Chapter Ten

"Time to go!" I called out eagerly, as Hinata followed me out of the front gate, Sai and Shikamaru lagging behind purposefully. I figured Shikamaru wanted to talk to Gaara about the inappropriate hug and kiss that he gave me- and Sai probably wanted to hug and kiss the Kazekage. I grinned uneasily, knowing that I'd better lighten the mood and get everyone's mind on the mission. "Time to find Sasuke!"

Shikmaru grumbled. "Yah, let's find his dumb ass. That stupid jerk- making us come all the way out here for him. Way too troub…"

Sai interrupted. "…lesome. Geez, are you predictable. Can't you find something else to say, once in awhile? Like something intelligent?"

I gulped. Shikamaru turned to look at Sai, staring into his face like a mountain lion about to pounce on his prey. Hinata did her crazy finger thing, nervously looking from Sai to Shikamaru.

I thought Shikamaru might kill Sai, but instead he said, "You got something you want to say to my face?"

Sai shrugged. "Not really. Not if I have to look at it…" And then a punch hit Sai directly in the cheek. He stumbled, taken by complete surprise, then quickly looked at his attacker- me. "What's your problem, Sai? Why don't you just shut the hell up if all you can think to do is piss everyone off? How can we cooperate as a team when you won't even try to get along with anyone?" Sai actually looked away at this point, but I was on a roll. I huffed, turning to Shikamaru next. "And you!" Shikamaru raised an eyebrow. "I don't care if you hate him, but stop bad-mouthing Sasuke. It's all you do! Are you jealous of him or something?"

Shikamaru scowled. "Why would I be jealous of someone who betrayed our entire village? Someone who tried to kill you! It's just…"

It was my turn to raise an eyebrow. "Just…what?"

Shikamaru kept his eyes on my sandals, trying to think of something to say. But I thought of something first.

"Let's just get a move on. All this sand and sun is making me feel dizzy." And with that, I took off, hearing a delayed response before my three teammates took off, following close behind me.

That day, we all traveled in silence. Although occasionally Hinata would catch up to me and let me know what resources were around us- a stream of water here, some berries for eating there- it was an uneventful and distant day for our group. By the time nightfall rolled around, I found myself exhausted from both the hot trip and also from thinking about Sai and Shikamaru. We all stopped and set up camp quietly, and eventually we were exchanging a few words in order to get dinner ready. As we sat around to eat, I felt saddened by the turn of events…should I not have blown up like that at them?

Sai broke the silence first. "Erm…well…Shikamaru?" Shikamaru looked up from his food, his face splattered with confusion. ""I just wanted to say that…uh…I'm sorry about what I said. Naruto's right- I kinda need to pay more attention to the things I say. I talk a lot of crap sometimes."

Shikamaru cleared his throat, almost chocking on his food. After we shoved a glass of water into his hands and he had drank it, he responded: "It's okay…you're probably right, anyway. And I know you were just…messing with me…" I smiled, pleased with this unexpected turn of events. The rest of the night, we all talked a little more, but only about the next day- we should reach our destination either tomorrow or a couple days from now, if everything went as planned. As Hinata and Sai cleaned up, Shikamaru gently grabbed my arm, pulling me aside.

"Yes?" I asked, a little haughtily. I was still a little pissed at him for what he said about Sasuke.

"Naruto…you know that I'm…well…gomen nasai. I didn't mean what I said about Sasuke. I mean, I am pissed at him, but I didn't mean to say it like that. It's just that, I can't help but be mad at him for everything- for his treachery, for deceiving us all…and especially…" he stroked my cheek with a single finger "for leaving you. I think you still miss him sometimes."

I nodded. "So make me stop missing him. Help me find him, so that I can have closure, once and for all. And- most of all- don't you ever leave me."

Shikamaru smiled softly. "That could never happen, you know. I think I'd die without my fill of Naruto everyday. Although, life would be less troublesome."

Overjoyed, I pounced on him, wrapping my arms tightly around his waist. Shikamaru followed suite, then added a single kiss to the top of my head.

"So Naruto…" Shikamaru raised my head with his hand, so that I looked into his eyes. "You aren't going to let me down on my mission this time, right? I've had some bad luck lately…so we've got to accomplish this. And I won't accept casualties…unless maybe it's Sai." I gave him a warning look before answering- "We will accomplish this…as long as we gather more information on Akatsuki, find out whether Sasuke truly killed Orochimaru, and focus on protecting Konoha, it will have all been worth while.

"I agree!" Sai's voice rang out from the sky, & I shot a glance up to the right to see him sitting propped up on a tree branch, one leg dangling over the side.

"Stop spying on us!" Shikamaru yelled up at him, and Sai chuckled. "Don't worry," he assured, "I've changed my mind. My thoughts are of winning over the Kazekage now."

Shikamaru snorted. "Well in order to do that, you're going to have to learn not to piss people off." I laughed, and so did Sai, who was finally standing up to leave. With a final smile- a real one- Sai lept down and bounded back to camp, no doubt aiming to ask Hinata about appropriate speech when speaking to a Kazekage. I looked back at Shikamaru, who was looking at me with desire.

I pulled Shikamaru by the arm, slowly but surely, into a dark and bushy area where no one could see inside, unless they were intentionally peeking. Hopefully Sai was distracted enough at the moment. Instead of letting go, I sat down, pulling Shikamaru down in front of me. Shikamaru was silent, a longing look of utter joy creeping across his face. I was so happy, knowing that I was the only person who had ever seen him like this. I let go of his arm, using my hands to gently scoot up his shirt, rubbing his toned abs along the way. After removing his shirt, Shikamaru's chest and broad shoulders gleamed in the moonlight, making my boner grow suddenly harder. Shikamaru grabbed my shirt next, and I could tell that he was beginning to sweat from the anticipation. He took off my shirt, let his eyes run over my bare stomach and nipples, and then starting planting small kisses wherever he could. I breathed harder, my eyes lightly shut and taking in the pleasure of Shikamaru's mouth and hands caressing my body. I was becoming antsy, and soon reached for his zipper. Shikamaru caught my hand, looking at me silently. I knew what he was worried about. "Don't worry, Shika," I whispered. "It doesn't hurt me anymore." Shikamaru's hand loosened, and I unzipped his pants as slow as I could, watching as Shikamarus' penis grew larger with every second of expectation. I edged my hands around it as it came out, and began stroking it up and down as Shikamaru's face dawned a look of utter bliss. Shikamaru regained some composure, and grabbed for my cock, which he pulled out and began messaging in time with my strokes. Before we finished, though, I stopped suddenly, and laid back on the grassy floor. Shikamaru took his cue, holding his throbbing member in his hand, and positioned himself above me. Instead of the quick insertion that Shikamaru usually delivers, he pressed the head into my hole unhurriedly, and began edging his way into me at a snail's pace. This felt so amazing that I almost couldn't bare it, and I began gasping and moaning, and gazing at Shikamaru's face, which bore a look of beautiful satisfaction. I could feel a wetness escaping from the tip of Shika's penis as he made his way in, which made it all the more sleek and pleasurable. When all of him was inside of me, I couldn't take it anymore- "Gomen!" I said hurriedly, as I came early, my come hitting Shikamaru's stomach. Shikamaru gasped, but he still didn't come. "Geez Naruto," Shika breathed as he began to move inside me, "are you trying to make me even hornier than I already am?" Shikamaru's thrusts sent me into a frenzy, their perfect timing making me hot and frantic as I called out his name. With one last jolt, Shikamaru came inside of me, making me cry out and his face contort until we both fell into each other, our breathing loud and quick. We lay there together for a minute, until Shikamaru eventually sat up, preparing to give me a kiss. But I raised one arm, holding his face in my hands, and gave him a kiss, allowing him to squeeze his tongue hungrily into my mouth. When we broke away I gasped, and Shikamaru smiled. "I knew you loved me."

I bonked him playfully on the head. "Baka! Of course I love you! I just don't want you to get tired of me doing the same things all the time."

Shika sat up slightly raising his head on his hands. "I could never get tired of you. Just being with you makes me happy…in so many ways." I laughed, realizing that Shikamaru's was up again. "Well," I teased, "I think I could handle one more go."

Shika, a look of surprise and happiness plastering his face, gulped.

My face broke into a grin. "Well, let's go then, dattebayo."

"Matte, matte!" Shika said frantically, readying himself for another sex romp.

But just as he began to kiss me, we could hear Sai yelling something from camp. We hurriedly dressed, and ran back to camp- well, I kind of hobbled, but I was used to it by now. When we arrived, finding Hinata and Sai safe and sound, our gasps slowled.

Shikamaru glanced around camp and saw Pak-kun, a small bulldog who Kakashi-sensei summons occasionally. "What's the matter? What's so urgent?"

Pak-kun looked up at Shikamaru, and then focused his eyes primarily on me. "Sasuke's on the move. He's formed a new team- called 'Team Hebi'- which is heading towards the south."

I gulped. "Why? What are they going to do?"

Pak-kun continued to stare into my face. "Sasuke has received a challenge from his brother, Itachi. They are meeting for a final battle."