Disclaimer: If Naruto was mine, I would have air conditioning in my apartment. :x

AN: First publicly posted fic. Please be gentle. All comments and criticisms are more than welcome, and greatly appreciated. Enjoy!

Two Hundred and Seventy Three Reasons

Dancing frustrates Shikamaru. It is not a matter of technique, form, timing, or finesse. A true ninja must understand all of these. It is more a matter of Shikamaru's feet when Ino is near.

One step forward, one step back. Half-step, turn. Fumble. Fall. Fail miserably. Go down in Konoha history as the youngest male Chuunin to utterly fail at life. What did it matter that he could single-handedly devise a plan to devastate a small village if he couldn't properly dip a girl?

For the millionth time, Shikamaru goes through all of the two hundred and seventy three reasons as to why he absolutely could not dance with Ino. But as she beckons to him with a bent finger and crooked smile, he sees the only reason that counts.