I do not own Naruto. CHAPTER 3: NAME GAMES
A week later talk of the Sarutobi gym's boxers still hadn't quieted down, mostly due to Chouji's victory, making him the current heavy weight champion of Japan. A few of the reporters even tried to ask Shikamaru about his win over Lee, but he avoided their questions by excusing himself to go train.
Shikamaru was jabbing the punching bag when he heard his name being called. He followed the voice to the office of the gym. His eyes opened in shock at what he saw. A familiar curvaceous woman sitting in one of the chairs the office had.
"I take it you know who I am?" she spoke. Shikamaru nodded his head and regained his cool. "Yes, you're Tsunade the chairman of the Japanese boxing federation." the woman nodded in confirmation.
"I'm here to talk business with your father, but I need a favor from you." Shikamaru raised his eyebrow questioningly. "Can you take my associate here to get something to eat?" Tsunade motioned to another person in the room.
In the corner behind Shikamaru a young woman stood arms crossed. In his shock of Tsunade speaking to him he had not even noticed her. He looked her up and down. Feet planted firmly, Muscular legs that curved in to full hips, a toned body, he gaze finally worked its way up to a frightening pair of teal eyes and dark blonde hair pulled in to four ponytails. The young woman's glare was annoyed. He realized it was because he had looked her over like he was sizing her up silently. Tsunade's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Temari here has been waiting patiently to go eat, but I think I'll be here a while longer, hurry up and take her somewhere." Shikamaru nodded nervously and gestured for the young woman to follow. She uncrosses her arms and lets out an angry breath before following.
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Shikamaru was not enjoying himself. Temari's body language screamed out irritation. She fell in step with him. "Where are you taking me?" her voice was raspy, powerful. He contemplated ignoring her as long as possible, and then Shikamaru realized something. He was in workout clothes still. Meaning he didn't have his wallet with him.
"Troublesome..." he mutters. Temari crosses her arm "What do you mean?" asks. He puts his hands behind his head "Oh well, guess it can't be helped. We have to go there. Come on, this way." He speeds up a step and she follows curiously.
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A familiar bell chimes as they enter the restaurant. The chef greets them from the kitchen. A waiter shows them to their table. Soon a large plate of barbeque is placed before them.
"How are you going to pay for this?" she asks. He finishes his bite "Chouji has a tab here, I'll just put it on there." she picks up one of the well cooked sticks of meat and waves it as she speaks. "Chouji is the heavyweight champ right?" Shikamaru nods. "Are you a boxing fan?" he asks. She nods her head "I was born in to a boxing family; my brothers are Gaara and Kankuro." Shikamaru raises an eyebrow in surprise.
Gaara and Kankuro were two very well know boxers, Kankuro was once the middle weight champ and Gaara had been a featherweight champ before retiring to join Tsunade as one of the heads of the boxing committee.
"So I take it you want to be a champion boxer then?" she asked with a smile. Shikamaru shook his head "No, not at all. I just want to box because it's the only skill I have. Use it to make some money so I can eat. Marry someone, have some kids, get old and them die." Temari looked stunned at his honesty. She regained her composure and smiled "Keeping those aspirations high I see." Shikamaru had been lost in her smile. It was a sight. Her whole face lit up with that grin. Something about her felt oddly familiar. Where had he seen her before?
The chef came out at that moment to great them. Shikamaru had known him for years now seeing as how Asuma would take him and Chouji here to eat once a week, over the years they had become the most regular customers.
"Shikamaru," the chef called. "Great job winning your debut. That liver shot was amazing!" Shikamaru raised a hand in appreciation "Thank you." the chef nodded and returned to the kitchen looking over his shoulder he called out "Asuma would be so proud of you."
The mention of his name brought Shikamaru in to a trance. He hadn't thought about what his coach would've said about his match against Lee and now his voice was ringing in his head.
"Who's Asuma?" Temari's voice snaps him out of it. Shikamaru clears a lump that is caught in his throat, he replies after a sip of water. "Asuma was my trainer, he taught me how to box. He takes another bite as she speaks "Was he there at the gym today?" the words stung a little in Shikamaru's throat. It was strange having to find the words to explain his late teacher. He had never had to explain it to someone who was not aware of it before, usually people would just offer him their condolences, Asuma had always praised Shikamaru for being a genius inside and outside the ring, but at the moment he was drawing a blank stupidly.
"He.. Wasn't there today.." Shikamaru stutters, "He died.. a while back." Temari looks up from her meal. Her teal eyes opening wider, Shikamaru was used to this part. This is where they would usually tell him how sorry they were for his loss. He prepared to give her the usual reply he always gave when this happened.
Instead her voice became serious, "How?" she asks. Shikamaru's eyebrow raises questioningly, "How what?" his question seems to irritate Temari, she raises one palm up. "How did he die dumbass!?" He is thrown off guard at her outburst, he notes her short fuse for future reference. "Oh.. well he was a boxer too, and he died in the ring."
Temari stares quietly after he finishes. Eventually she breaks eye contact and looks downward. "What was his name?" she asks. "You're the one who asked who he was, It was Asuma." She shakes her head. "No… What was the name of the man that killed him?"
Shikamaru took a moment before he spoke "Hidan."
Temari gasps, only for a moment, but Shikamaru can hear it. Suddenly he remembers why she seems so familiar, Slowly he pieces it together, and as he does. His anger rises.
