The second chapter of Crossing is taking longer than I thought, its taking 14 pages already, I dunno but I'm still on a decision if I'm going to cut it or not, so I did not upload it yet.
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Author's notes:
A ShikaTema story
hookay, i though I could finish this off with a one-shot for my personal greeting of a happy new year to all but it seemed that i was wrong. The story keeps on adding by itself. LOL so, here,i tried to make this fast-paced as i can. This is my opening fic for the opening of the new year. Started making this Dec.31 , New Year's Eve.
About the story:
This happened somewhere in the episode around Gosungkuki, if you people have been there already, where Team 10 is on a mission and Tsunade gets Naruto to tag along because Shino is on another mission with his clan.
About the characters:
Anyway its common news that Shika is soooo lazy, has no motivation and no aspiration. And most of all, an absolute traditionalist. That means he believes that men should lead, not follow. And women should be submitting. Kami, Shika is the most antithesis person I've ever known. And oh, don't blame Temari to interject non too savvy words along the story. I think its in her character. We cannot blame her for growing up being the only girl in the family, plus her sensei and her father's other subjects were mostly male.
On some story alterations and jutsu invention
I'll be inventing jutsus but I'm not going to be specific about it, my kanji dictionary is lost so I don't have any reference. On Shika, I dunno, I'll just let my imagination spark on whatever techniques he'll do, don't kill me for this, kay?
Just for your info: Tori-bird yama-mountain inu-dog
-A Happy and prosperous 2006 to all of you.-
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"Is that so?" A blond, honey-eyed woman crossed her hands with fingernails painted in red in front of her nose with arms reclining on her desk. She racked her brains for possible solutions. He could do this. Who knows what those impressive brains could do more? And besides, no jounins were available the moment, but its okay since Sand is going to send one of their best ninja. And, it wont hurt if she asks for their help. After all, that is what alliances were for.
"Kotetsu"
A figure suddenly appeared in front of her
"Hai, Hokage-sama"
"Find him and bring him here. I have a mission for him."
The bandaged-faced jounin vanished after he stepped back and bowed his head.
Good thing Naruto is not here.
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Pride is so hard to Swallow
By Veiledlantern
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"Trou-ble-someee"
Arms up folded on the back of his neck and looking positively miserable, Shikamaru whined to himself as he walks away from the Academy towards the Hokage Tower. He's being called. Never mind that he is even sick of repeating to himself the phrase, but he cant keep himself feeling bothered about it. Especially disturbing him from his nice cloud watching. The skies were beautiful today. It has the beautiful shade of blue. And the cumulus clouds were so nice to look at. Until he had been given a mission.
But he cant deny the fact that its a bit of a relief being called to a mission rather than his mother ordering him to collect herbs and some spices in their land for her cooking in New Year's Eve. Oh yeah, the next, next day is going to be the New Year's Eve. At least he's away from home and would come back only if the feast were starting. But its still a bother to be called on a mission on a holiday. Shikamaru scrunched his brows.
"Chi... women are so troublesome"
"And its even more troublesome to travel in pure heat" Shikamaru stops his lazy walk and squints his eyes towards the sun thinking about the winterless tropical sun-kissed country he's going to for a while then resumed his walking.
oOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
The sun has not risen yet. But for this sandy, sunny country, its already degrees higher that it should be in the normal mornings in other places. The wind is gritty, dry and grainy. Too much for a very early morning.
"So who's Konoha ninja I'm going to the mission with? I would rather team up with another Sand nin, you know" Temari inquired of the Kazekage about her new mission with brows meeting up, arms crossed. She had just came home the other day and now this little boy is ordering her to do some reconnaissance mission with a foreigner. She glared at him. It's okay, anyway. It just so happens that her Kazekage is her very own little brother.
"They did not name a specific person yet but the Hokage said that they would find someone that is suited best in this mission. I and the Hokage had agreed to work together on this mission in which we aim to strengthen the alliance between Suna and Konoha" Gaara replied in his bland tone that matches his perfectly calm face, ignoring his sister's blatant glare at him.
"And dont worry, I have asked that you'll be teamed with someone you had worked with in the past that is Aware of your temper"
Temari raised her brow at the implication of the words of the red haired boy sitting on his desk. She sighed and dropped her left arm at her sides "They're so slow. If they know that this is an important mission they should had chosen the most able candidate ahead of time. And to think that they had to choose this time of the year to do this."
"Its not our place to judge them, Temari. Maybe they're still recovering from the last attack they have from Sound. They have lost a reasonable number of men. Considering of their current shortage of manpower, its not surprising to be attentive of whom they are going to send in every missions."
"Ah, fine then" Temari shrugged off, dropping the discussion. Gaara started to explain the mission in details. She leaned her right arm on her 4 ft. solid metal fan as she listened, not bothering to sit down.
"Our spies had uncovered an stirring from the Grass country. A certain ninja clan there that has a name of Toriyama is rumored to have joined forces with Orochimaru, and the said clan has some little disagreement going on with the Inuzuka. Like the Inuzukas, the Toriyama clan uses particular animals as tool. So there is some little rivalry going on the past few years. There might be more. But I do not want the Inuzukas to learn about this nor take part of this mission because it would only add to the complication of the matter. And good thing Naruto and Kiba is away on a mission with Hinata, saving me the difficulty of the matter. Nara Shikamaru!"
The said boy looked up in attention at the buxom blond they recognize as the Godaime Hokage at the mention of his name.
"You are going with a Sand nin to the Grass country and learn what they know about Orochimaru, and their involvement on his plans. I want you to do something about it. "
Shikamaru nodded.
"Tomorrow you will meet with the Sand nin that is going to work with you, in the crossroad between Suna and Konoha eastward in the direction of the Grass country. And Shikamaru" Tsunade paused. "Come home safe"
Shikamaru merely raised a serious gaze
"Of course, Hokage-sama"
Temari knit her brows in protest after finding out about the mission.
"Its a mission that involves a Konoha nin clan so why should we still give our assistance? Its their own business to attend to"
"But we have been involved in battling with the Sound nonetheless. Considering we have broken the alliance before because of some manipulations and misunderstanding in our part, we still owe them for it." Gaara counted
"Whatever. I'll be going." Shrugging off the conversation. She hefted her fan and hoisted it onto her back and turned around to leave until she felt those pale green, black-rimmed eyes staring. She stopped on her steps to encourage the young Kazekage to speak up.
"Temari...Be careful"
That and she feels the dismissing nod on her back. She smiled. Nobody had thought that her little brother would ever feel any emotion of some sort aside from negative ones and something that borders to insanity. Eversince the Orochimaru incident, and his battle with Uzumaki Naruto, Gaara had shown more humanity in him, much to everyone's surprise. His absolute change and the things he do for the Suna Country had everybody acknowledge him and trust him. Afterall, he is Suna's ultimate weapon. She nodded and resumed her walking out of the office.
Time to pack again. It would take a whole day and night to arrive to the crossroads.
oOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
The next day…..
/Shikamaru, come home safe/
He grimaced. /Taku, Of course, I will, why shouldn't I/
Shikamaru slowed his pace, remembering his first mission as a Chuunin. This time, he's not going to let his comrades got hurt. He's going to make sure of that. And he's not going to be defended by a woman again
"Oe you! are you going to stand there and daydream forever?"