Chapter II- SPARRING BY MOONLIGHT
Shikamaru spent the rest of the day trying to think of interesting things to say to Sakura. It wasn't normally this hard to talk to her, but she had to go and add the pressure of making this a "date". He really wasn't that interested in her (the whole Sasuke obsession was a bit of a turn off) but he didn't want to be known as a lousy person to date. Sakura seemed to realize how hard he was trying and gracefully put up with increasingly mundane conversations. Despite Shikamaru's lousy attempts at talking, Sakura still seemed very much to be enjoying herself. Apparently she found his embarrassment highly amusing.
They were, however, at no shortage of places to go and things to do. They started off by going to Shikimono's Shuriken Shop, which they were promptly kicked out of when Sakura failed miserably trying to hit a bulls-eye with a 17 point shuriken, nearly slicing off Shikimono-san's ear. They then entertained themselves briefly with a trip to Taku Ninja Wears ("Where the Shoes Never Have Toes"), but the same collection of vests, pants that aren't quite, and of course, shoes without toes, grows rather old rather quickly. Twice they had to dodge messengers bringing missions to Shikamaru, the second of which eventually culminated in a fantastic flight from one end of the village to the other, finishing off with Shikamaru and Sakura hiding in the nostrils of the 3rd Hokage, the statue of course. The first wasn't nearly as interesting, as they were easily able to lose the rather incompetent messenger in a large marketplace.
By the time the sun was setting and the sky streaked violet and orange, the pair had found themselves lying lazily amongst the spikes of the 4th Hokage's hair, feeling tired but still rather satisfied that the day had turned out better than either could have originally pictured. Even Shikamaru, to whom dating was little more than a mostly unnecessary and largely avoidably hassle in life, had to admit that the day had be fun.
Settled comfortably in the notch where two spikes met, Shikamaru gazed first at the now almost fully set sun and then at Sakura, sitting with her legs drawn up close a few feet up the spike in front of him. He had just started to say something, but had his attention quickly drawn away by a rustling from below him. He adjusted himself to look down but saw nothing and looked back to Sakura, who seemed not to have noticed anything. He relaxed, but moments later heard a sound very similar, but much closer this time. Who would be sneaking up on them here?
He moved into a crouch and jumped to Sakura, who began to let out a startled scream, but was quickly silenced by Shikamaru's hand over her mouth.
"Shhh," he hissed, "Someone's watching us." His eyes darted around.
"Why would someone be watching US?" said Sakura, taking his hand from her mouth. "Who would want to?"
"I don't know," he said, moving easily up the spike for a better view. "But I'd like to find out."
Shikamaru looked quickly in every direction, then suddenly his head jerked up, sight set on a point some twenty feet above them. With one fluid hand motion, three kunai lodged themselves in that very point, narrowly missing the shape which blurred out of sight.
Sakura was on her guard now, too. She looked nervously around, kunai drawn. From somewhere just over her head, a figure jumped, landing easily above Shikamaru. Rapidly responding, he sent a backhand strike at the figure he at least now knew to be human. It parried easily, deflecting the blows Shikamaru sent now with increasing speed.
The figure jumped backwards, landing perched atop the spike, it's face obscured in the twilight. Shikamaru sent himself forward for a punch, which the figure easily blocked. After a second unsuccessful flurry of blows, both flung themselves backwards, Shikamaru landing crouched just in front of Sakura.
"That's a Jounin level ninja. I can't land a single thing," he said, breathing heavily.
Sakura seemed positively terrified at this statement.
"We need to get out of here then."
"No," said Shikamaru, shaking his head, "If that is a Jounin, I doubt we could outrun him. I need to get on more level footing. Sakura, stay here."
He jumped right in front of the figure, swung a missed punch, and jumped straight up, landing easily on the even ground above. Just a moment later the figure joined him.
Okay, he thought, it'll be easier to fight up here but I doubt I'll fair any better in hand-to-hand combat. It's too dark for my shadow bind to be of any real use. Shikamaru looked quickly about the area for anything that could be of use, but found just rock. Calm down. The figure, on the other hand, seemed to be fully enjoying their little match, and assumed a low fighting stance.
It struck first this time, with a blow Shikamaru was barely able to parry. Another flurry of blows was made in Shikamaru's direction his time, all of which he was hardly able to keep up with. After a last blocked kick, the figure jumped backwards, crouched low in it's fighting stance.
It was now fully dark out, and Shikamaru was running low on ideas. Hopefully Sakura had gone for help, he wasn't sure how much longer he could last against a fighter of this caliber. Still looking about frantically and still finding only rock, he decided it would be best to lead the fight into the village where he could find backup.
He was just about to start off when the figure whirled around the opposite way. A kunai knocked harmlessly to the side, it was now exchanging blows rapidly with Sakura. This was obviously not the Sakura he knew, though. The Sakura he knew was the weakest member of her team, but this Sakura was holding her own well against this Jounin level ninja. Shikamaru gaped slightly. What was the 5th Hokage teaching her?
He ran forward towards the kunai on the ground, picked it up, turned, and flung it at the figure. It caught it easily, never missing a beat in its fight with Sakura. Within moments, it had flattened itself against the ground and aimed a spinning kick at Sakura's feet, connecting and sending her feet flying out from under her. With no motion at all, it disappeared, reappearing below Shikamaru and bringing him down too, but staying there with a hand on his shoulder, it's massive strength holding Shikamaru down. It crouched low over him, but when it brought it's face close enough for Shikamaru to make out details, he found it not only a Leaf Ninja, but to be none other than Hatake Kakashi, smiling his familiar smile.