015 -- [Action || Voice]

[its_troublesome]

[Shikamaru is heading out to train in the forest today. Should anyone run into him out there, they'll be in for an interesting sight.

Deer. Not a lot of them at once - and fancy that, none are being slaughtered - and while at first skittish hearing footsteps, they don't run away from him when he approaches them. In fact, they come closer to him when

Comments

[action]

[forestpride]

[San watches him feed the deer, following. Paying attention to how they respond to him - without fear - and how he treats them.

And after a while she will reveal herself]

You are not hunting.

[action]

[its_troublesome]

[He doesn't seem surprised there was someone else out here when she does, glancing over one shoulder to look at her.]

Aa. Funny that. You wanna get along with deer, you kinda have to promise not to eat them.

[action]

[forestpride]

[Really, she knows about the deer.]

Why are you interested in them?

[action]

[its_troublesome]

[He wasn't feeling the humor today anyways.]

Not that it's any of your business... [He breaks off a piece of biscuit and tosses it underhand to a doe a few yards off.] But I come from a clan of deer tenders. They remind me of home.

[action]

[yourhatred]

[Itachi will be there, though his garden doesn't need tending for the moment. Instead, he will be sitting with a book held close and a pair of reading glasses sitting on his nose. They don't help as much as he'd hope.

He doesn't look up as Shikamaru joins him.]

[action] ...I don't know why, but that mental image was hilarious

[its_troublesome]

[Shikamaru stands there for a minute or so without saying anything, just looking from the garden to Itachi. He snorts quietly after a moment.]

All you need is a cane and a shogi board and you'll look like an old man.

[Any other day, he might've found that as amusing as he intended it to be when he said it.]

[action] You're welcome.

[yourhatred]

[Itachi pulls the book away, sitting up straighter.]

I will be certain to add those to my shopping list.

[action]

[its_troublesome]

Mm. [His hands are in his pockets; casual. But where there should be a slouch, his spine is too rigid, and his expression might ring more flat than bored.]

If you like stories, [He eyes the book as Itachi puts it away.] I heard an interesting one the other day.

[ rainy day action ]

[markofthebrave]

[There is one (1) waterbender who appears to have - yet again - left her umbrella 'at home or at loan.' Carry on, nevermind her.]

[ rainy day action ]

[its_troublesome]

[At first, he's so busy thinking things through for only the hundredth time that day that he nearly doesn't even notice her. By the time he does, it's kind of too late to avoid her unless he wants to waste his chakra on a jutsu.

Which he doesn't. So he plays it as casual as possible.]

Yo.

[ rainy day action ]

[markofthebrave]

[And Katara glances up and over. Smiles.]

Hey, Shikamaru. What are you doing out in the rain?

[ rainy day action ]

[its_troublesome]

Taking a walk. [He looks up to watch the rain fall, wrinkling his nose as it splashes into his face before looking back over at her with a small grin.] I'm on my way to talk to someone.

[Action]

[nextgen_hokage]

[If he's out training, then Naruto is more than likely to have actually followed him around for a bit. It's in his interests to talk to him as soon as he can, and he already pushed it off for a few days.

Naruto read the conversation that Shikamaru had with Sasuke. The filter Shikamaru made allowed it. And this is what Naruto wants to talk to him about, especially since this is the same thing he was told by Itachi a long time ago, and by Madara as well. And it was sworn between himself, Yamato, and Kakashi that they would keep it a secret until they could cross-check the facts.

As far as Naruto's aware, the time to bring that stuff into the open hasn't come yet. So, these two need to talk. Which is why Naruto's in a tree, watching Shikamaru. If Shikamaru hadn't noticed that Naruto was following by now, he'd be surprised.]

[Action]

[its_troublesome]

[Naruto, you wear bright orange and are about as good at stealth as you are at calling it quits. Frankly, he's just amazed you've been quiet this whole time. The deer caught on to it before he did.

He waits until he's sure no one else is in the area, until he's about at his limit with the Kage Mane - just a little longer, just need to make it to five minutes like he can outside of the barrier - before he addresses him.]

Oi, Naruto. You spook this stag when I'm about to release him, and I'll have to kick your ass.

[Said stag, marked with a bandage tied around one leg, has been through this once or twice before now. Doesn't mean it's his most favorite thing ever.]

[Action]

[nextgen_hokage]

[Okay, so he wasn't the greatest at stealth. Shikamaru noticed him, and he's not really surprised. He stays quiet for another moment or two before a moving a little to stand up on the branch he's hiding out on, putting a hand against the trunk of the tree as he does.]

We've gotta talk. [At least he was being patient and letting Shikamaru train, but if you're gonna call out to him, he might as well say so now.]

[Action] 1/2

[its_troublesome]

I just told you not to spook the deer, dumbass. [THAT WAS CODE FOR "STAY PUT UNTIL I'M DONE". 8|

It's muttered, though. Despite the warning, the stag is smarter than he looks. When Shikamaru can't hold him any longer - and four minutes and twenty-five seconds still isn't enough - the animal tosses it's head and raises it's legs, slamming them into the ground.

Shikamaru turns his attention back to him for the moment, shooting it a look.] Relax. You're fine, aren't you? [He reaches into his sack to pull out two apples, tossing them away and into the bushes. And then with a faint grin:] Go eat.

[Private]

[markofthewise]

Yup. Looks like you caught me. [Course, he's always there.]

Want to pick up something?

[Private]

[its_troublesome]

Not today. I might make an order later. [It didn't take long to figure out who might have made those flash bombs for Katara. 8|]

For now, there's just something I need you to take care of really quick. I'll be there to show you in a minute.

[Private] that is not the right icon LJ

[markofthewise]

[Hey now, he can't supply you with stuff to one up Katara, now can he?]

Right. Well, just let me know when you're there.

[Action]

[its_troublesome]

[It won't take long. Shikamaru had already been trekking through town on his way back to CH1 at the time, so it only takes him a few minutes before he's walking through the smithy's doors.]

Knock, knock.