#strxtegicalshxdows

[hatakeheir]

@strxtegicalshxdows​ // [ closed starter ]

           Kakashi’s glanced over his shoulder, he’d admitted to himself the very loss of someone so close to you took a toll on your emotions; no matter how strong you force yourself to become. Putting himself in the Nara’s position was slightly overbearing, halting in his steps he rotated to become an object in Shikamaru’s path. Pressuring the first conversation between the two Shinobi so the basis for the plan would become apparent, surprisingly the copy-nin hadn’t considered any battle strategies; he’d left that to the intellects of Shikamaru.                         “I was hoping that we’d discuss the plans tomorrow..                                      - seen as you’re already here;           I’m sure we could find a way to make strategics a little more exciting.”       Spinning on the balls of his feet he began briskly roaming towards the Nara house-hold, the copy-nin waved his hand lazily around, calling out to the shadow shinobi “I’ll ask your Kaa-san to start the kettle.” Limiting the others options to 0-1 so ideally the Nara would hopefully not find the untimely, short-lived conversation was only a glimpse of what he’d conjured up.

[strongerstill]

starter for @strxtegicalshxdows

Even on a day off Sakura couldn’t help but get up early. It was so ingrained into her routine that she was halfway dressed to go to the clinic before she remembered what day it was. In truth, she likely would have just gone anyway, but she had been... banned from entering the very place that she had helped set up and run only just a few months ago.---All the medics had turned against her.

‘Days off are to be spent away from the hospital and the new clinic’.

She had a sneaking suspicion that Shizune or Kakashi had something to do with the decree. (In honesty it was likely both). It had been mentioned multiple times to her that she’d been working ‘too hard’, but Sakura had chosen to pretend she hadn’t known the meaning of those words. She would have included her Shishou in the conspiracy too but the woman was off traveling on a much-needed break of her own… (and yet she wouldn’t have been surprised if the woman had still had a hand in it).

With nothing to do at home, Sakura had decided to take a stroll through Konoha.---No destination in mind. She had just needed to move around or she'd go stir crazy in her apartment. She was so used to doing things, that it was getting harder and harder for her to just... stop.

It had been a coincidence when she’d run into Shikamaru, but a happy one. She’d been so busy with things that it felt like she hadn’t seen him (or anyone, really) in awhile. Now that they had all transitioned into adulthood (and taken on the responsibilities that came with it), it was becoming rarer and rare to meet up.

Smiling when she spotted him, Sakura offered him a wave as she strolled up, grateful for having spotted a familiar face in the slight crowd. “Hey. Not babysitting Naruto today?” she greeted jokily, glancing behind him as if expecting the blond to pop up out of nowhere. The two of them had been spending a lot more time together lately with Naruto’s studies and all.

“It feels like it’s been a while, hasn’t it?” she asked putting her thoughts into words. “How have things been?”

[harunodesu-a]

( @strxtegicalshxdows​ )

        a frustrated sigh left the pinkette’s lips. this turned out to be much harder than she expected. not that she had any hopes of actually beating him in shogi, in the first place. that would be silly. but she at least hoped it would take longer, that she would actually become a real oponent & give him some trouble, make him sweat to find a way to win. but, surprising absolutely no one, shikamaru ----- the genious of strategy & tatics ----- managed to capture her king before she could even pose his a real threat. what a drag indeed. 

        “in my defense, you must play this everyday.” there was no need to mention, of course, how difficult it was to remember the right moves for each piece. remembering each & every name of the bones in a human’s body? easy work for sakura, but remembering the rules of movements for the silver general? not so much. next time she’d challenge him for a taijutsu session, now in that she was confident.

[horriblecollectionofocharac-blog]

thread

Continued from x

“Strip Scrabble?....  Consider me interested. Could I join?”

Just because you’re technically supposed to be on opposing sides with someone doesn't mean you can’t engage in some friendly games with them. After all, of all the ninja he’s studied, Shikamaru seemed intellectual, interesting, someone Itachi could talk to without restraint.