For now I'll take a break from the main story and cut back to what the Genin of Kohona are doing. Also, Three mysterious Ninja will appear in the end, wanting revenge. And no, this will not turn out like Chapter Nine, that horrid abomination of a writing experiment.
Chapter 37: Time off.
With out a Hokage paired with a recent attack there were barely any missions given out, and the only ones that were given were very important A and S rank missions. So the Genin of Kohona had some free time and various groups of them decided to get together and hang out.
"Hey, Sakura," Ino said walking up to Sakura in the park.
"Hey Ino, what's up?" smiled Sakura.
"Just got off of training with that lazy bastard," replied Ino.
"Oh come on, Shikamaru isn't that bad," laughed Sakura.
"You try training with him, all he does is complain about how troublesome everything is," Ino said.
"Hey guys!" said Tenten running up to them, "what's up?"
"Just listening to Ino gripe about Shikamaru again," Sakura said.
"If I didn't know any better I'd say you liked him," laughed Tenten.
"No way, he's not as good as..." she suddenly stopped herself realizing that she almost said his name.
Sakura and Tenten just got evil smiles on their faces, "Not as good as who?" they both asked.
"No body," Ino lied, starting to shake a little, afraid that they would find out her secret crush.
"Its not Shikamaru, if it was Sasuke she'd belt it out already," said Sakura pondering, "she barely knows Naruto, Shino, Neji or Lee, so that leaves Choiji and Kiba."
"You'd actually think I'd like dog breath?" Ino smiled laughing, but then she realized what she just did. She elimated Kiba as a choice.
"You like Choiji?" Sakura and Tenten laughed.
"Shut up!" Ino yelled.
"I guess he's a good choice," Sakura tried sounding sincere but failed miserably.
"I'm going home!" yelled Ino storming off.
"She'll be fine tomorrow," smiled Sakura.
"Well I'm meeting with Choiji at the Ramen Stand, so I'll see ya later," Tenten said.
"You too?" Sakura said with surprise.
"Well yeah, see ya," and with that Tenten left Sakura in a daze, How could two fall for that fat guy?
"So Shikamaru, what are your plans today?" asked Choiji.
"The usual," he replied.
"I've got me a date with Tenten," Choiji smiled happily.
"That troublesome girl?" asked Shikamaru, "Why do you care so much anyway? You seem fine just the way you are."
"Thats why, she seems to accept me for it, so I'd like to get to know her," Choiji smiled.
Shikamaru grinned a little, "Enjoy yourself then Choiji, I'll see ya later."
"See ya Shika, maybe you should find yourself a girl soon," laughed Choiji.
"To troublesome," Shikamaru said as he went to watch clouds in his usual spot.
Hinata was walking in the park. She hadn't know what to do today. She was still resting from Temari, who she really shouldn't have fought anyway. Though as she was walking she saw a familiar face talking to a squirrel, "H-hi Osaka."
"Oh, your that one girl from that Exams, aren't you?" She asked, "Hinata was it?"
"Yes," Hinata replied.
"So what ya doing?"
"J-j-ust walking around," Hinata said.
"I've got a question for you," Hinata nodded, "do you like Naruto?"
"W-w-what?" HInata turned beat red.
"Ha, I knew it," Osaka said.
"B-b-but how?" asked Hinata.
"Simple, your eyes," smiled Osaka.
"W-what do you mean my eyes?" asked Hinata.
"When I say you at the exams, anytime he wasn't looking at you you'd glance over, and start nervously looking down if he did look at you," Osaka said, "If you really like him your going to have to make a move."
"Make a move..." HInata said Quietly.
"You'll have to advance on him!" Osaka added energeticly.
"Make an advance," Hinata said in a slightly louder voice, Osaka somehow giving her confidence.
"Let him know how you feel!" Osaka was now very energetic.
"Let him know how I feel!" Hinata said in quite an up beat voice.
"Then Dump him for Lee!" Osaka yelled out with much energy.
"Dump Him for..." Hinata almost finished that sentance, caught up in Osaka's energy, "What?"
"Sorry, I wasn't suppose to say that part," Osaka said.
"W-w-whats this about Lee?" asked Hinata.
"He's just so cute," smiled Osaka, "those eye brows are a very defining feature.
Hinata, who was unsure how anyone would like Lee's eyebrows, replied with a smile, "why don't we go get something to eat?"
"Sounds good, but why?" asked Osaka.
"Um, because its around lunch time?" Hinata said, unsure if Osaka was serious.
"Oh right, does sushi sound good?" she asked.
"Alright, lets go," and Then Hinata and Osaka took off for the Sushi stand.
Kankurou was in Kohona, and he was currently stalking Shino. For a brief moment he lost him, but quickly found him again. Seeing an opportunity he sent Karasu out of the ally he was in and entagled Shino in its arms. He smiled victoriously until he felt a Kunai on the back of his neck, "Why are you back?" came Shino's voice from behind him.
"Dang it, switched yourself for the time you lost me eh?" smiled Kankurou standing up and turning to Shino, "I'll beat you soon bug boy, just you wait."
"Why are you here?" asked Shino again.
"Simple, since the sand leaf treaty is to be renewed, we were sent to help protect Kohona while the Hokage was being found. Its not much, but me and Temari were all sand could send," Kankurou explained.
"And why were you staking me?" asked Shino.
"Making sure your victory last time wasn't a fluke," Kankurou said.
"Leave me alone," Shino said as he began to walk away.
"You need to relax a bit more man," Kankurou said putting his arm around Shino's shoulder, "Lets go get some Ramen, its on me."
"Fine," Shino said. Still unsure if he could trust the puppet master.
On there way to the ramen shop on the other side of town Kankurou asked, "So how are the women in Kohona?"
"What?" asked Shino.
"How are they? Nice, feisty, crabby? Are they sexy? The ones from sand tend to look average and are always crabby. Complaining about the heat and all," Kankurou laughed about it.
"Never took the time to check," Shino said, wondering how to respond now.
"Now's a good of time as any," replied Kankurou.
Shino, now curious as to why guys are obsessed with women, decided to take Kankurou up on this sort of invitation to check out some girls.
"What do you think of her?" Kankurou asked, pointing to a Girl down the road.
"That's Ayame," Shino said looking at her. HE hadn't noticed before, but she was quite attractive, "She looks good."
"Good?" laughed Kankurou, "She's hot. Don't see ones like that running around Sand."
"What about her?" Shino said pointing to a blond with four ponytails in her hair.
"Thats my sister," Kankurou said.
"Oh," Shino felt a little awkward at that one., "I'd better take off. I'm training with father."
"See ya bug boy," said Kankurou waving him off.
"You," Sasuke said as Lee ran buy. Sasuke had a vengeful glare in his eye.
"Yes?" Lee said stopping. He quickly noticed Sasuke's hateful glare and readied himself for an attack.
"You, a guy who can't even use one ninjutsu or genjutsu defeated both me, and the one who humiliated me, Hyuuga Neji," Sasuke said, his hate beginning to rise, "how is it that you could beat a Genius like me?" Lee noticed Black markings start to move up Sasuke's neck.
"Sasuke, if you wish to be strong you can't rely on your Sharingan, you must train and work hard, that is how I gained my power," Lee slowly inched back, watching for an attack from the Uchiha.
"There will be none of that Sasuke," came the voice of Kakashi, jumping down from a tree.
The marking on Sasuke's neck began to fade away as he walked off towards the training ground.
"You must forgive Sasuke," Kakashi said, "He always worked hard to accomplish his goal, and seeing someone like you outclass him so easily has done a number on his mind."
"But if he truly did work hard, why is it that I was still much stronger?" asked Lee.
"Don't throw away your Ideal of hard Work Lee," Kakashi said, "but hard work alone will not always be able to make you as strong as you'd like. At times, like with Sasuke, something blinds your vision. Until you can overcome that, no amount of hard work will give you strength."
"Does it connect to the Uchiha massacre?" asked Lee, aware of the fall of Uchiha.
"Most likely," Kakashi said Walking away. Lee only shook his head and continued his running, hoping that Sasuke would be able to clear his vision and give Lee a real fight.
Kiba was walking around Kohona, tired from his early morning training. He was about to head to Icharuka Ramen, until Akamaru Began to bark, "So, someone from sand is near by?" Kiba smiled.
"That dog of yours has a sharp nose," came Temari's voice as she walked around a building.
"What business do you have here, Temari was it?" said Kiba.
"I'm here to help watch Kohona, you should already know that. Your dad was the one who suggested the Idea in the council," Temari smiled.
"Almost forgot that," Laughed Kiba, "but I doubt anyone will attack soon. Orichimaru took to big a hit to try attacking again."
"So whats there to do in Kohona anyway?" asked Temari.
"Not a lot really, unless you got some friends here," Kiba said.
"No wonder Kohona Nin are so strong, there's nothing to do here but train," Temari said.
Kiba only laughed at the comment, "I'm heading down to Icharuka, want to come with me?"
"Nah, never really liked Ramon. See ya later Kiba," Temari said walking off.
When she was out of sight Kiba looked down at Akamaru, "Never though I'd get to talk to such a cutie, wonder if she'd go out with me later?" Kiba shrugged off the comment and when to Icharuka.
"Hey Tenten," smiled Choiji as she sat next to him at a table. Choiji, surprisingly, was actually dressed up for the date. He had his hair done like it normally was, he had nice clothes, but not excessively nice.
"Hey Choiji, your looking good," She said sitting across from him.
"Thanks," he said blushing, "you look pretty good yourself."
"Thank you," she replied.
A waiter walked up the them, "What would you like to have?"
Choiji looked at the menu. They were sitting in a restraunt, not very fancy, but still a nice place, "I'll have the T-bone steak, a Large bowl of Beef stew, some Barbecue Ribs, Five corn on the cobs, and to Drink two large Nipponia, and what would you like Tenten?"
"I'll have a Medium bowl of the beef stew, a side of potatoes, and a medium Nipponia," she smiled.
"Wow, such little food almost makes me feel like a pig," Choiji said.
"Don't say that, eat to your hearts content," smiled Tenten.
"Wow, normally Ino would smack me for ordering so much," Choiji said happily.
"You should go hungry because someone thinks you eat to much," said Tenten.
"Its not like her beatings stopped me any way," Choiji joked. Tenten laughed at it.
About then Kiba walked in, deciding he wanted something besides Ramen. He saw Choiji sitting at the table with Tenten and decided to say hi, "hey guys what's up?"
"Not much Kiba, just waiting for our food to get here," smiled Tenten, "so what brings you here?"
"Not much, just getting some food before I go back to do some training, so you two on a date?" Kiba hoped the answer was no, as he had developed a crush on Tenten.
"Yup," Choiji smiled happily, he was almost beaming.
"I'll see ya later than, have fun," Kiba said as he ordered some food. He looked over on occasion, envious of Choiji.
Shikamaru was sitting peacefully under his tree on a small hilltop outside the city. No one ever bothered him here. He would sit in silence and stare at the clouds. However, for the first time in his life, he saw someone approaching him, and it was the person he never would suspect do this, that blonde Girl from sand.
"So, what's up?" she asked approaching him.
"Look, nothing against you, but I'm here to enjoy the silence and watch clouds, please go," he said lazily.
"I need something to do though, so come with me," she said smiling.
"Only on the condition you'll never bother me here again," Shikamaru said hoping that it would work.
"Deal," she said as they walked back to Kohona.
"So what do you want to do?" asked Shikamaru, hoping it wasn't much.
"Whats there to do here besides train?" she asked.
"You play Shoji?" Shikamaru asked.
"Yeah, but there's no way you can beat me at it," Temari smiled.
"Your on," Shikamaru said.
They played a few games, Temari becoming Irate as she lost three matches in a row.
"There's no incentive to win," Temari said, "This time lets make a wager."
"Fine by me," Shikamaru said, "But if I win, you don't bother me agian."
"Fine," Temari said thinking of her side of the wager, "If I win, your taking me on out to dinner on a date."
"Doesn't matter, you won't beat me," smiled Shikamaru. The match started and Temari was doing exactly what Shikamaru wanted her to do. He looked like he was really regreting everything he did, and every move he led her to make. He thought to himself, this is so troublesome. Temari then ended the match, defeating Shikamaru. Was it really worth it?
Hinata and Osaka had been talking for a while until they saw Lee running by. Hinata waved Lee over to them, which she normally doesn't do but decided to help Osaka, "hello Lee."
"Hey Hinata, your Osaka, right?" he asked.
"Uhuh," she said smiling, a little nervous that Lee was right in front of her.
"I-I just remembered, I-I-I have some errand to run, see you two later," she smiled and walked away, hoping those two together would work out.
"So," said Lee smiling, "what's up?"
"Not much," she said, "I have a question for you. Why are your eyebrows so big?"
"Um," Lee said, thinking that she also though they were weird, "they just kinda are."
"There look like little critter, makes you want to pet them," Osaka smiled absently. Lee just stood there wondering what happened, "I got to go home now, talk to you later Lee-Kun."
"See ya Osaka," Lee said, still wondering what that was about.
Sakura was walking through the park when she saw Sasuke walking down a path. She ran over to him, as she usually would, but noticed he was angry about something, "What's wrong Sasuke-kun?"
"It doesn't concern you," he snapped.
"But I was only worried," Sakura said softly. Sasuke seemed to calm down after that. She seemed to have that effect on him.
"Sorry," he said, "I'm in a very bad mood right now," and then he walked off. While Sakura was still worried about him, she was happy he had began to like her enough to say sorry for anything.
There it is, another chapter. Thanks for the reviews I've already recieved, so please keep em rollin in.