In the village

Toshi huffed, but let her arms hang loose, and watched the clouds go by. One looked like chicken pie... Her stomach released a loud growl.

"What was that kid?" Shikamaru asked as he continued to watched the clouds roll by as he smoked "How troublesome, did you not eat lunch or something?"

"Just a few dozen sticks of dango..." she muttered. "...an omelette, a few bowls of ramen, takoyaki, BBQ, ganmodoki and chicken pie."

"How troudlesome you are mubbling." Shikamaru said as he continued to smoke and watch the clouds roll by. I could use some ramen myself but not just yet. Today will turn out to be a better day than I thought maybe.

"Hm." Toshi sighed and got dreamy, ignoring the empty feeling in her belly. "Do you like dango?" she asked dreamily.

"No... I like relaxing and playing shouji and go" Shikamaru said as he sat up dusting himself off. Then he stood up finishing dusting himself off "I am going to go get some ramen want to come"

"Okay!" Toshi grinned, fumbled, and fell onto the ground off the branch. She picked out the twigs and leaves from her hair and walked along with Shikamaru, humming happily.

Shikamaru sighed "How troublesome" maybe I was wrong today might not be a good day then with a girl like this following me around all day long. I might just go crazy this time.

Toshi followed him obediently, not uttering a single word. She just hummed as they walked, and arrived at the ramen shop. Then she simply ordered plain ramen.

Shikamaru order beef ramen "I bet Choji is haveing a beefpot right now" I should have gone there and ate some with him he always likes beef pots. When did I last have one of those with the whole gang?

"What's a beefpot?" she asked, tilting her head in confusion. "I know hotpot, not beefpot..."

"It is similar we have a nice place to get them near here" Shikamaru said putting out his cigurette before their food was delivered to them. I wonder what that idiot is doing now.

"Sounds yummy," she said, grinning, and her stomach growled again. "..." As soon as their ramen arrives, Toshi started to wolf hers down.

"Gees" That kid sure can put it away. She kinda reminds me of that idiot Naruto in a way. Crap I even miss that dork. I must be loosing it if I miss such a loud-mouthed idot with no sense of strategy.

Toshi wiped her mouth, and ordered another. She kept eating until she was almost full, with a teetering stack of bowls neck to her and a blissful smile on her face. "Ahh...Nara-sensei, can you teach me Shogi?"

"How good are you at strategy?" Shikamaru asked as he paid for his ramen and got up. He turned and started to walk down the street casually as ever pulling out the cigurette he had been smmoking he relit it and began to puff.

Toshi quickly paid the cook, and hopped along next to Shikamaru. "Hm...not very good. I'm more of a tool, not a thinker," she said dazily.

"Then why do you want to learn how to play shogi?" Shikamaru asked as he started up the steps towards his normal rooftop where he kept his spare shogi board and gave the hints that he would be there since it was only fair.

Toshi shrugged. "Well, I have nothing to do in my life. Plus, I can play with you, Nara-sensei!" she said happily. "Wanna be friends?"

"Are you trying to butter me up so that you can get passed easily?" Shikamaru asked pulling out the Shogi board and pieces "This game requires paitents."

"Huh? If you mean the Chuunin Exams, I'm not joining. I just wanna be friends," she said, a little gloomily, looking down. "I have all the time in the world."

"Nobody has all the time in the world" Shikamaru said as he started to set up the shogi board. "You need to learn some more before you will be ready to take the exame. Patients and strategy are very important things that one needs to complete missions."

"That was just a phrase. And I already know my position in this world. I am a pawn, the weakest, and I am only just a mindless tool," she said lazily as she watched him set up the board.

"There are no ninja that are just mindless tools. There are just ninja who refuse to use their intelligence." Shikamaru said as he started the shogi form of knight's gambit. What a drag this kid needs to relize what she is capable of.

"Meh. It's not like I have any. I'm neither skilled, fast, strong or smart like the others," Toshi said, smiling weakly. "I'm just a little burden that annoys everyone without meaning to."