Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto….*yawn*
SORRY! I didn't update all holidays, and the chapters short as well….well enjoy the show and please don't kill me (*dodges shoe*)
The group found themselves walking along the dusty road away from their village, Shikamaru and Sasuke made no sign that they were about to talk to each other, while Sakura and Ino were fighting/fawning over a brooding Sasuke who took no notice that they existed. Shikamaru, Chouji and Naruto were catching up on their experiences as ninja's while making little jokes and comments…well Chouji and Naruto were Shikamaru was just listening not bothered to do anything else. Meanwhile behind the genin Asuma and Kakashi found themselves in a deep discussion about the mission.
"That Oji-san that wanted the package delivered, do you think he was just overreacting about the mission status?" Asuma asked eyeing a medium sized package wrapped up in pink with a sky blue ribbon on it. "Hmm," Kakashi looked up from his porn novel and took a look at the box in his comrade's hands, "It's just a gift for his grand-daughter, unless it was something else or something that we haven't been filled in on, I think the oji-san was just over reacting." Kakashi stated going back to read his porn novel. "The most we can expect from this B-rank mission is bandits, Hokage-sama already out did himself by getting two teams for this mission as well as raise mission rank to a 'B'." Kakashi continued his voice quiet so the genin would not ears drop in on their conversation, yet even though being careful neither noticed two had already heard more then they should have. Neither did anything to notify the Jounin that they had heard, both allies kept walking down the road in silence.
It had been an hour since they had left Konoha and so far the trip was, to say the least, uneventful. Naruto sighed in boredom, Kyuubi did want to play with her let alone talk to her, so she had no way to escape the boredom, Shikamaru was walking with his hands behind his head and was gazing at the clouds, next to him was Chouji who munched away happily on his BBQ chips oblivious to the boredom around him. On the other side of the pathway Sasuke was still being pestered by Sakura and Ino who were continuously fighting over who 'their' Sasuke-kun loved. Sasuke although having a calm demeanour on the outside, inside his chibi was going mad, wishing for the banshees to stop their howling and get on with their lives. Suddenly a small light bulb appeared over chibi Sasuke's head, reaching down to who knows where, the chibi pulled out novelty sized earplugs and stuck them in his ears, leaving the real Sasuke to suffer.
Seeing his agitation Naruto somehow found her way around the screaming banshees and walked alongside Sasuke, who looked up from the ground in surprise when he felt her presence, Naruto gave him her grin which washed over her features, while Sasuke settled for a thankful smile, seeing the smile Chouji and Shikamaru stared in shock, while Naruto's smile only widened. Behind them Kakashi and Asuma looked on curiously, with that Naruto and Sasuke started one of their own 'conversations', (A/N: you know the ones where Sasuke insults Naruto and Naruto insults him back and they end up running in circles until Naruto finally lets up =D).
But despite all the arguing they generally had fun at what they did, Shikamaru glanced at the two shinobi every now and then, frowning at Sasuke whenever he touched Naruto. Noticing the action Kakashi giggled, while Asuma smirked. Shaking himself out of his trance Shikamaru went back to cloud watching trying to ignore Sasuke and Naruto's arguing, meanwhile it didn't take long for Ino and Sakura to be alerted of Naruto's presence (A/N: Who wouldn't they could probably be heard within a miles radius).Both girls shrieked the surrounding forests down at the young blond, who never backed down and shouted back her own insults at the pair, while silently signalling the raven haired boy to get away. Thankful for the opportunity, Sasuke slid back behind Kakashi and Asuma, both adults watched the scene unravel with amusement.
It wasn't until dusk fell upon them that they stopped and made camp, taking shelter in the trees, unfolding their tents and helping one another set it up the crawled into them and fell asleep almost immediately. Two pairs of onyx eyes shot open in the surrounding darkness and made their way out of the tents, making sure not to make a sound they disappeared out of the tents and both figures vanished into the trees. Returning only hours later their minds filled with dates, numbers, mappings, and history.
Daylight seeped into an open patch in the tent, sliding along the floor, across the blanket and hitting a sun-kissed cheek, three scars running down its sides, travelling further upwards resting upon the closed lid of brilliant azure eyes. Her features scrunched up as she peeked through her eye-lid, groaning as she realised she had to get up, changing before gathering her things she exited her tent to see Asuma and Kakashi already, muttering a sleepy "g'morning" to them both she made her way to a nearby stream.
Inside his tent Sasuke sat straight looking at a map of Konoha, studying it, memorizing every route it had (which is a lot), dark circles rested under his eyes, rubbing his eyes he inhaled deeply before releasing a sigh a putting away the map sealing it away into a scroll. Gathering his belongings he made his way down to the nearby stream, ignoring everyone in his surrounding environment as he went.
Snoozing in his bed, Shikamaru shifted in his sleep, a loose strand of his hair slipped down onto his face, tickling his nose. His features scrunched up as he raised a hand and swatted the piece away his hand dropped to his side like a dead weight, the same strand of hair fell onto his nose once more tickling him, ignoring it until he could ignore it no longer he sat up in frustration and moved the strand away from his face, satisfied he lay back down and went back into a deep sleep. A smile came across his features unconsciously as he dreamt of a young female who was full of life.
At the stream having finished washing up, Naruto gave her reflection a big grin, opening her eyes she noticed a figure behind her, turning her grin grew wider as she waved enthusiastically to Sasuke. The raven in turn rolled his eyes at her hyperactive-ness so early in the morning, "Ohaiyo Sasuke-teme!" She called, Sasuke just gave her a small smile, which she gladly returned with her grin.
Her smile faded when she saw the shadows under his eyes, "Eh? Sasuke? What's wrong?" The raven froze looking back he had his normal façade on
"What are you going on about dobe?" he turned away from her, washing his face in the stream, Naruto tried to get a peak at his face curiosity etched onto her visage "Hmm..? You look broodier then usual" Sasuke stopped mid-way from drying his face turning he gave Naruto a blank look muttering the word dobe he turned away from her again "'Broodier' isn't a word dobe" he sighed getting up.
Naruto frowned "It is too! You just haven't heard the word being used!"
"Maybe that's because it's not a word"
"It is too!"
"No it isn't dobe"
"Teme!"
"Dobe"
"Baka!"
"dobe"
"ha, you already said that teme! I win!"
"I didn't realise we were competing"
"Teme!"
"You already said that dobe, I win"
Sasuke turned and walked away, Naruto following closely at his heels yelling that he had cheated and that the argument didn't count. Sasuke just smirked at the blonds antics, all the while worried about the previous nights work. Neither noticed two pairs of eyes following the yelling blond as they exited the area.
Inside his tent Shikamaru was rudely awakened by, well what he thought was, two shrieking banshees, grudgingly exiting his tent he look around to find his sensei's trying to calm Sakura and Ino who were searching wildly for Sasuke, groaning he begrudgingly made his way back inside his tent to gather his things and made his way down to the river, knowing he would never get his much wanted and needed sleep. Making his way down to the stream the sleepy shinobi caught something moving in the corner of his eyes, not giving away any sign he had seen it he kept walking towards his destination. All the while discretely heightening his senses, tensing his muscles, and taking deliberate steps forward, another rustle, he kept walking.
His eyes widened however when he felt a large chakra source emit from behind him, who ever it was had to be a jounin whipping around kunai ready in hand, Shikamaru came face to face with a grinning Naruto, mentally cursing he quickly put the kunai away, hoping the blond didn't see it, sighing he took his lazed stance he drawled "What is it, Naruto-c..kun?" Naruto's grin only got wider not noticing the males slip up. The raven haired boy in front of her back away cautiously, Naruto only stepped forward each time he stepped back, suddenly disappearing Shikamaru's eyes widened as he found her breath tickling his throat as she said slyly "Shika-kun, can you help me with something, onegai?" the hair of the back of his neck stood on end as he repressed a shudder from running up and down his spine, Shikamaru gulped not trusting his voice he could only nod.
Naruto jumped back from him "Really?! That's great!" She exclaimed happily not noticing Shikamaru's heavy breathing as he tried to keep his hormones under control, damn it what was wrong with him?! His heart was racing like he had just run one thousand laps around Konoha with that crazy thick-eyebrow duo chasing him. He almost shuddered at the thought, regaining his composure he looked back at Naruto who was grinning happily, the raven sighed might as well get this over with "Come on, off to prank Sakura and Ino!" Shikamaru halted in his steps, no nonononononononononononononononononono, he never ever, ever does something troublesome and this came under the role of troublesome "No" he replied simply before turning to walk away, going down to the river Naruto followed the young male whining.
"But Shika-kun! You said you would" mentally cursing himself for his recklessness around the blond he bent down hovering above the stream while washing his face and refused Naruto who whined and called the shinobi names, Shikamaru's eye twitched really was that necessary? Naruto pouted turning away "Fine be that way, meanie!" the young male staggered in his step, he sighed walking back to the small blond he lay down next to her "What do you want me to do?" he sighed (he did that a lot around her) Naruto turned around her face shining, Shikamaru caught his breath when he found himself looking directly into her azure eyes, they seemed to glow the deep orbs of ocean blue.
Shikamaru turned away a heavy blush planted onto his face, "Eh? Shika-kun? What's wrong" Naruto asked innocently, Shikamaru's eye twitched again "Nothing, just tell me the plan already" Smiling again she nodded "Okay, but first we need to get Sasuke-teme and Cho-kun" the young male's eye found itself twitching, there goes their plan out the window. Shikamaru held back a shout of surprise as he was pulled forward by a running happy blond, sighing and having nothing else to do he let himself be pulled forward. This was going to be a long day…
Sorry the chapter is so short everyone and sorry it was so uneventful…again *sweatdrop* Anyway votes for side pairings, I'm taking any, yuri, yaoi, whatever just vote and suggest any pairings.
Next chapter its all shock, disaster and fish…..wait, what? ;p just have to wait and see what I have in store for you guys
Anyway review and tell me if you like the latest chapter and what I can improve, I'll be happy to listen to any criticism you guys have =D
That's all for now ja ne
Shika XD