10 Choices (1/2)

To my luck, it seems like Shikamaru's not alone. This was bound to happen, but I wasn't really expecting the 16th generation of Ino-Shika-Chō to be gathered in the main household—and they seem to already know me as well, thanks to their parents and Shikamaru.

”I'm Ino Yamanaka, Ori-kun.” The blonde smiled at me, giving a hand for me to shake, ”It's nice to finally meet you.”

I returned the smile and reached for her hand, ”Likewise…” I nodded.

”I'm Chōji Akamichi—i-it's nice to meet you, Orion-kun.” The Akamichi looked away, lifting up his packet of chips.

I was a bit surprised of his action. From what I can remember, Chōji only does that to the person he trusts—so, am I that trustable? Trustable in one glance? Seriously?

”Th-Thank you…” I nodded, ”It's nice to meet you too…”

”Hm…” Ino's face popped between Chōji and I, ”Tou-san is right… you do look like a girl.” She then grabbed my hands, ”Shiro-kun's kawaii.”

'Ah, female presence. Help.' I shot Shikamaru my look, but he simply snickered and looked away before whistling like he didn't see me.

After what felt like an eternity, the blonde finally let go of me and dragged me inside Shika's house towards the backyard like she owns the place. She also filled me in along the way—filled me in about stuff, like when they met and why the three of them are here together.

She told me that their parents brought them in a meeting of some sort and basically went from there. They've been together training bit by bit since then, considering they're all heirs of their respective clans. It sounded like it was a drag, but they literally have no choice at this point.

Chōji then told me that the two of them, him and Ino, have heard about me from, like I've guessed, their parents and, mainly, from Shika. The Akamichi also told me that the Nara was thinking highly of me, and how he was worried when I wasn't showing up in training.

”Oh?” A mischievous smile ran across my lips as I looked over to Shika, ”You missed me, Shika?”

He shivered and narrowed his eyes, looking away with an 'I'm-so-done' look, ”What a drag…”

”Don't worry though,” I poked his head, ”I missed you too.” No homo though.

But we kids, so we cool.

”Say,” I sat back, making him perk up, ”I want to see your progress while I was gone.”

”A spar sounds good.” He scratched the back of his head before directing a sharp gaze towards my direction, ”Why don't we add a twist like we used to?”

”Hm?” I blinked.

Ah, yes. We used to spar together when both of us were still under his father's training—and Shikaku-san would often make us do the said activity while making us do something more distracting to up our mental capacity and to make us think quickly.

I'm pretty sure it's called multitasking but whatever.

Well, we'd spar while Shikaku-san would give situational questions that we both need to answer correctly through our critical thinking, to come up with the most logical answer if we don't want to be stuck playing Shōgi with him. It would be an absolute drag if we get stuck with that old man.

Talk about prison.

”Sounds good.” I nodded at Shika. ”You first.”

It might've been a bit confusing for the two heirs standing on the sidelines, but I'm sure Shikamaru will explain it to them later...

”Oh?” Shikamaru led me in the middle of the grassy yard before jumping a few feet away from where I am. ”Then, I'd like to ask what would you do if you were placed to lead the White-Masks case?” Oof—good question.

”Nice…” I sighed, pulling a few hidden kunai's from my sleeves with the help of my ninja wires, swiftly running towards him and not minding the brow he raised. ”Well, for me,” I heaved a quick breath before quickly dodging his kunai-wielded hand, ”like what Inoichi-san did, I'd round every suspects for questioning.”

”Hm?” Shika hummed, jumping back and doing a quick seal for a Nara's jutsu.

”But, then again, I'd still send out people, specifically from the Intel unit to gather information about their leader. The ANBU corps would do well at that area too…” I sidestepped when he threaded his shadow towards mine, dodging his Shadow Paralysis move.

”Getting a bit rusty here, are you?” Shikamaru mocked, ”What if an unexpected army came?” His eyes glinted with curiousness as he ran after me, throwing a few ninja stars my way.

”Oi, oi…” I stared boredly, blocking the stars with my weapon in hand. ”Then,” I paused for a bit, remembering the Naruto show I used to watch before quickly turning around to face him, ”an Allied Force wouldn't hurt, right?”

”That's… a high dream, considering that a war just happened a few years before we were born.” He smiled, dodging the blow he was about to receive from my open palm—he narrowed his eyes at that. ”But in situations like that, dreaming like that won't hurt, right?” He smiled before pushing me away, ”Your turn.”

”Mhmm…” I nodded.

I looked down at the ground, smiling softly. This might actually be a good chance to give him a hint if what will happen in the future. I don't want them to lose their future sensei now so…

”What will you do, Shika, if…” I slowly raised my head, putting up a smile that might've looked like a solemn one, ”… a Zombie Duo came your way with your future team?”

He scrunched his nose, confused about it, ”What 'Zombie Duo', exactly?”

”Uh… let's say…” I pretended to think as I run at full speed towards him, appearing right in front of him with my weapon raised, ”… one's an immortal being that literally can't die even if you severe its head… oh, and he can do some cool voodoos…” I pushed back as he blocked my quick attack, ”… and the other one is also immortal in a way, made out of threads and have multiple hearts.”

”A weird… choice of pair but…” He struggled to block as he skidded back, jumping away and putting a bit of distance between us. ”… seeing that you ”gave” me a team, I'd say we'd deal with the immortal one before the thread one.” He seemed confident with his choice of answer.

”How, exactly?” I smiled, throwing away my kunai at him for a brief moment before controlling my shadows like the way I used them when I first challenged Kakashi.

Of course, using jutsu without hand seals startled him and took him off-balance as I weave my threads of shadow towards his way. ”When did you—” With a fatal mistake of tripping on a small root sticking out of the ground, he froze, eyes widened in shock as he fell backwards.

I smiled, 'I might've been a bit unfair… but…'

Shika recovered quickly and used the ninja wire that was connected between me and the kunai I had just thrown before quickly dodging to the side, avoiding the thread-like shadows that went his way. ”You cheeky—” He saw my smile as I pulled back my shadow. ”I'd probably paralyse the immortal one and let my team deal with him…”

I narrowed my eyes. ”That'll be a lethal mistake…” I muttered as I dodged the shadow he sent my way. ”How about taking his weapon of choice first, after separating him from his partner? Then maybe trap him with ninja wires before severing his head and burying him alive, the head at least?” I asked, he paused for a moment at the detailed answer.

”That's a pretty thorough way of explaining it… that it almost sounds like it's so troublesome.” He sighed, before directing a smile at me, ”I like it.”

”How about the other one?” I asked as he charged towards me, making me pull back the wires I had sent off earlier.

”The thread one with five hearts?” He wondered, ”I think he'll be the most troublesome of the two… so it's best to separate them like you said, right? My team would deal with him last, or at least have another team to deal with him.” He twisted his body while in thin ait to dodge the incoming kunai's his way.

I smiled as he came close at the speed. ”Good choi—oof…!!” I didn't get to finish my words as the air got knocked out of my lungs, with the force knocking me back into the forest as well—into a bush, a prickly one too.