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Chapter Text

Tik. Tok. Tik...

Shikamaru stared up at the clock in boredom, waiting for dismissal time. Iruka Sensei had been going on and on about shinobi laws, but to Shikamaru, this stuff was basic. It always was with Iruka sensei. He'd go on a tangent on rules that were common sense, well at least to Shikamaru. I mean, who would be dumb enough to hold a kunai the wrong way?

He tilted his head to the left to look over his shoulder.

Oh right.

He rolled his eyes at the snoozing Naruto Uzumaki and went back to his thoughtful stare at the clock. Class was the same as always. He took his chance to observe the classroom silently. Choji: loudly crunching on his jalapeno chips, Hinata listening to Iruka diligently, Kiba: quietly arguing with his dog, Ino with her head in her hand, wishing she was anywhere else but here right now, Sasuke: being his typical annoying self, and the extras, the less important, but slightly interesting students: doing their usual things.

Right. He supposed some things simply never changed.

As he was about to call his observing habits quits and do the usual by taking a nap, his gaze caught someone else's.

Now, this someone was not on Shikamaru's radar. She barely crossed his mind, and heck, half the time, he even forgot she was there. He usually saw her but never took the time to observe her as he did with few others.

The reason?

She was boring.

No specific skill set, no talents, and no spike.

Even Naruto had a spike. 

Not many people could catch his attention because not many people were, well, if he was being honest, interesting.

But something was different today.

No. It wasn't her pink hair.

No. It wasn't her, in Ino's words "larger than life" forehead.

But her eyes.

They were different today.

A little greener? no, that's not it.

They were madder. Angrier.

He held her stare. Only a few moments had passed, but to Shikamaru, it felt more like a couple of decades.

She was reading him. He knew it. He felt seen. Naked. Bare even. She was reading his thoughts, well at least that's what it felt like. A strange, uncomfortable feeling overtook him, but it wouldn't last long.

"All right!! That's all for today, you're free to go" Iruka called out.

That broke their pseudo staring contest and she looked away first. Shikamaru was still in his seat, watching her, as she packed up her things. People flocked out the door, but his eyes were on the short pink-headed girl rushing by. He barely had any time to come back to reality when Choji shook him.

"Come on man! My mom's making her famous Sukiyakis today. We don't wanna be late!"

That brought Shikamaru to his senses, and he finally snapped out of the trance he never realized he was in. He shook his head and got up.

"Yeah Yeah. I'm comin'." He responded, waving him off.

As they were walking out of the door, two of the last few people in the room, he looked back at where she was sitting.

Third row, First seat to the left.

He thought to himself.

I'll find out what makes you tick...

Sakura Haruno

Shikamaru went home in a bit of a dilemma. This had never happened before. He was wrong. But he had never been wrong in his judgment in the past. So what happened? At the very beginning of every school year, he categorized his classmates. It was the logical thing to do after all. He sorted out all those who would probably go on to do something in the future. He didn't do this in a bad way per se, but it was just how he was taught.

"Shikamaru" His father pulled him aside. "There are all sorts of people around you. In this village, in neighboring towns, and beyond. They all have a purpose and a role to play. Some maybe more than others"

Shikamaru looked up at his father in confusion.

"What does that have to do with me?" He asked groggily, as his father had just woke him up from his daily nap.

Shikaku sighed and closed his eyes.

"I'm just telling you to always be aware of that and pay very close attention to your surroundings."

It had been two years since that conversation, and to this day, Shikamaru is still searching his brain to find out why his father ever told him that. But in the end, it's what led him to be hyper-aware of people. He knew he was smart, but he never really cared to observe others before then.

But this doesn't solve the question of why he was wrong.

Sakura.

She was the problem. When he first met his class for the first time, he had written her off. She demonstrated no real skill, and no ambition to become greater. On a scale of how important she would grow to be, she didn't scale. Not that it was a bad thing. Not at all. As everyone had their roles to play, it was perfectly sensible that some would play the role of average, and he assumed it to be her.

That's why she wasn't on his radar. But something that he saw yesterday intrigued him. Her presence grew, whether it happened instantly or gradually, he didn't know. But what he does know, is that he was going to have to reevaluate her.

Now this was new. It's not to say this change was unwelcome though. He was always up for a challenge.

I just hope I'm not wrong about you again 

Sakura.

Chapter Text

Shikamaru fell into a new routine.

Instead of observing his usuals. He observed her. In class, during breaks, during passing periods, and even during spars. But it soon became clear that something was wrong. Sakura Haruno was exactly the way she always was before that fateful day.

Boring.

This didn't sit right with him. During class, she was just like anyone else. Average in any sense of the word, albeit a little smarter than most. But nothing too extraordinary. During breaks, she would sit alone. Usually quite a distance from the rest of the class- he assumed it was to not draw attention to herself- and she didn't do anything out of the ordinary. During passing periods, it was the same, but the one he was most disappointed in was watching her spars.

She went up against Ami- someone of similar status to Haruno- but he assumed she would have something to showcase. Alas, that wasn't the case. She lost quickly, too.

Now, he never truly paid attention to her spars as neither she nor those she fought with were on his mind, but he never expected it to be so uneventful.

He sighed, just thinking about it while walking home alone. His stakeout had led to poor results. If he truly did not miscalculate Haruno, then was what he felt just a one-off? As he was thinking about it, he lifted his head and caught the sight of a pink head. He stopped walking and turned to stare as Haruno made her way onto the training grounds.

As soon as she was nearly out of sight, he decided to ditch his previous plans of going straight home and followed her. He stalked quite a distance from her so she wouldn't notice him, but with her abysmal chakra level, he doubted she would feel him anyway.

They walked for quite a while, past the grounds for academy students and chunins. Just when he thought she would walk into the Jonin grounds, she made a turn towards the woods and continued her journey. She stopped in a secluded area surrounded by trees, bushes, and rock formations. It looked like a training ground overgrown with nature. He stopped a little way away from her, set his bag down quietly, and crouched in the bushes.

He watched as she did the typical stretches and waited.

He didn't know what he was waiting for, but he didn't want his mission to be in vain.

Just as he was about to give up, Haruno stood up and walked towards a tall tree to her left. She stood right in front of it, and she lifted her palm towards the bark. She clenched her hand into a fist and drew it back.

Just as Shikamaru assumed she was going to do one of the Academy training exercises, she rammed her fist at the tree.

"CHAAAAA." That was the loudest he thought he ever heard her.

The tree cracked open and, in what felt like less than a second, was blown back into pieces.

She stood there panting, with her hands on her thighs, trying to catch her breath. But when she looked up, Shikamaru caught sight of her face, and his stomach dropped.

She was mesmerizing. 

The determined, angry look was in her eyes, and she wore a maniac-like grin. The slight blood on her knuckles didn't seem to deter her. Her pink locs flew every which way as she looked more in tune than he ever saw her. She looked hypnotic, the way he could focus on nothing but her at that exact moment. It was enchanting, and Shikamaru could truly say he was confused.

Once she caught her breath, she ran towards the closest tree to her left and went at it again. She did this again and again and again until seven trees had been blown to bits by her.

Shikamaru had his breath stolen from him, just watching her. He didn't know what he was currently feeling, but he believed it to be a mix of shock, the satisfaction of being right, and something else he couldn't quite name. He stood from his hiding spot, still amazed.

Just as he was recollecting his thoughts, her voice rang. "Why have you been stalking me?"

He snapped out of his trance and looked up, only to see her facing him with her arms crossed. She glared at him and waited for his response.

"Oh. Uhm." He stuttered embarrassingly. "I was just-"

"Save it. You've been watching me for over a week now. What do you want?" She asked impatiently.

Shikamaru shut his mouth and stared at her for a moment. "You're strange. That's why."

She looked at him with disbelief as he continued. "One moment, you're average, and the next, you're this." He said, gesturing to her."

"Why? Why do you do that?" He finalized.

She peered at him before scoffing and uncrossing her arms. "Don't stick your nose in people's business. You stay with your crowd, and I'll stay in mine." She picked up her book and threw it to the ground before stretching and hauling it onto her shoulder.

"Leave me alone." She said, looking back before she walked back to the route she came from.

Shikamaru gazed at her back as she disappeared from his field of vision. He took a moment to look at the damage she caused before deciding to leave.

He picked up his bag and followed the route out of the forest, thinking to himself.

If one looked closely at his face, they'd notice a slight smile with a hint of mischief in his eyes.

Chapter Text

The next day, Shikamaru decided that now that was found out, it was time to change tactics. During lunch, he threw a curveball her way. A Shikamaru-sized curveball, in fact.

He walked right up to her and plopped down beside her.

Sakura glared at him, annoyed.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

Shikamaru shrugged and pulled his lunch out of the bento his mother had packed for him. "You said to stop following you, didn't you? So I won't." He finalized, taking a bite.

"That doesn't mean I want you to talk to me in public. I said stay in your crowd." She said in an angrier tone. Shikamaru looked up and noticed Choji staring at him with a raised eyebrow. He waved him off and turned back to look at Sakura.

"I think I want you in my crowd." He said, putting emphasis on 'you.' "I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship,"

"I'd rather not."

She responded, smiling saccharinely. She packed her small brown bag and got up. She took one last glance at him, scoffed, and stomped away.

Shikamaru's eyes followed her as she left, and then he felt a tap on his shoulder. He looked up and saw Choji and Ino standing beside him.

"What was that all about?" Ino questioned, pointing towards Sakura's back. Shikamaru sighed and laid down on his back. 

"Don't worry about it." He sighed and closed his eyes. Ino and Choji took turns staring at him before sitting down on either side of him. Their lunch break went on as usual. Talking about upcoming scars and clan meetings. But Shikamaru's mind couldn't be farther from the conversation. He was still thinking about what he saw yesterday. He didn't know what was going on, but he did know he wanted more. 

This day marked the start of a new routine.

- Go the Acadamy

-Sit down in his usual all-viewing seat

-Sit with Sakura at lunch while she pretended he didn't exist.

- Ignore the questioning looks from Choji and Ino

-Follow Sakura into the woods 

-Watch her train while dodging splinters (Intentionally, he knows) thrown his way.

Shikamaru thinks that it's safe to say that Sakura Haruno really didn't like him. But not enough to beat him to a pulp. He would know. He saw her take down four Hashirama trees in a minute.

It was a usual day following his new routine. Shikamaru had thrown his backpack to the side and laid down, stomach down, on a large rock with a workbook in his hands. He looked up from his questions and examined Sakura carefully.

She was currently doing warm-ups and started on pushups. Per usual, she was ignoring him. The first few times he watched her openly, Sakura kept trying to get him to leave, but she soon realized that it was pointless and didn't spare him any attention, and thus the start of their routine.

With nothing but the sound of Sakura's huffing being heard, he asked a question.

"If you have the strength to do all that you do..." He began. "Why do you not use it during Academy? You let yourself loose to almost everyone you go against, but why?"

He watched as Sakura stopped her movements and sat up. She was silent for a moment, catching her breath, and just when he thought she would ignore him, she answered.

"It's like I said from the very beginning." She spoke.

This made Shikamaru sit up, confused. What was she talking about? She lifted her head and stared away from him.

"You stick to your crowd, and I'll Stick to mine." She quoted herself. Her head drifted back to meet his eyes. "Don't you notice the type of people who take up the majority of our class?"

This led him to think for a while. Type of person? Students? But what about the students that made up the majority? What did they have in common that would lead her to weaken herself?

She rolled her eyes at his hesitancy and answered her question.

"They're clan kids, Nara!" She said exhaustedly. "Almost every student comes from a clan, whether big or small."

This didn't answer his question though, he thought, as he stared at her dumbfoundedly.

" Did you know that our class is the highest-ranking one? And do you know why our class is full of clan kids? Because they are meant to succeed. From the very beginning, they were put in the superior classrooms, with superior teachers because the teachers knew that they had the best chance of becoming ninjas. Us civilians are put in lower-ranking classes as that is what is expected of us. To finish lackluster and end up in the Genin corps." She stopped.

"The only reason I'm in this class with a few other civilians is that we were deemed 'top of the class'. So we got 'promoted." She said using air quotes. " That's why there's only six civilian kids among a class of thirty.

Shikamaru was now confused more than ever before.

"Doesn't that give you more of a reason to show your strength though?" He asked. " I bet you would be top of our class with what you can do, even above Sasuke." He argued.

She looked down.

"Civilians are not meant to succeed." His lips clamped shut. "Do you really think that there have been no strong civilian academy students? Get real." She scoffed. "If a civilian was able to overpower a clan student over and over again, the clan would find it unacceptable. After all, those born into a good clan means that they have a higher ranking than civilians. To lose to one is a practical kick in the face of a clan's image. And so stronger than average civilian kids are taken out of such top classes and demoted to lower classes on grounds of "being too harsh to fellow students"

"I don't do the best I can do to ensure I actually graduate. I don't get the privilege to do what you clan kids can." She said spitefully. "Look at us now for example." She pointed to him. 

"I am training, making sure I have the power to save myself in case of a life-or-death situation. And you are sitting down practically mocking me." She glared at him angrily.

Shikamaru grew stunned.

"And yet, which one of us do you think will end up with the best sensei?" She finished. He had no words, sitting there with his workbook and papers spread across his lap.

Sakura went back to her pushups, putting more energy into them as if it were an outlet for her anger. Shikamaru looked on ahead, thinking of what he had just learned. He thought back to every time he saw the class rankings and saw the civilians at the bottom, thinking it was normal. He thought back to how he observed those he saw as "worthy", and how it was practically more than half the class, excluding the civilians. He thought of seeing Sakura eating alone while the other clan kids had typically bunched together during lunch. And all he could do was just stare at the ground.

He didn't know how much time had passed while he was thinking of the academy up to this point, but when he looked up, he realized Sakura had left- leaving a tree demise in her waking. He lamented and slid off the rock he was on, gathering his things.

He needed to ask a certain someone a few questions.

Chapter Text

When Shikamaru came home that day, he went straight for his father.

He walked inside, greeted his mother, and headed for his father's office. Three knocks and out came a firm voice. 

"Come in."

He pushed the door open and stepped inside, quietly shutting the door behind him. His father's head rose from the shogi board in front of him, and he stared into Shikamaru's eyes. He waited for him to speak. Gosh, he was always so intimidating once he got off from work. Almost like he didn't shed off his Torture and interrogation persona once stepping foot into the house.

"Hey, Dad." Shikamaru greeted him, stepping up to sit in the chair across from the desk the shogi board was on. "I had something I wanted to talk to you about."

Shikaku took his attention to the board and placed it on Shikamaru, which led him to speak. He had so many things running through his mind at the new revelation that he blurted out the first thing he thought of.

"Why are there so few civilians in the academy?" He asked quickly.

Shikaku pursed his lips. " What brings about the sudden interest?" He answered with his own question. But that wasn't new. His father answered questions in a way that would give no real information until he was 100% sure of the whole situation.

Shikamaru sighed. Why must his life be so difficult?

"There's this girl in my class, Sakura Haruno." He began. He watched as his father's face went blank before a sly grin crept onto his face. 

"Shouldn't you talk to your mother about your womanly troubles, son?" He asked, eyes setting back focus on his board, analyzing his recent moves.

"It's not like that." He complained while rolling his eyes.

"She-" He stopped. He didn't want to reveal what Sakura could do in case what she said was true. And if, in fact what she said was true, his father worked directly in contact with the Hokage.

"She brought to my attention how so little civilians were in the class. Did you notice how many clan kids are in my class? Why is that?" He finished.

Shikaku gave a sigh and moved a piece to the left. He looked back up and stared at him intensely.

"Well, it's because your class is in the highest sector. The academy is split into three divisions. 3, 2, and 1. You were placed in class one from the beginning, and that is no surprise Shikamaru You are far above the average for academy students, and so is everyone currently in your class."

"Yes, but why was I put into Division 1 from the start? The academy didn't require an entrance exam, you just signed up. How were they so sure I was above average?" He pushed.

"Well, since you are a Nara, it's obvious to anyone you grew up with training before attending. It's also why those of clans like the Hyūga and Inuzuka alike are also placed in division one from the beginning. They are all highly skilled. " Shikaku finished without batting an eyelid.

He thought for a second more. That was true. Ever since Shikamaru was born, he was taught things most students wouldn't learn until their academy days. He thought of all the times he was gifted weapons before he even knew how to use them and of the private tutors he had to teach him basic katas and stances. These were things that were one of the first lessons taught in the academy and he breezed past them, as did most of his peers. He never thought of it as strange.

But then he thought back to Sakura. A civilian. Who most likely didn't get the same amount of help he was assigned from birth.

"Then what about the civilians?" He brought up a new question. "They're not trained from the beginning. What happens to them?"

"Well, usually, they are placed in division 3. After all, they are extremely new to the way of ninja life. They do have the chance to advance, of course. Just take a look at the Sakura girl you are mentioning. She's your peer, isn't she?" 

"Yes, but she wasn't always. She said she had to be top of her class in her previous division to be in the same place as I am."

"Yes, she did have to advance. And yes, she probably worked hard to beat out the lower divisions, but now that she's in division one, isn't she at the bottom?" He questioned back, now having his full attention on him.

Shikaku continued. "I have no doubt she is a skilled individual. But she is not yet to the point of achieving a good class ranking, as it is for the rest of the civilians in your class. They were strong. Just not quite as strong as you." He finished.

That stunned Shikamaru. If only he knew how wrong that comment was. But what shocked him even more was how at ease his father was when explaining it all to him. Basically, clan kids always had a leg up, and no matter how hard civilians may push, it was highly unlikely they would reach the level of those who had been training since birth naturally.

"And what of those who are stronger than clan kids? What happens then?" He pressured.

Silence was all he got back.

Just as his father was going to respond, his mother's voice rang out from outside of the door.

"Shikamaru! Come feed the deer!" She hollered.

Shikamaru and his father seemed to be stuck in a staring contest with how intense their stares were. It was almost as if they were analyzing each other, trying to decipher some sort of code.

Shikamaru did end up losing though. He broke eye contact, and stood up to leave. 

"I do have some more questions, but I suppose I'll ask them after dinner." And he turned to exit the office.

But not before realizing his fathers eyes had been glued to the back of his head.

Chapter Text

SAKURA POV

Growing up, Sakura had long realized that life wasn't fair. 

When her cousin would take away her toys, but her mother would tell her to let it go.

When she wanted to play in the park, but her father scolded her because he was too busy and had to work.

When she wanted to make friends, but they all made fun of her for the size of her forehead.

These things were not new to her. But it seems that she only realized the extent of it when she decided to follow the path of becoming a ninja.

Sakura made up her mind to become a ninja at the age of six. She was with a group of other children, following them around because she wanted to be in their group. They made a bet with her.

"Climb up the highest tree you can find, and then they would be friends. Don't worry; we'll get you down if you do it."

And with that, they told her to get started and that they would come back in an hour before running further into the woods to play. She took this bet to heart because, of course, she did; it seemed like the logical way to befriend people at the time with Sakura's trusting nature. And so, she began. She looked up and pinpointed the largest tree around her and got to climbing. Sakura had only ever climbed one tree before, but it was a smaller tree in her background, and she was trying to get her ball that she had accidentally kicked up. No one was there to catch her when she fell, but the fall was not that bad, so she got over it fairly quickly.

This time, though, she decided to climb a tree to her left. It stood menacingly, towering above her, but that didn't matter to Sakura. All she knew was that she was finally going to make some friends, so she got to climbing. Grasping at any indents she could to hoist herself up, testing branched for their firm-ability before placing her foot onto them, climbing higher at a slow pace. She made it to the top of the tree eventually, finding home on the highest branch before hugging the bark. She finally opened her eyes and looked down, feeling nauseous at the height she was at. She didn't fully realize how high she was and closed her eyes, pulling her body further into the tree to hold herself. 

I hope they hurry up and come back soon. Her younger self thought. And so, she waited. And waited. and waited. And waited. Eventually, the sun was going down. Sakura had started counting to herself, trying to pass the time, but no matter how many thousands she had passed, no rushing footsteps could be heard. It took Sakura about three hours to realize that they were not coming back.

Then came the tears. Sakura started bawling. She was in the middle of the forest, all alone, in the dark, and in a tree. She braced herself and looked around, only seeing other trees surrounding her. She was stranded and didn't know what to do. Fear clung onto her as tightly as she clung to the tree, and she sat there hoping someone would find her.

2 more hours had passed, and Sakura was hungry. Her young body needed food, and she hadn't had water in a while, either. She was feeling delirious, too drained to think after all her crying earlier.

She felt weak, and her eyes had started to droop. Her limbs started to loosen up, and her grip soon failed her. Before she knew it, she was quickly plummeting to the ground.

She had no thoughts, staring at the branches that passed her by as she fell. But just as she was about to hit the ground, two firm hands swooped by and caught her.

She was on the verge of passing out, but before her vision failed her, onyx eyes were the last thing she saw.

She had woken up in the hospital, parents on either side of her, sleeping. She later found out that it was an Uchiha who had saved her, but she didn't get the first name of who did it. She made a promise to herself to never feel as helpless as she was on that fated day and soon enrolled in the academy despite her parents' protests.

Now, at first, Sakura never realized anything was amiss, but it wasn't until she stepped out of her first class to use the bathroom that she saw it. On her way back to class, she looked out the window and saw a class of similar-aged kids fighting. She went closer to take a better view, and that's when she saw it. Two girls fighting each other while the rest of the class sat in a circle watching them. 

At first, she thought it was a regular class, just like hers, just fighting, but when she looked closer, she realized it was an organized spar. A teacher stood beside the group, writing down on a clipboard, smiling. She realized that the class was actually sparring. She grew excited. She raced back to her class and sat down, almost buzzing with glee at the thought of becoming one step closer to being strong. But her excitement was soon doused when her teacher informed her that it wouldn't be possible.

"No, Sakura. Don't be silly. The class you saw fighting is in the first division. They are trained to fight. This is division three. There won't be any sparring until at least your last year." Her teacher explained, almost mockingly.

She put her raised hand down, her smile wiped off her face. She listened to her fellow classmates laugh quietly at her admonishment. 

It was after that day that made her started seeing the disparities. When she looked around her class, all she could see were fellow civilians. Kids whose parents were merchants, or carpenters, or weaponsmiths filled the class. She soon learned that she could advance, and that was the only way to be upgraded to the class she witnessed outside. And so Sakura hit the books. She knew she was a smart kid; she was often praised for it, but she needed to get smarter. She went to the library to find more information about history, and weapons, and forms, but she was told that she wasn't allowed into the Ninja section before being turned away. 

But not before seeing an Akamichi kid waltz right in.

She found a way around this by sneaking into the teacher's lounge and raiding the books there. She heard of teachers conversing about who could have done it, but they eventually let it go, assuming it was a "higher-level" student in need of tutoring.

The class she was in did not fight at all, but she believed that once she advanced, she would start. This led her to research different moves and jutsus just to be prepared. She started exercising and eating more. 

And her wish eventually came true. She was advanced into a division two class, and she was ecstatic. But that excitement, too, was soon watered down.

She got what she wanted she supposed. Her class did fight. It's just that no matter who she went up against, she always lost. No matter how much dedication she showed, how much training she completed, and how much food she ate, she never once ended up on top of her opponent.

She was heartbroken and soon dove deeper into herself. She didn't talk to people (not that people even wanted to speak to her). She stayed by herself, willing herself to get better. But after countless losses, she decided to start seeing where she went wrong, and that was where she noticed it.

This class, an advancement, was filled with a mixture of kids. In a class of 30, 15 were clan kids (albeit not very influential ones), and 15 were civilians. You can guess who was in the top 15. That struck Sakura as odd. Why were there no clan kids in her first class? Nevertheless, this question brought Sakura to climb out of her shell a bit and befriend someone in her class. His name was Mirio. He came from a fairly regular clan, and after befriending him, she was told that he had always been in division 2. He was ranked 13 and was very steady. 

After talking with him more, she realized that once one enrolled in the academy, they were instantly placed into a class, and it wasn't randomized. But since there wasn't a test to get in, how did they know where to place the students? This question took over Sakura's days while she tried to figure it out. 

Even though this question ate at Sakura, she soon found out that befriending Mirio had its perks. He asked her to come to the library once, and when she went, he led her toward the ninja and weapons sector. She wanted to tell him that they wouldn't be let it, but to her suprise, when the librarian saw his face, she paid no attention to them and went back to her work.

Why was he allowed in when she wasn't? She asked him, and he shrugged and answered. "Probably 'cause I come from a clan, and you don't," He said calmly, setting his bag down on the table they were at before roaming for a book. 

Sakura sat there in disbelief. She looked around and grew even more stunned. All around her were D-level techniques, ninja history, and more. How much could this have helped her? How many times could she have won already if she was just able to get her hands on even a fraction of what was in front of her? She got up and roamed the isles. She picked up books on different countries, high-level math books, and more while on her journey. She soon came across another checkpoint, though. It was similar to the one for the ninja section, but the librarian at the desk was asleep. She looked around for any signs that might indicate what it was, but she could find none.

She placed her books down at a nearby table and lowered herself to the ground. If she wasn't allowed into the ninja section, how would she be allowed into this deeper section? She crawled past the rope that was separating the sections, and once she couldn't see the checkpoint, she got up. She walked deeper in and saw even more books. But what intrigued her the most was when she got to what seemed to be the very end of the section and rounded a corner to find a dusty box.

She picked it up, intrigued, and placed it on a nearby table. The overhead light flickered, as if old, and dust flew all around her.

She lifted the lid, and there lay a diary of some sort. She picked it up and dusted it off, coughing as dust clogged her airways.

The only word that was written on the cover was a signature.

"Tsunade" It read.

That name didn't make anything come to mind for Sakura. She didn't know who that was. When she flipped through it, she was mesmerized. Techniques and facts were sprawled along the pages. There were detailed descriptions of jutsu she couldn't even pronounce. She grew entranced at all that was in it but soon decided to close it. She placed it on the table and looked further inside the box. She found more diaries and even some history books. She was at the table for about thirty minutes before finding out who this 'Tsunade' was. 

She was a Sanin. One of the legendary Sanin of Konoha. She looked up and saw a clock, and once she realized how much time had passed, she hurried to pack what she had found. She closed the box and carried it with her back to the checkpoint. Just as she was about to past the librarian's desk, she saw a light coming her way. She ducked under a table, and the librarian, who was sleeping, soon passed her with a flashlight in his hand. He walked further down, making his way towards the areas she was just at.

Once out of sight, she dashed out of the unnamed section and found her way back to the table Mirio and her had claimed. She looked out the window and realized it had gotten dark. Mirio was nowhere to be found, and she assumed he had left once he didn't see her come back from wherever he thought she went.

She swung her bag over her back and carried her belongings out the door. The first librarian didn't even raise her head to see her out, but Sakura was perfectly okay with that because she probably would have taken the box from her.

She made her way home and put down her things in her room. That night, she didn't sleep or, eat, or leave her room. Her eyes lay firmly glued to the history book she had found.

It turns out that Tsunade, the Sanin, had fled the village. It wasn't written why, but it was noted how many officials grew a dislike for her abandonment of her home and wanted all memories of her erased. Sakura assumed that's why her stuff was in a box. It was most likely going to be destroyed but was forgotten about.

That day marked the start of a new person. The next day, when Mirio asked her where she had gone, she had brushed him off but insisted that they spend all their time hanging out in the library from now on. Thus, led to a routine of Mirio getting her into the ninja sector, Sakura ditching him in search of more knowledge, and him getting fed up and leaving early.

Mirio soon stopped talking to Sakura, but she didn't care. She was high on knowledge and wasn't going to let some 'friendship ending' stop her. Yes, it was sad that she lost the only thing getting her into the library, but she had already accumulated a hoard of books that she wasn't finished with yet, so it didn't sting too badly.

She started to rise in the ranks in her class. 

She started using basic techniques during spars, and with her assignments being easily completed, her grades rose.  After being beaten up more times than she could count, she was finally the one winning. She poured her blood, sweat, and tears into training, using every failure as a lesson. Running laps across the academy building, putting weights on as she ran, and practicing katas three times a day- She soon found herself at Rank 1 and was finally asked to move to Division 1.

Once she stepped foot into her new class, she felt like she had finally achieved her dream. She was within the best of the best. And one of the few civilian kids to do so. Sure, she had no friends, other hobbies, or spare time, but it was all worth it.

She was going to get stronger and be equal with the kids in this class. 

Uchiha's, Naras, Hyūgas, the list could go on. She had since realized that the more influential clan kids were immediately put in division one, but that didn't bother her anymore. Why? Because she was finally on the same page.

.

.

.

Or not.

Her head hit the ground, with dirt subsequently being pushed into her mouth. Ino Yamanaka stood above her, her right food placed on her back, pushing her lower to the ground.

"Oh, Come on! You can't even block that move? I learned how to do it when I was 5. You're so behind!" She laughed haughtily.

.

.

.

No, life was not fair.

Chapter Text

SHIKAMARU

That night left Shikamaru's thoughts to drift to one thing and one thing only.

Sakura.

With all that his father told him-which wasn't much if he was being honest- he could kind of see why Sakura seemed to have some sort of hatred for him before he really even knew her.

He laid down with his head facing his ceiling. He was contemplating his next move. He was sure that by her outburst, she was absolutely fed up with him. 

He knew he should have taken it as a sign to leave her be. Go back to his life as it once was, leaving Sakura as nothing but a footnote in his history, just like she wanted. But he just couldn't. Something about the way she fought and how she conveyed her emotions stuck heavily with Shikamaru. And all the power, with little to no help from any trained adults? Now that- was power. He was just having a hard time processing how Sakura acted. 

"And yet, which one of us do you think will end up with the best sensei?" He could hear her voice scoffing. 

He rolled onto his side.

Things started to click. For all the credit people gave him for being smart- Shikamaru was very oblivious. He never did notice that in the beginning, there were no civilian children in his class. He did know that he was placed in an advanced class- but he never really put that much thought into it.

If everything he learned was true, then he really had to admit it.

He was such an ass.

He thought about how he must have looked like from Sakura's point of view. A privileged kid going all his life ignoring those he thought of as less than. Then, one day, sneaking up on Sakura and watching her. Like some sort of toy. Mocking her with his laziness as she put 100% of her energy into not even receiving half of what he already had. And the only reason he had what he had- the private tutors, the maps of weapons, the connections, the power - was all because he was lucky enough to be born into a clan.

Putting it like that really got him to see. But now that he knew, how could he just go on with his life, seeing her every day?

He felt terrible.

And yet, his feelings would not stop the silent systematic injustice she faced on a daily.

She was Resilient. She was Powerful. She was an Enigma.

And he was resolved to be the one to prove it.

SAKURA

Sakura stepped into class early, head down, face blank.

She headed for her seat and neatly organized her papers and items on her desk.

This was her routine. 

Never failed to do it ever since she had been the target of a cruel prank which involved eggs and paint exploding and ruining her things in the middle of the day. To this day, she doesn't know who did it, but she has her money on a few of the civilian kids. After all, she was the highest ranking among them, not to mention the youngest.

But she didn't fault them much. If someone younger than her proved to be better than her, she would be slightly annoyed, too. Not including the clan kids, though. She thought bitterly. They were born for success. 

She rummaged through her desk, checking for any ink bombs or similar sorts, but her hand brushed over a heavy book. She raised a brow and pulled the hardcover out from under the cubby. 

'The Way of the Katas: Limited Edition- B Ranked.'

She swept her hand over the cover, shocked. This book was one she had never seen before. She had heard of it, though, and from what she knew, this was a staple for clan children to begin their training. She was never able to get her hands on it because such clan-related books weren't out in public libraries.

She opened the book to the first page, and there laid a "PROPERTY OF NARA CLAN" red stamp. 

She looked up and searched around the room, but no one was there yet.

No one ever came as early as her, and it seems that no one had.

Just as she was about to turn back to the book, a voice startled her.

"Hey"

She whipped her back to face forward and met Shikamaru Nara's eyes. He was standing in front of her, hand scratching the back of his head. He looked at her hesitantly.

"I know this probably doesn't make up for how I've been acting. But I really am sorry."

She stared up at him, stunned. After a while, she didn't say anything.

He sighed and turned around, starting to make his way towards the door. He left, shutting the door softly, while Sakura stared at his back.

She glanced back down and skimmed over the pages. It taught forms and stances- most of which she saw kids in her class do during spars. She stopped at a random page. Page 15, and there she saw it.

The same block the Yamanaka Heiress used to take her down on that fateful day. She stared long and hard at it, feeling her hands grip the book on either side tightly. Her breath picked up, and she felt her blood started boiling. 

So this is why she lost? 

Because of a move only taught to those with a clan library?

She stewed.

It wasn't like she didn't know. It was just that it hurt more when she saw the evidence sitting right in front of her.

She put the book down, deciding to think rationally.

Come on, Sakura. Get your head back on. Calm down. She coached herself.

Now calm, she looked back out the door that Shikamaru had left out of, thinking to herself.

At Lunch, she stepped outside as she always did, heading for her usual area- secluded from everyone else.

But she looked to the side and saw him: Shikamaru Nara, who was sitting with Choji Akamichi. She stood up straighter and changed her route. She walked up to him, and while Akamichi noticed her and fell silent, Shikamaru did not.

He was lying down, eyes closed, resting.

She looked at Choji, and he stared right back at her.

She ignored him and, plopped herself on the left side of Shikamaru and started unpacking her lunch. 

She felt his stare but focused on herself.

"Why'd you stop talkin-" Shikamaru began, opening his eyes boredly before noticing Sakura sat down. "Oh. Haruno." He addressed her formally. "I thought you were Ino." He said quietly.

She looked ahead of her, not paying any attention to his words. She ate her food, observing the rest of the yard.

Shikamaru sat up and looked toward Choji's confused look.

He waved him off, and they sat in silence for a while.

Choji stood up after some time and excused himself for the bathroom. As soon as he left them, Shikamaru turned to her questioningly.

But before he had the chance to say anything, she spoke.

"Let's make a deal." 

Shikamaru stared at her for a moment in question before answering. "I'm Listening."

She continued, "You continue to give me books like the one you left at my desk, and in return, I'll...." She stopped. Uncertain as she didn't think this all the way through.

 After all, What could a person like him need from someone like her?

She went silent for a couple of moments, looking for what to say, before he continued for her.

"And in return, you allow me to watch you train." He completed.

She side-eyed him.

"What? I already do. But I did it without your permission, and I am sorry for that. Allow me to watch you, and in return, I'll help you get the books you need."

Sakura focused on him for a few seconds.

.

.

.

"Deal"

Chapter Text

And this is how the next month proceeded. Shikamaru giving Sakura a new book each week from his Clan's private library in exchange for Shikamaru observing her.

Now, instead of Sakura walking off while he trailed behind her silently as he used to, they walked side by side into the forest.

This did get him some stares, though. Ino had practically interrogated him last week about when he and Sakura suddenly became all "buddy-buddy," but he shrugged her off. Once in their secluded area, he'd set his bag down and pull out his shogi board or assignments to pass the time. Sakura would get started on her warmups before either sitting beside him and studying the books or getting straight to work putting what she learned to good use.

It wasn't until the 2nd week of their routine that she started talking to him willingly. She started engaging in conversation and answered his questioning glances when he was confused about what new move or kata she was working on.

The books he gave to Sakura- even he didn't know what was in some of them. He just never really cared for short-range attacks or specific forms, he was taught the Nara style and valued long-range attacks as they played to his advantage and clan jutsus. The way he picked out what to give Sakura was based on what he had seen her do so far. She was brutal, her punches hard, but he knew she wanted them to be harder. So he looked for books on how to angle the body in certain ways in order to not miss a target. He found books on hand-to-hand combat and how to defend one's self. He wasn't quite sure if that was what Sakura had wanted, but he knew she never complained when a new book popped up on her desk every week.

Shikamaru saw her work pay off at the next class sparring match. A little over a month after their routine formed was when Ino and Sakura were paired up again. He hadn't paid much attention to fights featuring civilians in the past, even when they were against a clan kid like himself; he just didn't care that much. But now that he knew what Sakura was made of, he started watching more matches, ones with Sakura and the other civilian kids.

Sakura and Ino were both called to the center of the class's circle formation, and Iruka-sensei shouted.

"Begin!"

They stood still for a moment, sizing each other up, Ino more haughtily than Sakura.

"Oh, come on. This is gonna be a piece of cake! Forehead, let's not drag this on too long. 'Kay?" She smirked before rushing at Sakura. She drew her Kunai and held it in her right hand, slashing it at the pink-headed girl. Sakura ducked, successfully dodging, before grabbing the arm that was originally aimed at her. She twisted it and pulled, spinning Ino away. Ino didn't let it faze her, already turning around quickly with a kick fired up.

Sakura stopped it with her hand and flipped her, bringing her to the ground, but instead of yielding, Ino pulled her and brought her down with her. Falling on top of Sakura, she clenched her right hand into a punch and hit Sakura right in the face. 

Shikamaru watched the fight with anticipation. He knew Sakura said she wouldn't (she couldn't) go all out, but surely, she wouldn't lose this easily. Right? His stomach turned as he witnessed Ino deliver multiple blows to Sakura's face.

"Stop resisting and just yield," Ino grunted, not letting up. "You know you'll lose, so just give up."

It seemed like that's what woke Sakura up from her trance. She lifted her bruised arm and caught another one of Ino's punches before twisting her arm painfully. He was sure he heard a crack before locking Ino with her legs and flipping them over.

The very move that Ino had done the first time they had sparred which made Sakura lose.

Ino couldn't get a word in before Sakura lifted her fist again once more and punched her harder than Ino ever could've, but not as hard as he'd seen her demolish a tree.

The crowd went silent with shock after witnessing Ino get knocked out with a single punch. Sakura stood up, panting, hands resting on her knees as she tried to catch her breath.

Ino's friends, who were previously cheering her on, looked on in disbelief.

"Oh, Ah, It seems we have a winner! Sakura Haruno!" Iruka announced, fumbling with his words, as he quickly scribbled down something on his clipboard. Sakura straightened her back and turned to look towards Shikamaru.

Her nose was most likely broken, blood streaming down her face. She had a bruise forming on the left side of her cheek, but she was smiling, blood coloring her straight teeth with a faint pink hue.

He didn't know what overcame him, but he gave a small smile back.

He watched as Iruka commanded a group of guys to escort Ino and Sakura to the infirmary while students talked in hushed whispers. It took him some time to realize why so many students cared so much about this fight, after all, it wasn't like Ino was unbeatable. She had lost multiple times before, but then it clicked.

It was the first time ever, in his class that a civilian beat a clan kid. Sure, there were ties before, but it usually was evident that whatever clan kid that was fighting had more raw power behind them. They most likely got distracted or tried to do a new move, which was the reason for a tie, but never a straight-up loss.

He did another glance around, but his eyes immediately locked onto someone who was surprisingly on his list of those that he dubbed "interesting enough."

Naruto Uzumaki.

Yes. He realized he may have sounded a little hypocritical. All that "civilians are seen as lesser than" talk he spewed before. But it didn't apply to Uzumaki. Sure, he was a civilian, but he was an orphan, and the term "monster" did get thrown around when the topic of Naruto came up in adults' conversations, so he didn't really see Naruto in the same light as the other civilian kids. 

He had been in rank one since the beginning, but he had been held back due to a lack of skills, and even during this new year, he wasn't high on the ranking.

He watched as Uzumaki's eyes followed the direction Sakura had walked off on and observed him for a second.

He had never seen Uzumaki spar, now that he thought of it. He never was allowed to, and Iruka sensei had told the class it was because he had to get his grades up to be given the privilege to spar. But if you asked Shikamaru, he'd say it was because the guy didn't like Uzumaki.

Sure, the kid was annoying and loud, and messy, and- he could go on- but surely those traits didn't warrant fearful, angry eyes directed at him everywhere he turned to.

He put a pin in that thought and faced back forward, listening to Kiba and Choji talk about the match that just happened.

"Geez, I didn't expect Ino to be taken out like that!" Kiba said in smiling disbelief. "I wonder if she broke her nose? Man! She would freak!" He laughed.

Choji munched on some potato chips while listening. "I think that's the first time she's been knocked out so quickly." He added on.

Shikamaru sighed and closed his eyes. He hoped that Sakura's winning wouldn't be looked into too deeply. After all, it's not like she used some A-level technique or private clan jutsu. She used a technique taught to specific kids, and if asked, she could say she learned by watching her peers execute it.

He went over the possible excuses she could use when questioned.

He thinks she'll be okay, though. And, he had to admit. It was a little exciting seeing Sakura actually fight a person, even though it wasn't to her full potential, it was more than she usually gave. 

He thought back to the look in her eye while retaliating against Ino. The same look that made him take notice of her in the first place.

The anger, the anticipation, the raw power- all of which were encased in her vermillion, green eyes, which were focused on her opponent.

He was entrapped on her. All of her.

She looked....alive.

Chapter Text

SHIKAMARU

Shikamaru listened to Sakura go on and on about how good it felt to finally win.

This was new to Shikamaru. From the time he knew her, Sakura had been a fairly quiet person. Usually, wouldn't speak unless spoken to and didn't like engaging in meaningless conversations. But it seemed that her win (and the amount of time they had spent together) had loosened her up. He never knew she had so much to say. She gave him a recap.

After the infirmary visit, she and Ino were kept there the whole day until class ended. While waiting for time to pass, Sakura witnessed another Yamanaka enter the infirmary. 

'Huh. Must be a brother of some sort?' She guessed.

"Yamanaka-Sama, are you alright? Your father sent me!" The blond man asked hurriedly 

'Wrong'. Just a servant,' Sakura said inwardly before flopping back on her cot.

She listened as he fussed over Ino, who was still disoriented. He soon took her, and she assumed they had left to go recuperate at home. Sakura was left staring at the wall in boredom, waiting for time to pass, still high on her win. Or it may have been the pain relievers she was given. Who knows.

Shikamaru listened to her recap, sitting on the opposite side of her. Instead of going to the field like they usually did after school, he suggested they go eat someplace. Just to 'change it up a bit.' His continuous complaints convinced Sakura of being in the forest for long periods of time without any food.

They ended up at some Mochi stall- which was strange because he would never have guessed she was into sweets. He quickly glanced up at her eye-catching cotton candy pink hair.

Well, I guess it makes some sense. He held back a laugh.

He listed on, fascinated by her as she was so animated. It was a strange but not unwelcome feeling. She was usually so stoic, almost like the Uchiha, but lighter. 

That was how he finished up his day- parting ways with Sakura, where he had to make a turn to continue heading towards the Nara Clan Compound. He never did see where Skura lived, now that he thought about it, but he supposes they weren't that close yet, so it made sense.

He took his time getting home, staring up at the night sky, thinking of all the work he had yet to do. Sure, whenever he was with Sakura, he pulled out his textbook and assignments, but that didn't mean he actually did them. He just pulled them out because it would be weird of him to just sit straight and watch Sakura the whole time. He had been a bastard to her, but he didn't want to add on with the title of 'creep.'

He huffed and slid his front door open. Just as he took his shoes off, he heard a cough behind him.

He turned around, and there his father was.

"Dad," he greeted, straighting up.

"Let's talk." His father answered.

Ah, Geez. He inwardly groaned.

They made their way to the kitchen table, and Shikamaru sat down, facing his father.

"So... there was a clan meeting, and it turns out a few books have gone missing from our library." He started. Shikamaru eyed him carefully.

"So? Maybe someone's borrowing them. What's wrong with a few books missing?" Shikamaru tried to change the topic.

"Oh, nothing..." His father started, "It's just that I have several witnesses say they saw you take some. I grew confused. When have you ever been motivated enough to go to the library? You rarely step foot in that place."

Shikamaru tried not to get rigid. " Well, classes are getting harder, and I want to make sure I don't fall behind." He quipped back.

Shikaku sighed and kept his stare on him. "Shikamaru, let's not do this right now. I know you couldn't care less about your rank, and I doubt you'd want books on fighting that you've read when you were 5." He crossed his arms. "Where are they, and who did you lend them to?"

"I don't really see the problem." Shikamaru huffed. "Almost all clan kids have access to them, but a friend of mine lost his. And since he's from a clan too, I just thought-" He didn't get a chance to finish his lie.

"You've been spending a lot of time with that civilian girl recently, right?" His father cut him off.

Shikamaru didn't answer him, mind going one hundred miles a second, trying to figure out how to get out of this conversation.

"I heard from Inoichi that the girl beat Ino in today's spar. Strange, isn't it? Hasn't she lost consistently in the past?" He pushed.

"I don't really know what that has to do with the books, Dad." Shikamaru sighed, heart starting to race. No way he had blown Sakura's cover already. " I'll just get them from my friend tomorrow, don't worry." Shikamaru got up and turned to leave the table.

"I worry that your friend might have been too rough-"

Shikamaru whipped around and lost his temper.

"Don't you know how unfair the academy is?" He blew up. " I didn't even know, but you did! And you led me to think the same way as you for so long. I may be oblivious, but Dad, how can you not see that what's happening is wrong? I may not have the power to change the whole shinobi system, but I'll be damned if I just sit here and watch the unfairness happen right before my own eyes knowingly."

Shikaku grew stunned before opening his mouth to respond. He didn't really have a chance to get anything out when Shikamaru started again.

"So now what? Do the clans think it's weird? You guys gonna demote her? Strip her of her title? Make her go back to being a merchant or whatever it is that civilians are "born to do"? He emphasized his point by making his hands signal quotation marks.

He was huffing, face red with anger, looking down at his dad with angry disbelief.

"Well, sorry if I wanted to help." He finished in a lower tone than his yelling, before turning around and walking to his room. He closed the door with a slam while Shikaku sat, still stunned by his son's outburst.

Shikamaru flopped face-down onto his bed, angry at the whole situation. But it wasn't long before his head came back to him,, and he realized what he had done.

I just admitted to giving a civilian clan books! What an idiot you are, Shikamaru!

He slammed his head back into his pillow before groaning.

At least it looks like no one suspects Sakura's strength. She held back pretty well.

I can still try to get her out of this. I'll just tell my dad that I won't do it again, and maybe he won't tell the Clan elders.

Shikamaru moped some more before starting to get ready for bed, still thinking of how he was gonna get out of this one.

SHIKAKU

He wasn't mad.

No, Shikaku wasn't as furious as he should have been.

Giving a private clan book to a non-clan member was a disrespect to the clan's privacy. But giving away one to a civilian, oh, the elders would have a field day with this one. Shikamaru was lucky the librarians only told him as he was the Clan Head and didn't make a scene about it.

He sighed and stared in the direction that Shikamaru had left in.

Shikamaru would never know this, but his father smirked, thinking about the way Shikamaru lit up with anger.

He had never seen his son so passionate about a topic. He usually didn't care about the things around him and didn't care even more for people he didn't really know. But this- this surprised him. Shikamaru got so fired up talking about injustice that he was seen.

So yes, even though Shikamaru was a little brat, Shikaku wasn't mad.

No.

He was proud.

Because now, the real fun could begin.

He just didn't know how soon it would come up.

SHIKAMARU

He woke up groggily. He didn't get much sleep due to all the things he was thinking. The day just started, and he was already annoyed.

It was Saturday, and the academy was off today. He was about to close his eyes to get more sleep before his vision cleared, and three books, stacked upon each other, came into view. They were stacked on his side table.

He sat up, confused, before his door swung open. His father stepped in and crossed his arms.

Books forgotten, Shikamaru got ready to apologize for his outburst yesterday when his dad surprised him.

"Get up. It's time to start." He commanded.

"Start what?" 

"Your Clan training."

Shikamaru grew even more confused. One, his dad didn't seem to be mad about the other day. And two, "I thought I already stated?"

"This is different." His dad walked over to his bed and took a seat at the very edge. He sighed before explaining.

"Yesterday showed me a new side of you, Shikamaru."

Shikamaru gulped. Was he about to be punished by continuous training? He hoped it wasn't running. He hated running drills.

"You showed me where your morals lied," His father began. "And for that, I am proud of you"

What?

" The Naras have many clan tequniques, but there is one specific one that not just anyone can learn. It involves the Nara Forest and its Chakara atmosphere. But as you know, not all Naras are allowed into the sacred area. To be accepted, you must prove yourself to be fundamentally a good being. And sadly, that's not many. To connect with the forest and its animals, our deers for example, is an opportunity that not just anyone is given."

His father sighed.

"I failed the test my father sent for me and many others, and that's why few naras have this jutsu in their arsenal. It's a close-range one, which is very beneficial as Nara's techniques are mainly far range which aren't the best for some missions."

Shikamaru was still silent, letting everything his father was telling him register in his mind.

His father stood up quickly and started heading to the door. 

"let's go. I'll give you ten minutes." He sternly said.

"Wait. What jutsu is it?" 

Shikamaru was confused. 

Confused about it all.

Did his father act the way he did to test him? But didn't his father agree with the village's ways? What jutsu was so secret that he- the heads son- didn't know about it? What was happening? And how'd his dad fail his test?

His father didn't stop to turn around and answer him.

"You'll see."

Chapter Text

Shikamaru was slammed face-first into the ground.

It had been like this for the past hour, and he was getting frustrated. His father stood above him; hands crossed as looked down. Shikamaru lifted his face and spit out the dirt that sadly was his breakfast for that day.

"Shikamaru, you need to feel it. I know you can control your shadows, but you need to will them to your mind. Make your control air-tight." His father scolded.

"Agh, we've been trying this for over an hour! Can we take a break?" Shikamaru groaned. His father shook his head in an almost glee-like motion and replied.

"No can do. This is an opportunity of a lifetime. We have to keep going until you get the first part done."

Shikamaru sat up, dusting the leftover mud that was on his face, and sighed. He looked back and thought about the progress they had made, which was so far in Shikamaru's perspective, none. 

His father had set his shadows to lock onto him and Shikamaru was supposed to summon his shadow in a counterattack. It sounded simple really, but after eating dirt about 10 times now, he realized he was wrong. His father told him that before he could unlock the actual Nara move; he had to perfect his shadow's motion. 

Pft. Whatever that means. I mean, I can already lock my opponents with them. What else is there? He moaned internally, frustrated at how badly he was failing at this.

His father sighed. "Again." He commanded.

"Why is this so important anyway? Didn't you say to learn the technique, I needed to be proven to be a good person? Didn't I pass already? Why do I need to learn how to disrupt your shadow?" He complained groggily.

Shikamaru stood up, facing his father with his legs inches apart, and his hands in the signature Nara motion.

His father replied to his complaints with silent indifference and began.

He got into position, directing his shadows to lock onto him. Shikamaru felt his movements lock into place. This was the part where he failed. This was where he was supposed to summon his shadows while being locked and counterattack by disrupting his fathers'. 

Shikamaru tried to get himself to move. He tried to push his shadows to fight back. But he just couldn't. he was getting frustrated, and his temper was starting to rise at the constant failure. Just as he was about to stop trying and let his father's shadow drag him to the flow for what felt like the 100th time, a voice screeched in the back of his head.

"I am training, making sure I have the power to save myself in case of a life-or-death situation." Sakura's voice rang.

It felt like the world around him froze for just a moment.

She, who did not have anyone to train her, constantly had to fail to get to where she was currently. She had no special jutsus, no lake-full haul of Chakara, and no clan to fall back on to give he strength. And yet, what was Shikamaru doing? He was complaining about the help he knew Sakura would give anything to receive. he was about to give up. Like usual, knowing that even if he didn't get this method today, his father would stop at nothing to teach him.

But Sakura didn't get that promise, did she?

The world spun back into motion. 

Shikamaru stopped trying.

And did.

He willed his shadows to move. Willed his body to unlock its chakra points and exerted more force than ever through them.

In what felt like a quarter of a second, his shadow had risen- capturing his fathers' in the exact motion his father had used on him.

But as soon as Shikamaru realized what he had done, he sadly didn't have enough time to rejoice.

Before he knew it, he was on the ground, flat on his back. He lay there dazed, wondering what had just happened. His vision escaped him and came back, all happening so suddenly.

He welded his eyes shut- pain being the only thing he felt from his head hitting the ground.

He felt a pinch on his left shoulder.

But, when he did open his eyes though, it wasn't his father he saw.

It was a deer. Its antlers- long and majestic- stood proud, its onyx eyes were deep as if it was staring into his entire being, and its color- all a soft brown with the exception of white spots placed sporadically.

Shikamaru blinked in confusion.

"Congratulations" a new voice rang. " You are ready to learn "Shizuka na Kage... The Silent Shadow."

Shikamaru spun his head around, looking for the source of the voice. His eyes flew past his father, knowing it wasn't him, but he couldn't see another person who could have spoken.

"This one is slow, is he now?" The same voice rang.

His head snapped back forward, finally realizing where the voice was coming from.

"Shikaku, who have you brought to me?" The deer's voice boomed.

Shikamaru stilled. His body was on the ground, while his eyes raised up to examine the deer in shock. Now with his mind finally back on earth, there were a few things he noticed. The deer was bigger than the typical deer he saw- even bigger than the Nara deer that he rarely got a glimpse of.

It towered over him, and if he were to stand up, he calculated that the deer still would have been a couple of feet taller than him. He knew he was a tall 11-year-old, but he knew for a fact deer were not supposed to be that tall.

His father spoke. "Sorry Rīdā. This is my son, Shikamaru Nara. He is the one I told you about. He passed the test."

His father then looked down at him. "Get up."

Shikamaru stumbled up and stood next to his father.

The deer looked him up and down, then turned on its heels.

"I'll be the judge of that."

His father didn't hesitate to walk deeper into the forest, but it took a second for Shikamaru to snap out of his daze and follow them both.

What was he getting himself into?

Chapter Text

Shikamaru was taken further into the forest. As he followed the deer, he looked on ahead; he was about to cross "the Line". No. The Nara Forest did not have an actual line drawn through the dirt. It was more of a metaphorical line.

He was not allowed to cross past a certain distance and as far as he knew most clan members weren't allowed either. They were about 190 yards away from the opening and Shikamaru's heart was beating faster with every step they took. The group walked in silence until he reached the fated 200 mark. As the deer carried on with its trek, he hesitated. He looked to the side as the tree that marked the unofficial "line came into his vision.

"Well?" The deer snapped him back into reality. He swiveled around to meet the eyes of his father, but he stood behind him. Questioningly, Shikamaru held his father's gaze, but all he got in response were crossed arms.

"Go on Shikamaru. I cannot come with you for this part. I'll be waiting when you've finished." He answered calmly.

Well, that didn't do much to calm his nerves at all. He turned back to face the deer who was now turned facing his direction with its head tilted. He was sure if it were a person, it would be rolling its eyes at him in boredom. He put a pin in that thought and took a breath before crossing over the "line".

Once both feet were over the mark, he shut his eyes. He didn't exactly know what he was expecting, but he was expecting some backlash at doing such a "forbidden act". He quickly realized how dumb he must have looked when both his dad and deer let out a loud bellow.

He opened his shut eyes to see the deer cackling- if that was even possible, before turning around and continuing.

His face lit up in embarrassment as he hastily moved to follow the deer, blocking out his father's soft chuckles as he sped up.

After what felt like a few minutes, the two reached another cleared space. It was slightly smaller than the area Sakura and he used when they met up, he had noted. In the middle of the large space laid some sort of rock formation. Two large thin rocks were holding a similar shaped heavier rock on top of it. Below the rock formation lay a grey stone plaque. He was still a little too far to read what the plaque said, but he was close enough to notice the engravings along the side which looked to be some sort of design.

While looking around the impasse, Shikamaru failed to realize the deer had stopped walking and had turned around—causing him to almost walk face-first into its long protruding horns.

He snapped back and mumbled an apology.

The deer sighed before speaking.

"You will refer to me as Rīdā and it seems like you will be stuck with me for quite some time now boy. I want you to stand in front of the rock formation."

Shikamaru stood still— still taking in the scene.

"I will not repeat myself," Rīdā said sternly. Shikamaru took a hint and slowly crept over to stand in front of the formation.

Now that he was closer, he was able to get a better look at the plaque below. 

"Kage no kyūsoku" Or Shadow rest. While reading, his eyes drifted to the engravings where he finally realized they weren't random, they seemed to be kanji for different types of seals- he was aware of the art of Fūinjutsu, but he didn't have much knowledge on the matter.

"Now, let out your shadow, and attach it to the plaque."

Shikamaru's head turned over to Rida. 

"But it's an inanimate object. My shadow won't grasp onto something if it's not living-"

"I don't care. Let out your shadow." He finalized.

Huffing internally, he summoned his shadows and directed them towards the plaque, and just as he suspected, the shadow completely disregarded them in search of a person to grasp onto.

"Tsk. And Shikaku comes to me and tells me you're ready?" He snorted. "I do not like wasting my time. If you want to learn the ways of The Silent Shadow, you must first learn to control your shadows in such a way that it defies your previous thinking."

Shikamaru was getting tired. He was reprimed by his father and now a deer? "

"In order for you to even make it as far as you did, you needed to learn to see things in a different light. You needed to unlock something that was right in front of you while the rest of the world stood still. Shikaku said you had passed your test, and yet here you are— not even trying."

Shikamaru stood speechless and without retort.

"Go. And come back when you are able to see the unnoticed." And with that, Rida erupted into spoke. He popped out of existence, almost like a summoning. Shikamaru stood there, taking in the smoke that was left from the unsummoning, and before he knew it, he felt a pull.

It felt like he couldn't breathe. Something was pushing on him, on every side of his body— almost as if to crush him into a cubelike shape. He knelt on the floor in pain, confused and in agony, when he heard a yell.

"GET OUT OF THERE SHIKAMARU!" His father's voice echoed, and with that, he used what little strength he had left to propel him forward— toward the path he had come from. He ran, not as good as he usually did with the invisible weight tugging on him, but he ran, nonetheless.

He felt his oxygen running out; white dots started to find his sight. It wasn't long before he came across the figure of his father, slightly hidden behind the trees blocking his path. He stood right behind the 'line', hands on either side of his mouth, yelling something incoherent to him.

His eyes started watering slightly, heavily confused about what was happening as he started to slow down. A few more feet and he would have reached his father, but darkness overtook his vision and lights out.

Sakura was worried. And not about herself— which was a new feeling.

Shikamaru had not shown up to class for the past week, leaving her to mull over her days with the help of the books she had already completed.

Flipping through the pages as the silence of the classroom engulfed her— she thought of what could have kept him from coming to class.

Injury? No, his clan has extensive medicine and would be able to get an appointment with a doctor in the snap of a finger.

Bored and unwilling to come to school? More Likely, but Shikamaru's father doesn't seem like the type that would allow that, and from Shikamaru's ramblings about him, she was pretty sure that was the truth.

Busy learning something?....

Sakura huffed and shut the book closed. She started to the opposite side of the room to where Shikamaru would have been sitting. Ever since they started their little deal, they were somewhat "friends", although she would never tell Shikamaru that. In a way, he was her first friend in this classroom. She usually stayed to herself— focused on bettering herself so she didn't get left behind and often ignored others.

Eyes drifting away from his empty seat, they roam across the classroom. Iruka-sensei had assigned them a worksheet on the history of weapons, and she had already completed it, obviously, with just a few intentional mistakes to make sure she didn't overtake those who she wasn't supposed to.

Her eyes were pinpointed on Sasuke Uchiha. Exhibit A. She was not allowing herself to overtake him in grades. After all, he was the kid with the most potential. What would happen if she beat him? She shook her head and turned to the person sitting behind him. Yori Matakibi— a girl from a small clan with few shinobi. She was smart— not as smart as Sakura— but fairly regular. She was someone who Sakura could beat without anyone turning heads. Just as she was about to go back to all the possibilities Shikamaru wasn't in class, her eyes landed on the one and only Naruto Uzumaki. 

Sakura had no opinions on Uzumaki. She had studied up her class after the first day she had transferred, but he was fairly overlooked. He wasn't that smart, but he was strong. She didn't watch many fights of his as it seemed he wasn't very well-liked from her observations.

He was an Uzumaki, and with that powerful type of clan, she had expected him to be one of the strongest, at least on par with Uchiha, but her expectations had fallen short after seeing how low-ranked he was.

And the crazy thing was that he was always in Class One. And why is it that when he is so incredibly abysmal, that Sakura could have beat him in Class Two and not gotten any curious looks? Because of his seemingly important clan.

Uzumaki was playing with his pencil, trying to balance it on his nose, and repeatedly failing. He didn't have anything written on his paper from what she could see and she rolled his eyes,

Typical.

As she continued to observe him, she thought back to all the times she had previously noticed him. 

Now that she thought about it, Uzumaki almost always failed his tests. But he was still here. How has he not once been threatened with demotion? And how has he made it this far without fighting in a spar?

The thought stumped her and left her wondering so long that the dismissal bell had rung.

"Okay! Times up! Leave your papers on your desk and you all may leave" Iruka smiled.

Students started packing up around Sakura, and yet, she stayed seated. She watched as Uzumaki bounced out of the room— as if he didn't have a care in the world— and left. As students exited one by one, Sakura had started packing.

As she walked down the aisle, she leaned over to Naruto's desk once she noticed Iruka looking down, grading previous papers.

Nothing.

He had written nothing during the past hour they had been assigned to complete the work.

Looking to the corner of the page— she realized she was wrong.

He had written something.

Tilting the paper at an angle, she was able to make out the jumbled-up incoherent, messy words.

Narita Uzamaki. She sounded out in her head, trying to make sense of the scrambled letters.

The kid got his name wrong?

"Sakura? Are you alright?" Iruka's voice brought her back.

Her head snapped up in faux calmness.

"Oh Yes, I had just dropped my pencil." She replied, leaning down to pick up the pencil Uzumaki had been using to balance before he left.

"Ah, okay, have a good rest of your day!" He smiled, watching her as she left the room.

As the door closed behind her, only one thing was on her mind. 

Walking out of the Academy doors— coming to face with students hanging about and talking to each other— there was only one person her eyes were searching for now.

And low and behold, she spotted him walking in the distance, bag dragging on the floor, seemingly humming a tune.

She resolved her mind.

Well, if Shikamaru isn't here to keep me entertained, I might as well find something else to do.

And with that, she scurried along the path Uzumaki had just taken, trying to catch up with him.

Chapter Text

He lived in the red-light district. Sakura noted as she watched him enter an apartment building. Sakura had trailed him, staying near, but not close enough that he'd notice her. Well...Sakura didn't think he'd notice her regardless; he was ranked last in the academy's tracking assignment after all. Stepping out from behind the pillar she hid behind, she looked around. Trash was everywhere. The mere neighborhood was dirty, and she was sure she passed by at least TWO love hotels. 

Scrunching her nose up at the area, she looked back up at the door she saw Naruto enter. Who would allow a kid to live in a place like this? What parents would think it was responsible to let their child—oh. Naruto was an orphan. 

Now as Sakura was an avid observer of her class, she gave herself credit when it came to naming each and every one of her class's students: their strengths and weaknesses, and even their habits. She did not make it as far as she did without such a skill, and she updated the list with every new day she was at the academy.

But Naruto Uzumaki... she didn't have much on him. All she knew was that he was loud, blond, dumb, and an orphan. She didn't dig too deep into it, mainly focusing on those who had more strength than her. It was the only way she was going to truly know how strong she was. Watching people who were higher up on the food chain than her did her good. It taught her how strong she truly was and what she needed to accomplish to get there. Those she could beat gave her very little interest.

But with Naruto, she had to admit, having a peer who couldn't write properly was a new one. Even when she was in her lower division classes—such a thing never happened. As she looked back at the path which she had come from, debating on whether she should turn back, she thought back to all the people who had written her off. Was she doing the same? Limiting someone based on what little she knew about them? Based on assumptions? How does that make her any better than them?

She was in a mental dilemma. It wasn't her business as to why Naruto was the way he was. Why he failed so much. Why practically everyone dismissed him. Even more than the civilian kids.

But then again. Sakura would feel wrong if he dismissed her like people did to her. In that second, she made up her mind.

She craned her head to look up at the building before sighing and walking towards it. Making her way to his apartment, she stood in front of the door. And then she knocked.

Sakura waited with bated breath. She knocked again, impatiently. If there was one flaw about Sakura that she could admit. It was that she wanted to know everything. And she wanted to know everything now.

It didn't take long before the door swung open.

"I already paid the bill for this month—" Naruto appeared, standing there in a white dirty shirt with a towel on his head. He stopped himself from speaking with wide eyes when he saw that the person knocking wasn't his landlord.

'Hello." Sakura began, mimicking what she hoped was a welcoming smile.

It apparently was not, because next thing she knew, he had slammed the door shut. The smile dropped from her face, leaving only confusion in its wake. She raised her hand to knock again.

"What are you doing here!?" She could hear him yell from behind the door.

"I'm Sakura. You know...from the academy?" She rocked on her feet, waiting.

"Yeah, I know who you are Sakura-chan! But what are you doing here!" She heard shuffling in the room.

"Can you open the door? Your voice is quite shaky across your door." There was a beat before the door opened back up. Naruto was now back into view with a different (cleaner) shirt and towel off of his head. He looked nervous, puzzled.

"Can I come in?" She asked. He nodded silently before opening the door wider. She walked in, only to be greeted with what she didn't expect. He lived in a sort of studio. His bed was in the farthest corner and not made. His sheets were on the floor and to her left, she could spot the door that led to what was most likely the bathroom. Looking around as she stood in the middle of it, she looked toward the kitchen and small table. Ramen cups were scattered around the room and she could faintly smell the scent of smoke—which she assumed was coming from the group of people she passed that were smoking outside his apartment.

Sakura turned to look towards the door where Naruto had closed it. He was fiddling with his thumbs, looking down.

"Uh, sorry Sakura-chan. I didn't know I'd have guests over so I didn't clean..." His voice wavered towards the end.

She looked at him curiously before she spoke.

"Naruto." His head snapped up alertly.

"Would you like to be friends?" Now one may have found this question to be quite normal. Except for the fact that it was coming out of the mouth of Sakura Haruno. In her defense though, asking to be friends sounded like a much better conversation starter than 'I'm intrigued by you and want to learn'. She supposed that that would come off as quite unnerving.

She watched as Naruto froze for a second—seemingly processing her question, before a full on smile broke out across his face. He stared at her in questioning awe. 

"What? Really?"

She nodded. "Hm, I would like to get to know you." She stretched out her hand, going for a handshake. Sakura was not a people person after all. But what she got in return was not a handshake, but a full-on hug. He jumped up to her and pulled her in.

"Of Course Sakura-Chan!! This is great! I've always wanted to be your friend!" Putting her down, she raised a brow.

"Really?"

"Yuh-huh! You're like super smart, and superrr pretty. Who wouldn't want to be friends with ya?" He grinned.

Her face blanked before she came back to reality as he bounced around his apartment. Well, there was one new thing she learned about him. He was quite genuine.

"So Sakura-chan, what's up? Like...how'd you know where I lived?" He sat down on one of the chairs at his table while gesturing for her to take the other.

"Oh...well.." What was she going to say? I noticed you couldn't spell your name and thought it was weird, so I followed you home?  Yeah. That was not going to work. But she didn't want to lie to him either. The way he seemed so happy that she asked to be his friend and how he had complimented her— it felt wrong. She thought to herself for a moment. It was different than lying to game the system. This was a kid who, in a way, was similar to her.

"I noticed you." She started. "And I...uhm... want to know more about you?" She answered, but in reality, it sounded more like a question.

"Like what?"

"Everything?" She blurted out, her entire planned speech going out the window.

Naruto tilted his head in confusion before he raised his hand to his chin and for a second, looked like Iruka Sensei.

"Ahh, I see. Interesting." He said, using some sort of old man tone.

"You don't find it strange?" She questioned after a beat. "That I would just show up like this to ask you questions?" He dropped his hand and before looking up at her in thought.

"Well, I guess. But I kinda don't care the reason. You just said you wanna be friends!" His smile dropped just the slightest.

"You did mean that...right?" He asked hesitantly, eyes hopeful.

"Yes! I did mean it!" She said, wanting to stop the dim in his eyes. 

Sakura didn't know why she was trying so hard not to hurt the boy's feelings. But she did anyways. She barely knew Naruto, and yet, she couldn't bear the thought of being the reason for his disappointment.

His face picked back up and the smile was brought back to its full...Narutoness.

She smiled, just the faintest, and sat down in front of him.

"Well, whatcha wanna know?"

She had a lot of questions.

Chapter Text

Shikamaru walked into the Academy, late but alive. That annoying deer! He had been knocked out for 3 days! 3 whole days! Not that he was sad about missing academy, it's just that he was annoyed at the fact that he got taken out so easily. 

Rolling his eyes, he slid the door open—making his way through the wooden panel to see his class. Inwardly groaning as he did so, he tiredly walked to his seat. His usual one— right next to Sakura.

Only, he didn't make it rather far. No. Instead, Shikamaru stopped a few feet from her when he saw that his daily routine had been thoroughly shaken. Because in his seat was someone who wasn't supoosed to me there. The bush of blond that overtook his sight made him freeze for just a split second before his brain caught up with him. In front of him, right next to his seatmate sat Naruto Uzumaki.

Shikamaru only faltered for a second before slowly moving towards them. It was when he got close enough, that Sakura lifted her head—pausing her converstaion with Uzumaki. 

"Shikamaru, you're back." She said simply. He nodded slowly, trying not to feel too hurt that she didn't have a bigger reaction. His eyes drifed towards the blond in an effort to try to figure out what was going on.

"Oh." She hummed finally. "This is Naruto. He's my friend now." And with that, from the corner of his eye, he could see the blond perk up—almost as if stunned. 

When she didn't say anything else, choosing instead to gaze at him in confusion as he stood in place, he nodded once more and walked over to the seat left of Sakura—one that usually was left open.

Sitting down, he watched as the two continued their conversation. He felt odd. Shikamaru liked routine. He liked when things repeated because he could never be caught off gaurd. He liked when things stayed the same, and now that there was a new variable—or rather one that he didn't previosuly care for before, he needed to figure out how to play it. 

So, he brought back what he knew best. Unpacking his things, his mind replayed what he knew about Naruto. 

Now that he thout about it thoguh. It wasn't very much.

1. He was an Uzumaki—powerful clan (Wiped out)

2. Orphan

3. Disliked by almost eveyone, but usually ignored.

4. Loud

5. Bottom Rank

6....

He raised a brow. Not much indeed. And as his mind trailed his list, he relazied most of what he knew were vauge. 3. Disliked. But why? As he watched Sakura and Uzumaki talk, he was reminded of the first time he actually took notice of Sakura. Maybe this was one of those situations? Where he just hadn't looked closly enough? That Naruto had some strength that he didn't see before. He bided his time questly until a time came where he could test that theory.

He was wrong. 

Naruto was....Naruto. And as he watched him slurp up the ramen Sakura had given him after the meal he had just eaten, his head could only tilt more as he tried to figure out just where he went wrong.

He got at least a few parts of his list right. He was loud. The three had sat together at lunch. Shikamaru did have chances to talk to Sakura, but he couldn't get very fafr without Uzumaki butting into the conversation.

He didn't know if Uzumaki was aware of the training the two did, so he didn't bring it up—instead choosing tot alk about mundane topics instead. He was fidigity. Shikamaru so badly wnated tot talk to Sakura about what training he was doing and why he didn't show up at school or their sparring sessions. But as he listed on to Uzumaki drone about all the different types of Ramen flavors he had eaten, he became as bored as he had been before he got to know Sakura.

"Wait here. I need to use the bathroom." Shikamaru and Naruto watched as Sakura left, leaving just the two of them in their makeshift circle. Shikamaru was laying on the grass, facing the sky with his eyes shit as he alwasy did,basking in the feeling of the grass beneath his skin. But Naruto on the other hand, had became quiet. A little too quiet.

Shikamaru peeked an eye open curisuoly. But what he insetad made him open both eyes to look on fully.

The blond had been staring him down. When he realized Shikamaru was in fact, not sleeping—his face turned red as he looked away quickly.

"Sorry!" He mumbled.

Shikamaru sighed before sitting up and turning to him. What better time than now to learn more about him?

"My name is Shikamaru Nara as I belive you know." He formally introduced himself.

Uzumaki looked back to him in suprise before nodding along. "Yeah! Sakura talked sooooo much about you." Shikamaru paused.

"Im Naruto Uzumaki! But Sakura-chan told ya that already...heh." A nervous smile crept onto his face as he rubbed the back of his neck.

Shikamaru was still processing the fact that Sakura talked about him when Naruto suddenly yelled. "Wanna be friends!" The boy looked down at the blond once he snapped back into reality, searching the nervous kid with his gaze.

If there was anything new he leard about the blond, it was that he was shy—which came as a shock really. But as he observed the fidigiting kid in front of him, he had to say—he really did look uncomfortable. A mix of unease and uncertainty made its way onto his face, almost as if expecting rejection. 

Shikamaru stayed quiet until he realzed that a sea of disapointed acceptance made ts way onto his face, before he hurridly spoke.

"Sure." He anwsered finally. And with that, it was almost as if the sun itself had appeared right in front of him. 

"Really! That's great! Sakura-chan said you would be a good friend! Now I have two! This is amazing dattebayo!" As the blond finally let his usual loudness show to Shikamaru, shikamaru's mind was only processing one thing.

I guess this is going to be a new thing now. What a drag. 

Suprisignly, he thought this with little annoyance.

The three were walking out of the Academy when school ended togther, drifting behind the crowd so as to not get trampled by the overly exited kids. Shikamaru had fell back into his usual tune, listing to Naruto talk about all things Naruto with Sakura by his side.

But as they were about to step foot of campus, a call from behind them called them out of their bubble.

"Sakura!" As the three heads turned to see who it was, Iruka-sensei came into veiw—running to catch up with the three. "Sakura-san, I need you to come with me." Sakura was now fully turned to him, looking up in confusion. 

"You're not in trouble or anything" He triend to reassue. "It's just a quick meeting."  Just as Shikamaru was about to bid his goodbye to her, sensei's next words stopped him in his tracks. "It's about your spar, no biggie."

Sakura and Shikamaru's eyes met as it felt as if time had frozen still. Now, if this was before, Shikamaru wouldn't have thought anything of it. He usually saw people get called back for a meeting because of a spar. It was usually because they had been too agressive and not very "ally-like"— but what he didn't notice before what which types of people got called back.

Civilian Kids.

Sakura.

As his eyes turned to see Iruka-sensei walk back in the direction of the Academy, he could only witness the new look of dread wash over Sakura's face before slowly trailing after him.

Shikamaru and Naruto watched as the two advanced in silence. It was when Naruto poked him on the shoulder that he stopped.

"What's wrong?" Shikamaru fumbled to think of an excuse.

"I....I...think I left something behind. You go on." And with that, without waiting for a response, Shikamaru dashed back the way he came, leaving Naruto to confusdly stare at his disapearing back before shugging.

First Shikamaru had tried his class, bit neither Sakura or Iruka were anywhere to be found. 

So he tries the break room, and yet, nothing.

He walked the halls, peeking in to every door—met with nothing—until he reaches a class that was in the back of the Acadmey: a usually empty classroom. Shikamaru had been there before. But it was when he first arrived at the academy and searched the building. 

After all, his father was a jonin—they were taught to scope out the scene before making a move, and such a trait was passed down to Shikamaru. And good thing too. He would have thought it to be abandoned if not for his inward map.

He stopped in the front of the door, freezing at the recognizable voice.

"—was very aggresive. You used too much force and we believe—"

"—You probably cheated! Dad! There's no way she beat me fairy!." 

Inoichi was there? Shikamaru stood up straighter and slid the door open—effectivly stopping the one-sided argument that was taking place. 

Seven heads turned to face him. In the room stood Inochi, Ino, Iruka, and two other teachers he could vaugely recall. And in the very middle, sat Sakura—head down as she listed to those around her.

He didn't know why he did it, or what peice of his mind signaled that it was okay, he just knew he couldn't just do nothing.

"With all due respect sir, that win was fair." He turned to Inochi. Shikamaru was familiar with Ino's dad. The man was like another father figure to him after all. But with all that familairtity, he knew what he was like. The man loved his daughter, so if she told him someone had cheated against her, while he wouldn't automatically belive her given how dramatic she was, he would look into it.

She watched as the light blond man became taken aback before speaking.

"What? Shikamaru what is—"

"WHAT! Shikamaru what are you even talking about? As if someone like her could beat me like that! I know for a fact something's wrong!"

"The only thing wrong was just how easy you let yourself become distracted." Sakura finally piped up, eyes narrowing at the charge.

"You—"

"Ladies!" Iruka-sensei yelled. "Let's all calm down, shall we?" He tried to appease the room. Then he turned to Shikamaru. 

"Shikamaru, this is a parent teacher confrence, you can't be in here right now."

"Then where are her parents?" He crossed his arms.

"They...couldn't make it."

"So then, it's not a parent-teacher confrence since both parents aren't here." He finished.

"I can't beleive you're taking her side!" Ino scoffed. "I can't believe you said 'someone like her'." He rebuffed. "What is that supposed to mean?" He pushed.

"You know what I mean! A ci—" Her speech was overtaken by a loud cough by her father.

"I think there's been a misunderstanding." Inochi waved his hands, trying to calm the situation.

"There's been no misunderstanding. Ino just couldn't beleive she lost." It was that simple to Shikamaru. "But she did." He met Ino's eyes. "And she should accept that."

"Maybe, if Ino put more effort into her training, a civilain wouln't have beaten her." Sakura mocked. "If you're not up for a fight, what are you doing here?" Even Shikamaru could see the red rising on her face.

"Not up for it? Oh Please! I could take you anytime!"

"Then why are we in this meeting right now?" The pinkette shrugged simply.

"I don't need this! Dad! Com'on, this was just a one time thing! I was off my game! This meeting is stupid. Let's go home." And with that she stormed out of the room, leaving the remaining watching her back as the room quieted.

"Ah, I would like to apologize for the miscommunication. It seems eveything has been settled?" He asked hesitantly.

As Iruka nodded slowly, still trying to process what had just happened, Inochi took his leave.

The five remaing in the room stood in silence until Shikamaru stomped over to where Sakura was sat. Grabbing her by the wrist, he pulled her up, moving towards the door.

"If that's all, Sakura and I have homework to do." And wirh that, the two made their leave—leaving the three teachers in disbeliving silence at the events that had just transpired.

The halls were now completly empty—not a single person in sight. The two walked in silence towards the front of the academy. The only sounds being heard being the angry stomping of Shikamaru. Sakura's steps: her usual silent strides.

It was when they reached the front that she pulled away from him, pulling him out of his angry muttering.

"Wha-" But without waiting for Shikamaru's words, she passed him— moving out of the doors silently as she did so.

Shikamaru stood stunned as she turned to follow her with his eyes. Sighing, he soon trailed after her.

"Wow! You guys were gone a long time!" Naruto's perky voice almost stopped him. Shikamaru watched as Sakura walked past the blond—not even acknowledging him as she did so. The two watched her in silence.

"...Did I say something wrong?" Naruto tried, playing with his thumbs nervously. He didn't want to loose his first friend.

Shikamaru shook his head. "Nah...it's just..." He sighed. "Don't worry about it. She's not mad at you." And with that, he pulled the confused boy along— trailing a few feet behind Sakura home.

Chapter Text

SAKURA

A few days prior...

Sakura was having a dilemma. And no, it wasn't caused by a one-time occurrence, but rather a series of events. 

For one: Naruto. She had met Naruto Uzumaki. 

And as previously suspected, she was not impressed.

The blonde was strange; she'd give him that at least. But not the type of 'strange' people chalked him up to be. Sakura may not have been important enough to take note of, but while sometimes it badgered her, it had its uses, too. She heard things, and some things, were just not to be said aloud.

People talked him up to be some sort of criminal, a delinquent in every sense of the word, a monster. And yet...she couldn't for the life of her figure out why. Sakura knew she was smart, some may not have paid mind, but she didn't care because she had enough brain to see what advantages lay there. She knew who she was, so this...this unexplained reason for Naruto Uzumaki being who he was stumped her. She supposed she was no better than Shikamaru the way she made her move.

She waited outside of the run-down door in patience as she silently listened to the area surrounding her. Hollers and Yips of children who had just conned a man a couple of feet below her spot on his terrace, groans of men who lost their savings from gambling in the nearby underground shops, Women outside making their way up and down the street...she heard it all. She felt them all. Almost all, at least. She gasped as her concentration was forcefully broken and stood straighter. Her eyes snapped open as to find the cause of her disruption. It didn't take her that long though.

"Ne, Sakura-chan! Whatcha doing here so early!" Sakura stoned her face as she examined the blonde.

"We agreed to meet before class, remember?" She realized what a bad question that was when Uzumaki made it abundantly clear that he, in fact, did not remember with the blush rising in his face.

"Oops. Heh, I forgot..." She shook her head and fully turned to him, now getting a better look. His full head of blonde hair was a mess while the glimmer in his eyes hadn't died down in the least since the last time she saw him...which was yesterday.

"It's fine. Get fixed, then we'll go." She crossed her arms and went back to her leaning position on the wall beside his front door for all but three seconds before she realized he hadn't moved.

"Uhm, Sakura?"

"What?"

"I am ready." At that, she opened a singular eye just to confirm if he was being serious or not. Sadly, that Naruto smile did nothing to convince her otherwise. She sighed and dropped her shoulders.

"We've got a lot of work to do."

The two were making their way down one of the streets not too far from the red light District. It may not have been her first choice of destinations, but from their little excursion down the marketplace yesterday, she had since found out that Naruto wasn't very pleased with going there. When she had first suggested it yesterday, she was met with a hesitant laugh. That in itself wouldn't have been the problem, but it was the way his face crumbled just the slightest that made her pause.

"What? The marketplace is the only place around that sells decent mochi." Since she was the one who had stalked the boy, it was only fair that she got him something in an attempt to make up for it.

"Uhm. It's just...I like the mochi near my place wayyy better!" His smile had come back, but not in the magnitude that it had once been when she had suggested they go out to eat.

Sakura raised a brow, "The one that has its windows boarded up with a sign from the Konoha Health Department that says, 'DO NOT EAT'?"

"What can I say? The more underground a place is, the better the taste?" It was a horrible attempt at stopping their trail, but she took it for what it was. A diversion. She saw it in his eyes, the way they flickered from side to side, his hands: the way his fingers toyed with each other, his left foot: its taps were sporadic, but silent, and his mouth: while smiling, twitched just the slightest.

Sakura was Sakura. She could read between the lines.

"On second thought, I'm not feeling sweets right now."

"Oh..." He faltered yet again. 

"What's that Ramen place you go to so often?" And just like that, he was up again

"Oh, Great!! Ichiraku is the best!!! Wow, Sakura, you have great taste! Let's go there right now!" And before she knew it, he was ahead of her, looking back ever so often to make sure she hadn't up and left.

But it was while staring at his back that she pocketed that interaction, and it hadn't left her mind even after the day had ended.

Sakura snapped back to reality when the two of them had reached their destination. Since it was so early in the morning, the streets were yet to be littered with bustling civilians all around. They had stopped in front of a Weaponry Store. While not one of the best due to its location, it would have what she was looking for, so she didn't have any complaints.

"What are we doing here, Sakura-chan?" She looked back at Naruto's stumped look. His hands were on the glass as he eyed everything in his viewpoint.

"Getting you ready."

"Whaa-, but you already did that!"

He was right...to an extent. She had dragged Naruto back inside when she had caught his idea of 'ready' in broad daylight. His hair was a mess, and so was his clothing. Sakura hadn't really noticed it before (and boy was that a tough sentence to say), but Naruto never really wore 'Ninja Gear'. He would always sport a plain orange short with either black or blue shorts. He usually had to train with academy-issued weapons, and even she didn't do that! (Only because she had to take on odd jobs to afford better ones) The ones the academy issued were quite poor, but then again, they usually went to those of civilian-decent who wouldn't even know where to get proper ones. 

She had made him change into a plain black shirt and made him wash his hair, correction, washed his hair for him. But really, she had just dunked it into the sink, but hey, if it worked, it worked. He now stood in front of her with damp hair and an all black look.

"I wasn't finished." And with that, she dragged him into the store. She paid no mind to the cashier and went straight to the back wall, and there she'd found it.

"Notebooks? Sakura-chan, we came all this way for notebooks?" His head peeked around her shoulder as he stared questioningly at the plain booklets in her hands.

"They're not just notebooks, they're specialized. They have indentations for tabs and have special sections for notes.

"Taking notes on your notes? Sakura-chan, that's for all the prissy people who think they know everything! Who takes notes on notes they already took—unless you do that too, which means you're totally smart and right about this...heh." He changed his tune with the elongated stare directed towards him.

Sakura didn't mind the insult. Rather, she took it in stride.

"Exactly."

"Eh?"

"Exactly. I know everything. Which is precisely how I know that you can't write your name." He froze.

Naruto's limbs locked like stone as his eyes widened with his gaze towards her. Maybe she had come off too strong. She bit her lip apologetically before she continued.

"You can't write your name...can you?" He didn't answer, which made her all the more sure. "I'm not faulting you, Naruto. I hope you know this doesn't make you any less than."

He still stayed silent. His hands were firmly at his side, while his face fell way too far below the standard of the Naruto Uzumaki. It didn't take long he bit his lip before he tried to find the words to say.

"It's not your fault." He looked up at that. "Naruto, tell me, in class, do you understand the worksheets they pass back? What about the homework?"

"Well.."

She made her tone as soft as possible and hesitated before ultimately asking the question she was dying to know, "Naruto...forgive me if this sounds insensitive...but did anyone ever teach you how to read?" 

He said nothing. And just when Sakura believed she had gone too far with the blonde, Naruto shrugged.

"I mean...I just followed what other kids were doing I guess. I do know how to read! Just not...as good as most?" His statement sounded like more of a question, but she couldn't fault him for that either. Sakura would not qualify herself as the most 'feely' person in the bunch, but his look of distraught caught her off guard. His eyes were a sheen away from watery, and Sakura was at a loss for what to do. 

Her mouth seemed to run quicker than her mind though.

"It doesn't matter."

"Huh?"

"It doesn't matter because I'll teach you." His gaze lifted to hers, and the moment fell stagnant. He gaped as he tried to find his voice, but they were catapulted into silence once more before he settled on doing just that. He stayed silent. His head fell, and while he spoke no words, he tightened his closed fist and a flicker of a whimper could be heard.

"Why?" It took a while for Sakura to answer. But when she did, she had never been more surer than anything else in her life.

"Because everybody deserves a chance to be looked at. To be taught. To be first."

His widened eyes pinpointed hers, "First?"

"Number one. And how can you get there if you never even have the scoring sheet? Now stop staring at me and go and grab some pens. You seem like you'd be a color-coder, so don't keep me waiting." She tried her hardest to stifle her voice, she didn't need hesitation to show on her face, not ever, and certainly not now.

She went back to staring at the wall in front of her, and only let out the smallest of breaths as he made his way to the next aisle down. She stared at the empty spot beside her before her brain spun in tens of thousands of different directions.

What am I doing?

You're doing the exact opposite of what they did to you.

That thought was enough to capture the questioning tones.

Shikamaru was back. Sakura didn't know how to feel. She was worried, of course. Actually, not 'of course', worrying for someone else wasn't something in her dictionary when she knew for a fact that she had no one to be worried for her, but since it happened, she did what she always did when dealing with unprompted feelings: ignored them.

She nodded at the boy who walked over and went back to her conversation with Naruto.

Naruto.

He was getting the hang of things. She knew that was a strange observation to make, seeing as they had only begun their lessons three days ago, but even Iruka-senseii could see what a drastic change Naruto had made.

While he hadn't magically become a genius overnight, he sat straight in class and tried his hardest to highlight parts of the book that Sensei would read off of if he was confused. Using those highlights, he and Sakura would go over them, and the next day, he could follow along with the next.

She had since figured out what his problem was. When he'd get stuck on a topic, there was nothing he could do, so he went on to stay silent, not for long, since he was Naruto, but just enough to never ask for help.

But she realized the error in her judgment when, on the third day, she finally asked why he never went to anyone for help; his five words stopped her in her tracks.

"They don't want to help."

Of course, what a foolish question, Sakura. 

Since befriending Naruto, Sakura had taken a greater effort to observe the space around him. And yes, while many students were wary of him, the teachers were too. But why? Were they not supposed to be here to teach?

She laughed inwardly at that.

Look in the mirror, Sakura, exhibit A.

He was right. And so, she was destined to prove them wrong.

Naruto was not as dull as people made him out to be. He was quite smart. He made observations that not many would; he just didn't know how to articulate what observations he was actually making. Who else would notice that the woman carrying oranges 15 feet away from them dropped two on purpose to have her children run after them, specifically so she could talk to the flower shop worker who liked her?

There were things Sakura only realized after a while that he picked up on instantly, which made Sakura realize that he was being held back. But enough of that, there was someone back in the picture.

Shikamaru sat down beside her as usual, but she could feel his gaze on her, burning. She had gotten used to it. He usually stared at her while she was training, while she was reading, while she was...doing anything really. But this one felt different. It was almost,....how could she say...sad? She dismissed it entirely and introduced both of them. She hadn't put much thought into how they'd get along. But even so, they'd have to. She couldn't give up her deals with Shikamaru, but she most certainly would not leave Naruto out for dead.

It looked like she wouldn't have to worry much about that too much though, No. She should've been worrying about whether the academy would leave her out for dead.

She stomped out of the classroom in a fit of rage. She couldn't believe they had actually done that. Accused her of cheating in a Spar? She scoffed at the craziness of it all. She beat Yamanaka fair and square, and that was much more than she could say for almost all of the clan kids in that class! What's fair about being handed down a technique used in secret for centuries against an opponent who only found out what Chakra was just a few years prior?

She couldn't believe it. Sakura clenched her fists. She could just—just—She punched. A tree. A very large tree. And down it went. Right in front of the two boys who had been trailing after her silently.

And most likely, right in front of the people who had been trailing Naruto silently.

She was screwed.

Chapter Text

Three seconds. Three seconds was how much time she had before they'd do something about it. About her. Because even another civilian would know for a fact that what she did was not, in fact, normal.

Three Seconds. And yet, two was all it took.

She dropped.

And began to scream.

"My arm!" She clenched her eyes shut and took the arm she had outstretched into her other hand and let the makeshift tears fall. It took even less time for the two boys behind her to come running up.

"Sakura-chan!!! Sakura-chan! Are you okay? Do we need to call a medic? Oh, Sakura-chan, what do we do!! Wha-I don't know what to do!" If her tears weren't enough to do the trick, then Naruto's real ones sure did put on a show. He was hovering over her and practically hyperventilating. She wailed in pain as response before her eyes darted to the brunette beside the blonde. Huh, at least he got it.

Shikamaru's face was drawn in concern, manufactured concern.

"Naruto, wait. We can't. It's just a reaction. Sakura doesn't have enough chakra and she tried a move that backfired as a result. The tree took most of the impact, but her arm is probably sprained." With that, he turned to her and sternly shook his head. "What did I tell you, Sakura? You don't have enough chakra for certain moves. You need to expand your reserves more."

"I know. I'm sorry." Her voice was low, but not low enough to be strictly conversed between the two of them, but just high enough that they'd hear. Then, she felt it. The air's tenseness lessened just a hair, and by then, she knew she was in the clear.

"What? What are you saying?"

"Sakura over-exerted herself trying to use one of my clan's moves. If anyone else saw, they'd think she just blew up a tree, but in reality, her reserves just needed an out because she made a failed calculation in energy."

"Uhm...could you repeat that?" Concern was still laced over Naruto's face, but his words (and face) held the air of confusion.

Shikamaru sighed. "She tried a move too strong, and it backfired because she's not...strong enough."

"Ohhhhh. Sakura-chan, don't worry! You'll get strong enough to do the move, ehm, what move was it...?"

"Clan secret." Shikamaru ended Naruto's quip with a simple sentence and helped him get Sakura back up. "Now come on, let's get her home." It may have been Shikamaru's stony look, or maybe even Sakura's croaks of pain, but Naruto did just that, no questions asked, and off the three of them went, waddling to hold up Sakura's weight. It may have taken them a while, but it didn't matter, the longer the better. After all, these were Ambu that they were trying to convince. Alas, the thought did nothing to soothe the heartbeat that all but pounded out of her chest in fear.

She could not afford to lose all she had worked for. She would not.

When the trio finally made their way to Sakura's home, the lights were fully off. When they finally hobbled into the house, it was very clear that no one had been present for a long period of time. The two boys sat her down at one of her living room chairs, and turned on the lights to make sure her vision was intact, and then...the questioning began.

"Sakura-chan, are you sure you don't want to go to the hospital?" Naruto's chirp made her straighten up, and with one look at Shikamaru, he was already closing the blinds around them.

"What's going on?" Oh, the innocence. 

It was that of one who had absolutely no clue what a monumental mistake Sakura had just made. And what she had just done to save it.

Naruto's brows were furrowed in concern, but the everlasting silent question was spoken anyway.

Shikamaru and Sakura locked eyes. It wasn't an option.

"It's fine, Naruto. Sometimes, I overexert myself. After all, how do you think I stay strong? Beat Ino? Training takes sacrifice, you know." Her words were firm as Shikamaru lifted her legs so that she'd be fully laid on the couch. She closed her eyes when she heard Naruto let out a resounding, "ohhh"

"Hey Naruto, why don't you get some wraps? We should tape her leg to manage the strain. Just go down the hall to the left, there should be a closet, and it's the first thing you see."

"Oh sure!" And off he went, eager to be of help.

When he finally disappeared into the hall, Sakura eyed him with exasperation.

"You know he won't find it in there; that place is a mess." Which he shrugged to with a tired grin.

"It buys us time." He walked closer and sat just a few inches beside her legs on the couch. The two were engulfed in silence before his dead-set stare grew tired of her compliance, and he spoke. "Sakura, are you sure that worked?"

But how could she answer him? She was never less than 200% sure when she spoke. She never hesitated before making a move that was the right one. After all, how did she beat Shikamaru at Shogi as many times as she did?

She swallowed and yet again said nothing, content on staying inside of her own mind, while paying no heed to the sigh that left Shikamaru's lips before he finally got up to help Naruto find what he'd never figure out.

Truthfully, and no, Sakura would never admit this aloud, she was at a loss. No, not the type of loss she felt when figuring out how to deal with Naruto, but a much more deeper, significant loss. She had just messed up. A sentence she didn't take much pride in hearing.

How could she be so foolish? To lose control in public when she knew, she knew, for a fact that people were watching.

And not the type of people that would let something like that slide.

Naruto's Watchers, and from what she could make out from her hours spent simply watching, listening, feeling for them—Anbu.

If Sakura wasn't sure if she had stepped into forbidden territory by deciding to befriend the Uzumaki, she was sure when she began noticing them. She long ago realized that the academy had eyes. After all, all important, high-value clan kids in a single place, obviously, there'd be protection. But it was after a while of pure ignorance that she realized that they actually didn't do anything: Not when someone like even the high-ranked Hyugga got injured in a spar( thought that was more because of her hesitant punches than weakness), and not even when a threat between two clan members (Uchiha and Inuzuka) got too heated, though the Inuzuka took a much larger beating. 

They merely watched. But for what? It was after she had spent some time with Shikamaru's books that she realized that there was an even bigger, driving force that watched: The Anbu. Or in other words, Konoha's secret service, which took care of jobs too big for the ordinary shinobi. But instead of feeling amazed as one of Konoha citizens should've felt, (after all, they were there for protection...right?)

Sakura felt fear.

Fear for what would happen when a high-ranked shinobi, one who probably stood so high up on the influential ladder that with one word, could have her investigated, took a long look into Sakura herself?

She was no fool. She knew what happened to kids deemed interesting enough to get noticed. And sure, that was a fine label to have, if you were that of a clan. 

It was something she had taken notice of, even when she resolved to become great. When she was younger, somewhere around 4, and witnessed one of the strongest people she had ever seen at the time: an Uchiha, but specifically a relative to that of the well-known Uchiha in her class: Itachi Uchiha.

Itachi Uchiha was Sasuke's older brother, and even now, known as a prodigy. Wherever he walked, there was no little talk of how important he'd be to the village, how his bloodline had proved to be successful after all, and just how much he'd be.

It's what led to Sasuke being held to the same standard, and while, don't get her wrong, the boy was good, but Itachi good? Well, guess she'd have to sit around and see. But that was just the problem, she was believed to sit around and see. See, as those who were born 'better than her' do the wonders they were believed to be capable of. And Sakura?

Sakura was just a no-named civilian playing dress up in gear much too sophisticated for her. And that was how it was supposed to be.

Sakura didn't need to be a clan kid to see what would happen if it wasn't.

She always did think of what she'd do in the event of getting caught; she'd just thought it'd be from protecting herself from an attack. She had drafted up explanations, loopholes, and whatever her mind could think of to get her out of a situation like that, but a loss of control? Now that was one she wasn't prepared for.

She made it up on the spot and just thanked God that Shikamaru was as smart as he was to fall smack-dap onto the same page.

'Lack of energy," "not strong enough", "Not enough Chakra", "learned through Clan Means" are All enough filler words to hopefully get the thought of Sakura coming into power on her own lost in the winds.

...At least she hoped.

It had been a few hours, and Naruto was safely tucked into one of her spare futons in her bedroom, while Shikamaru and Sakura stayed in the kitchen, cleaning up the concoction Shikamaru had made. For a clan kid, he was strangely adept at cooking meals. Sakura had offered to do it, but in Shikamaru's words, "that wasn't the job of an injured person", so he took the reins as Sakura managed to get Naruto to move past the obvious by double-checking his practice books.

Apparently, a good meal and homework were enough to knock him out, so off he went.

"Are they gone now?" His low voice somehow managed to echo through her kitchen, or at least, that was how she felt.

"Not necessarily. They won't leave him for a long period of time, but seeing as they haven't barged in here and grabbed me, I assume we're in the clear." Huh, unknownst to her, she hadn't noticed how the 'I'm' meant to be said had turned into a 'We're'.

His eyes downturned at that as he clenched the edge of the counter.

"So now what? We just wait? What about Naruto? Why didn't you send him home? If it wasn't for him, we probably wouldn't even be in this situation!"

She blinked at him. "Do not blame him because of my lack of competence. I got angry and I lost control. It would've been worse if Naruto weren't with us. The only reason I took the route through the forest and not through the marketplace was that I knew Naruto was not liked there. If I were to go somewhere populated, civilians and shinobi alike, and got angry and hit something. Then what? It wouldn't even take three seconds, rumors would fly around about the strangely strong pink civilian, and I'd be done for before I even made it home." Sakura hadn't realized how rough her voice had gotten, but she didn't care.

What was she to do anyways? She valued the fact that she never failed to keep her calm, and yet here she was doing the very opposite.

"There's nothing else to do. No one to blame. I just continue living."

"See Sakura, that's what I don't get. You're strong. Your blood, sweat, and tears went into gaining as much as you have, and then what? What next? Keep it hidden forever? Not use it when you're in danger and just...die?" His words were hoarse, but the anger with which he spoke couldn't be hidden.

"No." That stopped him in his tracks.

"Obviously not. There seems to be something you fail to realize, Shikamaru is that while you could rise without fault, I cannot. And that is not what I have in store for myself. You do realize that after we graduate, we will be placed on genin teams, correct?" Her voice was calm, but that did little to change the confused expression on Shikamaru's face. Obviously, he knew that, but what did that matter in context to their argument?

"Well, something you are missing is that while you most likely will end up in a formation such as your father's, as will most of the kids in our class, I will be placed elsewhere. On a genin team? Sure. But not one good enough to ever make it out of Konoha.

"Out of Konoha?...What are you talking about?"

"Shikamru, don't you get it!!" Her face was as red as it was before she blew up that tree. "I will be placed on a simple team, doing simple missions, all to simply be placed in the Genin corps where I belong. Do you think I'd let that happen?" She let out a spit of laughter, like the village was playing one big joke on her that it was left out of. "No. As it stands, when I get strong enough to where I can successfully beat potential captors..."

.

.

.

.

"I'm leaving the village."