Edited: 11.11.16
Disclaimer: All rights reserved by Masashi Kishimoto
If there's one thing that Naruto excels at, it's her uncanny ability to outrun anyone at all. And Shikamaru cursed it to the seven hells whether or not it's considered a highly valued shinobi trait.
I really should have put in more efforts during taijustu lessons. Shikamaru nearly tripped over a protruding root, but luckily caught himself before he could get acquainted with the forest ground.
"NARUTO, SLOW DOWN!" Shikamaru called out, trying to catch up to the quick girl.
She started running faster.
"Oh god…she's not supposed to do that." Shikamaru panted, picking his speed up as well.
Just then, a shadow rushed past Shikamaru and came right next to Naruto.
"Naruto!" Iruka got her attention, "Mizuki is heading right this way. Give me the scroll and I'll keep it safe!"
They stopped in a clearing. Naruto reached for the scroll on her back and gave it a long look. She turned her attention back to the man she considered family.
"Naruto, please," Iruka extended his hand out to her, "give me the scroll."
Naruto hesitated again. She glanced down at the scroll in her arms before nodding to herself. Just as she started to hand the scroll over to the chūnin, a great force knocked her and the scroll far from Iruka.
"SHIKAMARU! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Naruto screamed at her attacker, her hold on the scroll tightened once more.
"You stupid girl," Shikamaru voice cracked, trying to catch his breath while making sure he didn't collapse on the girl beneath him. Neither one noticed their compromising position. "That's not Iruka-sensei."
"What are you talking about?" Naruto gave him an incredulous look. "If that's not Iruka-sensei then who…henge!" Her eyes widened as she whipped her head over to the quiet man. "Iruka-sensei's" face was covered in shadows, making it hard to see his features. Was that a grin?
"Iruka-sensei was bleeding from his back," Shikamaru reminded Naruto, looking down into her frightened blue eyes, "don't just be so trusting next time, Naruto!"
"I get it, I get it!" Naruto cried, tears gathering in the corner of her eyes, "SHIKAMARU! WATCH OUT!"
Shikamaru whipped his head around just in time to see the fake Iruka looming over them with his raised kunai ready to strike. The both of them squeezed their eyes closed waiting for the impact and Shikamaru allowed his body to cover his wife's. Even with the large scroll uncomfortably wedged between them, he tightened his hold around the girl.
The impact never came. Instead, they both heard the sound of metal clashing above their heads.
"Shikamaru! Take Naruto to safety!" Iruka commanded the shocked kids, blood steadily dripping down his chin. He was determined to protect his precious students.
"BUT IRUKA-SENSEI, YOU'RE HURT!" Naruto argued, struggling under Shikamaru's body to take a better look at their teacher.
"JUST GO!" Iruka shoved Mizuki, who let go of the henge, away from the trio, giving Shikamaru enough time to get up and pull Naruto along with him.
"No you don't!" Mizuki glared at them. He pulled his only other Fūma shuriken and sent it flying towards them in an attempt to stop their escape.
Iruka quickly intercept the incoming object with just a kunai, angering Mizuki even further.
"IRUKA!" Mizuki screamed fury darkened across his face. "I'll deal with you first!"
Mizuki made a bunshin that also carried a kunai in each hand. Both of the Mizukis rushed towards a worn out Iruka.
"IRUKA-SENSEI! NO!" Naruto shouted in horror as she witnessed her brother figure losing against Mizuki.
"Naruto we need to go!" Shikamaru desperately tried to pull her along. "Iruka-sensei's got this!"
Naruto turned back around, ignoring Shikamaru's protest, shoved the large scroll into his open arms and pushed him away.
"NARUTO!"
"Don't you dare hurt my precious PEOPLE!" She charged at Mizuki, her fingers shifting into a sign that Shikamaru didn't recognize.
"KAGE BUNSHIN NO JUTSU!"
Shikamaru could not believe his eyes. All around him, Naruto's clones filled the entire forest.
"Naruto, how are you doing this...?" Shikamaru questioned quietly to himself.
"Heh," A clone near him scratched her head embarrassed. "I learned it from that awesome scroll! But…I guess I over did it a bit, huh?"
Shikamaru almost jumped from the reply. In the midst of the chaos, he had forgotten that clones could speak. But Shikamaru could say he's impressed as he continued watching Naruto deal with Mizuki. Just hours earlier, the girl couldn't do a proper bushin jutsu to pass the graduation exam. And now, there's hundreds of her all around him.
A small chuckle, then a few more, followed by a full-blown laugh fell from Shikamaru's lips.
"Troublesome." Shikamaru shook his head, a grin making residence on his face. My troublesome wife.
Two hours…two FREAKING HOURS! How can anyone survive two hours of a beat down? Shikamaru questioned as he nudged the unconscious form of his former teacher with his foot. He shouldn't be alive.
"Iruka-sensei! Don't move!"
Shikamaru looked over at Naruto as she carefully pushed Iruka back to his previous sitting position against the tree trunk.
"I'm sure they've already sent people this way with all that noise earlier," Shikamaru exclaimed as he walked over to the two who looked up at him as he spoke. "Mizuki-sensei is, by definition, a traitor who tricked Naruto into stealing that scroll for him. She has nothing to worry."
Naruto looked down at the scroll next to her, shame etched across her face.
"I'm sorry," She mumbled.
"You have nothing to apologize for, Naruto." Iruka smiled at the girl. "All you did was put your trust in a fellow Konoha shinobi and teacher. You didn't do anything wrong."
She still didn't look convinced.
"Come here for a second, Naruto," Iruka waved her over, "Now close your eyes."
Shikamaru watched, a small smile making its way onto his face. She deserves it.
"Can I look now, Iruka-sensei?" Naruto asked impatient.
"Yeah. Open your eyes, Naruto." Iruka smiled, grimacing a bit from the pain.
"Iruka-sensei, where's your…" Naruto began before her eyes widen in astonishment and she launched herself against the injured man. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
"Ow! Watch the wound, Naruto!"
"I'm sorry!"
Later that evening, on his way to his room, ready to retire after such a long day, Shikamaru slowed to a stop in front of Naruto's room. The lights were still on so that meant she was still awake.
He hesitated for a moment, wondering if he should really be doing this at this hour. But logic won and Shikamaru let out a sigh as he proceeded to knock on Naruto's door.
"Come in!"
Shikamaru opened the door just wide enough for her to see him, but not enough for him to walk into the room.
"I knew about the demon…" Oh gods…sooooo SMART Shikamaru. He could almost die from sheer horror. Of all the things he could say…he had to bring up the Kyuubi first.
Naruto's eyes widen in terror. Her breaths began to quicken. "You did hear…"
Stupid! Where does his 200 IQ brain go when he's dealing with Naruto? If my shadows could swallow me whole…right about now would be good.
"I don't hate you!" Shikamaru panicked and walked right into the room to see if Naruto was alright. She looked to be hyperventilating and turning a bit blue as well.
"But how can't you?" Naruto started to cry; her hands came up to cover her tearful face. "I killed so many people! I'm a demon! They're all within their rights to hate me!
"You're not wrong."
This is what true pain is. Naruto gave an anguished cry as she felt her heart shattered into pieces.
"…But…one thing you've confused is that all you've just described is its actions. Not yours."
Naruto slowly removed her hands from her face to look right at Shikamaru's soft smile.
"The Kyuubi killed so many people. The Kyuubi is a demon. Everyone's within their rights to hate the Kyuubi. Not you Naruto."
"What are you trying to say…?"
Shikamaru glanced over at the flickering flame of the candle.
"Naruto," He began, his attention still on the only light source in the room. "You are just a prison keeper who's holding Kyuubi at bay. Without you, thousands more would have died the night the demon attacked."
"So what you're saying is…"
Shikamaru finally turn his attention back to the girl. "You are what is known as a living prison. There should be a seal somewhere on your body. Almost like a storage seal. But that in no way means you're the actual demon."
Naruto looked at him confused as her hands unconsciously moved near her stomach, "How do you know all of this?" So that's what those weird black marks were.
Shikamaru sighed taking a seat on the orange carpet, "It was troublesome work researching. Interesting…but still troublesome."
This thing is really ugly. Shikamaru unconsciously thought as his fingers pick at the threads, but still kept his attention on Naruto.
They both sat in silence, Naruto contemplating what she just found out and Shikamaru watching her.
I don't know if she realizes the faces she makes when she's thinking. Shikamaru thought amused.
"And Naruto," Shikamaru broke the awkward silence that fell between them. "Just…next time something's bothering you…please…" He shifted his eyes away, finding the details on Naruto's uchikake a lot more interesting to look at. "Don't run away from me."
Naruto's eyes softened, "Yeah…I won't, 'ttebayo. I promise."
Shikamaru scratched his head in embarrassment. Naruto let out a giggle.
"Well…good night," Shikamaru got up to leave, his face slightly tinted red.
"…Thanks Shika," Naruto gave him her most sincere smile, which caught Shikamaru off guard.
"D-don't mention it," Shikamaru stammered nearly tripping on his way out of her room. "G-go to sleep! We have to get up early for tomorrow!"
The sound of giggles would continue to echo in Shikamaru's mind, keeping him feeling uncomfortably warm and restless for the long night.
The next morning, Ino walked in early to class happy with the thought that she would get to sit next to Sasuke-kun today, only to stop short in her stride.
"Naruto! What are you doing here?" Ino called out to the blonde girl who's happily humming an original tune to herself. "This place is for graduates only, loser."
"Are you blind, Ino," Naruto gave her a smudged look, pointing at her forehead, causing Ino to step back and feeling almost offended, "can't you see the hitai-ate right here?"
"Tch!" Ino sneered back, "Whatever! I don't know how you could have gotten that, but I don't care! Just get out of the way and give me my seat back!"
Naruto blinked. "Your seat? How is this your seat?" She gave the chair a bewildered look, trying to find Ino's name written anywhere to indicate it belongs to the other blonde girl.
"Naruto you idiot!" Ino gave the girl an incredulous look, "That seat is right next to Sasuke-kun's! Naturally, that means it's mine since I'm his girlfriend!"
"In your dreams, Ino-buta!" Another voice cuts in before Naruto could reply. The two girls turn around to find Sakura shooting glares at Ino. "I'm Sasuke-kun's girlfriend!"
The daily fight over the famed last Uchiha's affection began.
Naruto crouched on the desk right in front of the last Uchiha.
"Oi! What are you doing dobe!" Sasuke slightly leaned away from the girl, but kept his arms crossed in front of himself as usual. The dobe did not make the last Uchiha feel weird. She does not make him blush. His face is only burning out of anger.
Why do girls like this guy so much? Her eyes narrowed into slits to peer at the slightly uncomfortable boy closer, as if she could find his attractive points. His hair is gross and all he does is grunt. Shikamaru's way cuter… She leaned back on her heels, arms crossed in front of her chest, not really noticing the slight tint of pink dusting Sasuke's glaring face.
"I don't see it." Naruto shook her head, her brows furrowed in confusion. But just as she started to back away from the Uchiha's face, someone bumped her from behind causing her to fall forward right into Sasuke.
The entire room fell silent.
"NARUTO!" Sakura and Ino screamed, along with the rest of the Sasuke's fangirls.
"Ew Ew Ew Ew Ew!" Naruto fell back as she tried desperately to wipe her lips raw on her orange jacket.
"Naruto, I'm going to kill you!" Sasuke growled wiping at his own lips. He was NOT blushing!
Shikamaru had never experienced jealousy before in his life. He never cared enough to feel jealous about such frivolous matters. So when he watched as his wife kiss the Uchiha, even if it was by accident, Shikamaru couldn't help but feel something terrible gripping at his chest.
The kid who knocked Naruto onto the Uchiha should sleep with one eye open tonight.
Luckily for everyone in the room, Iruka decided to make his appearance just then.
"Iruka-sensei! Are you okay?" A student exclaimed out of concern for the man leaning on his crutches.
"Haha," Iruka scratched at his scarred nose half-heartedly, "I'm alright! Just had a minor accident yesterday."
Only Shikamaru saw Naruto flinch.
"Alright everyone settle down now!" Iruka called for order, his eyes glancing at each and every one of his students with pride. "Today marks the beginning of your journey…"
Shikamaru tuned him out for more important matters on hand, sleeping.
However, one of his eyes wouldn't stop looking at Naruto's head two rows below his.
Just what is it about her that makes him do stupid stuff like charging into battle last night and giving him these stupid feelings that he still can't figure out?
The two years they've been together, not by their own accords, Naruto's been, dare he says it, a pleasant companion. And glancing at the other blonde girl whispering death threats upon her equally troublesome rival next to him, Shikamaru thanked the gods multiple times over for not pairing him up with anyone else.
"Next is Team 7 with Haruno Sakura, Uchiha Sasuke, and Uzumaki Naruto."
Those words left a bad taste in Shikamaru's mouth as he unconsciously glared at the back of Sasuke's head. As if Sasuke could sense it, he turned around and their eyes met. Neither boy backed down from their glare match.
"Team 10 is consists of Akamichi Chouji, Nara Shikamaru, and Yamanaka Ino."
"NO! I WANT TO BE WITH SASUKE-KUN! IRUKA-SENSEIIIIII…"
How troublesome.
Later that evening, Shikamaru found himself standing in front of Naruto's door. This is becoming routine. He needs to stop bothering her like this. However, this time, the matter was too important to let go.
"Come in!"
He slid open the door, and this time, sat down on her orange carpet like the night before.
"I'm glad you're here!" Naruto beamed at the boy unaware of the blush she caused appear on his face when she said that, "So tell me, Shika! How's your sensei like?"
"Eh…Asuma-sensei's nice." Shikamaru answered her, trying hard to keep his temperature in check. "Very laid back, and yours?"
Naruto's cheeks puffed in frustration, "He was 2 hours late to meet with us! Even Iruka-sensei went home! And I don't even know if he's that good of a jounin because he got caught in my prank!"
"You pranked him?" Shikamaru questioned wondering who was Naruto's sensei.
"Yeah! All I did was put the chalkboard eraser between the sliding door and bam! He didn't see it coming! Hehehe…I'm the best." Naruto slyly grinned reminiscing the moment she bested the jounin.
"What's your sensei's name?" Shikamaru was really curious now.
"Oh hmm…" Naruto scratched at her head trying to remember, "I think he said it's Hatake…Kaka…?"
"His name is Hatake Kaka…?" Shikamaru forced himself not to burst out laughing. The man's name is as ridiculous as Naruto's…whoops. Never going to say that aloud.
"Wait! I remember now! It's Hatake Kakashi-sensei." Naruto nodded. "I don't know…he's weird. We have a survival exam tomorrow. Told us not to eat before hand. Said we'll throw it back up."
"Not eat? Naruto, that's stupid." Shikamaru gave her an exasperating look.
"HEY!" Naruto retorted back feeling offended. It's not like it was her idea.
"What I mean is that if your sensei is going to be as late as he was today, by the time he meets up with you guys, your food would have been digested enough not to come back up." Shikamaru explained to the grumbling girl. "Besides, you will need the energy to survive the exam."
"Oh. You're right!" Naruto agreed to Shikamaru's logic, "Thanks Shika! I would've followed Kakashi-sensei's dumb advice otherwise if you weren't here! You're the best!"
Shikamaru's face dusted pink at the girl's compliment.
"And another thing…well…next time…" Shikamaru mumbled the last part underneath his breath his face flamed brightly. Why did he suddenly bring this up now?
"What did you say?" Naruto leaned in closer to try and catch what the Nara was mumbling.
"…Don't kiss any other guys," Shikamaru furiously blushed, his eyes looking anywhere, but at Naruto's. It's too late to take it back now. "You're my wife."
When it finally occurred to Naruto exactly what Shikamaru had said, her face bloomed a pretty rose color, her eyes widen, and her jaw became unhinged as it dropped in disbelief.
"…I…I…" Naruto stammered. Ew…why does her hands feel so sweaty all of a sudden? "It wasn't my fault! That stupid kid pushed me!"
"I know!" Shikamaru winced at his own raised voice. "I'm just saying…"
Neither one of them could look at the other in the eyes. Their speechlessness and red faces spoke volumes in the awkward silence that fell between them.
Finally, Shikamaru couldn't take the silence any longer.
"You…should go to sleep soon. Don't you need to get up early tomorrow?" He offered her a way out of the awkwardness between them. Luckily his blush cooled down enough for him to think straight.
"Ah yeah…I should." Naruto gave him an embarrassed, crooked smile, her blush just a light pink now.
Wow. Shikamaru could almost feel his breath leaving him at the sight of her. Cursing his thoughts, Shikamaru scrambled up from his seat and made his way to the door. Naruto got up to follow him out.
"…Good night Naruto," Shikamaru turned around once he was back in the hallway.
Naruto didn't answer back.
"Naruto?" Shikamaru asked concern for the quiet girl. Before he could register what happened, Naruto's room door closed and Shikamaru was left standing in the dark in silent shock. His hand slowly reached up and hovered over the phantom pressure that met his cheeks just seconds prior.
"Good night Shikamaru!" Naruto's muffled voice called from behind the door.
Did…did Naruto just kiss me?
Shikamaru had a feeling it's going to be a long night for him.
It's been over a month since they've received their teams. Shikamaru can still recall how Naruto came home; looking worst than wear, complaining loudly about her lazy teacher and the survival exam her team luckily passed...
"STUPID KAKA-SENSEI TIED ME UP AND DIDN'T ALLOW ME TO EAT!"
"But you ate before you left…"
"I WAS STILL HUNGRY!"
…Shikamaru was lucky since Asuma-sensei didn't seem to care enough to even administer an exam for his team.
The month passed with nothing but boring D-rank missions. It's only their late night talks in Naruto's room that kept those D-rank missions tolerable since that meant they had things to complain about to one another. Between his team and Team 7, they've probably rescued Shijimi-sama's cat over 20 times. Shikamaru chuckled when a certain memory popped up. One evening when Naruto came home from missions, she went straight back to the forest and hugged one of the Nara-clan deer tightly. From what Shikamaru could tell, her clothes were covered in rips and her face was exceptionally dirty. Naruto kept her arms wrapped around the creature and slowly stroked it while muttering darkly about demon cats. Instantly, Shikamaru knew Team 7 had the infamous "Capture Tora" mission that day.
"Shika, Shika! Guess what!"
Shikamaru couldn't help smiling at the enthusiasm radiating off of the blonde girl. She's extremely influential. It's a crime. "Your team got a C-rank mission?"
"Wait..what…how did you…nevermind! YES!" Naruto faltered a bit at the beginning. Sometimes she forgets how smart her husband really is with his laid back attitude. "Though we're not guarding some noble or princess, just a smelly old drunk, but I get to leave the village for the first time EVER! This is so EXCITING!" Naruto bounced around the living room cheering.
"When are you guys leaving?"
"In three hours actually!" Naruto halted her steps, just in time too or else she would have knocked over Yoshino's favorite vase. Shikamaru winced at the thought. If anything were to happen to that ugly thing his mom seems to value so much… "I need to go pack now!"
"Do you need help?" Shikamaru asked his eyes following the girl.
"Yeah! Could you get me some ration bars and energy pills from the pantry!" Naruto called out from down the hall, already nearing her room.
Ino has never been more confused in her entire life. Team 10 had a mission this morning, but Shikamaru was the only one who didn't get to their designated meeting area on time. Nor did he show up 10 minutes after the time they were supposed to meet up. They figured he had forgotten and slept in (or just lazy), so Asuma-sensei suggested they go pick him up from his place.
Now nothing there seemed out of the norm, so it wasn't that that befuddled the Yamanaka girl. What made her at lost for words is the sight of Naruto and Shikamaru leaving from the same compound. What is going on? Why is Naruto here? Ino looked around at the looming gates to make sure they were at the right place. No, this is definitely the Nara ground. And judging from Asuma-sensei's surprised face, Ino wasn't the only one who didn't know what's going on.
Shikamaru has some explaining to do, Ino's eyes narrowed only to widen again. Did…did NARUTO just KISS SHIKAMARU on his cheeks? Oh my god!
Naruto dashed away in a different direction, probably to meet with her own team with a pack secured on her back, and a red-faced Shikamaru finally noticed his gaping teammates.
"Troublesome."
A/N: I was going to wait another week to post this...but I thought I made you guys wait long enough. I promise there will be more action scenes in future chapters. Enjoy!