Cloud glazing

Thank you to Orceanos who followed this.

"So Shikamaru, how was the short trip back."

"Eh, alright." he grunted out while he was making his way to his friend with one hand his pocket. His his other hand, had some much needed food for cloud gazing for his friend. "Just a time consuming bore."

The shadow genius left for a short time to return to hidden in the leaf to handle some quick paper work, well quick for him. A part of him on the other hand, was getting invested into maintenance work for his home land inner cogs. If there one thing the time after the war did for people, it was give the luxury of a new lease on life.

"How's Ino?"

"She was pretty was disappointed when I didn't have you in transmit with me." Shikamaru stated before sitting down next to his life long friend, handing him the rather large bag of food. "Although she is getting along fine, odds are, she might even come over here next week."

The glutton already had a few morsels in his mouth half way through the sentence but his ears immediately perked up hearing the possibility of the third member of their squad traveling here as well. "That's great." the plump man said after swallowing his food, choosing to lay on his back to let the food settle.

Shikamaru parted a few steps from Choji to near the edge of the arena, he then shuffle his hands around his pockets to find his cigarette box and lighter, starting his lighter up when he found his pack and put one of the sticks in his mouth. Turning around to look at the village that they were stationed at for diplomacy reasons, "Knowing her, she would probably complain about the different air giving her split ends or drying her skin." The slinky shinobi said with a chuckle before taking a swing from his stick.

Choji didn't have to face Nara to know behind that statement, a smirk followed to betray the annoyance in his statement and to somehow already confirm it like a two headed snake that opposed each other.

"So how's it been over here?" Shikamaru inquired with his back still turned.

"Well for the most part, nothing big happened. The only thing worth noting is that Killer B is trying to have another rap concert." The size changer sat back up to stretch, not really paying attention to what's around him, like the figure slowly making its way to him.

The standing nin took another puff while shaking his head with his hand on his head. "Again? You would think the eighth drop kick I saw his brother give him here would have told him to stop."

"I actually kind of lik-" Suddenly the assailant decided to make presence her known with a headlock. Making sure not to actually chock him, their slender but toned arms was chaining him to her with the large man trying to break it. Floundering like a fresh fish before a knife before deciding to throw himself and his attacker on the ground, the sudden movement alerting his unassuming friend.

"Choji!" Shikamaru shouted out and quickly turned around, the shock fueling his actions quickly dieing when he really focused on a familiar green and white color scheme.

One of the more unusual things that went on, Karui, the would be assailant chose to at times to greet his plump friend, a person who only flew off the handle at being called fat or other certain reasons with what essentially was a lions grip. All the nin knew that this didn't happen originally when they first saw her.

But from the few times he asked about this, his friend really didn't mind it, he even says it somehow get some bad cricks out of his body like a more violent massage and it looked like he enjoyed to his disbelief.

Taking a breath to clean out his lungs, the spectator then saw the victim rolled himself with the fierceness of a crocodile tearing into its prey, forcing the red haired woman to link her arms tighter to get a better grip but it was in vain as she was forced to let go.

"Nice try." The soft mountain of a man stated before sitting back up "But you will have to try harder than that."

Regaining her senses, the Kumo ninja arose from her defeated position, stretching her back and uncoiling to sooth her bones and muscles from the before once again walking to her opponent with a smirk gracing her "You're lucky I don't truly feel like chasin MY title back." before stopping to crouch down to punch the large man on the shoulder lightly...well for her. "Besides, I didn't feel like showin a bystander my real brutally."

"Chasing her title?" the though echoed the strategist's mind. "What did Choji get himself into?" His face showed indifference but his mind wanted to now what was going on.

"Well the same thing wont work the third time, Karui." Choji Stated with a grin "Even I have a few tricks of my sleeves."

Without malice, the kunoichi rolled up one of her sleeves then curve her bicep showing some muscle "Give me two more minutes with that thick hide that's keepin your head upright."

Feeling playful, the champion stretch his legs before shifting to one side to lightly tap the lioness on her leg with one of his foot acting like a dagger prodding its victim which earned him a chuckle. "Not a chance, you blew it and I don't feel like continuing."

"Come on." The female fighter tried to convince him for a round two but unfortunately for her, this bear was done fighting for now. "Fine, you win." The Kumo nin sighed out before backing off a little "I need you in one piece for somethin anyways."

"Yeah?" The large man sat back up which unbeknownst to him gave Shikamaru a clear look at his neck which immediately override the previous question. A slight bruise made a short term visit on his neck.

"Eh, looks like someone is finding ways to kill time." Shikamaru though.

"So..." Karui started with her arms crossed. "I found a good spot for the performance, so we can just kick back and relax." She then turn her head to the Nara, remembering he was here as well. "When did you come back, Shikamaru?"

"A few hours ago." The shadow master stated while crusting off the burnt part of his cigarette before relighting it.

"Since you are back," The dark skinned woman inquired "Do want to go as well? The space is pretty big and its not just us two going. A group of my friends are also tagging along but I think one more can fit in our group."

"I got time to kill, thanks."

"Well, that makes ten." The warrior proclaimed "We'll come by to pick you in a few hours so don't over sleep." The Kumo ninja said, looking pleased with her remark.

"Alright."

"Well, I have to get going." The guess turned around to leave. "See ya Shikamaru." But before actually walking to leave, she turned to Choji to give him another punch on the shoulder but unlike the last one this one stayed on its target with a smile on her face that was unfamiliar to the spectator. "You better show up." The woman softly demanded.

"I'll be there." Choji said, with a soft smile of his own and softly knocking her knuckle with the back of his own.

With a grunt of approval, the hand left its perch and the kunoichi left them to their own devices.

The genius waited until she left, before facing his lifelong friend with a knowing smirk, the question on his mind already answered. "So I see your diplomacy efforts is also going well..."

"Whatever do you mean?" Stated the brown haired man choosing to play dumb. Unfortunately for the poor fool, he did not for get the good nature teasing about his own love life. With the display he just saw, his mind already served a revenge recipe.

Shikamaru closed his eyes while keeping that damning smirk. Teasing him now about it would just be okay but waiting until the final piece can arrive would just be divine retribution.

Walking in same direction he saw the fiery red haired, he placed a hand on his shoulder.

With a smile laced with playful intent, the leaf ninja said unto his gluttonous friend. "You can't sell your innocence with incriminate evidence on the side of your neck." The huge man quickly slapped his hand on the that very side but it was in vain. In his heart, he fully knows the extent of the Nara's plans for his past transgression.

All he can do is wait for the storm.

A.N Well here's chapter two. To all readers tell me what you like and don't like. It would help he a lot. Thank you.