Merry Christmas readers and Fanfiction! :D
Thank you for reviews, favs, and followers! It made me happy to know that readers enjoy this story!
Suzululu4moe -Thank you for review! That's true, their behaviors are suppose to be different when they're in special academy but since this is Naruto, it's different. More like, it's their choice if they actually want to be a Shinobi career. Plus, they will learn the hard way about being a serious Ninja... ^^
Cha0s-th3ory - Thanks for review! I would not touch Ino-Chika-Cho either but I learned to love read about ShikaSaki stories and I thought about it... why not. This is Fanfiction. I'm glad you like it! And Choji is FUNNY! xD
Yayaya! So Here's chapter two!
Remember: English isn't my best language so there will be mistakes grammars, errors, and (possibly) misspellings. I apologize for that but I'm trying my best! :D
Team Saki-Shika-Cho
Chapter Two
Team Saki-Shika-Cho are now doing their first mission of D-Rank. Asuma watches his students pulling out weeds in the farmer's backyard. Sakura sigh, she glance at her teammates; Shikamaru saved her from being murder by Choji all day two days ago and Choji has finally calm down and he forgot all about it when Asuma took his team to BBQ restaurant. Sakura pale at the thought of Choji's furious temper, if Shikamaru hasn't save her, who knows what Choji has done to her and she learned that hard way not to say, 'FAT' to him. Never say it. Sakura shakes her head, she's almost done with pulling the weeds and the farmer walks out with four lemonade drinks on the tray. "Thank you all so much for your help. You all must be thirsty." The farmer hand out the tray, Sakura gently take the glass of lemonade as others too. They drank it and finishes their mission. Asuma takes out the scroll, "Okay, next we have to take the dogs on a walk." Asuma announce.
~D-Rank~
Choji pulls back the large dog who just walks forward on the road while Sakura and Shikamaru takes two small dogs. Sakura sweatdropped, "I told him it would be better if two people do it instead of one." Sakura sigh as Shikamaru shrug his shoulders, "Well, it's his decision." Shikamaru yawn.
Sakura roll his eyes, "But still… he's a fat dog." She slip her tongue and she pales along with Shikamaru. Choji and big dog pause and slowly turn as their eyes lighten in flames.
"Did…you…say…fat?" Choji and the big dog twitches.
Asuma jump down behind Sakura and Shikamaru, "Hello, how's walking with a dogs going?" suddenly Sakura and Shikamaru force to push the leaches onto Asuma's hands. Shikamaru grab Sakura's hand and drag her away from scary murdering eyes.
"GET BACK HERE YOU LITTLE GIRL!"
"WOOF WOOF!"
Asuma watches Choji and the big dog on fire chasing Sakura and Shikamaru. He sweatdropped, "I'm guessing not so good…"
"Not again!"
"Who's fault is that woman?!"
"Well this time I didn't know that fat word is a taboo for a DOG!"
"OOOOH!"
"WOOOOOOOOF!"
"This is such a drag!"
"Seriously!"
Asuma sigh, "I'm guessing we should start another mission." He thought out loud but first, he need to calm Choji down with BBQ and give a big dog bone treat for a big dog.
~D-Rank~
Sakura picks up the trash from the river along with Shikamaru while Choji is sitting on the ground eating his steaks in a stick and Asuma lean on the tree. Shikamaru sigh lazily. He really wants to lay down and watch the clouds but troublesome mission has to be in a way and he has to do it.
Sakura walks carefully as she uses the wooden sharp stick to pick up the empty can and put it the trash. Suddenly a fish jumps up and hit her face. She squeals in shock, fell back into the river as it current her away nearly at the waterfall. Shikamaru react fast when he quickly grabs her ankle and pull her onto the land. Sakura push her wet hair back in relief, "Thanks…" Shikamaru lays on his back, "Troublesome…" he mumbles.
Asuma watches them in amuse while Choji sneakily took his teammate's lunch and eats it.
~D-Rank~
"Kyyyaaaa!"
Sakura, Shikamaru and Choji cringe at the four children. Asuma pats one of his student's shoulder, "Well, you'll be babysitting these four kids for two hours. They are children of the councilor. And I'll be back after two hours." Asuma said and he wishes them good luck and disappeared.
One five years old little girl run toward Sakura, "My name is Miko! Play dress up with me!" Miko grab Sakura's hand and drag her into the bedroom. Shikamaru and Choji watch three little boys throwing stuff at each other and running around in the living room, "Troublesome…"
One of the seven years old little boy run to Choji, "Hi! I'm Jiro! Can you make me lunch?" Jiro grab Choji's hand to the kitchen which Choji happily accept it.
Shikamaru frowns, now he has to deal with nine years old twins and they run to him, "I'm Fumi and he's Fumo!" Fumo throw pillow at Shikamaru's face. Fumi and Fumo laugh and they run around in the living room. Shikamaru made a face, "What a drag…"
Fumi accidentally bump the table as the glass vase tumble threatening to fall and Shikamaru quickly use his shadow jutsu to stop the table move. Fumi and Fumo saw it and they were in awe. Shikmaru sigh in relief, then he double takes at the twins. Fumi and Fumo has sneakily evil imp grinning on their face. Shikamaru pale, "Oh crap…"
~Choji~
Choji humming while making amazing delicious sandwich for Jiro and him too. Choji set the plate with large sandwich front of Jiro, "I called it, 'Akimichi Sandwich!'." Choji said with pride. Jiro stare at the large sandwich in awe, he looks up at Choji, "How am I going to finish this sandwich?" Jiro frown, he has a tiny body.
Choji sits across from Jiro with his own plate of large sandwich, "You must eat it all! It's a pride to be a man!" Choji said then he eats his sandwich and Jiro blinks. "A man...?" Jiro reach for his sandwich and took a small bite. Guess that means Jiro will be a man if he finishes the sandwich.
~Sakura~
Sakura flinch in pain when Miko forcefully brushing Sakura's hair. "You have beautiful pink hair! Like a princess!" Miko giggles. Sakura tighten her smile, "Thank you ow! Miko…" Sakura wait for Miko to finishes her hair in patience.
Miko tie Sakura's hair and nod in satisfied. Miko jumps down and grab the make-up tools, "Now I'm going to put on make-up!" Miko smiles; showing her adorable small teeth and a missing front tooth. Sakura force to smile, "Oh…yay…" she cheers weakly and luckily Miko's too innocent to understand the emotions.
~Shikamaru~
Shikamaru sweats while pant as his shadows jutsu froze everything from damage when evil twins nearly broke all the vase, lamps, TV, bookshelf, and so on. Suddenly, Jiro run out of the kitchen to the bathroom and Shikamaru heard Jiro's vomiting. Choji walks out calmly, "I think my Akimichi Sandwich is not good for him." He said.
Shikamaru sweatdrop, "That's because he's seven years old. He can't eat all that!" he explain. He is very familiar with Akimichi Clan's famous sandwich. Miko skip happily out of her bedroom, "Gentlemen! I'm happy to say that I had make-over ugly into beautiful princess!" Miko sqeaul excitedly, Sakura walks out in humiliating and Shikamaru blink while Choji pity Sakura.
Sakura's hair is very tangles and horribly two braids, her face is cover like someone throw paints on her face and she even wears ridiculously large bright orange kimono. Sakura glares at her teammates, "Not a word." She hisses. Miko run to Shikamaru, she grabs his hand, "I'll give you a make-over! You will be a prince!" Shikamaru got in panic when all his shadows went back to him and few tables have fall and couple of broken vases.
Fumi and Fumo high five at each other, "Score!" Shikamaru drop his shoulders, "Oh man…" Jiro walks out with a green face while holding his stomach, "I don't feel good…" Jiro threw up on Sakura's costume kimono. The twins laugh while Miko whines at her perfect costume for the princess now is all ruin.
Sakura twitches, she looks at Shikamaru and Choji, "This is the worst mission ever!" and they both agree with her.
After two hours, they have finally put all children to take their nap and they sweatdropped when they children sleeps on interesting place. Miko is sleeping on the coffee table, Jiro is sleeping on the floor hugging a curtains while the twins are sleeping on the couch with their heads on the floor. The door opens, and the mother smiles, "Aww…my adorable children…" she giggles at the living room sight.
Asuma walks in and he saw his students in exhausted, "So, how's the mission?" he asks then he notice Sakura's make-over, "Oh…Sakura… you look…" Sakura glares at Asuma, "Don't say a word, Asuma-sensei." She hisses and stomp out of the house. Shikamaru and Choji shivers at their female teammate's silent temper.
~D-Rank~
After Sakura washes her face and fixes her hair. She meets her team at the Hokage Tower and they are in the room. Third Hokage read over the D-Rank mission, "Okay, you have succeeded four missions so far and this will be the last mission for today." Genins are so relief to hear that they are almost done with the mission. "Your mission is to find a missing cat." Third Hokage looks up, "It's Feudal Lord's cat. The cat name is Toru and it has a pink bow on its side on top of it head." He explained briefly of the mission. Sakura mentally groan in tired while Shikamaru nearly doze off and Choji eating his chips. Asuma nod his head, "Okay. We'll bring Toru back." He accepts the mission.
When they are out in the woods, wearing radio chokers with one earbud in their ear and Asuma this time will help his students. What a very thoughtful teacher, if only he would stay with them and help their missions before! "Alright, now go and find the missing cat!" they quickly disappeared in Genin's level speed to search for the missing cat.
~Sakura~
Sakura jump over branches to branches in different trees, she roams her eyes around to find any cat, 'This is really stupid…' she thought.
"This mission is so lame Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura pause her speed when he overhears familiar voice. She follows the loud voice in curious.
"It's D-Rank mission Naruto, what do you expect?"
"Well! I was expecting to have cool missions! Like protect princess! Or fight the bad guys! Not doing these…stupid stuff of picking up the trash in the woods!"
Sakura hides in the shade on the branch that supports her weight. She saw Naruto complaining to Kakashi and she also saw Ino irritated face and Sasuke calm emotions face. Sakura blushes when she saw Sasuke, 'I haven't seen him for three days! I really miss you Sasuke-kun!' Sakura squeal in excitement mentally in her head.
Kakashi sigh, he glance up, "Why don't you come down from there." Sakura blushes in embarrasses, 'Busted.' Sakura came out and jump down in visible. Naruto grin at Sakura, "Hi Sakura-chan!" he wave happily at her. Kakashi raise his eyebrow, "Ah… so this is Sakura." Kakashi carefully look at Sakura that Nauto has been going on to try date her. Sakura looks down shyly, 'Could it be… that Sasuke-kun talks about me?' she push her hair back behind her ear.
Kakashi reads back to his Ichi Ichi book, "Naruto has been talking about you a lot." Sakura drop her shoulders in disappointed. Naruto blushes, "N-nani? No way!" Naruto deny as Ino smirk.
"It's true forehead. He has a big crush on you! You should give him a chance." Ino snicker and Sakura frown at Ino. Naruto giggles, "N-no way!" he denies and Ino sweatdrop at his reaction. Sakura sighs, 'So Sasuke-kun never say anything about me?' she shakes her head, "Umm…" she doesn't know what else to say since it's awkward now that she's front of team seven.
"Sakura, have you found the target yet?"
Sakura thank the kami that Shikamaru save her! She press the button on her choker radio, "Iie. I have not found the target." She replies.
"Troublesome. Can you come here?"
Sakura press the button again, "Hai, where are you?"
"On top of the bookstore near the Konoha Hot Spring."
"Okay, I'll be there soon." Sakura smiles at the team seven, "Sorry, I have to go." Sakura turns around and quickly left.
Naruto pout, "That radio thingy looks so cool! It seems she has better mission than this lame mission!" he whines as Ino drop her head on her palm while Sasuke glares annoyed by Naruto and Kakashi sighs once again.
~Shikamaru~
Shikamaru walks around in the Konoha while searching for the pain in the ass missing cat. He walks into the alleyway and stop when he heard the meows. He walks to the trash can and saw two cats snuggle each other. He frown, 'No bow means no Toru.' he walks away. As he walks on the road and notice a fat orange cat laying on the chair and he is envious of the cat. 'I want to lay down and watch the clouds but this troublesome mission is in the way,' he sighs. It's been an hour and he's on top of the rooftop while looking around then he glances up at the clouds.
He really is envious of the clouds, be free and no trouble in the worlds at all. Shikamaru notice the sun is almost down and he hasn't heard anything from his teammates. So he press the button on the radio choker, "Choji, you there?" he wait for the reply but none so he tries again, "Asuma-sensei, have you see the target?" he waits and nothing from Asuma.
Shikamaru frowns, "Seriously, is this radio broken or what?" he decided to try one more time. "Sakura, have you found the target, yet?"
"Iie. I have not found the target." Ah, the radio works after all but then what's Choji and Asuma doing? Is their radio not working? Shikamaru press the button, "Troublesome." He looks down, "Can you come here?" he wonder.
"Hai. Where are you?"
"On top of the bookstore near Konoha Hot Spring." Shikamaru give her his exact location.
"Okay, I'll be there soon." Shikamaru waits for Sakura arrival while he watches up at the sky feelings peace in his own world.
When Sakura arrive at the top of the bookstore, she tilted her head, "I'm guessing nothing from Asuma-sensei and Choji?" she walks to Shikamaru and stand next to him. Shikamaru sigh, "I tried to contact them but apparently their radios don't work."
Sakura nod her head understanding, "So our radios works." She looks around, "I never thought finding this missing cat would take a while…" she leans over the edge and Shikamaru shrug his shoulders, "It's that troublesome lord's fault for not keeping his eyes on his troublesome cat." He is slightly annoyed.
Sakura sigh; agreeing with her teammate, "I wonder what's Choji and Asuma-sensei are doing?"
~Choji and Asuma~
Choji bites down his meats at the BBQ restaurant with Asuma sitting across from him. Their radios are off and put it in their bag. Choji chews, "Is it really okay to leave this mission to Shikamaru and Sakura?" he ask, worried since it's sorta unfair that he and sensei are not helping their teammates in mission.
Asuma grinned wide, "Don't worry. They just need a little….motivate in this mission." Asuma said in puzzle which confuses Choji but he got distract when owner set the plate full of meats again down front of him.
Asuma smiles as he glance out the window, 'Since they are the only two who are not interested being Shinobi… if they actually success this mission on their own. Maybe I could ask the Third Hokage a favor. Just a little more push and hopefully they will find at least interest of being Leafe Shinobi…' Asuma thought about it, 'Plus, if they don't finish this mission then I'm afraid I'll have to cut their shinobi life forever.' He really doesn't want to, it will be ashamed that Shikamaru's skills of strategy and IQ go waste and Sakura's sharpest mind and even has excellent chakra control without her realize.
He really hopes to kami that they will success this mission even though it's D-Rank but with their minds together, it's almost like they can be at Jounin's level.
~Sakura and Shikamaru~
They run after the target, they have finally found the missing cat and hopefully the right target. Shikamaru click his tongue, "That cat sure is fast…" he said and Sakura sigh. They stop above the branch when they saw a cat sitting on the ground, licking its paw. Sakura smiles in victory, "It has pink bow on its side of it head. That's our target, Toru." Sakura can finally be free after this and Shikamaru is really relief to hear that.
He glances at Sakura, "Put the smoke of kunais around the target, if the target starts to run again, we'll know where it runs to." Shikamaru explained and Sakura immediately do it on his plan. Shikamaru watches the target unmoving and he heard Sakura's voice.
"Okay, I got it. It's around the target. But would it be easier if you use your shadow jutsu on this cat?"
Shikamaru press the button on the radio choker, "Not exactly, I can just my shadow jutsu on humans, clones and even unmoving objects. However, since it's animals… it's tricky. They have their senses that they know when their near of danger. My shadow jutsu has to be invisible to animals' eyes." He quietly explain his jutsu.
"Oh I see…They have sharpest eyes and they can easily outrun of your shadow."
Shikamaru nod his head without notice, "Hai, it's too troublesome and waste of chakra so we'll have to go on old-fashion ways."
"Or we can try something little different."
"Like what?" he watches the cat stretches its body and licking its fur.
"Like… that cat has to focus on me. 100% attention on me and unaware of you behind that you can use that moment to capture the cat with your shadow jutsu."
Shikamaru raise his eyebrow, "Not bad." He hasn't even really thought about that idea.
"However, cats sense is extremely high with their eyes than others senses. But I can make the cat confuse by use other senses when it's not using the eyes. If I give out the treat, the cat will smell and that small short moment, the eyes aren't focus. So you have to do it very quickly."
Shikamaru is somewhat impress with Sakura's mind, "You sure know a lot about cats."
"I like to read books and learn things so I happened to read the Cat books."
Shikamaru smirk lazily, he remembers her introduction few days ago and then he frowns when he also remembers something else, "I remember… you like pineapples?" his face shows disgust.
"Nani? Why are we talking about this now? And hai, I love pineapples! It's my favorite fruit!"
Shikamaru made disgust noise, "It's nasty."
"It's not! Pineapple is very delicious fruit! I very well remember that you like cherries and it's absolutely disgusting!"
Shikamaru twitches, "That's not true." He mumbles but Sakura heard it.
"It IS true! Seriously! The cherries are so CONFUSING! It has dark red, light red, medium red, and black! I don't even understand the tastes of cherries! It's too bitter or too sweet or even too fresh! It's stupid!"
"Cherries are very interesting fruits. It has all kinds of people's favorite with their tastes bud. Bitter or sweet. Fresh or old. People loves that kind." He smirks winning at the argue when Sakura remains in silent in few minutes.
"I still don't like cherries."
Shikamaru chuckle, "Funny that your name happens to be cherry." He is slowly liking to tease her.
"Well! My parents named me 'Cherry Blossom' because of my hair! So it's not my fault that I'm born with my hair naturally pink."
He could hear her pouting and he smirks, "It's sorta funny that you hates cherries when your name means cherry… Cherry." He nickname her in tease.
"You did not just call me Cherry…"
Shikamaru just softly chuckle as he drop his hand so Sakura wouldn't hear him laughing.
"You know what, I'm going to call you PINEAPPLE!"
Shikamaru taken aback by her tease voice, he press the button, "Really? So how's that match me Cherry?" he asked her in sarcastically, expecting to hear her pause.
"Your head is shape of a pineapple."
He did not expect that.
"HA! Hehe, that's right. Pineapple~!"
Shikamaru really doesn't like teasing from her but it's too troublesome take back now. So he just has to deal with it. "Okay, you win." He really doesn't want to continue the argue since it's a drag and it's almost sunset and the mission is yet not done.
"So, we go with my plan?"
"Hai."
"Okay, I'll approach the cat and I'll give you the signal."
Shikamaru watches Sakura carefully walk out of the bushes as the cat stop lick and stare at her. Sakura bent down her knee and held her hand out to the cat. "It's a treat…" she opens her palms with two small crackers and the cat walks to the palm in cautioned and sniff. Sakura snap her eyes at Shikamaru. He immediately jumps down in silent and use his shadow jutsu to capture the cat successfully.
Sakura cheer when Toru is froze. She smiles at Shikamaru, "We caught the right target. This mission is now succeeded!" She holds up her victory peace sign. Shikamaru smirk lazily, "Finally."
Sakura gently pick up Toru in her arms and petting as Toru purrs. Shikamaru walks to Sakura, "Now we need to find Asuma-sensei and Choji." He said, he glance up at the sky that is now sunset already. "it's getting late. It'll be dark soon."
Sakura walks through the woods, "It would be best to go straight to the Hokage Tower, the Feudal Lord is waiting. Then we can find them and let them know we finished the mission." Sakura said and Shikamaru follows her, "Troublesome." More work after the mission finish?
~Hokage Tower~
Sakura and Shikamaru stare at the fat lady who is suffocating poor cat. 'No wonder, the cat ran away.' Sakura sweatdropped at the poor cat. They waiting for Asuma and Choji since the Third Hokage is kind enough to send the Jounin to get them.
The door opens, Asuma grinning wide while Choji eats his chips. "I heard you both succeeded the mission! Good job!" he is proud that his two students actually did it the mission on their own willingly. Third Hokage nod at team ten, "Okay, you are dismissed today. Go home and rest." He said. They bow and left except Asuma, "You kids go on home. I have some business here." He said after he saw his teammates waiting for him.
"Good night Asuma-sensei!"
"Later. What a drag day."
"Thanks for BBQ!"
Asuma wait for the door closed. Third Hokage raise his eyebrows at Asuma, "What is it that you have something to say?"
Asuma bow respectfully to Third Hokage, "Hokage-sama, I'm very aware that they are new Genins fresh from the Ninja Academy." He explain and slowly lean up straight, "However, two of my students: Nara, Shikamaru and Haruno, Sakura. They have no absolute goals or dreams of being Leafe Shinobi." He smiles, "But it changed. They have small interest now that they actually succeeded the last mission of their own willingly without my and Choji's help." Third Hokage raise his eyebrows, "You didn't help them?"
Asuma blushes awkwardly, "Well… It would be more forcing them to do it. So I need to make sure if they really willingly to do the mission on their own and they did. I'm glad that I won't cut their ties of Shinobi life." He is proud, "Shikamaru and Sakura are excellent minds. Shikamaru is great with strategy and high IQ and Sakura has sharpest mind and perfect chakra control. Together, they could be at Jounin's level. And now I want to push them a little and I need your help with it." He explained. Third Hokage pull out his pipe, "What do you have in mind?" he is interested.
Asuma grinned wide, "It's time for new level, C-Rank mission."
~Saki-Shika-Cho~
Sakura waves at Choji who's going different direction to his home. She sigh and glances at Shikamaru, "Well, today was...surprisingly fun." She admitted. Shikamaru snort, "It's a pain in the ass day for me."
Sakura smirk, "Of course." She walks the other direction, "Good night. Pineapple!"
Shikamaru half smirk lazily, "Night, Cherry." 'I guess it's not too troublesome day…I did enjoyed it a little.' He thought as he walk to his home.
