Mendōkusei Chapter 3, a naruto fanfic

Edited: 10.19.16

When they arrived at the academy, there was still some time left before classes start. It was definitely a change of pace for the blonde girl standing next to Shikamaru since not once has she ever been on time. Shikamaru glanced over at Naruto discreetly from the corner of his eye, noticing how quiet she remained ever since they left Yoshino's field of view. It's an odd sight to see, given her rather bolstering nature. However, as soon as Shikamaru and Chouji start making their way towards the building, Naruto turned back around and began heading away from the academy.

"Oi!" Shikamaru called out to the girl, confused as to where she was going. The academy was right there.

Naruto whipped around, surprised etched across her face. She forgot she had company while lost in her thoughts. "Ah! Go on without me! I…uh…need to go somewhere really quick!" With that she dashed away, not once looking back.

Shikamaru narrowed his eyes at the girl's retreating back. Where could she be going at this time? Class was about to start soon. Wherever she needs to be at this time will surely give her another late mark in the books with Iruka-sensei.

"Tch. Whatever." Shikamaru turned back around and head to their class with his best friend right behind him, curiosity still lingering in his mind.

It wasn't until Iruka-sensei arrived about 10 minutes after class was supposed to start, dragging a bound-up, kicking and screaming Naruto with him that Shikamaru figured where his wayward wife had wondered off.

How could he have forgotten? He just married the number one prankster in the village. Just because her name now includes another surname, doesn't mean it affects her infamous title. Well, her less intimidating infamous title. Though it doesn't affect her other title either.

Shikamaru let out a barely audible sigh as he, along with the rest of the class, watch the blonde girl's loud shouting match with their homeroom teacher. Well, at least Shikamaru can say that nothing's really changed even though they're married now. That's nice. Not troublesome at all.

Very nice.

It was the evening before Naruto and Shikamaru's first day back to the Academy as a married couple.

Everything had happened far too quickly and still, Naruto haven't been able to wrap her mind around the entire thing. She's married now. She has a husband. She has a family. Her name is now Nara Uzumaki Naruto.

This feels so…weird. Naruto thought as she takes another long glance around her room. She has a room all to herself! Even when she was staying at Noyomi-san's place, she was always expected to share with one of the nee-chans who couldn't get a client that evening.

It wasn't like the old man didn't offer for her her own place, but the idea seemed too lonely to even consider. Besides, the people at Noyomi's weren't half bad…thanks to the head mistress's threat (not that Naruto knows about that tiny detail).

"Hey, got a minute?"

Naruto nearly fell out of her bed from shock.

"Geez, Shikamaru!" Naruto shot him a glare, "Don't you know how to knock?"

"I did," Shikamaru deadpanned, giving the girl a pointed look. "You didn't answer for the past 10 minutes."

"Oh."

They stayed in awkward silence just staring at one another. Cough.

"Well...?" Naruto began, trying to break the tension between the two of them, her brows furrowing in wonder.

"I want to keep our marriage a secret," Shikamaru got straight to the point. When dealing with Naruto, Shikamaru knows her well enough that talking in circles would not get them anywhere. She wouldn't have been able to pick up on the subtle hints and read between the lines as harsh as that seem. Naruto's just the type for upfront and personal. And if you need to confront her about something, you need to be upfront and personal.

"Ah..." Naruto looked at him quizzically, "Yeah sure! I won't tell anyone!" Huh...that sorta hurts. Guess Shikamaru doesn't want to be associated with me...figures...he's like everyone else. Naruto kept the disappointing look off her face. There's no use showing the enemy your weakness.

But Shikamaru saw. He witnessed her slight change in demeanor, her mask cracking just a tad.

"No. Don't get me wrong!" Shikamaru awkwardly called out, one hand reaching out as if it could stop Naruto's down-spiraling thoughts and the other hand scratching the back of his neck trying to calm his own nerves. "It'll just be too troublesome having to explain to people who don't really matter...I...I don't want to deal with Ino if she finds out and realized she wasn't invited or something...I'm going to tell Chouji!"

"...Oh," Naruto started, trying to ease the loud thumping of her heart. Was it just her or is the room getting a bit stuffy. "Heh...yeah...Ino can be pretty scary, huh?"

"Tch," Shikamaru scoffed, "She's a demon...wait I mean yeah she's scary!" Shikamaru kicked himself internally. What is wrong with him? What happened to the think first, then talk Shikamaru?

"Nah! I understand!" Naruto waved nonchalantly at the fidgeting boy, not really noticing his discomfort. "I guess the only people I would tell would be old man Ichiraku, Ayami-nee-chan, and Iruka-sensei! Otherwise...the Old Man and Noyomi-san already know. I don't have anyone else!" She let out a light chuckle.

That was meant to be lighthearted, but Shikamaru couldn't help but feel something close to sadness for the girl. She didn't have friends their age.

"Ah...yeah...so that's all I wanted to talk about," Shikamaru turned around and began leaving the nauseating orange room. "Good nigh—"

"Ah," Shikamaru turned back around as a thought just occurred to him, "...we can go to Ichiraku Ramen after school tomorrow, with Chouji! To tell them...together...and uh...I'll buy...ramen! I mean! For you," Shikamaru stumbled around his words. Tonight was just not his night.

"YEAH! FREE RAMEN!" Naruto jumped out of her bed, arms raised in cheer, "Thanks, Shikamaru!"

"Yeah…" the corner of Shikamaru's mouth lifted a little at the girl's enthusiasm. "Well…good night."

"Good night! Ramen~ Ramen~"

The simple tune stuck in both of their heads the rest of the night.

Naruto settled down underneath one of the trees in the courtyard, far away from the other kids. There was nothing unusual about this particular scene, except perhaps the addition of the orange bento box. The other kids would stay away from her, and in turn, she would be told to keep away from them. And with their agreement, of course Shikamaru wouldn't sit with her less they want the whole school to know about their marital status.

"Hey, Loserto! Where did you steal that bento from, huh?"

Naruto looked up just as she was taking a bite out of Yoshino's sickly sweetened tamagoyaki (the current Nara matriarch does not have the same talents in the kitchen as does the Akimichi matriarch) when three girls her age began to surround her, blocking any means of escape. Great. The three stooges.

"What do you and your little posse want, Ami?" Naruto growled her eyes narrowing into slits.

Ami huffed, her cheeks tinting pink with anger. "I asked you where you stole that bento from loser! Everyone knows you're just a poor little orphan girl, so there's no way you can have a bento that pretty if you didn't steal it from someone else! Now fess up!"

"Yeah! There's no way someone would make that for you, Narutard!" Fuki nodded, backing Ami's claim.

Naruto shoved the rest of the candied omelet into her mouth not bothering to finish swallowing before retorting. "None of your business!"

"EW! Don't talk with your mouth full! You're getting food all over my new top!" Kasumi screeched, jumping up and down as she tried to shake off the tiny food particles that came from Naruto's mouth.

"UGH!" Ami flicked a piece of tamagoyaki off her shirt. "How unfortunate for you to not have anyone to teach you some manners."

"Let's teach her ourselves, Ami!" Fuki suggested, shooting Naruto a glare that had little effect. Sasuke's glare could kill Fuki's a hundred times over.

Before the three girls could do anything to Naruto, one of them accidently stepped on a trip wire that Naruto rigged right in front of her. A net came up from the bottom of the disturbed ground (that none of them even noticed) and hung them in the tree above Naruto's head.

"HAHahahaha!" Naruto laughed, tears falling from her the corners of her eyes and food particles flying out of her mouth, "I can't believe you losers fell for something so simple!"

"Let us go, Naruto!" Ami yelled, her limbs restricted by what little space she had between her and her friends.

Kasumi started crying.

"Nope!" Naruto stuck her tongue out at the trio. "That's what you get for messing with the great Uzumaki Naruto!" Naruto paused. "Wait...it's Nar...never mind, you stooges don't need to know."

"Let us down!"

"My mom's going to hear about this, Loserto!"

"Pfft!" Naruto deadpanned at them. "Like I care!" Then she went back to finishing Yoshino's bento box while ignoring the cries of the girls hanging above her.

Not once did Naruto sense two sets of brown eyes watching her from the Academy rooftop.

Shikamaru had witnessed the entire scene played out with Chouji munching on his bento right next to him. Shikamaru's bento was next on Chouji's menu. Bless the Akimichi's large tolerance for all sorts of food, even Nara Yoshino's infamous cooking.

Right after they were dismissed for lunch earlier, Shikamaru head straight to the rooftop with his best friend in tow. Usually when he's there, Shikamaru would just eat his store bought onigiri then proceed to conduct his favorite pastime, cloud watching.

However, today was different.

Because today, for the first time, Shikamaru realized his favorite spot also overlook his new wife Naruto's spot. And, without realizing it, watching her sparked an interest in him enough to forget about cloud watching.

And of course, when something involves Naruto, there was never a dull moment.

Like a two-for-one meal with a show, Shikamaru was drawn to the scene where Naruto defended herself against their year's bully bunch. Shikamaru had no doubt that she could take care of herself. She has been for the past 10 years.

It wasn't because he was worried about her that made him focus on the scene, but rather he was curious to see how she would deal with those girls. Before, he would barely glance her way, and only when Kiba decides to team up with Naruto to pull off the "ultimate prank" of the day would he even interact with her. It was during those brief moments that he had figured out her troublesome tenant.

If those villagers could be anymore obvious, Shikamaru scoffed at the thought.

Now, however, since he tied the phantom knot with the troublesome girl, his curiosity regarding her and her situation heighten in leaps.

Questions like why the marriage, why was he chosen, why didn't they try to protect her, who was after her, et cetera et cetera, plagued his mind since after the wedding. And with his father being the jōnin commander and the smartest man second to the Hokage, Shikamaru was no closer to figuring anything out with the older man carefully watching him all the time.

Meh. Shikamaru was in no hurry. He knows he would figure all of those troublesome questions out eventually. His father knows it too. They're just delaying the inevitable.

When Naruto finally got up and left her spot, probably to seek out Sakura in her daily pursuit of friendship (what a weird girl), Shikamaru refocused his attention on his hefty companion.

Chouji's a really good friend; a very loyal friend and Shikamaru wouldn't ask for anyone else to stand along side him. It's also Chouji's understanding nature that Shikamaru knows he could trust to wait for when he's ready to tell him all about whatever that's going on between Shikamaru and Naruto.

The plump boy looked up expectedly at his close friend, his mouth stuffed full.

"Naruto and I are married," Shikamaru bluntly told Chouji, watching and waiting for his reaction, "Father's troublesome idea."

"Ah," Chouji swallowed. "So that's why Naruto…and Ino?"

"No. I don't want to tell her just yet," Shikamaru shook his head. "It'll be too troublesome. Naruto and I also agreed to not tell anyone just yet. The less people know the less troublesome it'll be."

Chouji nodded. He could just image Ino's reaction to the news. It's understandable why his best friend didn't want to tell their female companion.

"How are you taking this?" Chouji earnestly asked. "How's Naruto taking all of this?"

Shikamaru let out a small sigh, his eyes drifting upwards toward the cloudy sky. It looks like it's going to rain tonight. "I don't know. It feels different, but at the same time…it's like nothing has changed."

Chouji remained silent, not wanting to interrupt Shikamaru when he starts to get like this.

"And I guess I didn't think about asking Naruto how she's doing about all of this…I mean…it must be really overwhelming for her no doubt. Everything's changed for her, but nothing really changed for me. At least not as drastic."

Chouji didn't really have much to respond. He has never seen Shikamaru speak so much since he has known the Nara heir.

"There are so many questions. I don't know even where to start or even how to go about figuring it out."

"It'll be okay, Shikamaru," Chouji reached over to pat his friend on the back. "I think…if it's you, the answer will eventually appear."

A corner of Shikamaru's mouth lifted, "Thanks, Chouji. You always know what to say. Well, let's get going. Lunch time is almost over."

Just as he said that, the first warning bell rang.

"Oh…almost forgot. We're going to Ichiraku Ramen after school lets out."

"YES! Ramen!"

2 Years Later

When Shikamaru woke up this morning, he couldn't shake off a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. Yeah, sure, today is the day they take the graduating exam, but there was no way Shikamaru could fail. He had already calculated the bare minimum effort he would have to put into the exam to just pass. So what was making him feel at odds? Just thinking about the strange feeling, Shikamaru unconsciously glanced over at the blonde girl putting on her sandals next to him.

Over the past 2 years, Naruto had grown a few inches taller and now stood just at his ears. Meaning, she still has to look up to talk to Shikamaru. Also meaning, it makes him feel just a tad better. Can't have his wife towering over him.

Every morning they would meet with Chouji at the Nara front gates and walk to the Academy together. And every morning, Naruto would stop just at the Academy fences and leave the two boys behind with a simple wave or nothing at all. No questions were asked and no answers were given.

They would see her again, bound and kicking and screaming minutes after class was supposed to start with Iruka-sensei giving his daily spew on pranking and getting to class on time. And she would retort back, only to irritate the older man further, resulting in the class getting punished together with Naruto.

A year back, Shikamaru finally got curious enough to ask her one evening why she pulled pranks all of the time. She just gave him a look as if he was the slowest person in the world. "If I don't do it, who would?"

It finally dawned on Shikamaru after that comment. While there's fun in what she does, Naruto pranks to maintain a relationship with Iruka-sensei. It's her way of reassuring her brother-like figure that nothing's changed between them even if she's married. Shikamaru can remember how Iruka-sensei reacted when they broke the news to the man. It's thanks to the Hokage-sama's quick thinking that they could keep Naruto's new surname a secret from the rest of the Academy.

Shikamaru never questioned her morning disappearances again.

Before he could get caught staring at the girl, Shikamaru turn his attention back to grabbing his pack and heading out the door, assuming that Naruto was right behind him.

Still…what is this uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach?

Naruto glanced across the room to where Shikamaru was sitting for the nth time in the past hour barely able to focus on her own test.

It's been over two years since that very faithful day when they had exchanged vows. Living with the Nara clan was not what she had expected. Then again, she didn't have any prior experience interacting with people outside of the red light district other than the old man, occasionally Iruka-sensei, and the Ichikaru. The Nara are very nice people, but also very quiet…well most are quiet with the exception of Yoshino's constant yelling at Shikamaru.

Naruto let out an ugly snort-giggle.

"Naruto! Be quiet!" Iruka threw a piece of chalk that hit the blonde girl squarely on her forehead. Naruto's face exploded in a fury of crimson colors as she returned her focus back onto the offending exam paper, embarrassed since she got caught spacing out.

The rest of the exam went through smoothly, and Naruto was starting to feel confident in her ability to pass.

But the feeling didn't last long when the final leg of the exam came around.

Please don't be the bunshin. Please don't be the bunshin. Please, anything but the bunshin.

"The last part of the exam is the bunshin no jutsu. Please come into the next room as we call your name. Everyone else, keep quiet."

NOOOOO…"oooooo," Naruto could feel her heart pounding heavily in her chest.

"Naruto, be quiet!"

A whimper fell from her lips as she waited with dread for the moment they call her into the room.

"Uzumaki Naruto!"

Shikamaru quietly glanced over at the girl sitting on the swing at the edge of the Academy fences. He's clueless when it comes to consoling sad people…let alone his wife. What does one say in such a situation?

What's worse is that, while both Yoshino and Shikaku won't be home until late tonight, they're still planning on having a celebratory dinner. They probably didn't know…oh who was he kidding. He was sure his father knew, but his mother definitely wouldn't know that her precious daughter-in-law didn't pass her graduation exam.

"Congratulations Shikamaru-kun!" Ino's mom came up to him, dragging a whining Ino with her.

"Ah, thank you Yamanaka-san!" He took his eyes off of his depressed wife to thank the older woman.

"Oh, I can't wait to see the next generation of the famous Ino-Shika-Chou!" Chouji's mom gushed, coming over as well with her son in tow.

"I just know for certain that Hokage-sama will put you three in a team together!"

"But mommmmmmmm! I want to be in Sasuke-kun's team!"

Shikamaru tuned them out and glance back over at the swing.

She was gone.

It's been over three hours. Three hours!

Where could that girl be? Shikamaru could see no blinding blonde hair or troublesome orange anywhere. At this rate, his mother would really kill him. They were supposed to be home over an hour ago and with every ticking second, Shikamaru could swear his hair was turning gray with stress.

Shikamaru glanced up at the darken sky, feeling the winds picking up from its earlier steady breeze. It's going to rain soon.

As if the gods decided to stop messing with the frantic (not frantic mind you) boy, right in front of him, Iruka quickly hurried passed Shikamaru without an ounce of acknowledgment from the usually kind teacher. It was almost like he didn't see Shikamaru standing there at all.

It wasn't because Iruka didn't greet him that left Shikamaru feeling dread in the pit of his stomach, but more accurately the look of pure horror and worry plastered across the scarred man's face. Somehow, Shikamaru just knew it had something to do with Naruto.

Thinking quickly, Shikamaru stealthy tried to follow the quick chūnin, cursing under his breath every time he almost lost sight of the older man. Shikamaru thank the stars that the chūnin was too preoccupied with worry to really sense him. Iruka wouldn't be a chūnin if a genin could follow him without being noticed on a regular day.

But it was too early to be thanking any form of ultimate power because Shikamaru just lost sight of Iruka-sensei. In the middle of Konoha's vast forest. At night.

"What the…" Shikamaru spun in confusion. He chose a random direction and went from there.

As he left the area, Shikamaru failed to notice that the trees stopped swaying with the billowing wind at a certain part of the forest.

Wait…this wasn't a make-up exam? Naruto looks back-and-forth between the two men. I don't understand. I don't know who to believe anymore!

"Naruto! Don't listen to Iruka!" Mizuki called out to the frighten girl, "He just wants you to fail! Now give me the scroll!"

"No! Don't listen to Mizuki, Naruto!" Iruka coughed some blood onto the forest ground. He was lucky none of the kunai hit his major arteries. "He's lying! There's no such thing as a make-up exam! He's just tricking you into doing his dirty work for him!"

"Shut up!" Naruto screamed, squeezing her eyes closed. "I don't know anymore! I don't know! Just shut up!"

"Naruto! Give me the scroll!" Mizuki growled, releasing the Fūma shuriken from his back.

"Naruto! Don't give him the scroll!" Iruka forced his body to reach the crouching girl.

"That's it!" Shikamaru pulled at his ponytail in frustration. After passing the same trees for the third time that night, Shikamaru knew there's something amiss.

Taking a deep breath, he positioned himself into a crouch, fingers touching in concentration as he began to slowly analyze his surroundings.

There! Stupid. Stupid. How could he miss such a simple genjutsu? Shikamaru berated himself as he focused his chakra enough to pass through the barrier. When he reached the other side, Shikamaru could definitely feel Naruto's chakra in the air. There's no doubt that he's at the right place now.

Shikamaru took off in a sprint towards where he could feel her presence the strongest.

I hope I'm not too late.

"IRUKA-SENSEI!" Naruto screamed. Her eyes widened at the sight of the large Fūma shuriken that's been embedded into the man's back.

Blood spluttered out of Iruka's mouth, "I'll be…okay…Naruto." Iruka tried to smile at the trembling girl beneath him. "Just…keep that scroll safe…don't…don't give it to Mizuki."

"Kek…keke…hahahahaha!" Mizuki started laughing, "IRUKA! What are you doing? I could have ended that demon's life! I could have saved us all! I could have been a hero!"

"Wh…what is Mizuki-sensei talking about?" Naruto stammered, tightening her hold on the large scroll in her arms.

"No…Mizuki…shut up…" Iruka cried, turning his face away from the piercing blue eyes of his precious student.

"Do you want to know why the entire village hates you, Naruto? Do you? Well, I'll tell you! Screw the decree!"

"What decree…what is he talking about? Why aren't you saying anything Iruka-sensei?" Naruto almost screamed, fear grabbing her by the collar of her shirt making it harder to breath.

"Uzumaki Naruto! You are…"

"…the Kyuubi no Kitsune!"

SHIT! Shikamaru screamed in his head. He was too late! He had just arrived at the scene when Mizuki-sensei revealed to the shell-shocked Naruto her status as the jinchūriki of the Kyuubi. This was entirely not how he had pictured Naruto finding out about her little prisoner.

And just as Shikamaru tried to move in closer to the battle without letting the other occupants know that he was there, luck was definitely not on his side tonight, because conveniently he had stepped on a dead branch. Loudly.

Shikamaru froze like the Nara deer in his family.

Three pairs of eyes whipped over to look at the intruder. However, the one pair of eyes that Shikamaru dreaded the most were the pained frightened blue orbs staring straight into his.

Before anyone could make a move, Naruto quickly gather herself together and bolted out of the area, taking the forbidden scroll with her.

"NARUTO!" Iruka-sensei screamed.

"Shit!" Shikamaru cursed out loud this time. He needs to get to her as soon as possible! There's no way he could leave things like this without setting them straight. And he definitely did not want to see those tears continue to fall from Naruto's haunting, blues eyes.

Troublesome girl!

A/N: Ohohohohoho I updated! In less than a month! Praise me~ Though...maybe not since I don't know when the next chapter would come out. Till next time~

Vocabs:

Tamagoyaki: Japanese rolled omelet; can be served sweet or savory

Bunshin/Bunshin no jutsu: Clone/Clone technique

Fūma shuriken: large, four-bladed shuriken

jinchūriki: humans with tailed-beasts sealed in them