Part 3-Old missions

He tried to walk home; it wasn't easy and took too much effort, as he was so sore from training. Getting hit by Chouji's meat tank wasn't fun; let's just say Ino could be very evil when you didn't expect it.

He managed to drag himself up a hill to look up at the clouds; his dad normally came past here around now.

As if on cue there was a shout from above him, he opened his eyes and squinted at the blurred frame looking down at him, "you're not…" his eye twitched as he realised who the blurry frame belonged to.

"Shikamaru! Ramen! Now!"

"But it's such a bother…"

"EVEYTHING'S a bother to you! Come, now, before they close!" The blonde dragged Shikamaru up by his arm, who had no time to protest before being dragged to the Ichiraku.

"Naruto, just thought I'd let you know that this is really painful…" Shikamaru struggled to keep up with the ever-energetic Naruto

"It's gonna close in 5 minutes, we need to get there in 4 or less!!!!!" Naruto ran twice as fast as he was before

Shikamaru, somewhere between running and being dragged violently across the ground, managed to spot the ramen stand before being slammed on to a stool.

"One super size pork ramen to go! Shikamaru, pay the man."

"You could at least let me order something for myself," Shikamaru ordered a small beef ramen and paid for them both, "why am I paying for your ramen anyway?"

"You owe me for last time."

"That was almost 5 months ago, you still remember that?"

"I never forget ramen," Naruto nodded

"…" Shikamaru sighed, honestly he could still remember it clearly himself; after they had rescued Sasuke and brought him back to the village, much to Sasuke's protests, Naruto had treated him to ramen to congratulate him on completing his first mission as a Chuunin and as a group leader

"Thanks for bringing me on that mission." Naruto traced something on the bar with his finger as he remembered his confrontation with Sasuke

"Thank Godaime-sama, if she hadn't recommended you, I may not have picked you…"

"Tsunde-sama recommended me?"

"Yeah, I'm glad she did too…"

"Oh?" Naruto raised an eyebrow, "why is that?"

"Ah, another story for another time… well honestly I can't be bothered." Shikamaru picked up the bag with both of their ramens in it as they were shooed away so the Ichiraku could close. Shikamaru led Naruto up a hill that was in one of konoha's parks

"Shikamaru, where are we going?" Naruto almost felt like a helpless kid child being led to… something bad… he never was very good at describing things

"Here." Shikamaru put the bag down on the grass; he sat down and beckoned to Naruto to do the same. Naruto immediately sat down and took his ramen out and also handed Shikamaru his, "if you must know, it's because of Sasuke."

"Monkey bastard?" Naruto suddenly stared at Shikamaru, "why?"

"You're probably the only person he would listen to."

"He doesn't listen to me, all he does is mock me for my mistakes…" He stirred the ramen with his chopsticks

"He does, even if you don't believe me," He paused in thought for a second, "there is that big foreheaded girl that Ino's always fighting with… Sakura, I think her name is… he doesn't listen to her, even if he did, her mental state wasn't balanced enough for the mission."

"HOW DARE YOU INSULT SAKURA-CHAN!!!"

"Naruto, you're missing the point, yours is the only opinion he values."

"Does he value the fact that I hate him? The fact that I can't forgive him for treating Sakura-chan like that!"

"Woah, Naruto, calm down…"

"You don't understand Shikamaru, she begged him not to go, she poured her heart out to him and he still left, not to mention putting the village in danger by going to see Orochimaru all because he's hell-bent on some stupid revenge mission!"

"Naruto, you're scaring me…" Shikamaru inched away.

Naruto began to laugh, a slightly, insane laugh, to say the least, "you know what's funny? He's becoming like the person he hates the most and he doesn't even see it."

"Naruto…"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to blow off like that"

"Don't worry about it… do you know what really sucked about that mission?"

"No," Naruto raised an eyebrow, "What was it?" He gorged on ramen until Shikamaru gave him an answer

"I always end up fighting the girl." He poked the ramen furiously and finally ate a bit. He put his chopsticks down and was jumped by a stranger; they locked their arms around his neck and refused to let go

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A/N- see? I told you it'd get better…