Yes, it's time for the next chapter. I don't have much to say except that finals are coming soon, so that will keep me from updating as much. And as soon as we let out for Christmas break I'm going out of town for a week, so I won't be updating til probably the new year begins. I might have time for one more chapter before finals, though. Enjoy!

Thoughts:Shikamaru

Chouji

Ino

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or its characters, even though I wouldn't mind owning the Uchiha brothers.

Chapter 8-Training

Ino was hurrying to get ready that morning, her head still full of the events of the previous afternoon. Team 10 was going out to the training grounds, sans Asuma, for the first time since Ino and Shikamaru started going out. She was nervous about battling her own boyfriend, even if it was just for training.

I can't believe we shared our first kiss yesterday. He's so amazing…I really don't wanna fight him today. But I can't expect Chouji to just fight us and not have us fight each other.

She gave a hurried goodbye to her parents and headed over to their training grounds. On the way there, she met up with Chouji, who was munching on his usual bag of chips.

"Morning, Ino," Chouji said. "How was yesterday?" he asked, a strange smile on his face.

"What do you mean-oh." Shikamaru Nara, you have a big mouth.

Chouji grinned. "I'm not trying to pry," he said. But I would like you to confirm that the kiss wasn't just a figment of Shikamaru's imagination.

"It's fine," Ino replied. "I figured you'd be the first to know, other than ourselves, of course."

Ah, so it really did happen. "So, how do you feel about fighting him for the first time since ya'll started dating?" Chouji asked.

"I'm not really excited about it, truth be told," Ino admitted. "I mean, I know it's not going to be harmful, but my mentality won't allow me to harm him."

"So just practice the Mind Transfer technique," Chouji suggested.

"It just feels wrong to use techniques and jutsus on my boyfriend," Ino said.

"Don't think of him as your boyfriend in training, then," Chouji said. "Think of him as your partner and teammate. You two have been teammates longer than ya'll have been dating."

"Yeah, I know," Ino said.

"So don't sweat it, or I'll have to give you a neck," Chouji joked.

"Ok, thanks," Ino said.

They walked together towards the training grounds, where Shikamaru was standing, staring at something in the distance.

"What's wrong?" Ino asked, planting a quick kiss on his cheek.

"They beat us to it," Shikamaru replied, pointing at a pair of fighters in their spot.

Naruto and Neji were training in Team 10's usual spot, not noticing their audience. They looked as if they had been at it for several minutes at least. Both looked as if the other's attacks weren't landing. Ino was angry.

"We always come here!" she exclaimed. "Why can't they go train elsewhere?"

"It's Neji," Shikamaru said. "He's got a God complex." I don't want to deal with such a troublesome person so early in the morning.

"Let's just wait for them to finish," Chouji said. But knowing those two, it will take a while.

After sharing a significant look, Shikamaru and Ino nodded, sitting down next to Chouji to watch the pair fight. Ino found their battle rather boring, having seen them go at it several times before. Her eyes roamed around the area, stopping on something a few feet away from the battling pair. Hinata was standing in the shadows of the trees, watching Naruto and Neji. Ino nudged Shikamaru and pointed her out to him. He nudged Chouji and did the same.

"Wonder what she's doing," Ino said. Aside from enjoying her "view".

"Probably trying to pick up tips or something," Chouji replied. Or pick up on Naruto.

"Doubtful," Shikamaru said. "If she wanted to get tips, she would ask someone for help. I think she just wants to watch the battle for fun, like we are." I won't point anything out to those two. It's really none of our business anyway, so I won't make it a big deal. He sighed. "I hope they hurry up. I don't have all day to spend here waiting to train."

"Like what?" Ino inquired curiously.

"I have to watch the clouds later," Shikamaru answered simply.

Ino snorted. "Because that's so much more important than training," she said sarcastically.

"Exactly."

Naruto and Neji appeared to have finally warmed up, because they started going at each other harder. Neji jabbed at Chakra points while Naruto dodged skillfully, taking care to make as many shadow clones as possible. Neji had to resort to his Hakkeshou Kaiten to keep them all from hitting. Naruto aimed a Rasengan at Neji's chest, but he dodged and started up his Hakke Rokujuu Yonshou, which caused Naruto slight panic. He started multiplied his shadow clones again, hoping for the best. On the sidelines, Team 10 was just staring wide-eyed, fascinated with the battle. Hinata was clutching the tree nervously, praying for Naruto's safety. She knew that Neji would never dream of going easy on anyone, especially Naruto.

"This is intense," Ino stated.

Shikamaru nodded. "They're really giving their all, even though it's just a practice battle." I'm glad we don't go that far.

Naruto and Neji decided to stop shortly afterwards, heading over to their onlookers.

"So, what did ya think?" Naruto asked.

"You two were really giving it your all," Shikamaru replied. "Nice battle."

Naruto looked confused. "What do you mean, giving it our all? You mean you actually thought that was the best we could do?" He laughed. "Dream on, Shikamaru. If I'm going to be Hokage one day, it wouldn't happen if that performance over there was my best. It was just practice. I've hardly used any Chakra."

"But Neji started using the Hakke Rokujuu Yonshou, which is one of his best moves," Ino pointed out. "We just assumed it was the best you two could do."

"Oh, he likes to do that to challenge me," Naruto explained dismissively. "It was no big deal."

Back in the shadows of the trees, Hinata let out a sigh of relief. She had been worried for a minute there, but was confident that Naruto wouldn't lie to friends about things like that. She started to leave when the sound of her own name froze her.

"I'm surprised Hinata didn't come down here," Naruto said. "She usually likes watching us fight for some reason."

Neji surveyed Naruto slowly, fighting the impulse to shake his head. "Hinata is here, standing over in those trees," he said quietly, pointing to her spot.

Hinata was trying to hear what they were saying about her, but whatever Neji said was lost in the wind. She contemplated moving closer when footsteps made her halt.

"Hey, Hinata! What are you doing back here?" Naruto asked, looking at her curiously.

Hinata's face flushed. "Um…I was just…watching…the-the fight," she stuttered.

"You didn't have to hide, you know," Naruto said cheerfully. "We like it when you watch, actually!"

Hinata's face got redder. She lowered her head so he wouldn't notice. "I-I didn't really…know that."

Ino was watching from afar. "She's such a strange girl," she remarked. And she's always so nervous and fidgety around Naruto. I don't see why. There's nothing really all that amazing about him, aside from his ability to get damn lucky in sticky situations.

"Should we begin?" Chouji asked.

"Yeah, let's go," Ino said. "Come on, Shikamaru."

Neji sat down to watch them fight and he was shortly joined by Naruto and a still blushing Hinata. Team 10 had formed a triangle, with Chouji as the tip and Shikamaru and Ino as the corners. It was a one-on-one-on-one battle. Shikamaru started up with his Shadow Binding technique, going after Ino, who was aiming a Mind Transfer at Chouji. Chouji enlarged his left arm and it shot out at Shikamaru, ending his attempts at his Shadow Binding. Because of this, Ino's Mind Transfer worked. Not wanting to injure Shikamaru, she gently tossed him on the ground and had Chouji slap himself in the head for being mean. She released the Jutsu and returned to her own body.

"Ok, that wasn't too bad," Shikamaru said. "But Chouji, you need to remember Ino when you go after me or me when you go after Ino. It doesn't always happen, but sometimes you forget about the other person and can get caught." He turned to Ino. "Now, I know I'm your boyfriend, but don't go that easy on me. It's training! Think of me and Chouji as the enemies."

"Now, Shikamaru, we get to lecture you," Chouji said. "You weren't paying enough attention to me because you were focused on catching Ino's shadow, which is why I caught you. You need to be on constant alert. I know it's just training, but as you've said before, training doesn't mean going easy on everyone. Think of us as the enemy." He looked at Ino. "And next time you take over someone's mind, make it worthwhile! Don't just toss him lightly like nothing and then release."

"Well, Shikamaru, I think Chouji was right about how you needed to watch out for a second man. A mistake like that could really cost you in the field," Ino explained. "And Chouji, you didn't even pay the slightest bit of attention to me, which is why you were caught by my Mind Transfer. Remember both sides before you attack."

"Ok, let's go again!" Shikamaru exclaimed.

Out on the sides, Neji was watching them closely, while Naruto was listening to what they were saying to each other. He found it interesting that each of them paid that much attention to the mistakes of the others. Hinata kept changing from watching Naruto to watching the fight, trying to decide which one was more important at the moment. When Naruto leaned back and accidentally touched her hand, she fainted.

"Hinata, are you alright?" Naruto asked loudly.

Ino canceled her attempt at Mind Transferring to Shikamaru and rushed over.

"What happened? Is she ok?" Ino asked anxiously.

"She just kinda fainted," Naruto said, shrugging his shoulders.

"What happened right before she passed out?" Ino asked.

"I leaned back and accidentally touched her," Naruto replied, thinking. "Maybe I hurt her."

Ino groaned. "That's it? I guess she's ok, then. When she wakes up, try not to do anything to make her faint again."

"I didn't make her faint," Naruto retorted.

"Yes you did," Ino said. "When you get too close to her, she faints. Keep your space for now, please."

"I don't see why she would faint because of me," Naruto commented to himself.

"Is she ok?" Shikamaru asked when Ino returned.

"She's fine," Ino replied shortly. "Naruto just touched her again."

Chouji groaned. "Does he know that she likes him yet?"

Ino shook her head. "He's as clueless as ever. And anyway, we don't know for a fact that she does."

Shikamaru shook his head. "Let's just get started." Women are not only troublesome, but clueless as well.

End Chapter 8

Well, I hope you enjoyed it! Someone asked what my side pairings are, but I've mentioned two of them already. One of them was vaguely hinted at in the last chapter and one was getting nudged at in this chapter. I'm not going to outright say it until the time is right. It's more fun to keep people guessing and to allow them to figure it out for themselves. In two weeks I have finals, then I'm going on vacation for a straight week. There will be no updates during any of that time. And once the second semester starts, I'll have less time to update again because I won't have my computer class anymore. But if I can make time at home I'll still do an update every few weeks. There will be one more before finals, though. Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Chapter 9 coming soon!