Part Seven
There were only six contestants left now, and as they stood before Chouji and Shikamaru, the uneven number of boys and girls became quite obvious. Even Chouji was beginning to wonder if Shikamaru would end up with a boy…
"Well," Shikamaru said, "You all did quite well in that round. However, the decision I had to make was based on not just that round, but all rounds before it as well. Therefore, I have chosen the following people to go through to today's challenge: Ino. Deidara. Temari. Naruto."
Gaara and Sai were left, both looking miserable as their hidden insecurities ate away at them.
"Gaara, you plan to have a life that ends for your people… I suppose for someone who has lived through what you have that's natural, but I don't want a partner that plans to die soon. That goes for anyone else who may be thinking that," he added, with a glance at Deidara. "Sai, your dream was a much happier one, and one that matched my own quite well. However, you are always awkward, and act strange, and I don't think you've stopped doing things from books like I told you." Sai looked down at the floor, betraying how true it was. "Gaara, you are also the type who pushes people away, always strong and silent, but in this contest I'm beginning to see a different side to you.
"Having said all of that, I have made my final choice. Gaara, you're through to this round. I'm sorry, Sai."
Sai nodded, understanding, and gathered his things quickly. On the way out, Chouji, watching from his window, saw him throw away several books, and smiled to himself. Maybe now Sai would begin to learn to be himself.
Group One
Ino brushed her hair, wondering what today's challenge would be. She was also thinking how glad she was that Shikamaru knew her well, so he knew that everything she did was genuine. Since he hated it when people tried to be something else, like Sai, she knew it would help to be herself.
Group Three
Gaara and Temari were sat on their respective beds, talking quietly.
"Do you really think I push away too much?" Gaara asked, troubled.
"A little. But it's not your fault, he knows it's not." Temari replied, simply happy that she hadn't been in the bottom two this time around.
Group Four
Naruto watched Deidara blow up the little clay model of Sai, and looked thoughtfully at the remaining ones.
"Don't you think it's strange," he said, "That out of the last five, two of them are brother and sister?"
"No," replied Deidara after some thought. "After all, he chose two jinchuriki, and two people from the sand, and two from the leaf, and two girls, so I suppose he is just choosing in pairs, somehow."
"How do you fit in to that? And there are threes, too – three guys!"
"I don't know. I guess I just don't fit in anywhere, un." Deidara replied, with a hint of sadness.
"Well," said Chouji, once everyone was assembled again, "This round is going to be about looks. We're going to a place where there are a lot of clothes… I can't disclose the location yet, but each of you will need to choose an outfit for yourself and Shikamaru. You and Shikamaru will then model the clothes in front of a panel of judges, who will decide on the winner of the challenge."
They lead the five ninjas, blindfolded, to a house where there was an extremely large closet. The judges were all sat in the hallway, waiting. As Chouji and Shikamaru removed the blindfolds, the participants all groaned.
Sat waiting were Kakashi, Iruka, Gai, and Kurenai. Chouji was the fifth judge, and the house they were in… was Gai's…
"Everyone, try your best!" he shouted with both of his thumbs up and a big smile. Chouji snorted with amusement at the look on Shikamaru's face. You could almost read the word 'troublesome' there.
After a couple of hours of waiting, the judges called in the first entry to their fashion contest, Ino. She walked out first with Shikamaru following a few paces behind.
She wore a yellow, double-layered skirt down to her knees, and on her feet black high heels raised her a little taller than usual. The vest top she wore was pink, and over that was a black top with rips across the front. She also wore a black flower on one wrist and some bangles on the other. She had dressed Shikamaru in a green jacket over a red-and-black stripped shirt and ripped jeans, which surprisingly suited him.
Gaara had decided to wear a red, long-sleeved t-shirt with a black skull logo on the front, black jeans, and a spiked belt. The finishing touch was a necklace made of a shark's tooth, the exact copy of which hung round Shikamaru's neck. This time he was wearing black, loose shorts, a white shirt with a black tie, and fashionable trainers. He looked distinctly nervous about the shorts.
Temari wore a black skirt with a red top – the same colours as her brother. Her top, however, was low-cut and had sleeves that hung from the sides of her shoulders, leaving her neck and the tops of her shoulders bare. She finished the look off with a rose-shaped choker and knee-high black boots. For Shikamaru she had chosen a black shirt, accessorised with safety pins, and black trousers, held up with a spiked belt much like the one Gaara had worn. He looked very serious in all that black. She had added a studded choker, to match her own.
Naruto wore a comfortable orange-and-black striped, long hoodie, with three-quarter length trousers and a shirt with a picture of a ninja bunny on it, that made Kakashi smile. He had chosen to dress Shikamaru in skinny jeans, a green t-shirt the same colour as his usual jacket with the same bunny logo, and a pair of black converse.
Finally, Deidara was dressed in a loose red jumper, with sleeves that almost covered the whole of his hands, and a neckline that was falling off his shoulders, and black combats. He had put Shikamaru in a sleeveless red-and-black striped, tight shirt, and marshy green pinstriped trousers with many straps and chains on them.
After they had seen all of the costumes, the judges discussed who they thought should win.
"Naruto chose well, he looked comfortable and fashionable, as did Shikamaru!" Kakashi put in.
"Yes, but, did you see what Temari chose?" Iruka argued. "He looked smart, and older."
"You're missing the point here. Shikamaru seemed best suited to Deidara, they looked good together!" Gai replied to the two of them.
"But what about Ino? She looked so pretty, and Shikamaru looked nice next to her as well." Kurenai added.
Chouji shook his head knowingly. "What about Gaara? That little touch of wearing the same necklace… it was a nice gesture, and shows he really cares!"
While the judges argued, Shikamaru looked at all the clothes he had worn, and sighed.
"Fashion is just… troublesome." He said wearily.