Chapter 24

Waiting at the gate for almost two hours has been worth it as Shikamaru spots, from still quite a distance, a kunoichi running towards the Suna entrance. The Konoha green flak jacket she is wearing and the appearance of the thing strapped on her back are unmistakable. He knows it's stupid to think that Temari will come but he has reasoned out with himself that for the last four years Konoha has always sent Temari as their representative, this time won't be any different. Logically, that still sounds absurd but seeing the obviously female shinobi arriving, Shikamaru's heart starts to pound faster in his chest and he couldn't help the grin that becomes plastered on his face.

But as the kunoichi draws nearer, Shikamaru's smile slowly fades.

It isn't a fan that is fastened on her back but a huge scroll.

And the hair is all wrong. Now, with the sun not giving the head a halo like appearance, it's easy to detect that it's not blonde but brown, and it's not collected into a single high ponytail or four ponytails like last time he has seen her but bundled into two buns.

Then he discovers that her name is Tenten.

Tenten has blurted her name in introduction while still catching her breath.

Shikamaru watches the kunoichi, his expression bland.

"You must be Kamaru? The Kazekage's first born, right? Ino described you to me. She wanted this job but I beat her to it," Tenten boasts, patting the gigantic scroll on her back with her right hand.

Shikamaru follows Tenten's hand. Temari does that too— caress her fan as if praising a child for doing a great job. "Yeah." Kamaru nods before he turns towards the Kazekage tower. "It's not usual for a Jounin who comes here to represent Konoha in the Chuunin exam to meet my father but I can make an exception for you," Shikamaru offers.

The sarcasm is totally lost at Tenten as the Kunoichi seems pleased with the idea of meeting the elusive Kazekage.

The new Konoha kunoichi appears to be good natured.

The Kazekage lifts his head from the numerous documents in front of him and utters, "So you're the new Konoha representative." After which he returns his attention on the papers and dismisses Tenten with a flick of his hand.

Tenten remarks after exiting the Kazekage office, "Whew, you were saying the Kazekage is a busy man...you're right." She then twists her lips and makes a pseudo-mad face before smiling.

Shikamaru shrugs. Temari would be bitching by now if it was her who met the Kazekage in similar circumstances.

Shikamaru also discovers that Tenten likes to chat especially about weapons. Her scroll is her arsenal of various armaments. During her stay in Suna, Shikamaru accompanies her in her morning training and he gets to watch her, learning a thing or two about the kunai exploding tags as he observes her exercising alone.

If it is Temari who is here, no doubt she will declare statements like what a coward he is for not wanting to fight a girl to provoke him to spar with her. As if Temari is just any other girl. In the past, he's always been able to decline her offer.

With Tenten, it's actually pleasant having her to help him with the Chuunin exam since she doesn't try to boss him around and more importantly she doesn't kick his ass if he doesn't bother to do his share of the workload immediately.

The Chuunin exam is almost at its end. The remaining genins, who have reached this far in the tournament, are to battle, one versus the other until someone surrenders or dies.

Shikamaru glances at his companion in the bleachers. As she watches the tournament, Tenten cheers loudly for the Konoha genin.

He remembers, the few times he was able to accompany Temari to watch the last part of the Chuunin examination, Temari would often just smirk as if she knows something. If she gets that look he would give out an uninterested sigh which she would disregard. She would predict anyway how the genin would attack then how the other would counteract. Most of the times she is able to predict too who will win in the match. He usually pretends not to listen to her since it goads her to make her opinions blunter but there are also times he couldn't help but contradict her if he surmises that her prediction is off. In these occasions Temari usually ends up sputtering. But there are times when she becomes more troublesome as she smirks for winning against him.

Shikamaru still hasn't decided if he prefers Temari sputtering or smirking.

Shikamaru smiles at the thought.

Tenten catches the rare change in his facial expression that she can't help but comment about it, "That Suna genin is losing, or you know something I don't?"

Shikamaru glances at his companion. "She is. But then her opponent is a male genin."

"What do you mean by that?" Tenten frowns.

Shikamaru shrugs. This is the part where Temari glares at him and spats what a chauvinist he is.

"If Temari is here she will kick your ass." Tenten suddenly grins. "She hates those kinds of comments...Me? Since you just smiled, I'd rather not..." Tenten playfully slaps Shikamaru's shoulder, "do this for your sexist remark."

"Tch." Shikamaru mumbles. He wants to ask how Temari is but he doesn't want Tenten to suspect he's fishing for information about Temari and appear overly interested in her well-being. Since Tenten mentioned Temari herself, he has the opportunity to ask questions regarding Temari and still appear nonchalant. "So, Tenten how is..."

Subsequently, the crowd breaks into a loud cheer as the Suna genin surprises her opponent with a sudden burst of energy and attacks.

"What? It was just a feint!" Tenten exclaims. "I can't believe she's that good. Now, that's why you smiled, you know she's good."

Shikamaru closes his mouth and gazes at the combatants. The Suna genin is breathing hard but still remains to be standing. The same can't be said of the Konoha genin.

Shikamaru has a feeling Temari would have foreseen that result of the fight and may have intervened earlier. Unlike him. Now, the Suna medics rush towards the unmoving Konoha genin and Tenten realizes the gravity of the situation.

"He'll live." Shikamaru mutters to Tenten. "And I didn't see that coming either. Don't blame yourself."

Tenten nods her head. "He's a Konoha nin. He's sturdier than his looks suggest." Tenten speaks before she jumps over the railing to join the medics on the dusty arena.

Sighing quietly, Shikamaru then tilts his head backwards to look at the blue sky. The opportunity to ask about Temari without raising Tenten's curiosity is now lost.

The Chuunin exam is finally finished. This time during its course Shikamaru doesn't hear any complaints about him being a lazyass, or what an unmotivated useless genius he is. He is never hit by a gigantic fan for sleeping or for slacking off with his chores. This time he is never pushed to his limits by someone's lofty expectations in his ability. But the best part is, he doesn't hear again the woman he loves saying that she hates him and that he doesn't see her eyes sparkling with that loathing. Yeah, that's the best part. It just that sometimes it's hard for Shikamaru to remember that and still wishes he could see Temari.

TBC

~3/8. 6/26 11 AF~

A/N: Its been raining nonstop ~trapped indoors~ but I get to watch Kimi Ni Todoke the movie and read reviews... yay for goldengreaser, niiary, Effie-a and Smonkey's reviews for Two Questions.

To Effie-a, woot I'm in that list! Gee thanks.

In case you're reading this...To PokemonLuver...maybe that alert for Fear will buzz...maybe not...But you did spark an idea so thanks!

Review okay. Concrits are welcome!