Deafening - Shikamaru Nara

1

For a girl with reaching aspirations, you'd think she wouldn't be so nervous to complete small tasks along the way. Yet she was extremely nervous, and that girl was me.

I mean, it is the Chunin exams. I do have the right to be nervous, but I sure as hell won't let anyone know that—especially Sasuke. He may be my teammate, but he can be a real hard ass sometimes. So when he asked if I was nervous, of course I lied.

"Why should I be?" I respond.

"I can tell you're nervous, even if you won't admit it." I internally groan, nothing goes past him. But I lie anyway.

"You don't know what you're talking about," I respond. He rolls his eyes.

"Okay, I'm a little nervous." I mumble. "Why aren't you?"

He shrugs. "I know my potential."

I roll my eyes. "Being self aware and arrogant is different." He grunts in response.

I sigh, shaking my head. He's good, and he knows it. Yes he's extremely arrogant, but I wish I was more confident. I pretend I am but...I'm not sure.

Sasuke is up next, so I leave him to get ready and I make my way into the stands to find a seat next to Sakura.

"I'm so nervous," she squeaks.

"Don't be, he'll be just fine."

"I know, I just hope you're right."

"Mind if I join?" Shikamaru asks, already sitting down next to me.

"I suppose," I mumble. "Why did you forfeit? You had her, you know," I ask. Shikamaru was up against a strong girl from the Sand Village, and he quit. Everyone knows he's lazy, but I never took him as a quitter. I just assumed he chose to slack off during training—I never thought he would slack off during the goddamn Chunin exams! I was embarrassed for him.

He rolls his eyes. "I swear, that's all I've been hearing today."

"You haven't answered my question."

"Shush, it's starting!" Sakura exclaims. I roll my eyes, turning back towards Shikamaru.

"I believe you haven't answered me yet," I mumble.

"I believe I'm ignoring you," he responds. "Why don't you focus on your friend down there instead of me?"

I roll my eyes. "I am paying attention to him, you're not the only thing on my mind." He grins cheekily and I roll my eyes. But then he says, "This is gonna be tough. Have you heard what they've said about him?"

"Gaara? Yeah, but if anyone can win it's Sasuke," Sakura responds.

"I thought you were worried?" I chuckle.

"I will always worry about Sasuke but I have full faith in him." I snicker, Sakura's love for Sasuke has no limits it seems.

"Sasuke, Sasuke, Sasuke," Naruto grumbles from above us. "I bet I could beat Gaara."

"Don't get too ahead of yourself, now," Kakashi says. Naruto frowns.

"I think it'd be a good fight, Naruto," I say encouragingly.

"Thank you, Rei!"

"Don't encourage him," Shikamaru mumbles.

"Well I bet he'd at least finish the round," I respond. He glares at me.

I grin, feeling as if I've won, and return to watch Sasuke. Suddenly, I started to feel pretty sleepy. I could feel my eyes become heavy, and it was a fight to keep them open.