Back at home, Shikamaru informed Haku and Ino that he would be leaving on a mission the next day. Natsuhi had already been informed, as had "Yu" one of the two Anbu operatives assigned to stay by Shikamaru's side apart from Natsuhi.
That night, Shikamaru had a rather passionate experience involving all four of them. Initially, he didn't plan to involve Ino again, but her insistence, knowing he would leave the next day, persuaded him otherwise, leaving him no choice but to continue his relentless "adoration" for her.
Before departing the village, Shikamaru asked Natsuhi to stay behind and take care of Haku. Ino, still needing to help at the flower shop, couldn't accompany him. Thus, Shikamaru set out with "Yu" to begin the search for Tsunade.
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On the road, Shikamaru called out suddenly, "Yu!"
With a soft swoosh, a figure with purple hair appeared in front of him, dressed in full Anbu attire. "What is it, Shikamaru-sama?"
Seeing her formal demeanor, Shikamaru sighed lazily. "Yu, can you switch into civilian clothes for the journey? It's boring to travel alone."
"This…" Yu hesitated, knowing that doing so might expose her identity. But after a brief consideration, she reasoned that her assignment to Shikamaru was no secret. "Give me a moment." she said decisively before disappearing to change.
When Yu reappeared, Shikamaru was momentarily stunned. Before him stood a strikingly beautiful young woman, perhaps in her late teens, wearing light, casual clothes that accentuated her graceful figure. The subtle elegance of her appearance reminded him of a certain past encounter.
"Uzuki Yugao!" Shikamaru exclaimed, recognizing her instantly. She was none other than the skilled kunoichi and fleeting beauty glimpsed in the series, a character who had left a lasting impression.
"You… know me?" Yugao looked startled, unable to fathom how Shikamaru could recognize her. Her astonishment only deepened Shikamaru's playful grin as he reminisced about their brief but intimate meeting.
"Ah, well, I asked around after seeing someone so beautiful. Just wanted to learn your name." Shikamaru hastily explained, trying to cover his knowledge with an excuse. However, he realized too late how awkward that sounded.
"Hmph. A little flirt, aren't you?" Yugao responded with a light scoff, though her faint blush betrayed a hint of pleasure. Despite her teasing, she couldn't help but feel flattered. After all, every girl enjoys being complimented.
"Alright, let's drop this. We should get going!" Shikamaru awkwardly redirected the conversation.
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The pair traveled toward Tanzaku, where rumors of Tsunade's whereabouts had surfaced. Along the way, Shikamaru kept the conversation flowing, telling Yugao jokes and sharing stories to lighten the mood. His ultimate goal was clear, to get closer to her.
At one point, Shikamaru grinned mischievously and asked, "Hey Yugao, what's something that grows massively when stimulated?"
The question caught Yugao off guard, and her face turned bright red as she glared at him. "Shikamaru, if you keep asking inappropriate questions, I'll stop coming along!"
"Whoa, hold on! The answer is 'nostrils.' What were you thinking?" Shikamaru feigned innocence, his expression betraying his amusement.
Realizing she had walked into his trap, Yugao blushed deeper and scolded him. "I wasn't thinking anything of the sort!"
"Right, right." Shikamaru teased, a sly smirk on his face. "But your reaction suggests otherwise…"
Unable to come up with a retort, Yugao darted ahead, clearly flustered. "Let's keep moving, we still need to reach the next town before nightfall!"
Shikamaru laughed to himself as he followed, knowing when to ease off. He resumed their chatter with less provocative topics, further bridging the gap between them.
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Tanzaku was a bustling town known for its gambling houses. Walking through its crowded streets, Shikamaru casually held Yugao's hand. His persistence had paid off, as she now seemed more at ease with him. During their conversations, he learned about her connection to Hayate Gekko, a man destined to meet a tragic end. Though she admitted Hayate was her boyfriend, even fiancé, she confessed that their relationship had remained chaste due to her concerns about his discipline.
Shikamaru respected her honesty, though his thoughts strayed momentarily. Regardless, he maintained his composure and guided them toward a prominent casino.
"Excuse me." Shikamaru called out upon entering.
An older man, clearly the owner, approached. "What can I do for you, young man?"
Shikamaru ignored the man's wandering gaze, which lingered too long on Yugao. Instead, he pulled out a photograph of Tsunade. "Have you seen this woman?"
The owner's eyes flickered briefly before he replied, "Ah, the legendary sucker! Yeah, I've seen her."
"Do you know where she is now?" Shikamaru pressed.
The man hesitated, glancing at Yugao again before responding, "I'll send someone to take you to her."
Moments later, a middle-aged man named Kushi arrived, introduced as their guide. Shikamaru noticed the gleam in Kushi's eyes as he looked at Yugao, but he refrained from reacting.
As they followed their guide, whispers among the casino staff revealed the owner's true intentions. "Boss, you're lucky tonight. That girl is stunning." one man jokes. The owner grinned. "That brat should've shown some respect. Now, I'll teach him a lesson, and enjoy the spoils."
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Kushi led Shikamaru and Yugao into an alley that turned out to be a dead end. Sensing the trap, Shikamaru broke the silence with a mocking tone. "So, what's the plan? Hand over the woman, and you'll let me go?"
"Hah! Smart kid." Kushi sneered, his lecherous gaze fixed on Yugao. "But no, I think I'll keep you both. A ninja's nothing special, I was a chunin once myself."
Yugao moved to strike, but Shikamaru stopped her with a hand on her shoulder. "Let me handle this." he said, his voice calm but icy. His gaze locked on Kushi. "You insulted my companion. For that, I'll make sure you regret it."
Kushi laughed dismissively. "Big talk for a brat. Let's see how tough you are.
Earth Release: Ground Splitting Palm!"
As the earth beneath them began to shift, Shikamaru's expression remained unyielding. "Foolish." he muttered, ready to demonstrate why underestimating him was the worst mistake anyone could make.
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A/N: If you're enjoying the story, you can read up to Chapter 61 (28+ chapters ahead of the current one) on my Patreon: Patreon.com/vynthor