Shikamaru did not like Gaara. The red-haired menace from Suna might have been polite, but Shikamaru saw the way he stared at them; almost like he wanted nothing more than to paint the walls with their blood. Killer intent ran rampant when he was near the boy, and even the boy's own siblings looked terrified of him. All of that cemented one fact in Shikamaru's mind: Naruto was not to go near that boy, for any reason.
He thought of all this as he and Naruto concluded their lunch at Ichiraku. "Hey Shika?"
"Yeah Naru?"
"Do you think the chunin exams would be hard? Like, do you think I might actually win?"
"It doesn't matter if you win or lose; all it matters is if you showcase your talent. The point of the exams is to show everyone why you are ready to be chunin. Just remember the stuff I taught you, and you'll do fine."
"Well, you're certainly going to make chunin."
"I'm not so sure about that."
"Why not?"
"I'm too unmotivated. I don't even want to take these exams in the first place."
"Then why are you?"
"The exams can only be done as a team. That means that either the entire team takes it together, or none of them take it. I couldn't do that to Choji and Ino. So now I'm forced to take part in this troublesome exam."
"Wait really? Kakashi-sensei didn't tell us any of this!"
Shikamaru sighed, "He probably didn't want Sakura to feel pressured to sign up."
Naruto scoffed, "Oh please. Sakura would sign up for a suicide mission if it meant being close to her precious Sasuke-kun!"
The Nara shrugged as they continued their walk home, "Well Kakashi had to try. Sakura probably isn't ready to take these exams. Neither is Ino to be completely honest. Choji and I will have to do all that we can to make sure Ino turns out ok. You and Sasuke will have to do the same for Sakura."
Naruto groaned in frustration, "Ugh… Why can't Sakura just grow up already! She's a ninja. She can't afford to be such a fangirl if it means laying her training to the way-side! Plus, Sasuke is a Teme! Why do girls even like him!?"
Shikamaru chuckled, "Unfortunately most girls don't think like you do. It's fine to have a crush, so long as it doesn't impeach on your training."
Naruto smirked, "Huh. So it's ok to have a crush?"
Shikamaru looked at the orange-loving blond cautiously, "I guess?"
"So does that mean you have a crush on somebody Shika?" Naruto, a mischievous smirk stretching across her face.
"Oh no. I'm not gonna fall for this."
"Oh come on Shika! Just answer me!"
"Nope."
"Shika!"
When the two genin reached home, their faces were red with laughter. They approached the foyer, only to find Shikaku and Yoshino dressed up in traditional garments. "What's the occasion?" Shikamaru asked.
"We were all invited to have tea with the Hyuga's." Yoshino answered with a pleasant smile.
"All?" Naruto questioned tentatively.
"Yes. All four of us. That includes you Naruto."
"But, I don't exactly have anything to wear." Naruto confessed, embarrassed of the situation.
Yoshino grinned, "That's why I got you something! Come on, I put it in your room. I'll help you put it on!"
As Yoshino dragged the nervous blond into her room, Naruto turned to look at Shikamaru in fear, "Help!" She mouthed.
Shikamaru just laughed and proceeded to ignore the girl. He turned to look at his father, who was seated in front of a shogi board. "Would you like to play a game? You can dress much faster than the girls."
Shikamaru shrugged, "Sure."
The elder Nara began, moving his pawn up a space, "I heard that both you and Naruto are taking place in the chunin exams tomorrow."
"We are." Shikamaru affirmed, moving up his pawn in retaliation.
"Are you nervous?"
"Not at all."
"Hmm. That's good."
"Father, did you speak to Hokage-sama yet?'
"Yes, I was able to speak to him yesterday. The conversation was troublesome."
"I apologize for inconveniencing you."
Shikaku grunted as he moved his rook away from the obvious trap, "Think nothing of it son."
"Is the plan still continuing as predicted?"
"It is. However, he had a few concerns."
"Any concerns that we had not already foreseen and planned for?"
"None as of yet. Yet beware son, it is impossible for us to have planned for every possible event."
"Improbable father; never impossible."
Shikaku smirked as his son fell for his carefully concealed trap, "You are correct my boy. We have already played our move, now we wait."
"Any time spent idle is time wasted in the game of politics."
Shikaku snorted, "If only those outside our clan could hear us now."
The younger scoffed, "This is why those outside our clans are fools. We are Nara's. We are one of the biggest and most powerful clans in Konoha. We have no kekkei genkai, no any special dojitsu. We have no familial ties to our founding clans, nor any particular technique that makes us unique. What we do have is a clear grasp on shadow manipulation; yet every village has a clan that specializes in capture, so that's not why we're known. People fear the Nara's for one reason only; our strategies. Our plans are unparalleled to even the smartest minds in the world, and it doesn't just end in the battle field. The reason we were to rise to such political power? The Nara's are the founders of political manipulation. There is no one that can beat us in our own game, especially not some highbrowed council."
Shikaku smiled, "That is quite the deduction you have discovered. Yet we must remember the importance of being humble. The Nara Clan has not thrived for this long being arrogant."
"No, we shall leave that to our lovely hosts this evening."
"I need not tell you the importance of this gathering tonight."
"No father. I thank you for setting this in motion."
"It was my pleasure. All I had to do was mention to Hiashi passingly that Naruto was currently residing with us, and he was quick to extend the invitation. I believe he is much too curious on our over-all family dynamic now that the nine-tailed container is staying with us."
"Is he the only one aware of our living situation?"
"The Hyuga's and the Hokage are the only ones who know, just as you requested."
"Perfect."
"I should warn you, Hiashi is a smart man, it would be detrimental if you were to underestimate him."
"I will do no such thing father. If everything goes to plan, we will be able to activate the next step shortly."
"That is, of course, only if the Hokage reacts as expected."
"He will. And when he does, it will be with the Hyuga family firmly on our side."
"I hope so my boy. You are playing a very dangerous game, I only hope you are ready for the ramification this will bring."
"Nobody is ever fully prepared for ramifications. However, I believe in my ability to strategize. I know I have improved greatly in the last few months since I have made genin."
"And how do you know this?"
"Because. For the first time ever, I have beaten you in a game. Checkmate."
Naruto was very nervous. As she walked with the Nara family towards the Hyuga family, she kept tugging at her traditional pale-orange kimono self-consciously. She had never been to a formal gathering before, heck- she's never worn a kimono before! Plus, she was coming as part of the Nara's, so whatever she did would affect them. If she said something wrong, or even looked wrong, the up-tight Hyuga's would surely blame the innocent Nara's. She liked the family too much to accidently say something stupid… she hoped.
But she knew herself, and without meaning too, she's going to blurt out something that would surely embarrass the Nara's. And then they're going to hate her forever, and ask her to move out, and then she'll be forced to live in the streets again! But even worse than all that… Shikamaru won't like her anymore. Naruto didn't know if she could live with that.
No matter how kind the Nara's were to her, no matter how amazing Shikamaru was, Naruto knew what she was: a street rat. She even looked the part, and despite the obviously expensive and beautiful kimono she was wearing, she still knew she looked nowhere close to how elegant Yoshino looked. Or how sophisticated and put together Shikaku looked. And especially not even close to how breathtakingly handsome Shikamaru looked all dressed-up. When Shikamaru first emerged from his room, his outfit all in dark colors that complement him perfectly, and his hair for once not tied up; instead slicked back elegantly to highlight his astonishingly high cheekbones, Naruto had to catch her breath. She stared at him for so long and so intently, she was sure that he noticed; he notices everything after all. It didn't help that she drooled for sure; how could she not? He was gorgeous! And Naruto… well she was just a tomboy street rat playing dress-up.
With Naruto trudging her feet along, her and Shikamaru lagged behind his parents, who gave them space to talk.
"Naruto stop." Shikamaru ordered suddenly, coming to a screeching halt.
Naruto immediately comes to stop as Shikamaru puts his hands on her shoulders to force her to look at him. "Naru. You look beautiful. You are beautiful. Like, so stunningly gorgeous sometimes I really can't even fathom how I've never noticed before. And you're smart, smarter than you think. You're not going to do anything to embarrass us. It's impossible for you too. My family is crazy about you, and nothing, nothing, will ever change that, ok? So please relax."
Naruto blushed so hard that she turned completely red, "How did… uh how did you know what I was thinking?"
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow-and really that should not have been as attractive as it was- and answered, "You have been fidgeting non-stop with the hem of your kimono, while refusing to look up from the pavement, or engage in conversation; which is a big pointer to something being wrong, by the way."
"You… you really think I'm beautiful?"
Shikamaru sighed, "More beautiful than you'll ever know. Which is troublesome, oh so extremely troublesome."
Naruto tilted her head in confusion, her blush still prevalent, "Um… why would that be troublesome?"
Shikamaru threw an arm over her shoulder, "Because when people start realizing it, I'll just have to fight that much harder to keep them away from you. I don't exactly want to share my best friend and roommate. I'm going to be a busy man in the future, which is really troublesome."
"Uh… sorry?" Naruto apologized, not quite understanding what her lazy friend was saying. Not that he told her the entire truth, but that was beside the point.
Shikamaru chuckled, having foreseen Naruto's confusion, "Don't worry about it Naru, it'll be my problem to handle."
The last time both Shikamaru and Naruto were here, which was yesterday, they painted all of the clan walls neon pink. Somehow, the Hyuga's were able to get all of the walls back to their original color, without a hint of anything being amiss. Shooting each other a look, the two genin silently agreed to never mention their involvement in yesterday's prank.
They were led by a random Hyuga into the home of the main branch family, where they took their seats in the foyer, and waited for their hosts to arrive. Immediately, a tall stoic man entered, followed by three children. "Welcome to my home, I thank you all for your presence." He greeted with a bow.
The four guests bowed in return, still seated. "We thank you graciously for this courteous invite." Shikaku answered.
The Hyuga's sat directly in front of the guests, cross-legged near the short table. "Allow me to introduce my family. This is my eldest daughter, the Heir Presumptive, Hinata."
Hinata, a quiet girl that shared an academy class with both Naruto and Shikamaru, bowed her head in greeting, a polite and pleasant smile on her face. "My second daughter, an academy student, Hanabi."
A girl quite a few years their junior, bows her head in the same manner as Hinata. Yet unlike her older sister, Hanabi did not smile, instead she kept the same stoic expression as her father. "And this is my nephew, Neji."
The last of the children was slightly older than the rest, Naruto recognized him as being the top scoring shinobi the year above them. He was tall, with long hair similar to his uncle. His expression was stoic as well, however bordering to annoyance, as if he wanted nothing more than to run away from this situation. Yet he stayed still, a small, almost unnoticeable nod given in greeting.
"It is a pleasure to make the acquittance of your lovely daughters and esteemed nephew. This is my wife Yoshino, the matriarch of the Nara Clan. My son, the Heir Apparent, Shikamaru. And my ward, Naruto Uzumaki."
Each member nodded in greeting as they were introduced. However, Hiashi's eyes widened during the greeting, "Ward? Well that is surely interesting."
Naruto tilted her head in confusion, turning slightly to look at Shikamaru. The younger Nara just looked straight ahead with a serious expression, ignoring the blond girl.
Hiashi let out a small smirk, "You truly are an interesting one. However, we may speak of these boring trivialities at a different time. We are now with family, let us enjoy our tea and talk of pleasant matters."
With those words, the doors opened, and several Hyuga branch members came in to serve them all tea. Yoshino, the ever talkative one, kept up the nice conversation; conversing about how Naruto, Shikamaru, Hinata and Neji were all due to appear at the chunin exams the following day. The five children present did not speak much, instead preferring to listen to the adults. Naruto kept quiet, taking in the sight of her first family gathering. Hinata and Hanabi were ever the dutiful daughters, pouring more tea for the guests, and speaking at appropriate times. Hinata was able to keep her stuttering to a minimum due to her not having to talk as much as usual.
Neji on the other hand, was staring down the two genin in front of him. He didn't miss the earlier conversation between his uncle and the Nara; but more importantly, he knew what it meant, at least to an extent. It would do him well to befriend this Naruto, if she were important enough to warrant the full protection of the Nara's, then perhaps her fate was different than he first imagined.
A few hours later, Hiashi volunteered Hinata and Hanabi to give the girls a tour of the house, while the men sat and talked. "I will join them, Uncle." Neji announced, standing from his position.
Hiashi nodded in agreement, knowing that his nephew was perhaps interested in learning more of the blond girl that was special enough to earn the protection of the Nara Clan.
The moment the women and Neji left, Hiashi wiped the small smile off his face, and turned to look at the Nara's in suspicion, "What game are you really playing here Shikaku. I was unaware that you have taken responsibility for the girl."
Shikaku smiled as he answered, "I have not taken responsibility for her. I am merely doing my part as the Clan Head, following the orders bestowed upon me by the Heir Presumptive and Elder Council."
Hiashi's eyes widened, before narrowing into slits as he stared knowingly at Shikamaru, "I see. You have done your clan justice my boy. I assume you understand the power that you currently wield?"
Shikamaru nodded, "I am aware of both my current strengths and limitations. I work to improve the former, while demolishing the latter." He sighed, taking a sip of his tea before continuing, "I am aware of my youth. I know my supposed inexperience is an unattractive quality. However, I also know that my plan makes up for both. I am not an arrogant boy looking for glory within my own clan."
"What are you then?"
Shikamaru put his cup down, placing his palms over his knees, "I am a Nara, doing what a Nara was meant to do: insuring both our clan protection, and the protection of the entirety of Konoha. We are loyal to our people, and it is our job as the village strategists to make sure we are always several steps ahead of anyone who wishes us harm."
"And just how do you suggest you do that? All you have done is align yourself with the village weapon."
"And that is your first mistake; thinking of Naruto as just a weapon. As both a container, and a loyal ninja, she is much more than just a fighting machine. And my plans extend far greater than just her."
"So, she is just a pawn to you?"
Shikamaru narrowed his eyes dangerously, "Don't presume to understand my strategy when you are yet to comprehend the game. Naruto is not the pawn, oh no. She is the queen."
Hiashi hummed, "I see. And just how do you plan to utilize your queen?"
"Other than your family, only one other person is aware of us taking all political and legal responsibility for her. Only one other knows that we are her sponsor."
"And who would that be?"
"Well the Hokage of course."
"I fail to see how this matters."
"You have known the Hokage for a long time, how do you believe he will react when he processes that one clan has full control of the pollical ramifications brought to Konoha by our resident jinchuriki?"
Hiashi smiled, "Well he would tell the council of course. The rest of the clans have to be made aware of such a change in the political power system."
"And what would their reactions be?"
"Most won't care. Everybody knows that the Nara's only look out for the best of Konoha, and many would see it as a good thing that the young girl has a family that cares for her, and a clan to sponsor her."
"Would anyone be angry that they hadn't thought to sponsor her first?"
"Not at all. The girl is the bottom of her class. Absolutely talentless. She's a troublemaker most likely to bring her sponsored clan problems, rather than achievement."
"Yet what if I could guarantee a successful presentation from her at the chunin exams? One high enough to impress even the most hard-headed of council members?"
Hiashi smiled even wider, "Well then, everybody would be wanting to align themselves with the Nara's."
"That may be true for all of the Clan head members of the council. However, I am much more concerned about a specific council member, one who has wanted control of Naruto for a long time. He may get angry, rash almost, and even make a few mistakes he wouldn't have before, maybe even fall into one of my many traps. Afterall, I think it's time to fix Konoha, starting with all of the Roots."
Hiashi sputtered in surprise, "You, a genin, mean to take on Danzo?"
Shikamaru smirked, "Not any time soon, that part of the plan is still far ahead into the future. But ultimately, yes."
"And where does Naruto fit into all of this?"
"Well she certainly has enough Will of Fire to lead us, don't you think?"
"You mean to make her Hokage?"
"She's going to be Hokage regardless of my intervention. She's strong and passionate, diplomatic yet firm. She's our best choice. My job is just to make sure that when the time comes; she's ready."
Hiashi smirked, "And if you happen to make sure a certain Root isn't there when she takes the hat, then a position as a Konoha Elder is open."
"A position I have no interest in."
"I am sure, after all, you needed something to bribe me with."
"Bribe is such a crass term. I am merely showing you the pros to aligning yourself with me."
"Amazing. With one plan, you are helping a young girl attain her dream, getting rid of Konoha's biggest weed, and aligning yourself with the strongest clans in Konoha. Yet I fail to see what you have to attain from this. Your Clan doesn't get much out of it, and you personally even less so."
"I have told you before. I work for the safety and purpose of Konoha. What I attain, is making sure that this village is the best it could be, with the Hokage that it deserves."
"You truly believe in this girl?"
"I do."
"Well then, young Shikamaru, it looks like you have made your first alliance. Now what would you have me do?"
Neji was quiet as he tagged along the house tour, watching as Hinata and Hanabi showed their guests around the impressively built home. He scowled as he looked around, knowing that it was his fate to be marked, while it was their fate to live their life in all the luxury that the main branch had to offer. As he lagged in the back of the group, the interesting whiskered blond stayed back with him.
"You're Neji right?"
"I am."
"Cool! I'm Naruto! I was in the year below you at the academy."
"I am aware."
"Yeah… anyways, are you excited for the chunin exams tomorrow? I am so ready to kick butt! Then everybody will know the awesomeness of Uzumaki Naruto!"
Neji shook his head, "Why do you even try? You are the dobe of your class, you are destined to fail."
Naruto looked at the boy with wide eyes, "What?"
"It is your fate to be the dobe, just like how it is my fate to be a member of the branch clan."
Naruto bristled in anger, "Hey look here! I may have been a dobe, but ever since I have become genin I have been trying my best to overcome it!"
"Why try when you will not succeed?"
"Who says I'm not going to succeed? I've gotten much stronger, and thanks to Shikamaru a lot smarter too. Anyone can go against their fate if they try hard enough."
"Hard work is never enough. It is impossible to fight fate."
"Well if that were the case, there's no way I would have been a ninja! But I believed in myself, and I worked hard, so I got my headband, despite everyone telling me it was impossible! And if I believed in fate, I would still be homeless! But I don't; so I took a chance in Shikamaru, and now I, a clan-less friend-less home-less orphan, have a home, a bunch of friends, and a family to come home to! So don't tell me you can't fight fate, because that's just bullshit. Why do you believe in all this fate crap anyways?"
"Allow me to tell you something of our Clan's cursed seal."
Hours after the guests left, Neji approached his uncle at his office. "I apologize for disturbing you Uncle."
"It is of no matter, I was just finishing some paperwork for the Nara's. Tell me, what did you think of Naruto?"
"She is interesting. I told her of my cursed seal, yet she was still adamant that fate could always be fought. No matter what I retorted, she held strict to that belief."
"And what do you believe?"
"I am not quite sure anymore. I thought I was, but Naruto, a girl who was fated to never have a family, seems to have built herself one of her own. She fought against her fate."
"The girl is special, of that I have no doubts."
"Uncle, I have a question I must ask."
"What is it Neji?"
"Is it possible to fight my fate?" Neji looked at Hiashi with a face so full of hope and sorrow, that all he could do was gesture for him to take a seat, before he recounted the true tale of the events that occurred during Hinata's third birthday.
Naruto approached Shikamaru's door slowly, praying that she didn't wake up the elder Nara's. Walking into his room, she was glad to find him still awake in bed, reading from a scroll.
"What's up Naruto?" He asked, closing the scroll and putting it down on his bedside table.
"I sort of had a question about something that was said today."
"What is it?" Shikamaru questioned, scooting over to make space for Naruto to slide in next to him.
"Well, I noticed Hiashi called Hinata his 'Heir Presumptive'. But Shikaku referred to you as 'Heir Apparent'. What does it mean?"
Shikamaru sighed before explaining, "An Heir Presumptive is the person who is most likely going to become Clan Head but could still be replaced by someone more suitable in the future. In Hinata's case, that someone would be her little sister Hanabi."
"But why can Hanabi replace her? I thought only the first born could become clan head?"
"That is usually true, but Hiashi doesn't have faith Hinata would be strong enough to be clan head. He only named her Heir Presumptive so that when the time comes, his choice of Hanabi can take over the clan herself."
"But that's ridiculous! Neji told me of the cursed seal, if Hanabi becomes clan head, then poor sweet little Hinata would be branded with one!"
"That is the curse of the Hyuga clan."
"That's the first thing that's going to go when I'm Hokage."
"I look forward to it."
"But Shika, what does it mean exactly that you're Heir Apparent?"
"As Heir Apparent, I have much more political power than someone like Hinata. Within the clan. The only one with more power than me is father; yet if I have the backing of our own elder's council, even father can't go against me. As the Heir Apparent of a clan like the Nara's, I also have a certain amount of voting right in the Konoha council, despite me only being a genin. As I progress through the ranks, my influence will also increase."
Naruto's gasped, "Wow, so that makes you pretty powerful, huh?"
"I guess. Quite a few kids in our class were Heir Apparents, though not many people use, or even know about this power while they're this young."
"Good thing you're not most people, eh?"
