(A/N) Fluff chapter as an apology for what I've been putting you through.
Shikamaru wasn't sure why anyone thought this was a good idea, let alone the adults, but here they were, at a very large park, and getting ready to go hide.
Everyone else was onboard with the idea, of course, but Shikamaru was fairly sure this was a good way to get everyone kidnapped. Although there were a large number of ANBU around, so maybe not. Oh well, maybe he'd climb one of those trees and take a nap while he waited to be found.
"Shikamaru! Why don't you be our seeker?" One of the matrons suggested, pointing at him.
Shikamaru regretted waking up. So, so very much. "Sure," he drawled anyway.
"Alright then! Stand against that tree and count to twenty, alright?" The matron smiled, pointing to a nearby tree. "And don't peek!"
Of course he wouldn't peek, what did the matrons take him for, a little kid? He, of course, was studiously ignoring the fact that he was in fact 4 years old.
He stood against the tree, closing his eyes, and using the time it took him to count to try and infer where everyone would be.
Sakura would be with Ino and Hinata, if not hiding in the same place as them, then at least very nearby. She'd taken to staying very close to the two other girls, and got distressed if any of them had to separate from the other two.
Naruto would be on his own, probably somewhere high up. He liked high places usually.
Torune would likely be in some bushes, probably got distracted by a random bug or something, alternatively, he could also be hiding somewhere high, in a tree perhaps.
Neji was probably also hiding in a tree, he wasn't particularly original, despite the massive playground offering plenty of hiding spots. Most of the others at the orphanage would be there.
Kiba would probably be hiding somewhere either in the bushes, or on the playground. Keruberosu would probably be hiding separate from Kiba, although somewhat close by.
"And twenty," Shikamaru counted finally. "Ready or not here I come."
Glancing around, he could already see four of the other kids. None of his friends yet, but they would be found in time.
He called out the classmates he'd spotted, and they reluctantly got out of their hiding spots, coming over to sit down next to the matrons. He headed onto the playground itself, heading for the highest tower. Sure enough, Naruto was crouched in it, clearly resisting the urge to look for Shikamaru.
"Found you," Shikamaru drawled.
Naruto jumped almost a foot in the air, screeching. "Shika! Hi!"
Shikamaru blinked at him tiredly. "You have been found," he repeated, yawning.
Naruto nodded rapidly, hopping out the side of the tower, and running over to the matron.
Shikamaru, from his new vantage point, spotted two more of the other kids, calling them out.
He found Sakura next, choosing to stare her down instead of telling her so. She got out of her place hiding in a tunnel, but remained close by, probably waiting for him to find Ino and Hinata.
Ino was behind some sort of door, and Hinata was hiding a little ways up a twisty slide. Properly together, the three went to join Naruto and the others near the matrons.
Torune wasn't in a tree, and neither was Neji, so Shikamaru shifted his attention to the bushes, kicking them one at a time to check whether someone was inside. There wasn't, but he hadn't really been expecting there to be. On the third to last bush, he found Torune, who had indeed gotten distracted and was watching a ladybug eat an aphid.
"Found you," Shikamaru yawned.
Torune barely blinked. "So you did."
Shikamaru nodded somewhat absently, and wandered over to the next bush, finding Kiba inside. That probably meant Keruberosu was in the final bush.
"Found you," he droned to Kiba before moving on to kick the final bush and find Keruberosu, who promptly tackled him and started licking his face.
Shikamaru decided to just lay there for a while. Too much effort to get up and get Keruberosu off of him. Or stop the dog from licking him.
If Neji wasn't in the trees, or the bushes, and although Shikamaru hadn't yet checked all of the playground, he only had Neji and two of the other kids to find. There weren't many places left to hide in.
Shikamaru spotted a flash of the light brown Neji was wearing near the matrons, and sighed. Of course. Neji was hiding behind the matrons themselves. Oh well, he'd find the other two and make Neji 'it' as revenge.
The other two were indeed hiding in the playground, so he found them easily enough, then walked with them over to the matrons, and pointed to one. "Neji. Come out. You're it."
His job complete, Shikamaru flopped to the ground. He was ready to just straight up nap there, but Ino tugged on his arm.
"Come on Shikamaru, at least find somewhere to hide, then you can nap!" She complained, pulling on his arm again.
Shikamaru reluctantly got up, if only to make sure he wasn't dragged across the ground like a particularly heavy potato sack.
He walked over to a tree, quickly clambering up to near the top, somewhat close to the ANBU, and anchoring himself with a bit of chakra, he fell asleep.
(A/N) Cute, somewhat short, and fluffy. A temporary respite. Who do you think is next?
