CHAPTER 1: Best Friends

"Hey Shikamaru, what's up!" Shikamaru turned his head to see Kiba and his loyal puppy Akamaru running through the grass toward him.

Shikamaru turned his head back to its original position, reclining against a tree. Shikamaru enjoyed passing the time by lying under trees just watching the clouds roll by. To him, the thought of company when he was in this state was just too troublesome for him.

Kiba is an exception to this though. Shikamaru had always enjoyed only Kiba and Akamaru's company when he was in his 'happy place': under a tree watching the clouds pass him by. He and Kiba had connected ever since the Chuunin Exams, and they have enjoyed every second they had together.

Shikamaru always thought of Kiba as the brother that he never had, and Kiba felt the same way about Shikamaru. They have had this special bond ever since Kiba saved Shikamaru's life during the Chuunin Exams.

FLASHBACK

"We need to move, and we need to move now," Ino said to her comrades. "If we don't get to the tower soon, those collectors or some other team will eventually try to take our scrolls."

"Yeah, yeah," Shikamaru said. "It's not like we're incapable of handling some bastards that wait until the last minute to collect what others have worked hard for."

"Hopefully, we won't have that problem." Ino remarked. "We shouldn't have a problem as long as we get to the tower before the collectors show uuuuuuuuppppppppp…!"

Ino, not the best at tree running, slipped on a branch. However, Shikamaru's quick reflexes caught her just in time.

"You alright?" Shikamaru asked. "Yeah, I'm fine, thanks." Ino replied, still in shock.

The team had stopped to take care of Ino for a while. They found a nearby cave and examined Ino's leg. She had fractured two foot bones and cracked her femur.

"Looks like we will have to stay here for now" Shikamaru said. "I think that you are pushing yourself too hard Ino."

"No, I'm fin…" Ino gasped as she tried to get up on her leg.

"Ino, seriously, we will stay here for the night so you can rest up." Shikamaru insisted.

"Ok.." Ino said in pain.

*Nightfall*

Choji and Ino had fallen asleep by now. However, Shikamaru sat on the soft grass outside of the cave, doing what he does best: relaxing up against a tree. He couldn't get over the fact that they had to stop just because of Ino's horrible tree running skills. "It's all such a drag." Shikamaru mumbled.

He leaned over to get the bottle of water. He picked it up and realized that it was almost empty. Shikamaru set the bottle at his side thinking "Oh, of course it's almost done, just when I am thirsty." With that, he got up from his relaxed position to go and find a spring where he could fill the bottle up.

He woke Choji to watch Ino while he left to find a spring. Choji wasn't too happy about it, but he figured that it would be like 'late late dinner', so he said ok.

Shikamaru was walking along a path when he encounters a kunai knife stuck in a tree. "Hm, must've been rotting in this tree for days." Shikamaru thought. He pulls the kunai out of the tree and to his surprise there is a paper bomb at the end of it.

Shikamaru threw the kunai at a tree and it exploded. Suddenly, out of nowhere, the collectors started spawning from the shadows of the night. Shikamaru turned to run and awake his team, but when he lifted his leg, he couldn't move it. His leg was paralyzed from fear of the collectors.

When all hope seemed to be lost, Shikamaru paralyzed, and the collectors slowly limping over to him, all of a sudden someone or something bolted out of the trees and snatched Shikamaru away from the collectors.

Shikamaru was in shock and he was traumatized. He turned to see his rescuer, only to see someone in a grey hoodie with the hood masking most of his face.

"Who are you…?" asked Shikamaru, who was at this point dazed, confused and drowsy. Shikamaru was so tired. At this point, he feels like he had just woken up, so everything is one big blur to him.

"Try not to talk, your still experiencing a lot of trauma. You should rest up Shikamaru," the hooded boy said. "Fighting while you're so tired isn't something that I would expect from you, Shika. In fact, I thought that you were the type of guy who wanted to avoid anything troublesome."

"Heh,heh.. I am that kind of guy." Shikamaru said faintly. The hooded boy stopped and put his arm around Shikamaru to help him over to a nearby tree next to a crystal clear, placid spring. They both sat down against the tree.

Shikamaru, still drowsy and unspeakably exhausted, was being supported by the hooded boy, who still had his arm around him.

"Thank you.." Shikamaru said. "You.. you never told me your name.." Shikamaru was starting to fall asleep because of the fatigue his body was going through. The hooded boy took off the hood and looked into Shikamaru's eyes.

"Kiba…" Shikamaru said faintly.

Shikamaru then collapsed into Kiba's arms, falling into a deep sleep.

END OF FLASHBACK

Kiba ran to Shikamaru, who was still reclined against his favorite tree. Kiba wasn't in his trademark grey hoodie, he was wearing a t-shirt and shorts.

"Hey Shika! Warm out today, isn't it!" Kiba said.

"It is, I can tell from your geddup." Shikamaru replied.

"Oh, come on! I don't wear that grey hoodie for one day and you criticize me for it?"

"No, no. You look great."

"Well, it means a lot when it comes from you, Shika." Kiba said.

Shikamaru's tongue was tied. He couldn't tell Kiba the truth. Shikamaru knew that he was going to be leaving Konoha to train with his sensei Asuma for a few years, but he could never tell Kiba that because then he would be crushed.

Those two have been best friends for a long time. They were closer than brothers. Shikamaru isn't really aware of it, but he means more to Kiba than a brother or a best friend. Kiba tried his hardest every day to conceal it. Deep down, Kiba has feelings toward Shikamaru. He has had these feelings for a long time, but he wasn't sure if Shikamaru had felt the same about him.

"Kiba, we have been friends for such a long time. I think that are bond is so strong that nothing could break it."

"Yeah, you got that right, Shika!"

"Not even time could weaken this bond of friendship, right?"

Shikamaru was trying to turn the conversation so that he could lay the news on Kiba lightly.

"What are you getting at, Shika?" Kiba asked cautiously.

"Kiba, I am leaving to train with Asuma sensei for about five years."

Kiba was startled and shocked in disbelief of what he had just heard from his friend. He could not believe it. Kiba just stared at Shikamaru, and Shikamaru stared back.

"Kiba, I'm sorry."

Kiba started to bite the side of his lips, closed his eyes, and looked down at the fresh green grass.

"Shika,…" Kiba muttered. "You never really liked to travel,.. or even really move at all. You always thought that it was… too troublesome.." Kiba was now sniffling.

A tear ran down Kiba's face.

"Shika, you are my best friend…. My brother… sniff sniff"

"Kiba, no matter what happens; you and I will always be best friends. Not even time itself will change that."

"Shika..sniff..you cannot be sure that it won't change our friendship.."

"Kiba, it will not change, I promise you that."

Kiba dropped to his knees, supporting himself with one arm clenching the grass, and another wiping his tears. Kiba was sobbing now. He could not stand the fact that they wouldn't see each other for five years. It was too much for Kiba, especially because he had secret feelings for Shikamaru.

In the midst of his sobbing, Shikamaru reached at Kiba and softly lowered his hands from his tear-soaked face. Kiba and Shikamaru locked eyes. Kiba's tears were still running down his face. He looked into Shikamaru's eyes with a look of desperation; a look that says: 'I'll do anything, just don't leave me here without you'. His eyes were wide open, no longer clenched.

Shikamaru lifted a hand to Kiba's face. He gently ran his hand along Kiba's cheek, wiping the tears away.

"Please don't.." Shikamaru said. "Please don't cry because of me."

Kiba was still sniffling a little, but the tears stopped. The only tears that were left were the ones trailing from his eyes to his chin.

"Kiba, it pains me to see you like this.." Shikamaru said softly.

"Shika…sniff sniff"

"It's all going to be okay." Shikamaru said, leaning in closer to Kiba.

"I promise."

Kiba then pulled Shikamaru into his arms, his breathing returning to normal.

"Ok." Kiba said. "Just be safe, Shika."

"Hey, it's me." Shika said reassuringly.

"Really? Last time I had to save you." Kiba laughed.

"Don't worry, I'll make sure that you don't show me up again." Shikamaru said.

"Please write to me if you get the chance." Kiba said.

"You can count on it," said Shikamaru.

The sun was setting and the two young shinobi returned to their homes.

The next day, Shikamaru and Kiba met each other at Konoha's main gate.

"So I guess this is goodbye, for now anyway." Shikamaru said.

"I am going to miss you so much, Shika." Kiba said. "Please don't forget about me."

"Are you kidding? You will be on my mind each and every day." Shikamaru replied.

"Same here, Shika." Kiba said. "Just be safe."

Asuma approached the two shinobi.

"Shikamaru, are you ready?" Asuma asked.

"As ready as I'll ever be." Shikamaru said. "Did you pack the Shougi board Asuma?"

"Yep. I got it right here." Asuma said as he pointed his thumb back to his backpack.

"Alright Shikamaru, did you say your goodbyes?" Asuma asked.

"Yeah, I did." Shikamaru said.

Shikamaru glanced back at Kiba, who was obviously hiding his depression and sadness behind a small smile. Shikamaru could see right through Kiba, so he knew that this was what was happening inside of him.

"Ok, let's go." Shika said.

Asuma had a cigarette hanging out of his half-open mouth. He first looked at Shikamaru, whose eyes were still fixed on Kiba's, and then Asuma shifted his eyes to Kiba. He shrugged indifferently.

He and Shikamaru started walking away, leaving Kiba behind.

Kiba clenched his stomach, lowered his head and squeezed his eyes as he muttered to himself: "He's going to be fine. We'll be keeping in touch and five years will go by in no time."

Shikamaru stopped walking, but Asuma kept moving until he noticed that Shikamaru had stopped.

"Something wrong, Shikamaru?" Asuma said.

Shikamaru glanced back at Kiba. Kiba raised his head and looked at Shikamaru. Tears were running down Kiba's face. Shikamaru ran back to Kiba, throwing his arms around him when they met.

"I'll be back soon. I promise." Shikamaru said.

"I know." Kiba replied.

The two shinobi hugged tightly for a few seconds until Shikamaru finally broke apart and went after Asuma. Kiba was left behind by himself as he watched his best friend walk away from him. The wind started softly blowing, kicking up leaves that had fallen to the ground. Kiba picked up a leaf and examined it. He then looked back up at Shikamaru and thought to himself: "All of Konoha's young leaves will return someday, fully grown and mature. Kiba and Shikamaru swore to each other that they would never change. Kiba looked up at the bright blue sky with optimism and remembered his best friend's last words to him.

"I promise."

Kiba had faith in Shikamaru and he knew that when he made a promise, he meant it with all his heart.