Strip Sparring: Shikamaru and Temari's Rematch!

Strip Sparring: Shikamaru and Temari’s Rematch!


“CANNONBALL!!!!!”

Naruto, wearing nothing but a pair of orange & blue swim trunks, leaps high into the air and curls his body up into a tightly compacted ball. Upon his descent, he glances down at the warm water that awaits him and grins, knowing that his impact will cause a huge splash. And it does, one large enough to displace the water and deposit it onto anyone nearby. As the water settles back from its violent churns, Naruto emerges to its surface, wearing a wide grin of satisfaction.

“YEAH!!!” He cheers to himself. “Perfect splash! That was one of the best cannonballs I ever made!”

“NARUTO!!!”

The young shinobi turns to his rear in the water to see a soaked Sakura, his teammate on Team 7. The splash literally drenched her in water, and it’s made worse by the fact that she’s not in her swimwear. But her fuming anger begins to dry her.

“You IDIOT!” She yells. “Why don’t you show some consideration for others?! You splashed half the people by the hot spring!”

Naruto rolls his eyes in response, and proceeds to mock Sakura by sticking his tongue out. “And what are you gonna do about it?” He taunts, waving her to bring it on. The taunting escalates as he turns away from her, lifts his rear end out of the water and slaps it repeatedly, almost giving her a target. Sakura watches his blatant display, and gives off a facial tic before finally losing all control.

“THAT’S IT!!!”

Like an enraged piranha, Sakura dives in the water and takes down Naruto with a splash of her own. The two submerge into the water, only to rise out a moment later, with Naruto holding Sakura in a tight headlock. Sakura then drags Naruto back down into the water, and several moments later, they reemerge. Sakura sits on Naruto’s shoulders with her legs wrapped tightly around his neck. She rains down fists upon his blonde head as he struggles for breath & freedom.

Such is the day at the Konohagakure Hot Springs, where Academy members have gathered for some much needed rest & relaxation. Nearly everyone who participated in the Chunin Exams is here, including Team 10. Choji stands at the Noodle Stand awaiting his order, and Ino sits some feet away in a chair soaking in the sun.

The other two members of Team 10, however, are far from the warm water springs. Wrapped up in a game of Shogi, Asuma & Shikamaru sit on opposite sides of a makeshift table, their eyes focused on the board, and their minds calculating potential moves and counters. The two have remained silent for over 5 minutes, which is the same amount of time Shikamaru hasn’t moved a muscle, even though it’s his move. His fingertips are pressed together, signaling he’s in deep thought, possibly planning 5 moves ahead on what could potentially happen. After a while, Asuma becomes fed up of the silence between them, and reaches into his pocket, pulling a cigarette from his pack. Grabbing a match from the table, he strikes it against his pants leg and lights the cigarette, just as Shikamaru makes his move.

“Is that really what you’re gonna do?” He asks, before taking a drag.

Shikamaru glances up to his Sensei and replies. “With all due respect, considering you haven’t beaten me, I wouldn’t be worried about my moves.”

Asuma pulls the cigarette from his lips and blows out a puff of smoke before turning back to his student. “Not that, kid.” He says, tapping the ash off of it. “You’re here at a Hot Spring, the perfect opportunity to hang out with your friends, or find a girl you like, and you’re here playing Shogi.”

“Why bother?” Shikamaru responds. “I can hang with my friends anytime, and you know how much of a pain women can be.”

Asuma is about to counter with a response when he’s reminded of his own lover’s unique ‘quirks’, and how they sometimes lead to monumental arguments. Deciding to let it go, he makes his move on the board and continues with the game. But moments into their continued match, another interruption makes an appearance; in the form of Kiba and Akamaru.

“Almost there, boy!”

Though they’re nowhere to be seen in the immediate area, the large cloud of dust speeding towards Asuma & Shikamaru has their handwriting all over it. The cloud barrels closer, before coming to a stop right behind Shikamaru. He waves away the excess dust kicked up as Kiba and Akamaru slide to a stop, their apparent race at an end.

“Beat me…by a nose…” Kiba tells his friend, who barks in triumph. “That’s 3 to 3. Next race is mine, though. I’m gonna…”

Kiba stops in the middle of his sentence when he notices the game of Shogi going on. “You gotta be kidding me.” He says, leaning over Shikamaru’s shoulder. “We’re at a hot spring, and you’re playing board games?”

“What’s there better to do?” Shikamaru lazily asks. Kiba is ready to vent dozens of ideas to the young Nara when the sound of a familiar voice stops him.

“Anybody got an icepack?”

Naruto slowly walks up to the three holding a massive bump on his forehead, most likely inflicted by his tussle with Sakura. He delays his search for relief though as he catches a glimpse of Shikamaru. “Hey, what’s the deal? You’re not allowed to go near the water or something?”

“No! He actually wants to play board games, Naruto!” Kiba tells him, slightly offended.

Naruto cocks an eyebrow upward, confused. “Uh Shikamaru, you do know this is a Hot Spring, right?”

Shikamaru lets out a low, almost inaudible groan as the frustration of being interrupted begins to rise in him. “I take it you guys just won’t let me enjoy a game of Shogi, will you?”

Naruto & Kiba look down at Shikamaru in shock. Someone his age, just like them, acting like an old man and remaining on the sidelines as the other Genin & Chunin enjoy everything the Hot Spring has to offer. It’s just not right. In fact, it’s not natural. Perplexed, the two young shinobi turn to Asuma, who sits back in his chair and puts his cigarette back in his mouth before grinning.

“I think you guys know exactly what needs to be done.” He says.

Naruto and Kiba turn to each other and nod their heads in agreement, each catching the subtle hint dropped by Asuma. Turning to Shikamaru, they each grab him by the arm and drag him away from the Shogi game, much to his shock.

“Hey, what the…Sensei?”

“I was gonna lose anyway, Shikamaru.” Asuma tells him, waving. “Have fun kid, live it up!”

“You heard your Sensei.” Kiba adds, wearing a grin. “Time for you to get your head out of those board games!”

Naruto laughs in agreement as they drag him closer to the warm water the Hot Spring provides. Instead of fighting back though, Shikamaru’s lazy nature kicks in, and he does nothing to stop them.

“What a drag.” He utters, as they reach the round rocks that adorn the springs. Suddenly, Naruto & Kiba halt their progress as Shikamaru hears a familiar voice.

“Getting kicked out of the Hot Springs so soon?”

The voice is sultry, mocking, and very familiar to Shikamaru. Naruto and Kiba release his arms and he quickly climbs to his feet. Turning around, his guess is confirmed as he comes face to face with the two Sand Siblings, Kankuro & Temari. Tensions rise between the 5, as the Sand Ninjas have come carrying their weapons; Temari with her giant steel war fan, and Kankuro with his puppet strapped to his back.

“Never figured you for the type to be dragged out.” Temari says, smirking.

“We aren’t dragging him out!” Naruto tells them. “We’re dragging him away from a game of Shogi so he can have some real fun!”

The two sand shinobi chuckle at that admission, as Shikamaru rubs his forehead in frustration. “That figures.” Kankuro snickers. “You leaf brats don’t know how to do much of anything, even have fun.”

“What did you say!?” Naruto becomes riled by that comment, but Shikamaru puts his hand on his shoulder and holds him back.

“Calm down, Naruto.” He tells him.

“Yeah, Naruto.” Kankuro agrees. “Besides, I think it’s about time Shikamaru to run away now. It is his best Jutsu, isn’t that right?”

That remark brings a smirk to Shikamaru’s face as he responds. “Well, at least I don’t have a Jutsu that involves carrying around Pinocchio.”

Temari lets out a chuckle at that comeback, but it doesn’t amuse Kankuro. “Perhaps you wanna see what Pinocchio can do in a real fight!” He says coldly, stepping closer.

“HEY!”

Out of nowhere, the big-boned shinobi Choji lands between Kankuro & Shikamaru, and defends his friend. “You got a problem with Shikamaru, you got a problem with me!”

“Move it, wide load!” Kankuro tells him. “Isn’t there a bag of snacks that needs to be devoured?”

Choji growls in disapproval of that remark, which gets the attention of Ino. She intently watches from the sidelines, ready to make a move if anything erupts between the Sand Ninjas & her squad mates. Tensions are boiling over at this point, and one wrong flinch can escalate matters into an all-out brawl. But Temari decides to put an end to it. Pulling out her war fan, she extends it, blocking her brother from the rest of the Leaf Village Ninjas.

“I don’t really have time for this.” She says, retracting the fan. “Tsunade invited us here to show her appreciation for our assistance. We’re here to relax just like you all are.” She closes her fan and holsters it before making her way past the Leaf shinobi. As she passes though, she gives a devious glance to Shikamaru. “So why don’t I ‘quit’ this conversation, before Shikamaru gets the chance to.”

A snicker leaves Kankuro’s lips as he follows his sister past the crowd, leaving most of the Leaf shinobi fuming, especially Naruto. “HEY! Shikamaru is not a quitter! He could—!”

“Cool it, Naruto.” Shikamaru interrupts, placing his hand over Naruto’s mouth.

“You’re not just gonna let them walk all over you like that, huh?” Kiba asks.

“And what should I do?” Shikamaru asks. “Confront those two and begin a shinobi battle which will have me punished by the Hokage?”

An evil snicker emanates from behind Shikamaru, one that sends a chill down his spine as he turns to see it coming from Naruto. “Not if you use Shadow Possession.”

Kiba & Choji’s eyes light up. It’s a brilliant suggestion by Naruto. But Shikamaru doesn’t think so. “No way.”

“Aw, come on!” Naruto pleads. “Just take control of their bodies for a few seconds! Make them do something stupid! That’ll take ‘em down a peg!”

“It’s perfect!” Kiba adds. “And you said you’ve been practicing your speed & stealth. They’ll never know it was you! Especially since the Shadow Technique is being taught recently.”

Shikamaru drops his head and sticks his hand in his pocket. It would be great to knock Kankuro & Temari down a peg, and with Gaara nowhere around, he won’t have to worry about a full battle explosion. He has been practicing his Shadow Possession Jutsu, and can successfully perform the technique from nearly a mile away, from any shadow. Doubt still remains in his mind though. Kankuro won’t take kindly to being manipulated to look stupid. And Temari…well, Shikamaru knows just how ‘troublesome’ she can be.

“Come on, Shika!” Choji says, putting his arm around his buddy. “Pulling a prank on those two would be perfect!”

Shikamaru glances over at his friend, and lets out a long sigh. All he wanted to do today was relax and play a simple game of Shogi, or stare up at the clouds.

“Alright.”

“YEAH!!!” Naruto and the others quickly push Shikamaru and duck behind a large Noodle Stand embedded into the mountain. Naruto acts as a lookout, taking cover and peering his head out around the corner to spy Kankuro & Temari’s movements. Kiba squats down and pets Akamaru, before giving the signal.

“OK boy, we need you to be a distraction to those two Sand Ninja, so Shikamaru can do his stuff. Go!”

Like a bullet, Akamaru sprints out of hiding and darts towards the two Sand Ninjas, who’re standing near the warm waters of the Spring. He barks loudly and dashes between them, gaining their attention and giving Shikamaru the opening he needed.

“Now!” Naruto yells.

Quickly, Shikamaru works the appropriate hand gestures, ending with his index & middle fingers pointed upward, and his right hand closed around them.

“Shadow Possession Jutsu!”

Instantly, a jet-black line of Shadow shoots out from under Shikamaru and rounds the corner into the open. He keeps the shadow line extremely thin, as to not draw unwelcome attention to it. It zooms along the rocky ground of the Spring, past other Chunin & Genin, until it reaches Temari & Kankuro, the latter of whom is about to help Akamaru make his exit.

“Stupid mutt!” He says, ready to kick Kiba’s friend away, until Temari steps in.

“Just ignore the D—!”

Her sentence is cut off abruptly as she feels her entire body freeze in place. Every muscle inside of her has locked up, completely removing her control of her body. She’s barely able to move her mouth to speak. Kankuro turns back to her and, seeing her stance, becomes puzzled.

“Temari?”

“I’m…frozen!” She chokes out. “Some kind of…paralyzing…Jutsu!”

Kankuro growls in anger over his sister being detained by someone’s Jutsu. “Whoever it is, I’ll make them let go!”

His fingertips begin to glow bright blue with Chakra and he prepares to unleash his killer puppet when Temari’s actions draw his attention back. He turns to her and watches as she slowly bends over slightly and bends her arms, putting her knuckles on the sides of her stomach. She then proceeds to flap her arms, mimicking the actions of a chicken. A several dozen yards away, behind the Noodle Stand, Shikamaru continues the action, as Naruto, Choji & Kiba try to stifle their laughter.

“Oh man, this is hilarious!” Kiba says, as Akamaru rejoins him.

Naruto brings his head back into hiding and turns to Shikamaru, grinning deviously. “Hey, I got another idea!”

Back near the Spring, Temari stops her ‘chicken dance’ and stands up straight, by Shikamaru’s will. “This is embarrassing!” She thinks, gritting her teeth in anger. “And the feeling…is familiar. I think I know who’s behind this.”

Before she can tell her brother the culprit though, she feels her personal space being severely violated. Looking down, she gets the reason why; her hands are furiously groping her own breasts. Kankuro’s face turns bright red at the very sight of his sister feeling herself up, and for a moment, he stands motionless. Temari’s angry gaze snaps him out of it though. Thinking quickly, he snatches her giant war fan from her back, opens it, and uses it as a shield to block others from viewing her. Back behind the Noodle stand, everyone is on the ground, rolling around and holding their stomachs while laughing hysterically. Everyone save for Shikamaru, who decides to up the ante. Shaking his hips like a drunken geisha, he forces Temari to mimic the action, while still groping herself.

Her face is red with embarrassment, as she sees no stop to the actions forced upon her. But determination hasn’t run out for her. Forcing her head to look down, she narrows her eyes and looks for the one hint that will reveal who’s behind her embarrassment. It takes a moment, but she sees it…a thin shadow line that’s connected to her shadow.

“KANKURO!!!”

Her brother looks at her face as she forces the name of her attacker out. “Shi…ka…maru!”

Kankuro’s rage boils over upon hearing that name. “He’s a dead shinobi!”

Leaping into the air, he prepares to unleash his puppet, along with a helping of vengeance. But Naruto breaks out of his hysterical laughter, and spots him in the sky.

“Crap! The Jig is up!”

Hearing that, Shikamaru releases his shadow hold on Temari, freeing her. Naruto jumps to his feet as the others quickly leap from hiding and up the mountain.

“Shadow Clone Jutsu!”

In a large puff of smoke, several Naruto clones appear, ready to battle. Kankuro doesn’t flinch though. Instead, he unleashes Karasu, his main offensive puppet, and has him easily rip through the clones, in hopes to nail the original. Once hit, the clones disappear with a puff of smoke. But as the smoke clears and Kankuro lands, he sees it was JUST the clones that his puppet attacked. The real Naruto is nowhere near. Temari quickly joins her brother, and their eyes scan up towards the trees, where they spot for figures off in the distance, fleeing the scene.

“They’re not gonna escape that easily!” Kankuro says, ready to give chase. Temari puts her arm across his chest to stop him, though.

“Hold it!” She tells him. “Let ‘em go.”

“After what they did to you?” He asks.

“Shikamaru had the chance to harm me when he locked in his Jutsu.” She says. “He just wanted to play a prank with his friends.”

Groaning in disapproval, Kankuro grabs his puppet as Temari continues to stare in the direction Shikamaru and the others ran. “So, looks like you’re not as boring as I thought.” She thinks. “Maybe I should show you how to have some real fun.”

A little over a mile away from the scene, Naruto catches up to his friends as they catch their breaths in the treetops. Shikamaru sits on a large branch with his back against the tree, Kiba holds Akamaru as he leans against the tree on another branch, and Choji sits on a lower branch as Naruto joins him. They all remain quiet as they glance behind them to see if they’re being followed. Seeing that the area is clear, they erupt in uproarious laughter.

“That was classic!” Kiba yells.

Shikamaru even snickers to himself, pleased with his successful prank. “Well, I’ll admit…that did feel good.”

“That’s the spirit!” Naruto yells to him, giving him the thumbs up. Shikamaru grins back before leaning back against the tree. His mind can’t help but calculate the possible repercussions of his actions.

“The problem is, things could get troublesome if she wants payback.” He thinks.