Hello! It is coming soon
The War
still working out details, fighting scenes take me some time hehe, but hopefully a couple of days before I start throwing out chapter after chapter!
Time for some heart to heart, lovely exchanges
Enjoy!
The Art of a Kunoichi
The Art of Beauty
passage Four
Words from the lips of Akemi, the Bright and Beautiful One
A man's weakness lies beyond these commands,
beyond his eyes that see,
beyond the words spoken for him to hear,
beyond his primal needs to feel,
beyond the aroma of the jasmine he smells,
beyond the lips he wishes to taste,
beyond everything,
the strike must occur to his very core,
the one place he will not see coming,
His promise. His love for thee. His heart.
The mere sight of old enemies making contact sent each of the nation's armies in a tense silence, wary and alert, as expected. It didn't take long to see the tension break and a pair of opposing shinobi crossing paths bumped into each other, stared, one yelled out an insult, the other threatening back before they began to shove at each other, kunai quick to come out as the metal clinked together in the now physical dispute. Shikamaru dropped his head and groaned, they had made it into the camp not ten minutes before someone had to pick a fight, and all they were doing was passing through to head into the desert where they'd assemble to make it towards the ravine for their final battle.
"Just like you said Shikamaru, they were bound to start a fight" Sakura watched the scuffle, unamused, at his side shaking her head in disapproval, Choji to his other watching the scene with a handful of chips slowly making their way to his mouth, although he seemed more interesting in seeing who was winning.
"That's why I said to head straight outside the camp" He pinched the bridge of his nose stifling the headache at the already out of hand fight "does no one listen to me?" Shikamaru grabbed the cigarette from his ear, quieting the glare from Sakura when she noticed "I ate so don't give me that look" he muttered bringing it to his lips, lighter forgotten while he watched the rivals ahead of him, thinking how to intervene when a hit almost took out his own man, he had no choice after all, slipping his hands into his pockets, remaining calm as he made his way to the dispute.
"New recruits I guess" Choji chuckled through his mouthful, giving him a shrug. Shikamaru sighed and stepped forward to the forming crowd, a few bystanders who began a chant for their favored victor. He glanced momentarily from each opponent, the Leaf shinobi ducking the slash from the Sand and pushing into him to knock him over, the Sand groaned and fell back quick to dodge the kunai pushed down to his head and rolling his opponent off before he scrambled to stand, jumping back to get some distance. The moment they began to pace around each other, hesitant who would make the first move, they had failed to notice the split shadow slithering towards them, few in the crowd spoke, someone gasped, and the men stilled under the sudden paralyzed hold. Both of their eyes widened, bodies shuddering as they tried to move, their eyes scanning around them helplessly before setting on following the thin dark trail back to Shikamaru as he stepped forward in their line of sight, sign raised before him and an annoyed look.
He already planned for something like this to happened, seeing as no one seemed to want to entertain the idea of trusting their enemy for a single battle, not that he could trust the Sand with what was to come, the warning clear from what he had observed in the Land of Rain, in her. With Gaara weakened someone was bound to attack them, he knew that, just too much hate from both sides to let it go as easily as he could, or at least force himself for the sake of the villages, for the sake of his order to protect the peace, for her, the invasive thought instantly irritating him more as he glared between the two, settling to speak to his shinobi first.
"I thought I made it clear not to start picking fights with the Sand when we got here" The Leaf shinobi forced his eyes to glare back at his captain, seeing to have become angry himself by the one order he gave, one both men disobeyed.
"But sir he started it!" he called out, having given up moving knowing he couldn't.
"What? no way you started it!" the Sand shinobi shouted back, Shikamaru glanced over at him for a moment before letting out a groan as the now verbal match began between the rivals, children he thought they were all acting like bickering children, his arms hung to his sides each man following his action, but they didn't stop talking, hollering really "Can't even admit you picked a fight first you coward"
"Who you calling a coward, you idiot!"
"You, you traitor" The Leaf smirked at the Sand's insult.
"That's rich coming from someone who probably eats sand all day" Leaf mocked back, the gasp from the Sand met with the Leaf's laugh.
"We don't eat sand; it just happens sometimes when there's a sandstorm ok!" He called out, his hand suddenly coming to drag over his face, as Shikamaru groaned again the action stilling both of their lined-up taunts as the Leaf commander straightening looking between them again.
"If both of you don't stop this right now-"Shikamaru began turning to glare frustratingly and frown at the Sand shinobi when he spoke over him, he didn't like to be interrupted during an command, as he hated repeating himself, it was a drag just to have to say something once, even more so twice. Of course, he knew that wouldn't have gone down easily, he knew he couldn't command an army that wasn't his, but he was just trying to prevent the men from actually starting a larger scale fight in camp, he was sure she wouldn't like that.
"I don't take orders from the Leaf's commander, you're no ally of mine" The Sand shinobi swiftly interrupted him and bared his teeth in a sneer at the thought of Shikamaru attempting to give an order to him. His mouth opened again to speak, but the once whispering and gasping crowd suddenly hushed, a wave of silence and unease washing over each shinobi and kunoichi who had come to watch, the rivals both following in the sudden unease. The shift in the rocky terrain seemed to be the only thing heard, that and the subtle breeze waving past them, a cloud of dust making way from the wind and light taps of rock and sand as someone approached. Shikamaru bit back any amusement, some of his own unease as well, as the silent demand for attention turned to the woman walking past the crowd, splitting apart without hesitation for her presence, she always did know how to make her opponents nervous. His Leaf shinobi's eyes widened, probably having seen the silence as something dangerous, that or the teal glare aimed his way, accompanied by a dangerously calm tone from the smirking lips of Temari.
"What's going on here?" The simple question, her voice seemed to still her own shinobi as well, he'd probably heard the tone before, Shikamaru had, and that was how he'd been pinned under the woman a year ago, not the first time he'd lost his nerves to the point of freezing up, although he'd gotten better at that over time, somewhat, guessing he was used to her after this long of being taunting by his rival. In this moment, however, he was almost relieved in her appearance, less work for him, a little more so when he noticed the shift in her eyes narrowed, lips pulled to one side slightly hidden into the pale green scarf, so she did like his gesture, he would have smiled had he not forced himself to remain uninterested in his face, ignoring the recollection of last night, and patiently awaiting her to play her game of control over the crowd, she always did like to put on a show in battle, whether it was one of wits or weapons. The stuttering shinobi was quick to reply to Temari's voice behind him, fearful and probably regretful for starting the fight the instant she appeared, he had disobeyed her order after all.
"Lady Temari" he nearly shouted eyes wide as he searched from side to side, seeming to look for her, but she had stopped just out of his line of sight, his body unable to move to look at her, or bow as he would have at the presence of the goddess. Remembering now how he'd seen that one guard drop to the ground at the mere sight of her, one he was sure had heard what Naruto had said about the tampered treaties when they had left the Sand's camp yesterday. He remembered the green-eyed glare, the unease it gave him causing him to quickly scold his friend for speaking so loudly, he might have trusted Temari, more now with everything he knew was to come, but her shinobi were going to be a threat when they finally revealed themselves during the battle, he was sure of it, just as she was.
"My Lady it isn't what it looks like" the sand shinobi began again, weaker this time, nervous, attempting to make his excuse for the two commanders' mutual agreement not to fight amongst themselves, during the temporary alliance at least, during the truce they had agreed on a week back. The alliance agreed on two days back and already someone found a way to go against their orders, not surprising to him at all. Unforgiving, the thought almost made Shikamaru raise his hand to his shoulder, a jab of embarrassment for what happened accompanying it, yeah he forgot, he was supposed to apologize for that, but in the moment forgot his manners and instead choose to seemingly become lost as he had stared at her and a compliment made way about her eyes, one she was shocked about, for a second time since seeing her flush in color that night in the land of Rain, rosy cheeks and the wide eyed look that made him forget about the war instantly, the memories forgotten.
The mental rush, a blinking second, of the sudden indecent thoughts, all accompanied by the moan and teal gaze almost killed him inside, like he warned himself many times before, that woman would actually kill him if she only knew what he had been suddenly thinking at her mere presence. The goddess, wrath and beauty wrapped in one, and he was now staring at her again, outside he looked annoyed by the current predicament, inside furiously slapping himself to silence anymore thoughts. He wasn't proud of possessing the mind of a desire filled man gawking at a woman he wanted, that had to stop now as it wasn't the first time and quite frankly rude to think of such a woman in that way. Since seeing her for the first time he seemingly went one of two ways either avoidance of the situation or attempting to turn it back on her, that was if he wasn't staring back at her like some idolizing idiot, but that was hidden away so deep he rarely, if ever, explored the matter. She was always good at making him uncomfortable, remembering like a fool that this woman will be the end of him, so shut up, stand straight, and look like a commander he scolded himself for the second time this morning at the thought, damn she didn't even need to say anything, and he was once again nervous, at least on the inside thankfully. It wasn't exactly the time or place to fight a need to blush either and with great willpower and pushing the image of the short black yukata that came to mind momentarily, he watched silently as the smirk dropped and her lips opened to speak a warning behind the question.
"And what exactly does it look like Ichiro?" She crossed her arms hips cocking to one side the teal gaze leaving the Leaf shinobi, long silenced by her intimidating stare, and slipping past Shikamaru's briefly stopping, the second of contact met with a tightening of his eyes, glaring back at her, before she looked to the man Ichiro, well the back of his head at least. Guessing he could help with that, not that her tone didn't already command his attention, Shikamaru moved his head to the side, his view of her much better, but really just forcing Ichiro to turn to meet the amused look in her eyes as she raised her brow waiting for him to speak, to explain his actions, he stammered for a moment, frozen by the nervousness she gave him.
"Well, he started it" he meekly responded and seemed to wish he'd never argued in the first place.
"Regardless of who started what do you think right now if the best time to be doing this?" She narrowed her eyes, tone holding the threat at the tip of her tongue "I thought I said we were not to be bickering among the Leaf's shinobi during our alliance" The man gapped for a moment shutting his mouth quickly as she continued "Was I not clear enough when I gave the order?" She tilted her head slightly awaiting the response, that being none as he had stilled completely, even as the hold from Shikamaru returned, him not wanting to interfere anymore, that or he seemed far too distracted at the display to focus on his shadow control, quiet as everyone around them, each person staring with wide eyes to see what she would do, the possibilities of what could happened unable to process in his thoughts as he watched the show, like a calm before the storm "I don't like waiting Ichiro" the raise in volume in her voice, as if making sure everyone could hear, the sudden action made Ichiro jump and turn quickly to her and bow at his waist keeping his eyes away from her glare.
"Yes, Ma'am you were, I apologize for stepping out of line, it won't happened again I swear" looking away seemed to help him find his confidence to reply somewhat formally to his commander, his words still a loud stutter, nervously waiting for her response, her mercy. Temari smirked and glanced from him to Shikamaru, his own stare met hers with a roll of his eyes, he was awestruck inside that she had such a way with dealing with things like this, with such little effort it seemed, but he didn't need to show her that, so he continued his unimpressed glare back, attempting to show her he didn't care as to what she did, it was her shinobi after all, he still however felt bad for the guy. He preferred a respectable approach to giving orders, and only stepped to become serious when needed, rare but he'd had a few instances where he needed to make sure his shinobi heard him loud and clear, it was just a drag to be at her level of intensity.
"Good, now apologize" She paused and turned her glare to the Leaf shinobi whose brows shot up in response to be in her sights again "both of you" She made it clear it wasn't a option and stepped from the still bowing Ichiro looking around at the crowd next, hands to her hips, the people quick to listen attentively to her command "and get back to preparing, all of you, I don't want anymore disturbances like this today, understood?" The crowd quick to answer back with salutes, and shouts to show they heard her, even his shinobi scattered, before scrambling away leaving only a few to linger near the leaders. With a huff, she turned her eyes back to the two shinobi who had fought seeing them still unmoved from their stiff positions.
"I said apologize, didn't I?" her tone less forgiving before Ichiro straightened and took a hesitant step towards the Leaf shinobi who nervously did the same. Shikamaru glanced between the two as they met in the middle, between him and Temari, bowing stiffly to each other and muttering sorry in unison straightening to glance at one another, both silent for a moment. Temari crossed her arms and shut her eyes clearing her throat to get their attention "What are you two waiting for? go and don't let me see this kind of behavior again it reflects poorly on your leaders and shows you have little respect for Shikamaru and myself" they hastily nodded and briskly walked past them, shuffling at each other's sides, before splitting off both seeming dazed after the demanding woman's final warning pushed them to leave while they still could. Shikamaru glanced back to her, her eyes remaining closed but smile failing to stay hidden, stifling the laugh behind the scarf, of course she found it entertaining to make people squirm like that under her. Shikamaru bit back his grin, more focused on the giggle than what had occurred.
"Did you have to do that to the poor guys, they might be took shaken up to fight today?" he rubbed the back of his neck, feeling the unease wash out and replaced with his own amusement at her delight over the situation, he was relieved to see her so casual about it. Sure, he could have handled it, but she seemed to insist on making a whole spectacle of such a minor problem, though he had to admit with what everyone saw he knew the same mistake the two shinobi had made would not happened with anyone else, those who obeyed her at least, and his who would hear about it soon enough.
"Oh, come on it was funny, admit it" she raised an hand waving away his words while the other remained wrapped loosely around her waist, as if to dismiss his concern with a brush of her hand, though that feeling left as soon as she had laughed. He sighed, avoiding the teasing grin pointed his way, and brought a lighter to the cigarette on his lips, having forgotten it was there unlit, it was a good distraction from staring back at her, he did that too often, and she knew that adding to his sudden annoyance to keep calm. The shift on the ground turned their attention to Sakura and Choji who stepped to his sides, Temari's amusement gone, and her hands went to her hips looking between the two, stance relaxed, but never losing the confidence she always seemed to emit. Shikamaru looked from his friends back to her, blowing the smoke from the corner of his mouth as he nudged his head to Choji.
"You remember Choji?" Choji, kind as always, gave a bow of his head at his name, before going back to his bag of chips, Shikamaru turned slightly pointing a thump back to Sakura, Temari's gaze following to quietly stare back at the medic "And Sakura, she's the captain for our medical unit" Sakura bowed her head hands at her sides, respectfully introducing herself to her, the gesture seeming to surprise her.
"Nice to meet you officially, Lady Temari" Sakura straightened and offered a small smile, kind but wary, her eyes darting over to him for a second before returning to Temari's smirk, the look she got before he was left embarrassed, his eyes narrowed as she spoke.
"See that Shikamaru, why can't you bow like that to me? I am the princess of Suna after all" The taunt met with a sly toothy grin, and stifled laughter from his friends irritating him even more. His response a glare and quick frown, it's like she existed to only mock him, probably did. She didn't give him a chance to speak and nodded to Sakura "I am glad to meet you Sakura, allow me to introduce you to our lead medic Emiko, I've heard that you're quite the promising prodigy in medical jutsu" Sakura looked from her to Shikamaru and turned back with a shy grin at the compliment "Lady Tsunade's own student am I right?"
"That's right" Sakura nodded, taken aback by the seemingly friendly voice, Temari grinned, her usual hard look now friendlier as she spoke, Shikamaru's glare turned suspiciously from her to Sakura, almost confused at the kind exchange, she was being nice. He was sure something was up, something had changed her mood, she seemed different, but something. Whatever it was he didn't question it verbally or look outwardly interested in their conversation, settling on looking between them casually.
"Well, I'm honored to have a kunoichi of your skill at our side today, I have a feeling we are going to need it" She turned and began to lead the three, each following after her to the medic's tent. Sakura came to her side as she glanced around listening to Temari when she slowed to walk beside her speaking in a relatively quiet volume but still heard by all three "I'm sure you all already know about what happened in Suna with our Kazekage" No harsh tone, no threatening voice, just a simple question spoken lightly, calm even, leaving Sakura to blink silently at her for a moment, both she and Shikamaru seeming a bit dumbfounded by the kinder tone, before nodded in confirmation "And your Hokage knows about the issues that were discussed yesterday?" Turning to look at Sakura, the medic nodded in response.
"She's actually already sent the approval for a meeting, but Shikamaru was supposed to tell you that" She glanced back at Shikamaru, Choji pausing his next bite to look at him as well.
"Haven't had a chance to pass on the message yet" He met the woman's eyes turned to him, answering back with a shrug "kinda got distracted if you haven't noticed" mentioning the fight, Temari nodded
"Gaara will be happy to hear that" Temari was quiet for a moment before glanced back at Sakura with a small smile, almost nervous he would have thought, had she not turned to face away from his silent observation "He's been pushing for peace for a while, but with this news we've decided to finally act against the council's wishes, they aren't easy people to convince" admitting that she didn't speak to them further and turned her attention to a tent stopping the group before it and raising the curtain to look in by herself "Emiko?" her tone once again a command, but less harsh as she pulled back slipping the curtain shut waiting patiently, although she grinned slightly when something knocked over, supplies maybe, and a woman squealed in surprise, followed by a shuffle of feet stepping towards the curtain.
"My Lady" She called out stepped out the tent, her messy brown hair tied to the side in a braid, blushing and dark amber eyes wide, startled, hastily bowing her head to Temari "What brings you here?" She turned her nervous gaze from Temari to the three and back to Temari when she spoke.
"This is Sakura, she will be the captain for your medical unit, follow her orders without hesitance understood?" Sakura and Emiko exchanged a surprised look before Emiko nodded, not questioning her further. Shikamaru narrowed his eyes slightly, she easily gave the command for an entire unit, her people, to one of his. In realization, dark eyes widened for a split second before he shut them, hiding the urge to smile under an inhale and exhale of smoke, she trusted them, at least somewhat, she didn't have to say it as she was showing it now, actions did always speak louder than words. Gaara must have had something to do with it, she did trust her brother after all, oh how he did like it when things came together on their own, less work for him "Show her around and get ready to move soon" she turned to leave before glancing back a sly grin plastered to her cheeks, amused at the tense woman's lack of responding further to her "And next time try to be more discrete" continuing down the path as if what she's seen inside didn't bother her, probably didn't. Shikamaru slowly made his way to her side, as he'd understood quickly the medic had not been alone, the embarrassed look on her face making it clear as day, and he chose not to think on the matter further, not really a mindset he wanted to be in. Choji oblivious to what had happened followed behind, casually scanning the paths around them, eyes widening and turned to the right path walking away from the two, unseen as Shikamaru glanced over at her. The question lined up the minute she chose to give the position to Sakura.
"So, what was that about?" He ventured slipping his hands into his pockets, cautious, but casual about asking, making sure no one was listening in on their conversation.
"What Emiko?" She turned curiously to him and grinned when he shook his head quick to dismiss the topic of what had occurred.
"No not that" stumbling over his words as he began putting his thoughts back in order, the smile, once again distracting him for a brief moment before he tried again "I meant Sakura, you gave her a leading position on one of your medical units" he stated with a little more steadiness behind his tone.
"Should I not have?" she narrowed her eyes slightly.
"No, it's not that, I was just asking?" quick to dismiss the notion that he was questioning her decision, her authority, although it did seem like he was, but she relaxed turning back to the path.
"I recognize people with worth and I respect them" She stated it as if it was obvious "she's been taught by a Hokage, and one of the legendary Sanin at that. I trust in her skills enough to have her lead my medics that's all" She glanced over at him with an all-knowing smirk "you're jealous, aren't you? Because I was nice to her" turning her shut eyes away from him, amused in his sulking.
"Why can't you be that nice to me?" He muttered avoiding looking at her.
"I let you live, didn't I?" she turned back to him smugly "I think that's pretty nice of me"
"that's what you consider nice?" his glare met hers, a challenge prepared a match determined.
"Wanna cry about it, Crybaby?" Rolling his eyes at her final taunt, he looked ahead defeated and uninterested in arguing, she'd already won the round might as well quit while he still had some decency left. She took a deep breath, something in her tone became hesitant, he looked at her when she spoke, evenly and he detected a sort of calm radiating from her, honest in her next words, as if she said each with great importance and care "Shikamaru I recognize you as a leader you know that right?" he looked back at her eyes widening, her own gaze holding his with a intensity so strong even he couldn't force himself to look away from, not that he'd want to "I might like teasing you, but you've proven your worth to me and your people a long time ago, they respect you" She smiled faintly "You should be proud of that, I know I am proud of you for not ending up like the others" she hid the smile for a moment, but softened teals never left his.
"You've helped to stop this war, and I'm guessing you've already been planning this out since the beginning, huh?" He felt his jaw slack attempting to open it to say anything back, but it quickly shut with his shock, she remained still unmoving from her spot, him realizing he'd halted in moving, but she continued "I've seen you change since you first came to the front, a war like this does that to somebody, you either become stronger from it or you become a monster and that is why you're still alive. You're a good man Shikamaru" the grin, once hidden behind the scarf, lifted slightly her tone taking on the Temari he'd come to know, come to like, blunt but in the kindest way, at least to him it would have sounded like a kindness as she furrowed her brows slightly, showing she was serious.
"but don't let it go to your head, your ego is already big enough and you've been getting a little to bold lately" he didn't move for a while, undoubtedly frozen at his spot by her words alone, his mind blank yet racing "How was that? Was I nice enough for you?" she crossed her arms and smirked, the all-knowing cocky smile that brought the warmth to his cheeks from embarrassment, surprise, and a sudden onslaught of admiration for everything she said, the urge to step closer to her painful to resist yet he did, he was sure he stood there like a idiot just staring back at her as she pointed behind him "oh and your friend is gone by the way" looking past him as if she'd said nothing, the action forcing his attention to look back, forcibly, when he noticed Choji was missing. Thankful that at least he hadn't been there to witness the conversation that left him speechless, probably why she spoke to him in such a way, the words so gentle he barely could think at the moment.
"Damn it Choji" he glanced around muttering under his breath, searching for his friend, although more than distracted in that matter.
"How did you lose him?" She raised a questioning brow to him, while he pinched the bridge of his nose, annoyed by already knowing the answer and somehow untangling from his disorganized thoughts.
"He probably smelled food or something" he pulled the cigarette from his lips seeing as when he puffed to attempt to calm his nerves and nothing happened it had burnt out, flicking it aside he looked back sheepishly to her "it happens from time to time he wanders off" he muttered rubbing his neck nervously, still unable to speak on what she said, probably because he didn't want to speak on it but rather do something else. He glanced back to her when she chuckled, to lazy to look away he thought with a small grin, enjoying his view of the goddess gentle side for a brief moment, to short in his opinion, before he hastily dropped it at the call of his name and her sudden glare directed behind him.
"Hey Shikamaru look who I found" Naruto called to the pair as they turned around, the search for Choji forgotten and coming face to face with Gaara and Naruto "Gaara was just telling me the story of how he stopped this guy from assassinating him, kinda like that one time I" he stopped mid-sentence as the glare pointed his way by Temari followed by her stepping away without hesitation to her brother's side protectively, eyes set cautiously to Naruto "Oh hey you're still mad I see uh sorry again" he scratched the back of his head nervously, chuckling weakly, her gaze only moving from his when Gaara placed a hand to her shoulder, the action seeming to calm her enough to stand back quietly arms crossed, the silent order obeyed. However, unease followed him at Gaara's stare directed at him, quiet as the ghostly blue met his dark wary gaze, yeah, he confirmed he still made him more than nervous in his presence, all the sand siblings had an intimidating look he added, yup defiantly related. With an inhale, one to calm the nerves and steady his thoughts, all the invasive ones included, he focused back to his duties, patting his pack for a moment he grabbed the scroll sent from Tsunade, meaning to give it to Temari to give to the Kazekage, but a direct deliver seemed more than adequate, cutting the middleman, well middle woman, out. He stepped forward bowing his head respectfully.
"Lord Kazekage" when he straightened Gaara gave him a short nod looking to Shikamaru's extended hand the scroll laid out flat for him to take "from the fifth Hokage, delivered this morning" Gaara took it quietly.
"I see she had responded quickly" he stated calmly slipping the scroll to his side "I confirm that I have received it from you" Shikamaru nodded knowing now was not the best place to open the message, seeing as shinobi from the Sand had begun walking by, some looking at the Kazekage in passing.
"Yes, well it was top priority so we had it rushed" he found his confidence as he straightened slightly, his father always told him to keep his wits about him when speaking to important people, the Kazekage was definitely on the list of significant leaders he had to present himself to, he didn't know why that came to mind all of a sudden, but it helped him push through the unease of speaking to him, at least.
"Thank you" he turned to Temari her gaze already focused on him, smile so small he barely saw "I will see you back in Suna, good luck today" She gave a gentle smile now, giving him a nod.
"Travel safe brother we'll see you soon" her smile retreating when he turned away watching him look to Naruto with a brief nod and departed from the trio into the desert, her gaze following his form until he disappeared over the dune.
"You guys ready to leave or what?" the sudden question form Naruto brought back Shikamaru's attention as he'd also been watching Gaara's departure, he turned to the blonde who gave a wide reassuring smile, ready for battle "we are all set and ready up front ya know"
"Yeah, let's get this over with before they start fighting with each other again" Naruto chuckled and turned to leave, the two following further behind his quickened pace, he was alert and more than energized, well more than Shikamaru felt. He was ready, always was, but the words spoken came back to mind as his nerves settled in, avoiding looking at Temari when she turned to him, obvious to his uneasy display.
"At least try to act like you're ready for this, you look like your too tired to fight, Shikamaru" He sighed glanced over to meet the command for his attention "Do I have to drag you around during the battle?" her eyes turned to him, silent warning for him to straighten and seem more involved as they passed the edge of camp, the armies ready to move lying ahead.
"Don't worry about me Temari, I know how to handle myself, you're the one who might get into trouble" the touch of arrogance behind his tone, knowing she'd glare back up at him the blush so faint on her cheeks encouragement enough to continue.
"I'm not worried" She grumbled, to stubborn he thought almost grinning "I just don't need you messing me up out there if I have to watch your back"
"So, I'm distracting you now" smirking, he just about leaned down to admire the rosy complexion on her flustered features.
"No" a sharp guarded reply.
"Liar" he grinned, his confidence now his downfall, she was right about his ego.
"I thought I told you, not to let what I said get to your head" her warning now clear, as ever, his grin dropping the instant her hand pushed into his shoulder, the sting returning, though weaker than last night, and his hand coming to it instantly to stop the pain. She continued on as if she'd not done anything, his gaze following after her, head held high and completely ignoring him for the remainder of the time, they troops assembled and left.
Smiles so faint, hidden under shades of green.