typically liked to do by his own self. There was no point in making any deals or bargains with there being nothing to gain or to lose. Exerting himself just was not in his nature and he was not about to change.

Damn it! What kind of answer was that? It wasn't an answer at all! While thinking those thoughts to herself she clenched her fist irritated with his response. I need to just calm down. There was no need to over react. Just because, he didn't want to fight didn't mean she could go around beating the poor guy. She had to think of the morning of training he had and remember that neither of them shared any strong bonds like she did with Naruto and Sasuke. If she wanted to spar with him in the future maybe she had to form some type of friendship with him first. Not the type of friendship where you're polite and 'friendly' with one another but, one where you can truly trust and rely on that person no matter what. Technically she could trust him with her life but, that was only due to the profession they both shared. It had to be that Shikamaru wanted to do these things and not just do them because, it was his duty. His inviting her to go watch clouds with him may have been just the thing to initiate this particular type of friendship and here she was thinking just about herself and the thrill of a good fight.

"No, I suppose you don't but, would you like to have someone with you because, I'd like to go." The words were spoken in her sweetest voice. Making amends for her hasty actions was just something she would have to do and this way the only way she knew how.

Stopping he smiled to himself and thought of how awkward this was becoming. He must have sounded like a jerk, or even worse like Sasuke. If it was the latter he'd have to put an end to that immediately or else Sakura may wined up with a new love interest, and he knew that would just be too troublesome for someone like himself.

"It would be a pleasure." Once again he was mobile and Sakura followed behind him full of hope at the chance of starting a new bond with her former classmate.

"What will we do if it starts to rain?" Wants for a new bond or not, she had to know if she was expected to sit through any storms.

"Head back most likely. No point in being in the rain for too long." Bland were his words. Just like how he felt about this conversation. The rain was no longer a topic of interest to him but, Sakura was. What was it about her that suddenly made her so intriguing? He knew the girl for years yet, he rarely thought of her. Could there be a chance he was missing out on something all this time? Her intelligence was one of the traits she was most known for. Possibly, she could make for a good Shogi partner and even provide a good challenge. Well, that is if Shogi could ever be considered challenging for someone like himself but, at least she would make the game have some length. Did this girl happen to be a link missing in his life?

"Oh, alright. That's good to know." Now what was she suppose to say. She had no idea as to what to say or even converse about. How would she ever be able to become friends with Shikamaru if she couldn't even hold a decent conversation with him? Hopefully, the clouds would prove to be of help in creating this friendship because, unless if something changes soon this relationship will never take off.

"Do you like rainbows?" Girls liked rainbows right? They're colorful and happy, and made one think of ponies. Talking about rainbows would help the lack of conversation, wouldn't it? He sure hoped it would. Sakura could prove to be a valuable friend and he wanted to explore what possibilities could lay in that friendship.

"They're nice." Did he just ask me about rainbows? Please, don't tell me we're going to go rainbow watching next! The words screamed through her head as she thought of how painfully boring this could all end up being. Any other time the thought of seeing a rainbow would excite her but, with the adrenaline filled mind set she was in the last thing she wanted to do was be trapped in another stationary activity. If luck was on her side there would be a big bug for her to swat at which, typically under any other circumstanced would creep her out. Realizing her thoughts and feelings she could sense this friendship had an expiration date that was approaching soon.

"We're here." He felt silly for asking about the rainbows. Regardless of whether or not rainbows made girls think of ponies which, now that he thought about it he wasn't completey sure if all girls even like the said creature, Sakura was no girl, she was a young woman.

"Why, don't you lead the way to the best spot for watching the clouds?" It was funny how the field seemed more like a pasture in her mind. It led her to think of what the old time farmers would say about a senile animal of theirs. Would this field act as the final resting place for her hope of forming the bond she wanted?

Was she the farmer that was taking the potential friendship out to pasture?