*sheepishly grinned* Hi?
It's been a while, huh? I...have no excuses, to be honest. I just kind of want to take a break from Naruto and focus on other stories. I'm sure writers would understand that feeling. However, this does not mean I am going to abandon this story, (or any of my stories) at all. It will take time, obviously. But, I want to say, thank you for all waiting. Thank you for the favs, follows, and reviews. It made me very happy.
Although I won't lie, I was nervous to read reviews because it has been quite a few months since...yeah.
Welp! Here ya go, a new chapter. (a ridiculously long one at that).
Warning: unbeta. English is my second. ASL is my first. Yeap, I'm Deaf. *wink*
I don't own Naruto. None. Except for OCs.
Enjoy~ xD
Location: Konohagakure no Sato
Haruno Resident
One Week Later…
Sunlight beam through the window, inside of the bedroom floor. Soon, it slowly shifted toward the direction where the sleeping pink-haired girl is. Once the light touched her face, she grimaced as she forced to wake up. Immediately shut her eyes as she turned her head away from the bright light. Carefully, blinked a few times to adjust the light in her bedroom. She groaned as she doesn't want to leave her warm, comfortable bed but knew she had to.
Sakura slowly sat up as she rubbed her tired eyes then glanced at the clock on the wall with a sluggish face. She stared at the time for a few seconds until her brain clicked. Her lime-green eyes widen in shock. "Oh no! I'm late!" she yelped in panicked.
The pink-haired girl jumped off her bed. 'No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no! I don't have enough time to get ready properly for Sasuke-kun!' she scolded herself for overslept as she ran to her wardrobe and jerked it open wide. "What?!" she screeched when she noticed most of her qipao dresses are gone and there are few other clothes but she doesn't want to wear those. 'No! Where's are they?! I brought those dresses to impress Sasuke-kun!' she ran to her dressers, pulled the drawers, ransacked in attempted to find her qipao dresses.
However, she couldn't find a single qipao dress except one is ruined and thrown in trash and one is too small for her body. "Damn it!" she muttered as she pulled her hair, feeling frustrated then glanced at the clock. "I can't waste any more time!" she squealed with panicked.
She heard her door knocked. "Blossom? I heard a ruckus in there. Is everything alright?" her mother, Mebuki asked through the closed door. The pink-haired girl ran to her door, jerked it open wide and stared at her mother with nervous and panicked.
"Okaa-san, where are my qipao dresses?!"
Mebuki blinked at her daughter then realized in her dark green eyes. "Ah, that. Didn't you know? You asked me to take your qipao to the dry-cleaning laundry." She answered, calmly.
Sakura gaped at her. "…why?"
"Why? Sakura, you have been begged me to get all your qipao dresses to dry-cleaning for weeks." Mebuki said with a frowned on her face as she placed her hands on her hips.
The pink-haired girl tempted to slam her head against the wall. "I wish you would have told me, okaa-san! Then I could just leave one qipao dress and you could take the rest of it to the dry-cleaning." She complained.
Her mother huffed slightly. "You were busy so I'm sorry that I couldn't get your time. And I thought it would be a nice surprise once you get your qipao dresses to return properly clean and wrinkle-free."
"…I'm sorry, okaa-san. I'm not trying to be ungrateful… I just need those since I have a meeting with my team." Sakura glanced at the clock and silently cursed. "Which I am late for! I don't have anything to wear!" she ran back to her wardrobe and tried to find anything to wear.
Mebuki sighed softly as she watched her daughter making a mess in her bedroom. She shook her head. "Sakura." Her daughter halted and glanced at her. "Go wash and I will take care of your clothes." Sakura frowned but nodded her head and quickly went to the bathroom for the morning routine.
'That girl…' Mebuki smiles with fond eyes then went to the wardrobe that she knew she brought her daughter a new outfit a while ago, never attempts to wear nor give a chance. "This might give her a chance… hopefully, she would like it instead of wearing a target dress for enemies." She mused out loud, quietly. She doesn't want her daughter to be an easy target in her Shinobi line of career, she would rather have her return alive, then return dead.
.
..
…
Team Saku-Shika-Cho
Arc I: Bloom, Deer, & Butterfly
Chapter Four
"First C-Rank Mission"
…
..
.
Konoha Park
Asuma rested against the tree with a cigarette hanging between his lips while Shikamaru is laying the ground, watching the clouds and Choji sitting on a bench with his snack. They've been waiting for the pink-haired teammate for a while. The Jounin glanced at his wrist-watch with patience. He knew his student would never be late on purpose, unlike someone he knew.
"Sorry!" a familiar voice called out as it caught their attention. They turned to her and was surprised and slightly shocked to see Sakura, sudden appearance change, running to them.
"I am so sorry! I didn't mean to be late, I overslept, and I forgot to set my alarm." Sakura said, apologetic and guilty.
The males observed her appearance. Her mid-length hair is tied in a braid with her Hitai-ate wrapped around like a headband, she wears a dark green Chinese sleeveless shirt with white Haruno emblem on the back, black knee-length leggings with kunai/shuriken holster wrapped around her right thigh, blue sandals, and dark beige pouch on her back.
Unaware that her teammates are examined her appearance change as her lime-green eyes glanced at Asuma. "I'm sorry, Asuma-sensei."
Asuma grinned at her. "It's alright. Now let's meet the Hokage." He beckoned his students as he walks down the path that leads to the Hokage Tower.
Choji stood up from the bench, thumbed up at his pink-haired teammate with a smile. "You look like a real Kunoichi, Sakura-san." He just recently called her 'Sakura' a couple of days ago once they both actually get along, thanks to Shikamaru and Asuma. Choji followed the Jounin.
Sakura was taken aback by Asuma's quick forgiveness and Choji's compliment. She stared at them with confused then snapped out of it when Shikamaru bumped her shoulder with his. "You don't look too bad, woman." He muttered then followed his best friend and sensei.
'No one ever compliments me before…' Sakura mused with soft blushed on her face. Her parents always compliment her, but only because they are her parents. It's different to hear the compliments from outsiders and for once, it actually felt nice to hear it. Especially, she feels happy with her appearance. Sakura glanced down at the outfit that her mother picked out. 'I thought that this outfit would make a horrible fashion for me… but… Choji-san said, I looked like Kunoichi and Pineapple said, I don't look too bad…' a small smile appeared on her face. Sakura quickly turned around, jogging as to catch up with her teammates.
.
.
.
Hokage Tower
Mission Room
Team Ten stood in front of the Third Hokage who has examined the missions from the scrolls on his desk. He glanced up at his son who grinned. 'I believe its time.' He mused then he took out his pipe. "Team Ten…" the Genin stood up with attention. "…you have C-Rank mission." He watched their expression stunned and surprised while Asuma was expected as his eyes are twinkled. Hokage continued. "Your mission is to escort Lord's son return to his village, the Land of Seasonal. It takes two weeks to get there, however, you will stay with Lord's son for a week. Lord's mother has an incurable illness and is due in a few weeks. Lord's brother will come to live with Lord's son when he returns home after three weeks. Then, return here." He explained after he read the details from the mission. "Do you accept it?" he asked his fresh Genins with a serious face.
'A-amazing… we just became Genin for a week… and we already doing C-Rank mission?' Sakura mused with stunned.
'Hmm… I wonder which food should I pack for this mission? Do the Land of Seasonal have BBQ there?' Choji mused with curiosity.
'Troublesome… we have to babysit this troublesome guy… what a drag…. An entire month.' Shikamaru mused with a frowned.
"Hai, we accepted." Asuma grinned.
The Third Hokage nod at Asuma with knowing eyes. "Please, bring the client in." he informed one of the shinobis who obeyed immediately. When the shinobi fetched the client, return in the mission room with a client followed behind. Team Ten turned their attention to the door and saw the Lord's son arrived inside the room.
A nine years old boy with long back hair that grown to his waist that pulled up in a high pony-tail with maroon-red ribbon, ocean-blue eyes, fair skin, and he wears a fine silk maroon with golden lines kimono shirt, silk maroon pants that tied around his ankles, golden flats shoes, and a gold-colored shape of a leaf mark on his forehead. "What is this? They're kids!" he frowned deeply with an obvious stuck-up attitude.
"This is Akanishi, Tsuyu." The Hokage introduced the client to Team Ten. "Akanishi-san, they will be your bodyguards for a month. Team Ten and their Jounin, Asuma."
Tsuyu crossed his arms with cautious eyes at Team Ten. He observed them carefully then snorted and glanced away rudely. Team Ten already thought that they want to finish this mission as soon as possible as they don't want to deal with this arrogant and ungrateful kid.
"Will I be safe with them?" Tsuyu glanced over to Asuma with a distrustful tone without hiding his disapproving.
Asuma chuckled humorlessly as he could feel his students' irritated by the snotty brat's obvious disrespect to them. "I will be with them as I'm a Jounin, you will be safe." He promised and hoping that it would satisfy the Lord's son. Luckily, Tsuyu seems satisfied, reluctant.
.
.
.
Konoha Gate
The pink-haired girl wore her traveling backpack, waiting by the large main gate with her teammates. They've been a stand by for their sensei and their disrespectful client to arrive. Sakura frowns displeasure when she recalled how Tsuyu treated them and their sensei in such an uncivil manner. "He's impudent for a little kid. That kind of attitude won't gain any respect from others." Sakura complained to her teammates.
Shikamaru sighed with understanding while Choji shrugged his shoulders with resigned. "He's Lord's son." Choji offered his explanation, softly.
The lazy genius snorted softly as he slouches. "I'm not surprised that troublesome kid is a spoiled brat." He straightforward said, blankly.
"Who's a spoiled brat you disrespectful shinobi!" Team Ten turned around and saw Tsuyu glowered at the lazy ninja as his hands are placed on his hips. Asuma stood behind their client with a traveling backpack on his back and a bag in his hand; sweatdropped.
Shikamaru just stared at Tsuyu blankly then glanced away. "Troublesome." He does not want to deal with a loud-mouth snobbish brat.
"Okay." Asuma chuckled dryly before their client does anything to upset his students who probably won't be able to control themselves. Probably. "Let's leave, shall we?" he really hops this traveling would be less troublesome. He really, really, hope.
.
.
.
Later…
It's nearly sunset and Team Ten stopped at the resting safe area. Asuma informed his students and a client that they should rest for the night and proceed traveling in the morning. However, Tsuyu threw a huge tantrum.
"WHAT?! Why should I sleep on this disgusting dirt?! My clothes will be destroyed and Akanishi NEVER sleeps on the floor like those filthy shinobi!" Tsuyu wrinkled his nose disgusted and haughty as he turns his nose up.
The pink-haired kunoichi twitched with exasperating as she is in the middle of putting her tent up. 'He's worst then Ino!' she mused, attempted to ignore their client's hissy fit. While Shikamaru and Choji just finished sending their own tent up for the night.
Asuma attempted to calm the snotty boy down without success. When Tsuyu noticed the tents were up, his ocean-blue eyes landed on Shikamaru's tent. An evilly smirked appeared on his face. "I'll take that tent!" Tsuyu pointed at lazy ninja's tent as he demanded.
"This is my tent. You can't just take it whatever you want." Shikamaru said with a frown when he turned his head at the troublesome brat.
Tsuyu stomped the ground with a glared. "I'm Akanishi, Tsuyu. Akanishi owns Land of Seasonal and I can easily prohibit you from it anytime I want to." He smirked, conceited as he crossed his arms.
The pink-haired girl narrowed her eyes at the client after she just finished building her tent. She felt irked by this brat's haughty attitude and the way he treated her lazy teammate so disrespectful just rubs her wrong. "Just a minute! You can't do that!" she protected as she stood up.
The lazy ninja just rolled his eyes. "It's fine." He stopped his teammate before there's any possible argument. "Take it. I don't mind sleeping outside." He said, with a lazily shrug. Tsuyu huffed and turned his nose up once again. Sakura twitched with annoyed by the client's attitude once again.
Choji steps up to his best friend. "We can share." He offered, kindly.
"Thanks, but it's alright." Shikamaru half-lazily smile at his rotund best friend and yawned softly.
Sakura watched the friendship bond between her two teammates as she started to feel slightly envious, longing, and sad. She is missing her friendship with Ino, little by little every time she witnesses the friendship between Shikamaru and Choji. 'But, she is my rival! I shouldn't be missing her at all!' she mused, strongly but then slumped her shoulders a little. '….but I do sometimes miss her being my friend.' She unwillingly admitted it to herself. Sakura shook her head, turned around to her tent, and climbed inside the hole and prepare the sleepover bag while she can hear voices outside.
"Okay, now that Akanishi-san has a tent to rest. In the early morning, we will eat light breakfast and continue traveling. Understand?"
"Hai."
"Troublesome."
Sakura turned around and sat on her sleepover bag. Her lime-green eyes could see the figures of shadows that easily disguise of her teammates and her sensei. Soon, Asuma, Choji, and Tsuyu went in the tent except Shikamaru lay on the ground, outside in the chilling cold air as dark came in the sky.
The pink-haired kunoichi shifted her position and lay comfortably on her sleeping bag. However, whenever she tried to close her eyes, she couldn't bring herself to sleep and thought about the Uchiha then leads to the survival test. She feels guilty and awful. 'All I ever did faint, got trapped by amateur mistake, focus on Sasuke-kun without been thinking… I pushed my teammates away because I thought they tried to stop me from getting to Sasuke-kun. But I was wrong, they were trying to help me and… I didn't even think about them. I didn't even try to think it as a team in the beginning… I…' her lime-green eyes teary. '…I feel so selfish. What does a teammate really mean? Maybe… maybe I shouldn't be part of Team Ten…' she mused, as she sighed heavily.
Sakura just became an official Genin for a week. And now, she is starting to doubt herself, uncertainty about her Kunoichi career of life. She shifted onto her back, staring at the ceiling of her tent while contemplative with skepticism. 'Am I fit to be a Konoha shinobi?' she recalled that she only did basic exercise, D-Rank missions, and small team bonding with Asuma. Although, it's only been a week but… she didn't feel any changes, nor any improve.
The only change was her appearance which she slowly grew to like it. Plus, it was easier to do missions in this garb. Sakura sighed once again as she pushed herself up. She couldn't relax her mind at all. 'Maybe watching the stars will make me feel better?' the pink-haired ninja climbed out of her tent quietly.
Her lime-green eyes examined her surroundings. Everyone is sleeping in their tent, expect Shikamaru who is sleeping on his side, laying content and comfortable enough. She carefully walks to the tree that's not too far from the group. Sakura sat by the tree, pulled her legs up to her chest with her arms folded on top, and lean her head back against the tree trunk as her eyes scan the beautiful stars dancing in the night sky.
The soft cold breeze gently plays with strays of her pink hair while her lime-green eyes slightly darken sadly. 'What can I do as a Konoha kunoichi? Choji is strong, even if we have to use the taboo word, he is very determined. Shikamaru is smart, extremely smart. His Shadow Jutsu is very useful and powerful. Asuma-sensei is a Jounin! So, really, what can I do? I'm practically useless in this team…' her shoulder lowered, feeling purposeless. 'Useless…' she mused, hurt.
Without knowing, Shikamaru has been awake this entire time and have been spying on his teammate's expression quietly with half-way open blank eyes.
.
.
Two Days Later…
It's been a couple of days since the traveling and Team Ten is getting more and more fed up with their spoiled, disrespectful, impudent, arrogant brat client. Tsuyu had complained all day of how exhausted he was when he only walked for twenty minutes, how he whined about his feet being swollen and in pain, and how they are traveling so slow.
Asuma decided to pleased their client by doing piggy-back ride for a while, much to Tsuyu's satisfaction. While Team Ten mentally sighed with relief because they are afraid, they might fail their first mission if they abandon the brat.
Currently, they are walking down the path in comfortable silence with Asuma in the front with the client on his back. Choji and Shikamaru are walking side by side in the middle and while Sakura is at the back. The pink-haired girl clenched on her backpack straps while sighed mutely as her lime-green eyes scanned their surrounding out of habit.
From the corner of Shikamaru's eyes, he easily could see Sakura's body language that she is still upset in the last two nights ago. The lazy ninja frowned to himself. He doesn't know what's going on with the pink-haired girl's mind, but he knew that it is distracting her from the mission which wouldn't do. Plus, his mother will scold him if she finds out that a lady who is upset and no one helps her, then his mother will surely beat the shit out of him. All because he noticed and is not doing anything about it.
Shikamaru mentally groaned. 'What a drag.' He slowed his walking to catch his pink-haired teammate's pace. "What's wrong, woman?" he asked, lazily.
The pink-haired kunoichi blinked in surprise as she turned her head to Shikamaru. She blinked again but used a polite smile at him. "Nothing. Just a bit peeved by our client is all." She explained then turned her attention ahead of her.
Shikamaru raised his eyes skeptic. He shook his head softly then bumped her shoulders with his gently. "Seriously. What's wrong, Cherry?" He asked, once again while he hands shove in his front pocket, waiting for the pink-haired girl's reply.
From the corner of his eyes, he could see Sakura staring at the ground in silence. Not respond anytime soon which he sighed loudly. He doesn't want to deal with this but at the same time, she is his teammate. "Troublesome." He muttered then shifted his eyes around, in boredom. "We're teammates. Teammates listen to each other… so, I'm asking you what's wrong." Then he glanced at her. "I'll listen." He said, genuine. As much as he doesn't want to talk and prefer comfortable silence and content with just being lazy. However, he happens to be a very excellent listener, although not many people knew that except his family and his best friend.
"What's…" Shikamaru tilted his head, watching Sakura's expression changed her eyebrows furrowed and some of her hair covered half of her face. "…what are teammates?" she mumbled, confused and lost.
Shikamaru blinked at her as his attention is completely on her. "Huh?" he didn't get her to respond since she mumbled very low. He shifted closer to her. "You say something?"
The pink-haired girl tightens her grips around her backpack straps. "I don't really understand the meaning of teammates." She speaks up a little louder enough for a lazy ninja to hear. Shikamaru blinked curiously but patience quietly for Sakura to continue. "…at the survival test, if you and Choji haven't found me… and convinced me… I would surely, no doubt that I make all of us fail the test." She blushed, feeling slightly humiliated, ashamed, and guilty. "All I ever think about Sasuke-kun. Not the test, not Asuma-sensei, you and Choji, nor the team. I was… really selfish." She whispered the last word, regretted.
The lazy ninja hummed as he glanced head of him, he could see Asuma walking confidently with their client on the back and Choji walking behind their sensei, relax but with his guard up. "That's true." Shikamaru answered. "You were selfish." He admitted that their pink-haired teammate was selfish, and she could've made them fail at the chance to become a real Genin.
Sakura flinched by Shikamaru's blunt with hurt, yet resigned understanding.
"But you didn't act selfishly when we work together with troublesome D-Rank missions." Shikamaru glanced up at the nice cloudless blue sky. He was disappointed there are no clouds available today.
The pink-haired girl tilted her head up at her teammate with confused, curious, and hesitant. "Wh-what?"
The lazy ninja hummed as his sharp brown eyes stay in the sky "You stay." He simply answered with a puzzling tone.
Sakura blinked and furrowed her eyebrows with confused. 'I…stay?' she mused, to herself perplexed by his answer. She has been too busy thinking while she and Shikamaru are walking together in silence. '…what does that mean? Stay? I don't get it…'
.
.
Few Days Later…
Team Ten has been traveling for almost two weeks as they were amazed that they haven't abandoned their arrogant client. Yet. And since they have been traveling nonstop, Asuma had told one of his students to check the distance from the tree which Shikamaru obeyed. Sakura was awed and amazed when she saw Shikamaru's skill of climbing tree method by using Chakra with his feet.
The pink-haired girl wanted to learn it; however, she was embarrassed to ask her sensei because she discovered that her teammates already knew how to do it. 'That's because they both are from Clan. It's not uncommon for clan children that knew these skills. However, I haven't learned to do that trick… since I'm from the civilian background.' She mused, anxious and determined. True that she doesn't have any fancy technique nor any skills, but she believes that she can do it.
When the nightfall begins, and everyone is at their tent. Sakura carefully sneaked outside of the group, in the distance so she doesn't disturb their rest. Her lime-green eyes observed the large tree in front of her as she attempted to figure out how the climbing tree method works with Chakra.
"What are you doing, woman?" Sakura jumped in startled as she turned around while placed her hand on her fast pounding beating heart. Her lime-green eyes lit up when she saw her lazy teammate who is slouching in few feet away, hands in his pocket with boredom on his face.
Sakura exhaled in relaxes from tense and anxious edgy. "You nearly give me a heart attack!" she scolded Shikamaru with irritated and nervous.
The lazy ninja half-smirked at her. "That would be a pain in the ass to deal with." Sakura tutted as she glared at Shikamaru.
"Ha, ha, ha." Sakura crossed her arms with suspicious and annoyed. "What do you want?"
Shikamaru walked to one of the trees, leaned against it and stared at Sakura with a curious glint in his sharp brown eyes. "Troublesome woman. You didn't answer my question first."
Sakura frowned deeply. She recalled that he asked what she was doing as she uncrossed her arms, nervously and embarrassed. "Well… I uhh…" she thought about lying but after she carefully examined her lazy teammate's face. Somehow, she knew that it's a terrible idea to lie to Nara, since her instinctive alert her not to lie. "…I want to learn…" Sakura mumbled but loud enough as she awkwardly looked away. "…to climb tree."
The lazy ninja raised his eyebrow. "Is that so?" he pushed himself from the tree and walked to her. "I'll teach you." He calmly stated.
Sakura was taken aback. "R-really?" she asked, unexpected and pleasantly surprised that he offered to teach her.
"Why not?" Shikamaru shrugged his shoulders lazily. "We're teammates. Teammates help each other even though it's a drag."
Sakura stared at him in shock but then slowly a grateful smile appeared on her face. "Thank you… Pineapple." Shikamaru deadpanned at the nickname that's coming out of Sakura's mouth. The pink-haired girl just giggled at his reaction.
"Alright… what do you know about tree climbing?" Shikamaru asked his pink-haired teammate with curious.
Sakura hummed with contemplative. "Well, I'm aware that climbing a tree involves charka by using our feet."
"Basically, you are on the right track." Shikamaru nods his head and Sakura beamed at him. "This method is used to gain more skills with chakra control. It is focusing a fixed amount of chakra to the bottom of one's feet and using that to climb a tree without using one's hands. If the stream of chakra is too weak, the user will lose their footing on the tree and fall off. If it is too strong, the user will be pushed away from the tree, causing the tree to break around the point of contact and the user will fall." Shikamaru explained, calmly.
Sakura slowly nodded her head understanding. "So, it's like magnetics."
"Yes, it's similar to magnetics." Shikamaru jerked his chin at the tree behind Sakura. "Take out your kunai." Sakura raises her eyebrow with confused, but she took out her kunai from her holster. "You will climb a tree, mark it where you stop and continue once you approve." Shikamaru briefly explained.
The pink-haired girl understood the logic use of the kunai. She turned around and walked to the tree and stood a few feet away. Sakura closed her eyes, pressed her fingers together and relaxes her body. Meanwhile, Shikamaru carefully observed her and noted the soft blue chakra flow out of her feet.
When Sakura opened her eyes, dart toward the tree and climb up with just her feet. The lazy ninja watched her with impressed and interested. 'Huh… impressive. She got her chakra in control without any mistakes.' He assumed that maybe Sakura might have excellent chakra control. His sharp brown eyes watched Sakura stop at the high branch, she stabbed her kunai in the trunk and sat down on the branch with an excited face.
"This is easy!" Sakura giggled happily that she did it on her first try.
Shikamaru smirked lazily. 'Not bad. Normally, Genin would take a few or less than half trunk to climb. Most just fall before they marked it. Instead, she climbed up the first time that no normal Genin could do. Not uncommon but not too common either.' He tilted his head with an indifferent face. "That's nothing. I bet a toddler can do it better than you." He half-shrug, uncaring.
Sakura twitched, irked by her teammate's lack of impress with her skill. "You are a jerk, Pineapple!" she sticks her tongue out childishly. "I can do much better than you can." She crossed her arms, pouted angrily.
The lazy ninja raises his eyebrows at her with an obvious skeptic. "I doubt it." He mentally smirked at her pissed off face. He believes it's a true pain in the ass to push someone's button and become a target but with this, he doesn't mind a bit. Since Sakura is a rather entertaining target for his amusement.
The pink-haired girl growled with annoyance as she grabbed her kunai and jerked it out. "Just you watch, Pineapple!" she jabs her kunai in the air at Shikamaru who is standing on the ground, lazily with boredom on his face. "I'll beat you at tree climbing method when I reach the top of this tree!" she declares with determined.
"Well…" Shikamaru yawned loudly, uninterested. "Good look with that." He turned around and walked away.
Sakura twitched with exasperated. "I'm serious!" she watched Shikamaru waved his hand without even stopping nor looking at her. "I will beat you by sunrise!" she promised.
Shikamaru chuckled with amused quietly as he disappeared through the woods out of Sakura's sights. 'Let's see how you do then, woman.'
.
.
.
Sunrise…
Asuma finished rolled his sleeping bag and tied it around it. After that, he glanced around with a confused and concerned frowned on his face. "Where is Sakura?" he asked after he checked her empty tent. While Choji is picking up the plant that he identifies as edible food nearby and Tsuyu who is fixing his hair into a high ponytail. Shikamaru swung his backpack on his back.
"I don't know." Choji answered, before he glanced at his sensei with worried and confused.
Shikamaru adjusted his backpack while glanced at the woods where he has been waiting for Sakura to return. "Troublesome woman…" he muttered; tired and slightly worried. He has been waiting all night for her, but she never came back from her training. 'Don't tell me she is still practicing the tree climbing method?' he mused, curious and interested. He glanced at Asuma. "I'll get her." He volunteers and walked through the woods.
Asuma just blinked, watching his lazy student vanished through the woods. "Why do I feel like he knows something?" he mused out loud.
Choji smiles softly wit knowing eyes. "That's because Shikamaru knows everything." He explained to his sensei then scanned any more edible plants that will be useful for meals during traveling.
.
.
.
Meanwhile, Shikamaru arrived at the area where he recalled that his pink-haired teammate practice last night. He scanned his surroundings, searching for a certain Cherry with a confused frown on his face. "Troublesome woman…" he muttered as he attempted to find her chakra.
Suddenly, a kunai stabbed on the ground near his foot. Shikamaru jerked his head up, narrowed his sharp brown eyes and spotted a pink-haired girl. He blinked in shock and his eyes grew wide. 'Sakura?' He found her at the highest top of a tree.
"I told you I'll beat you by sunrise, Pineapple!" Sakura shouted, smugly and laughed happily.
Shikamaru slowly shook his head yet a smirked placed on his face. "Troublesome woman… staying out all night just so you can beat me?" 'Unbelievable.' He didn't expect that from her. "Come on, Cherry! Its time to leave!" he shouted. "Remember, we have a troublesome mission to return to."
The lazy ninja watched Sakura jumped down the branch to branch until her feet hit the ground, smoothly. Shikamaru carefully examined his pink-haired teammate. She is completely covered in sweat, scratches, and dirt. He frowned with confused and concerned. 'Did he fall during her practice?'
Sakura saw his expression when he studied her messy appearance. Sakura chuckled sheepishly. "Don't mind this. I got tired nearly all night, so I fell a few times. But… it surprised me, and it did help me awake after I fell." She explained, nonchalant.
"Did you sleep?" the lazy ninja asked with confused.
Sakura shook her head. "No. At first, I was going to stop and come back to my tent." She admitted that she did think about it during her training. "But… I really, really want to get top of that tree." Slowly her lime-green eyes flow, almost like fire. "When I thought about it… it makes me… somewhat motivate that I just had to do it. I want to prove it." Then a big grinned appeared on her face as she turned to him, with sunrise shines behind her head, making her pink hair shines. "…and prove, I did." She said, with pleased.
Shikamaru stared at her then shoved his hands into his pockets. 'She wears emotions on her sleeves.' He noted it, he knew that ninjas shouldn't wear open emotions, it's a weakness but… he likes it. It's rather refreshing and nice. 'Although, she still a troublesome teammate.' He mused, with a small smile.
.
.
Land of Seasonal
Two weeks Later…
Team Ten has finally arrived at the location. Just one more week and they'll be free from their awful client. When Team Ten survey the beautiful land. It's a rather semi-large village, but the same is very fitting. There are many modern humble cottages home building everywhere, some are a different shade of black, white, brown, yellow, and grey. Some are close and some are far. The trees such as cherry blossom, maple trees, weeping willows, maidenhair trees, cacao trees, and such are covered with snow while men are plucking fruits and nuts from it. Fresh green grasses are cover with colorful shades of red, brown, and yellow autumn leaves which children are playing around with laughter in the air. Warm steam coming from the waterfall in the distance near the woods, with few women washing clothes with clothing lines and basket. There are many villagers who enjoyed their times with smiles and laughter.
"So beautiful…" Sakura mused out loud with amazed as her lime-green eyes wide as she carefully scanned her surroundings. Her teammates agreed with her as they, too filled with awe and wondered by the land's beauty.
Asuma smiles softly. He has been traveled through this land a few times and it never fails how beautiful and peaceful it looked.
Team Ten walked behind their client who walked fast toward his home. The house looks magnificent. It has been built with spruce wood and has oak wooden decorations that resemble leaves, trees, sun, moon, flowers, and fire. Tall, large windows seem to provide light and have been made in a mostly symmetric way. The roof is high and square-shaped and is covered with rounded roof titles. A small chimney pokes out of the center of the roof. This beautiful house itself is surrounded by a tranquil garden, with various flowers, along pond including a small waterfall and various rock formations.
When the door slide opened wide, a young woman with brown hair that tied up in a cute messy bun style, dark forest-green eyes, tan skin, and she wears a beautiful shade of rose-red kimono with white obi. "Welcome home, Tsuyu-sama." She bowed, respectfully.
Tsuyu stopped in front of the young woman with softening ocean-blue eyes. "I'm home. Is Granny available?"
The young woman nodded her head. "Yes, Tsuyu-sama. Lady Rie is in the garden, you can visit her." She explained to her Lord's son.
Tsuyu smiles widely much to Team Ten shocked. "Great!" he ran inside the building with excitement. "Granny!" he announced his presence loudly.
Asuma leaned to his students with whispers. "If only he acts like that with us during traveling, it would be a less troublesome mission for us." His students agreed with him. When they got closer to the entrance. The young woman smiles politely at them.
"Hello, I'm Matsushima, Ayako." Ayako bows respectfully to Team Ten. "I'm one of the caretakers of Akanishi household. Please come in." she steps aside and waits for the Team Ten walked inside of the beautiful house.
When they walked through, slipped off their footwear and observed the inside of the house with amaze. Asuma tilted his head at Ayako with a grinned on his face. "I'm Asuma. These are my students." He waves his hand over his students, purposely left out his surname. "Sakura, Shikamaru, and Choji. Our mission was to bring Lord's son home and stay for a week."
Ayako nodded her head with understanding. "Understood. End of this week, Lord Daichi-sama will arrive here. He will watch over Tsuyu-sama, his nephew until Lord Akanishi returns." She informed Team Ten. Then she turned around. "Please, follow me. I will take you to your guest room."
Team Ten followed Ayako to the guest room and luckily, the caretaker was nice enough that one guest room will be for male and other guest rooms, slightly small will be for Sakura. After a quick tour, Ayako bowed to them politely. "Now I have to leave to prepare for dinner. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask." She smiles warmly at them then left for her duty.
Sakura watched Ayako walked down the hall and turned in the corner, vanished from her sights. Then her lime-green eyes shifted to the next-door room where her teammates and sensei will be resting. She sweatdropped when she noticed that a door was shut already. 'They probably want to rest in there.' She shook her head as she can imagine her sensei smoking, while Shikamaru napping and Choji eating. Sakura slumped her shoulders with a small fondly smile. Sometimes, her team is impossible.
The pink-haired girl glanced around as she decided to take a small walk in the house. Once she walked down the hallway quietly under her cat feet. 'This house is truly beautiful. I can't believe such beauty exists like this in this world.' She mused, admiration.
For the past fifteen minutes, Sakura walked pass the double sliding doors.
"Hold it there." The pink-haired ninja halted in surprise when she heard a soft, yet wise voice called out. She turned her head to the doors with wariness. "Come in, child." Her eyebrows raised in puzzling. Her lime-green eyes dart at the handles with thoughtful. Then she slid to the double doors, reached the handles and paused. She wasn't sure if she is allowed to do this.
"Don't be nervous, child. Come in." Sakura bit her lips, quietly open the door and walked in. She slid the door shut behind her silently of a dark room. Before Sakura could open her mouth, a light ignites suddenly and shifted to the candle. Brighten up the room which Sakura blinked twice.
Front of her, is an elder woman with ash-grey neatly bun hair on top, twinkly ocean-blue eyes, wrinkle pale skin, and wears a lovely shade of royal-blue kimono. "Please, sit down." She waved at the dark red cushion on the ground, across from the elder woman.
Sakura obeyed the woman as she sat on her legs. "Hello, dear. My name is Akanishi, Rie. The Old of Visions." Rie said with a gentle smile.
"The Old of Visions?" Sakura asked, quietly with curiosity.
Rie nodded her head. "Yes. In Akanishi generations, only women with Akanishi blood have the power of visions." She paused, as she folded her hands on her lap while the flame dances on the candle on top of the coffee table. "Akanishi men only possess of leadership Land of Seasonal." Sakura sweatdropped as she felt terrible for the poor villagers who will someday be in arrogant and disrespectful Tsuyu's hands.
Suddenly the elder woman narrowed her eyes at pink-haired ninja with knowingly suspicious. "You did not think bad thoughts of my grandson just now, did you?" she warned Sakura.
"N-no." Sakura shook her head as she denied.
Rie hummed with a skeptic. Then she reached her hands out, across the coffee table to Sakura's direction. "Give me your palms, child." Sakura opened her palms to the elder, willingly with curious. When Rie gently grabbed two palms, rubs them gently as her eyes closed. "Hmm… your future is a bit of blurry, but I can see you will have a bright future ahead." She smiles warmly.
Sakura perked up with interest as the elder continued. "You will have a wonderful young man in your life. It's very unexpected and life-changing but it makes you feel overjoy and bless." The pink-haired girl smiles widely with hope.
"Can… is it possible if I tell you who, can you see my future with him?" she asked, shyly with pink blushes appeared on her cheeks.
Rie chuckled softly. "Of course, dear. What is his name?"
"Sasuke-kun." Sakura blushed. "Uchiha, Sasuke." She squealed out his name happily.
The elder woman chuckled once again, amused by the pink-haired girl's ecstatic attitude to her crush's name.
"Alright. Uchiha, Sasuke…" Rie rubbed Sakura's palms. "That boy… I can see that he's very… an interesting individual character." Her relaxes face shifted to worries. "But his future… you have no future with him." Sakura pouted with disappointment and annoyed. She doesn't want to believe that. The elder's eyebrows furrowed deeply with concern. "His future… is nothing but filled with darkness and horror." Sakura frown with confused while the elder's expression changed to fear. "That boy…"
Rie snapped her eyes open in fright as she gasped. The elder clenched onto Sakura's palms and pulled her across the coffee table toward her. "My child! Never!" she warned Sakura with fearful eyes. Sakura's eyes widen in stunned. "Never go near him! That boy is dangerous! He will destroy you and your beloved home!" the pink-haired girl is starting to feel uncomfortable and scare. She attempted to pull her hands back but the elder held onto it strongly firm. "Listen to me Haruno, Sakura." Sakura paused in gapped at the elder, she never told Rie her full name. "Uchiha, Sasuke is a very dangerous person. If you go near him, not only your life will be miserable, your home will be annihilated, but your precious person will die." Rie strongly warned the pink-haired ninja.
Sakura finally released her hands from Rie's grip, stood on her feet and ran off, out of the creepy elder's room as the fire extinguishes from the candle, leaving the room now darkness.
Rie stared at the empty cushion where the pink-haired girl sat. "Never go near that boy…" she whispered then immediately covered her mouth and cough harshly. After a few seconds later, she lowered her hand and stared at the blood. "I used too much of my visions…" she sighed heavily with exhausted ocean-blue eyes.
.
.
.
Outside of Akanishi's Household
Sakura sat one of the benches near the pond, she could see koi fishes inside, swimmingly gracefully. She could fee the warm sunlight from the sunset. Her lime-green eyes glanced up at the beautiful mixed color sky. 'That old lady is crazy… but…' she frowned deeply, confuse and anxious. '…what is she is serious about Sasuke-kun? She knew my full name. And she did say that she is an Old of Visions…' she mused, thinking.
"What are you doing out here, woman?" Sakura snapped out of it as she tilted her head to her left, saw her lazy teammate walked toward him with confused boredom on his face.
"I just want to… be out here for a while." Sakura answered, a half-truth. Shikamaru slouches his shoulders uninterested.
"Well, the food's ready." He mumbled loud enough for Sakura's ears.
The pink-haired girl shook her head. "I'm okay. I'm not hungry." She turned her head up as her lime-green eyes return to the sky. 'Actually, more like I lost my appetite because of that old batty's visions about Sasuke-kun's future.' She mused, worried and tense. What does Rie really mean that Sasuke will kill her precious person? Just who is this precious person to Sakura?
Shikamaru mentally sighed when he saw nervous and worried in Sakura's eyes. He tipped his head back with a groaned then dragged his feet around the bench and sat next to Sakura. "What is it?" he asked her, seriously, this troublesome woman seems to have one problem piling up every time he went to find her. He despises to leave it unsolved puzzles, it bothers him.
"Sorry, I rather not talk about it." Sakura put on a fake smile at her lazy teammate.
The lazy ninja frowned; his sharp brown eyes shifted up at the skies as he couldn't push her if she is not comfortable to talk about it. His mother will beat his ass if he forces her to talk. He sighed softly, he scoots at the end of the bench, lay down sideway and landed his head onto his pink-haired teammate's lap.
Sakura let out surprised yelped when she felt a heavy head on her thighs. Her lime-green eyes dart down and saw Shikamaru resting on her with his eyes closed. She suddenly felt awkward in this situation. "Troublesome woman…" she blinked down. "…whatever that bothers you right now… don't let it get to you." He yawned and immediately fallen into a nap.
The pink-haired kunoichi sweatdropped with amazes yet fondly exasperated. 'It's truly a skill for someone like him to be able to sleep right away.' She mused then her eyes soften as her tense muscles relax when she carefully studied her teammate's sleeping face. Then her lime-green eyes shifted back to the sky, watching the mixed colors fade into black with stars. 'I guess he's right. I don't need to worry about it. I don't know much about Sasuke-kun, I don't have anyone precious to me, and Konohagakure is at peace so…' a soft smile with relief appeared on her face. 'I worried too much. I should just need to focus on the present time.' She thought, satisfied and content in a peaceful and quiet atmosphere.
Suddenly, a worried shouted that disturbed Sakura who stood on her feet as Shikamaru fell off onto the ground with a loud thud. The pink-haired ninja jerked around in shock. "Oh! Are you alright?!" Sakura asked in concerned and sheepishly guilty.
Shikamaru groaned as he rubbed his painful head. His sharp brown eyes glared sulkily at Sakura who smiles with embarrassment. "Sorry, I was startled when I heard someone shouted." She explained while idly scratch her cheek nervously.
The lazy ninja shook his head and stood on his feet with Sakura's help. "Troublesome." He mumbled, slightly irritated as his nape was rudely interrupted. He followed his pink-haired teammate who searches for the noise until they spotted Ayako who is searching through the garden with worried.
"Ayako-san?" Sakura speaks up with curiosity, wondering why the caretaker is outside at this time of night.
Ayako turned her attention to them with a polite smile except her forest-green eyes are filled with worried. "Hello, I hope it's not too much trouble if I ask. Have you seen a black cat with golden eyes, and a small white spot on his forehead?" she asked, hopeful.
Sakura and Shikamaru glanced at each other and shook their heads unison. Ayako slumped her shoulders in disappointment, resigned, and upset. "I see."
"Is it yours?" Sakura asked with curious.
The caretaker woman shook her head. "Oh no. Kuro belongs to Lord Akanishi. I've been searching for Kuro for a while. Then I realized the window was open inside the Lord's room. I assumed that Kuro sneaked out." She frowned deeply with concern. "If Kuro doesn't come back, Lord Akanishi will not be very happy when he returns." She flaps her wrists worrying and sighed softly.
Sakura hummed with acknowledged. She glanced at Shikamaru's annoyed face then shifted her eyes back to the worried caretaker. "Well, we can search for Kuro." She volunteered and Shikamaru jerked his face to her with disbelieved glared.
Ayako perked up with hopeful. "You will?" Sakura nodded her head while she ignored Shikamaru's heated glares. "Thank you." Ayako bowed with gratitude and relief. "I'll go prepare Kuro's meal and bed in Lord's room. With window shut this time." She promised then quickly lightly jogged to Akanishi house.
Silence bestows on two ninjas until the lazy shinobi twitched with irked. "My nap got interrupted because of the damn pain in the ass missing cat?" he grumbled in disbelief.
Sakura rolled her eyes. "Come on, lazy Pineapple." She pats Shikamaru's shoulder with an upbeat smile. "Let's find Kuro." She said in merrily and start walking in a random direction. Shikamaru made a sour face as he dragged his feet, following his pink-haired teammate.
.
.
.
It's been nearly an hour since they both have been searching for a missing cat with no success. Shikamaru halted as he sighed heavily. "Let's just give up and go back." He whined; he doesn't want to stay out all night to search for the Lord's cat. It's almost practically impossible to find a black cat in the dark night.
Sakura pouted as she stopped. She turned around with understanding and hesitated. Sakura can understand why her teammate wants to give up since they've been searching for an hour and there's no sign of a missing cat, not even a hint. "I guess… we have to." Sakura bit her lip then she got an idea. "We can search for more tomorrow morning. It's easier." She suggested as she started to walk back to the client's house with Shikamaru who is a few steps ahead of her.
"Troublesome."
"Everything's troublesome for you, Pineapple."
"Because it is, Cherry."
The pink-haired kunoichi rolled her fondly irritated eyes at her lazy-ass teammate who grumbling to himself. When one of her foot step on the twig which it snapped dramatically. Shikamaru jerked his head to her direction in shock. He quickly darts to her to reach his hand, but Sakura fell into a trap. Shikamaru curse under his breath when he misses catch her hand when he arrived at the dark hole's edge. "Woman!" he called out with worried.
"I'm okay!" an echo shouted back.
Shikamaru sighed in relief when he hears no obvious pain nor anything trouble to Sakura as she replied. "How deep are you in there?" he asked with wondering as he narrowed his eyes down at the dark hole. Attempt to spot anything of his pink-haired teammate.
"I think… about fifteen feet deep!"
The lazy ninja hummed. "That's not too bad, you can climb up with a climbing method." He said as he bends down with his elbows rest against his thighs, waiting for Sakura to climb.
"Umm… I-I can't!"
He raises his eyebrow. "Why?"
"My ankle… it's sprained!"
Shikamaru sighed loudly as he dropped his head. "You are one troublesome woman." He complained.
"Just help me out!" he can obviously hear her annoyed tone. Shikamaru stood on his feet and jumped down to rescue his pink-haired teammate.
When he landed on his feet gracefully in the dark hole. He blindly reached to Sakura. "Climb on." The lazy ninja helped Sakura onto his back in piggy-back style. "You're heavy than you look." He blurted and Sakura bonked his head with his fist.
"That's not nice to say to a girl." Sakura grumbled with this situation.
Then Shikamaru used his charkas to climb up the dirt wall with his feet and soon, after barely less than five minutes, they are out of the hole. And then, the lazy ninja continued walking to the Akanishi house calmly with his arms under Sakura's legs as her arms wrapped around his neck, loose.
Sakura leans her chin on his left shoulder with an embarrassed flush on her face. "Thanks…" she mumbled softly.
Shikamaru hummed as he glanced at Sakura from the corner of his eyes. "That's what teammates are for, Cherry."
Sakura's lime-green eyes soften. 'Teammates… he still trying to remind that teammates are important and there for each other… but I still don't get what he means by 'stay' earlier last week…' she mused, contemplative.
When they both return to their temporary shelter. They were greeted by Ayako who is waiting outside of the door. She beams happily with relief and excited in her forest-green eyes. "Guess what!? Kuro came back an hour ago!" she informed them cheerfully.
Shikamaru twitched with slightly irritated while Sakura forced to fake polite smile on her face. "That's… wonderful to hear, Ayako-san." She said, weakly.
So, they have been searching for nothing and in turn, Sakura got a sprained ankle.
Well, that's wonderful.
.
.
One Week Later…
Akanishi, Rie has passed away from her illness and Daichi arrived just in time to see his mother before Rie died in her bed. Daichi expressed his gratitude to Konoha shinobi with a respectful bow while Tsuyu bows sadly and looked away, without looking anyone's eyes. He is still upset over his grandmother's death. Ayako waved at the Team Ten, bid them farewell with a polite smile with sad eyes.
When Team Ten left the Land of Seasonal down on the trail road. After they are miles away from the village, Asuma glanced down at his students happily with pride in his eyes. "Our mission is succeeded!"
Choji smiles widely as he is munching on his snacks as he is walking beside Asuma. Behind them, Shikamaru is supporting Sakura who is leaping. The pink-haired girl smiles widely when she heard her sensei's joyful tone. "Yes, even though my ankle got sprained. I'm glad we finished this mission." She said, relief.
Shikamaru hummed. "This mission is a pain in the ass." He blurted, uncaring yet slightly irked in his sharp brown eyes.
Sakura grimaced awkwardly as she sweatdropped. Shikamaru has been grumpy for an entire week because Tsuyu has been a target on the lazy ninja, giving him so many problems. It's obvious to say that Tsuyu dislikes Shikamaru. And as for Shikamaru, well, the feeling is mutual.
The Jounin stopped in the small area. "Let's take a break." He announced to his students as he set his backpack on the ground. Shikamaru helps Sakura lead to the large stump and Sakura sat on top of it. Choji sat on the ground next to Sakura. "Shikamaru, let's go find some water to fill up." Asuma ordered while taking the empty flasks.
The lazy ninja nods his head, he took his and Sakura's flask which Sakura smiles with grateful. They both walked out of the area into the woods to search for the water. Choji glanced up at Sakura with thoughtful. "Shikamaru cares about you."
Sakura startled by this as she didn't expect to hear that from rotund ninja. "Excuse me?"
Choji smiles softly. "I never see Shikamaru willingly to help you, Sakura. It always pains and drag for him, but with you… I never have seen Shikamaru's caring side before. Not like that." Choji explained then grabbed a few of his chips. "He never really shows his sides often nor in public. But he seems to trust you enough to show you his personality." He threw his snack in his mouth and chews.
Slowly, pink blushes appeared on Sakura's cheeks as she never thinks that she has any effect toward a lazy-ass ninja but then his whispers appeared through her head. "That's what teammates are for, Cherry."
Sakura smiles gently. "I guess… teammates are supposed to trust each other." Choji nodded his head, agreed with a calm smile.
.
.
.
Meanwhile…
Asuma and Shikamaru found the spring lake as they filled water into flasks quietly. Then, once they are done with their task, they start walking back to the area through the woods. "So…" the Jounin glanced at his lazy student. "I've noticed that you and Sakura are getting close." He grinned widely with interest.
Shikamaru snorted as he glances away, unamused. "She has a sprained ankle. She needs help." He mumbled.
Asuma chuckled as he caught Shikamaru's small pink painted on his cheeks. 'How intriguing.' "I see." He responds, decided to let it drop and watch it from now on.
When they arrived back at the area, they froze in shocked when they saw torn backpacks, items are spread across the ground and even some of the objects are stolen. Sakura and Choji are missing. Shikamaru dart in as he glanced around in worried in hope to spot his best friend and pink-haired ninja. He gritted his teeth when his sharp brown eyes found an unfinished bag of chips on the dirt ground. "They got ambushed!"
Asuma carefully examined his surroundings with serious grim on his face. "I might know where the bandits are." He sharply turned around, ran off and Shikamaru immediately followed his sensei. "There have been rumors about bandits around this area that kidnapped people and stolen items." The Jounin continued.
The lazy ninja shot his disbelieved glanced at Asuma. "Then why did we stopped for a rest in that area where it possibly for bandits kidnapped people?!" he snapped.
Asuma frowned deeply with concerned and guilty. "Honestly, I didn't think they are still active. The rumors were only a few months old." He should've checked his surroundings, check to make sure the resting area is safe for his students, but instead he got a little too laidback. He swore not to make that kind of mistake again in the future, he despises to put his students in danger.
As they jumped up in the tree, run branches to branches quickly until they halted, hidden in the leaves that branches provide. Below them, there's a group of bandits and two ninjas who are tied up in the back. Shikamaru took out his kunai quickly and quietly. "What's the plan?"
"We attack them." Asuma said with a bitter sharp grinned. He does not like to see his students tied up, like some kind of lambs that is ready to throw a cage of lions.
Shikamaru nearly falls anime style and sweatdropped at his sensei's bold plan of action. Asuma leaned down to his lazy student. "I'll distract them, you go released your teammates." Shikamaru nods his head with understanding.
He waited for his cue as he watched Asuma jumped over the other tree and make noises that attracted the bandits' men. They immediately followed the noises with their weapons in their hands. One they are out of sights, Shikamaru jumped down and runs to his teammates who smiles at him with relief.
"Thank goodness you're here!" Sakura whispered happily while Choji nodded his head with a wide smile. Shikamaru bends down as he has his kunai out then stared at them with curiosity.
"How in the world did you two troublesome got kidnapped?" he wondered and much to his surprise when Sakura changed her emotion to angry glared at Choji who looked sheepishly guilty. "Because of this idiot… we got kidnapped."
.
.
.
[Flashback]
Sakura hummed to herself while digging through her bag. Searching for her foods until she paused with a confused frowned. "That's weird… I could've sworn that I packed a couple of riceballs in here?" from the corner of her lime-green eyes, Choji stiffed action made her suspicious.
The pink-haired ninja dropped her bag next to her on the ground as she turned her head to Choji. "Did you steal my lunch?" her eyes narrowed sharply dangerously when she noticed his sweating nervously.
"N-no." Choji shook his head quickly as he answered fast.
Sakura huffed with doubtful. "Akimichi, Choji!" Choji flinched when he heard his pink-haired teammate's scolded tone.
"You can't take someone's lunch without permission!" Sakura frowned with disappointment as her hands placed on her hips.
Hehe, then should we take you both with your permission?"
Sakura and Choji jerked around in an unpleasant surprise when they saw a group of huge men that clearly bandits. Sakura's eyes widen then sharpen as she clicked her tongue harshly. 'Damn! I can't do anything since my ankle is sprained. But Choji!' she mused, her lime-green eyes lit when she turned to her rotund teammate. But sweatdropped with disbelieved at Choji who is shaking with fear while wolfing down his chips quickly. "Now it's not the time to eat, Choji!" Sakura whispered to him, worried and panicked.
One of the men grabbed Choji's scarf to pulled as the rotund ninja dropped his bag od chip with frightening. Sakura jerked forward as she grabbed her teammate's forearm. "Let him go!" she snapped at the man who dared pulled Choji.
However, the bandit group released their nasty guffawed while Sakura was distracted when one of the large men grabbed her shoulders back. Sakura yelped in shock but then attempt to struggle, fight her way out. Unfortunately, he was too strong.
Choji gulped nervously. "P-please don't hurt us!"
The large, biggest man who seems to be a leader grinned hungrily at them. "Then you both better promises to stay quiet and come with us, willingly?"
"YES!" Choji bobbled his head so fast.
Sakura turned her head to her rotund teammate with disbelieved. "Choji!" she gapped at him. 'Great! Just great… we need Asuma-sensei and Shikamaru!' she mused, pleaded them to return as soon as possible. She and Choji obviously need to be rescued from these large men.
[End of Flashback]
.
.
.
Shikamaru sweatdropped. "Troublesome." He mumbled; he slashed the ropes around his teammates with his kunai. Choji stood on his feet quickly and Shikamaru helped Sakura onto hers. They all have their weapons out, prepare to defend themselves against the bandits.
Before the Genins knew, they are surrounded by large men and Asuma appeared by his students' side in the circle with a sharp playful grinned.
"Okay, time for action!" Asuma who is rather gleefully kicked the man who flew away in the distance. While the Genins started threw their kunais and shurikens.
Choji runs toward one of the men with his two kunais out, however, the man smirked evilly wide as he brings out his giant nailed bat. Choji froze at the sight of the weapon, he turned around calmly as he held up his palm. "Wrong target." He stated peacefully, then run off as far away as possible from the enemy with a giant bat who ran after rotund ninja.
Sakura facepalmed by rotund ninja. 'Seriously, why Choji?' then her attention turned to her enemy who threw a bunch of needles which she dodged and blocked with her kunai. Shikamaru stays close to his pink-haired teammate since she is still injured, so he watched her back and protect her from any strays throwing weapons and enemies.
They have been fighting for a while until Shikamaru clicked his tongue, irritated. 'They are so troublesome! They just won't give up.' His eyes twitched.
Then a giant man picked up the abandoned log, carried it above his head as he shouted in battle cried. He threw the log toward Genins, Shikamaru quickly grabbed Choji's scarf as Asuma wrapped his arms around his pink-haired student. They dodged the large log who hit against the ground, dirt smokes flew in the air. Asuma landed on the far left side as he gently put Sakura on the ground while Shikamaru is far right with Choji's scarf in hand as Choji is slightly dizzy.
"This is taking too damn long." Shikamaru grumbled as he glared at the man. He held up his signature sign. "Shadow Possession no Jutsu!" his shadow expands toward the large man and immediately latched onto the enemy's shadow. Trapped the enemy.
The lazy ninja smirked slightly victory. "Shadow Possession. Succeed."
Asuma chuckled gleefully as he darts toward the last leader of a bandit and punched his face before Shikamaru released his shadow. The large man rolled his eyes back as he stumbled back and fell into the lake. Water splashes everywhere as the sunset dancing downward to the Earth.
The Jounin nodded his head with satisfaction as he turned back to his students with a proud grinned. Shikamaru pushed his hands into his pockets with lazily smirked while Sakura beamed at her teammates, and Choji opened his new bag of a chip to celebrate.
"Alright, now it's time to go home." Asuma said and his students perked up with excitement and relief that they can go back to their familiar home.