Chapter 176: On the Road Again

The path from Maelstrom Island to the Land of Fire was not so difficult, yet Shikamaru knew an approximate route, and the distance between the two was not that great. As soon as he moored on his wooden boat, he immediately began his journey along the shore. Finding a biju won't be easy, but Haran Bay is very close to the Hot Springs country. It is she who is famous for its huge lakes and a lot of rivers, it may well be that the Tailed Beast is hiding somewhere there. If not, Shikamaru will have to work hard and try to figure out the creature's route from the Bay itself. Although it will not be easy, it is quite possible. Shikamaru was worried only about the possibility of hiding the beast in some dimension or somewhere else. He remembered well how Orochimaru tried to lure him out with the help of some boy. It gave me the idea ... Orochimaru somehow managed to track down the Bijuu, so there was a chance that there was a way. This is why Shikamaru went to Haran Bay. Now he did not know at all how to act correctly, since the knowledge of the future did not concern these places. Therefore, I had to act according to the circumstances. Having fastened the protector on the shoulder of his shirt, the guy put on a raincoat and again set off on a long journey. Now he was interested in rest in the last place, he began to search at the limit of his capabilities.

***

While Shikamaru was away from Konoha, Hiruzen often worried about him, trying to send out a search team. Shikaku and Yoshino were also not happy with their son's actions. The head of the Nara was generally going to find him and bring him home, but the Third still did not consider this option, he believed that the student would arrive soon. As a last resort, he will allow his father to go in search of his son. In any case, he didn't believe he had a chance. Shikamaru has long surpassed the younger generation, and who knows what abilities he now has over the past year. It just doesn't make sense to send a simple Jonin after him. Yes, and no one knows where to look for him, with this the old man reassured himself. He had the idea to send Jiraiya after him, but he, as usual, had not appeared for almost a year. Most likely he will not appear as much. There is almost no one to rely on in this matter ... But, Hiruzen, of course, was not going to declare the disciple an apostate. Although he was against such a long absence, it was still bearable. For many ninjas, even a couple of years is not a time to worry.

Many of Shikamaru's peers grew up and strengthened their skills, someone went forward to graduation from the Academy. The skills of a few so generally reached the Genin for a long time, but they were in no hurry to graduate. At least the majority.

A whole crowd has gathered at one of the training grounds, led by Instructor Iruka. He, as usual, gave instructions to the students before the sparring, and then announced the opponents.

The first fight was for Ino and Sakura, a couple of girls, as always, reacted with displeasure. The fact that the girls were constantly being pitted against other girls made them more and more nervous, especially the young Yamanaka. She wanted to pile on some insolent boys!

- Well, hold on, Bigface, now I will knock out all your teeth! Ino snorted, getting into a haughty pose.

Sakura stood in front of her and grinned in displeasure.

- Hmpf! Ino-pork, out of sorts again? Is there really a problem with the guy? - Sakura grinned maliciously: - Poor thing ...

- Oh you!

Before Iruka had time to say something, the girls grabbed each other's hair and started off ... The teacher immediately rushed to separate them.

Nearby, Chоji thrust his hands into his pockets and glanced at his friend with disappointment. Although there was still some sadness in his gaze, he still understood why Ino had been so twitchy lately. The funny thing is that Sakura is the same, only afraid to admit it.

Pulling out a packet of chips, Chоji crunched a little and walked over to Kiba and Akamaru.

- We are opponents, do you know?

Inuzuka laughed and clapped his chest.

- Why, I accept your challenge!

Chоji's eyebrow twitched and he sighed.

- You know that I ...

- No matter! I will fight to the fullest!

`` It's just taijutsu, don't be so stressed ...

At this time, not far from the chatting boys, a couple of children were sitting leaning against a steel mesh. Naruto, as usual, in his orange jumpsuit, and Sasuke, as always, with a grim look. The two watched the girls fight and Iruka tried to separate them. Sasuke was already beginning to get annoyed and he stood up.

- It's time to end this, enrage!

Naruto yawned and said:

“Don’t bother, it’s better to drive the ramen and eat it.”

- What about sparring?

Naruto got up and brushed off his pants, put his hands behind his head and walked over to his friend:

- Well you know the result.

Sasuke grimaced in displeasure.

- You always cheat with your clones! - but then he turned away and sighed: - Come on, ramen is better than this circus!

Naruto laughed and then the two friends just left the range in a gust of wind. No one ever noticed their departure, except for a few children.

One of them threw a surprised look in the direction of the displaced, and then returned to its previous position. In the lotus position on the grass and the practice of calm breathing.

Hinata Hyuga, she was clearly different from her past, the girl has noticeably changed her image. Although she was not the only one who did it in the last year, she was the first to change so much.

She stopped wearing her warm jacket and was replaced by a short sleeveless lilac kimono, which was wrapped around a dark belt. Now she no longer hid her pale shoulders and thin arms, and also stopped cutting her hair.

Now she was trying to put her feelings in order and become as collected as possible. Sparring with her classmates did not scare her, she was afraid of only one fight and recently only this person occupied her thoughts - Shikamaru Nara. She wanted to prove to him everything she had achieved since their last meeting!

"Where are you ..." - the young Hyuuga sighed and shook her head, trying to drive away thoughts, but it turned out so-so ...

Iruka finally managed to separate the two growling girls, followed by a long and tedious lecture. Ino and Sakura had already stopped being angry with each other in the process, and the moment was approaching when Iruka should have been afraid of problems!

***

And so a year passed in Konoha, and at the same time, Terumi Mei scowled into the distant fog.

- Shikamaru ...

A mixture of sadness and loneliness was read in her gaze. She believed that soon they would meet again, but this did not comfort her at all ...

"It is a pity that this exam is connected with Sand this time, maybe he will appear there ..."

With a heavy sigh, the girl returned to the affairs of the village. She could not be sad for long, she is a Mizukage, she still has responsibilities.