The next morning she woke up early to a knock on the door and Naruto staring at her from a chair right as Kakashi teleported into the house "I'll get the door" Naruto rushes off "Hey Shikamaru" he greets letting the boy in "Sakura, Hidan's been sent out of the village so you won't be leaving till tomorrow morning with Naruto and Jiraiya" Kakashi explains in a low voice when Sakura stares nervously at Shikamaru "I gotcha" Sakura whispers back softly assignment complete Kakashi disappears as and Sakura walks over to Shikamaru.
"Remember what you promised me" she asks as she walks out the door with Shikamaru before it could shut "I know I promise" Naruto chuckles "Where to first Shikamaru" Sakura asks when the door shuts behind them "How about we go visit each of the places we've been to starting with the first place we met" Shikamaru suggests "Isn't the academy in session right now" Sakura asks but heads in that direction anyway "It's sunday though I'm sure Iruka-sensei is there grading papers like usual" Shikamaru predicts.
And just like he had said Iruka was sitting at his desk grading papers "Hello Shikamaru, Sakura what brings you here on a sunday you guys didn't get in trouble with the Hokage and get a punishment to clean up the classroom did you" Iruka looks up from his papers to ask this "Nothing of the sort Iruka-sensei more like a trip down memory lane" Sakura gave the man a wave sitting down in her old spot "Man it feels like it's been ages since we've been in here" Sakura reminisces causing Shikamaru to nod in agreement.
"It has been ages Sakura" Shikamaru chuckles softly laying his head down on the desk "I remember the first day of classes you came in here and were so noisy that it woke me from my nap" he mumbles out with his eyes closed "And I distinctly remember telling you school was for learning and not for sleeping" Sakura giggles "Ah I remember that to" Shikamaru opens his eyes to peer at her his eyes hooded with laziness "Yeah" she sighs leaning her head on her hand as she smiles softly at the boy.
"Ok you two get out of my classroom" Iruka chuckles pushing the two laughing teens out of his classroom "Come on Sakura let's go to that field you found me in that one day and cloud watch for a couple of hours" Iruka hears the boy suggest before closing his door so that he could continue grading his papers "Alright I'm cool with that" Sakura exclaims allowing Shikamaru to take her by the hand and pull her out of the academy building and two their clearing with all the flowers in it.
"Ah this is the best" Sakura said with a sigh cuddling next to Shikamaru head on his chest and laying on the soft grass as they stared up at the sky "You can say that again the first time we really started hanging out was in this field you had appeared here suddenly while I had been trying to take a nap" Shikamaru accuses his tone of voice filled with laughter "Yeah but the only reason I had come here was to get away from Ino and Sasuke because they had started picking on me" Sakura lifted her head to stare at Shikamaru while she said this.
"I remember" Shikamaru sighs "I also remembering inviting you to join me in cloud watching and what you asked" he chuckles softly causing Sakura to scowl up at him and smack his arm lightly no force behind it at all "You asked how do you cloud watch" Shikamaru snorts in amusement "And you said all I had to do was be silent and lay back to watch the clouds" Sakura says with a roll of her eyes before laying her head back on Shikamaru's chest to watch the clouds when he speak again finishing the earlier conversation.
"We almost missed the end of lunch bell that day because we had dozed off and then you pulled me up by my arm and dragged me with you back to the academy barely making it into the classroom and to our seats where Naruto asked you if you had ran a marathon I remember the glare you gave him" Shikamaru laughs remembering Naruto's expression from that day as he stared at the two of them in confusion "I remember that two" Sakura gives a little laugh before falling silent a few minutes later Shikamaru speaks up again with another memory.
"I remember you storming in here once totally angry apparently Ino had called Shino bug boy and you pulled her hair during lunch but ran away before Ino could tattle on you" Shikamaru shakes his head glancing down at her briefly before returning his eyes to the sky to watch the clouds some more "Oh I remember that, that's the day I started fighting back because nobody insults my brother" Sakura shifts a little before laying still again "That's right you got in trouble anyway but you only had to serve a restricted lunch" Shikamaru produces the memory.
"Mhm" Sakura hums "Yeah it would have killed me to apologize to Ino back then" she admits a few minutes later "Back then" Shikamaru echoes the last two words in confusion "Oh well Ino apologized to me a couple days ago so I forgave her and now we're kinda friends" Sakura smiles sheepishly "Well that's a relief at least she's not still obsessing over Sasuke because that would just be a drag and way to troublesome" he announces a moment later after mulling over the new information she had given him.
"Yeah" Sakura sighs out watching the clouds drift by and feeling sleepy jolting awake when Shikamaru moves slightly underneath her "Oh hey I remember this one time where Naruto had pulled a prank on the teacher and he ran all the way here and hid behind me as you chased him I remember the scolding you gave him that day, that's also when he started changing bit by bit" Shikamaru points out "Oh I probably gave Naruto nightmares for weeks with that particular scolding" Sakura smiles widely.
"Your most likely right on that one Sakura-chan" Shikamaru grins "I know where we can go next Shikamaru" Sakura jumps up and discretely removes the genjutsu she had put up so that nobody would stumble across them while they were clouding watching taking his Sakura leads him to a bench that Shikamaru knew all too well "It's my turn Shikamaru" Sakura smiles her eyes sparkling in amusement as he pouts knowing exactly what memory Sakura was about to tell him.
"The first time I saw you actually get motivated for anything was when Choji went missing and you couldn't find him you even went so far as to ask me for help" Sakura snickers out "During lunch we headed out and I specifically remember Naruto pouting at me to take him along before we teleported away" Sakura taps her lip in thought "And then I used my summoning jutsu and summoned Tomo-kun and then we followed him all the way here where Choji was crying" Sakura finished with a grin.
"Do you remember what I told him that day to cheer him up" Sakura smirks when Shikamaru sighs and sits on the bench "You told him that I wasn't angry at him and that I was like a mother hen who fussed over her chick when it gets lost" he quotes word for word "Exactly and then Choza-san came and told us that we needed to get back to the academy or that we would miss our afternoon classes" Sakura sits as well remembering that day like it was only yesterday "It all seems so surreal" she sighs out leaning her head on Shikamaru's shoulder.
Meanwhile Naruto was trying his best to keep Choza and Choji out of the area "Halt you can't go in there" he calls out to the two that were headed into the forest "Why not Naruto" Choza raises an eyebrow and peers at the blonde curiously "Well Sakura and Shikamaru are in there and Sakura said she didn't want to be bothered today" Naruto huffs out "Ohhh" Choza grins at Naruto teasingly "Are you her bouncer for the day" Choza chooses his words carefully to confuse him.
"What's a bouncer" Naruto scratches his head in confusion 'Hook, line and sinker' Choza thought "Well a bouncer is someone who keeps other people from going into certain places" he explains to both boys knowing how confused his own son was at the unknown word "Yeah I'm Sakura-chan's bouncer for the day" Naruto's pushes out his chest in pride causing Choza to laugh at him "Don't laugh at me" Naruto pouts "Well since your being such a good sport I suppose we can wait awhile don't you think" Choza asks gaining a nod from Choji.
"Shikamaru" Sakura calls out nervously her heart pounding when a sudden thought enters her mind "Yeah Sakura" Shikamaru looks over at her and suddenly he felt very nervous "Um well you see" Sakura stutters out shyly while leaning forward 'This is so troublesome' Shikamaru thought with a nervous gulp when her breath mingles with his as she gets even closer biting her lip Sakura clenches her hands on the stone bench before veering off to the left and kissing his cheek briefly before pulling away.
"Oh" Shikamaru breathes out sounding mildly disappointed "Let's go Shikamaru" Sakura stands before leading him off to their next destination the training field Sakura trained Naruto in and also on some occasions Choji and Shikamaru whenever they felt bored and wanted to learn something new "This is where you learned how to correctly apply chakra to your feet and walk up a tree" Sakura looks up the trees that had many marks on them signifying how much action they had seen over the years.
"I remember that I distinctly remember feeling jealous over you for the first time ever here as you showed Naruto and then Choji how to tree climb before teaching me" Shikamaru admits sheepishly causing Sakura to shake her head "I remember you saying how much of a drag it was" she smirks when he admits that to "I just didn't want you to find out that I was jealous or that I actually wanted to learn something for once" Shikamaru admits again looking up the tree before smiling mischievously.
"Race you to the top if I win you have to go on a date with me tomorrow and if you win I'll do anything you want with in reason" Shikamaru bets missing Sakura's look of guilt 'I can't let him win' Sakura thought with a grimace as they simultaneously applied chakra to their feet and leaped onto a tree before racing up adding chakra to her legs Sakura speeds past Shikamaru and reaches the top "Ah what a drag" Shikamaru pouts as they walk back down the tree and onto the ground.
"Oh this is were Shino started becoming overprotective of you" Shikamaru suddenly remembers "It was on one of the days that Choji and I were training with you and Naruto when he came storming into the clearing his mouth had dropped open in shock seeing me so close to you and then he stomped over to us took you by the hand and dragged you home thus ending the training session early" he explains "So that's why Shino started getting a little overprotective" Sakura rolls her eyes 'Boys' she thought internally.
"Hehehe I remember one day when Shino tried to end another session before any of us could arrive you said that you had a special training course for us and went on ahead so when we finally got there you were cussing up a storm while ranting and raving" Shikamaru thinks up another memory "I do remember that" Sakura admits sheepishly "You know you've always seemed to have a potty mouth but you've always felt the need to restrain herself from cussing in my presence" Shikamaru points out suddenly.
"Well maybe I don't feel like cussing in front of you it kinda ruins the mood" Sakura mumbles out "I don't mind it Sakura in fact I'd like you to be yourself in front of me" Shikamaru tells her and Sakura stares at him in surprise "Damn if I'd known that years ago I wouldn't have stopped myself from cussing" she curses immediately feeling free from one of her burdens 'Only like 200 more to go' she thought internally "Ok Sakura I'm taking the lead this time" Shikamaru notices the expression on her face and grabs her hand leading her to their new destination.
Entering the building that was currently empty they felt like naughty little trouble makers again as they climbed the stairs before reaching the third floor and head through the door they had taken the written part of their chunin exams this time neither of them say anything as they head to the desks they had been assigned during the brief time they had been in the room when Sakura starts giggling "Anko-sensei is definitely a strange one but she's alright" she laughs out while remember the purple-haired woman's entrance.
"Let's not forget her love of sweet dumplings" Sakura snorts in amusement "I remember the weird looks you got when Ibiki-san was kind to you I'm pretty sure it freaked everyone out" Shikamaru snickers from his seat before listening closely as the sound of feet on stairs comes closer and closer "Let's get the hell out of here" Sakura whispers yells running over to the window Shikamaru hot on her heels and throwing it open right as the door starts creaking open the two jump out pulling the window shut and dash around the building as Ibiki opens the door.
Peering around the room he shuts the door heading out of the building almost knocking over "Hey brat" he greets the girl "Ibiki-san" Sakura laughs smiling at him widely her heart pounding wildly in her chest at almost being caught "Hey where are you going" Sakura asks getting an idea about where they were going next as Shikamaru comes up and stands next to her "Oh the building in the forest of death" Ibiki says offhandedly already heading in that direction "May we tag along" Sakura asks sweetly.
"Fine brat but behave yourselves" Ibiki sighs before gesturing for the two to take hold him as he teleports inside the building at the center of the forest of death "Thanks Ibiki we'll just be in the arena" Sakura gives him a wave before grabbing Shikamaru by the hand and leading him to the arena in the middle of the building "This is where I practiced my medical ninjutsu and healed you for the first time" Sakura gives him a smile as they both remember Ino's accusation when Sakura admitted to them she wasn't sure if it would work.
"That was also the day you taught Ino a valuable lesson when you knocked her out in your match and then stopped Gaara from killing Lee in fact I think we all learned something that day being a shinobi is for real it's not a game and people die" Shikamaru sighs sadly "Hey Shikamaru spar with me for a bit" Sakura asks suddenly hopping down into the arena "Your on Sakura" Shikamaru grins walking down the steps to stand before her "Don't go easy on me" Sakura warns suddenly.
"Wouldn't dream of it" he smirks before forming his handsign for the shadow possession jutsu "I've seen your jutsu Shika-kun" Sakura laughs before disappearing into thin air "You forget I've also seen your jutsu Saku-chan and I know exactly where your going to attack" Shikamaru smirks thinking he had her beat if he could calculate her movements only to wince a moment later as his cheek starts bleeding and a dark green shuriken whizzes past his ear 'Ok so I won't know where she'll strike' he thought with a pout while holding his cheek as blood drips down his neck.
Meanwhile Sakura was leaning against a wall while watching Shikamaru stand in the middle of the arena trapped in her genjutsu she had laced it in her eyes and the minute he had looked she activated it 'Poor Shikamaru I wonder what's going on in the genjutsu' she thinks to herself as he falls back and lands on the floor with a muted thud back in the illusion Shikamaru had ducked to avoid another shuriken that appeared from the middle of the arena and fell flat on his back "Sakura quite messing around" he huffs sighing in relief when she finally reappears.
"What's the matter Shikamaru" the illusion Sakura asks teasingly "Why are you going so easy on me" Shikamaru asks still not realizing he was in a genjutsu "You want me to come at you with intent to harm" Sakura asks in return emerald eyes focused entirely on him "Yeah that's the whole point sweet jesus what the heck is that Sakura" Shikamaru exclaims ducking the one bladed scythe she suddenly wielded "Oh this it's a gift I got from someone" the illusion Sakura explains slashing at Shikamaru and catching him several times.
'Wait a second I know I'm bleeding and I'm losing plenty of blood but I'm not feeling the effects of blood loss now I get it' Shikamaru thinks dodging and ducking and jumping back, left, right leaning down backwards as Sakura thrust her scythe at him seeing an opening he quickly puts his hands together "Release" he calls sitting up disoriented as he wakes up in the real world again "Nice job Shika-kun it took you about 15 minutes to figure it out that's a new record" Sakura laughs from her spot against the wall.
"Just tell me one thing when did you perform that genjutsu" Shikamaru pants sweat rolling off of him from the mental battle "When you looked into my eyes" Sakura admits flying at him with a kunai "Now it's time for the real fight" Sakura smiled throwing her kunai before reaching him and sweeping his feet out from underneath of him cartwheeling backwards Shikamaru regains his balance and tries to get distance from Sakura who was quickly gaining on him 'Damn what a drag she already knows my weakness' Shikamaru thought with a sigh.
While he thought this he spun to the right missing her punch by inches before crossing hims arms in front him to block the next slamming his palm into her stomach only to push her back a few centimeters as Sakura holds her ground grasping his arm Sakura throws him over her head before grabbing a few more kunai from her pouch and throwing them at him as she tries to get in close again the two fly into a round of punches and kicks as they try to knock the other off balance with their taijutsu skills when Shikamaru slams into the wall Sakura proving superior.
"Ha I've totally won Shikamaru" Sakura raises her fist only to find herself stuck "Not quite Sakura-chan" Shikamaru smirks having finally captured her in his own jutsu "Sorry Shika-kun better luck next time" Sakura says from behind him as she releases her clone as she places one of her old kunai that was dull from use against his neck "When the heck did you use that" Shikamaru pouts dropping his hands and turning his neck to look at her as she drops the kunai only to blink in surprise at how close she actually was to him.
Their lips had lightly brushed when Shikamaru had turned his head 'Oh my god' Sakura thought giving him a nervous smile jumping back and then "Hey are you two brats ready to go I'm finished here" Ibiki walks into the arena "Yep definitely" Sakura calls out taking Shikamaru's hand and suddenly they were back outside "Thanks Ibiki-san" she yells dragging Shikamaru in a different direction headed towards their final destination the final round of the chunin exams arena "This is the last place" she pants feeling a little exhausted from using her chakra all day and drops into one of the seats the stands had.
'This is troublesome' Shikamaru thought when he remembered exactly what he had done that day "The final day of the chunin exams this is where I realized what felt for you was much more than just a crush" Sakura admits when he sits next to her in the chair he had used that day before he had fled because of Shino "Yeah me too" Shikamaru echoes her thoughts out loud his heart pounding wildly in his chest "This is also where you cheered for me and Temari at the same time" Shikamaru distracts her for the moment his face heating up.
"Yeah listen Shikamaru there are something about myself that you don't know and I'd like to show you the real me promise me you won't freak out" Sakura suddenly admits "Ok Sakura I promise" Shikamaru says as seriously as possible before following her down into the arena the ground still held leftover marks from his battle with Temari watching Sakura as she pulls out a green tinted kunai "That's wicked Sakura where did you get that" he asks in awe of it "Well I'm about to show you" Sakura swallows thickly.
"This is the real me Shikamaru" she smiles sadly at him for the first time regretting being a jashinist 'Don't worry young acolyte he will accept you' Jashin's voice came from deep within giving Sakura the courage she needs as she starts her daily ritual a little early "Jashin, Lord of Slaughter I offer you my blood in this daily ritual" Sakura raises her kunai and slashes her wrist "I offer you pain of myself" she slashes her other wrist all while watching Shikamaru's facial expressions closely as she continues her ritual.
"I offer you my servitude so that I may offer you sacrifices lift me up oh Lord Jashin and let me be free" Sakura finishes closing her eyes and slashes herself all over before falling over in a faint at the rush of pleasure that followed the end of her ritual a few minutes later she comes to and Shikamaru is still standing in the same spot "Shikamaru" she asks taking a nervous step forward "Why would you hide something like that from" Shikamaru asks without look at her "I thought that you wouldn't like me anymore if you knew what I was really like" Sakura sighs.
"That's the biggest load of bullshit I've ever heard Sakura, because no matter what I'll always like you I'm gonna finish what I started that day up in the stands I'm gonna do what I really wanted to do" Shikamaru flings his head up eyes filled with a fire she had never seen and walks over to her and slams his lips down on her own moving their lips together as they share their first kiss before he finally pulls back after a few minutes "Never hide something like that from me again" he orders.
While he had bravely done this 'Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, please don't kill what the hell am I thinking she's definitely gonna murder me for this' that was going through his head he mentally cringes when she smiles sweetly at him "I promise Shikamaru there's something else you should know" Sakura cleared her throat as she got ready to finally tell Shikamaru her news "You see the reason I wanted to spend all day with you today was because tomorrow morning I'm leaving on a 3 year training trip and I wanted my last day here to be filled with memories of you" Sakura finally admits.
"Oh Sakura your a troublesome woman but I think in this case your definitely worth that trouble" Shikamaru chuckles before pulling her into a hug that would be considered indecent in public and peck her quickly on the lips again "When you come back Sakura will you be my girlfriend and go out on dates with me" he asks when he pulls back after their second kiss "Fuck yeah Shikamaru" Sakura squeals happily 'Told you he would accept you' Jashin's smug voice comes from within causing her to internally pout.
"There you go is there anything else I should know just for the sake of being honest with each other" Shikamaru peers down into her green eyes from his height 'Oh Saku-chan tell him about how Gaara stole your first kiss' Inner appears grinning mischievously "Well when I left the village to train with my sensei before the final rounds in tanzaku town Gaara kinda sorta stole my first kiss" she blurts out having no control of her mouth as she echoes Inner's words "That's ok Ino kinda stole mine she said that it was practice for when she married Sasuke" he admits dryly.
"Ahahahahahahahahahahahaha" Sakura laughs faling down and rolling on the ground at his admittance a few minutes later she stands again wiping away her tears of laughter "Is there anything else we should know about each other" Shikamaru asks rolling his eyes as a few giggles escape from between Sakura's lips every now and then "Remember my ritual the part about sacrifices" Sakura sighs getting ready to tell him about "Oh that part yeah you saying you've sacrificed someone" Shikamaru asks curiously.
"3 people and each of them deserved it they weren't good guys I promise I only off the bad guys" Sakura admits "I would expect nothing less of you Sakura-chan" Shikamaru nods 'That's what happened to the sound guy' he internally smirked 'That's my girl' he thought proudly already thinking of Sakura as his "Who was your first sacrifice" he asks as he takes her hand and twines their fingers together as they head towards the entrance of the arena "The sound guy Dosu Kinuta" Sakura gives him a smile before swinging their hands back and forth between them.
Instead of commenting he brings their hands up and quickly pecks the back of her hand as they walk down the streets of the village "Oh hey Shikamaru there's something I want to ask" Sakura finally spoke up a few minutes later "Sure go ahead" Shikamaru glances at her from the corner of his eyes "Do your parents like pets" she asks randomly causing Shikamaru to pause "Yeah I believe so" he finally answers after a few seconds "Will you take care of my baby ferret for me until I get back" Sakura finally asks.
"Absolutely though it will be a drag I think my mom would love the little a pet that she didn't have to buy what's his name" Shikamaru rambles before asking "Oh his name is Sasuke" she giggles as they enter Naruto's apartment "I see" Shikamaru grins teasingly "Yeah well here you go and I'll see you when I get back" Sakura gives him a tight lipped smile while handing over Sasuke as he gives her another quick kiss bidding her goodnight as she heads home spends one last evening with her family and then leaves the village the next morning with Hidan, Jiraiya and Naruto.
-With Orochimaru-
"That pink-haired girl has ruined everything" Orochimaru wheezes out as he sits in the bed dripping with sweat as his body is racked with agony "Lord Orochimaru what will you do now that Sasuke is no longer available" Kabuto pushes his glasses up his nose "She lost me my container and so she will pay the price" Orochimaru snarls out coughing up blood a moment later as his lungs struggle to keep giving him oxygen smiling Kabuto nods "Indeed she shall" he echoes Orochimaru's orders while giving him a cup of medicine.
"In a few years time she'll start losing everyone she's ever cared for" Orochimaru hisses out like the snake he was "Of course Lord Orochimaru" Kabuto chuckles darkly taking the cup away when the man started talking again the left over medicine dribbling down his chin "Starting with the Uzumaki boy she seemed to care for him the most" Orochimaru snaps as Kabuto exits the room leaving Orochimaru's side so he could rest.
Outside the room Kabuto's evil facade drops keeping his thoughts to himself as he walks through the underground hideout and it's labyrinth 'This is not good if we start killing people she cares about I'd hate to see what she does to the one who kills them' Kabuto thought with a shiver as he entered his lab 'I saw what she did to Dosu and it definitely wasn't pretty' Kabuto slid down in his chair as he remember the mangled and cut up body of the sound genin when Kidoumaru brought him in on his orders.
Heaving a sigh he takes his glasses off and rubs a hand down his tired face before scribbling a note to send in the future to Sakura to warn her of the impending doom that would be headed her way before setting it down somewhere he would remember and makes up a pot of medicinal herb tea before walking over to the boy covered in a white sheet "Kimimaro-kun time for your medicine" he smiles at the sick boy.
Watching Kimimaro drink the tea he knew the teen wouldn't make it Kimimaro was to far gone so when he took the empty cup back he allowed a small smile to play on his lips and he chuckled when Kimimaro's eyes widened in surprise before turning away so that he could get back to his paperwork jotting down a note in his book about Kimimaro's health deteriorating even further even with the knew medicine eyes flitting through old notes as he tries to come up with a new medicine, that's the last we hear of Orochimaru for a long while.