It had been many years after the attack on Konoha. Everything had been rebuilt and Tsunade finally had her face engraved onto the cliff tops. Sasuke had left to join Orochimaru leaving many fan girls in a very sad state. Ino had moved on very quickly being the kind of girl she was. But Sakura still hadn't gotten over it. She continued her training at the hospital with Tsunade but every other moment she spent moping around at home. Even though Naruto, Kakashi, Ino, Lee, to much disbelief even Sai, tried to cheer her up but it was clearly a lost cause.
Naruto still trained with Kakashi, Team Konohamru and Jiriya and passed as Chunin over the years. Never the less he was still the same hyperactive knuckle-headed ninja, and still oblivious to Hinata's feelings. Hinata had earned a lot more respect around the hyuuga manor and had become a fit heir. Gaara continued being a mighty Kazakage, while Kankuro and Temari had become chunin. The latest jounin exams where being held in Konoha so Temari was more than happy to spends many months training in Konoha, but more importantly spending time with her boyfriend Shikamaru.
They were not the only couple in Konoha however. Tenten had finally confessed her love to Neji, who felt it was better to take her out on a few dates. Even the mighty Hyuuga feared what the woman could do to him with her weapon obsession. After a few dates he became pretty fond of her on his side. So it was official, Tenten finally landed her a keeper, the great Neji Hyuuga, though he could never admit it. Neji, it would seem was still a little stubborn but showed a little more respect toward Hinata as an heir and Naruto as a rival.
Shikamaru had not changed in the slightest over the years. Same ponytail, techniques, obsession with clouds and same friends (meaning Temari, Ino and Choji). Ever since he and Temari started having sex he had more energy but never took the time to use it. It seemed that it was just to troublesome to put in the effort. Rock Lee had also not gone through many changes, besides the fact that with his Jounin vest and larger body build he was a clone of the Mighty Gai. He would still wear a green jump suit, orange leg warmers with 500 pound weights under them, bowl cut, shouts of youth and vows to protect his precious "cherry blossom" Sakura.
Ino retired as a ninja and took on the family flower shop as her own. The only way she kept it in business was selling Sai's paintings in the shop. She had to keep him in the back for his trash mouth and making fun of customers lost her business. He did not mind, as long as he could paint Ino every now and then, which she took as a large compliment. There was never much more to say, Choji was fat, Kakashi was a perv, Tsunade was drunk, Jiriya was a bigger perv, Gai was youthful and Shino was creepy.
Currently it was the third round of the Jounin exams. Naruto did not compete however. It would seem Jiriya forgot to tell him about it because he was to busy with his "research". Much like the first time she competed, Temari had made it down to the final eight. She spotted the rookie nine, team Gai and Kankuro in the stands. While Gaara and Tsunade got the best seats for obvious reasons. Much to her disappointment she could not spot Shikamaru anywhere. They had been going out for years, humping like rabbits and he wasn't there for her? She would use this rage in her match.
Sai and Hinata where cheering for the competitors that where fighting, while Sakura just looked down on the ground. She would give an occasional grunt but the fact they got her out of the house was still progress. Once the match was over, Sai pulled out a large stretch pad and began drawing. Hinata looked over at Sakura with concern for her friend. Her eyes wandered over to the sketch pad. ""W-what a-are your drawing Sai?" The girl was 19, held her own against Neji and Naruto but was still the same old Hinata. "Oh well, it's something for Naruto, a good experiment too. I am drawing something of off Naruto's memory, or at lest what he could remember." Hinata look in shock, she knew instantly what it was
It was her dancing in the waterfall back when she was on a mission with Naruto, Kiba and Shino. Sure it was Sai's talented skills that made it, but this had come from Naruto's vision. The girl on the paper was so beautiful, dancing in the waterfall. Much to her relief Naruto did not remember that she was naked and the pictures mist covered her privates and gave the image a mystical element.
"I-it's amazing." "Yeah, I used some of Ino's jutsu's to put the image from Naruto's mind into my own. It was more than Sai's skill, it was as if this masterpiece was all Naruto. With a poof Naruto teleported next to Sai and Hinata. Tenten screamed from shock and stood up sending her drink out of her hand and onto Sakura's back. Sakura also jumped up and screamed from the ice on her back. Instead of hitting Tenten she punched Naruto knocking him flat on his ass with an anime bump swell on his head. "Naruto you idiot!" "Sorry guys" He said sheepishly rubbing the back of his head with a goofy grin. Once Sakura had calmed down Naruto sat next to Hinata who turned a bit pink. "Y-your just in time for T-Temari's match Naruto" she said pressing her index fingers together.
Asuma was chosen to be the referee for the third round as he, Temari and a grass nin took their places in the center of the arena. Temari took a look back into the stands but there was still no sign of Shikamaru in fact Choji had left. She knew that he was Shikamaru's best friend and he had soon enough become one of her good friends as well, she figured at least he would have stayed, oh well she still had all her other friends, let alone a whole crowd of people cheering for her.
"I cannot believe you are going to do this Shikamaru." stated Choji as he stuffed himself with more potato chips. Shikamaru reached into his pocket, as he leaned against the wall in his usual manor. He remembered this hallway very vividly. it had been where Gaara had killed two men in front of him and Naruto before facing Sasuke. However that did not bother him now, he had to ignore the butterflies in his stomach as he stroked a small box deep in his pocket.
Asuma tipped his cigarette and took a few steps backwards. "May the fourth match begin." Temari whipped out her fan and blew the grass nin flying and smack right into the wall. The boy had spirals in his eyes as he moaned lightly. He pealed off the wall and left a human shaped hole in it. Asuma checked the boys pulse and he was only unconscious. "Ladies and gentlemen, we already have a winner. Temari!' The crowd roared but what Temari did not notice was a dark shadow stretching twords her. Asuma saw this comming but did not do anything. Infact he was in on it and giggled and took his exit.
"What the hell is that?" exclaimed Naruto and the entire stadiards saw what he saw. Tsunade was about to tell the ANBU what to dobut Gaara held his arm out to stop her. "Allow it, I know what is going to happen." Tsnuade look her seat, it was a rare site so see Gaara of the desert smile. Ino started to giggle as every one looked back at her. "Ino, whats going on?" asked Tenten. Neji looked over Ino's sholder."And where did Choji go?" as he saw only a pile of empty potatoe chips bags. Ino just grew a grin goofier than Naruto's. "Just watch" she said, and with a few odd looks they turned back.
Soon enough Temari lost control of her body and she was frozen in place. She knew instantly what this feeling was. She was more than used to it, whether it was from during the chunnin exams to sparing with him all those times. It was the Nara specialty, the shadow possesions jutsu, Shikamaru's jutsu. Shikamaru took his steps down aproching the one girl he loved. She was forced to turn around as he slowly got closer to her. "Temari, we've known each other for a long time. You looked out for me when I fought those sound creeps in the forest. But I wan't you to know that I will protect you." She began to cry because she knew what was comming. Naruto was litterally on the edge of his seat, not realizing his hand was on Hinata's who was a deep shade of red. not to be outdone Neji saw this and held Tentens hand tightly, Tenten saw this with a smirk and squeezed his hand back.
"With your father gone, and helping Gaara through those rougher years, you've lived a tough life. But I will help make your life so much better" Shikamaru got down on one knee. Now Naruto was not the only one on the edge of his seat. Temari was balling, she had imagined this so many times but never thought it would it would happen quite like this. "Temari? Will you marry me?" Choji managed to come outside right on time, and for the first time in his life, he wasn't stuffing his face full of chips. "...yes" murmered Temari. Shikamaru slid the ring on her finger, releasing the jutsu and she pounced on him in a tight hug crying her eyes out.
The entire stadium started roaring but no one was clapping harder than Kankuro. Tsunade and Gaara teleported to the center of the field as the gang rushed off thier seats as fast as they could. "On behalf of the future Mr. and Mrs. Nara I award Temari the rank Jounin and all of Konoha will help arrange this wedding personally."
Ino, Tenten and Hinata soon swarmed Temari with questions and requests. Sakura did get out in the rush but leanded against the wall while Sai kept on his sketch. "Cheer up Sakura, you'll land yourself a man soon enough. Maybe he'll be blind" Rock Lee heard this and leaped towards them but Neji stopped him as Lee soon saw her beating the crap out of Sai.
With one of Tsunade famous punches Sai's sketch flew out of his hand and flew right at Hinata. Even with her Byakugan she did not see it coming, for she was facing Temari. Fortunatly Naruto smacked it to the ground before it could hit her. She turned around and blushed that Naruto had saved her, even if it was just from a sketch pad. "Don't worry about it Hinata. Hey this is for me anyway" Sure enough it was the waterfall girl of Hinata. "Let me tell you Hinata, I don't know about other guys, but someone as pretty as this, I would marry her" And with a fimilair thud Hinata fainted out of embarassment. Ino turned around to see Shino and Kiba helping Hinata up as Neji yelled at Naruto. 'Like I thought, somethings never change.'