Asuma-Sensei had found him shortly after Temari had left to return to her hotel room. He had Choji and Ino in tow and was grinning widely. Shikamaru put his hands in his pockets, waiting to find out why his sensei was smiling the way he was. It tended to end up badly for him but he couldn't walk away from his sensei. Though he was tempted to and instead find out if Naruto was finished with her fight.
"So I spoke with Lady Tsunade," Asuma-Sensei started, his smile stretching, which Shikamaru did not think was possible. "She told me that Naruto was back and that he and Sakura were going to fight Kakashi to test their skills. Since they are the only, living, students of two of the three Sannins I thought it would be good for you three to observe the fight. I have already cleared it with Lady Tsunade, though she requested that our presence goes unknown."
They arrived in time to hear Kakashi-Sensei explain that the two had to get two bells off their sensei. It was also made clear that Sakura and Naruto had to be willing to kill Kakashi-Sensei to get the bells tied to his hip. They had until the next sunrise. Hiding up in the trees the four ninjas watched as Kakashi-Sensei put away his perverted book and Naruto asked if he would be reading it throughout the fight. The blonde got a gleam in her eye when she heard that Kakashi-Sensei hadn't finished the book.
"He's using his sharingan," Choji commented with a look of disbelief as the white haired sensei lifted his forehead protector off his eye. "This is going to be a serious fight."
To no one's surprise it was Naruto who made the first move by throwing shuriken at Kakashi-Sensei, who ducked and threw some back. When Naruto jumped away he threw some more. Shikamaru had to ground his feet, otherwise he was going to pull Naruto out of the way. She was trapped, having to follow the path her jump had created for her. However, she summoned a Shadow Clone midair to throw her out of the way.
"Fast thinking," complemented Ino.
The moment she landed she turned the clone into a giant shuriken, but Kakashi-Sensei was to quick and caught Naruto's hand, another going to the back of her head.
"That'll be enough of that," the copy-ninja commented.
"I expected more off Naruto truthfully." Choji crossed his arms as Shikamaru leant against the tree trunk, waiting for the next move.
"Look!" commanded the strategist.
Naruto had appeared behind Kakashi, with a kunai to his back. Normally there was a way to tell the difference between the original and the clone if you knew the person well enough, and yet, with Naruto Shikamaru was never able to tell and it appeared Kakashi-Sensei couldn't either. He wondered for a moment if Naruto ever became confused about who the real one was, though he doubted that was possible. If anyone was able to forget, it would be Naruto however.
It was only chakra that held Team Ten to the tree branch they stood on after Sakura's monster punch. The ground erupted under her fist and their tree shook violently. They were, of course, aware that she could do such a thing, Ino even had some skill for ground shattering punches. However, Naruto's expression proved that she had had no idea. A revealed Kakashi-Sensei also looked stunned.
Kakashi-Sensei clearly decided it was his turn to attack. He went straight passed Sakura, aiming for Naruto. The blonde was ready for the elite Jonin and blocked his first attack before countering with a blow to the stomach. Her punch missed its target but still grazed Kakashi-Sensei's side causing him to move out of Naruto's reach and swing a kick. Naruto dodged but Kakashi-Sensei followed through with a low kick, sweeping at the blonde's legs. Without hesitation Naruto pushed back on her feet, flipping into the air with a well aimed kick to Kakashi-Sensei's chin. The blonde landed on her hands, quickly flipping onto her feet again.
The moment Kakashi-Sensei had recovered he received one quick smirk off Naruto before he charged the blonde again. All the while Sakura stood back and watched as the two clashed head on. The Genin was meeting the elite Jonin step for step, hit for hit. It was hard to tell if Kakashi-Sensei was holding back or if Naruto had simply improved that much.
"Why is Kakashi-Sensei only attacking Naruto?" Ino asked, frowning down at her rival. "Sakura is standing right there."
"If he went for Sakura instead of Naruto that meant risking being hit by her incredible punch and turning his back on Naruto. One thing you never do when fighting Naruto is turn your back on the idiot."
"Why's that, Shikamaru?" Asuma-Sensei asked.
Turning his gaze onto his team, Shikamaru smirked. "Cause I can't predict Naruto." The surprised looks on their faces were amusing. "Not once have I been able to predict Naruto and his movements. When I thought I had him figured out he learnt a new technique or would come out with something insane to do. So Kakashi-Sensei was smart to attack Naruto first, especially after what happened at the start of this fight."
A guttural yell drew their attention back to the fight. They watched as Sakura charged in, attempting to punch Kakashi-Sensei. Unfortunately her yell had given away her intentions. Their Sensei attempted to move Naruto into the line of the punch but the blonde moved out of his range. Kakashi-Sensei caught Sakura's arm, throwing her towards a tree at a fast speed. She was bound to break at least one bone on impact.
Naruto charged at Kakashi-Sensei, forcing the man to block a punch to the face then the gut. As the blonde was locked in a double block, staring her sensei down, she twisted her hips sharply. Somehow Sakura's trajectory slowed, allowing her to hit the tree trunk with a soft 'oof'. Shikamaru had been so focused on trying to work out why Naruto had snapped her hips the way she had that he almost missed how Sakura had slowed before hitting the tree. As Sakura picked herself off the ground, looking somewhat dazed Naruto turned her feet to the left without lifting them off the ground. Kakashi-Sensei looked as though he tried to lift his foot for a kick with no success.
"Hmm," Asuma-Sensei's voice rumbled.
Kakashi-Sensei looked stunned before Naruto aimed a kick at his head, twisting her body so that she could reach for the bells. Instantly her sensei started making hand signs and disappeared.
Sakura looked around, trying to judge where Kakashi-Sensei had went like the last time. Naruto stood still, taking deep breaths. As he watched, Shikamaru felt a warmth spread over him and a light pressure run through his chest. The pressure moved over his shoulders and down his arms, relaxing and energising him at the same time. Half frowning down at Naruto he noticed the blonde look in his direction out of the corner of her eye before she smirked and turned to Sakura. The smirk twisted his insides in a way Shikamaru found he enjoyed.
"Do you know where Kakashi-Sensei is?" she asked as she discretely pointed towards the opposite side of the battle field. After she gave Sakura an amused smile the pinkette understood what she was being told.
With a nod Sakura charged and made another crater in the ground, surprising Kakashi-Sensei. The white haired man quickly disappeared into the forest, making his two students go into hiding as well instead of staying out in the open.
"Very impressive." Asuma-Sensei's words drew the attention of his three students, since they wouldn't see any more fighting until there actually was fighting to see. "Do any of you know what Naruto just did?" When he received three confused looks and three shakes of the head he smiled. "The reason Sakura didn't get hurt, the reason Kakashi couldn't move, and how Naruto knew where Kakashi was hiding are all connected. There are few in the entire ninja world with enough chakra to do what Naruto did at that scale. Firstly, he flooded the area with his chakra to find Kakashi, and the other two… well I'm not sure what he did but I know it has to do with chakra control."
"It's not that difficult to work out!"
All four on the branch jumped so violently they nearly fell. Looking over Shikamaru blushed deeply when he noticed how closely he was standing next to Naruto. Their chests were nearly touching and Naruto's breaths brushed against Shikamaru's cheek. The blonde appeared unfazed by their proximity as she leant against the thick tree trunk casually.
"Did you know we have a lemon tree?" she casually asked, holding out a ripe lemon.
"Does this make you life now?" Shikamaru joked as he took the lemon from Naruto's hand. He could have face palmed at his own lame joke but it was the first thing that came to his mind.
"If you want me to be." Naruto smiled with a shrug.
Swallowing thickly, Shikamaru tried to take control of the heat rising in his face. He doubted Naruto meant it to sound the way it did to his ears.
"It was you that I felt a minute ago. You were sensing us."
Naruto nodded at Shikamaru's statement. When Naruto beckoned him closer he moved without thinking, letting her whisper into his ear.
"By the way, Kakashi is coming this way. You might want to move."
Turning her gaze onto the others she smiled. "As for the thing with Sakura and Kakashi-Sensei, ask Shikamaru. He's the one who inspired the move I used." With a flick of her fingers as a wave, Naruto jumped off the branch, disappearing on her way down. It didn't appear that it was a Shadow Clone being dispelled but she was definitely out of sight when she shouldn't have been.
Shikamaru relayed to his team that they should move to another tree, making sure that Kakashi-Sensei wouldn't be able to overhear. If he hadn't caught on to Naruto's sensing abilities than it was an advantage for the blonde.
"What did he mean by you inspired the technique?" Choji asked once they had moved a safe distance away. The sun was starting to lower, casting the larger boy into shadows.
Looking at the low light that payed over Choji's face Shikamaru realised what Naruto meant and couldn't help but smile broadly. "I showed Naruto how my Shadow Possession works, and taught him how to throw it off. Apparently he applied it to his chakra sensing. When he threw my Shadow Possession off him he kinda grabbed me with his chakra. He… turned my chakra into his without me knowing. I guess that's what he did back there too."
"I doubt it." Asuma-Sensei frowned, giving Shikamaru an uncomfortable look. "No one would have trained him to do that since often ninjas find it… uncomfortable to have their chakra mingled with another. It's not something you do… unless you are really close to the person or don't know you're doing it. He probably uses a technique more closely connected to your Shadow Strangle than with what he did with you."
Thinking over what his sensei said Shikamaru realised he wasn't comfortable with the thought of Sakura or Kakashi-Sensei feeling Naruto's chakra like he had. Yet that was what Naruto had done to him to show she knew he was present. Although, she may have done so simply because he had experienced it before.
"You might be right," Shikamaru agreed, "though we won't know unless we ask Naruto. I'll do it next time I talk to him."
The fighting started again with Naruto drawing Kakashi-Sensei out of his hiding spot, which was right under the tree Team Ten had been in moments before. Kakashi-Sensei took the opportunity to test out his students' taijutsu, though he had tested Naruto's ability in that area well already. After a few missed hits from Kakashi-Sensei Naruto moved out of the way so Sakura could show her abilities. After she took down the tree Team Ten had been on with one punch she was winded, so Naruto jumped in with Shadow Clones. That was when Shikamaru realised Naruto let her Shadow Clones take a beating. Looking around he spotted Naruto not too far ahead of them, crouched in a bush. He elbowed Choji, pointing at the blonde.
"Naruto uses his clones to survey the area and look for an opening. Fantastic!"
Choji looked at him with a small smile. "Naruto really has grown, became smarter. He might keep you on your toes even more than before."
"What's the Hidden Leaf Jutsu: Thousand Years of Death?" Ino asked when Naruto yelled it and Kakashi-Sensei looked terrified.
"You don't want to know," Asuma-Sensei muttered, looking pale. He's hands appear to be creeping behind his body. "I bet it's Kakashi's own fault that the kid knows that jutsu."
Kakashi-Sensei was able to dodge the jutsu but he was definitely more sluggish and loosing energy from having to jump so high so quickly, followed by dodging Sakura, who had seen the opportunity Naruto gave her. It was getting darker but it didn't look as though the Jonin was going to be able to keep up his fight for much longer. Naruto looked fine and Sakura wasn't breathing too heavily. With a cocky smile Naruto flooded the area with clones, more than Shikamaru could count.
"Is there a point to so many clones? Kakashi-Sensei is taking them out pretty easily." Ino sat down on the branch, making herself comfortable without taking her eyes off the fight.
"The clones aren't being used to cause damage onto Kakashi-Sensei. They are used to exhaust him and to distract him from Sakura." Shikamaru surveyed the layout of the Narutos. "I bet three missions wages that the real Naruto is one of the ones behind Sakura, up high so it doesn't look like he's standing behind her on purpose. Any minute Sakura will charge in, or more likely just hit the ground, taking out some of the clones along with Kakashi-Sensei."
"Yeah, I'm not dumb enough to make that bet with you" Choji chuckled, sitting next to Ino. Luckily the branch was wide enough to handle his weight safely.
When Kakashi-Sensei decided to test genjutsus on his students by creating a fake Sasuke Shikamaru heard Ino gasp. Choji put an arm around her shoulders, hugging her tight. The dark haired boy watched as Sakura gained a broken expression and Naruto ground her teeth. Something touched his hand. Looking down he saw nothing, though he knew something had a hold of it. The warmth was back but there was shakiness to it, as though it was in pain. Shikamaru's eyes widened when he realised that Naruto had reached out with her chakra again, using Shikamaru to try and see through the genjutsu, or at least remind her that it was fake. This probably meant that she was still weak to genjutsus. Discretely he funnelled chakra into his hand, helping to ground Naruto without anyone knowing. He didn't know if she was allowed to get help from anyone other than Sakura in this fight.
Once Sakura had dispelled the genjutsu she told Naruto where Kakashi-Sensei was, though Naruto informed her that she knew. Obviously the pinkette hadn't realised her teammate's ability yet. Naruto destroyed the tree Kakashi-Sensei hid behind, forcing him into the open. Sakura taunted him, telling him to repeat himself, though as far as Shikamaru knew he hadn't spoken.
"Shinobi battle techniques part two," the Jonin started in a weak and shaky voice, "genjutsu."
Naruto's chakra gave Shikamaru's hand a gentle squeeze before retreating, skimming over his fingers as it left. He wished he knew how to hold onto chakra bodies but the technique was so rarely used. As Asuma-Sensei had said only ninja with a lot of chakra could throw their chakra out to such scale. It didn't have much combat use, except for maybe holding an opponent's feet in place until they knew what you were doing, but if the ninja was a sensory type like Naruto it could be the most formidable tool in their arsenal.
Shikamaru realised, watching Naruto's clone dispel out of the fake bell trap she pretended to fall for, that Naruto might pretend to be dumber than she was to throw her opponent off guard… or maybe that was just when in battle. When around her friends there was no reason for her to hide who she truly was.
It was impressive to see how well Sakura and Naruto worked together even after over two years apart. Naruto seemed to know instinctively that Sakura, whilst having massive strength and some genjutsu abilities, had little else in the way of attacking ability. She was a medical ninja after all. She was nimble but not quick with her attacks. Naruto, who had a larger range of abilities used her skills to throw Kakashi-Sensei off balance and draw him into Sakura's line of attack using Shadow Clones and Transformation Jutsus.
It was well into the night when Kakashi-Sensei turned to using ninjutsu, which was clearly his best area. All three ninjas were scratched up and dirty but Naruto's breath was the most even out of the lot. Team Ten had to hop to new trees to both be able to watch the fight and so they didn't get caught within it. Kakashi-Sensei forced his students into retreat with his ninjutsu but left himself panting. It was clear that he needed to catch his breath by how he retreated into the forest on the opposite side of the clearing instead of pursuing Naruto and Sakura.
Team Ten went in search of the two students, which was made easier by the fact that Naruto was leading Shikamaru closer. She must not have wanted them wondering through the forest. When Naruto's chakra left him he realised they must have been close enough. Squinting through the dark he spotted a mess of bright blonde hair.
"There, at the base of that tree." He pointed before leading his team closer.
Sakura and Naruto were crouched against the trunk of a large tree, both breathing heavily. Naruto was keeping watch as they spoke to each other.
"We don't have a chance of getting near those bells unless we can slow down his hands somehow," Sakura reasoned.
"Like you said: it's no surprise. I mean you'd expect Kakashi-Sensei to be a strong opponent. He's smarter than Shikamaru, his sense of smell's sharper than Kiba's, sharingun's sharper than Sasuke's; his taijutsu is better than Bush-Brow's. On top of that he's had more experience than all of us combined."
"Okay, but even Kakashi-Sensei has to have some weakness. He has to, right?" Sakura almost sounded desperate.
From their position Shikamaru could see Naruto smile before putting on a thoughtful expression. She sat back against the tree trunk.
"Hmm, a weakness." Naruto looked up before her eyes widened. There was something that didn't sit right with her behaviour. It almost looked forced to Shikamaru. "Hey, wait a sec, I got it." Naruto looked at Sakura with a grin that definitely wasn't forced.
"Well, if you really think Kakashi-Sensei has a weakness then let's hear it."
Naruto giggled behind her hand. "Oh come on, Sakura, you know Kakashi-Sensei as well as I do, you should be able to figure it out."
Sakura started to look excited. "Well let's just pretend I can't, okay? Now come on, quit stalling. What is it?"
"Okay, okay, you really want to know?" Naruto laughed behind her hand again as Asuma-Sensei shot a look at Shikamaru, obviously wondering if he had worked it out. He hadn't.
"Yes, spill it!"
Shikamaru leant forward, wanting to know what Naruto had worked out. No one seemed to know what Kakashi-Sensei's weakness was.
"I gave him his weakness. The book! If I risk spoiling the ending for him he will block his ears and leave the bells wide open. Sasuke once told me that he could read lips with his sharingan. I'll bet anything that Kakashi-Sensei can too. I bet that he'll be so flustered from the threat that he won't think to turn away and run. He'll freak and close his eyes. He didn't think when I attacked him with the Thousand Years of Death and he reacted in a way that cost him more energy."
Sakura gasped. "Of course. I get it. It's so simple it's brilliant."
"Yeah, like I said you just have to think about it and it's obvious."
"If you're right it will be the one moment when we won't have to worry about his hand signs or his sharingan."
"And that's when we take him down!" Naruto grinned.
"Naruto, you really are the number one most unpredictable, knucklehead ninja," Sakura practically squealed.
It took them less than five minutes to find Kakashi-Sensei and get the bells off of him. The trick was simple and the look of panic on the Jonin's face so extreme that Team Ten couldn't help but laugh at Team Seven's antics. When the fight was over Naruto gave them a discrete wave before leaving the training grounds with Sakura.
"So, Sensei, since you brought us out here does that mean you're going to shout us to dinner?" Shikamaru asked with a sly smile.
His sensei just sighed, jumping out of the tree and waiting for them to follow.
/ / / / / / /
It was well after dinner that Shikamaru spotted Naruto walking towards her apartment. Shikamaru jogged to catch up to her, slowing to his regular pace once he was beside her. Putting his hands in his pockets he shot her a look out of the corner of his eye.
"You did that on purpose, didn't you?"
"Did what on purpose?" Naruto asked with a soft smile.
Shikamaru almost forgot what he was talking about when Naruto looked at him like that. "The… the book. You gave it to Kakashi-Sensei when you did because you knew it could be used against him if needed. Why did you pretend that you just thought of it?"
Naruto moved towards an alley that was disserted before turning to look at Shikamaru. Her eyes were serious but still kind and soft, as though the harsh behaviour of the village in Naruto's younger years had worked to uncover a rare stone instead of having sharpened a sword.
"I pretended for the same reason I didn't say anything about my sensing technique. Misdirecting my opponent and making them underestimate me is one of my biggest allies." Naruto smiled, tilting her head. "But you already knew that."
When he frowned in confusion Naruto shook her head. "You haven't underestimated me since the Chunin Exams. Sometimes I think you overestimate me."
"Not possible." Shikamaru shook his head. "You constantly surprise me. I could never expect more than you're capable of because I'm not sure I'm able to comprehend what you're capable of."
Naruto dropped her head, still smiling. "I have to get home. Who knows what my place looks like and I will have to clean it before going to bed." Her speak ended with a large yawn, causing her to cover her mouth.
"Do you want help? After that fight you're bound to be tired and sore."
With a grin the blonde nodded her head. "That would be great. But don't you have to work with Temari tomorrow?"
"So I'll just need a couple of cups of coffee," Shikamaru shrugged. "I haven't been sleeping well anyway but I think I'll get a proper sleep after I help you clean."
Naruto lead the way back to her apartment, which was in desperate need of airing out and a good dust and clean. It took them at least two hours before they finally collapsed onto the couch in exhaustion. When they half laid either end of the lounge Shikamaru pulled out the lemon in his pocket, turning it around in his hands.
"So are you going to tell me why you were six months late? You made us worry." Shikamaru stared at the divots in the lemon instead of looking at the blonde, worried she would know how true his statement was.
"Oh, that. Sorry, I thought Pervy-Sage had told you all about our delay. He heard about this village that was known for their hot springs and regular springs. On top of that their hot springs were unisex." Naruto rolled her eyes. "There was no way I was pulling him away from that place. On the plus I met this guy who was able to teach me sensory chakra techniques. We mainly trained in the regular springs. There was this one with an awesome waterfall, and a cave behind it. I swear I spent the entire six months in either swimmers or just naked."
Shikamaru choked on his own saliva, sitting up awkwardly. "Oh? So you trained… naked?"
Naruto nodded, not appearing to understand the uncomfortable atmosphere. "Yeah, about half the time. I meant Haruki at the hot springs when his friend, Riko ran into me. After getting to know her I think she might have done it on purpose. She liked us going to the hot springs a little too much. That's one of the reasons Haruki would take me to the waterfall, pool, thingy. I forget what they are called. Though Haruki is a pervert too. Maybe I should worry about how it must be affecting my brain to have perverted senseis all the time."
Trying to laugh at Naruto's joke, Shikamaru couldn't help but notice that Haruki's name literally meant the opposite to Shikamaru's ability. He was the sunlight, like Naruto's personality, whilst Shikamaru was the shadows.
"Well it sounds like you had fun at least… whilst being naked for most of it." Shikamaru cleared his throat, forcing his mind to not picture anything Naruto said.
"Yeah," Naruto agreed in a drowsy voice. "On the plus, no tan lines."
Shikamaru looked over with shock, only to find Naruto fast asleep. He went to get up, only to realise that he had no energy left. With a shrug he pulled the blanket down from the back of the couch where Naruto had thrown it after cleaning. He draped it mostly over the blonde. Shikamaru was thankful that he had taken his shoes off when he had entered the apartment. His father had drilled it into him to not have shoes on in bed, even a makeshift bed.
The gender reveal is coming up soon, so you know, stop fretting. I've had the sequence of events planned out since the start. And to those who asked if I was going to expand Naruto's abilities during the three years you now have your answer. I always found it a little weird he didn't have a wider grasp of techniques after the 2 years but at the same time he had improved in the areas he already knew. R and R.