I do not own Naruto or Naruto Shippuden.

Shikamaru was always a heavy sleeper. Today however he woke up prematurely at 7 in the morning. Typically he slept in much longer on the weekends, when he didn't have to teach the young shinobi in training. He had a strange empty feeling when he woke up.

*stomach growls* "Hmmph..breakfast at home or grab something quick?"

He searched around his mini-fridge, hardly impressive but it was Shikamarus. He never saw the need for a big regular refrigerator. After searching through all his take out boxes, he decided on eating the remains of a sausage from Monday coupled with some mashed potatoes from Wednesday. Again the lazy Nara was too lazy to actually buy any real furniture from his apartment. His apartment was furnished only with house warming gifts from his mother. He rarely bought anything for his apartment, the only table he had was a little lawn table that rested on his tiny outdoor patio on the 3rd floor. He sat and ate alone in silence, both enjoying it, but deep down he had an after taste of being lonsome. He sighed as he finished his breakfast trying to finish as fast as possible due to in part that he just wanted to get the thought he was eating 6 day old meat out of his head.

It was still early in the morning when he finished. He planned on leaving the house soon to do some errands such as his weekly visit to the graveyard to talk to his former sensei and his father. He took his time however and spent some time looking down on Konoha. How the city was emerging from it's sleep. He saw that the streets were deserted except for the shopkeepers who were walking to make the arrangements to open their stores or stands. He saw unfamiliar faces as he looked at all the people. Occasionally he saw a friendly face such as Kiba walking Akamaru or seeing Naruto sometimes walking with Kakashi sensei to help him oversee the rebuilding of Konoha. He scanned lazily until he saw the only people he knew that stood out like a sore thumb. A certain blonde haired Kunoichi walking with another pink haired Kunoichi. He never saw Ino and Sakura take this road to what he assumed was the hospital as they were both dressed in medical scrubs. He was going to call out and say hello, but they were too far away he feared and were engaged in a light hearted conversation as he saw them both break out in laughter as they continued walking.

"To think that once they disliked eachother." Shikamaru said as he chuckled lightly

"You guys could thank me!" He yelled in a failing effort, laughing. He knew they wouldn't hear him so far away.

He technically was half right about his statement. It was him, who forced Ino during the Chuunin exams to look inside of herself and ask herself if she really cared about Sakura. Of course they also had to work out that whole Sauske thing, but it eventually solved itself as Ino let herself get over Sauske and left Sakura to "deal with him."

"Amazing how smart both of them are, and they liked a guy who couldn't give them one second of his time." Shikamaru said.

Soon Shikamaru left his apartment to begin his errands. His morning consisted of paying his respects and keeping Asuma sensei and his father up to date on his life, visiting his mother, and playing a few games of Shogi in the Shogi Hall. He glanced at his watch and saw that it was getting close to one in the afternoon.

"I think I'll pay Naruto a visit, maybe invite him to lunch." Shikamaru said to himself with his right hand under his chin.

He made it to the Hokage tower. To see the interim Hokage, Kakashi and his student Naruto. They appeared as if they were wounded internally.

"What's wrong? Are you guys okay!?" Asked a worried Shikamaru.

"Don't worry Shikamaru..we...are fine." Responded Kakashi as he lifted his head from his desk, rubbing his temples.

"We've been listening to amateur recordings trying to pick the new city anthem. Emphasis on the word amateur." Said Naruto who was searchig around Kakashi's desk for a pain reliever.

"

"Well it beats getting yelled at by Lady Tsunade." A joking Shikamaru said.

"Anyways I passed by to see if you wanted to grab lunch with me and Choji and possibly Sai." He said.

"I would but..."

"Go Naruto." Kakashi cut in.

"Really, I insist. You've been working so hard. Now go, I have something to attend to." A distracted Kakashi said as he was trying to look past the two seventeen year olds to see a blushing Shizune, in a provocative dress.

"Oh...umm ok.." a chuckling Naruto said while rubbing his head in embarrassment.

The two boys began walking towards a new restaurant that had opened in the market district.

"So Shikamaru...did you hear the news?" Naruto asked with hesitancy.

"No.?" A puzzled look emerged in Shikamaru's face

"Sauske...came back." He replied without any emotion.

Immediately as soon as the name "Sauske" came into the conversation, Shikamarus thoughts flooded immediately to the moment when Team Ten saw him on the battlefield during the war.

"Doesn't it feel nostalgic shi..ka...ma...ru?" Ino said, it what seemed as an attempt to get under his skin, for she knew that Shikamaru never had a liking towards Sauske.

His mind flooded back to reality in an instant.

"What a drag...we get precious little Sauske back." Shikamaru said with a hint of venom.

"I swear if he starts hanging out with us...I'm going to.."

"Relax Shikamaru! He seems a lot more mellowed out now." Naruto cut in.

"I don't care! I've never liked him! Not one bit." He said grinding his teeth at the thought of Sauske.

"Well ummm I kinda invited him to hang out with us later on tonight." Naruto quickly said hoping an angry Shikamaru wouldn't hear.

"YOU DID WHAT!?".

A/N Well just finished chapter 2. I know the pace is not the fastest but I like a more natural developing story. Anyways big thanks to all the guest reviewers and to Nufze for taking the time to R/R. More coming soon!