Hello everyone! As always, I wanna thank the additional favorite-rs and followers! Always grateful! For this chapter, I had a terrible writer's block which could not come at a worse time since it is a major chapter. Also, I actually asked for extension on my so-called deadline. I am on strict schedule. But I am quite thankful to my so called 'manager' shall we say. Even if this person is demanding. Lol.
Hope you guys enjoy this one!
For the second round of the tournament, Shikamaru, along with the other two contestants, were guided towards the center of the room where elegant wooden desks stood. On top of each desk lay a board and marker. It seemed like a déjà vu of sorts. As if time had rewound back to the period of the chuunin exams, particularly during that written exam. For a moment, he wished his teammates were here. Fighting alongside him. However. Shaking his head minutely, this was his battle to attempt to win. It was his to start and finish.
If his gut instinct was correct though, Ino's abilities would come in handy just about now. Actually, it would have helped if she could read the elder's mind throughout the tournament. But besides the fact that everyone was aware of her abilities and would therefore forbid her involvement in this tournament, he would not resort to such a thing. If he was going to win, he will win fair and square. So that there would be no questions whatsoever of his intentions towards Temari.
His train of thoughts were interrupted when the elder's voice boomed out.
"Welcome everyone to the second round of the competition. This round is, as you can see, no longer requires any dining ware but rather something very basic."
"This round is simply the question and answer portion."
He just stared at the elder blankly. Perhaps he heard wrong?
"You will be asked trivia related to Suna's history and culture. It is a given that Princess Temari's groom must be knowledgeable of these facts."
Of course. They probably thought he knew little to none of Suna. He tried not to grin. Then he checked himself. After all, it was too soon to celebrate. He had not heard the questions yet after all.
The elder's scrutinizing eyes fell upon him. He wondered if she could smell his glee. It took some effort to maintain a straight face, not wanting to give her any hint of his thoughts.
Did they really think he knew nothing of Suna's history and culture? Or perhaps they will ask questions only the locals knew?
Besides that, this tournament was seriously getting stranger and stranger. As if they were ready to throw anything bizarre just to catch him off guard. So far these first two rounds were a far cry from the shinobi exams they had taken.
He chanced a look to his opponents. Not unlike the first tournament, Takeshi oozed confidence and his gaze was quite intent. He sought out the object of that gaze and confirmed his suspicions.
Temari.
The urge to pummel this guy was instantaneous. He resisted strangling him with his shadows. The thought alone jarred him. It was uncharacteristic of him to feel such violent and out of control jealousy. He forced himself to look at the other highly respected opponent.
The expression on his face made him forget his ire towards the other guy. It seemed as if Lord Daisuke was... worried? This usually arrogant daimyo was fidgeting and his breathing seemed accelerated and he appeared to be mumbling incessantly. As if his mind was spiralling uncontrollably.
Well, one less opponent would be favourable for him.
The elder continued, "This is the mechanics of the game. One question per round will be read. You will write your answer on the board provided in front of you. You will be given two minutes to write your answer. At the end of the two minutes, the bell will ring. And you must raise your board for judging. Is that clear?"
All the contestants gave a short nod.
"There will be five questions in all. The contestant with the least number of correct answers will be eliminated."
So there will be someone who will be taken out of the competition today, he thought. He glanced at the daimyo beside him who seemed to blanch. His hunched posture was decidedly un-lordly. He wondered if anyone else noticed.
"Let us get started. Everyone have your boards ready. The first question is how is it that our medical nins are able to grow rare medical herbs that would usually not thrive in such a harsh desert climate such as ours? It is a one word answer and an easy level question." The airiness in the elder's voice seemed to direct a note of challenge to Shikamaru. And knowing this evil woman, she probably thought that he would not know such a facility in Suna, given that he had no reason to be in its vicinity.
It was too bad for her that he was the main intel during the Shinobi War. Shikamaru remembered when Sakura treated Kankuro's toxic state after Sasori's poison infected him. She was led into a greenhouse that created a special climate just for such rare herbs. An antidote was made from those herbs.
He scribbled the word 'greenhouse'.
When the bell rang, everyone raised their boards. The elder frowned momentarily as if dismayed and then announced with a hint of surliness, "One point to all."
It was hard to keep from expressing his smugness since the elder appeared disappointed. Although it looked like someone retained some of his color back, he thought as he gave a side glance towards the daimyo.
The other opponent however surprised him. Hostility emanated from the cold stare Takeshi gave Shikamaru. And no wonder. Temari had her full attention and stance directed towards Shikamaru. Probably had been this whole time.
He levelled a challenging stare back.
And it became a stare down until the elder spoke again.
"The second question is... everyone is aware that the third kazekage was known as the strongest kazekage in history. What made him so? The question can be answered in two words."
Simple history question. Was the elder even trying?
His board later had the words "Iron Sand".
When he raised his board, Temari smiled and he exhaled easily.
"Lord Daisuke, I am afraid that is incorrect," the elder said, giving the daimyo an odd look.
The daimyo's complexion returned to its pale state.
"The third kazekage was able to create the ability of Iron Sand which made him the most powerful kazekage in history. That is the correct answer."
The scoreboard displayed:
Shikamaru – 2
Takeshi – 2
Daisuke– 1
"The third question is... within Suna's aviary, there is a hawk that is deemed the fastest and is often used as the messenger for emergency dispatches. What is the name of this hawk?"
He could not help the quirk of his lips. It was difficult not to steal a glance at Temari right now. Being in a long distance relationship with this woman, it was a definite challenge to communicate. But seeing as Temari is the princess, she had certain privileges. Guess the elder did not know about her secretive usage of that precious hawk.
He wrote the name "Takamaru".
At two minutes, they raised their boards. Lord Daisuke had a blank this time. The elder looked at him with apparent disapproval.
"Takamaru is the name of the hawk. Lord Daisuke, I will have to take that as an incorrect answer."
Scoreboard:
Shikamaru – 3
Takeshi – 3
Daisuke -1
"The fourth question is according to myths of old, Suna became a sunken terrain due to unnatural causes. What is the reason for Suna becoming a sunken terrain? We will accept two possible answers for this."
Shikamaru, welcome to Suna. Did you know that it was some godly force that sunk Suna like this?
Really?
Yes, they said it was either Susanoo or Amaterasu that made Suna like this. At least according to myths, that is. It's an incredible thought, don't you think?
He listed the two terms down.
And just like the previous questions, Shikamaru and Captain Takeshi had their answers marked correct while Lord Daisuke shamefully bowed his head.
"Well it looks like the eliminated contestant is clear. However, this final question must be asked," the elder said with a suspicious glint in her eye.
Shikamaru felt a sense of foreboding.
"If there is a war that breaks out between Suna and Konoha, which side would you be on?"
He knew it. This elder was just really out to get him. What kind of question was that? Of course if he answered Suna, word would get out to Konoha about his claim of treason. And if he picked Konoha, all chances of him wedding Temari would dwindle to nothing. It was the ultimate trap for him. It was a no win situation. Damn this elder. How would he solve this situation?
"Hold," the Kazekage spoke out. "That is not exactly trivia about Suna, is it? I thought that was the objective of this round. To find out if the potential grooms are learned about the culture and history of Suna?"
"Kazekage-sama, while it is true that the question is not wholly about Suna, don't you think it's a relevant question?"
"Relevant only to one. Which makes it an unfair and biased question. Bias should not be a part of this process or I will have another person host this competition, Chiyose-san."
"...Understood, kazekage-sama," she relented with great reluctance. Then she faced the contestants once more, "It is apparent who is leaving the competition today in any case. Thus congratulations to those who are moving onto the next round," she said in an emotionless tone.
Then she faced Lord Daisuke and said in a sharp tone, "You, sir, are a disgrace. You have been a citizen of Suna for a long time and yet an outsider knows more than you."
The daimyo stiffened then smirked despite his loss, "I pay my servants to know these things. You cannot really expect me to keep track of trivial things?" He then swept away quickly.
"Congratulations, Shikamaru-san," a deep voice greeted him to his left. He turned to see Captain Takeshi holding out his hand.
He glanced down at it and said, "You too." And he returned the handshake.
The captain took his hand with a deathly grip. Shikamaru had expected it and returned the handshake with equal force.
After a few seconds, Takeshi smirked, took his hand away and turned about and left.
The council members trickled out the door.
Eventually Shikamaru, Gaara, Temari and Kankuro remained in the room.
Shikamaru closed the distance between him and Gaara. He bowed before him and uttered, "Thank you, Kazekage. I was in a bind."
"It was nothing, Shikamaru. I could not let them cheat you like that." He gave Shikamaru a fond smile. "Keep up the good work." He started walking away.
"Hang in there, man," Kankuro said as he slapped Shikamaru's shoulder while chuckling good-naturedly.
Then only two remained. They eyed each other.
Temari smirked. "I wonder who is to thank for your winning this round?"
He went to her, slid his arms around her and gathering her flush against his body. "This goddess who's been haunting my dreams."
"How poetic you've become. I'm not sure I like it," she said while a grin threatened to tug at her lips.
"Then I'll do this instead." He bent down and pressed his lips against hers tenderly.
"That's more like it," she whispered against his mouth.
A/N: All trivia (suna greenhouse, third kazekage and iron sand, takamaru the hawk, susanoo or amaterasu being the reason behind sunken suna) came from Naruto Wikipedia! Thank goodness for that source and to spilihp17 who pointed it out to me! lol.
Thank you so much for reviewers: ALIASTESIN, spilihp17, bunnyguest (please get an FF account if you can so I may thank you properly :)), fanofthisfiction, Axel0913 (a huge thank you for your recent multiple reviews on my many fics :)).