summer clouds - shikatema

shikamaru's mission

hi guys! This chapter is mainly about the mission that Shikamaru goes on, but there is still some Shikatema and parts that are relevant to the storyline. You guys get to see some action!! I'll be updating either later tonight or tomorrow depending on how I feel but yea. See ya weebs, enjoy the chapter!

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Temari groggily opened her eyes to see the pale light that was spilling through her window. She sat up, feeling gross. Her head hurt like crazy. She squinted her eyes;

the light was making it all worse.

Suddenly, glimpses of what had happened the night before flashed in front of her mind.

His eyes... hovering over me...

She gasped and covered her mouth, ripping the covers away from the mattress beside her, afraid. Luckily, she was alone. Then was it a dream...? Temari wondered, sighing in relief. Her gaze shifted around the room and soon met the articles of clothing that had been laid on the floor near the futon; her headband, shoes, gloves, breastplate, and four hair-ties.

She vaguely began to recall things that had happened, and fragments of moments came rushing back. Her head was pounding; it was as if the weight of the memories was too much for her to handle.

I'm such an idiot...!

Temari shakily stood up and headed to the bathroom to bathe and clear her mind; thoughts of him lingered as the water flowed down out of the faucet and flooded the tub. 

The water was warm on her skin as she sunk into the bath she'd drawn.

The girl lathered herself in luxury rosewater soap that the hotel provided especially for her. They knew she was the Kazekage's sister and the Shinobi princess of Sunagakure... Temari didn't think any special treatment was necessary, but she wasn't going to complain.

After soaking in the bath for a little while and clearing her mind of all the troublesome thoughts, she stepped out and tied a navy-blue yukata around her body. Temari also hand-washed her clothes and hung them out the window to dry.

Outside, the sky was a clear pastel blue color. Puffy, pink clouds dotted the oceanic expanse in a carefree manner, and the sound of birdsong echoed from the branches of the trees that were scattered throughout this tranquil village. Green leaves were littered with dew, an after-effect of last night's rain.

It was a typical Konoha morning... children rushed through the streets with their friends, probably heading to the Academy. A man carrying a large sack on his back hustled in the other direction. A trio of lively older women talked with each other while standing outside a shop that had opened only a few minutes earlier.

Somewhere down the road, a Chunin-ranked ninja named Hashiro hurried towards a certain destination. The young, brown-haired Shinobi ran up the stairs of a particular apartment building and hastily rapped on the door. There was no answer.

He sighed and knocked harder, with more intention. After a few more seconds, the quiet creak of footsteps rang out on the other side, along with the sound of a lock turning.

The door was finally opened and on the inside stood a groggy Shikamaru, his hair messily tied back into a low ponytail. He wore a big, dark green t-shirt and black shorts. Shikamaru yawned and scratched the back of his neck, glaring at the stranger before him. "What is it?" He grunted.

The young boy stiffened up, sensing his senior's annoyance. "U-Um, sorry to bother you at this hour, senpai," he paused, bowing respectfully.

"Skip it."