"They say the only thing to fear is fear itself. That, and a motivated Nara." Shikamaru is born with his father's intelligence and his mother's work ethic. The world is turned sideways.

Life as a ninja. It starts with confusion and terror and doesn't get any better from there. OC Self-insert. No pairings.

What would have happened if Naruto had wound up on a team with Kiba and Hinata. Gets into the friends he makes, the bonds, and trouble that all come with being around Kohona's number one knuckle headed ninja.

What if Naruto had been selected for a different team? What if he'd had a different mentor? Who would guess the consequences would be so large?

He passed on his first attempt, gained a team that cared, a sensei that taught them, and then almost lost it all. Now being placed on a team once more, how will Konoha's Dark Fox handle a stuck up prick and useless fangirl? Slight NaruOC NaruHina SasuSaku

People have asked for a sequel with Riley from There's Always A Way... So I got to wondering what someone with his sarcastic personality would be like in Naruto. Warning: This is darker and grittier.