"What are you doing, Hinata?" Shikamaru was more than a little shocked to see her just sitting here after beating up four chunin ninja. "And what did they do-" Then it clicked as he stared wide eyed at her. She shifted her gaze as his mouth gaped a bit. "You're the one that's been keeping his house safe? For three years? "

She turned red as a volcano and shyly nodded.

"Dang! Didn't think you had it in you." He appraised the damage to the four. "And these guys?"

She pulled her knees up in front of her as she seemed a little angry at the men. "Tried to break in. They shouldn't wake up until tomorrow." Shikamaru was startled.

"No stutter?"

She 'eeped' at that.

"Soooo, threaten Naruto and Hinata kick your ass?" Shikamaru said aloud. "I like that rule, though it's good I came around earlier to deal with the drunk assholes."

She squealed again slightly and looked away.

"Um. . . what?"

She shook her head.

"What is it?" He wasn't sure he wanted to hear.

"I-I was already here." She admitted. "I was going to catch the molotov they threw and. . . t-throw it back. . ."

and mouth drop! He thought what he did was cruel. She was going to set their asses on fire! Suddenly, Shikamaru of all people busted out laughing, making her turn more and more red each second. He calmed for a moment and turned serious.

"So you know his mood right now?"

She nods. "I-I've been watching from here." She activates her Byakugon. "Kiba and Shino failed. Sai's up right now."

Shikamaru nodded. "How's he doing?"

Hinata didn't respond. That isn't good.

(With Naruto)

"What the hell am I doing, Sai?" Naruto stared blankly at the canvas in front of him. Sai had his own.

"I read in a book that sometimes art is a useful component to expression and releasing emotion when depressed. Draw do what comes natural." He had his smile as he began his own work.

"Sai, I can't paint." Naruto looked over warily.

"It doesn't matter its quality. Just do what comes natural. No pressure." Sai's hand moved at lightning speed as Naruto tries to sneak a peek. Sai turns his canvas away. "No copying. Draw what's in your heart. At least that's what the book says."

Naruto face palmed again. "I swear I'm going to end up shoving that book so far. . ." He starts his own painting as the time passes.

Sunset starts to arrive as Sai finishes. "Alright, let's see what you have." He smiled.

Naruto looked nervously. "Um. . . you first."

Sai turned his around, showing a beautiful portrait of the entire Leaf Village from an angle in the air that he couldn't possibly have up here. "I've seen the village from up on my ink birds so much it's engraved into my memory. Your turn."

Naruto started to sweat nervously as he handed his over to Sai, who took it and started grunting at it. A minute passes as Naruto awaits judgment.

Sai brings Naruto over. "What is this? A sort of beast? It could show how those believe you are a beast, yourself, having the kyubi inside or-"

"Uhhh . . ."

"Hm?"

Naruto pointed to spots on it. "That's a tree. THAT'S a person up there on the branch. and-" Sai looks again. . . . .

"Your art is as dickless as you are." He says smiling.

Naruto face vaults into the rock.

"I'm sorry. Is the namecalling not good here? The book said depressing situations can often be diffused with humor."

(With Shikamaru/Hinata)

"Sai doing a good jo-"

"No." Hinata answers before Shikamaru even finishes. He looks at her, finding her fiddling with something in her pocket.

"What you got there?"

EEP! She hides and blushes. "N-nothing!"

Shikamaru rubs the back of his neck. "Well, this leaves Sakura and you to cheer him up."

Hinata seemed down. "If. . If-f I leave. His home. ."

"Exactly." Shikamaru said, unraveling some ninja wire. "Be sure to tell him to send at least two hundred clones ahead of him when he comes home."

Hinata seemed confused. "Hm?"

He smiled. "I'm booby trapping this place to the point it's a ninja war battleground. Don't worry, I'll cover here." He smiled. She started to fidget again.

"But. But. . . I mean if Sakura is there, he'll be fine. . . He likes her I mean. ."

"Hinata."

She looked at Shikamaru blankly. He stared dead panned at her. "Go!"

"EEP!" She leaps off. "T-thank you!"