Hinata sighed and slowly pushed her remaining rook up.  "I...I'm not good

at

anything when it comes to fighting.  I'm from the most prominent family in
all of Konoha, yet my little sister has always managed to excel everything
that I fail at.  I train as hard as I can, but it seems like no matter how
much I think I improve, I just end up getting in the way of the other's

when

we're on a mission.  Even in my own family, everyone knows that it should

be

Neji-neesan who carries on the bloodline of the Main Branch, not me."

'niisan', unless Neji's not telling people something.

"But on the other hand," the super genius continued as he returned his
attention to his pawn, moving it forward again.  "I don't think you give
pawns enough credit."

Just for the record, I saw THIS coming from the moment he started moving
that one pawn every turn. Also for the record, I *hate* pawnpushers.

Shikamaru smiled.  "Not quite.  Think about this:  unless it's attacking,

a

pawn can only move in one direction, and that's forward."  He demonstrated
by moving his pawn once more.  "That, by some accounts, would be taken as
having determination.  Even though they can only move one space, they're
always striving forward, in an attempt to better themselves...like you."

Awww.

"And," Shikamaru added, sliding his pawn one last space, and then reaching
down to remove it from the board.  "If it works hard enough, even

something

as insignificant as a pawn," he pulled a spare queen from the box and

placed

it where his pawn had been.  "-Can turn itself into a queen."

Yep.

It took some time, but eventually, Hinata finally captured the king.

Hee. Nice one. :)

================================
Please do not stare at my crotch.
              ~~*~~
The Eternal Lost Lurker
www.lurkerdrome.com



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