Chapter 6 The Mission Briefing Part 5
'Women, why are they so troublesome?' Shikamaru thought lazily.
'She said ten minutes, yet it has been almost an hour and a half…what in god's name are they doing? Oh well, guess it helps me get to know my other team member better.'
At this Shikamaru turned his gaze to see Lee in deep concentration, it was surprisingly disturbing to see, considering the miniature Gai's usual hyper activeness and well… crazy attitude.
After twenty minutes had passed when Tsunade left, Shikamaru noticed a shogi box hidden underneath a stack of papers. With a little bit of convincing, he was able to persuade Lee to a game. Shikamaru was surprised though, when Lee showed that he already had an understanding on how the pieces worked, and knew the purpose to the game. Interest got the better of him, and Shikamaru asked Lee how he knew surprisingly quite a fair bit about shogi.
"During one of Gai-sensei's matches with his eternal rival, Kakashi-sensei, Gai-sensei was challenged to a match of shogi. During the entire game I had no understanding what was going on at all. So I took it upon myself to find out about how the game worked. It was then that I discovered the true secret to the game. It is all about strategy. Depending on the person's strategy, you are also able to learn a bit about that person's personality. Those that constantly plays on the offensive usually are quite hasty in battle, and usually do not think before they act. People that play on the defensive are the opposite, they think their actions thoroughly, but because of this they lack in courage to act, or act too slow. The issue is trying to understand the opponents that can switch back and forth between these strategies. You for example Shikamaru-kun are such a person."
To say Shikamaru was amused by that incite was a severe understatement.
'I will never think of this person as a fool ever again…well, at least not all the time.' The pair had played one game so far, which to no surprise Shikamaru won, but that wasn't to say it was a walk in the park for his victory. While true to Lees theory, Lee himself, was an offensive type player, but he was occasionally switching tactics when an opportunity was available, which did cause Shikamaru to get his queen captured.
Ten minutes into their second game, the door opened revealing Tsunade and Sakura. Their expressions were neutral at first but when they saw what was happening in front of them, both of them went agape.
'I had a shogi board in this office?? No scratch that, Lee is playing shogi?!?' Were some of the thoughts passing through both kunouchi's minds.
Lee was completely oblivious to the matter however and looked up from the board at the new comers .
"Ahh, hello again Sakura-san! It is good to know we have one of the the best medic-nin in Konoha excluding Hokage-sama joining us on this mission during the spring time of our youth!" Lee beamed.
Sakura had long got used to the constant praises she received from her patients and fellow shinobi, at least she does not blush in embarrassment too much now.
"Umm, thank you Lee-san." Sakura said, still slightly baffled by his addition of 'youth' at the end of his praise. Shikamaru in turn, looked back at Lee for a moment.
'How can he be so intelligent one second, then become a complete baka the next? At least Naruto was or is consistent.'
Tsunade cleared her throat and returned to her seat behind her desk, taking a quick glance at the shogi board to see who was winning before sitting down. She looked up at her chosen team for this mission, Lee and Shikamaru were now standing side by side on Sakura's right, giving the Hokage their complete attention.
"Does this team now appear satisfactory to your eyes Shikamaru?" Tsunade enquired, almost daring the Nara to object.
Shikamaru nodded. "Indeed it does Hokage-sama, with the addition of Sakura on the team, if the situation does become dire, at least now I know we have great medical support, as well as another strong fighter if needed." Sakura tried as best as she could to resist smiling, but the corner of her mouth twitched upwards against her will.
"Is there anything else we need to know before we leave for the mission Hokage-sama?" Lee asked, getting eager to finally begin his first mission as a chuunin. Once Lee asked his question, Sakura's face returned to neutral and she shared a brief look with Tsunade, which went unnoticed by both Shikamaru and Lee.
"Other than you will be leaving this late afternoon, no, there is nothing else. Please give my regards to Naruto though when you see him." Tsunade said a bit harsher than she intended at the start, but only Sakura noticed and understood what Tsunade truly was implying.
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Flashback – Hokage tower, fifteen minutes before present
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Sakura and Tsunade were not far from the office now. After the briefing on the way, not much else was discussed, until Sakura had one question she was cursing herself for not asking earlier.
"Tsunade-sama…" Sakura said hesitantly. This had made Tsunade stop and look eye to eye with her apprentice. After that brief exchange of glances, Tsunade made a small detour into the Sandaime's old supply room, and turned the light on, then made sure nobody was listening in before turning to Sakura.
"What is on your mind Sakura?" she asked waiting patiently. Sakura took a few more moments to ponder what to say, then looked back at her Sensei.
"What do we tell Shikamaru and Lee-san, I-I mean do they need to know about Naru-"
"No, they don't need to know." Tsunade said in a tone that left no room for argument to any normal person. Unfortunately for Tsunade, Sakura wasn't one of those people.
"But Tsunade-sama-"
Tsunade's sigh forced Sakura to stop, "Sakura, the Sandaime made a law saying that nobody was allowed to discuss what truly happened to the Kyuubi in public, and forbade it that the younger generation such as yourself knew the truth. Anybody that broke this law initially was executed." Sakura gasped, but Tsunade continued.
"The only person that is allowed to tell the truth publically is Naruto and only Naruto." S
akura broke her gaze and nodded, although she clearly was not satisfied with that answer.
Tsunade let out yet another sigh, then decided to add, "But…" Sakura looked back up at her Sensei. "…If I know him for what he truly is and acts, similar to say, yourself. He will be stubborn till the end if something involving the kyuubi or Akatsuki does happen on this mission. He will most likely try to cover it up for the team's safety. If, and only if the situation comes to that, I am giving you permission to let the others know about Naruto." Sakura looked hard into her sensei's glass shattering gaze, she knew how serious her sensei was being about this. Sakura returned the favour with the same gaze back to let her sensei know how serious she was being with this as well.
"You have my word, Hokage-sama."
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End flash back
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Shikamaru gave a quick glance at both of his teammates, noticing Sakura was in deep thought, but chose to speak anyway, since it would be too troublesome to ask what was on her mind.
"We will meet in front of the gates at sunset, we will move out then. We should be able to make it to wave by tomorrow late afternoon, assuming we have a brief 3-5 hour break during the night before continuing."
Shikamaru said, secretly thanking god he wouldn't have to repeat it again, as Sakura was paying attention to him once he started talking. A chorus of 'Hai's' were heard between the two other team members, as they all exited the room to get ready for their mission.