First Impressions: Chapter 2

By: happiness101

Disclaimer: Again? Well, okay. I don't own Naruto.

And I guess I owe some credit to my brother, for giving me the idea to continue this. And of course, I must thank you all for reviewing! I never knew people liked my stories so much… so, true to my word, I am finishing this story!

Anyway, enjoy!


After walking through the Sand Village for what seemed like hours to Shikamaru, he was finally starting to forget about his girlfriend's stalker brothers and became more focused on how much hotter it was here than the Leaf Village.

"Geez, how do you live with this heat?" Shikamaru whined, shifting uncomfortably in his sticky clothing.

"Don't be such a wimp. And it's a hundred times hotter in the daytime, so get used to it now!" Temari didn't seem to be sweating one bit. I guess you get used to it… Shikamaru thought. "Anyway, we're almost at the restaurant I was talking about."

"Finally! The first thing I'm going to do is order a tall glass of water!"

The two approached a tall building that seemed to be fashioned like a giant sand castle. Shikamaru glanced at the sign above the doorway.

"The 'Sand Castle'? How very original…" he mumbled. He curiously rubbed his fingers against the compact walls, and realized it was completely made of sand. His eyes widened. "Wow, that's amazing! It really is a giant sand castle!"

"Huh…?" Temari frowned, "That's not exactly as I remembered it…" She seemed troubled, but quickly recovered. "Well, let's go in. I'm starving!"


"Where are those ninja we hired?" Kankuro asked impatiently. Gaara was too focused to reply, but mentally noted that it was only 5:29, when they asked for the Leaf ninja to arrive at 5:30.

As if to answer Kankuro's question, three ninja popped up in front of the brothers.

"Greetings! We are the three youthful shinobi assigned to this youthful mission!"

"BELIEVE IT!!!"

"Don't be so loud. The quiet cricket is never the first to be eaten."

"…"


When Shikamaru and Temari walked into the restaurant, they were surprised to find that they were the only ones occupying the building (or it seemed like that, anyway.) The walls were bare, and there were only seven wooden tables in the sparse room. There was another opening that was covered with a green cloth across from them that appeared to lead to the kitchen, but other than that, it was the only color in the room.

"You made me get in a tuxedo for this?" Shikamaru asked skeptically.

"Don't question my authority!" The abruptness of Temari's answer told Shikamaru that she was none too happy about the arrangements either. She contemplated for a moment, and then sighed. "Well, this is definitely not the way I remembered it," she shrugged, "so I guess we should go somewhere else." Despite her words, she walked further in.

"Um, Temari? Aren't we leaving?"

"Yeah, but I need to find a bathroom first. So stay here and don't sit down, okay?" With that, she walked towards a doorway that seemed to be the bathroom. Was that always right there…? Shikamaru thought, who could've sworn the only doorway there was the front and the kitchen. He shrugged, Well, weirder things have happened.

"Hello sir, you may take a seat anywhere you like."

Shikamaru jumped at the voice and turned to find a person behind the once empty pedestal. In fact, was that thing even there at all? Shikamaru shook that thought out of his head, and examined the strange character. You couldn't tell his age very well, because he wore round, dark sunglasses that covered his most identifying features and his voice was not too deep, but nowhere near high. He wore a black tuxedo like Shikamaru, and since he was behind a pedestal, he couldn't tell if the mysterious person was that tall or standing on a box.

"…Well, are you going to move or stare at me all day?"

"For your information, we're not eating here. My friend was just taking a bathroom break." Shikamaru replied.

"Oh? But why would enter a restaurant and not sample its wares?" The mysterious boy (or man?) countered. Before Shikamaru could reply, he continued. "Take a seat, please."

"Listen! We're not eating here, okay?" Shikamaru turned his back to the intimidating man (or boy?)

"Sit in a chair and eat." Shikamaru's hairs on the back of his neck pricked up. The chilling voice made him turn, only to find that he was face-to-face with the boy (who was now only a bit taller than Shikamaru). He gulped.

The boy abruptly turned from Shikamaru, and walked toward one of the tables. "This way, please."

Shikamaru was a little afraid of what might happen if he refused, so he followed nervously. "By the way, what's your name?" He was starting to get the strangest feeling that he'd met the person somewhere before.

"That is of no concern to you."

"Well, if you're going to be my waiter, or whatever, how am I supposed to call you?"

"Yelling 'waiter' will do nicely. And may I point out that you just agreed to eat here."

Shikamaru opened his mouth to protest, but realized that he'd been caught. He slumped into the chair by the table 'Waiter' had led him to, and continued to interrogate him. "Hey… haven't I seen you from somewhere?"

"I do not believe so, sir." Waiter answered with no emotion.

"Are you absolutely sure?"

"I'm always sure."

Shikamaru frowned, and tried to remember why the boy looked so familiar. "Aren't you from—?"

"Care to see the menu?" Waiter shoved a small brochure at Shikamaru's nose, cutting him off.

Shikamaru took it, and browsed through it. If anything, there were quite a variety of foods. "Wow… you guys have escargot? Where in the world did you get French snails?" He looked up, but Waiter was gone. Maybe the thought of eating snails scared him away. Then, Shikamaru realized who the waiter was. He banged the table with his fist. "Shino! That's who it was!"

"Who was what? And why are you sitting down when I specifically told you not to?" Shikamaru turned to see Temari standing over him.

"Uh… I can explain!"

"Then start explaining!"


"I'm quitting this mission."

"What? You can't quit now, Shino!"

"Why do you have snail on the menu?"

"Huh? Snails?"

Shino rolled his eyes behind his glasses. "Yes! Escargot!"

"ESCAROGOT IS SNAILS?? That's disgusting!"

"My point exactly. You're on waiter-duty now." Shino shoved the tuxedo into the ninja's hands, and disappeared in a puff of smoke, murmuring "bug killers" under his breath. The ninja stared at the clothes blankly, and then turned to the other ninja behind him.

"What do I do now?"

"Put it on, of course!"

"Are you completely crazy? Shikamaru will be able to recognize me right away, believe it!"

"Hmm… that is true… very well, I shall become the waiter! Please pass over Shino's clothing!"


"Shino?" Temari looked at Shikamaru skeptically.

"Yes! He's here, in the Sand Village!"

"…Are you sure?" Temari asked.

"I'll show you! WAITER!" Shikamaru looked around for the mysterious waiter, but he was nowhere to be found. Suddenly, a different person jumped out in front of them.

"Hello, my youthful friends! How do you find yourself on this youthful day?" The new waiter smiled brightly.

"…"

"…Hate to break it to you, but that is not Shino." Temari pointed out.

"B-But I—he—huh? Just what kind of game are you playing??" Shikamaru accused.

"Playing a game? We are playing a game?? I want to play!" The waiter jumped up and down.

"Anyway…" Temari looked warily at Shikamaru, who just slammed his head on the table, "…what is your name?"

"I am Ro—I mean, Mr.…Youthful…Waiter…Man! Yeah, that is my name!" Mr. Youthful Waiter Man saluted the two, who were staring at him in exasperation.

"Okay… Mr. Youthful Waiter Man, we're ready to order." Temari explained.

"What??? You're seriously going to eat here? That's so obviously Rock Lee in a tuxedo!"

"I am not Rock Lee! I am Mr. Youthful Waiter…um…Man! Right!" A bead of sweat ran down Mr. Youthful Waiter Man's forehead.

"Just order, Shikamaru. I'm hungry." Temari picked up the very unprofessional-looking menu and started to leaf through it.

"But…!" Shikamaru protested, but gave up when she saw Temari immersed in the menu. He sighed, and turned to Mr. Youthful Waiter Man. "I'll have the mackerel, thanks. And by the way: this whole thing doesn't fool me one bit."

"Mackerel…" The waiter murmured to himself, completely oblivious of Shikamaru's revelation.

"I'll have the kenchin soup." Temari added.

"Got it! Your order will come shortly, Shikamaru and Temari!" With one last grin, he disappeared into the kitchen. Shikamaru banged his head on the table once more. I don't think this could get much worse…


Lee entered the kitchen, and walked toward the blonde ninja who was currently wearing a chef's hat. "Naru—" Suddenly, he was tackled by two more unknown ninja.

"Huh? Lee?" The boisterous ninja turned; sure he had heard his name. Seeing no one, he shrugged and turned back to his pot of ramen and continued stirring.


Meanwhile, behind the freezer…

"Wha…? What are you guys—?" Lee abruptly stopped, having been knocked out cold.

"…Well, what now?" The figure asked the other, still wielding the giant meat stick.

"Why are you asking me?? This was your idea!"

"Fine! Help me get this tuxedo off him!" Their accomplice stared. "He wears his spandex under everything! Come on, everyone knows that…"

"Well, okay… just promise me I get that giant meat stick in the end!"


Okay, another chapter done! I actually was going to end it here, but then I got lazy, and didn't want to think of an ending, so I made it longer! Makes sense, right? (No, not really.) Anyway… I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I'll try to finish this up soon! Read and review!

By the way, you should've figured out the last ninja's name by now. The two last ones I can excuse confusion on. Thanks for reading!