Disclaimer:

This is my twist on the Naruto Franchise. I do not and have not ever owned the rights to Naruto, or any of the Characters. Mashashi Kishimoto is the rightful owner of Naruto. Please support the official release.

Chapter Two: New Perspectives

Nearly two weeks have passed, since Naruto had awoken to find himself in the hospital. At first, his new training regiment had been unbearably slow going. Every evening upon returning home, he found his senses sluggish and overwhelmed from all the feedback. He found himself thankful for Kakashi's warnings. The effects could have been significantly worsened, had he decided to push himself. During his new training, Naruto had made great improvements towards his chakra control. Where before, the boy struggled with maintaining a single leaf, let alone maintaining his footing of the trees; now he found it quite simple. He had even been able to greatly increase the number. To both his surprise and delight he found, he was able to maintain a grand total of one-hundred and twenty-five leaves! All this while maintaining his control of the tree walking exercise, and simultaneously avoiding eager attacks from his clones and well place projectiles. Water walking, on the other hand, was another case entirely. It was going painfully horrendous. Trying to maintain a constant output of fluctuating chakra, while also simultaneously focusing on the sticking leaves was rather infuriating. Unbearably so! He was actively getting nowhere, and it was really starting to irritate him.

So, instead of becoming overly frustrated, Naruto had decided to work on another area of his training. Which is why, he currently found himself approaching the Nara compound. Not before having sent out close to eighty clones, to continue the training in his stead. He had decided to try and work more on his battle tactics and strategy. And who better to assist, than probably two of the smartest people in the village? Naruto quietly entered the compound, in search of the aforementioned two. It seemed as though luck was on his side, because he found them locked in an intense looking game of Shogi. They were none other than the clan heir Shikamaru, and his father Shikaku.

There was no confusing them, for anything other than father and son. The similarities were extraordinary! It was like looking at a mirror image of one another. They both wore their hair in a similar hairstyle, which made them both appear to be smuggling pineapples. It was really eerie, how much they looked alike. The only difference, were the striking scars and signs of age which adorned the elder man's face. Another difference was there clothing. Shikaku, being the jounin commander, wore a standard jounin outfit complete with the darker olive-green flak jacket signifying his rank. Over his outfit he wore the customary deer skin cloak, which identified him as the Nara Clan head. Shikamaru on the other hand, wore a long-sleeved mesh armor shirt. This was underneath a black long-sleeved shirt, which came down just below his elbows. Sowed into the sleeve, was his forehead protector, and on top he wore his own light green chuunin vest.

Shikamaru suddenly glanced up, as if sensing the boy's arrival. He raised a questioning eyebrow at his blonde friend. Out of all their friends, that boy was not who he would expect to come searching for him. "Naruto? What are you doing here?" He asked, as his eyes quickly darted back towards the board. He let out a sigh, as he noticed his father's move. "Troublesome." He said, as he tried to counter. When this failed, he turned his eyes back towards his friend and fellow Chuunin.

Naruto smiled nervously, as he began to rub the back of his head. "Well, I was hoping that I could pick your father's and your brains. I am trying to improve and increase my understanding of strategy and tactics. I have been reading all the books pertaining to this in the library; however I am having trouble understanding them." He said quietly, as he lowered his eyes in shame.

Both Shikamaru and Shikaku raised their eyebrow at this, and then turned towards each other for a silent conversation. Naruto was beginning to feel self conscious, and was about to leave when a deep voice spoke up. "Well, that makes sense. You can't learn tactics and strategy from a book. You need to learn first hand, I mean you can learn the basics but without experience, they're just that; the basics. What you need is a way to apply them." Shikaku said motioning for Naruto to take a seat on the deck. "Naruto, have you ever played Shogi?" He continued, as he gestured toward the board. "Shogi is a strategic based game. It has been played for many generations by the Nara clan to improve and sharpen our minds. It allows for practical non life threatening applications of planning and tactics. All the while making you adapt and adjust to problems. While having a plan is important, being able to remain calm and adjust is also something you should strive for. In the real world, even the best laid plans can be unraveled in seconds. One must learn and always be able to adapt to the changes just as rapidly. Many great shinobi have lost their lives, because they lack this essential skill. That's why we play Shogi; it helps us remain focus in even the direst of times." Shikaku continued, as he set up the board once more.

After he finished, he spun it towards the blonde. "Why don't you give it a try? Shikamaru always is looking for new opponents. You see, if you only ever play against the same person neither of you gain anything. Much like training, if you only ever do the same exercises, you will only ever get the same results. You're mind is a muscle as well, so you need nurture it like anything else. I am not sure, what prompted this new change. However, we will be glad to help you in your growth." Shikaku said, as he patted Naruto gently on his shoulder. "I will do whatever I can, to help foster your child's growth, old friend." Shikaku thought to himself, as he watched the two boys begin their match.

Tsunade stood in a darkened room, at the far end of a hospital bed. She was silently watching over an unconscious red head girl, as another man probed her mind for answers. The man was tall, with long, pale, blonde hair which was pulled back into a messy ponytail. He wore a dark gray uniform, signifying him as a member of the interrogation core. Over his uniform, he wore a long black trench coat. His hand was gently resting on the girl's forehead, as he began to dive deeper into her subconscious.

Tsunade chewed anxiously on one of her manicured nails, as she watched on like an ever vigilant sentinel. The hospital door abruptly opened, as Jiraiya quietly entered the room. "How's it going?" He asked, as he approached Tsunade. Her eyes silently shifted to meet his own. She looked tired, her beautiful honey, brown orbs were bloodshot. She obviously hasn't been sleeping properly. She gave her head a small shake, as she returned her gaze back towards the scene unfolding before them.

Jiraiya reached over and softly caressed her back, as he began to speak once more. "It will be okay, Princess. Inoichi is the best at what he does, if anyone can get answers without harming the girl it would be him." His eyes then shifted over to the aforementioned man, his eyes were closed but you could see them darting rapidly around.

Deep within the girl's mind

Inoichi found himself within a dark hallway. The hallway was almost entirely encompassed with shattered windows. Shards of broken glass littered the ground; each step was swallowed by the harsh sounds of crunching and grinding. Outside a storm raged threateningly, bright flashes of lightning illuminated the darkened hall. As the man continued onward, he felt the chilling bite of freezing droplets of rain, which misted him like chaotic ocean waves. The hungry, angry shouts of thunder crackled with ever piercing flashes of light. The man became increasingly angrier with ever step. No one should have to experience such a terrifying place. The sounds of whimpering broke the man from his inner musings, as he found himself rushing forward. Inoichi's eyes softened with concern, as he took in the entirety of the girl's mindscape. "This poor girl…" He said, as he continued to glance around. "To have such a dark and chaotic mindscape. The things she must have endured. The overwhelming loneliness and terror is almost palpable..." He was broken from his thoughts, as his eyes spotted a small, weeping child curled up on the floor. Gently, he approached the child, seeking to provide her some sort of comfort.

The crunching sounds of glass and his ever-growing footfall caused the girl to jerk her head up in alarm. She was terrified! Her honey brown eyes screamed of fear. Like a trapped animal, the girl lashed out in terror. She pushed herself further and further away from him, until she found herself pinned up against the wall. She stared at the figure of the approaching man in horror, as she frantically tried to distance herself. "Please! No more!" She cried, as she continued to crawl away.

The ringing sound of malevolent laughter reverberated throughout the hallway. Inoichi continued to try helplessly to reach the terrified child. As he finally was able to close the distance, he found that the scenery changed. He was now standing within what seemed like a battlefield, only it wasn't. He was standing in the middle of what looked like a coliseum. It was, as if a dark mist swallowed the arena. Only the dim flickering of torches lit this awful place. He felt sick as he witnessed young men and women fighting brutishly and savagely to the death. Crimson reds, messily painted the stone walls and ground, like a typhoon of blood as the violent fighting worsened. He felt his face pale, as his eyes found the same small girl hiding within a large pile of bodies. Her terrified eyes widen, as a river of blood slowly began to coat her skin.

Just behind the girl, he noticed two onlookers. One was another child; he couldn't have been more than twelve. His heart clinched tightly, as he recognized the child. His unmistakable silver hair revealed him to be none other than, Kabuto Yakushi. Which meant the figure next to him must be Orochimaru. Inoichi felt his anger rising, as he glared at the monster, which was the snake sannin. The man was watching the fighting with sick, twisted pleasure as more casualties were claimed. Inoichi moved closer, attempting to capture their conversation.

"Pathetic," the young voice of the boy, could be heard over the sounds of battle. "None of them deserve your gift." He said with hardened eyes, as he stared down in disgust. A soft maniacal laughter was the response. "Ku, ku, ku. Now, now Kabuto. Have you forgotten exactly who is down there? I am sure, she will prove interesting. After all, we both know who her parents were." Orochimaru said as he began to lick his lips, as his eyes narrowed hungrily towards the terrified girl.

"I don't see how-" He began, but was interrupted by the sudden yells of triumph from a massive man. Inoichi followed his eyes back towards the center of the arena, where a behemoth of a man stood over countless fallen. He was smirking viciously, as he gloated over the lifeless forms. However, his celebration was ill placed from the shadows there approached a tiny figure. The man overconfident in his victory, allowed himself to relax; which was his greatest mistake. Silently, the girl plunged a kunai deep into the man's neck, skillfully severing his aortic artery. Within seconds the man was bleeding out, spraying the girl in a shower of blood. The girl's eyes widened in horror, as she realized what she did. She fell to her knees and wordlessly stared down at her blood covered hands.

"What a monster." Inoichi whispered, as he stared at Orochimaru with utter disgust. "How could anyone make such a small child, do such a thing?" He moved closer to try and comfort the girl once more, but again found his surroundings beginning to become blurry. Inoichi's gut wrenched, as he felt as if he was being flung around by a tornado. When his vision began to clear, he found himself in a strange room. It appeared to be some sort of medical room. Sporadically throughout the room, odd instruments and strange chemical filled beakers and vials of all sized were eschewed on tables and cabinets. In the center of the room was a lone gurney, which was bathed in the blazing light of an observation lamp. The soft glow of the light gave off and erie feeling. Inoichi's eyes hardened, as he glanced around the chamber taking in all it's horrible glory. The walls were adorned with many glass windows, giving off the twisted impression of a theater hall. He found himself repulsed, as he visualized the vile man performing some sort of grand show. "Despicable, utterly monstrous.." He thought, as his attention was returned to the room. The door slid open revealing the small child, it had appeared some time had passed since the last memory. Her appearance had changed drastically! She was no longer that helpless, blood-covered child, but now a striking young girl. She gave off a cool air of indifference, as her eyes bored ahead lifelessly. By the girl's very expression, one could easily surmise the pass years must have been hellish. The girl was now dressed in a dull militant outfit, much like the snake bastard. She had on a gray battle kimono, which had slits on either side, allowing for mobility. Underneath the kimono, she wore tightly fitted black shorts. Around her waist was a thick purple cord, tied into a large bow on her back. Her beautiful red hair was covered by a black skull hat.

From behind the girl, a shadowy figured could be seen. Much like a snake stalking its unsuspecting prey, it slowly crept into the dim light. "You have done well Tayuya. Now, I think you are ready to receive your gift." The cool sound of Orochimaru's voice sent chills up Inoichi's skin. This man truly was despicable. Inoichi felt as of his very skin was crawling just from the sight of this horrid creature of a man. He felt his hands tightly clench into fist, as his eyes hardened at the bastard. Abducting children, conditioning them into broken little playthings, causing them to bloody their hands at such a tender age, and worse yet conducting inhumane experiments on them, this man was truly evil. "What a sick, twisted, bastard!" He growled, as he helplessly observed the monster begin injecting substances into the girl. Inoichi saw only his daughter, as he watched the young girl suffer painfully. The moment the substance entered her system, the girl began to thrash and convulse violently.

After several excruciating moments, the spasms had subsided. The girl lay motionless on the table, as a black mark slowly began to form. Three L-shaped symbols appeared from the mark, just above her left clavicle. Inoichi's eyes hardened, at the sight. "The curse mark" He thought, as his eyes narrowed. After that the images began to blur together, he was vaguely able to make out the girl being teamed up with four older boys. What remained clear were her emotions; outward aggression to shadow her doubts and fear of her teammates. Countless missions, countless deaths, all the while the girl hoped for salvation. She prayed one day, her parents would find her and save her from this hell. She knew it was a childish hope; chances are Orochimaru had long since killed them. But outwardly, she was stoic and vulgar trying to protect herself in the snake eat snake world she lived. One sign of weakness, and that was it.

The images began to fade into darkness, as Inoichi felt his consciousness return to his body. His eyes began to flutter open. He felt a sudden rush of light headedness from the shear amount of information filling his receptors. He found himself being led over towards a chair, as he slowly became more aware of his surroundings. After a few moments of silence, he raised his gaze to see the questioning faces of Lady Tsunade and Lord Jiraiya. He slowly found his voice, as he began to speak. "That was not pretty." He began with a slight shake of his head. "From what I seen; I can confirm the child's story. She was abducted at a young age. I can't be sure of when, but if I had to guess probably from birth. I saw flashes of her childhood. It was rather gruesome. She has been terrorized her entire life. She has never known love, safety, or even happiness. So young, and to have experienced so much." He looked up at the two sannin, and felt a tear slip from his crystal blue eyes.

Tsunade looked sorrowfully down at Inoichi, as she began to timidly question him. "What did you see? Can you confirm Orochimaru's involvement?" she asked rapidly, as she eagerly watched the man. Jiraiya placed a firm hand on her shoulder, and gave her a tight squeeze to ease her barrage of questions. She bit back more questions, and allowed the man time to respond. "I saw her earliest memories. She had to be no more then four. From what I could tell, they left her alone probably to test her. She screamed in terror, as I attempted to approach her. She pleaded and begged for it to stop. Then the memory shifted to a battlefield, it was barbaric! The sick bastard was pleating people against one another, like some sort of twisted showing of power. There was so much blood, so very much blood. Then she took her first life, she was only around six. I saw Orochimaru and that boy Kabuto, casually chatting about the girl as they watched. They mentioned her parents, but was interrupted before I could find out anything more. But from what I could tell, they were important not just some random people. The memory then changed once more, the next showed her receiving the mark. And then it became unclear, random flashes, strong emotions of dread, fear, and longing." Inoichi said, as he gazed sadly over at the unconscious girl. He shook his head, as he saw his daughter in her once more. He got up and moved towards the door. "If that's all, I would like to leave and go hug my daughter." He said in a voice filled with emotion, as he pulled open the door.

The two sannin quietly watched, as their lead interrogator wordlessly made his way towards the door. The man's normal crystal blue eyes had now clouded over turning them into a milky silvery blue. He wore an exhausted expression on his face, he looked very distressed by the events, to which he bore witness. The two exchanged a concerned look, as they watched the man slowly vanish from view. Once the man disappeared fully from view, the blonde let out a heavy sigh, as her gentle eyes turned towards the unconscious form of the girl. Without another word she walked over towards the girl and began to tenderly stroke her hair. Her honey brown eyes, shimmered brightly with tears, as she gazed down affectionately at the girl. "You poor thing," Her voiced threatened to crackle, as she cooed towards the girl. "When I find that bastard, he will pay dearly for what he has done." She promised, as she continued to lovingly stroke the girl's brilliant, fiery, scarlet hair.

Jiraiya felt his breath retch, as he watched the love of his life affectionately tend over the young girl. He fought back his tears, which stung painfully at his eyes, as his mind drifted towards the family he lost. Tsunade would've made a excellent mother, he wished for what seemed like the millionth time, that they could've experienced the joys of being parents. However, pleading over things, which could never be only causes more misery in the long run. He gave his head a quick shake, as he tried to force away the offensive thoughts. He walked towards the blonde and gently placed a tender hand on her back. "We can't change the pain and misery she endured, but we can try to make it right. All we can do is provide her a home, the rest will be up to her. Well, and of course Naruto, but I have faith in the boy. He will find away to save her, he always does." He whispered reassuringly toward the love of his life, as he leant down and gently kissed the top of her head.

With Naruto and the Naras

"Oh! Come on!" Naruto complained loudly, as his eyebrow began to twitch in annoyance. "This is impossible! Every time, I think I actually got you, you pull some weird Nara bullshit!" The blonde pouted angrily, as he crossed his arms and looked away. Shikaku had to stifle a laugh, as he watched his son thoroughly thrash the hyperactive blonde once more. Shikamaru had just finished defeating the blonde, for what must have been the twelfth time. He was now sitting cross legged with one of his arms laying lazily in his lap, while the other supported his head. He had a rather bored expression on his face, as he watched his friend throwing a tantrum. "Troublesome…" He yawned out, as he continued to stare at his blonde friend. "You shouldn't be too hard on yourself. You are already better than Asuma-sensei." He drawled out tiredly, as he leaned back into a laying position. He was about to close his eyes for a much needed nap, when he heard his hyperactive friend's loud screech once more.

"Really! Really!?" Naruto called excitedly, as he began to bounce happily in place. "That's awesome! I'm going to be Hokage soon then! Believe it!" He continued, as he struck one of Rock Lee's good guy poses. Shikaku was unable to contain himself, as the images of the blonde's mother flashed before his eyes, began to laugh heartily at the statement. "Just like Kushina." He thought to himself, as he saw the ghost of a beaming redhead girl standing in front of the class, from a lifetime ago. "You know, I think you just might." He said with a soft smile, as the boy looked over at him with wide eyes.

"Yo-yo-you mean it, old man?" The blonde rounded on him with sparkling eyes, and a brilliant smile which threaten to split his face. "Troublesome…" Yawn his lazy friend, as he turned his face toward his father, eagerly awaiting a response as well. The elder Nara just shot them both a knowing smile, as he gave them a small shrug. "But before you become Hokage, I have a question for the both of you. In the shinobi world, who do you think the king piece represents?" He pondered, as he picked up the small shogi piece. Shikamaru closed his eyes, as he began to reflect on his father's question. Naruto on the other hand, responded instantly. "That's easy! The king represents the Hokage! They are the strongest and most powerful shinobi in the village after all!" He called excitedly, with a beaming grin that could rival the sun. Shikaku smiled softly at the boy's response. He expected that to be his reaction to the question. Silently he awaited his son's response.

Shikamaru sat up and cracked his neck, before locking eyes with his father. "Troublesome.." He muttered, as he turned back towards his blonde friend. "I do not believe, that is the correct answer. If we are going with a more literal description, the answer would be the Fire Lord. The Hokage may be the most important person in the village, but the Fire Lord is the most important person in the nation. Not to mention, the Hokage and all the Konoha shinobi are sworn to protect them." He continued in a lazy drawl, as he closely watched his fellow Chuunin with a critical eye. Flushed with embarrassment, the blonde shifted uncomfortably under the Nara's piercing stare. Shikaku let out a soft chuckle, as he watched the two young boys. "Those are both admirable answers; however neither of them are quite correct. What are your thoughts Asuma?" Shikaku stated, as both boys whipped their heads around towards the new comer.

Leaning against a tree, with a lit cigarette in one hand, was no other than the Jounin Sensei of Team Ten. He was a tall man, with messy black hair and a beard which seemed to outline his strong jaw. He gave off a power aura, which was only increased by his stature. This was without a doubt, the old man Hokage's son. Naruto was instantly reminded of Suratobi Gramps, from the man's smoking to the very way carried himself. The man raise a hand in acknowledgement, as he calmingly took another drag from his cigarette. "Well, first let me answer your question with another question. Naruto, your answer was the Hokage. I'm not saying that is wrong, but what is a Hokage to you?" He asked as he dropped his cigarette to the ground and stomped out the embers. After doing so, he placed his hands into his pockets and jaunted towards them.

Naruto squinted up his eyes in concentration, as he began to contemplate his answer. He found himself thinking more of his late adoptive grandfather, as he began to consider his answer. "Well, a Hokage is the best and strongest shinobi in the village. They're the leader, and above all else the protector of the village. A Hokage is the one who keeps everyone safe, even if they must sacrifice themselves. They're the inspiration, which keeps the will to never give up and keep fighting until the bitter end. And above all else, they carry the weight of every shinobi's life on their shoulders. They have to live with the consequences of every bad decision, every failed mission, and every loss of life." The blonde exhaled a sharp breath, as realization began to sink in. A Hokage was much more than just the being the strongest shinobi, who wears a cool hat. If he wanted to really become a great Hokage, he would really need to put in the work. He would need to become worthy of the title. He clenched his fist tightly, as he made a silent vow to become stronger, not just for himself but for all those who needed him to be. "Believe it!" He exclaimed, as he punctuated his vow with his notorious catch phrase.

The two Jounin looked down at the light ray of sunshine, which was Naruto Uzumaki, with shock and admiration. Was this even the same knuckleheaded, prankster they all knew? No, this was someone new. This was the start of a completely new Naruto, even down to the settle way the boy now carried himself. This was Minato's and Kushina's son, and he was going to change the world for the better. They had no doubt about that. This boy had a bright future ahead of him. Shikaku and Asuma both shared a glance with one another, as they both felt the sudden admiration. Before them sat their future Hokage, they could just barely see it. Well until Shikamaru spoke and got him all riled up. "Troublesome, you sure are loud. Isn't a Hokage supposed to be wise? I think you have a long way to go before you can become the Hokage." Shikamaru said in an uncharacteristically teasing manner, which caused both his father and sensei to raise and eyebrow. "Geez! Come on, Shika! There I was being all cool and stuff, and you just go and ruin it!" The blonde retorted, as he began to pout once more.

"Guys like us aren't cool, that would be too troublesome." Shikamaru responded, as he returned to his laying position. He closed his eyes with a smirk, as he listened to his blonde friend muttering under his breath. Both Jounin couldn't help but chuckle at the two's exchange. After a few moments of laughing, while also receiving a glare from the blonde, the two regained their composure. Asuma coughed slightly, as he began to speak once more. "That was a very good response Naruto. And you got all the important counts correct; however you forgot one of the finer points. To a Hokage, the village is like their family; everyone in the village, including the civilians. You remember how my father was. He made it his responsibility to not only protect everyone, but also to be a part of their lives. Even things like that, no matter how little they may seem; make all the difference. Remember that, and remember it well. I have no doubt that one day; you may very well reach your goal. But it's important to never forget, where you been. It could very well make all the difference to someone." He said proudly, as he reached out and ruffled the blonde's hair. Naruto's eyes began to shimmer brightly with tears, as he beamed up towards the bearded man. He couldn't believe that he found another person, who really believed in him. Without warning the blonde plunged forward and hugged the startled Jounin.

Asuma was slightly taken aback, by the sudden affectionate attack from the blonde pariah. He felt his heart clench tightly, as he realized such small recognition cause such an impact on the small boy. He felt truly terrible and deeply ashamed of his village, for allowing such a thing to happen to the cheerful boy. He reached and gently ruffled the blonde's messy locks, as he began to slowly free himself. "Alright, alright," He said with a hint of laughter. "This is so un-cool kid." He chuckle, as he saw the flushed face of the rambunctious prankster. Naruto's face had reddened in embarrassment, as he unsuccessfully tried to play off the whole thing. Shikaku, whom had remained silent for the whole exchanged, allowed himself a small chuckle at the boy's expense. This had only cause the blonde to cross his arms and begin to pout once more.

Asuma let out a small cough, before he began to speak once more. "Anyway, now that we addressed Naruto's answer, let's talk about yours Shikamaru. From a logical stand point, your answer would be spot on. In fact, in my younger days; I would have agreed whole heartily with it. However, now I see things a bit differently. You could say with age, comes wisdom. The Fire Lord is indeed the most important person in the nation; this is not something that we can contest. Without the Fire Lord, we wouldn't have a nation to protect. And much like in a game of Shogi, once the king is lost the game is over. That being said; in life it's not as simple as that. If the worse should happen, and we lost our Fire Lord the next in line would simply take over. So with that said who is the king? I believe the king isn't as simple as being just one person. I believe the king represents the hope for the future. The king is the next generation, the future for all of us. Only when you wipe at everything and everyone, is all loss. Our hopes, our dreams, everything we stride to become; that is always carried on by those who come next. That is the essence of the Will of Fire, which we all live by." Asuma's eyes fell unto serveral small children playing happily in the streets, as he continued fondly. "They are the king, they are our future. It's our job to set good examples for them, so they can learn from us. So they can carry on where we leave off." He finished with a small smile on his face, as he continued to watch the children. His eye twinkled slightly, as he watched their purity and innocence.

There was silence, as everyone digested his statement. The two younger shinobi, looked on him in awe, as they truly began to understand. He was right. Both of them took the question to literal, and hadn't really understood, what was being asked. The future generation, would always be the thing which needed protecting. At that moment both boy's made a vow, to be the inspiration for those who come next. They both were forever changed.

One week later

After the conversation with Shikaku and Asuma, Naruto had charged head first into his training with even more vigor. Before, he only believed in getting stronger to gain the recognition he craved from others. Now however, he trained not just for himself; but for those who he needed to help foster and protect. He was surprised; that even Shikamaru had begun to join in. It was one of those, rare days in which he found his lazy friend accompanying him. They had spent much of the morning improving Shikamaru's physical endurance and stamina; mush to his dismay. "Th-Th-This is ridiculous.." Shikamaru panted out tiredly, as he leaned down clutching his knees. "Wh-wh-why are we wearing these, troublesome weights? Isn't running around the entire village, like those green-clad maniacs enough..?" He groaned tiredly, as he fell to the ground exhaustedly. If he had known, that his blonde friend was such a masochist he would never had agreed to train with him. This is was a whole new level of hell.. Not even his mother was such a unbearable slave driver. This was so troublesome; wait no, that word no longer fit the description. This was far worse than troublesome, this was pure unadulterated agony. Naruto was a training fiend.

"Come on, Shika! It's not that bad. I even let you cut the weight in half! If you don't feel the burn, it's not working!" His blonde friend called cheerfully, as he began to jog in place. Shikamaru responded with a glare, as he continued to lay motionless on the ground. He was not human. He had to be some blonde demon, sent here to torment his every waking moment. How very troublesome…

A/N:

I apologize for the wait everyone! Covid was really kicking my butt! I know this chapter is a little shorter, and I am sorry about that. I really hope you enjoy it, I worked really hard on this one. :) Thank you for all the support, it really means alot!