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The day was clear and sunny, not a single overcast break in sight. The lack of proper cloud cover didn't irritate Shikamaru Nara as much as it could have. The sky still held an interesting array of thought even without its usual white vestibules of fluff.

His duties had tied him up all week, and the graduation of a new group of genin had only added more frustration to the pile. However with a good excuse given, the day was turning out to be exactly what he wanted. Or at the very least, a break from his workload, and the troubling, generally violent, women that went with it.

"What a drag," Shikamaru grinned to himself, thinking about the expression on his Hokage's face when she realized that he wasn't sitting in a poorly lit room, compiling the data she had requested.

"Do you actually intent to train," a cocky voice spoke out twenty yards to his right "Or was that an excuse for me to be forced to watch do absolutely nothing, like you are now?"

Shikamaru smirked, closing his eyes and remaining perfectly still, not betraying a single clue that he had even heard the other man speak.

"I believe in this case you would say 'troublesome', Nara."

A shadow fell across Shikamaru's face, but he still didn't open and eye, speaking back in a bored monotone.

"I'm simply making up for your obvious over achievement, Hyuuga."

When silence only greeted him Shikamaru was forced to rethink his closed eye strategy. It was unlikely that he had actually offended the Hyuuga male, after all Neji and he had withstood much rougher banter together.

Shikamaru wearily opened one eye, arching the brow as he did so. Neji was simply standing over him, staring down with his usually unexpressive opulent eyes. Neji caught the movment.

"Finally some sign of life from you, Shikamaru," Neji sneered.

"Idiot."

"If you would actually stand and train as you had declared you were going to," began Neji, ending with a much tone of both teasing and painful promise "I would show you who the idiot is."

Shikamaru didn't even have to think about the hand signs that he quickly flashed. A shadow hand quickly darting out to grab the Hyuuga's ankle, pulling it out from under him, and jerking his towards the ground at Shikamaru's side.

Neji was far too balanced and advanced of a shinobi for the trick to actually have some sort of effect on him, but he did come to a graceful rest at Shikamaru's side just as the other man had intended.

"Just watch the clouds, Neji."

"There are no clouds."

"Who cares?"

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I am alive! I have recently forayed back into the Naruto fandom, with the interest of updating "One Summer's Day" and I thought my drabble serious could use some work. I revised most every chapter, and changed things around a little too.

I recently have become enamored with good Shikamaru and Neji centered stories, I love their pairing. Mostly due to Okami Rayne's "Break to Breath" the fanfiction is nearly transcendent.

Anyways, thanks to all, old readers and new, hope you enjoyed reading!