Hinata's First Kiss
The next morning, Ino paid the price for Shikamaru's relentless affection the previous night, unable to get out of bed. Feeling guilty, Shikamaru personally fed her breakfast and kept her company throughout the morning. By noon, however, he was summoned by the Anbu; the Elders had a mission for him.
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Inside the Hokage's office,
Shikamaru faced the Elders Koharu and Homura.
"Why have you called me here?" Shikamaru asked, his voice calm but curious.
Koharu cleared her throat before responding. "Shikamaru, we have a highly important mission for you."
Homura added, "As you know, the village urgently needs a new Hokage to lead us. Your mission is to locate Tsunade, one of the legendary Sannin, and bring her back to serve as the Fifth Hokage."
Their words were accompanied by a subtle flicker of their eyes that didn't escape Shikamaru's notice. Filing the detail away, he nodded in agreement. While curious why this task wasn't assigned to Jiraiya, he found the idea of meeting Tsunade, a woman he had long admired, appealing. His mind wandered briefly to the legendary kunoichi, particularly her renowned... assets.
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Before setting out, Shikamaru made a stop at the Hyuga clan's residence, requesting Hiashi to keep an eye on his home and Haku while he was away.
Just as he prepared to leave the Hyuga compound, a kunai shot toward him. Shikamaru tilted his head slightly, allowing it to pass harmlessly by his face. Turning to the source, he was startled to see a young girl.
"Hmph! So you're my sister's fiancé? Impressive, guess you've passed my test. I'll accept you as my brother-in-law!"
It was Hanabi Hyuga, Hinata's younger sister, her sharp gaze betraying her playful intent.
Shikamaru chuckled softly. "Testing me on your sister's behalf, are you?"
Before Hanabi could reply, he appeared beside her in a blink. The girl's eyes lit up with admiration. "Wow, you're even faster than my father!"
Patting her head, Shikamaru smiled. "Where's your sister, Hinata?"
"Not telling! Why are you always looking for my sister?" Hanabi pouted.
Shikamaru couldn't help but laugh. "Well, if you won't tell me, I'll just find her myself." Turning to a nearby hiding spot, he called, "Hinata, come out. I know you're there."
A soft gasp preceded Hinata stepping into view, her face flushed. "Sh...Shikamaru…" she stammered.
Taking her hand gently, Shikamaru teased, "What's this? Were you and your sister testing me together?"
"N-no! Hanabi insisted on testing you…" Hinata explained, her voice full of embarrassment.
Shikamaru smiled. "Hinata, would you join me for a walk? I'll be leaving on a mission tomorrow and will be gone for about a month."
Before Hinata could answer, Hanabi interrupted, "No fair! I want to come too!"
Shikamaru chuckled and patted Hanabi's head again. "Next time, okay? Your sister and I need to talk."
"Why can't you talk to me instead?" Hanabi demanded.
Shikamaru laughed. "Because your sister is my fiancée." With that, he gently took Hinata's hand and led her away, leaving a thoughtful, curious look in Hanabi's eyes.
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Walking with Hinata, Shikamaru was entirely different from his playful interactions with Ino. He merely held her hand and engaged in lighthearted conversation, focusing on strengthening their bond.
Considering Hinata's skill set, Shikamaru also spent time teaching her the basics of applying Taijutsu techniques in a more fluid, defensive manner. Although Hinata struggled with offensive moves, she quickly mastered the defensive applications, leaving Shikamaru impressed.
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Later, as they returned to the Hyuga compound, Shikamaru paused at the gate. "Thank you for today, Hinata." he said softly.
Before she could reply, he leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on her lips, stealing her first kiss. "See you when I return." he added with a warm smile, walking away as Hinata stood frozen, her face a deep red.
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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