I do not own Naruto. CHAPTER 2: Cloud Gazer
Alarms were the bane of his existence. They signaled the end of his rest and beginning of his work. Shikamaru slams the off button before sitting up to wipe the sleep off his face.
The last three months felt like a constant déjà-vu. Retracing the steps Asuma had shown him with his father and Chouji every day. Three months of roadwork. Three months of workouts. Three months of jabbing sandbags. Three months of sparring. He felt it coming back to him. His punches became faster and harder. His muscles remembered every strike. He was becoming the boxer he once was. He was home. His gloves now secured tightly on his fists. Waiting for the sweet contact they craved so much.
He still treated every day as a problem. Complaining whenever he could get the chance, which was often. Chouji and Shikaku would push him to work harder. As much as Shikamaru told himself he hated it. He was finding himself liking the training. There was comfort in routine.
As he entered the Sarutobi Gym after his normal roadwork he noticed Chouji waiting for him.
"Oiii! Shikamaru come here!" the large man beckoned for him to join him. "Chouji, what's going on?" he asked half heartedly.
Chouji smiled and opened his arms wide. "Guess who got you a fight?" Shikamaru stared in disbelief. He wasn't ready to fight. He wasn't anywhere close to being ready. What was Chouji thinking?
"Hey, don't look so bothered. I got a title shot for the Heavyweight belt. And one of the Featherweight fighters dropped in the opening fights, so I threw your name in and they accepted."
Shikamaru was having trouble processing it all. He had just gotten his pro license when Asuma died. He had never even fought in a pro ring before he hung up his gloves. This was a first for him.
"Why are they letting me fight though? Aren't there more experienced
boxers?" he asked. "Yes, there are more experienced, but Asuma's name still holds a lot
of weight. I told them you were his prodigy. They're expecting you to deliver." Shikamaru started to protest before he was cut short.
"You made the choice to fight to feed his child, this is the first step. It's time for your debut."
Shikamaru shook his head in defeat. "Alright then... Who am I fighting?"
Shikamaru stared at his name on the flyer. It was the lowest of all the names. He was the opening card. Chouji's name looked huge compared to his. Shikamaru glanced at the name next to his. Rock Lee. The young man he had been training to fight for the last month.
He could hardly believe it was happening. The last time he had been in the locker rooms of Konoha stadium was the night Asuma died. Now he was sitting in the spot he sat. Wearing the gloves, just like Asuma had.
Before he knows it an official is telling him it is time to go. His father nods at him and they begin their walk in to the ring.
He hears the cheering of the crowd as he appears in the spotlight. He can't believe he's doing this. It's so strange to be here. He didn't want to admit it, but he was nervous.
"Now entering the ring. Weighing in at One hundred twenty five pounds. In his debut professional match. With zero wins. Zero loses. And zero draws. Shikamaru Nara!" the crowd cheers. He gazes up at the stadium lights. Wishing they were clouds.
"Now entering the ring. Weighing in at One hundred twenty five and a half pounds. With a professional record of one win, one loss. And zero draws. Rock Lee!" the crowd cheers harder for him.
Before he knows it he's facing his opponent. He gives him a glare over. His body is more defined than Shikamaru's. There is a fire in his eyes. His large eyebrows flexed in focus.
Ding!
The bell rings signaling the fight.
Shikamaru's hands rise to his. They tap and begin to circle. Shikamaru analyzes his situation. Should he set the pace with a few jabs? Or wait to see how Lee will react?
Before he can finish thinking a huge left hook connects. Knocking the analyzation out of him. He was powerful. His punches carried more force than Shikamaru's.
Shikamaru's adrenaline kicks in. He tests the waters with a jab. Feeling out his rhythm. He's almost got it. And then it clicks. Simple and clean. Over and Over. Left Jab. Right straight. Over and over.
Shikamaru counts the blows. Then it hits him. A devastating Left jab that makes his arms drop mid punch. It's followed through. Lee swings a heavy arc. His right hook crashes in to Shikamaru's chin. He can feel his knees wobble.
Suddenly his wish has come true. He's on his back. Staring at the lights, but the lights aren't lights anymore. He's Cloud gazing. Everything is ringing. Far away he can hear a count. And then it makes sense. He scrambles to his feet.
The ref checks his gloves. Shikamaru assumes a fighting stance. Lee is bouncing now. Right when the referee allows it. He will rush in to finish the job. Before he can though. A bell rings. Signaling the end of the first round.
In his corner Shikamaru gasps for air. He wonders why he even did this. It wasn't like him at all. He was lazy, unmotivated, and apathetic. Why was he putting all this effort in just to be beaten to a pulp?
And then it hit him. What Asuma had tried to teach him? The Will of Fire. The will to fight. It all clicked. Shikamaru assumed the hand position he always did when he needed to think. His gloves seemed to fuse perfectly in to the position he closed his eyes and began to think.
Lee is an inside boxer. With strong hooks. He's not quick on his feet, but he has a firm stance. It would be impossible to knock him down with the strength of my normal punches right now, but I can't out box him without taking some potential knock out hits.
And then it came to him, he recalls an old lesson Asuma taught him. Inside boxers hit hard and take a lot of hits, but they often drop guards in order to pull off deadly combinations.
The bell rings. Shikamaru takes the steps towards his opponent. His plans now clear in his mind.
It begins.
Rock Lee dashes in with a left jab. Shikamaru plays his card. Let's the jab bounce off his cheek. Lee seizes the opportunity and goes for a huge right hook. Exactly the way Shikamaru had played it in his head. He times it perfect. Ducks at the moment before it strikes.
Weaves under it. Lee swings too wide leaving his side exposed.
Time seems to slow. Shikamaru leans low. He can feel all those years of training in his hips. He pulls his left fist tight. And lets it take off.
Smack!
A thud is heard and the crowd goes silent, Shikamaru stands over Rock Lee who is on his hands and knees. Eyes bulging, legs shaking, his mouth guard has fallen from his mouth and now lies on the canvas. The ref begins counting. The crowd goes wild.
Shikamaru returns to his corner. Knowing Lee will not be able to stand. He can hear Asuma's voice in his head.
"The Liver Blow will shut down any boxer if you do it right."
