Chapter four: Ichiraku, the third degree, and Shikamaru's loss of temper.


Sakura and Shikamaru walked into the Ichiraku ramen shop and sat down with their friends. "Hi guys." Uzumaki Naruto said. "Hi Naruto." Sakura said. Shikamaru and Sakura didn't order anything to eat since they had their huge breakfast. Naruto noticed the pink haired woman hugged onto Shikamaru and looked at her oddly. "I thought you were with Sasuke-teme." He said confused.

"We didn't work out so good. So we decided to call it quits. Or rather I did when we had a huge fight because Shikamaru and I went out to dinner to discuss the mission we're leaving for in three days." Sakura replied. Naruto nodded and went back to his ramen noticing how Shikamaru seemed like he was attached to the pink haired woman. Inuzuka Kiba noticed Sasuke's smell on Sakura and wanted to know what happened. "Sakura why do you smell like Sasuke?" He asked.

Sakura stiffened and forced a smile. "Sasuke and I spent a lot of time together. We would end up smelling like each other you know." She replied. "It doesn't smell like that. It smells like you've been...oh. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to put you out like that. If you and Sasuke are like that then you know it's your thing." Kiba said blushing. Naruto frowned. "What did happen between you two? I heard lots of screaming from the academy last night." He asked. Sakura winced and shook a little bit. "I don't want to talk about this." She replied.

Hyuuga Neji felt her reluctance and narrowed his eyes. "Did Sasuke do something to you?" He asked quietly. Startled, Sakura swung around to look at her brother figure. "Nani?" She said. "You heard me Sakura." Neji replied. Shikamaru scowled as he felt Sakura grab onto his pants leg and shake harder. "What happened Sakura-chan? HUH? What happened?!" Naruto shouted as he forgot his ramen to look at her hard.

Sakura's trembling was majorly visible now as she retreated behind Shikamaru who was growling softly now. "J-just what I said. Sasuke and I had a fight and we're no longer together." She replied pleadingly. "You've had major extensive healing very recently. What happened?" Neji asked. Sakura remained hidden behind Shikamaru and dug her face into his back. "WHAT HAPPENED SAKURA-CHAN?!" Naruto demanded.

"IF SHE DOESN'T WANT TO FUCKING TELL YOU THEN LEAVE IT THE HELL ALONE! CAN'T YOU MORONS SEE THAT SHE'S UNCOMFORTABLE AND SCARED?! STOP GIVING HER THE FUCKING THIRD DEGREE!!!" Shikamaru finally bellowed. The activity outside ceased as Shikamaru who was renowned for never losing his temper snapped.

"Uh OK Shikamaru. Just calm down OK? If she doesn't want to tell us, she doesn't have to." Naruto said nervously as he noticed the shadows around them flaring with Shikamaru's anger. Shikamaru brought his temper under control again and sighed. "You guys are so troublesome. C'mon Sakura. Tsunade wanted to see you. I forgot to tell you earlier when you were rushing around like a chicken with your head cut off." He said.

"Hai Shikamaru." Sakura replied as her mood brightened and she hugged onto the lazy Anbu tactition's waist as they left. Shikamaru smiled and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "They look really chummy. Didn't you notice the way they interacted with each other?" Kiba asked. "Hai. I noticed. I wonder what's going on between them. And what Sasuke did to her." Neji said thoughtfully.