A/N: Chapter 1! I hope you'll like it. Yes, I know it's unusual to have a good Orochimaru but I just didn't want to be that strict with the character ruler. Sowwy. Sorry to all the Shikamaru-fans out there for calling pineapple-kun. TenTen thought it might make him cut his hair. *gets hit by TenTen ("how could you betray me?")*

Disclaimer: I don't own the Naruto series or any of the characters within but I wish I did. If I did Itachi would be a stripper, Sakura would be exiled for being a stupid bitch who doesn't have any regard for other people's feelings, Sasuke and Naruto would marry, Gaara would be a model and Kiba would stop painting his face. Tadaa! Oh and Tsunade would admit that she actually has breast implants :P

Everyday Life

It was hot that morning, and Naruto could feel the sweat trickle down his forehead. He had been up since dawn, trying to find a way to sneak into Shika's office and find something interesting. Everybody had their secrets, right? Right? So why not also that lazy bastard Shikamaru?

"Oi, Narutoo!" Naruto flinched. Shit. "Ne, Naruto, wassup? Watcha doin'? Tell me, tell me, I could help! Come on tell meee!" "Shaddup Kiba, you just ruined a whole day of planning and woke up Mr Pineapple-Boss! Thanks to you, I can give up- ah. "

From behind the talkative bushy haired boy appeared another boy. He was smaller than Kiba and Naruto, but had a strongly built body and hair that was bound in something that was supposed to be a ponytail but looked more like a pineapple. Shikamaru loomed over them, his aura making him appear far larger and scarier than he actually was.

"Give up what, Naruto?", he asked in a friendly voice and smiled. Uh-oh, friendly-face-alarm, Naruto's brain warned.

"Uuuh… uhm, nothing, really, Shika", he started, hesitantly, dreading the smaller boy's nearing outburst of rage. Ugh, he's really pissed, what an aura!

Shikamaru only smiled broader and an evil glint appeared in his eyes. "I'll tell you what you can give up: You can friggin' give up your lunch and dinner you idiots I told you not to disturb my friggin' nap you two morons!" he roared, and both Naruto and Kiba felt their hair stand on end. "Get out of here before I let Hinata cast some evil curse on you!"

They didn't need to be told twice. The two boys raced out of the tent without a second thought and ran straight into… an unsuspecting Orochimaru.

"Wah! What the hell are you two doing here?" Then, seeing the flushed faces of the two rowdies and a seething Shikamaru in the background, he understood. "Maa, you two better look out for yourselves. Pineapple-kun is sure to explode someday and he really might kick you sorry asses."

Out of the tent a shout could be heard. "And friggin' stop calling me PINEAPPLE-KUN!" All three of them laughed. Ever since he was small they had called Shikamaru that name. Although TenTen had never let out an opportunity to convince Shika to cut his rebellious hair, it was no good. He stuck to his point and continued walking around looking like a pineapple, mostly ignoring the other's taunts but, like now, occasionally exploding with anger. Naruto stuck out his tongue to the angry Shikamaru. Then he ran for dear life as the boy aimed one of his throwing knives at his head.

"N-Naruto- kun?" A shy voice behind him made Naruto turn around. Hinata blushed and looked at her feet. "What is it Hina-chan?" He grinned. She blushed so sweetly when he called her that, and he really enjoyed teasing her. "U-uhm… Tsunade-san told me to call you for dinner. „Ehhh? I thought I wasn't allowed any?" Naruto's stomach growled in protest. He sighed. "Thanks, Hinata. I'll be there in a second."

When he arrived at the fire, the first thing he saw was a pouting Shikamaru glaring at Tsunade-baa-chan. She glared back and won the fight, so Shikamaru had to satisfy himself with ignoring everyone and stabbing his food menacingly instead. Naruto grinned and seated himself next to Gaara and Kiba, who were wolfing down a big portion of what looked like rabbit stew and smelled like… oh well. He got himself a plate and started eating. Luckily the food didn't taste as bad as it smelled.

After everyone had eaten their fill, Tsunade announced that she had something to say. "She always has something to say, why does she have to announce it this time?" Ino whispered to Sakura, and both of them snickered. Gaara rolled his eyes at them. "Because she likes to feel important", he stated with a completely straight face. Ino started giggling even more. Kiba grinned sheepishly. Gaara just ignored them.

"Everyone, listen now. Tomorrow a friend of mine will bring a newcomer to us. His name is Sasuke and he's been left an orphan because of a family tragedy. I want all of you to welcome him warmly. He will be a member of our family just like all of you, and you will look at him as you brother just as you regard all the others as your siblings.

"Ne, Baa-chan, you're not my sister, you're too old!" Kiba laughed.

"Eh, and Orochimaru, he's more an uncle than a brother, ne?" Sakura added, and Ino got a giggling fit.

Tsunade looked up to the sky, exasperated. "Just… be good to him, okay? Now off to bed!"

Everyone started moaning and complaining. "Jeez, and I thought you all were teenagers, and not some cry-babies!" an irritated Gaara said. "Shut up, I wanna sleep." Naruto, Kiba and Shikamaru followed him into their sleeping tent. Soon enough, they all fell asleep. Only Naruto couldn't; he was too busy wondering about the newcomer. What was this Sasuke like? He was also an orphan, but unlike Naruto he had known his parents. I wonder if they were nice people…

Outside he could hear Tsunade-baa-chan and Orochimaru discussing.

"Do you really think it's a good idea to take in that boy? I don't think I like the thought of looking after a traumatized child."

"Don't worry, Kakashi told me in his letter that he's a quiet boy, very composed and calm, he doesn't seem to remember anything that happened… that night. He's a bit of an introvert, true, but he doesn't seem to be up to any trouble either."

Orochimaru sighed. "I still don't know what to think. All this tricky business about that Itachi guy… All of this just doesn't look like anything good."

"Well, we'll have to take the risk then, won't we? I won't reject that child now. So let's forget about that… incident and focus on integrating the boy into our little family, okay?"

Naruto felt his eyelids getting heavier. No… I want to know more… he yawned. So tired… He fell asleep and dreamt of TenTen dancing with her beautiful red and white fans inside one of Hinata's crystal balls, singing a lullaby.

Somewhere in the background he could see a child sitting on a chair, watching TenTen dance. It had magnificent black hair that shimmered with a blue light in the darkness, and deep onyx eyes. Naruto stood staring at the child, bewitched by its marble skin and the aura around it. It was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. The black of his hair contrasted with the red flashes of TenTen's fans, and Hinata's crystal ball emitted a ghostly light that engulfed everything in a pale blue mist. He liked this dream.

A/N: I forgot to say sorry for making Kiba act stupid. Sowwy. *bows*

Now review, make me feel like I actually did a good job or tell me I sucked and I'll try even harder! *author gets a dangerous glint in her eyes that can only mean... raping the internet for inspirational fluff/smut/whatever needed and crashing down the computer in an effort to write a story as fast as possible*

Loke so I might think of buying a new keyboard to write on, just for you ;)

I swear I didn't mean to threaten! Agh! Just please be merciful!