Chapter 193: Meeting Haku

A pill to cleanse the body of toxins, a pill to cleanse the chakra channels, a bloodline stabilization pill, a chakra storage expansion pill. A small set of pills in a casket and quite useful for a newbie at Genin rank.

Without hesitation, Shikamaru handed the box to Sakura, saying:

“Taking them in turn, I numbered each one. - Sakura perplexedly opened the box and thoughtfully looked at its contents. Shikamaru continued to say:

- Do not show them to others and in no case do not take them all at once, one at a time, no more!

Sakura nodded, after Shikamaru added:

- They will strengthen you. I believe your talent for control is not just luck, you have something in you, one of the pills can help develop your talent even more. When I return to Konoha, I will help you with your training a little more. In any case, I have a teacher in mind for you.

- U-teacher? Sakura looked at Shikamaru in surprise. "Um, huh ... And you?"

- I AM? - the guy grinned and shook his head: - Of me, the teacher is so-so. Didn't Ino tell you?

Sakura's lips parted in a smile, and she covered the box.

Then, Shikamaru looked around and said gloomily:

- Sasuke and Naruto are coming, I have to go.

- Wh-what ?! - Sakura abruptly stood up: - You will not stay ?!

- With you? - teased Shikamaru, again embarrassing Sakura, but then gently stroked her and said: - I will intervene as a last resort in your business with the Apostates. I have some thoughts on this, so don't talk about me to Kakashi-san and the others just yet. A day or two and we will meet again, and then I will return home.

- Truth? Sakura smiled warmly and snuggled up to Shikamaru. "You promise?"

Without hesitation, he responded to her feeling and hugged him:

- I give you my word.

`` Mm. '' As soon as she nodded, Shikamaru glanced away and chuckled.

- I have to go. - at that very moment, his body simply evaporated.

Left alone, Sakura became sad again. But then she lifted her head abruptly and spun around, and there was a rather familiar, annoying laugh right there.

"Naruto," Sakura sighed in displeasure, picking up the fallen kunai from the grass. Returning her focused gaze to the black box, Sakura quickly hid it in her bag, and then closed everything tightly.

After that, she again returned to her previous occupation. Her determination to climb the tree was strengthened even more!

At the same time, going around the bushes, two beaten friends appeared in the clearing. Sasuke limped slightly and cast displeased glances at Naruto. True, Uzumaki himself held his hand and smiled at his friend forcibly.

- Hi Sakura!

She, as usual, ignored them, continuing to climb the tree and think. After breaking another record mark, she mentally exclaimed:

"Damn it! I forgot to ask why he grew up so! What a fool! "

- Aaa! - unable to resist, Sakura lost her balance for a moment, but directing the chakra to her legs, she deftly turned and jumped, leaving a rather deep mark in the wood.

- Ha, not bad! - praised Uzumaki: - I have not yet broken my face and could not resist. Oh, how painful it was ... - rubbing his bruised hand, Naruto looked at his friend with a sly grin.

“I went,” Sasuke waved his hand and continued on his way to Tazuna's house.

- Hey! Wait a minute! - catching up with his friend, Naruto waved to his friend: - Bye Sakura! You will succeed! Guide the chakra!

After seeing the two off with a thoughtful look, Sakura shook her head and chuckled.

- As usual we had a fight.

At the same time, Shikamaru followed the trinity for a bit, and then disappeared himself. Now he only wanted to wait. If Sakura didn’t tell about him, it’s even for the best. Although, even if she did that, it would not change anything. In any case, he wanted to intervene later, and only then deal with everything. It remains to think how to make sure that Zabuza finished off Gato and then died, while Haku would have survived.

The next day, early in the morning, Shikamaru suddenly opened his eyelids and his gaze sharpened. It is hard to imagine that all night he just sat in one position, waiting for his goal. But, here he is ...

Shikamaru peered at the slowly moving silhouette. It was Haku. A sleeveless pink kimono adorned his slender body, which resembled a female figure rather than a man's. Moreover, this "guy" wore a dark choker around his neck, and also let down his long silky hair. All this would easily confuse an unprepared person. Even Shikamaru could not tell exactly who was in front of him, a girl or a man. Because even the face of this boy looked like a pretty girlish face, and quite attractive. The question is whether he wore these clothes for disguise, or was he really one of those "special" men with strange tastes and preferences.

"Well, I'm not judging ..." Shikamaru smiled and jumped from the branch to the ground. He didn't look dangerous, just a guy in a gray T-shirt and dark breeches, sandals and short, sharp hair. He didn’t try to be unexpected, so Haku immediately heard movement behind him, but he didn’t budge.

Of course, Shikamaru's gaze did not hide a slight movement of Haku, his fingers twitched slightly, just like his head. Not a little experienced, but of course it was impossible to blame him for this. Probably such a movement could only be detected by someone with Dojutsu or someone with very keen eyesight.

Shikamaru stopped halfway, put his hands in his pockets and spoke calmly.

- This is the meeting. I did not think that in these parts someone is walking at such an hour.

Haku feigned a start and turned around, showing his cute and at the same time "surprised" face:

- Oh, hello.

Shikamaru smiled and slowly began to walk towards Haku, who tensed, but tried not to give himself away. Although he still had some skills ... Of course, he felt threatened, yet Shikamaru certainly did not look like some ordinary passer-by. This made Haku even more worried. Even when meeting the experienced Jonin, he did not feel as dangerous as when meeting this stranger.

Shikamaru expressed cold calmness with his whole appearance. At the sight of his strong body and confident gaze, Haku quickly lost control of his emotions. For the first time in his life, he encountered something similar. Each step Shikamaru made seemed to increase the invisible pressure on his small body. Haku literally felt - one wrong move and you can lose your life immediately. He had long ceased to be afraid of death, but right now his body was trembling with fear just instinctively.

Shikamaru smiled calmly as he watched the boy. This funny reaction only amused him. His pupils tightened, his fingers turned white, and he completely stopped collecting his herbs. The old coldness left this charming face.

Shikamaru squatted down and squinted at Haku, tilting his head to one side.

- And who is this we have here?

`` I ... '' Haku was about to answer, but Shikamaru had already said everything for him.

- Renegade, from the Yuki clan. This is how the meeting ...