Chapter 28: Sakura and Shikamaru
After Naruto promised to bring Tsunade back to Konoha, Sakura and Gai decided to travel back to Konoha, but not before Gai gave Naruto a matching green spandex suit.
"Coooool!" Naruto said admiring the spandex suit with stars in his eyes.
Jiraiya sweat dropped while Sakura looked at her teammate in utter disbelief.
"You're not planning on walking around wearing that thing, are you?" Jiraiya asked worriedly, trying to imagine the horror of walking around with a green beast Naruto.
Naruto looked at him in confusion, "Of course I'm wearing this, why shouldn't I? I mean look at this, it's amazing" he said rubbing the spandex suit in his face like it's the most softest fabric in the world.
Sakura glared at him causing the hairs on his body to stand up, "I swear to all Kages and higher beings in the world, if you wear that... That thing, I will disown you as a member of team 7, I'm pretty sure Sasuke and Kakashi-sensei will support me..." She said threatening him.
Naruto's eyes widen in panic, "I promise I will never wear it" he said reassuring her frantically.
Sakura glared at the offending item on Naruto's hand, mumbling a Fire Jutsu, the spandex suit burst into flames, Naruto and Gai shriek, Jiraiya looked like he wanted to start dancing in joy.
"Can we go now" Sakura said crossing her arms on her chest as she stare at the crying Gai.
"My beautiful suit" Gai said with anime tears running down his face.
Naruto tried his hardest not to let the tears fall, "Goodbye power suit."
Sakura and Jiraiya sighed, "Baka" they said in unison.
ΩΩΩ
Shikamaru sighed while walking down the street of Konoha, both his hands in his pocket while he starring at the pavement underneath him, "Troublesome..."
"Oi Shika" he was jolt out of his thoughts when a familiar voice called him, he looked at the person standing in front of him, "Oh Sak, I didn't see you there" he said rubbing the back of his head.
Sakura gave him an amused look, "Looks like it" she said poking his cheek teasingly.
"Oi" Shikamaru said grabbing her hand to stop her from poking him while glaring at her playfully with a hint of smile on his face.
Sakura chuckled softly, "What's going on in that brain of yours?" She asked motioning the lazy ninja to continue walking.
Shikamaru gave her a bored look, "Nothing much..." He said hoping that Sakura didn't catch on the slight hesitation in his voice.
"Who are you trying to fool? A baby?" Sakura asked sarcastically, she nudged him with her elbow, "Come on, what is it?"
Shikamaru looked at the clouds with a sigh before pulling Sakura with him, "Let's go."
Sakura's eyes slightly widen, "Where in the devil's name are we going?"
"Just trust me" Shikamaru said giving her a lazy smile.
Sakura narrowed her eyes, "Fine, before we go to wherever we're going I want to buy some foods" she said with a pout.
"Why?" The pineapple head ninja asked raising an eye brow.
Sakura gave him a blank look, "Because I'm hungry."
Shikamaru looked away to hide the blush on his face mentally hitting himself for asking a stupid question, "Baka..." He mumbled.
Sakura shook her head, a soft smile forming on her face after she caught the blush on Shikamaru's face.
After buying some snacks from the nearest store they could find and Shikamaru's insistence of paying for the foods which he successfully won, both ninjas resumed their journey.
Sakura gave Shikamaru a disbelief look after they reached their destination, "Seriously?"
"Nani?" Shikamaru asked raising an eye brow, he walked towards his favorite spot on the roof of Konoha Hospital, he took a sit and laid down on his back, placing both his arms behind his head.
Sakura continued to stare at him, unbeknownst to her a smile was slowly forming on her face.
"Oi, quit lurking and come here, I'm starting to feel lonely" Shikamaru said, his eyes remaining on the clouds. Sakura shook her head, she walked towards Shikamaru and laid down beside him.
"Let me guess... This is your spot, isn't it?" Sakura said staring at the passing clouds above her and letting herself relax.
"Hai... When I was kid, I used to come here a lot and just stare at the clouds..." Shikamaru said with a lazy smile on his face, "I used to wish I was one with the clouds, I want to be as free as them, as careless as them, they can do whatever they want... They can disappear and reappear without anyone noticing..."
"That was deep..." Sakura said turning her head to the side to look at him, "Why are you being sentimental?"
Shikamaru scoffed, "I'm not being sentimental."
"Yes, you are" Sakura said poking his cheek again.
Shikamaru swatted her hand away and looked at her, "Why do you keep on poking my cheek?" He asked curiously.
Sakura shrugged, "I don't know..." She said turning her attention back to the clouds. Shikamaru shook his head, mumbling troublesome before looking at the clouds again. A comfortable silence filled the roof of the Hospital, an idea suddenly struck Shikamaru, he sat up and motioned the pink haired Kunoichi to do the same.
"Do you know how to play Shōgi?" Shikamaru asked curiously.
Sakura smirked, "Hai."
The challenging smirk triggered Shikamaru's own smirk, he pulled out a scroll from his holster and summoned a Shōgi board, "Let's see what you got, Haruno."
Sakura threw her head back with a laugh, "Ooh you called me by my last name, how scary" she said teasingly, "Since I'm girl, first move's mine."
Shikamaru tsked, "Troublesome girl using the girl card... I never thought I'd hear that from you" he said in a fake disappointing tone, "I have an idea..."
"Let's hear it" Sakura said while thinking of a strategy
"1 lose piece, 1 answer... Whoever loses a piece will answer a question" Shikamaru said mentally patting himself for thinking that idea.
Sakura raised an eye brow, "What kind of question?"
Shikamaru shrugged, "Any question known to man kind, it can be personal, but not too personal, if you don't want to answer you don't have to" he said reassuring her.
"Okay, sounds like a good idea..." Sakura said while moving a piece.
The two of them played for a couple of minutes until one of them lose a piece.
Sakura chuckled at Shikamaru's dumb expression, "If you were given a chance to switch your life as a ninja to anything you want what would it be and why?"
Shikamaru looked up with a contemplating look, "Nothing, sure I complain about being a ninja with all the troublesome missions we take and our lives will always be one foot away from our grave, but being a ninja means I can save people, I can try to make a difference, besides Chōji and the rest of my so called friends are also ninjas, I don't want to live my life peacefully while they live their life in danger."
"Well said" Sakura said nodding her head.
They continued playing until Sakura lose a piece.
"Sakura, if you were given a chance to pick your own team with as many members as you want, who would they be and why?" Shikamaru asked pulling out a bottle of water from the bag of grocery they bought earlier and taking a sip.
Sakura took the bottled water from him and drank the rest of it before answering him, "Neji..."
Shikamaru raised an eye brow, "Why?"
Sakura shrugged, "Because he's useful and he has the Byakugan, not to mention the fact that he's a prodigy."
Shikamaru nodded, "Who else..."
"Kiba, he's wild nature is useful in battle and with Akamaru he's a strong opponent, their nose is useful in tracking and I have the feeling that he's loyal. And then there's Chōji..."
Shikamaru's eyes slightly widen, "Why Chōji?"
Sakura raised an eye brow, "Why not him?"
"Don't get me wrong, Chōji is strong... I just... Didn't think you'll notice someone like him..." Shikamaru said rubbing the back of his head.
"Like you said he's strong and I can see that you trust and respect him, that's good enough for me... I trust your judgement" Sakura said looking at him in the eyes.
Shikamaru swallowed, a hint of blush on his cheeks, "Arigatō..."
Sakura shrugged, "No problem, ok there's Naruto, he's strong and he's already my teammate... And last... You..."
"Why me? Why not Sasuke?" Shikamaru asked utterly confuse.
"I chose you because you're smart and you will do anything and everything to protect your love ones, you're also a great strategies... Sasuke... Sasuke has a lot of things in his mind... He has a goal he wants to complete, he's focus is on that goal... I just, don't think he'll be able to work with others unless he finish that goal..." Sakura said choosing the right word to say.
"Ok then..." Shikamaru said not quite believing her.
They resumed they're game and Shikamaru ended up losing a piece.
"Can you be honest... What do you really think of me... I know you saw what I did back in the forest of death..." Sakura asked unsure why she care so much of what he thought of her.
Shikamaru blinked, "That was... An unexpected question..."
Sakura sighed, "Just answer it."
Shikamaru stared at her for a moment, "I think... You're the most scariest and violent person I have ever met... You're way too brutal for your own good, you will kill anyone who gets in your way, you're more violent than Gaara, you have a short temper which you always manage to hide, you don't trust anyone except maybe your teammates and maybe me since you told me that earlier... Truth be told I have no idea who you are and where you came from..."
Sakura bit her lower lip and looked away from him, "That was... Hurtful... I didn't think what you have to say will actually affect me..."
Shikamaru placed his palm on her cheek to make her look at him, "I'm not finish... You're also loyal, you will do anything and everything to protect your friends, you'll do anything to make sure they're safe even if it means doing something you've never done before, I also think you're confuse... I have no idea where that came from, but it's the truth... I think your confuse and torn, I'm not sure on what exactly... But I am sure that your afraid of what will happen if you make the wrong choice..."
Sakura stared at his eyes, "You have no idea... Just how right you are" she said in a soft tone, she placed her palm on top of his to remove his hand, "You're turn..."
Shikamaru nodded and moved a piece.
Sakura smirked, "I thought you were good at this game..."
Shikamaru scoffed, "Troublesome woman, just ask a question..."
Sakura chuckled, "Hmmm... If you can ask me something, what would it be?"
Shikamaru raised an eye brow, "What kind of a question is that?"
"A question you should answer" Sakura said giving him an amused look.
"Troublesome... I'll ask you, you're family background I guess" Shikamaru said shrugging his shoulder.
"Haruno Clan or my family now?" Sakura asked thoughtfully.
"Both"
Sakura looked up and touched her locket, "The Haruno clan is... Brutal, they don't believe in the word family, it'll be a miracle if one of the family can stay whole and not murder each other for power... It's either kill or be killed, your life or theirs... It's an endless game of maze, you can never escape unless you kill your way through it... And if you do manage to escape, you'll have to watch your back for the rest of your life, because they will come for you and take your powers... I know it's wrong to say this, but... I'm glad my clan was wiped out... It means I can start fresh and not worry about my family trying to murder me and take my powers..."
Shikamaru stared at her in shock, "I... Have no words for that..."
Sakura gave him a reassuring smile, "It's fine... My family now on the other hand is... Dysfunctional... My adopted father is a powerful leader of a village far from here, my mother is his queen with me as his princess, he also has his own group of ninjas, those ninjas became my adoptive crazy weird brothers, all of them came from different villages. One was a member of the seven swords man of the mist. One was from Konoha actually there was 2 of them, but the other one left. One from Iwagakure. One from Suna. One from Takigakure... There's also another member who I get along well, I have no idea where he came from... They are all powerful and weird, but... I will never replace them, I can add new ones to call my family, but no one can ever replace them..."
Shikamaru nodded, "Are they good?"
Sakura looked at him straight in the eyes, "No... They're not..."
Shikamaru swallowed and nodded, "Ok..."
They resumed they're game with Shikamaru losing another piece.
Shikamaru grabbed his head, "Seriously!"
Sakura laughed at his expression, "Are you sure you're not letting me win?"
Shikamaru shook his head, "No, I'm pretty sure I'm not."
Sakura shrugged, "If you say so... Tell me everything there is to know about you."
"That's not a question" Shikamaru pointed out.
"Yes it is... Technically I'm asking you to tell me everything there is to know about you, so it is a question" Sakura said crossing her arms on her chest.
Shikamaru raised his hands in defeat, "Alright, alright... My father is the head of the clan... The Nara clan has a special relationship with the Akimichi and the Yamanaka clan. For several generations, members of these three families have formed "Ino–Shika–Chō" trios, named after the first part of the names of the members with the Nara members being the "Shika" in the trio. My mother used to be the scariest female I know, but it all changed after I met you... I don't like to get involve in troublesome activities, I'd rather stay here and watch the clouds than go on stupid missions. But when it comes to serious matters, well that's a different issue... My best friend if Chōji, my favorite color is green, favourite foods are mackerel and kelp, least favourite are boiled eggs, past time are watching clouds, taking naps, playing Go and Shōgi, I haven't lost in Shōgi since I started playing... That's about it..."
"I'm going to change that you know..." Sakura said moving a piece.
Shikamaru narrowed his eyes at the board, "Change what?"
Sakura gave him a mischievous look, "You'll find out soon enough."
Shikamaru sighed, he closed his eyes and cupped his fingers.
"Oh shit..." Sakura muttered.
Shikamaru opened his eyes and moved a piece, Sakura stared at the piece he moved and smirked, moving her own piece, Shikamaru ended up losing another piece.
Sakura raised an eye brow, "Why are you smirking?"
"Because you gave me an opening" Shikamaru said moving a piece.
"So I lost my bishop that was guarding the king, but you my dear, lose your king..." Sakura said moving a piece, "Checkmate."
Shikamaru's eyes widen in shock, "What the fuck? How...?"
"You were too busy trying to take my king, you forgot to pay close attention to yours and I kinda had the feeling I was going to lose my bishop the moment you moved a piece after you opened your eyes" Sakura said with a shrug.
Shikamaru stared at her in disbelief, "You... You're a master strategist and tactician, aren't you?"
Sakura shook her head, "Nope, I'm not... You're not the only one who can devise a hundred ten moves ahead of your opponent and devise over a hundred strategies plus choose the best one from them... The only difference between us is the fact that I don't like to think rationally, I go by my instinct."
"And that is?" Shikamaru asked worriedly.
"To get rid of whoever gets in my way" Sakura said with a blank look on her face.
Shikamaru nodded, "Ok... You know, the more I talk to you, the less I find your attitude scary..."
Sakura smirked, "Good to know..."
Shikamaru smirked back.
"Sakura-chan!"
The two of them looked up and saw the knuckle head ninja standing on the edge of the roof. Sakura stood up and walked towards him.
"Naruto, you're back" she said, she narrowed her eyes and sensed an unfamiliar chakra on the Hokage tower along with Jiraiya's.
"Sakura-chan I brought her here just like I promised, she's going to help Teme and Kaka-sensei" Naruto said with a huge smile on his face.
Sakura sighed in relief, "Good... Shika, you're father is on his way here, I'll see you later..."
Shikamaru nodded his head, "See ya..."
Naruto waved at him, "Yo Shikamaru..."
"Hey" Shikamaru said giving him a lazy look.
"Let's go Sakura-chan, Teme is waiting for us" Naruto said bouncing on his feet.
"You go first, I'll follow you in a minute" Sakura said catching Shikamaru's eyes.
"Ok" Naruto said jumping off the roof.
"Shika... Arigatō..." Sakura said smiling at him.
Shikamaru gave her a confuse look, "For what?"
Sakura shrugged, "For not judging me... For listening... And for... Not changing the way you look at me even after I told you everything, not everything, but you know what I mean... I'll tell you more... Just not today..." She said before jumping off the roof.
Shikamaru stared at the place where the pink haired Kunoichi was standing, he shook his head and looked up the sky, "Troublesome woman..."
The door on the roof opened and his father walked in, "Oi Shikamaru, let's go, we still have business to do..."
Shikamaru sighed and walked towards his father, "Hai, hai..."
I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter...
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