Double update in honor of the new story! I hope you all enjoy!
Warning: LEMON AHEAD
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto!
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What is a Shadow Without the Sun
Chapter 2: The Sick and The Lost
~Time-Skip: Five Months Since Disappearance~
"Damn you Deidra! I told you to stay the hell away from me!" Naruto shouted at the older blonde, pointing his finger accusingly.
"Screw you hm! You're just mad because you're pregnant!" Deidra yelled.
"No, I'm mad because you said I looked fat!" he screamed back.
"Yeah, and those mood swings of yours makes you too sensitive hm!"
Itachi watched as sparks flew between the two. Naruto had never fully forgiven Deidra for hurting his friends, and with the hormones raging through him, he was even more prone to violent outbursts. The angry teen huffed and dropped into the seat next to the Uchiha and Konan, still grumbling about how he wasn't fat.
Naruto laid his head on the female's shoulder, out of everyone there he minded her the least, though Itachi and Pein were growing on him. Konan had explained to him what had happened to her and her friends Nagato and Yahiko a while back, and though Naruto didn't agree with the master plan, he appreciated that she and Pein (aka Nagato) weren't killing just to kill like the majority of their group.
She smiled gently at Naruto before scowling at the other blonde. "Apologize, Deidra" she demanded, her paper jutsu starting to reveal itself on her pale face.
"Fine hm! I'm sorry you're so moody you unartistic brat!" he spewed before skulking out of the room.
Naruto sulked a bit more before he glanced over to the still silent Uchiha. "He looks tired again, and I can smell his blood. That stuff he drinks, I think it's medicine."
"Maybe he has a cold."
"No, that's not it. He's been looking worse since we got here, I think he might be sick; really sick."
"You might be right. It doesn't appear that anyone else notices; he hides it very well."
Itachi could feel the blonde's eyes on him, searching for something. "What is it Naruto-kun?"
Naruto raised himself to sit up straight, "I told you to drop the 'kun' already. I want to go outside for a while."
The Uchiha raised his delicate eyebrow slightly, looking at Konan for her agreement. "Very well, let's go."
Naruto sat on the roof of their hideout with Itachi, enjoying the rare moment of sunshine on his face. He glanced over to his meditating babysitter, unconsciously feeling his growing stomach.
The anger that had pushed him to the point of abandoning Konoha had almost completely been replaced by sadness now. Naruto was special, he wouldn't allow himself to be part of the hate filled cycle that had hurt him so deeply. Most importantly, he refused to give birth to a child and be so consumed with rage that it damaged him or her as well.
"Why did you give me a choice to come and join the Akatsuki? You might have been able to overpower me and extract Kurama months ago" he finally asked.
The elder boy opened his eyes and looked up at the sky. "You are more valuable alive."
Naruto buried his head in his knees, and let the sadness he felt color his voice, "at least you think so…" He wasn't expecting anything else to come from the raven, he had always given short answers.
"Why did you choose to abandon Konoha? I thought it was your dream to be the Hokage" Itachi asked.
The blonde was slightly surprised that Itachi had talked to him without being asked a question, or to assist him in some way with the baby. He bit his lip, "I was angry at them for treating me like a vicious animal. I wanted them to suffer."
"And now?" Itachi pushed.
"Well, I'm still upset that it happened, but I've heard from Zetsu how much they looked for me. I guess they still have at least one team out every day to try and find my body to bring it home. I even have a spot in the cemetery. Plus, I thought I was ready to live for hatred like you and Sasuke do but it was such a terrible feeling… I'd rather suffer from depression then feed off of something as dark as hate."
Naruto watched some of the tension leave his face as he went back to meditation. The Uchiha seemed to be pleased with his answer. He decided to let the older man be at that point, he laughed to himself that it probably had strained him to keep up a conversation that long. "Still, it was nice that I got to talk to someone other than Kurama. He's so busy now with the alterations I don't want to bother him and I'm lonely."
A blush covered Naruto's cheeks as he reached over, searching for his lover. His tired eyes opened to reveal an empty bed. Despair washed over him again, and he felt lost.
***Dream***
Shikamaru looked down, smiling at the blonde boy whose head rested in his lap. They sat together under the stars in the Nara forest, a soft wind blowing through the surrounding trees.
Naruto opened his clear blue eyes and met light brown ones. He reached his hand up to touch the soft cheek before he sat up. Their lips met, and the blonde moaned softly when he felt fingers run through his golden hair.
Shikamaru deepened the kiss, gently pushing his lover onto the tender grass. He paused momentarily to remove his shirt before leaning back down, his tongue gently sliding over a tan collar bone.
The brunette trailed farther down the toned body, dipping his tongue into Naruto's sensitive belly button, growing harder from the soft mewls coming from the blonde; the sounds intoxicated him.
Tracing the outline of the now visible seal, he undid the blonde's pants, freeing the pulsating member.
Naruto let out a nervous squeak, "Shikamaru, what if someone sees us? This is your families forest."
"So, what if they do?" the brunette countered, "they'll just have to deal with the fact that I'm yours now."
The blonde felt his face flush in embarrassment and happiness, gasping when his lover blew cool air on his hot organ. He closed his eyes in pleasure when the Nara engulfed him whole, his cock being sucked down the eager passage.
Shikamaru bobbed his head repeatedly, slowly rubbing the sensitive head against his slick cheeks, clamping around the length when it penetrated his throat.
"Ooooh, ah, Sh-Shika…"
He reached up to lightly rake his nails across the blonde's torso, feeling the warm body shudder beneath his touch. Naruto was panting hard now, his breath hitching more frequently. With a final hard suck, he felt the gooey liquid shoot into his mouth, finding it tasted pleasant.
Shikamaru swallowed his lover's cum, licking his lips to get every drop. He crawled his body back up towards trembling lips, kissing them softly.
Warm hands reached between them, but he stopped them. Naruto looked up at him with still hazy eyes. The brunette smiled warmly, answering the unasked question, "tonight is all about your pleasure my love. Rest now, you're safe here."
Naruto nodded sleepily, but his eyes still held worry.
"I'll be here when you wake up, I promise." Shikamaru soothed, holding him close.
***End Dream***
"You said you'd be here when I woke up" he whispered sadly, pain being renewed in his blue depths. Knowing he wouldn't be able to go back to sleep, he rolled out of the covers.
"Are you up Kurama?"
"Of course I am, it's not like I can sleep with you moaning all night!"
Naruto smiled despite the heaviness he felt, he always thought it was funny knowing the Fox had to put up with his wet dreams.
"Teach me the hand signs again?"
Tsunade gazed out the large windows of her office, staring at the rock sculpture of her grandfather. Her hand was outstretched some, the heirloom neckless she had bestowed on first her brother, then Don, and finally, Naruto weighing heavily in her palm.
It had been found during the search months ago, and she could still feel the overwhelming ache of guilt in her heart. "I should never have given this to him. It won't accept anyone else, his death is my fault, just like theirs."
A knock echoed from her door and she closed her eyes, wishing for once that it was her adopted brother knocking it open complaining about not going on higher ranking missions. "Come in" she finally answered.
"You requested us milady," Asuma asked as he, Lee, Ino, and Choji entered.
"I have a mission for you, it's only a C rank, but it is of the utmost importance" Tsunade answered, turning to face the four ninjas. "Next month will the half month anniversary of… of Naruto's death. Shikamaru hasn't been on active duty since he was tortured by Itachi and I don't want this to be the end of his promising career."
Asuma looked down slightly, knowing how damaged his favorite student was.
"A young Lord needs to be escorted through the Land of Air. Your duty is basic protection from bandits and such, it should be relatively simple. I'm assigning Shikamaru to this mission for you to watch how he behaves in combat, and report back to me. You three are closest to him, and Lee, you have determination like Naruto. I'm hoping that your combined efforts will bring him out of his depression."
Choji and Lee side glanced over to the younger blonde kunoichi, seeing her stare guiltily at her feet. She and Sakura had been somewhat alienated ever since they outwardly agreed to lock up Naruto, and they weren't sure it would be a great idea to put her and Shikamaru in a group together. He had refused to speak to either of the women since he got wind of their involvement.
Asuma stepped forward to take the scroll from the Hokage, he could feel the tension in the air and felt bad for everyone assigned. It couldn't be helped, orders were orders and he secretly hoped Tsunade's meddling would actually work.
Asuma walked to the Nara compound to find his pupil after agreeing to meet with his team the following morning to leave. He knocked on the door, being greeted by Shikaku.
"How is he?" Asuma asked.
Shikaku stepped outside for them to talk. "He is doing about the same, stays in his room sulking most days. I can't even get him to the porch for a game of shogi anymore."
Asuma took a long puff of what was left of his cigarette, thinking as the elder Nara pulled out his new ashtray. His son's sensei stopped by often now and he figured it would make him feel more at ease knowing he could smoke there.
"Thanks," he said, blowing out the smoke. "Unfortunately, this isn't another social call. Shikamaru has been assigned to a mission with me and his old team, nothing strenuous, but there may be combat. You're his father so I trust you'll answer me truthfully. Do you think he's ready to be back on active duty?"
The scarred man looked up at the sky thoughtfully. In truth, he didn't know; relations with the InoShikaCho formation were strained now that their children were on bad terms, and it didn't appear to be resolving itself anytime soon. "I honestly couldn't tell you Asuma. Shikamaru and I never really talked as father and son, we played shogi as a way of solving issues he was having and that isn't working anymore either. But he can't be a shut-in forever; I'll leave his wellbeing in your hands for the time being."
Shikaku opened the door and called up to his son, explaining he had a visitor. The teen walked down the stairs slowly, looking bored and irritated.
"What is it Asuma-sensei?" he asked lazily.
"You've been assigned to a mission set to leave in the morning. It's a long term mission that will take about two months in total," he answered.
Shikamaru looked even more irritated than he had before and turned to walk back up the stairs. "Yeah, whatever."
The two older men looked at each other. As the young brunette would say, this was going to be a drag.
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