"You know, Naruto, I'm really jealous of you," Choji said, sighing. Naruto grinned to himself.
"Who isn't?" he asked, and turned to see the pudgy boy's solemn face. Naruto quickly changed tack. "Why, Choji?"
"Well… you have Sasuke."
Naruto's eyes quickly narrowed and Choji laughed humorlessly.
"No, no," Choji said. "I don't mean like that. I mean, I envy what you two have."
Naruto relaxed again and leaned down to rest on his side with his head in his hand. He looked at Choji as if contemplating something, and plucked a blade to chew on. Naruto seemed to come to a decision.
"Choji, what have you got to worry about?" he said dismissively and put his hands behind his head to lie fully back. With closed eyes, he continued, "You have all the time in the world to worry about girls."
Choji groaned and put his head in his hands. Naruto cracked an eye open to look at Choji again.
"I recognize that expression!" Naruto exclaimed, his voice full of mirth. "That's the 'I'm in love with my best friend who's a guy' face I used to wear all the time."
Choji groaned louder and Naruto laughed.
"Like I said, Choji, what have you got to worry about? Look how great things worked out for me and Sasuke!"
"But Shikamaru's different, Naruto. He's…"
"Shikamaru's bi! What's the big deal? I bet he'd go out with you!"
Choji stood up suddenly, visibly agitated.
"You don't get it, Naruto! Look, let me lay it out for you. I'm…" Choji paused. "…fat. And useless. And stupid! I'm no match for Shikamaru, and yet… he acknowledged me! He was the first one to notice that I have talent, too." Choji sighed and looked at Naruto. He began to pace restlessly. "Shikamaru is the only one who would have me, Naruto. But I'm no match for Shikamaru," Choji repeated. "I'm not the only one who would have him, and I'm not the only one he would have."
"But he's single, isn't he?" asked Naruto, exasperated. "So why don't you just go for it and – "
Choji shot Naruto a pained look. "That's just the thing. He's not single."
Naruto gaped at Choji, shoked for the first time in their entire conversation.
"Bu-bu-but I would know – " Naruto stuttered.
"He's kept it under wraps," Choji said, tight-lipped.
"Then how do you – ?"
"How do you think, Naruto?" Choji demanded, throwing his arms in the air and plopping down on the grass once more. "We're best friends. If Sasuke suddenly started going out with Sakura behind your back" – Naruto made an outraged face but Choji ignored him – "you'd notice, wouldn't you?"
A moment of realization and then – "Is Shikamaru seeing Ino, then?"
Choji stood up and stalked off with a grunted "Temari". Naruto's heart reached out to his friend, and felt hopeless as he watched his friend's retreating back. He knew he was lucky and was thankful that he had Sasuke to go home to.
