I didn't like this chapter as much as the others, this focused more on just one team, next will be the end of the trade for the day two, with just one more day to go and I have the best teams ever! at least for the final chapter. I was running out of ideas on this one, hopefully the thing between Ino and Shikamaru is starting to change.
Well, thanks for all the reviews and hope you like this one.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, not even one bit.
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Ino watched Shikamaru leave and she just COULDNT be happier, really. Sakura by her side eyed her strangely.
"Why are you so happy?" She murmured under her breath cause at that moment Kurenai was eyeing the list Kakashi sensei had brought with the teams for the day. Both jounin looked stunned for the first team, but decided to go along with it. They were reading the list again in silence, totally confused over something. Sakura frowned. This wasn't normal. She had completely forgot about Ino till she spoke again.
"Oh, it's nothing… nothing really." Ino said happily, she had won the bet, Shikamaru had bet on being on a team with Naruto and Tenten… he failed miserably. Not only he was stuck with three boys, but none of them were girls… so far, so good. She had higher chances on winning now. She grinned. Shikamaru on high heels sounded suddenly amazing.
Kurenai shrugged at Kakashi who just sighed in response, Asuma, who was now confused too looker over Kurenai's shoulder, the three of them looked rather uncomfortable with how the teams where developing, but hokage's orders were hokage's orders… finally Asuma took the lead.
"Alright...! next team."
-.-.-.-.-.-.-
"This is going crazier at the minute, I swear!" Ino spat to her now two teammates, who just nodded, totally confused.
"Don't say it, Neji and Naruto on the same team?! And now us?" Tenten wondered out loud, she looked to her side, just to find Hyugga Hinata shrug at her.
"I- I don't know… three boys… and now three girls?"
Ino was furious, she had bet on Sasuke and Neji! And both of them were took away from her, and instead she was given two girls, not that she minded but they weren't friends, for a moment she wanted to go back and trade them for Sakura... Yeah, right, they would fight all the time, but they were best friends! She didn't know Tenten at all, just crossed some words from time to time, and Hinata was so shy Ino wondered how she was still alive, after all the ninja world was a difficult one, and Ino wondered how, Hinata being so kind, such a lovely soul was still breathing.
Tenten was looking rather interested in throwing and catching a kunai, barely even watching where she was going, every time she did that Ino wanted to yell for her, afraid she would cut herself, but she didn't. After a few minutes she decided to just keep fuming over her luck, and Hinata… Hinata was carrying her head low almost afraid of looking up. She was so out of her element here.
No. Hinata, the beautiful lavender eyes girl say to herself. No. What had lee told her before?
Yesterday training with him and Neji had been a wonderful experience. He had said something about being brave, and how much good she was at close combat, and how beautiful she was when she let her power of youth shine. She sighed a little at that and giggled. He was right about something at least, just because Shino and Kiba weren't there anymore that didn't mean she was going to have a bad time… she eyed Ino… so sure about herself, even as she walked hastily to the hokage tower rather mad about something, on the other hand Tenten seemed fine… not shining bright like Ino, but still nice, there was something warm about her, when she caught her eye Tenten smiled at her and Hinata, for once, smiled back.
"So… what mission should we take?" Kakashi asked the girls, he was just a step behind, all the three of them jumped in the air. Tenten cringed, it was always obvious when Gai sensei would appear. Does he snicks on team seven all the time? Tenten wondered.
Kakashi laughed, he was so used to do this to his team now that he had forgot how for the first months doing that to them scared the soul of their bodies, even Sasuke's, doing that to the girls was… to put it simply, a little bit mischievous. Eventually team seven had grown kind of fond on that habit, always trying to either win him at it or not shudder. So far they were still trying.
"Not another rooftop, please…" Ino kind of smiled as they entered Tsundae's office… that right at the moment had a Neji, Naruto and Shikamaru just leaving for their mission.
Ino beamed for a second before sulking, she had lost the bet too… Shikamaru saw this and chuckled under his breath.
"What's up Ino?" Naruto happily greeted her, Ino nodded in his direction, happy to see the flower still on his hand, at least it was still alive.
"Nice to see you are not hurting quite as much!" Ino smiled fondly and Naruto blushed a little. One, as much as Sakura said Ino was annoying and how much Shikamaru complained about her being troublesome, he found her quite… nice. He had never before got a flower. Second, he had totally forgotten by now- really, just a few hours and he had already forgot- that he was supposed to be cradling a broken arm.
"Yeah… yeah…"
Tenten and Neji were already talking too, Tenten was happy to see him and even more because she was finally able to say something she had wanted to tell both his teammates since yesterday, but right now, Neji will suffice.
"Neji…" she whispered to him, he patiently waited for her to regain her control, she looked like she wanted to jump over him and hug him. He liked her, probably she was the only girl ever he would allow to be this close to him, they were teammates, but he wanted to keep it cool. So no hugs. He just hoped that after four years she would not suddenly become a Sakura. "Yesterday… I almost defeated Sasuke!" Neji raised both his eyebrows. "Of course, it wasn't the big deal, he might gone a little bit easy on me." He hadn't. "Besides I am a girl and everything…" But he had even thrown a ball of fire at her, he had done it at least twice. "It was very quick, he didn't use his sharingan, but I swear… I swear…" Suddenly with every word the excitement died, Neji wondered why? She was a great kunoichi, she knew that, he had never told her, true, but she of course knew! So finding out she had almost defeated Sasuke was indeed no huge news.
"That's great, Tenten." Neji tried out, Tenten looked at his eyes for a second before letting all the air in her lungs go and nodded to the floor, she hadn't even finished her story.
"Yeah…"
"Alright, guys, lets go." Neji said after nodding to Tenten, who just waved him away, and Hinata, who nodded back. Neji wondered why Tenten looked so down, but had to time at the moment.
"After today's trade your father wants to see you later on, want to spar after that?" Neji said to her in an even voice, Hinata smiled a little and then he was off, Shikamaru put his hand on his forehead, like saying bye to a sailor and lazily said goodbye to Ino, she chuckled.
"Im glad you still remember who's the leader here" She watched his back, she wanted so bad to go after him and couldn't, finally Naruto was about to leave after saying bye to Ino, that's when Hinata opened her mouth… and nothing came. Ino's eyes twinkled at seeing that, as Hinata fidgeted with her jacket.
"Oi! Naruto!" Ino called for him, his head popped on the door a second later, Ino looked at Hinata. Who was happy just seeing the blond boy for a few seconds more, Ino, for an unkown reason turned to see Tenten, who was staring at Hinata in wonder.
"Hinata was saying something to you." Tenten was the first to talk, Ino raised her eyebrows at her, she had just stolen her words! and Tenten just shrugged and mouthed 'I just love them'.
Ino hard a really hard time not to laugh at this, she didn't know Tenten wanted Naruto to be with the hyuuga as much as her. Hinata looked like she wanted the earth to open and have her, she didn't really wouldn't mind right now… his eyes, blue like the ocean or the prettiest sky, his body… she just really wished he would wear less that orange jacket, not that she would ever, ever say that out loud… and the way his hair flicked… and that face of his, so confused and looking at her… Oh Kami. Looking at her. She blushed a little, embarrassed as he came in front of her.
"Sorry, Hinata-chan, didn't hear you, what is it?" Naruto asked her with a smile that Ino knew would melt Hinata to the floor. Tenten chuckled a little, Hinata was probably the most obvious girl on planet… and still all Naruto could see… was, well, nothing. Tenten decided that if she got on his team tomorrow she would definitely take things into her hands.
"I- I- I just…" Be brave… be brave as Lee told you yesterday! Just go with with. "Naruto I-"
Silence, even the hokage, who was until now checking the next missions to offer and having fun with the teenagers talking among themselves was now trying intently and everything to not miss a thing. No one moved. Ino and Tenten shared a look. This was it. Hinata was about to say something to Naruto… maybe even a date. They both nodded.
"Yes?" Naruto said suddenly shy, his blue eyes darted around the room, noticing how the girls and the hokage were immersed on other things- at least that's how it looked like- to fall on the lavender ones… now that he was looking closely…
"I… I I just wanted… to say…" Hinata stammered on her words, it was such a simple line! She scolded herself; she just wanted to tell him to take care of his arm! That she wanted him to be okay and that she wished him a fast recovering! What that so hard?! Really Hinata just wanted to hit herself way too many times around Naruto. Kiba would have laugh about it and say to him what she meant. Kiba knew her better than anybody, but right now no Kiba to guess her feelings, no Shino to say something smart and get her out of it. Hinata missed her teammates greatly right now. She could use some friendship.
Ino could feel something in her stomach twitch at the sight and suddenly she wanted to be Hinata… and she wanted Naruto to be… wait. She opened her eyes wide. Wait. Don't go down there, Yamanaka! She scolded herself. Why him?!
"Hinata…." Naruto leaned even closer, I swear Tenten gasped a little. This couldn't be happening! Even Tsundae looked like she wanted nothing more but record this moment. They weren't expecting this! Tsundae was so proud! Finally!
Just kiss damn it! Every girl on the room were done with faking -and failing- at trying not to look interested.
"Hey, what on earth is taking you so long?!" Shikamaru's head popped on the door, glaring at the blond male.
"There!" Naruto said looking triumphant; he had leaned on Hinata… so he could take away a leaf stuck in Hinata's hair, probably from sparring with Lee in the morning. Hinata fainted… and fell directly to the floor with a thud.
Ino smacked his old teammate hard on the head. She was so mad about this! First because Shikamaru interrupted… well, nothing. The blond guy was really, really thick, but that didn't matter! And for some reason she was blushing when Shikamaru tried to get away, why was he such?! Such an idiot?!
"Oi! Woman! Get a hold of yourself!"
"You, idiot, how dare you?" Ino smacked him with every word… why? Why was she so mad? Why….?
"I swear Shikamaru you've got the worst timing ever! Like ever on the history of the planet"
"Oh really? Well, you are crazy! Cause I haven't done anything and you-" He spat to Naruto, who was really truly confused and stood frozen on his spot, he just pointed at Hinata with his good arm, like saying 'Dude, she fainted, I have no idea why and no idea of what to do' Shikamaru was angry, Ino could tell, and that left her feeling… with something she didn't want to acknowledge yet. "You keep moving, we have a freaking cat to catch, Asuma is already on the front doors."
Ino threw daggers at her teammate. "Oh, Shikamaru! Stop yelling at Naruto! Kiba was right, serious guys are the loudest at times…" She tried to joke but that just back fired at her.
"You don't talk to me… not right now." He spat to Ino. Ino froze on her spot, he never talked to her in… that tone, like she was the last thing on earth he wanted to see. Something inside her snapped, broke… before regaining herself.
"Shikamaru, c'mon! I didn't mean to hit you that hard." She scoffed and smirked at him. "Good thing I don't have to see your face till at least two days from now."
Shikamaru looked at her in a way she had never seen, alright, what's up with him?! Ino was worried now, her façade faded away as she took a step towards him. What on hell had just happened to him?
"Oh really? Go ahead then! Trade teams, whatever, if you want it, why don't you do it?" Shikamaru was starting to lose his temper and fidgeting with his hands he put them inside his pants.
"Shikamaru…" Tsundae was lost at this, one second he was all happy before leaving, and five minutes later he comes trying to take his anger on someone. Anger that she had no idea where it had come from.
"Get Kiba on your good side then, Hinata here may help as long as the idiot who made her faint its not around so often." Naruto mumbled something, Neji, who had reappeared at the door, looked dumbfounded as Tenten was saving a Hinata from the floor, Shikamaru sighed. Tenten and Ino were fast, not fast enough to know when Hinata would suddenly decide on fainting, but Shino and Kiba had this sixth sense that told them whenever Hinata would faint seconds before Naruto's doing.
"I have no idea of what I did." Naruto said matter of fact as he helped Tenten putting a fainted Hinata on a chair. Trying to advert the anger to him instead of Ino. He suddenly felt guilty at seeing her face.
"Are you even serious Naruto?! Gee everybody is so blind in here!"
"May I ask what's gotten into you?!" Ino said now mad, fine, she wasn't supposed to talk to him, but this is was it, he was acting so out of himself! Yelling at everybody! Her included!
Shikamaru glared at her, it was not his usual glare… something was wrong, very wrong, and Ino for once kept her mouth shut, afraid of pulling another string on Shikamaru.
"Shikamaru Nara!" Tsundae looked rather mad right now, both her hands on her desk. Enough was enough. Even Ino was afraid, he glared at her one last time before hastily looking away and motioning to Neji and Naruto to follow him. None of the girls said a thing.
Ino went and aimed for his arm but before she got the chance he just took his arm away and walked with a Naruto trailing behind.
"Take care of her…" Naruto said to a confused crowd and left, after eyeing Shikamaru's back and reluctantly followed, closing the door on his back.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
"I can't believe you lost it, it is cat you know?" Shikamaru said flatly to his blond friend who was on the floor, no feeling of getting up, it was cat! A cat and Naruto was frustrated over the fact that its been two hours and they couldn't catch it! All because he had to fake the whole time he had a broken arm. This wasn't helping the team, but they hadn't complained at least. The new team was taking turns into catching the cat and so far they were succeeding.
"Exactly! What does cats do better? Run and hide!" The blond tried to defend himself as he scoffed, Neji sighed. "Besides I have a broken arm, smartass!"
"He just turned on the corner." Neji said seeing something the other two couldn't, as he was using his byakugan, totally ignoring the rant of the blond genin, as always. "Lets' go before we lose him— again."
He held his hand to help the blond get up, which he took and they started to run after it. Again. Neji was frustrated over the whole thing, usually on his team Lee would run around konoha till he spotted it, then Neji would use his ability and therefore not lose it after that, keeping track over him, and then when they finally were near and cornered the cat, Tenten will talk to him gently, and the cat would go willingly to her arms, thanks to Tenten kind soul and much for the relief of both her male teammates.
On team seven, it was quite another story, usually the three of them would run after it, to then Sasuke use his sharingan to know exactly what the cat was about to do, he will tell Sakura all this and Sakura will catch it in her arms thanks to the foreknown knowledge- ending on a scratched Sakura, but still- after a few minutes the cat would stop fidgeting on her arms and Bam! Problem solved and cat delivered. Good to know Sakura could heal herself.
On Team ten it was quite another story, Shikamaru hated to waste time, so instead they looked around for the cat, that could take hours to minutes, who knows? Troublesome cat, then Ino would talk gently to him, the cat would come near, but never into her arms. Shikamaru kind of knew why, she was a total monster when she wanted to be! Then Chouji would feed him with something and right when he was under their shadows! Voila! Shikamaru's jutsu would caught him, Ino would carry him the rest of the way, and usually the cat would give in into her arms, and pacefully would be retrieved.
This time Shikamaru wasn't on the mood anymore, he wanted to make both his teammates suffer a little for reasons he did not know, he was mad at Naruto because Ino had hugged him. Him. Instead of her forever by her side friend. Honestly, after all it had been Naruto who had told him those fatefulwords… she had a date…a date. With Kiba nonetheless. That's where she got the idea. He thought bitterly. She wants a dog just so she can have more things to talk to him.
And well Neji, Shikamaru had always thought that besides the difficulties in his family he had it easy and that's why he was an ass from time to time, so watching a Neji run around konoha was a funny sight.
Right now it was his moment to catch it…something snapped, the cat got the call and he lost it, he just grabbed his tail before he scratched his hand and ran away, Shikamaru wanted to yell to the world. Nothing was working for him today. Neji just scoffed at both of them as none of them made a movement to keep runing and run after it alone.
"Care to explain what happened?" Naruto asked a few minutes later.
"It just happened that when I was about to jump on the cat you snapped a stick." Shikamaru said getting on his feet after trying and failing on catching the good for nothing cat, it was kind of a tradition now. Miss Kuramire will lose her cat every once in a while and Shikamaru would bet all his money that she did it for fun, just to see (and he was mostly certain) every genin chase the town around it.
"Not that…" Naruto said after apologizing for the broken stick, he had been so into his thoughts that he totally forgot about being cautious. "With the hokage, you… you snapped."
Naruto didn't know how to phrase it kindly, so he just said it bluntly.
"It was about Ino, isn't? The whole thing she's having a date with Kiba." Naruto stated, when they had left Hokage Towers a few hours before this, Shikamaru had asked Naruto how his day in the trade the day before went, wanting to know a little bit more about Ino's day, and the first thing that popped into the blond genin mind was 'The most weird thing happened! Ino has a date, with Kiba, she said he was hot and he somehow heard it- something about being part dog, I don't know- and she said yes!"
That's when the girls had interrupted in and Shikamaru was just too stunned to react, 'Ino on a date? With Kiba?!' however, when they had left and Naruto was called back he was angry, beyond angry and he didn't want to acknowledge why just yet. So when he went to look for Naruto and what on earth was taking him so long he wanted to kill the boy, and it didn't help when Ino hit him in the head for something he didn't even do!
Shikamaru was starting to get angrier again.
"It has nothing to do with this." He sighed and stuffed his hands in his pants.
"Oh, I believe Ino has everything to do with you." Naruto grinned at him knowingly, Shikamaru wanted to hit him. "I think you are jealous!"
And Naruto didn't shut up about it for minutes, finally Shikamaru have had enough.
"Can you please shut up?! I swear! All blonds are this troublesome?! Or just the ones I get to know!" He asked to no one as he plopped on the floor under a tree.
Naruto gave him a wicked grin before laughing a bit. "Oh c'mon! Just say you like her! Its not like you don't stand a chance, ya know?"
Shikamaru blushed a little bit before refusing said fact.
"Look, I was just a little… well it is strange, I had been best friends with her since forever, how do you…" Shikamaru stopped mid-sentence before looking annoyed at his friend, Naruto was listening intently and Shikamaru just shrugged him off, this wasn't Chouji. "Just forget it Naruto, you are blind about Hinata, you won't understand a thing… now c'mon let's take a look at the clouds, since Neji might take a while to catch the cat"
That left Naruto standing alone as Shikamaru lay on his back, trying to come with terms with what had just happened and with what had just been said. Naruto silently sat beside him, he was actually beginning to relax when Naruto asked in a little voice.
"What about Hinata?"
Shikamaru sighed, this was just so nooot what he wanted to talk about.
"Naruto."
"hm?"
"Just shut up."
Naruto scoffed and looked to the other side, then he grinned, at least he had managed one thing: get Shikamaru jealous, he was so blind Naruto found it funny, of course he liked Ino! He had good reason too. Naruto wanted to run and find Kiba to inform him their plan was working, but he managed to shut up and stay still, as the shadow ninja kindly had put it, and just wandered off in his mind, thinking about Hinata and what on earth the guys wanted from him about her.
He suddenly looked alarmed… maybe… maybe she…he blushed and shook his head, of course not, how a girl like her would ever want him? He sighed and finally lay on his back, maybe she just wanted to spare with him or something, he would ask Lee later, right now he focused on doing nothing as he waited for the Hyuuga to retreat- hopefully- the so good damned cat.
"Shikamaru?"
"…"
"Are you ignoring me?"
"I swear you spend way too much time with Sakura." Shikamaru even chuckled before eyeing his friend then sighed after seeing his face. "You really like her, isn't it?"
Naruto looked ahead of him, very calm actually, and Shikamaru was shocked at his all grown up reaction, before he stated. "No, I don't, I used to… but… "
His voice died and Shikamaru could hear his words on his head, almost reluctantly, while he looked the other way he said. "You deserve better than that Naruto, yeah, she might be a good friend, but after seeing how she treats you, actually everybody… just forget it man." Shikamaru said as he remembered how Sakura had been with him yesterday.
Naruto sighed. "Sometimes I wanna hug her and then I just wanna hit her, I swear…"
Shikamaru laughed out loud as he patted his back. "I want to hit Ino too so no worries there."
In that moment Neji came, looking red on the face but with a cat on his arms that refused to stay still, Naruto got to his feet and shouted as he made a weird dance, Neji turned his head in all directions, he didn't want to be seen him like this, then he just chuckled as Naruto kept screaming and dancing hula hula, he guessed if Naruto weren't… well, Naruto he wouldn't be friends with him. Naruto could belong on Gai's team, totally.
"You rock Neji! Well done!" Naruto said as he run to meet him, Neji smiled to him and then winced.
"It won't stay still, I swear!" Neji wanted Tenten to appear suddenly around the corner. Naruto eyed the Hyuuga, that still had his byakugan on.
"Just punch him. You know…" He said after receiving the glare from the boy. "The energy dots, since he's a cat he doesn't have chakra but, you get it, just make him fall asleep or something."
Neji sometimes thought Naruto didn't have enough credit, Neji nodded and for the first time he complimented the boy.
"Sometimes you are smarter than you look." Well close enough for a compliment and Naruto grinned, Neji did as told and the cat fell limp on his hands, he sighed in relief. "Done"
Naruto stretched. "Running around Konoha left me tired, damn cat." He laughed as he scratched the cats head, Neji just shrugged.
"Could been worse, at least we are done." Neji wanted to get rid of the cat right away, it was always Tenten who carried it, and he could bet his money that this happened on every team… but being three guys and Naruto with a broken arm… well, a ninja had to do what a ninja had to do. "Naruto, about Hinata, just ask her to spar with you sometime in a while, she had always wanted that."
Naruto blined once… twice… and then put his hand on Neji's forehead.
"You alright? Did the sun hit you hard or something?" He was truly concerned, cause the Hyuuga boy never showed interest in his conversations after leaving the tower, Neji wanted to hit him, really he would have done that if he weren't holding the fat cat.
"Get away from me. And I do listen to you, Dumbass." Neji said to him and Naruto grinned again, yeap, back to normal.
"Alright, will do next time I see her." Naruto promised to the annoyed Hyuuga, really? Naruto was this blind? Neji turned to the sleepy guy on the floor.
"Well at least one is stupid" Neji scoffed to himself as he remembered what Shikamaru had told him before entering the hokage place, about blonds. He looked around, where on earth was Asuma? Now that he think about it… he had left with Kurenai sometime ago… perfect..
"C'mon guys" A Silent Shikamaru said to them from the floor, as he stared at the sky. "Gonna show a trick to relax, you can use it on Sakura or Lee, see if it works, while Asuma sensei comes to pick us up."
Naruto happily complied and Neji followed suit, as long as it weren't naps… but he thought giving it a shot, though he truly didn't believe anything, and he meant anything, could calm the green genin. The days passed and everyday he started to miss more and more his team, Neji noted and that alarmed him, instead he reminded cool, he didn't mind spending time with these two. He had learn today two new strategies thanks to Shikamaru and he had learn… well nothing about Naruto, but Neji just couldn't feel anything but respect from him, he was sure he was going to become Hokage, and he wanted to be there to see the day.
Naruto was never been happier, yeah he missed his team, but it was so good to know that he was actually making friends with the others too, maybe, just maybe, he would use cloud watching on Sakura and Sasuke, see if for at least one day they will not shout at him.
And Shikamaru? He was just thinking and thinking about blond people and that he needed a great apology for tonight if he wanted to keep living.
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I know, it sucked right? Next chapter will compensate for this one, I promise, I guess It has to do with the fact of being all girls teams or boys teams, not having them mixed its not fun at all! There's no teasing! Anyway, I tried to write the chapter twice to see if some other ideas might pop out, they did but I got tired of finding another way around it, but really my mind closed and everything looked mostly the same, resulting this. So i give up!
Well R&R if you like it… or don't!
GEE new year is around the corner! Cant wait!
-Juliet'lovestory-
