Yeah, I know.
Another new chapter already? *gasp*
Hehe, thanks for favs, follows, and reviews.
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~ :)
Location: Konohagakure no Sato
Konoha Hospital
Team Ten has returned to their village and Sakura was excused by Asuma to head in the hospital to have her ankle check. The pink-haired ninja watched her team walking ahead, toward the Hokage tower with a mission report. Sakura turned around, limping down the road that leads to the hospital. She hummed softly to herself. 'It's been a month since we left and now… it feels so weird.' She mused; it was some experiences for her. Never would she think that she was gone for the entire month, away from her home village. 'Is this how otou-san feel? Whenever he left for his business?'
When she arrived at the front of the Konoha Hospital. The pink-haired ninja limping through the opened entrance doors, through the lobby to the front desk, where the nurse is sitting behind. "Excuse me?" the nurse paused her work, glanced up and smile professionally at her.
"Yes, how can I help you?"
Sakura smiles sheepishly. "I believe I may have sprained my ankle during my mission." She explained as she favors her other leg. Sakura doesn't want to make her ankle worse.
The nurse nodded her head understanding. She picked up the clipboard of form and a pen with it. "Please fill these out and come back here. We will make an appointment for you."
"Okay." Sakura grabbed the clipboard and the pen not unkindly, limping to one of the empty chairs that are pressed against the wall and sat down. 'Alright, now to fill this out…' she quickly read the questions. 'Haruno, Sakura. Born in March twenty-eight. Female. Twelve years old. 148.5 cm height. 35.4 kg weight. Blood type is O. Born and raises in Konohagakure no Sato. Civilian child. Kunoichi. Ninja registration is zero-one-two-six-zero-one.' She filled out a lot of N/A when there's allergies, disabilities, and curse.
Before the pink-haired girl knew, she finished the form with her signature and stood on her uninjured foot and limping back to the front desk. "I'm done." The nurse grabbed the form and placed it in front of her. She grabbed the folder and opened it.
It took a while, but when Sakura got her appointment that will start less than thirty minutes. She sat back down on the same chair, waiting for the doctor to arrive. Sakura heard the loud cough that caught her attention. Her lime-green eyes scanned around and spotted a young man who had short brown hair, dark-colored eyes, and dark markings under his eyes. There are lines under his eyes, and he seems to keep cough horribly. He wore the standard Konoha shinobi outfit that complete with a Leafe hitai-ate as a bandanna, flak jacket, and regular shinobi sandals. A hit of slight compassion for the young man who looks very miserable and exhausted.
Sakura shifted her lime-green eyes, scanned a few ninjas and children in the waiting room area. When a doctor arrived, he called out her name and she stood up and limping to him. Sakura followed the doctor down the hallway into one of the empty rooms.
The pink-haired girl sat on the bed with her leg up as the doctor scrutinized her sprained ankle.
Turns out that, she needs to go easy on her ankle and use crutches for a couple of days. Much to her relief.
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Team Saku-Shika-Cho
Arc I: Bloom, Deer, & Butterfly
Chapter Five
"Learning New Skill"
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Location: Hokage Tower
Next Day
Team Ten is standing in front of the Hokage in the mission room with few scrolls on the desk. The Third Hokage examined the D-Rank missions on the mission scroll with thoughtful. "Today your mission is to babysit the councilor's dog." He said as he glanced at the corner of the room where the door is.
One of the ninjas went fetch the client and return with the said client followed behind. A councilor woman who has dirty brown hair that reached to her shoulders with side bangs, soft brown eyes, pale flawless skin, and she wears a simple pink sundress with white sandals. She is holding a white chihuahua in her arms. "Hello, my name is Omura, Yumiko and this is my darling dog. His name is Poochie Boo-Boo." She makes kissing face to her dog while everyone in the room sweatdropped at the awkward display affection. Then Yumiko took out a folded paper from her purse to Sakura.
The pink-haired girl gently takes the paper as Yumiko explained. "This is the list that Poochie Boo-Boo must be properly taken care of right." She pecked her lovely dog, and gently placed her dog into unwillingly Shikamaru's arms. "I'll be back in a couple of hours." Yumiko smiles widely at the Team Ten with a wave and left the office.
Sakura, Shikamaru, and Choji stared down at the dog while Asuma chuckled awkwardly. "Alright then, let's head out, shall we?"
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When they walked out of the Hokage Tower, Asuma turned to his students with a careful grinned. "I got some business to take care of so… I'll see you three later." He disappeared in his Jounin speed somewhere, leaving his students to babysit a dog.
"Troublesome… we're taking care of a rat dog." Shikamaru grumbled while Sakura and Choji glance at each other with amused and concerned. The lazy ninja glared at the shaking white chihuahua in his arms.
Sakura slowly unfolded the paper as best as she could with crutches underneath her armpits. She read the list out loud. "Take him out for a thirty minutes' walk, however, avoid woods, stores, cats, and dogs." She glanced at Poochie Boo-Boo and noted the dog is wearing a light baby-blue collar with a leash. "He has a leash on already so, we can take him on a walk now." She suggested.
Shikamaru set a white chihuahua down on the ground, stood up with a baby-blue leash in his hands. Choji couldn't help but blurt. "Why does Omura-san name her dog, Poochie Boo-Boo?" he asked with curiosity. He would never name his pets such an embarrassing name if he decided to adopt one.
Sakura just shrugged her shoulders while Shikamaru is obviously bored as if he cares about the name. They started to walk and noticed that Poochie Boo-Boo hops forward. Hmm, interesting dog.
Choji grabbed his snack and start munching on as usual. The pink-haired ninja attempted to read the list as she uses her crutches. "It also said that Poochie Boo-Boo has to take a bath, brush his fur a hundred times, a proper meal, and a nap." She barely finished reading the list.
"Why…" the lazy ninja glanced at Sakura with annoyance. "…would a rat dog needs to be treated like royalty?" he asked, bewildered.
Sakura just shrugged her shoulders with a resigned smile weakly. "I don't know…" Choji shook his head, clueless as well.
After thirty minutes of walk, Team Ten took Poochie Boo-Boo to the Hot Spring. Sakura sat on the bench outside of the Hot Spring, waiting with Shikamaru next to her while Choji takes the dog for a bath. Two teammates lean against the back of the bench, quietly while Shikamaru's eyes are on the cloudy sky.
The pink-haired ninja noticed that her lazy-ass teammate always stares at the sky and she never knew why. So, she decided to take this opportunity to ask him. "Why do you always watch the sky?" she asked, curious and confused.
Shikamaru hummed softly. "I envious them."
Sakura furrowed her eyebrows with puzzled. Her lime-green eyes shifted up at the sky, watching the white fluffy clouds moving in different shapes. "Why?" she asked again, wondering with her eyes on the unusual shape that made her think of a crown.
"Freedom. No stress, no trouble, and no expectation." Shikamaru muttered, answered calmly. Sakura glanced over to a lazy ninja, listening. "All I can do is be envious and admire the clouds." He sighed softly, longing.
Sakura stared at him then a small smile appeared on her face. "Oi…" she poked Shikamaru's arm who turned his attention on her. "…if you were a cloud, I wouldn't have met you, Pineapple." She jokily said.
The lazy ninja scoffed gently as his eyes shifted back to the sky. "Guess not, I wouldn't have met a troublesome woman who happened to hate cherries but her name meaning was Cherry Blossom, Cherry." He smirked lazily.
Sakura pouted sulkily at him as she crossed her arms. "I told you before. My parents named me that because of my hair color!" she looked away, childishly.
The lazy ninja chuckled amusedly. Then they continue watching the drifting clouds in the clear blue sky quietly. After about fifteen minutes or so, Choji walked out with a soaking chihuahua in his arms. Sakura sweatdropped at her rotund teammate. "You supposed to dry him before you left him out." She enlightens Choji who looked sheepish.
Shikamaru groaned loudly. "What a drag. Give me the damn rat dog and a towel." He grumbled, Choji gladly handed the white chihuahua into Shikamaru's arms and head back inside the Hot Spring to grab a guest towel.
"I'll brush his fur." Sakura volunteered with amused.
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Two Hours Later…
"Oh my darling Poochie Boo-Boo!" Yumiko hugged her chihuahua happily while Poochie Boo-Boo gives his owner kisses on her face. Team Ten just stared at the woman with indifferent faces. Shikamaru has grown to dislike the dog when it threw up the food on his pants, it nearly took him half an hour to wash it off since it was too troublesome for him to walk all the way to his house just to change his pants.
Yumiko handed her amount of cash to the Third Hokage. "Thank you." She said with grateful and left the room with her beloved pet.
Silence in the room until Hokage cleared his throat and picked up his scroll. "Alright, now to your next mission." He glanced a few available options. "…is to repair the farm by the rice field."
Choji frowned deeply, nearly appalled. "That's like five miles from here." He whined as his hand digs inside his pouch, searching for his snack.
Asuma chuckled with a sweatdropped. "We'll ta—"
"Wait." Shikamaru speaks up with disapproval. "We really can't take this mission; this troublesome woman has sprained ankle and the doctor informed her to take an easy for a day or so." Plus, he really doesn't want his troublesome pink-haired teammate to make her ankle worst which means, he and Choji will have to work harder and longer.
Asuma smirked with interestedly amuse at his lazy student. 'He may be a genius but he's really dense when he actually cares for her.' He mused; he can obviously see now that Shikamaru is developing a crush on a pink-haired kunoichi.
Sakura was torn either to hit him for calling her troublesome woman in front of the Third Hokage or be grateful that he cars about her. 'Or maybe it's too troublesome for him to do more work to repair the farm.' She mused, amused. It wouldn't be too far off the mark.
The Third Hokage smiles with understanding yet his eyes lit twinkles. "Alright, then you can take the order from the dango shop called Oishi Oishi Dango for the elder client. Minami, Yoko. She's paralyzed from the waist down and her nurse is at the hospital in the meantime. Just bring it to her and you're all done for the mission after. ANBU will take care of the money." He explained, calmly.
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Team Ten finished a simple and quick mission since Yoko only lived a block away from Oishi Oishi Dango shop. Asuma left to inform the Hokage about the successful mission and Choji has to leave since his relatives are coming to visit.
And only Sakura and Shikamaru are free as they are walking on the semi-busy road peacefully. The pink-haired kunoichi glanced at her lazy-ass teammate from the corner of her eyes. 'I should thank him.' She decided and opened her mouth. "Thanks for not putting me in a difficult mission." She said, with a thankful smile.
"It's too troublesome to do all the work." Shikamaru shrugged his shoulders as he shoves his hands into his front pockets, lazily.
Sakura giggled with knowing eyes. 'That's what I thought. It's really is troublesome for him for doing the hard work.' She mused, amusing.
The lazy ninja raised his eyebrow at her with a question. He watched Sakura who attempted to cover up her giggles, but it was futile. "What's wrong with you, woman?" 'Has she gone on crack?' he guesses himself with curious and confused.
Sakura shook her head. "It's nothing, Pineapple." She smiles with the playful tone of her favorite nickname for Shikamaru.
The lazy ninja stared at her blankly then he grabbed one of her crutches. Sakura yelped in surprised as she held onto her other crutch and stared at her lazy teammate in stunned. "Tell me." He demanded, he doesn't like any cryptic answers and it's such pain in the ass for him to figure it out.
The pink-haired kunoichi couldn't help but amuse. 'He's acting like a kid, throwing a silly childish tantrum.' She held her amusement as she refuses to tell him what she was thinking. She has a feeling he might take her other crutch. So, Sakura put on a fake innocent face with a big smile. "What do you ever mean, Pineapple-kun?" she asked in a girly child-like voice.
Shikamaru groaned. 'Who knew this chick refuses to answer when it's only a simple question…' he reached his free hand at the back of his neck and rubbed slightly annoyed yet amuse. "You are troublesome…" he blurted, and Sakura winked at him playfully.
Then, suddenly a loud booming familiar voice heard.
"SAKURAAAA-CHHHHAAANNNN!" Shikamaru and Sakura cringed at the loudness from a very recognizable voice that they certainly do not miss.
A blur of yellow and orange appeared in front of her and her teammate. Sakura sweatdropped as Shikamaru stare blankly at Uzumaki, Naruto. Naruto is completely messed. His blonde hair is dripping wet like a mop, his orange jumpsuits are covered with ripped, muds, leaves, and his bare skin has few scratches.
"Hey, Sakura-chan!" Naruto waved at his crush with a sunny grin on his face. "I haven't seen you for like, a month! I even came by your house, but your mom told me you were away on a mission! I thought that was awesome! Your sensei must be cooler than my sensei because my sensei always accept lame stupid D-Rank missions! I never left the village before, so I wonder what it is like outside of this village! And this stupid mission doesn't even help me to become a better ninja! Stupid Sasuke-teme always gets the spotlight and Ino is SO ANNOYING when she won't stop gushing and staring at Sasuke-teme! Seriously! I don't get why everyone is all Sasuke-teme this, Sasuke-teme that! ARG! And my sensei is ALWAYS late! Making up lame excuses when it's OBVIOUSLY A LIE! Even I can lie better than THAT! Oh and..." as he continued blabbering on while Pineapple and Cherry stared at him with bewildered and confused.
The knucklehead ninja chatting so fast that it's ridiculous to the point that Shikamaru and Sakura are completely lost. The pink-haired girl leaned to Shikamaru. "Do you get anything he is saying?" she whispered in "I'm-so-lost" tone.
"It's a drag to catch on." Shikamaru whined quietly and Sakura sweatdropped.
And amazingly, Naruto still continues. "…and now we have to catch a stupid cat!" he paused then his sky-blue eyes lit up. "Which reminds me! Have you seen an ugly terror brown cat with a pink bow on its ear?" he asked with curiosity and hope.
Sakura and Shikamaru exchanged their glances with acknowledging. They recognized the description of a cat. They even remembered the name, Toru.
"No, I haven't seen the cat." Sakura answered with a slight guilty half-smile. I wish she could help but she doesn't have any knowledge of where Toru is currently at.
Naruto sighed loudly with disappointment. "I see, well I got to go." He sends her his happy grinned. "See ya, Sakura-chan!" then he sprinted off, leaving the trail of smoke behind.
Quiet appeared between two ninjas until Shikamaru sighed.
"Troublesome, that car ran away again."
"I don't blame, Toru. The owner was suffocated out of that poor cat."
"Aa."
Another silence until Sakura opened her mouth.
"Pineapple…"
"What, Cherry?"
"Give me my crutch back."
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Later…
The pink-haired girl smile at her teammate with gratefulness. "Thanks for escorting me home." They are standing in front of Sakura's house.
Shikamaru observed the building that is Haruno Resident with semi-interested. "Sure." He replied lazily. His sharp brown eyes watched Sakura hop with her crutches when her hand reaches for the doorknob, he called out to her. "Cherry…" Sakura paused, she glanced over her shoulder with curious. Shikamaru scratches his cheek idly with his index finger. "Since you learned the climbing tree method…" his eyes glanced around awkwardly then shifted to her lime-green eyes. "After your ankle is all heal… I can teach you the water surface walking method." He offered as he dropped his hand.
The pink-haired girl's lime-green eyes glow of excitement as her smile bloom beautifully and warmly. Shikamaru didn't notice that his heart skips a beat by her reaction. "I can't wait for that! Thank you, Shikamaru!" the lazy ninja's cheeks got flustered in red color when Sakura said his name with such sincere and soft. "Good night!" she waves friendly, opened the door and walked inside of her home.
Shikamaru cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Yeah… night…" he mumbled while staring at the closed front door. 'What was that all about?' he doesn't understand why he is so flustered when Sakura said his name. Everyone said his name all the time, but then why was he feeling different when it comes to Sakura? 'Arg! This is so troublesome. I swear that woman is full of puzzles!' he sighed as he pushed his hands in his pockets out of habit, turned around, and walk down the path that would lead all the way to his home.
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Four Days Later…
A pink-haired girl placed her hands on her hips with irritated as her eyes twitch nonstop at the lazy-ass teammate of hers who's been laying on the ground, napping. He hasn't taught her the 'water surface walking' method yet because of D-Rank missions and exercises. However, she is annoyed because her ankle is completely healed two days ago and Shikamaru kept making excuses and whined about how tired he was.
However, this time is different. It's one of those days when there is no mission day and Sakura is taking that advantage to bring her lazy-ass teammate to teach her the new skill. And she won't take any refuses nor excuses this time. "Pineapple!" Sakura snapped as she taps her foot.
Shikamaru opened his one eye at her then close it. "What do you want, woman?" Sakura twitches as she attempted to control her temper.
"I want to learn how to do water surface walking method." She asked, nicely with a sharp smile as a small irked vein popped on her forehead.
Shikamaru sighed heavily. "Fine." He opened his eyes and sat up while rolled his neck.
Sakura blinked as she didn't expect that a lazy ninja gives in fast this time but didn't complain because he will finally teach her.
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Location: River Fallen
Shikamaru and Sakura arrived at the River Fallen through the woods. The forest was tremendous, bright, and budding. Its canopy was completed for by spruce, yew, and crab apple, and rays of light bursting through their crowns allowed for a medley pf sprouts to grow in the boulder covered grounds below. Coiling creepers dangled from the occasional tree, and a mishmash of flowers, which were seen occasionally, spruced up the otherwise amber terrain. A discord of beastly sounds, most belonged to insects, echoed in the air, and were backed by the trickling sounds of a gentle river stream. In the very distance, there's a roaring of waterfall heard. All in all, River Fallen is a beautiful play to visit for relaxation and peace.
Sakura recalled visited this place twice with her parents for a picnic when she was a little girl before she enrolled in Ninja Academy. 'Its been so long… maybe I can convince my parents to have another picnic again soon?' she mused with a nostalgic smile.
"Okay…" he pink-haired kunoichi turned her attention to Shikamaru who looked at her with a serious face. "This training is a little bit difficult. But it wouldn't be too troublesome for you since you did mastered tree climbing method in other few hours." He overlooks at Sakura's appearance. "First, I suggest you remove your holster and your pouch."
Sakura nods her head as she obeyed. She took off her holster and her pouch, to set it down on the ground near the tree. Then she turned her attention to her lazy teammate. "Alright… to understand this method. The user has to be emitting a constant stream of chakra from the bottom of their feet and using the repellent force to walk across the water's surface." He crossed his arms. "This technique needs to use the amount of chakra that can emit changes constantly." Sakura hummed with intrigue and Shikamaru decided to demonstrate for her.
The lazy ninja walked to the edge of the river while Sakura tilted her head with curiosity. When Shikamaru used his chakra, then start walking on the moving water until he halts in the middle of the river while Sakura's eyes widen in amazed and awe.
She immediately used her jutsu and feel the chakra pooled around her feet. When she is at the edge of the river, she carefully places her foot on the water, wobbly. Then placed her other foot on it and control her balance. Slowly, she walks carefully on the shifting river and a smile grew on her face.
Shikamaru is impressed with her by her perfect chakra control once again. 'Not bad. Mostly everyone would fall for their first tim—'
SPLASH!
'Ah… guess her chakra isn't that unusual but she will become stronger if she practices her chakra control often.' He mused as watched his pink-haired teammate came out of the surface. "Remember, the water is different. Nothing solid like a tree." Shikamaru reminded Sakura.
Sakura swam to the edge, climbed out of the river and slipped off her soaked sandals. She turned around and try again.
SPLASH!
'Guess it's going to take a while.' Shikamaru walked back on the land, sat down with his elbow rest against his knee while his chin placed on his palm. His sharp brown eyes watching her training in slight amuse and boredom.
SPLASH!
Ten minutes later…
SPLASH!
Fifteen minutes later…
SPLASH!
Twenty-five minutes later…
SPLASH!
Forty minutes later…
SPLASH!
An hour later…
Sakura wheezing while placing her hands on her knees, she is so tired that she's nearly low on charka. Her lime-green eyes took a quick peek at her lazy-ass teammate. His eyes are completely focused on the clouds. 'Damn it! What did I do wrong? This shouldn't be that hard unless I'm missing something?' she mused with a confused frown on her face. She could feel her hitai-ate loosened around her head. Suddenly, the realization hit her. 'Wait a second! That's it! My chakra needs to balance both of my feet but I didn't think about the weight I have on me. I was so focused on my feet on the constant water without aware of the extra weight I have. That's why I kept failing to stand on the water.' She is so satisfied when she finally figured out what's the problem during her training.
Sakura gave herself a mental pat on her back, and gently took off her hitai-ate and set it on the ground near her holster and pouch along with her sandals. She took off her soaked Chinese shirt and drape over the low branch for air drying, then slipped off her soaked leggings and hang it over next to her shirt. Luckily, she is left with a black sports bra with mesh that covered her toned abdomen and black boy-short underwear.
The pink-haired girl walked to the edge of the river and took a breather. 'Please let this be work.' She pleaded, and hope then carefully, and slowly she walks cautiously on the water. And before she knew, she finally mastered her water surface walking method. A big smile broke her face as she turned her attention to Shikamaru with enthusiasm. "I did it!" she shouted with delighted.
Shikamaru's sharp brown eyes shifted to her then dumbfounded at the sight of her appearance. Sakura tilted her head with curious and confused but still have a cheerful smile on her face. "What is it?" she is wondering why is her lazy-ass teammate staring her like that? Surely, it's normal to take two to three hours to master this skill when ninjas have perfect chakra control, right? So, why is he staring at her like that?
Slowly, pink tints appeared on his cheeks. "Wha…" he cleared his throat. "Why you…." He coughed awkwardly as he waved at her sudden change of appearance, unable to form words.
Sakura is clearly oblivious of what he is trying to say. "Why what?" she tilted her head slightly with confused.
Shikamaru left his head fall on his hands. 'Is she seriously joking with me, right now?' he peeks through his fingers as he read her emotion. 'Shit, she is not joking.' He mused with disbelieved. Once again, he is speechless now that he realized his pink-haired teammate is naïve and innocent in that certain type of area. 'I thought kunoichi was aware of the seductive? Didn't a female teacher teach her that in Kunoichi Class?' he mused, with a confused frown on his face.
The pink-haired kunoichi pouted as she is starting to feel slightly disappointed that he didn't praise her nor acknowledge her. Since he is too busy thinking whatever is more interesting through his mind. Sakura tutted as she scowled at the river below her, she can see her reflection of the water until an idea popped in her head. Slowly, a cat-like smirked appeared on her face. 'Guess this could be more fun.' She mused, she walked close to the edge where Shikamaru isn't too far.
Sakura used her extra chakra on her foot to make a large splash of water toward a certain shadow-user.
SPLASH!
The pink-haired girl burst out in laughter as she skipped back when she saw how soaked Shikamaru is. The lazy-ass ninja blinked in astonished and confused in completely soaked head-to-toe. Then his sharp brown eyes glared at the criminal who whistles away, innocently. He scoffed. "You're on." He stood up on his feet, slipped off his sandals and took off his short-sleeves jacket. Then he took off his pants, left with the dark green boxer on, and took his mesh shirt and dropped it a pile of wet clothes next to him.
Sakura couldn't stray her lime-green eyes away from Shikamaru's muscles chest and…
'A SIX PACK ABS?!' her inner shouted in electrified shocked as Sakura felt hot flustered with uncontrollable blushes appeared on her cheeks at the sight. She always daydreams what does Sasuke-kun's look like with his abs. She has expected that Sasuke-kun might have abs, but she didn't expect that her lazy-ass teammate who always complains about missions, training, and sleep everywhere whenever he took an opportunity.
Who would've thought that Shikamaru is a better realistic version than her imagination of Sasuke-kun. And it's Shikamaru that she's having a hard time believe it. However, her lime-green eyes hungrily examined her teammate's muscles and abs. 'But it's real, alright.' She admitted to herself then her eyes shifted up to his face.
Shikamaru stood in front of the edge. "Troublesome woman, you have no idea what you got yourself into." He warned her with lazily smirked.
Sakura mentally attempted to shake off her red face. She cleared her throat and got in her defensive stance. "Bring it on." she dared him, waiting for his action first with caution. Her eyes narrowed with suspicion as he is standing quietly. 'He's too calm. He must have a plan…' her eyes quickly glanced down, jumped back when she saw a shadow almost touch hers.
Shikamaru clicked his tongue disappointed. "You're pretty sharp, woman." He acknowledged that as he slipped onto the water then smirked at her as if he's been waiting for her to do that.
Before the pink-haired knew, she felt ominous behind her and she jerked her head behind her in stunned to see a form of a claw-like shadow. It tackled around her body and Sakura is completely frozen. "Shadow Strike. Succeed." Shikamaru huffed loudly.
The pink-haired kunoichi noticed that his jutsu, this certain type seems nearly took all his chakra. Her lime-green eyes widen with surprise as her jaw dropped when Shikamaru walks toward her. She doesn't even copy his action as her eyes filled with questions and curiosity. 'Isn't shadow-user supposed to trap other's shadow in possession by their own control with their hands? How is this jutsu different? How am I still trapped by this shadow?' she mused with awe.
When Shadow stopped in front of her as he dropped his sign hands and poke his pink-haired teammate's forehead. "You lose." He said with a lazily grinned.
"How?" Sakura asked with curious.
Shikamaru sighed, feeling wary. "This is Shadow Strike, it's extremely rare jutsu in Nara Clan." He informed then slumped his shoulders. "It's so troublesome that my old man forced me to do this pain in the ass jutsu." He complained and Sakura sweatdropped. "Ever since I graduated, he gave me the Nara's Scroll of Secret Shadow that's been passed down for generation. That old man couldn't master this jutsu because he didn't figure it out the puzzles of a complex between the chakras and elements of shadows." He rubbed the back of his neck as he rolled his shoulders. "My grandfather couldn't do it either. So far, only two Nara men can do this jutsu, they are my great grandfather and my great uncle." Shikamaru explained in a dull monotone.
"And you can do it too." Sakura said with amaze as she is fascinated by Nara Clan's ability.
Shikamaru just shrugged his shoulders with an indifferent face. "It's a drag though. It eats only about seventy-five percent of my chakras. That's why I don't use this jutsu… probably use it when it's absolutely needed." He tilted his head as he dropped his hand. "Also, I thought I grab this opportunity to test it."
Sakura narrowed her eyes at him, irked that he used her as his test subject for his jutsu. 'So, that's why he joined this little fight… he just wants to test his jutsu on me. Jerk.' She grumbled mentally.
"It should be wearing off now…" as on cue, the shadow left Sakura's body as she blinked once again. She watched her lazy teammate walked back to the land, sat on the ground and yawned.
Sakura followed Shikamaru's action and sat next to him with her legs curled to her chest and her cheek rest against her knees with her arms around her legs. "Isn't your jutsu supposed to trapped me about five to ten minutes? Why does your Shadow Strike last three minutes?" she asked with confusion.
The lazy ninja leaned back with his hands behind her as his sharp brown eyes stared up at the cloudy sky. "According to the information, it takes quite an amount of charkas to use Shadow Strike jutsu. And since I just recently learned this, my chakra is a limit of three minutes. My great grandfather can use about thirty minutes and my great uncle can use it for two hours." Sakura engrossed with his Nara Clan's history. "It takes a long training to master this Shadow Strike… and it's pain in the ass to do it every day to train." He yawned once again.
The pink-haired girl just realized that she is learning her teammate's secrets and history of his clan to an outsider. She bit her lips with concern. "Are you supposed to tell me all this?" she lifted her head, glanced around in caution as she is feeling guilty attempt to pry into the secret of his clan.
Shikamaru raises his eyebrows at her. "I don't mind telling you, it's not like you'll go blabber about it to the entire world like that troublesome blondie woman." He stated as a fact, then lay down back on the ground with arms folded behind his head.
Sakura hid her smiles when she got his invisible message. "I trust you." And that made her feel warm.
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Later…
Sakura hummed softly to herself as she is walking on the road with her fully dry clothes back on. Shikamaru had to leave since his mother wants him home early or else, she'll beat his ass. 'His mother seems a little vicious.' Sakura sweatdropped. '…but Shikamaru helped me master two skills now… tree climbing method and water surface walking. Hmm, he didn't have to do that, but he did. Maybe I can give him something just to thank him… like a batch of cookies?' Sakura frowned. 'No, Choji will steal it.' She mused, thinking deeply about what she can give a certain cloud-watcher's gift.
The pink-haired ninja almost bumps into someone and she halted. Before she could apologize on reflex, she stopped when she saw her rival, Ino.
Ino smirked haughtily at Sakura. "Well, well… if it isn't forehead girl." She places her hands on her hips. Sakura frowned at her as Ino continued. "I haven't seen you in about a month and a half… hmph, not that I care. It was truly wonderful sightseeing in this village until your forehead is blocking it right now." Ino sticks her nose up.
The pink-haired ninja rolled her eyes, irritated. "Whatever Ino-pig. The atmosphere was so blissful and quiet until your squealing oink ruined it." She mockery said as she crossed her arms.
Ino huffed and examined Sakura's appearance. "And what's with the outfit? Are you trying to impress Sasuke-kun?" she scoffed.
Sakura scowled. "It's none of your business, pig. Why don't you walk away and hang out with your boar family in the forest." A rude smirked appeared on her face. "I know a couple of locations from the forest. I can lead you right to your family or instead, you could use your nose to follow the boar's s odor. That shouldn't be a problem for you, right?"
The blonde-haired kunoichi glared hatefully at Sakura who gladly sent her loathed glares back.
Then, Ino break the glared and smirked smugly. "I'll be gone with my Sasuke-kun on a real first C-Rank mission, on different land." She sticks her tongue out.
Sakura stared blankly at her. "Tch, have fun then." She sarcastically said, bumped on Ino's shoulder on purpose and walk away with fists tighten at her sides.
"Don't be too jealous! It's not like I switch the names of the team group so I could be in Sasuke-kun's team!" Ino shouted, behind Sakura who rolled her eyes once again with frustration.
'I don't care!' Sakura mused, angrily that her rival ruined her good mood.
.
.
Hokage Tower
Meanwhile…
"You did what?!" The Third Hokage frowned deeply with troubled by the news from an ANBU with eyes-closed of an owl mask.
ANBU with owl mask bowed deeply. "I apologize, Hokage-sama. Do forgive me, I know this is wrong, but Konoha Council ordered the switched and so, I do not have a choice but to obey."
The Third Hokage sighed wearily as he rubbed his exhausted face. 'So that explains why, I thought it was odd but now, it makes sense.'
"Hokage-sama, should I not have done it?" a worried heard from ANBU with owl mask.
Hokage just shook his head. "It's fine, Owl-san. Asuma is working very hard to get his students to train to become proper shinobi. He has all kinds of plans for his two certain lack of motivates students. I don't want to jeopardize that if there's a chance to switch teammates. They are making progress, slowly but it's starting." He leaned back against his comfortable chair. "As for Kakashi, he actually pays attention to his female student once in a while to aid her train and he never does that before. So, all in all… it might be the best decision." He frowned. 'Although, I do not like it when they did this behind my back.' He mused, disapproved.
ANBU with owl mask nodded his head understanding then disappeared in smokes.
The Third Hokage picked up his pipe. 'It's a shame that we won't have the second generation of Ino-Shika-Cho. Oh well, sometimes things aren't meant to be.' He muse, as his tried eyes glanced at his evil stressful paperwork on his desk that he could've sworn it grew another pile.