Sungrazers

by El Reino

ShikaHina. When Shikamaru's mother procures him a noblewoman from the capital to be his wife, he thinks he'll be getting a spoiled, demanding shrew of a woman. Instead, he gets Hinata. He remembers Hinata from his pre-genin class. But he knows nothing about who Hinata is now, and is equally confused about her best friend, Sasuke. Smut later. ***Drabble length chapters***

2. Two

Thank you to motroshell, Inuclaw, and Angel Maria 15 for the reviews. :)

I forgot how hard it is to write chapters with a certain number of words. This is good practice.

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Hinata's muscles felt stiff from lack of use, but they warmed up enough to allow her to slip over the gravel and grass soundlessly. She ducked behind a bush before she actually caught sight of the nin.

This close, she sensed more than one.

She made sure to be downwind. Her minders used scented soaps at bath time, then massaged perfume behind her ears and into her hair. It made her feel like a giant walking ball of smell. Kiba and Akamaru could probably smell her from a mile away.

But Kiba was not here. She needed to focus.

In the Academy, Mister Iruka said her size was an advantage she could use until she grew. She used that advantage now, sneaking behind the bush, then pushing herself into the shadow cast by a concrete pillar. Scooting backwards until her back hit the concrete, she hid beneath the porch overhang that the pillar supported.

From her spot, she could see the nin. They were located in some kind of training ground, because the ground was hard packed dirt. Sparring dummies lined the periphery. In the middle, an older boy, younger than Iruka but older than Neji, traded blows with a smaller boy. They fought in the middle of an enormous circle outlined in chalk.

The older boy easily fended off his opponent's advances. Then, the younger boy pulled out a kunai, bared his teeth in frustration, and his eyes bled red.

Hinata did not make a sound but she slapped a hand over her mouth anyway.

What were Uchiha doing in the capital?

The older one had his back to her, but he paused, raising a hand. Awareness weighed on his suddenly tense shoulders. "Sasuke, stop."

Sasuke did not stop. He launched himself forward, brandishing his kunai. Hinata saw the elder sigh, before reaching forward, grabbing Sasuke's wrist and whirling him in a circle. Sasuke went flying through the courtyard. He landed on his feet and skidded backwards.

The older boy holstered Sasuke's kunai and began walking in Hinata's direction. She pressed against the concrete behind her but did not run away.

She did not believe the nin would be sparring in the open if they were not allowed to be here.

"What the hell are you… Itachi?" Sasuke asked, stomping back over.

Itachi crouched down in front of Hinata's hiding place. He tilted his head to the side. "Hi."

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Word count: 400

Coming up: The Uchiha's help remind Hinata who she is.