Disclaimer: I do not in ANY WAY own Naruto or Naruto: Shippuden.
A/N: Here's a relatively light chapter before getting back to the main plot next chapter. I hope you guys like it!
Also, please review!
But with accepting this date with Shikamaru, Sasuke just realized something.
…He has no idea what to do on a date! His mother's movies never showed the dates themselves!
To Be a Ninja (Chapter 21)-Tomatoes and Dates
Sasuke's P.O.V.
Three Days Later – Wednesday
Okay…I'm in trouble.
My date with Shikamaru is tomorrow!
And I'm in completely new territory here right now!
I accepted his date offer because I think it really would be nice to go out with him! And I know he doesn't care about a lot of the stuff other people do – shit like hair and clothes – but the thing is…that I kind of do!
I want to be my best for him! Like I don't give a shit if Sakura or Shino, or Naruto or Ino, or anyone thinks my hair is sloppy and my clothes suck. Normally I wouldn't even care if Shikamaru did – because that's when we're friends.
But this is different. This is a date. And…I know Shikamaru wouldn't care if I came dressed like I always to – in scuffed and stained shirts (I wear them while training and on missions), messy hair, shoes a bit dirty, whatever is involved in training.
And…he likes me. Shikamaru likes me.
It's so strange to me now that someone likes me like that. Shikamaru isn't a dumb fan girl fawning over me from the Academy – not at all. Shikamaru Nara – though lazy – is a competent shinobi and is my friend.
And I honestly haven't even thought about relationships or anything all that much. I even kinda hate the word 'date' because of those idiot girls from the Academy. But I think Shikamaru would be a good person to date.
Shikamaru's nice enough! He cares about all of his friends! And he's smart and powerful – that's a quality I kind really attractive. I could never love a weak shinobi or kunoichi.
And…he doesn't look bad either…
So I want to try my best on this date. My first date. So I can't believe I'm going to do this…
*knock* *knock* *knock*
I knock on the door to Shino's parent's room. Shino and I got home from training with our team and Neji not too long ago. Shino is taking a shower, and I'm going in after he's done.
As I expected, Shino's mother Muta opens the door, smiling down at me.
"You stood there for a while, Sasuke. Is everything alright?" She asks.
It's so easy to forget sometimes that though she married into the clan, she can still use the clan kikaichu to a limited degree. They must have told her I was there.
"Um, yes ma'am, but…" I begin, nervous about this. "You see, um, I…have a…date…tomorrow. And…" I did not miss the slight surprise in her face. "And…I was wondering if you would…help me prepare?" I finish and look down at Muta's feet.
I hope my face doesn't look as red as it feels.
"Oh! Okay, sure! I was just, uh, not expecting that. Come in, come in." Muta opens the door to her room, ushering me in to sit on the bed with her. "So, who's the lucky kunoichi?"
That questions makes my face feel red again.
"Actually, it's…Shikamaru Nara." I respond nervously, though I say his name fully.
I know it's not the most common thing, to be going on a date with another guy. And I know that while it's mostly accepted, some people still think that it's wrong because two guys – or two women for that matter – can't produce heirs.
There was a small lesson on this in the Academy, actually. The shinobi career is dangerous, and there was such a heavy focus on heirs among people when the villages and elemental nations were first founded. So single shinobi, two men, or two women relationships all had negative stigma attached.
Most people don't think like today. Since then, there's better medicine, better politics, and better mental health. Clan specialties like the Yamanaka therapy (which has helped me a lot…I can't thank Kakashi-sensei enough for suggesting I go) have stressed the important of happiness and self-care among shinobi, and the old mindset of finding a wife to have kids is mostly dead now.
When this lesson was first given to us, it was only a few months after Itachi killed my family. Only a few months since my whole life was changed. And I thought everything we were told was crap.
I actually did believe in the old mindset. That I needed an heir. But that's not what I want anymore.
I want my clan back. But…I'm not gonna throw away potential happiness in the form of Shikamaru, because he's good. And the Uchiha clan is more than just the Sharingan, anyway. The Uchiha is a symbol of loyalty and family.
And I'm not gonna hide the fact that I'm going on a date with Shikamaru. I'm not ashamed of him. I'm just…nervous and a bit out of my comfort zone right now.
"Oh! Okay! Wasn't…expecting that either. Shikamaru's a good kid, I'm happy for you." Muta chuckles for a moment and then puts her hand on my shoulder. "What do you need help with, Sasuke?"
"Well, I've…never been on a date before. I don't know what to wear, what to say, how to dress, how to act." I say, because I am actually clueless right now.
Being clueless really isn't something that feels good. It doesn't feel…quite as bad as I imagined it would, but this feeling is weird and I don't like it.
"I see. And of course I'll help you, but may I ask why you came to me?" She inquires, and it actually isn't hard to answer.
"Well…if she were around, I would have gone to my mother. I remember how she used to love these romance movies and books and everything. And you…you and your husband have been so kind to let me live here with you guys. You guys treat me like a son. So I just…felt like I could come to you." I answer her.
I know she could never replace my mother – I don't want her to and I know what she wouldn't want to either. But…Muta and Shibi Aburame have treated more more than just being Shino's friend. They treat me like part of their family.
"Oh, Sasuke…" Muta says and pulls me into a hug. "Thank you. You can come to me for anything. So let's get you ready so Shikamaru won't know what hit him!"
One Day Later
I take one last look into the mirror, and…I look amazing!
Muta and I went shopping this morning, and she got me a new collared shirt (looks nice, but easy for an enemy shinobi to take advantage of), and some nice dark denim pants (my legs are uncomfortably warm because I'm used to wearing shorts all the time).
She also lent me one of Shibi's older dress shoes that he doesn't use anymore – turns out he and I wear the same size shoe. She didn't do anything to my hair, as she said 'your hair is unique – don't change it!'.
I walk out into the dining room where Shino and Muta are waiting. I told Shino last night about my upcoming date after we ate dinner, and Shino's response was not something I was expecting:
'I was wondering when he was going to ask you out. Why? Anyone who knows you Sasuke can see you two like each other, and that he'd have to be the one to do it because you'd be too clueless to do it yourself. And congratulations.'
My first thought to Shino was…
…Damn, that's harsh!
I can see a response like that coming from Sakura. She often complains about the stupidity of boys (when really, it's Kakashi-sensei who causes her to rant, not us). Sakura, however nice and awesome she is, can also be a bitch if set off right – which is something she is proud of.
With Shino…what he said feels like something a brother would say. Yes, after a while, I've thought of my team as my family. Never replacing my family, but they have become my family.
Kakashi's the screwy uncle. Sakura's the bitchy sister. Shino's the teasing brother.
They are my family.
'Thanks, asshole.' Is my response to Shino, but I know he saw my smile when I said that. We both know we saw each other as brothers.
But Shino's right. Like when I apologized to them for not knowing if I was being a good teammate – the day Kakashi told us we all finally showed teamwork – I had no idea if I was doing something bad. I just don't know a lot about…feelings.
I discussed this with my therapist before. She said that I know more than I think I do about people and their emotions. But she did acknowledge that I was angry for so long at everything, that when I let other emotions back in they were overwhelming and confusing at first. But she also said that I have come a long way and that my emotional intelligence is at a good level.
But Shino's right. I had no idea Shikamaru liked me until he asked me out. And looking back…it kind of makes sense? But yeah – I'm clueless when it comes to this stuff. I may be able to talk to people appropriately now, but that doesn't mean I can tell when someone likes me, or that I even like him back.
And I think Shino's right about that, too. I do like Shikamaru. Why else would I spend all this time with him? Not just because he's my friend - Naruto and Kiba and Ino would annoy me if I spent as much time with them as I did with Shikamaru. They're my friends – I'd give my life for any of them – but they can be so much to handle.
Shikamaru isn't like that. Or, maybe he is, but I like him so I can handle it.
I decided that I'll tell Sakura about my date tomorrow when we train – because I know that if I told her today she'd get all girly and ask me never-ending questions on a date I wouldn't even have been on yet – then get Ino over to us – and then both of them would ask me questions about a date I wouldn't even have been on yet. Because I know Sakura and that's what she'd do.
*Ding*
I get a rush of anxiety as I hear the doorbell. I look over to Muta and Shino whose faces are encouraging (Muta) and nothing (Shino) as I get up to walk to the front door.
And wow.
The first thing I notice about Shikamau is that his hair is down. I've never seen it like that before, and it looks good.
"Hey, man…you look great! Ready to go?" Shikamaru asks me, and Muta and Shino step up behind me. "Good evening Shino, Mrs. Aburame." Shikamaru adds now that they're here.
"Aw, you boys are so handsome!" Muta cries out. Oh goodness…
I'm slightly regretting my life choices up to this point now. I'm Sasuke Uchiha – and I let myself get to the point where my best friend's mother is calling me handsome in front of my date.
And it's awesome – but it's also so embarrassing.
"Mother, maybe it would be best if we let them go before it gets too dark." Shino says, and I'm so grateful to him right now.
"Thank you, Mrs. Aburame." Shikamaru says for the compliment she gave.
"Fine, fine. You guys have a nice time. Don't be out too late – I don't care if you made it into the Chuunin Exam Finals or that you can shoot lightning from your hands. You're both still genin and have training tomorrow…" Muta warns us before closing the door behind us.
Oh God…
"I get it. It's her job to embarrass you. I know my mother would have done the same if you picked me up. Mothers are troublesome." Shikamaru says, breaking the tension.
"Fair point. And you look good too, by the way. I…really like your hair." I say to him, and he blushes.
I'm actually making someone blush!
"Thank you. You're…the only one outside my team or family to ever see it like this. And my team's only seen it in passing during missions. I'm…glad you like it" He explains.
He obviously put a lot of thought into his hair, and letting me see a part of him not even his team really has.
He's making an effort to show me I'm special.
"So, where are we heading?" I ask him as we start walking, him leading the way.
"Well, I heard my Dad mentioning this restaurant a while back that he went to and has been meaning to take us to. It's basically a cuisine centered around tomatoes. My dad said he liked it, and it sounded perfect for our date." Shikamaru tells me.
That…sounds like the perfect place. It's no secret at this point to anyone who knows me at all that I love tomatoes. I always have and I always will.
And he picked a restaurant based on my favorite food?
"Really? It does sound perfect! I'm looking forward to our dinner." I say, smiling at Shikamaru.
I like our date so far!
Dinner was fantastic.
I hate to say this…but I think I might already like this restaurant as much as Naruto likes Ichiraku's, and I've only been here once!
They had so many different kinds of dishes with tomatoes! Tomato slices, dices, sauces. It was amazing, and Shikamaru really enjoyed his dish too.
Shikamaru and I both reached for the bill at the same time, and I was going to say something along the lines of 'you planned this amazing night so let me pay' but he said something first:
'If you let me pay now, you can pay next time.'
So I let him have the check. Because he just asked me out on a second date and I would like to do this again!
So now we're walking in the park. The sun is almost set, and it's a very nice orange color. Darker than Naruto's jacket – an orange that makes you feel warm.
We haven't said much since we got here – we're just taking in the moment of being with each other. But something doesn't feel right. I'm tempted to do what I've seen in a movie before…
…I reach out a bit and touch his fingers with mine, trying to let him know what I want to do. But of course he does – he's a damn genius – and he locks his fingers with mine.
We continue walking in the park, saying nothing, but holding hands enjoying the sunset.
"I had a really great time, Shikamaru. I expect you to hold your end of the deal for next time." I say, referring to him letting me pay for our next date.
"Of course. If I learned anything from my troublesome teammates, is that I don't break promises. And I had a nice time too. I'm glad you enjoyed dinner…and our walk." He says, bringing up how I actually held his hand.
We walked back to Shino's house (my home?), holding hands the whole time. We only let go to face each other when we stood in front of the door.
I know what I'm supposed to do now. This is something I learned from those movies!
"Me too. Well…it's getting late. I should be heading in." I say, waiting for the perfect moment.
"Yeah. We have training tomorrow, what a drag." Shikamaru says, referring to what Muta said earlier.
"Goodnight, Shikamaru." I say, and this is the perfect moment.
I learn forward and give him a small kiss on the cheek. That's the most basic requirement on a first date!
"Goodnight, Sasuke…" He says softly as I open the door and close it.
I stand there with the door closed, and I'm proud that Shikamaru stands there for a few more seconds before turning and walking away to his clan compound.
"YOU DID WHAT?" Sakura screams at me before punching me into a tree. "HOW COULD YOU NOT TELL ME? I COULD HAVE HELPED WITH YOUR CLOTHES AND SHOES AND…GAH!" Sakura continues to scream.
So...it's good that she didn't mind me going on a date with someone else. That means that the crush she had on me before is completely one.
But…fuck! That hurt!
"C-Calm down now, Sakura." Kakashi-sensei says – futilly – and he lets her run out of steam.
A few minutes later, she and Shino are helping me pick the pieces of tree bark out of my hair, and discussing my date with me. I guess Kakashi gave us an extended break due to her outburst.
Neji isn't here with us today. Kakashi said he's actually training with Hinata today – which I'm glad that they finally made up. I don't know too much about their family issues, but I know it's been hard on Hinata.
"It really was amazing, though. He picked a restaurant that was centered around tomatoes. He put his hair down for me. He also asked me out on a second date by paying last night. It was just…nice." I say, and Sakura smiles at me.
"I'm happy for you. It sounds like Mrs. Aburame did a good job fixing you up then. But still, Sasuke, call me next time. Ino knows Shikamaru – she and I can help you dazzle him!" She says, and I can only sigh.
Girls!
Shikamaru's P.O.V.
Three Days Later – Sunday
"Congrats, Shika! You know, I actually thought once before that you might like him. I can't believe I was right! But I'm so happy your date went well!" Naruto tells me, slapping his hand on my shoulder.
I asked both him and Hinata to come earlier than they normally would. I wanted to tell them about my date, but avoid telling Team 10 and Gai's Team (trying to keep Sasuke's privacy intact in case he doesn't want others to know – though given how gossipy his own teammate Sakura is, I know he expects me to at least tell my team).
"Thank you, but…You did?" I ask him, and he looks up in thought.
As he looks up, I can see the curse mark on his neck a bit more faded. For once, I am so thankful the Kyuubi is in him because it is keeping him safe from Orochimaru, that monster. Hopefully it'll only be a few more weeks before the seal is gone entirely from him.
"Yeah. Just a thought, when you guys just kept playing Shogi! But yeah man, I'm glad it went well – you're gonna have a second date, you said?" Naruto explains his thought.
"Yup, don't know when though. Only a week and a half until the finals, so my dad might be on my ass to keep training." I say, and Naruto agrees that that's a fair point.
After a while of us cloud-watching (that needs to be our third date!), the rest of our group starts arriving. And when Kiba and Akamaru gets here, Naruto summons his two toad buddies to play with the pup.
"Shikamaru…can I ask you something?" Hinata asks me as Naruto is distracted by playing Gamatatsu and Gamakichi.
"Of course." I respond to her, knowing this is going to be important to her, just like that last time she asked me about Neji.
"How…how did you ask him out?" She whispers to me, and I know why she's asking it the way she is.
"I used the word 'date.'" I tell her.
Hinata's considering asking Naruto out. I'm pretty sure she wants to do something like I did – and I'm telling her that because knowing Naruto, if the word 'date' isn't used, then he'll just think it'll be as friends.
I love Naruto – he's my best friend – but he can be a little dense when it comes to this kind of stuff (because he just doesn't know Hinata likes him). Hinata has to be explicit if she does decide to take the plunge.
"Were you…scared?" She continues whispering.
Of course I was. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done. And the risk didn't end there. I got dressed up and let my hair down as I left my own compound. My parents might have seen; my other clansmen definitely have.
But…I don't care. For so long I've been worrying about others. All my friends have been getting hurt or having troubles. And of course I'll always help them, but I needed something for myself too.
I decided to be a little selfish and ask my crush out on a date. I did everything I could to make sure he would enjoy it. I had a nice time.
Could it come back to my clan? Yes. Could it be trouble for me? Yes. Would it be as bad as I originally thought?
No.
Maybe it's because I have more friends now. No longer is it just Naruto, Hinata, Kurenai-sensei, or even Choji to an extent – I have everyone from Teams 7 and 10 on my side too. I even have Gai's team, in a way. Our time during the training mission and during second exam brought us all closer. We faced S-Rank missing-nin on two separate occasions – if that didn't bring us closer together then I don't know what would.
I have people to support me if things go bad. And if things don't go bad, I get to keep going on dates with Sasuke!
"Yes, extremely. You know, with my clan. And I didn't want to ruin our friendship." I whisper to Hinata.
"Then why did you do it, knowing the risk?"
"Because…our whole lives are based around the risk of dying on every mission we go on. We risk losing loved ones on every mission they go on. We risk our lives to protect our friends. There's already so much risk…so much more serious, troublesome risk. But this month was a breath of fresh air. I got some clarity…so I asked him. And we had a good time." I tell Hinata.
It's different – Hinata and Naruto when compared to Sasuke and me. Hinata has loved Naruto for years. And we're not kids anymore – we're fourteen and we understand life and death and everything in between. We're not adults but we understand enough.
Hinata has a lot to risk with that relationship, too. She's on a team with Naruto. If he doesn't like her back in that way (which I honestly think he does like her back), things could be different. Things would never be able to be the same, not really.
"Alright. Thanks, Shikamaru." She says, turning away to look up at the sky.
Hinata has a lot to think about when it comes to Naruto. She knows she just can't keep going on like this. It will eventually come out in some way. It's up to her though how it has to happen.
Third Person P.O.V.
One Week Later – Sunday
"Alright guys, the finals are in a few days on Wednesday. Naruto, Shikamaru, Ino, Tenten, Lee, good luck. Remember, in the end, the exam is politics." Kurenai tells the twelve genin around.
"Yeah, guys! No matter what, we're friends! No exam is worth our friendships or our lives!" Naruto says, reminding Gai's team – the new addition to their friend group – of their pact.
Teams 8 and 10 (with Team 7 listening) talked with Gai's team – specifically Tenten – and warned them about Gaara. They explained how Gaara threatened to kill his own brother, attacked proctors, almost killed Choji, and tried to pick another fight with Naruto.
Tenten was terrified of what she heard.
'Tenten…we just want you to be careful. Try to win if you can, but…we don't want to see you get crushed to death in his sand. Seeing that almost happen to Choji…' Ino started, but no more needed to be said.
'I get it. And I'll be okay. I'll know if it gets too much…and thanks.' Tenten said, expressing her appreciation for everyone's concern.
"You all are to stop training until the exams. You've learned as much as you could, and now you need to give your body some rest so you're all at 100%." Kakashi tells the group.
"BUT REMEMBER – WE ARE ALL SO PROUD OF YOU ALL! OVERCOMING PHYSICAL AND PERSONAL ROADBLOCKS – IT'S ALL SO YOUTHFUL!" Gai screams and cries to the group, to the embarrassment of everyone there (except for Lee, of course).
"Yeah…what he said. You guys have grown so much and no matter how the exam turns out, no matter who does or doesn't get promotions. You guys are some of the best groups of genin I have seen in years." Asuma says, the last of the sensei speaking.
In three days, the Chuunin Exam Finals begins. In the first round, Naruto has to fight his new friend Rock Lee. Then, Tenten has to fight a psychopath known as Gaara. After that, Shikamaru has to fight his long-time friend Ino.
But that's in three days. The rest of the genin – all of Team 7, Choji, Kiba, Hinata, and Neji – are supporting their friends and teammates.
The four Jonin-sensei are also prepared to do whatever is necessary to protect their students. These twelve genin have changed the lives of these four jonin, and no matter what happens, their students will live and thrive.
Their students have already had to deal with three missing-nin – one of which is a Sannin – a likely Jinchuuriki (all the Jonin know about the Tailed Beasts) who almost killed one of them and is going to fight another one of them, and one of them got a near-fatal curse mark by said Sannin and hunted by a group of missing-nin, and another one is being hunted by that same Sannin.
Their kids have been put through so much, and something tells the jonin that their kids are going to have to go through a lot more.
But they're ready to do whatever it takes.
A/N: Overall, just some light fluff until returning back to the seriousness that is the Chuunin Exams. The true Konoha 12 is together!
And this is why ShikaSasu had to happen first before NaruHina. Hinata needs some motivation to tell Naruto, and seeing Shikamaru so happy despite the risk for him is the motivation she needed.
And to answer a review on FFN for last chapter, yes, I do have something planned for Itachi. Not going to say what or how yet, but there is something.
I guess I can say this now, I do plan on making a sequel to this story covering the Shippuden plot. And I want that plot to really diverge from canon. There will be set up in this story to diverge a lot (we just haven't seen it yet). And once it happens, we can really have some fun with the plot.
Also, like what I did with the title of this chapter?
Finally, thank you all for reading. I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Stay tuned next week for Chapter 22!
Also, don't forget to review!