The shadow princess

Chapter 4

[Nara Shizuka P.O.V.]

Shikamaru and I aren't that different. We're both very intelligent, we both love to look at the sky. We love our deer in our Forrest. And we both made it to the final round of the chunin exam. I just made it at the expense of my team mate. Kaiyo was totally cool with it. "I'd rather lose to you than to Naruto" he said but ever since I felt like shit, as if I didn't feel bad already. I sigh deeply before walking into the Nara Forrest. I haven't been here in a while, not since I've graduated from the academy that is. Because I was training and also because my father comes here often. It's his way to relax he always said. I used to love it when he took us here, showed us and told us about the deer and how he always lifted me to pet them. Even though I'm angry with him most of the time, sometimes I just wish we were close like that again. I'm not surprised to see my father amongst the deer. "I haven't seen you here in a while" he says without looking up. "I haven't been here in a while" I respond as I pet my favorite deer before laying my head against him. "I heard about your win" father says. "It doesn't feel like a win" I say. "You did what you had to do. The boy is fine" father says but I don't respond. I wrap my arms around the deer and hug it, while I actually want to hug my father. I open my eyes when I feel his hand on my head, he smiles slightly as he looks at me from the other side of the deer. "I'm still your father, you can always talk to me. Even though we don't always agree" he says.

Sighing I walk through Konoha. I just finished training. Kaiyo and Hisato are both helping me very much, Genma sensei too whenever he can. But I still feel this weight on me. I look up and see Shikamaru, Choji and Asuma walk into a barbecue cafe. When Shikamaru sees me he smiles slightly before following his teacher. I sigh before walking along. "What are you doing all by yourself. Shouldn't you be training?" I look up to see Kiba with Akamaru in his jacket. "Hey" I say smiling slightly. "I was. Shouldn't you be helping Shino?" I ask. "I just finished." I pet Akamaru. "You okay?" Kiba asks. "Why do you ask?"  I look up to him. "Because you seem sad" I sigh. "There's nothing really. I just wanted to train a little more but my team had to go" I say. "I can help you" Kiba says. "Are you sure?" I say a little surprised. Kiba grins widely. "Well yeah sure. I finished helping Shino and Akamaru weren't doing anything" he says. "And we'd love to help right Akamaru?" Akamaru barks enthusiastically. "I'd appreciate that then" I smile brightly. " of course. Let's go!"  His enthusiasm spurs mine on and I quickly follow him to the training field nearby. It's odd to be empty at this time of day but I'm happy.  "Is there anything specific you want to train?" Kiba asks. "Not really. Everything. Stamina, my jutsu. Whatever you can help me with" I say. Kiba put Akamaru down. "You can try to catch us, with your shadow jutsu. Would that help?" He asks. "Definitely" I answer. Kiba grins widely. "Catch me if you can then" he says before disappearing.

Panting I fall down on my butt. "Maybe it's a good thing I didn't went up against you in the preliminaries" Kiba lands down in front of me grinning. He grin grows a little as Akamaru lands on top of his head. "Don't say that. You caught me a few times" he says. I close one eye as I look up to him. "Five out of eleven times" I say. "Four in the last hour" Kiba says as he leans his forearms on his knees. "That's progress, cause you started thinking of other ways and how this terrain could help you" I smile. "Thank you" Kiba smiles back. "You're welcome Shizuka" he says. "Is there a chance you'd want to help me tomorrow?" I ask I find myself putting my fingers into my hair and stop as soon as I notice. "Yeah. Of course. I promised Shino to help him in the afternoon. But if you want I can help you in the morning" he says. I smile brightly. "That'd be great" I say. "Tomorrow then" he says. "I have to go though" I stand up and holds his hand up for me. I grab it and he pulls me up. "See you tomorrow Shizuka!" With that Kiba leaves. I make my way home too. "Tadaima" I sigh as I step inside. "You look like you've been training hard" mother says. "Well I have" I say. "Go wash up, dinner is ready" she says. I find both Father and Shikamaru washing their hands in the bathroom. "What have you been doing?" Shikamaru asks surprised. "Training, like you should be doing" I say as I wash my hands too. "I am training actually" Shikamaru says. "At the barbecue joint?" I ask, ignoring fathers snort. "We have to get Choji motivated some how" Shikamaru says as the three of us make our way to the dining room. "This whole thing is such a drag" he sighs as we sit down. I look at him annoyed but curiously before looking at my dad. "It's just necessary. But you better do your best, or I will kick your ass" I say. Father smiles slightly before mother says "language" making me roll my eyes.