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A/N: The preliminaries are finally over. Time to get back to the main plot for a while. I will concede this does contain some fluff.
Tomorrow's Promise
Chapter 25: Nightlife
The end of the first parts of the exam brought with it the departure of the foreign shinobi, including, to Shikamaru's dismay, Temari with the Suna group. He had spent the first few days after her departure alternating between watching clouds and sulking in his room. Concerned, Ino and Chouji had gone to his house and dragged him out for some barbeque, inviting other members of the Konoha 11 and Sai. To no one's surprise the group filled the whole private area of the restaurant.
In large semicircular booth sat a sulky Shikamaru, flanked on one side by Chouji and the other by Ino. Next to her was Sakura, who was holding hands with Naruto. On the other side of Chouji sat Kiba and Hinata and Neji, Tenten & Lee. Sai was sitting on the end next to Naruto, giving Akamaru a good scratch behind the ears.
"Why are we here? It's too troublesome," complained the young Nara. Before he could add any further complaints, Ino struck him. His cheek bore a red mark that proved the medic had a wicked uppercut.
"We're here because your mother came into my shop today, worried about you. She said you were avoiding her and Shikaku-oji-chan, staying in your room all day and not eating. Why do you think neither commented when we physically carried you out of your house in front of them!" shouted the blond kunoichi.
'Troublesome," muttered Shikamaru under his breath. However she had a point.
He had not seen any of them in days; he had not even seen sunlight in days and the new pallor of his usually healthier looking completion showed it. If Tsunade had seen him like this, she would have most likely sent him to the hospital for a rigorous physical.
"Ino-chan's right," added Chouji. "I also know Temari-san would be displeased if she saw you like this. I believe her solution to this would involve that fan of hers."
The entire table laughed at Chouji's comment, knowing that the Suna kunoichi would react exactly as he had predicted.
"You can't stop living just because your beloved girlfriend's in Suna! It's most unyouthful behavior," stated Lee.
"I agree with Lee," said Neji. Everyone else at the table bore identical looks of shock. Lee and Neji argued constantly still.
"You cannot quit living," he continued.
"More troublesome," muttered Shikamaru.
"So let's have a good time then!" added Ino.
Akamaru barked in agreement. In addition to the number of people present, the use of the private room allowed for the presence of the ninken.
"Can we have three party platters and a few pitchers of tea?" Chouji asked the approaching waitress. She nodded and walked away, leaving the group to their own devices.
"So who's happy to see the Chunin Exams temporarily over?" asked Naruto conversationally. Ino and Sakura exchanged looks. They had worked almost non-stop during the exam. Shikamaru pulled a shrunken from his pocket and tossed it at the blond. Naruto deflected it with his plate.
"No fighting at the table," said Sakura.
"You're only saying that because a shrunken was thrown at your boyfriend," commented Kiba. Hinata nodded in agreement. A second later he was immobilized. Akamaru crawled under the table and began licking his master.
"Was that poison or a well-placed senbon?" inquired Hinata as she removed the thin needle from his neck.
"It's the placement," commented Shino. "My bugs can detect poison and there is none."
"Must we act like children?" inquired Tenten. "We'll all be adults by even the civilian standards soon."
"She's right," added Kiba, who had regained his mobility and bore no signs of damage.
"But behaving like this is so much more fun," said Shikamaru. He was finally coming out of the shell he had built around himself since Temari left. Perhaps he realized that he would see her again in only five weeks.
(Next scene)
"So far the exams have been successful Hokage-sama. Our ties with the other villages are strong as ever. However the ANBU will continually keep an eye out for trouble. We've dispatched a squad to both Kumogakure no Sato and Sunagakure no Sato to confirm the strength of those ties," said an ANBU shinobi in a cat mask.
Tsunade looked at the ninja before her. This was a top secret debriefing that no one with the exception of the ANBU involved and Shizune knew about. This was a very highly ranked mission, higher than even the standard ANBU S-rank.
"What about the participants? What information do we have on them?" asked the blond woman. She stood before the ANBU, tall and proud. This hard-line tactic was only the beginning of what she would do to protect her village and its people. She had nearly died protecting them on more than one occasion.
"Everyone has passed the extensive background checks we performed, including the collection of DNA samples," the ninja answered.
"What about their activities since the end of the preliminaries?"
'The Kumo ninja, Kasumi and Kyoya, are training under local shinobi. The kunoichi under their sensei Kurosu Akane and Kyoya under a jonin we're identified as his older brother. His arm is still healing from Udon's damage."
There was a pause and the ninja continued.
"The two Suna genin are training under their usual teachers. Kankuro is helping Zero to modify his puppet and has introduced him to poison-based attacks. The kunoichi, Matsuri is learning weapons techniques and wind-based attacks from Gaara. They also appear to be in a secret romantic relationship."
Tsunade laughed, knowing that her apprentice had told her that she suspected the same thing.
"That relationship is not as secretive as they think. Continue the good work and provide me with regular updates."
The ANBU left the room in the flash of an eye. Tsunade sighed.
"Shizune, you won our bet. I'll show you where I hide the sake."
(Next scene)
After Shikamaru came out of his shell, the night went much more smoothly. One could even dare to say that he was enjoying himself by the end of the night.
"Thank you," he told Ino. The blond wrapped her arm around his shoulder.
"Just doing my job as your best friend. However, if you do this again, I will do more than just hit you once."
Chouji laughed at the interaction between his best friend and his girlfriend. One thing he never had to worry about was a change in their relationship for no reason other than Shikamaru had a healthy measure of fear when it came to Ino.
Conversation and laughter filled the table. The group had destroyed most of their entrée order and they were moving onto dessert. A change of the grill's rack and a large platter of fruit, nuts, and marshmallows had made its way to the table. Sakura and Hinata were grilling pieces of pineapple. Naruto, Kiba and Sai were toasting marshmallows. Shino had placed a few chestnuts directly over the heat source.
"This was a great night," commented Hinata.
"Cheers to Ino-Pig for a night out!" said Sakura. Ino gave her a very dark look.