So this is the shortest chapter, besides the very first one. But I wanted to show how other people are seeing the changes outside of their group!
So proud of Kurama, causing problems and isn't even currently in the village.
Also, someone pointed it out to me, we aren't adopting, we're *stealing* as thieves. And I am loving this idea that Kurama just saw something lonely and cute and went "I'm stealing that"
Also confirmed Kurama and Shikaku friendship and I announced it in the best way possible.
It wasn't very apparent to people who didn't pay attention but Naruto was changing slightly. Shikamaru narrowed his eyes slightly at the blonde as instead of a bento he had been taking out for weeks, he had the casing for his ramen.
It was just subtle things but they made an interesting picture. First Naruto was super excited and energetic for a week and drove everyone nuts. It seemed like Iruka-sensei knew why and would sometimes give a little grimace.
Luckily Naruto seemed to calm down again and was even more mellow than before. This was also around the time that he started bringing the new bento box which Shikamaru couldn't help but notice was an actual balanced meal. And as he was more mellow, he was slightly quieter and was taking training more seriously.
Iruka-sensei was also almost always walking Naruto home when he hadn't before. But even that slightly changed because instead of seeming defensive, the teacher slowly relaxed and seemed to enjoy taking Naruto home.
Hypothesis: Someone moved in next to Naruto that obviously cared for the blonde enough to make him lunch. And going by Naruto's attitude, also giving Naruto positive affection. Iruka-sensei didn't trust the guy at first but as time went on, he seemed to befriend the stranger.
This was also lining up a little with the visitor they had been getting in the compound weekly. Shikamaru had only seen a glimpse of red hair before it disappeared into the main forest. And sure, his dad would go into the forest but now it was almost scheduled for him to go in at a certain time on a certain day. There was also the fact that his dad was slightly tense but now seemed to be going back into laziness.
Next hypothesis: the strange man that had been going into the Nara forest weekly with his dad was Naruto's neighbor.
That begged the question though of why his dad got involved. Unless this stranger was another shinobi? But no, the tenseness wasn't from foreign enemy, just a stranger that they didn't quite know how to perceive.
Shikamaru also couldn't help but notice the deer were much more active. So, whoever the stranger was, they bonded with the deer as well as a Nara which was interesting. Well, that would explain losing the tenseness in his dad's demeanor. The Nara deer were highly intelligent, especially the alpha pair, who Shikamaru had only met once when he was properly introduced as clan heir. That had been a nerve wrecking experience and Shikamaru didn't want a repeat.
Still, it begged the question of who this stranger was that had a connection to Naruto, Iruka, and his dad.
And his dad had acquired some jars of stuff for medical purposes that Shikamaru had never seen before. Some sealing tags that seemed to take his dad by surprise. And lastly, it was along with a fruitful bush that was put somewhat deep in the forest. It was deep enough that the deer wouldn't be bothered, but close enough anyone could see the deer.
It was so troublesome to have a new person pop up like this with significant influence. If Shikamaru met the stranger maybe he'd give it more thought but it seems the stranger had left not too long ago so he had time. With that thought, Shikamaru fully relaxed and started to take a nap outside for the rest of the lunch hour.
When they were sparring in the academy, sometimes there was a flash of something around Naruto's neck. Sasuke didn't know the dobe even owned anything nice like a necklace.
Sasuke knew for a fact that it was a very recent addition. And it seemed to hold deep sentimental value. Which made Sasuke curious and envious at the same time; who would care for the dobe like that?
It also seemed that Iruka-sensei was spending more time with Naruto but also gained a friend if his relaxed demeanor was any indication.
And Sasuke had to admit to himself that Naruto wasn't as annoying or loud. He seemed to have calmed down and was taking training seriously now. Didn't mean Naruto was ever going to beat Sasuke but at least Sasuke didn't want to strangle the idiot every time he opened his mouth.
Though when they were teamed up to spar, Sasuke had to admit he was surprised at Naruto's progress. Ignoring the Hyuuga cheering Naruto on in the background. Sasuke actually had to give more effort in the fight than he did before.
He still won obviously but it was different than usual. And when they were done, instead of demanding a rematch like before, the blonde took a deep breath and reached up to straighten out his necklace. Then he gave Sasuke a stupid grin and went to join the rest of the class on the sidelines.
Sasuke didn't quite know what to do with that reaction so he mostly just ignored it. But now he was determined to learn where that stupid necklace had come from and who had actually managed to tame the dobe's energy levels.
Iruka-sensei was also giving Naruto a proud grin as if the idiot had won. "Good job Sasuke-kun" The teacher still called out and also gave Sasuke a grin.
But, there was something more than pride in Iruka-sensei's grin to Naruto. There was almost like...reassurance? Reassurance for what?
Sasuke scowled as he realized just how invested he now was in figuring out what the hell was going on with the dobe.
First, he'd start by figuring out what the necklace actually was.
Inoichi and Chouza were infinitely amused when after the new year started, Shikaku seemed to be sulking almost. Of course, no one else noticed, not even his wife, but they had lived and bled and almost died together and thus they could tell.
"Alright, why are you sulking?" Chouza finally asked with an amused tint to his tone.
They were doing their weekly sit downs with just their team taking time to be together. "I'm not sulking." Shikaku immediately replied and almost looked indignant at the idea that he was sulking.
Chouza snorted and Inoichi almost cheerfully said, "You absolutely are sulking. Ever since the beginning of the new year you've been sulking. Would it happen to involve your new friend?"
Inoichi and Chouza both knew that Shikaku was inviting someone over once a week and almost always took them to the forest. To go willingly in the Nara forest, and consistently, the person was bound to be interesting. But Shikaku was surprisingly tight lipped about his new friend. Oh, the other part of his team knew it was the new guy, Kurama Minato, but they were curious how it developed into this.
Shikaku gave Inoichi an offended look, "What new friend."
This time both of them snorted with Chouza replying, "Kurama Minato. The man you were analyzing a few weeks back who is Naruto's neighbor"
Shikaku seemed to actually frown for a second and his eyes became a little glazed as he seemed to retreat in his mind to think about something intently. The other part of the team let him do so, they knew that Shikaku wouldn't recognize he made a friend until they pointed it out.
"Son of a bitch," Shikaku finally muttered under his breath as he came back to the present.
Inoichi and Chouza shared amused looks and Inoichi pressed on, "So are you sulking about your new friend?"
"I'm not sulking. Minato-san left at the beginning of this year to go travel for a bit to find his other children."
"Ah so you lost your weekly visitor which also means you lost a shogi opponent" Inoichi continued to point out logically
Shikaku scowled slightly at the blonde. Of course, they would figure out that he was also playing shogi and now lost an opponent. "So, tell us all about your new friend," Chouza finally prodded.
Shikaku stopped and seemed to collect his thoughts. "Minato-san is a very odd man, he seems to know common knowledge but it feels like he only recently learned it. That man is absolutely a fighter regardless of his appearance and is the parent of several children that seemed to have moved out. Oh, and he is basically trying to adopt Naruto but is fighting Iruka a little for custody."
Here Shikaku hesitated for a moment which actually drew the other two's attention, Shikaku didn't usually hesitate in sharing with his team. "There is also the way the alpha pair have accepted him that was odd and how they seem to come out to greet him every week without fail."
Chouza and Inoichi were slightly alarmed by this. They only caught sight of the alpha pair because they weren't Nara and it wasn't wise of them to go in the forest without a Nara. But they knew all about the alpha pair and how very strict and intelligent they were.
Normally Shikaku would have to physically seek them out if something had come up because they weren't really seen often. But for them to willingly show up weekly for a non-Nara? That was unheard of.
"Why?" Inoichi pressed, now a bit more serious about the situation.
Getting the alpha pairs approval was a fantastic thing and showed you to be extremely trust worthy. But it was alarming that they were breaking from habit and seeming to seek out this stranger weekly.
"They refuse to tell me. All they tell me is that he is a warrior of great strength but means no harm."
That was also startling. The alpha deer didn't usually keep facts away from the Nara clan head. "And the way they accepted him...it was almost like they were accepting one of their own"
Ok, now Chouza and Inoichi were really alarmed.
The alpha deer accepted humans a specific way, especially the clan head and the heir and sometimes if they are called upon to witness another. But they never did more than circle the person and tell the clan head what he needs to know. For the heir, the doe would come forward and allow the human to touch her muzzle. For the head, both would come forward and allow the human to touch their muzzles and sometimes even pet them if they are favored.
So, to accept a human as if one of their own? That was beyond alarming.
"Is he human?" Chouza couldn't help but ask almost instantly.
He had to be something more than human to get this reaction. "At least half" Shikaku admitted
"Well, what's the other half?" Inoichi again pressed on
"I honestly have no clue." Shikaku admitted with a bitter sound to his tone for not being able to figure it out.
Inoichi knew the red head was avoiding specifically him, probably because he was the clan head. He allowed this to occur and never really confronted the man. But this just changed the game; Inoichi didn't usually do it but he needed to at least skim the man's surface thoughts. And as clan head he would be the only one subtle enough to not be detected by seals and jutsus.
"And he means no harm?" Chouza couldn't help but verify.
"He is merely looking for his children but seems to be fine with picking up a few more kids along the way. I'm pretty sure when he finds out Iruka-san is an orphan, he's going to adopt him, friend or not" Shikaku reassured.
That put Chouza at ease and eased a little of Inoichi's tension but they now knew of an anomaly. This was simply too strange to not investigate.
If the man had been hostile in any way, Inoichi would take him into to T&I, but he wasn't in any way and Inoichi didn't feel right trying to justify throwing someone accepted by the alpha Nara deer into a cell. People didn't really know about the alpha pair but the alpha pair were usually the first ones to detect a spy if they got too close to the Nara ground or people.
The deer could see that deeply into someone's soul. But they didn't do it often unless it was a large threat or Shikaku asked them for help. So, for them to favor another that wasn't a Nara? There was no justification for treating them like an enemy.
Didn't mean Inoichi wouldn't skim the man's thoughts, but he just wouldn't be aggressive. "If you're going to try and read his mind Inoichi, I have to warn you now; he is highly intelligent and his mind could very well be a steel trap" Shikaku commented.
.Shikaku didn't usually warn Inoichi of people, having full confidence that Inoichi would be absolutely fine. So, for him to do so? Just who or what was Kurama Minato?
It was past time Inoichi actually met the man fully but kept Shikaku's warning in the back of his mind. Chouza glanced between his two teammates.
Chouza was glad that Shikaku finally had a friend, but this friend was such an anomaly that it was frankly alarming. Chouza couldn't do anything really to test the man, that was the Nara and Yamanaka's job. But he would easily back up his teammates. And since Shikaku seemed to like the man and Inoichi was more alarmed and curious than hostile, Chouza would treat the man as an ally unless otherwise.
"I thought life was supposed to slow down as you got older, not throw a curveball" Chouza finally commented.
Both his companions snorted but couldn't help but agree with the statement