Good lord, it's been so long since I've written fan fiction. Most of the stories I've written I've deleted due to their bad quality and the other four are only there because many people have seemed to really like them. But with a renewed love in a new fandom, I decided to take one more step into the fan fiction world.
The Story Master is a character I came up with just recently when I began brainstorming my own ShikaIno story. Really, I just felt like making up my own character for kicks, but then I came up with a storyline. Now I'm writing it!
Enjoy the story. I'm fairly new to the Naruto world, but I still enjoy it. If there are any errors involving facts from the show itself, please let me know.
"Wake up, citizens of Konoha! Its 9 AM, the sun is shining with just the perfect amount of clouds to cool the day. Perfect weather for the visit of a highly respected kunoichi that will be visiting our village today…"
Shikamaru groaned from his bed, lifting his head off of his pillow, and staring past the strands of hair that lingered in front of his face. His hand snuck up from beside him and searched around his nightstand, until it finally landed atop of his alarm clock and slammed at the snooze buttons. Ten more minutes wouldn't hurt…
"Shikamaru!"
Scratch that, it would.
"Shikamaru!" His mother stood in the doorway with a broom in hand, and an angry look painted across her face, "Don't you dare hit the snooze button on that alarm! I want you up and dressed, breakfast eaten and out the door in twenty minutes."
"But mom, why?" Shikamaru groaned again, not bothering to lift his head from his pillow.
"I told you yesterday, I'm cleaning the house today! I can't have you here in the way!"
"Like I'd even be a bother."
"Out of the house in twenty minutes." She shut the door without waiting for his reply.
Shikamaru groaned once more as he lifted himself from bed, "What a drag, I get the weekend off and I can't even spend it in my own house? Troublesome…" He dressed and pulled back his hair, stepping downstairs and into the kitchen for breakfast. He lingered long as he could, eating his bacon and eggs slowly, until his mother shouted at him to leave. He finally did, tired and annoyed, and walked towards the city gates.
'Now what?' he thought to himself. But before he had to think of anything, he noticed the large crowd of ninja crowded around the gates. 'That's right, she arrives today.'
He wormed his way through the crowd until he found a cluster of genin from his generation in the front. He grunted in greeting and looked to the gates.
"Nice day," Choji mentioned, his mouth stuffed full with chips and his hand digging greedily in a bag.
"This is exciting," Ino grinned, "The Story Master is coming to our village. I've read a few of her books, they're really interesting." Shikamaru looked over toward Ino and nodded. She was looking exceptionally well today, with her long, shining blonde hair pulled up into a ponytail with a complimentary purple ribbon, cascading down her back in glowing waves. Her usual purple uniform hugged her figure nicely, and her eyes shone with excitement.
'Wait, why am I thinking of her this way?'
Shikamaru's Ino-based thoughts, though, were quickly interrupted when Konoha's number-one knuckle-headed ninja blurted out, "Who the hell is this Story Master person?"
Everyone shot him looked of shock, which quickly turned into looks of annoyance.
"The Story Master is a jounin who uses her powers to tell stories, sometimes driving people insane." Sakura explained, "But lately she's only been using them for purely entertainment. She's going to put a show on later today."
"So long as no one pisses her off," Shikamaru added.
"What do you mean?"
"I heard that in her last stop at the Sand Village, Gaara completely got on her nerves and she attacked him."
"What happened to him?"
Shikamaru snorted, "Nothing. He's freaking untouchable. But had it been one of us, we'd probably gone nuts."
"How'd you find this out, Shikamaru?" Ino raised an eyebrow.
"Temari."
Ino's insides instantly burned. She hated Temari, with a passion. It had happened ever since she began getting tight with Shikamaru. Granted, she didn't know exactly why she would get so mad whenever her name slipped from his mouth, but she didn't do anything to stop her jealous rage. Whenever Temari came to town or sent Shikamaru a letter, she didn't rest until she knew what was up.
"There she is!"
A brunette ninja, accompanied by a few jounin, stepped through the city gates in glamour. Cheers followed as she bowed and waved in greeting, and then jumped past the crowd and onto the stage behind them. She raised her arms and yelled.
"Greetings, citizens of Konoha! I am The Story Master, here solely for your entertainment!"
The ninja cheered again. The Story Master bowed once more and spoke again, "My first show will be at noon. Spread the word!"
"I wonder what her first story will be today."
Team ten sat in their favorite restaurant, having an early lunch so they would make it to the Story Master's show at noon.
"Something good, with monsters and stuff." Choji mumbled, scanning the menu greedily, making a mental list of everything he wanted.
Naruto turned around in the booth beside them, where he sat with Sakura. "It'll be about me!"
"Naruto, the Story Master doesn't have a clue who you are," Shikamaru said, "You're not famous."
"Yet." Naruto winked, and Sakura groaned and face-palmed from the other side of their table.
"It should be about a princess, held captive by an evil monster and waiting for her brave knight to battle his way to her prison and save her," Ino swooned.
"If it is, I just may die of boredom."
"Oh shut up Shikamaru."
"I don't get it," Naruto frowned, "How can she use her power to tell stories?"
"She uses it to create the story's settings around her and the audience, merely out of her surroundings."
"…That's weird."
"Of course it is, Naruto." Ino sighed and shot of a glance of disgust, "Why don't you just go return to your ramen and leave us alone?"
Naruto stuck his tongue out at Ino and turned back to his table. Shikamaru tossed his menu on the table and stared out the window.
"What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing." Shikamaru said, sending a look towards Ino telling her to stay out of his business.
"And how are things with… Temari?"
Shikamaru groaned, "For the last damn time, Ino, there's nothing going on between me and Temari!"
"You sure do make it seem that way!"
"Damnit, why do you even care?"
"You're my friend, Shikamaru, isn't it my job?"
"Not particularly."
"Shikamaru! You are just…"
As Ino struggled for a way to finish her sentence, Shikamaru stood. "Look, I don't feel like arguing with you. And in fact, I don't have any appetite, so I'll be going now." He left the booth and the restaurant entirely.
"Ah! I think I'll get a cheeseburger, with a side of pasta and some sushi…" Choji's mouth watered at the thought.
Ino pursed her lips, "Choji, Shikamaru hates me, doesn't he?"
Choji stared at her, asking 'are you serious?' with his face, then laughed, "Ha! No!"
"I'm going to follow him."
"What? No lunch?"
"Bring me something later? I'll see you at the show."
Shikamaru walked lazily towards the stage, hands stuffed in his pockets and a scowl featured on his face. He hated arguing, it was too troublesome.
"You're early."
He spun around to find The Story Master standing behind him, smirking. She wasn't any taller than him, probably good two or three inches shorter, but her presence was intimidating all the same.
"Did you come for an autograph? Or perhaps a simple summary of the show," She smiled, "Sorry, but I don't offer either."
"No, just… chilling."
"The show doesn't start for another hour. Are you running from something?"
"No-"
"Shikamaru!"
Shikamaru cringed when he heard the female voice that shouted his name from behind, and The Story Master laughed, "I think you are. I'll leave you two alone." And she disappeared behind the stage.
Ino caught up and caught her breath, "Shikamaru, can I talk to you?"
"No."
"Shika, I'm really sorry. I just want us to be friends!"
Shikamaru flinched when she used his childhood nickname. "You're such a drag, Ino. Don't worry all the time, maybe you won't be as uptight."
"Uptight!? I am not uptight! And I didn't know it was so wrong to care about someone!"
"My, my, aren't we feisty." The Story Master suddenly appeared beside Ino and Shikamaru. The both glanced at her in mild shock. "I sense a problem between old friends. Why yes, Shikamaru, I agree, what is wrong with caring?"
"It's troublesome, like this pig here."
"PIG!"
"What a naughty boy, calling his friend names." The Story Master shook her head.
"I'll tell you, Shikamaru, I'm no pig. And I'm sorry I ever even gave you a simple thought!"
"Fine!"
"Fine!"
They both turned to leave, but walls grew out of the ground and prevented them from going any farther.
"I'm afraid you're not going anywhere. Wait, no I'm not!" The Story Master laughed.
"Let us go." Shikamaru growled.
"Now, I can't let you leave angry now, can I? That would be unreasonable."
"We haven't done anything wrong."
"Au contraire, you have. You see, your kind of personality pisses me off. You're a lazy bastard that only pushes people away, people that love you, and you don't give anyone a thought."
'Damnit, here she goes.'
"You're going to attack us, aren't you?" Ino spoke up, "Like you did Gaara."
"Except I hope to actually get through to you, unlike that mary-sue sand bastard." The Story Master began her hand signs in a rapid movement, and soon their entire surroundings began to change. Mountains grew, monsters made of rock emerged from the ground, and trees danced in a newfound wind, "Once upon a time, there was a young couple," She began, "However, they weren't the couple most would stereotype. They hated each other, until one day…" More hand signs followed, and a cage grew around Ino, "The princess was captured."
"Shikamaru!"
Shikamaru only stood there, eyes wide. He was the main character in the Story Master's tale.
Things would not end well.
"The knight has the power to turn things around, but will he do it?"
Read and Review! (puppy eyes) Again, please tell me if there are any factual details I'm screwing up on!