To Know Who You Are
Team Shikamaru. Before this team was formed, Shikamaru had gone through many student files, reading up on each genin graduate and carefully deciding which three genins he'd choose.
After taking a moment of consideration, he had chosen three genins to take under his wing.
Name: Harada Eiji
Age: 12
Gender: male
Height: 5'1 ½"
Weight: 91 Lb
Blood Type: AB negative
Class Rank: 14
Date of Birth: 03/19/94
Hair: light brown
Eyes: amber
During observation of the graduate group, Shikamaru had noted that Eiji was a rather peculiar boy. He always had a smile on his face and a thoughtful, unreadable visage. And the fact that the boy's family history was a complete mystery (having coming from a family who immigrated to Konoha some decades ago) only seemed troublesome in Shikamaru's opinion. But his background wasn't really important, and it was too troublesome and unnecessary to dig into someone's past.
Name: Fuji Tamaki
Age: 12
Gender: male
Height: 5'3"
Weight: 94 Lb
Blood Type: O positive
Class Rank: 23
Date of Birth: 05/28/94
Hair: brown/blonde
Eyes: blue
Shikamaru knew the Fuji family well enough, having to have worked with Tamaki's eldest brother, Momoshiro (a fellow war tactician and formidable shogi player whom he meets every Sunday afternoon). And through Momoshiro, he met Tamaki, the rambunctious little brother who had exceptional talent for genjutsu and the (strange) talent for burping the alphabet (reminding Shikamaru of his old teammate Chouji who was on his honeymoon with his bride Ino).
When Shikamaru was reading through the profiles of every genin, Momoshiro had approached him and practically begged him to take Tamaki as a student.
"He needs to learn patience and when to take things slow, and you're an expert with taking your time." he had said, somewhat flattering Shikamaru. Almost.
"How troublesome," Shikamaru had sighed, "Fine."
Name: Maito Susumu
Age: 12
Gender: male
Height: 4'11 ¾"
Weight: 88 Lb
Blood Type: O positive
Class Rank: 1
Date of Birth: 09/06/94
Hair: black
Eyes: black
It took Shikamaru several look-overs to even consider taking Susumu, son of Konoha's Green Beast: Maito Gai, as a student. Especially with all the trouble he and the Rookie Nine, along with Team Gai had gone through when he was a baby. And in truth, he had no special ties to the Maito boy or his family (beside the fact that every time he played Go or Shogi against Midori, he always ended up losing no matter what).
And because of Susumu's father, the boy was unbeatable in taijutsu and had the perfect replication of his mother's poker face.
Shikamaru would have ignored Susumu's impressive file of good grades and teacher's comments and moved on to find a third member for his genin team (and allow Neji, Lee, or Tenten to take him as a student instead) if it just weren't for the fact that Hyuuga Neji himself had asked, or to be more precise, ordered him to take Susumu as his third student.
"It'll be worth it, trust me." Neji had said.
"And here I thought you of all people would be more than glad to take the kid." Shikamaru said.
"I would, but as Anbu captain, I'll be too busy with missions to mentor a team of genins."
Shikamaru sighed heavily, scratching the back of his head. "The kid was troublesome before he could walk…Fine, I'll take him."
Meeting his three new students for the first time, he noticed right away that the boys were already close friends even before they were assembled into a team. At least he won't have to worry about any personal conflicts between his students.
Every little mission they were assigned went smoothly with the occasional foul-up due to lack of teamwork as Susumu and Tamaki would bump heads and start up a pointless argument with Eiji being neutral about everything.
Yep, Shikamaru knew right off the bat that the boys were the perfect example of being tight friends. He just wished his job wasn't so troublesome.
During the months after becoming a team, Shikamaru saw that his teachings and mannerisms were starting to rub off onto his students. Tamaki had slowed down and became more patient with everything, Susumu's lack of interest towards many things made him act less indifferent, and Eiji…well, the boy was still an enigma with the unexplainable smile.
Oh well, not everyone can change on the outside.
After a year of D and C-ranked missions (with only one B-ranked), Shikamaru thought it was time for his students to reach the next level as a ninja. He recommended them to take part in the Chuunin Exams, knowing their teamwork had improved and their skills have sharpened.
It was now time to put their skills to the test.
Of course, his confidence in his student's teamwork had backfired a bit after the second half of the exam was over. Hearing from Eiji that Tamaki and Susumu had a row and were no longer talking to each other. But Shikamaru just yawned and laid back down on the grass, staring up at the wispy clouds.
"That's their problem." Shikamaru had said. "Maybe it's a good thing, after all, their first match is against each other. They need some real motivation to get them going."
"You're probably right, sensei. They're just hot-headed." Eiji agreed.
Watching the fights with the other jounin senseis, Shikamaru wondered, yet hardly cared, why two of his students were so angry about to make them go at each other's throats?
And looking to the box where the genin participants of the exams were held, watching the fights at a closer range, Shikamaru noticed that Eiji wasn't even watching. In fact, the boy was leaning back against the railing while the others watched with interest.
That kid…what does he know that I don't? Shikamaru wondered, Oh well, it's none of my business anyways.
Of course, unknown to Shikamaru, Eiji had been the one to spur his two teammates into becoming bitter towards each other because he knew what irked them. And with a few words to his teammates separately, he had caused the sparks to the flames and watched as it grew, and waited for it to die out.
It was a method he came up with to get his friends to get over themselves and finally see eye-to-eye. He had no need to watch it unfold, because he knew the minds of his two best friends very well, while he, remained as secretive as ever.
It was just a way for them to know who they really are.
AN: I've been rather vague about Susumu's teammates so I decided to write this chapter to shed some light on who they are. And though you know Susumu well enough, and a little more about Tamaki, I've left Eiji to be enigmatic so that his character remains interesting and brings in a dynamic element to Team Shikamaru.
Sorry if this chapter isn't very long, but I just wanted to put a little more depth into the characters. Thanks to everyone, I've been able to continue on with this story. So if you guys want more keep giving me ideas for future chapters, make them as outrageous as you want, or even, dare I write, intimate as you want. I'll take any ideas or suggestions because I want you readers to be happy and satisfied!
I'll take your ideas no matter what rating it could be! From innocent and harmless, to funny and outrageous, to even sultry with adulterated moments! I could care less as long as that's what you guys want! So keep the ideas flowing!
And...
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