A/N sup people and tank you for reading this chapter.... well that's if you actually do lol but still the plot begins to pick up from here it may take some time till the next chap. though cuz i have still have work on the over all plot. oh and no i didn't leave out the H in thank at the beginning so yes it really says tank you.

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Shikaro woke up to the buzzing sound of his alarm clock. With out opening his eye he reached over and turned it off. he glance at the glowing green numbers that read 6:10. why did he even set that damn thing when he would rather sleep till noon. oh that's right because if he wasn't up by 6:30 he'd have to pay. He laid the for a moment contemplating whether he should risk a crazy long training session with his grandmother for an hour or so more of sleep. Thankfully he saw the lesser of two evils and decided to get up. Shikaro grab his usual outfit witch consisted of a pair black shorts that a few inches passed his knees, a plain navy blue short sleeve shirt and and his normal ninja gear. He then walked across the hall to the bathroom. After taking a quick shower he stood his full 5'7" in front of the mirror. He looked over himself. He look at his untidy and somewhat shaggy black look at his hazel brown eyes that would to change to a deep forest green when you got close enough. He looked at the rest of his face that resembled his father's and grandfather's quite well with a few changes here and there. After changing he strapped his shurikun pouch to his right leg before tying his head band around the upper part of his right arm. Now finished showering and wearing clean clothes Shikaro head down stairs to the kitchen where his grandparents were waiting with an emty seat left for him to use.

"Ah glad to see your up Shikaro. I was just about to go get you myself."

"Yeah yeah. I just didn't want to spend most of my time off training with you Granny Tem."

"Well at least you get up on time now. So what happened at your match yesterday I mean it's not like you to rush a fight. Well with out a reason."

"Wait you mean you didn't notice it. You know wind jutsu better then anyone i thought you would have figured it out."

"What are you talking about."

"You know how little control the user has over a wind jutsu. All a ninja can do is determine its strength and the direction it goes in."Shikaro said while beginning to eat off the plate Temira had given him.

"Yes, but what does that have to do with anything?"

"Splinters. That's what. It was splinters right Shikaro." Shikamaru stated with a tone of humor in his voice.

" Yep you got it old man. When that Hoku girl's jutsu hit the trees it sent splinters every where including into my leg."Shikaro reached down and pulled up one of his pant legs showing the pink scares, that were roughly one or two inches in diameter on his thigh." I had Yoko sensei remove them after the match and then she used some medic jutsu to speed the healing."

"Oh god that had to hurt." Temari said with a motherly tone.

"Eh I guess. I'm just luckily there wasn't any real bleeding. If there had been that girl would have noticed." he got up and placed his dish into the sink before heading off to do his chores.

It was 11:00 or so and Shikaro had just finish checking over the deer owned by the Nara clan. He begin to walk along an old path that lead into town. As he walked a few shop owners that had gotten to know him from when he need to run an errand for his grandparents said quick hellos. He walk at a slow leisurely pace down the crowded road. About half to his desired destination Shikaro saw the girl he had fought against yesterday. He kept on walking while he gave her a once over. Now that she wasn't moving around so much he took notice to her appearance. She wasn't very tall maybe 5'4" or 5'5". Her chocolate brown eyes shimmered in the mid day sun. Her curly light brown hair swayed with the gentle breeze. Her skin was a golden brown most likely from being in the sun rather often. Then the sun glinting off of some metal object that hung around her neck caught his eye. It was her head band and on it was the well known Suna symbol. Well that explained her tanned skin. the Leaf village was to temperate for some one to get a well developed tan like that. She had what most guys his age would say were nice curves but Shikaro didn't care the whole dating thing wasn't something that intersted him yet. Shikaro he made it to one of his favorite parks after about ten minutes. H laid down atop of a small hill and gazed up into the sky to watch the drifting clouds. Someone was coming towards him but he ignored them it was a park after all. Poeple came and went all the time. Slowly Shikaro begin to fall into a light slumber.

"How were you able to beat me if this is all you do every day?" a soft yet rough and comanding voice said waking him before he could really fall asleep.

"This isn't what I do every day just what I do on my days off."

"Oh that makes me feel much better"

"Whatever. So why are you here?'

"No real reason just woundering why you were checking me out earlier."

"You must think rather highly of yourself. I wasn't checking you out just wanted to get a better look at your head band." Shikaro opened his eyes and begin to watch the passing clouds again."So why are you here shouldn't you be at the stadium right now."

"I... I lost." shame and disapointment crossed Hoku's face.

"You sound so down. You know they judge on ablity not weither you win or lose."

"I know but..."

"Get over it. If you did your best whats there to worry about." Shikaro was confused. Even though he barely knew her it was ovbous she was short tempered and rather arraganet. Why would she be upset over something like this. Damn how he dispesed the female mind.

"You know your right." the corners of her lips curled upwards.

"I know I am. Samething happened to my grandma she lost in the first round her second time going through and still made it. Granny Temari was and still is strong as hell. Problely because she still trains with that huge fan of her's"

"Did you just say Temari as in the Kazakage's older sister?" Hoku had moved closer to Shikaro and was now leaning over him.

Shikaro looked into Hoku's expectant eyes and answered her."Yeah that's granny Tem. Why do you want to know?"

"I've always looked up to her." she gave an elated sigh before continueing."I wish I could meet her in person before I have to leave and return to the Sand village."

"If its that improtant to you I could bring you over so you can meet her." Shikaro said in a bored voice.

"Really!? Would she mind if you did?"

"Eh don't think she would. So I'll take that as a yes."

"When can I meet her?" the same look of expectation shined in her eyes again.

"Tomarrows fine but you'll have to wait till noon."

"Okay. Where do you want to pick me up?"

"Is the hotel you're staying at far from the large building down that way?"Shikaro asked point out the derction he ment.

"Um no I think its about ten maybe fifteen minute walk."

"Kay tell what hotel your staying and I'll pick you up there."

"I cant remember the name but its next the outdoor hot springs. Do you know what one I'm talking about?"

"Yeah I know what one your talking about. I be there to pick you up around noon."

"Thank you. I'll see you later then." Hoku gave him a small smile and left.

"Girls. What a drag." was the last thing he said before returning to his cloud gazing.