Everything was just normal at the wear-whatever-you-want Saturday noon. The bell was screaming at its worst, marking the end of the half-day Saturday classes, when students took up the Arts and Computer Education. Some were dozing off after the Orochimaru-recommended Tayuya finished the Music lesson. It wasn't only her dull lecture that made them snooze, but also her flute-playing skills. One of her songs sent them to a deep slumber, like a lullaby for a toddler.

She even put Sakura to sleep. And Sakura wasn't a gal to just sleep in the middle of class, no matter how cozy everything felt.

And as everyone expected, the twins were knocked out cold, with saliva running down their mouths. The girls took pictures of Menma in his tight button-up shirt with the school ribbon. Meanwhile, Naruto was spreading the ink of his notes with his drool.

"Yo, ladies," Shikamaru called out from behind, "Mind if I borrow these two?" Without even waiting for a reply, Shikamaru flicked both their foreheads into their awakening.

Naruto jolted up and punched Shikamaru to his side.

"Rasengan!"

Shikamaru flinched and held his blazing rib in excruciating pain. Naruto was stronger than he looked. He gritted his teeth.

"Are you trying to kill me or something, man? Dude—that hurt like hell!"

Naruto just goofily smiled it off as Shikamaru recovered on Menma's table. The self-proclaimed Uzumaki ran an article of his orange sweater on Menma's tense arms. A thunderstorm hovered over Menma's head. He pushed off Shikamaru from his table and sat up with a growl-like yawn. Shikamaru relied on the seat of one of their other classmates to keep his balance.

Shikamaru folded his arms. "Couldn't you have pushed me off in a slightly less violent manner, like a gentleman?"

Menma rested his chin on the back of his hands and possessed a mischievous grin on his face. He blew the falling strands of hair that were messing with his peripheral vision.

"Mister Nara, thank you for acquainting me to the word gentleman. Now—if you please—explain to me what exactly a gentleman does and how does one gentleman push another person?"

"It's a rhetorical question, dammit."

"It's a sarcastic statement, dammit."

"Whatever." The lazy genius rolled his eyes. "You twins are the most despicable duo I've ever met. Especially you, Menma. Be more like Naruto—seriously. At least he has a sense of etiquette."

"Then," Menma croaked, "You haven't really known Naruto at all. I'm the reserved one while he's the wacky nutjob."

"From my perspective, it seems you seem to have your roles reversed. Naruto's more mature than you are."

That got a chuckle from Menma. Naruto glared at him with steam off of his ears. It was as if he wasn't even there! The nerve of Menma.

"He's just . . ." Menma looked at the angry Uzumaki. "Selectively wild. You need some special connection with him so he can expose his carefree self."

While Naruto chewed on Menma to argue with his statements, Sasuke was listening in the far opposite corner of the room, eavesdropping as Menma explained Naruto's persona. He scribbled on his plain black notebook, putting Naruto's twin's words on permanent record.

"Selectively wild . . . a soft cinnamon bun . . . huh . . ."

It really did look like it. The way Naruto was so focused on Menma. He smiled, with his intent buried under his handsome face.

A sensitive person is no match for an Uchiha prodigy like me. I'll have him kneel and cry.

He packed his things in his backpack and gave Naruto a final glance, before getting his vision blocked by his fangirls. He sighed and walked through the newly waxed floor.

Kiba was thankful that Sasuke left. The classroom was spacious without all those lusting girls. At least he had a faithful Hinata. He got up from his seat and put his arms on his sides. He revealed his sharp teeth in a smile.

"Yosh! Today was a good day!"

"You're acting up a lot," said Choji as he returned from the bathroom. "What's up?"

"Oh, nothing much." Kiba shrugged. "If you count 'having a girlfriend' as 'nothing much,' then yes, nothing much indeed."

Shikamaru needed a smoke. Kiba, one of the most troublesome kids in school who was disregarded by the overwhelming conflicting popularities of Menma and Sasuke, actually scored a girlfriend? He needed a smoke—probably even a pot chewable.

The rest of the class was as dumbfounded as Shikamaru. They knew Kiba wasn't the most romantic person, and it took them by surprise. Even the twins were as shocked as the others; and they don't even know much about Kiba.

"And . . . who is this girlfriend you speak of?" asked Shikamaru.

"Who else? Hinata, man!"

"You mean," Naruto asked, "Hinata Hyuga from the neighboring class?"

"Of course, dude!"

Shikamaru nodded. He had been expecting this day to come. It wasn't really a surprise at all for most of them. He sighed. Shikamaru didn't know how he did it. He expected Kiba to get a girlfriend first before him—but it seemed like the lackadaisical prodigy beat him.

"S'about time, actually. I've been expecting you two to hook up since eighth grade or something."

"I dunno man. Better late than never. At least our relationship's better than your LDR with the Suna babe."

Shikamaru rolled his eyes as Kiba released a badly-restrained laugh. Kiba had been making fun of his connection with the sister of the mayor of Sunapolis. At first he was amazed that Shikamaru, a person who thought romance as troublesome, to build a relationship with someone who had a high social status. But then said girlfriend was an uptight lady. But she was still a sweet girl.

"Dude, come on, Hinata and Temari are two distinct people. You can't exactly compare them."

"Speak for yourself, man. But that's not all. I want the squad, us boys and probably Lee-senpai and Neji-senpai, to hang out later at The Dump to celebrate my winning of Hinata! You guys up for it?"

"Uh, what's The Dump?" Naruto asked with a hint of naivety in his voice. Choji pulled Naruto in close with his arm on Naruto's shoulder and made an arching gesture with his free hand. Naruto could smell the barbeque aroma from his mocha hair.

"My new-student friend, The Dump is a place where our dreams live in restriction, alienated from the outside world, never to breathe the outside air without the assistance and consideration of us students. It is our duty to free them and make use of them before we get caught."

"What Choji meant," Kiba interrupted, "is that it's a hut where a shit-ton of confiscated goods end up to. Almost half of them are actually products or by-products of Orochimaru-sama's experiments or something. The other half comes from students, like sake, firecrackers, and even weapons or something." He shrugged. "I have no idea how students get a hand on weapons, but as long as we don't touch those, no-one's gonna end up in the ER tonight."

Was The Dump a normal hangout for them? It seemed so for him. He was contemplative about Kiba's words. He wondered if that meant that he was invited to join them.

"So . . . uh . . . does that mean I get to join you guys whenever I want, without the negotiations of Menma?" he asked. Fingers crossed, he hoped so. He didn't want to embarrass Menma anymore because of his reputation as an averagely-popular student.

Menma looked away, so as to give Kiba a less pressured answer. Kiba gave him a thumbs-up.

"Yeah, man! You're a pretty cool guy in my book. You could join us, if you want."

Kiba had been thinking about this last night. He figured that Naruto wasn't at fault with how Hinata looked away, even for a bit. Naruto was just . . . Naruto. All he could do was offer his love to Hinata. And Naruto was a fun person anyway. He was the type of person to crack a few jokes while being consistent with his seriousness.

And Kiba did want a bigger circle of friends, other than just Shikamaru and Choji and probably a few other kids who try to hang out with him, who he didn't really consider as close as those two.

Stars ignited on Naruto's eyes. He tried his best to keep his cool, but ultimately failed. He pumped his fist in the air furiously.

"I'll be one of the bestest friends you guys will ever have—'ttebayo!"

"Relax, bro," Menma said. "I get that you haven't had entered a group of friends before, but please, chill out." He chuckled as he tried to contain the eccentric Naruto. He wrapped his arms on his shoulders and squeezed to restrict his movements.

"Err . . . sorry guys. He's just . . ." Menma looked at the Naruto, suggesting activities to do, mainly pranking others.

Menma continued, "Weird, I guess."

"It's fine, man! I mean, he does look happier than ever," Kiba assured.

"Yeah . . . Naruto, can you check on Kurama for me? I'll catch up to you later."

"Yosh!"

Naruto burst away with a hop in his step. According to Menma's scarce knowledge of the Language of Love, he called Naruto's state joie de vivre. It was a big turnaround, really. Having known and adored Naruto, he knew that Naruto valued friendship and love above all. Befriending people was one thing for Naruto—but entering a group was another. It confused him, after Naruto had explained to them as kids that no-one offered him to join their group. He was one of those kids who was friends with everybody, but was not close with any of them. Referencing a book he and Naruto read together for the Summer Book requirement, he'd say Naruto was a "Divergent." Or probably an ambivert.

Menma explained to the others why Naruto acted that way. He was sure that everyone would've been excited to have a group of friends such as said group. Naruto was just impulsive, expressing his thoughts as if his mind was a gigantic billboard, basking under broad daylight.

"We're just a clique, hanging out whenever we want, without a damn in the world when we do so. You and your brother are per se bundles of fun. Other than that, yeah, we're just a couple of high school students, surviving together. Right, Shikamaru?"

"Huh?" Shikamaru snapped awake on his chair. He was just not entertained by Naruto's franticness. "Err, yeah." He scratched his head as Choji opened a bag of crisps.

"Oh . . . uh . . . cool, I guess," Menma mumbled. "I'll see you guys tonight."


Naruto had forgotten to ask Kiba where The Dump was. Fortunately, Menma called him where it was. About ten, when people were barely outside the campus and were resting comfortably in their beds, Akamaru picked them up—including the fox, who Akamaru had a slight distaste for in his canine gut—and guided them to the campus forest, near a dazzling pond under the quarter moon. A "Wow!" escaped Naruto's voice box.

Midway around the pond, Naruto asked Akamaru if he can ride the dog. Akamaru whimpered, unwilling to take someone who he was newly acquainted to. But according to Kiba's request, he had to. His back carried the athletic weight of Naruto.

Akamaru had a little race with Kurama to The Dump, which the fox won with obvious conceit. Akamaru snarled. Being a pacifist, Akamaru was gentle with other dogs—but he was a newbie to foxes. And he didn't like this fox in particular.

"You made it," Kiba said outside the hut. "And I see you've ridden Akamaru too."

Naruto got down from the dog and patted Akamaru's head. He should get a canine friend for Kurama during the summer vacation. He perceived that Kurama would become great friends with Akamaru, which he based on the pets' constant growling and snarling at each other.

Shikamaru was inhaling stick after stick, and then exhaling dark clouds of death and illness. Meanwhile, what Choji was inhaling were salty bags of barbeque puffs. Naruto waved away the disgusting chemicals away, before it got to his system.

"Alright." Kiba clasped his hands together. He pulled out a paper clip from his pocket and straightened it and cut it into two, unequal pieces. He fidgeted with the lock for a minute or so, until the gang heard a click. Kiba opened the wooden door and stepped inside the dreary area.

"It's a bit dusty in here," Kiba warned. "But the loot here is gold. I'm not sure if there was any confiscated shit this week, but there are still items us students haven't searched up. Me, I'm having dibs on the alcohol, so don't touch any liquor. Unless it's champagne. I don't like champagne for some reason."

Naruto closed the entrance once everyone had entered the tiny building. Shikamaru flicked his lighter on, generating a weak wisp of orange light. Choji just snatched a canteen and ate his chips at the corner.

Naruto questioned why such random things are confiscated. From things that don't look like they're worth confiscating, like a book, to musical instruments, they certainly don't seem like they could harm anybody at all.

"Well," Shikamaru mentioned once Naruto asked that, "Some of these stuff were used by students to distract themselves from a boring lecture, so teachers had to confiscate these so they'd listen, which just made things worse."

Kiba rummaged through the piles, finding only one bottle of sake. He had to look harder. As Menma reached through a pile of toys, he grabbed ahold of something fluffy. He pulled it out, seeing a dark brown teddy bear, half his height. He flipped it around to find Jerry stitched at its nape.

"Hey Naruto, c'mere. I got something for you."

"That's a nice find." Naruto hugged the bear to test its softness. It seemed as if Kakashi had some competition. "So your name is Jerry, huh?"

The non-new students' ears perked up once they heard the name. Kiba said with a crack at his voice at the end, "I wouldn't touch that if I were you. Rumor has it that Jerry the Bear was left by a female student in her dorm during Christmas vacation." He switched a conveniently-placed flashlight with a weak battery, so the flashlight flickered with a spooky vibe. "When she came back, the bear wasn't there anymore. Then, Jerry started appearing everywhere and followed her in peculiar places. The classroom, the teachers' lounge, the school forest, and he even went as far as Sunapolis. It drove the girl insane that she was sent to the Konoha asylum."

"Shit," Naruto mumbled. He threw the toy to the far back. His hairs stood up. If anything, he didn't like horror more than he didn't like topping. He shivered. "Let's just look for something else, I guess."

Menma sighed helplessly. "Fine." He didn't believe in that crap. It was just a harmless teddy bear in his perspective.

Shikamaru was not attempting to look for anything. He stood alone, in front of his phone, and scrolling through his contacts. He didn't hesitate to call Temari. It's been two days since he last called her. He assumed that she might've been worried sick. He cleared his throat as the phone rang. He foresaw his demise as the ringing stopped and as the sound of the whistling wind of Sunapolis took over.

"Shikamaru." Temari had a solid voice that made Shikamaru freeze in place. "It's been a while since you last called. What's going on?"

"Err . . ." Shikamaru pulled his gray shirt to cool himself. "Nothing much. I just wanted to check on you if you're okay . . ."

"Yes, Shikamaru, I'm okay. So, what's happening there?"

"Oh, the usual. I'm in The Dump, and I'm scavenging for something useful. And I'm here calling you just to check if you're okay. So, everything going normally here, yeah. How are you there?"

"I'm doing fine. I'm acing lots of my classes—as expected—and I believe you're in the same situation as I am."

"Yeah, but my effort mark is a punch to the gut to my dad. I've been sleeping on some classes lately. A bit more and I'd probably cut class."

"Can't you take school seriously for once?" Temari had a ticked-off tone. Shikamaru shrugged it off.

"You know I can't if I basically know everything already. I just need to pass tests and I'm outta here."`

The two talked for a while. Shikamaru informed her that Kiba wasn't single anymore. Temari just nodded and nodded and congratulated the canine enthusiast for his well-earned accolade. The braided girl had to admit that she was jealous that at least the two met every single day in person.

Shikamaru gulped, submitting to the grim reminder that technically, he was single because he seldom met Temari. Usually thrice a month. But hell, they both knew they liked each other because of their smarts, so might as well make it official. Official, yet problematic. At the very least, they were both glad that they didn't have toxicity between them. Temari was fine with Shikamaru's sloth-like persona and Shikamaru was fine with Temari's hubris. They liked each other that way.

Kiba started feeling bad for Shikamaru. He decided to drop the fact that this was supposed to celebrate his relationship and gave Shikamaru a thumbs-up. Naruto, Menma, and Choji followed. Shikamaru smiled. He appreciated the warm support.

"Shikamaru, you're a person who wouldn't call just to check up on me. What do you want?"

Shikamaru flirted,"Well, I want you."

"My my." Temari snorted. Shikamaru smiled at the tone of her soft, yet cracked laugh. He rested his back on the wall, feeling more relaxed than before. "Shikamaru, isn't it a bit too late for flirting? I mean, I kinda just want to sleep already."

"No, really. I want you here." Shikamaru's volume died down. His yearning constricted him so much. All the calls he made were just useless if they weren't together.

Temari sighed. "Shikamaru, we talked about this." Her gloomy voice made Shikamaru frown.

He coughed. He had asked Temari to move in to Konoha so their relationship wouldn't be difficult to be in. Problems were A) Temari's brother doesn't want her to go anywhere. B) Shikamaru's parents don't want him to go anywhere. C) They were very unwilling to break up to free them from the shackles of a long-distance relationship. It just wasn't worth breaking up.

"Just . . ." Shikamaru stole a glance at Kiba. The Inuzuka was pumping his chest, commanding him to tough up. Shikamaru took a deep breath and gripped his phone tightly. He felt a fire burning in his chest. He bit his cheeks. All of his bottled rage, he knew that they had to be released sometime.

"Well, tell Gaara that I, Shikamaru Nara, love you very much and I want you here, by my side, infinitely more than he wants you to stay there in Suna."

Being a genius, he always thought of his words before spurting them out. But this was a different case. He just had to get everything off his chest. Temari was speechless on the other end. Shikamaru trembled so much. Everyone watched intently as the scene unfolded.

"But there's moving to consider and we can't just—"

He roared, "I don't care which one of us moves! You, or me, I don't give a shit! I'll make sure that I will do anything in my capacity to have your brother and my parents agree our being together!" He was heaving heavily. Choji walked over and fanned him to keep his cool. Shikamaru shook his head and rejected Choji.

Shikamaru's knees turned to jelly. He dropped to the wooden floor and rested his head on the wall. His chest felt like it was suctioned with a plunger over and over. He was missing Temari so much that every single night, he rolled and turned around on his bed, just thinking of her and how she wasn't by his side. He didn't know if Temari was doing the same, but he knew she was desperate for him.

"Please, babe, I need you." His voice cracked as he sulked.

Shikamaru heard Temari click her tongue. She grumbled, "We'll find a way through this, okay? Have faith in us, Shikamaru. I know it's really really really tough that we're tied up like this, but let's just see how this unfolds, okay? I'm having a hard time too. Please, let's just endure this for a little while and attack it once we know how to. But for now . . . we're just up to calls and texts. Hang in there."

"Y-Yeah . . . I love you."

Temari chuckled weakly. "Love you too. I'll call next time, m'kay?"

"Sure. Buh-bye."

Shikamaru ended the call and rested his wide forehead on his knee caps. What was he going to do? The only options were either he moved or Temari moved. Nothing in between, really. A heavy blunt object hit the back of his head. He looked up and saw Kiba, handing him a bottle of beer Kiba found on a metallic experiment table that Orochimaru used to own. Shikamaru gently pushed his tan hand away and continued to think.

"I . . . I think I'll go back to my room."

"You sure?" Menma asked. He bent down and spotted a plastic bag, as big as his palm, containing pot. He flung the herbs to Shikamaru, who caught it with ease. "Maybe roll one so you could chill a bit."

"Yeah. Thank you."

Choji announced as Shikamaru stood up, "I'll come with you."

As the darkness closed in inside the hut, without Shikamaru's lighter, Naruto frowned. He respected Shikamaru for how he was enduring something so difficult. He took a short rest on an ancient mattress. It didn't feel comfortable—like there were spikes, protruding on the silk. Minutes later, while he was looking at his phone. Menma whispered something to Kiba. It took a while before Menma finished talking. They nodded to each other and glared at Naruto. The blonde gulped.

"So, Naruto, you still remember that bet we're having?"

"Uh . . ." Naruto coughed as Kiba walked in closer with his beer bottle.

"Thing is," Menma said with a sly twinkle in his eyes, "I don't really plan on losing."