Title: Shadow
Author: Simply Kelp
Pairing: not focused on any one ship, but there may be background ones.
Rating: pg
Summary: Shikamaru discovers that he has two shadows now: his own, and Konohamaru. Little vignettes about the evolution of their friendship.
Disclaimer: It doesn't say "Masashi Kishimoto" on my underwear, that must mean that I don't own Naruto... merde.
A/N: Konohamaru's being a bit cranky; I'm surprised Temari's putting up with him. The idea for Temari invading Konohamaru's cloud watching is from claymade.
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Favour
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The Chunin exams were exciting business in Sunagakure. It was the first exam since Temari had been given her genin squad. She was pleased to see that two of them had made it to the final event.
As she was leaving the training ground, Temari noticed a kid, leaning against the adjacent building, staring into the sky. "You're lucky it doesn't rain in Suna; you could drown, always looking up like that." Temari gave the kid a sly smile. "I had a friend who always looked at the clouds. He was from Konoha too; Shikamaru-- have you heard of him?"
The kid shrugged, "yeah." He seemed to be holding something back.
Temari leaned against the wall next to him, and looked at the sky. She had never been one for cloud watching; it was too sedentary. "You talk to him much?" She asked casually.
The kid shrugged again. "A bit," he said indifferently. He sounded unhappy.
Time to change the subject. "Are you excited for the final event?" Temari asked. She remembered him from the preliminaries: he was good, if a little mischievous. He had taken out one of her genin with his sexy-jutsu (which had, incidentally, reduced the majority of the male judges to simpering pools of mush). She wished that she could remember his name.
The kid cracked a smile. "I'll make chunin no sweat," he said confidently. She smiled.
"I wouldn't brag if I were you; Sand shinobi are notoriously competitive."
He laughed. "Please! I've been saving my secret weapon for the final rounds." Temari raised an eyebrow. The kid leaned in, conspiringly. "It's going to be so cool!" he whispered excitedly.
"Can I ask you a favour?" Temari asked suddenly. She hadn't planned to say that, but the words came out of their own accord. The kid looked at her as if she might ask something unreasonable. "Tell Shikamaru that Temari says 'hi'."
The kid nodded seriously. "Sure!" He looked much happier than when she first saw him.
As she left, Temari looked heavenward, wondering what could possibly be so interesting up there.
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Uh oh, what's Konohamaru-kun's secret weapon? Thanks for reading, and please review!