He could feel his breathing coming easier as Ino healed his bruised ribs. There was no denying that Kiba had a powerful hit but looking over at the brunet he could see swelling and bruising blossoming on the man's face.

"How does that feel?" Ino asked, pulling her hands away.

"Much better, thanks." His words were punctured with a large growl that came from the blonde Healer's stomach. Ino blushed when Shikamaru raised an eyebrow at her. "I think you're hungry."

"Well it is one o'clock," Choji commented, looking at his watch. "No wonder we're hungry."

"I would really like to go get some curry," Hinata commented, standing up and pulling on her jacket.

Naruto pulled a face as she grabbed her frog wallet. "You can have all the curry you want, just keep it away from me."

"You don't like spicy food?"

"Not even a little."

"Neji is the same. My uncle used to bring these chilli flake peanuts home from his missions and Neji ate one then drank an entire litre of milk in seconds. Just meant more for me." Hinata wore a small smile on her face.

"Yeah, Pervy-Sage got me to try those too… I stupidly ate a handful in one go. After that I decided to stick with sweets." Naruto transformed herself. Her V-neck shirt turned into a regular t-shirt, her chest became flat, and her curves disappeared. Her bottom half, with her black shorts revealing legs stayed the same. "I know a bar that has great curry, though, according to Genma and Anko."

"I'm happy to go wherever, as long as I can get food." Kiba stretched before scratching himself behind the ear. "Also, any chance I can get some healing over here?"

"Food first." Ino stood, swaying on her feet. "Never heal on an empty stomach."

Naruto put her arm around Ino's waist, letting the woman lean against her. Naruto led the group out of the apartment and to the bar that she and Shikamaru had drank at with Naruto's older friends. When they entered the bar, the large bartender walked over to Naruto, making Shikamaru snort.

"You clearly come here too often."

"Shut up, Dai used to be the landlord to my apartment." Naruto smiled at the man as Ino sat down on a barstool. "Hey, how's Fumiko?"

"Good. We're currently looking at adopting a child." Dai crossed his arms over his broad chest, eyeing Naruto. "How are you doing, kid?"

"So you've heard. I'm not as good as I usually am but better than I could be."

Shikamaru looked over to his friends who had taken a recently vacated table before looking back at Naruto. He didn't feel welcome in the conversation but couldn't bring his feet to move away from the blonde. Instead he watched as Dai poured two shots, sliding one across the bar to Naruto, who picking it up.

"I want to say something profound about orphans like us deserving no heartache or something but all I can think of is: life can suck." Dai picked up his shot, tapping it against Naruto's. "To the Children of Iron."

"To the Children of Iron," Naruto repeated before they both downed the liquor. "Do you think we can get some menus over at our table?"

"Coming right up."

"What's with the 'Children of Iron'?" Shikamaru asked as he and Naruto walked up to their friends.

"It's a secret."

"You know, it's unfair that you have better legs than me," Ino grumbled as Naruto sat down next to her.

"You sound jealous." Naruto smirked at the fellow blonde.

"You kidding, I would be able to get Sai's attention with those legs."

"Doubt it. His seen me naked and didn't care." Naruto either didn't notice or ignored the shocked looks on her friends' faces. "Genma does stare at them though, almost as much as he stares at Shikamaru's ass."

"What?!" the Nara man yelped, ignoring the sniggers from the group.

"Genma likes Nara butts. He said your clan has the nicest asses." Naruto laughed when Shikamaru went red in the face. "Take it as a complement. He said you have one of the nicest Nara asses."

"I'm going to avoid that man," Shikamaru sighed, fidgeting in his seat when his friends laughed.

"That'll just encourage him," Naruto warned.

"Obvious change of topic, but what is everyone planning for today?" Shikamaru was glad that no one argued with him on that and instead answered his question. The conversation easily turned to training and missions. Before they even realised, they had finished lunch.

Naruto had just finished her drink, which was some sort of chocolate liquor, when Sakura walked up to the group.

"Naruto, are you drinking?"

"Yes." At Sakura's concerned look, Naruto added, "I'm not drunk. I just like the taste."

"Okay, well, Lady Tsunade wants to see you. Oh, and this is for you, Shikamaru." From her weapons pouch she pulled out a scroll that she handed to the Nara.

"Alright, just gotta pay for my lunch." Naruto reached for her wallet.

"Forget it. I'll pay," Shikamaru offered, getting a smile off the blonde.

"Thanks, I'll get the next one," Naruto commented before leaning over and giving him a hug.

Naruto walked off with Sakura, the pink haired girl's question reaching the group.

"Why does Kiba look like someone hit him with a shovel?"

Naruto just laughed.

Shikamaru opened the scroll he was given, looking over its contents. "Looks like Lady Tsunade wants me to pack up Lord Jiraiya's apartment. She has explicitly stated that I am to box up items to go to Naruto personally as well as others to go into storage or to her."

"Oh, so she knows that you two are dating?" Kiba asked, making Shikamaru choke on his own saliva.

"Naruto and I aren't dating!" Shikamaru yelped.

"But you two slept together last night," Shino pointed out in a calm voice.

"No! We fell asleep together, there's a difference." Shikamaru could feel his face turning redder with each passing moment.

"You had no shirt on, and Naruto's… you know… chest was not flat." Kiba coughed awkwardly.

"Naruto can't breathe if she sleeps in chest binds and I hate sleeping in a shirt."

"I can contest to that," volunteered Ino. "He never sleeps with a shirt on during overnight missions. Though he might have to change that if he goes on a mission with Genma."

"Don't start. The point is that Naruto and I aren't a couple! And we don't… mess around like that." Shikamaru buried his face in his hands. "I'm going to go do my mission, which I was given because I have the key to Lord Jiraiya's apartment after working on something to do with his death. No other reason."

He got up, paying Dai for his and Naruto's meals before practically running out of the establishment.

/ / / / / /

With a sigh he put the last box in his cupboard. Part of him wished he had asked for Choji's help. The only problem with that was the question he was bound to get if his friend noticed the boxes Shikamaru was hiding. He knew Naruto should have the items he had put in the three boxes stacked in his closet, but not before the Akatsuki were dealt with and it was safe to tell her who her parents were. Until then, he was going to keep every photo and trinket that he could tell had a connection to Naruto and her parents safe. Lord Jiraiya had kept a lot, much of it hidden away, that belonged to the Forth Hokage, and even things for baby Naruto, like a rattle with her name engraved on it. He had never put much thought into Naruto's parents before, truthfully he never thought about any orphan's parents. He knew that many in the orphanage were there because their parents died, but some were left abandoned. When they were younger he had assumed that Naruto fell into the latter category. When she told him otherwise he never pondered on the implications for a moment. But seeing the mementoes in Lord Jiraiya's home, the pictures of a happy, pregnant woman and her doting husband, the little baby items that Lord Jiraiya kept, like the handmade baby blanket that looked surprisingly like the one Naruto had made for Kurenai-Sensei, Shikamaru knew that leaving Naruto behind was not something her parents had thought of for even a moment.

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he threw a blanket over the boxes and closed the cupboard door. Walking into the lounge room he looked at the three remaining boxes. Everything he had piled into them was for Naruto to look at, at her leisure. There was a box full of photos from Lord Jiraiya's wall, and photo albums he had on his bookshelf, a box full of trinkets from Lord Jiraiya's travels, as well as some of his shirts, since he knew now Naruto was, and the last box contained books and writing supplies that he thought Naruto might appreciate.

"What a drag, I'm going to have to lug these to Naruto's." With a grunt he walked away from the boxes, going into the kitchen for a drink. On his way back he heard the unmistakable, high pitched voice of his cousin Akira. Wondering what she was doing so close to the main house he went to investigate since her home was across the estate, he walked onto his porch. He spotted Akira not too far from the house, holding onto Naruto's wrist.

"You are the girl from the wedding, aren't you?" Akira pressed gleefully. "You cut your hair but it's still you."

There was no mistaking Naruto for a man at that moment. She was wearing a black skirt that reached mid thigh and an orange halter neck. It was clear, though, that she was regretting it. Shaking his head, Shikamaru took a breath.

"Akira, leave my friend alone." Something in his voice or look must have scared her since Akira gave a squeak and scurried off. Naruto gave a relieved sigh as she walked up to Shikamaru. "What are you doing here?"

"I've been given a mission."

"So soon?"

Naruto just gave him a sad smile. "Can we talk inside?"

With a nod he led Naruto into the lounge room. The blonde looked at the boxes for a moment before sitting on the couch. Sitting next to her, Shikamaru waited for Naruto to explain.

Naruto tilted her head back, looking at the ceiling. "I'm to follow in Pervy-Sage's footsteps." She sighed. "I'm to become a Toad Sage. Tomorrow I'm going to Toad Mountain to train."

Shikamaru gave a whistle. "Honestly, I didn't think anyone of our group would ever get asked, but I should have figured it would be you." He looked at Naruto out of the corner of his eye. "Who told you that you had the stuff?"

"The toads, and Old Granny. Apparently Pervy-Sage had talked about it with the toads before. He had always planned for me to become a Sage."

"Sounds like he was grooming you to become a Sannin."

Naruto gave a soft snort. "He put more value in the Sage title. The Sannin title was given to him, Granny, and Orochimaru because they were left standing on a battlefield when all their allies were wiped out. He once told me that he secretly hated the title. When people commented on how great a title it was he wanted to tell them how many people lost their lives so he could have it. The only reason he didn't do away with it was because it was the last thing connecting him and his team mates. He said he felt that if he abandoned it that he would be shunning them."

"So instead he groomed you for the title he actually respected. Be careful though. I don't know much about Sages but I do know that it's dangerous, and if you fail you could lose your life." He watched Naruto lift her head, giving him a wide smile.

"No problem. I'm going to make sure I get it right. When I become a Sage the Akatsuki will have a harder time getting their hands on me. And I might even be able to make Pain pay for killing Pervy-Sage. Pain isn't Pervy-Sage's successor, I am. And I'm going to make sure that jerk knows it."

Shikamaru smiled at her. "I have no doubt."

Naruto gave a sigh, throwing herself against Shikamaru. She tucked herself against his side. Looking up at him with big eyes, she reached up, pulling his elastic out of his hair. As he laughed, Naruto put the elastic on her wrist like a bracelet, clearing having no plans to give it back.

"So I'm leaving again," Naruto stated plainly, still looking up at him from where her head sat against his chest. "But it shouldn't be for long. It all depends on how long it takes me to learn the technique. I'll make sure I'm not gone long. You know that, right?"

Running his fingers through her hair, Shikamaru smiled down at her. "Of course. It doesn't matter how long you take. When you get home I'll take you to dinner and you can tell me about your training."

"Sounds good." Naruto grinned, only to suddenly frown. "I never noticed that you have your ears pierced." She reached up, touching his earlobe.

Shikamaru tried not to gasp when his chest constricted. He had had Naruto in his arms numerous times, had felt her lips on his, and had even held her whilst they both slept in minimal clothing. Yet, this touch felt oddly intimate, perhaps more intimate than many of their other touches. It only took a moment for him to realise no one really ever touches people's ears, or much of a person's head. The only person who had touched his ears before was the piercer, and she had done so with gloves and a shot of pain.

"Asuma-Sensei gave all three of us earrings when we became Chunins. Do you like them?" He breathed sharply when Naruto kissed behind his ear.

"I do," the blonde muttered before kissing the corner of his jaw.

His hands went to Naruto's waist and gave her a slight push. "Naruto, what are you doing?"

"Kissing you." She pulled back, looking into Shikamaru's face with a hesitant look. "Don't you want me to?"

Running his hand through his hair, he sighed. "It's not that. I'm… bad at reading emotions. Both others and my own. And you… you go from zero to a hundred, and from a hundred to zero in seconds. I don't want to take too much from you, and I don't know what you want from me."

Naruto gave him a wistful smile. "Then we're equal. I don't know what you want either, I just know that I like being with you, and I like kissing you. You think you're bad at emotions. I've spent a lifetime trying to hide mine. Now I'm allowed to feel and I feel like I'm running around with my eyes closed."

"Does being around me help with that?" Shikamaru asked with confusion.

"Not even a little," Naruto laughed, moving so she was looming over him, lying against him. "Being with you makes me feel like I risk running into something with each step, but then I don't."

"That doesn't sound good."

"It depends if you're more afraid of hitting something, or more relieved that you didn't." Naruto smiled in a way that made Shikamaru's stomach flip, before she slowly leant in, running her hands up his chest.

He felt a shiver go down his spine when Naruto kissed his neck. He grabbed her waist again, this time pulling her closer. As Naruto moved to kiss Shikamaru's lips he held tighter onto her waist. If she wasn't so strong he probably would have hurt her. He tensed his arm muscles, fighting the eager to move them from where they sat as he kissed Naruto back. When one of Naruto's hands slipped up his shirt to sit on his stomach he started to notice that he could feel Naruto's legs. Just as he came to the realisation of what was happening, Naruto pulled back enough to talk, her lips brushing his with each word.

"Shikamaru," Naruto panted.

"Yeah?"

"How many hands do you have?"

With a laugh, Shikamaru held up his two hands. "Sorry… I was kinda restraining my hands… and that can cause problems for a Nara." At the questioning look Naruto gave, he nodded to her legs, letting her see the shadow hands that moved up her thighs. "That can happen without meaning to." He gave her an amused look. "Are you wearing satin underwear again?"

Naruto, who was squirming under his touch, looked at him in shock. "You can feel with the shadows?"

"Oops. Don't tell anyone, it's a secret. What's wrong with you?"

"Your shadow hands keep tickling me." She gave a yelp and jumped, managing to knock them both off the lounge. Naruto threw her head back and laughed after she landed with Shikamaru on top of her. "You pinched me."

"And I've discovered where you're ticklish." Shikamaru grinned before kissing her. He ran his hand up Naruto's leg, letting his fingers dance over the back of her knee.

Naruto squealed into his mouth. "Stop that."

"No."

"Evil bas – "

He cut off her words. His free hand went to the back of her head whilst the other slid up her body to rest on her ribs. His hand twitched, part of him wanting to move up that little bit more. When he felt Naruto's hands go up his shirt to run over his back he gasped. Shikamaru moved his hand back down Naruto's leg, making her bend her knee. He greedily took the opportunity to feel the blonde's skin. In response, Naruto's body gave a shiver as she made a noise that almost sounded like a muffled moan.

"HELLO, ANYONE HOME?"

The two jumped at the loud voice. Raising himself up onto his elbows, Shikamaru swore.

"Who is that?" Naruto whispered, her face flush and her lips reddened.

"My uncle." Shikamaru jumped to his feet, pulling his shirt down and going to pull his hair back. "Can I have my hair elastic?"

"No." Naruto gave him a cheeky smile as she smoothed out her skirt.

"Troublesome woman." As Naruto sniggered Shikamaru went to dash into the hallway, only for his uncle to walk through the threshold.

"Ha, told you they wouldn't have left the door unlocked!" Uncle Satoru grinned, looking over his shoulder at Dani who followed him into the living room.

"Uncle, Dani, what are you two doing here?" Shikamaru licked his lips, hoping they weren't as swollen as they felt.

"We came to talk to your father about something," Dani explained with a shrug. "I would say we should stay here until he gets home but I see you have company."

Shikamaru looked at where Dani's gaze was, only to spot Naruto peeking at them from the couch. He smiled at her, encouraging her to slowly stand and walk towards them.

"Oh, you're a girl!" Dani exclaimed.

"Yes, she is," Uncle Satoru replied in amusement.

"I said that out loud, didn't I?"

"Yes, you did." Uncel Satoru laughed before looking at Shikamaru."So, are you going to introduce us to your lady friend? We promise not to tell Akira."

"I'm Naruto Uzumaki." Naruto came to stand next to Shikamaru, though she hid herself behind him just a little.

"Nice you meet you. I wasn't aware my dear nephew had such pretty friends."

Naruto looked deadpanned at the compliment. She turned to Shikamaru. "Don't tell me he's a pervert too? I swear between Kakashi-Sensei, Closet Perv, and Genma this village is full of perverts."

Dani laughed into his fist as Uncle Satoru looked offended. Shikamaru just snorted.

"This is Ryota and Airi's dad, Uncle Satoru, and his friend and fellow clansmen, Dani Nara." Shikamaru grinned at Naruto. "They were just about to tell me a message to pass onto dad."

"Fine, we get the hint." Uncle Satoru rolled his eyes. "We checked on the retired house and there are some repairs that need to be made. There are some issues with the roof and the porch is completely rotten. Other than that the house is in surprisingly good condition."

"The retired house… you mean grandma's old place? Why did dad get you to check on it?"

"He's probably going to retire in a couple of years, since you're coming into your own really well, and wants to see how long repairs will be. That way he can work out how long until he and your mother can move in when you become Head of the Clan. It's the logical thing." Uncle Sotaru looked between Shikamaru and Naruto, who was slowly edging out from behind the Nara heir. "Sooo, what are you two doing, anyway?"

"Naruto just came over to tell me she's leaving tomorrow for training, and I have boxes Lady Hokage asked me to give to her." He was impressed that Naruto didn't give away that she hadn't known about the boxes. Instead she looked over at them as though simply remembering that they were there.

"Ok, well we'll let you two get back to it." The two said goodbye, perhaps not noticing the red tint to Shikamaru's face.

When he turned back to the blonde he found her tentatively looking through one of the boxes. He could tell it was the one with the photos in it.

"Naruto, just so you know those are –"

"Pervy-Sage's belongings. I can tell." Naruto pulled out a photo album. "Please tell me none of these boxes contain his porn stash."

"No, I took the liberty of giving those to Kakashi-Sensei." Shikamaru sat down next to her on the ground, pulling out picture frames.

Naruto sniggered. "You should have cut all the pictures out first, just to annoy him."

"That would have required me to look at them, so I'm glad I didn't think of it. I would have permanently scarred my brain."

"That's fair. Wow, he wasn't kidding about me and the Fourth looking alike."

Shikamaru looked over at the album, seeing a picture of Fourth Hokage in his robes, his hat in his hands and a large, familiar grin on his face. It was hard to believe that there were those who knew the Fourth and yet didn't know Naruto was his child. Turning back to the photos in front of him, he found the one he was looking for. He remembered putting it in the box. He had found it next to Jiraiya's bed with a picture of the Fourth next to it.

Looking at the picture again, he couldn't believe how beautiful, and free Naruto appeared in it. She was sitting on the grass, her long dress, the colour of an orange sunset, was spread out around her. Her long hair was in a plat that she had pulled over one shoulder. The smile on her face was small but content.

"I really like this picture of you." He tilted it so that Naruto could see.

"I remember that day. Pervy-Sage said he had to take a picture of me because I looked to beautiful to not capture." Naruto smiled, before her face took on a pinched expression. "Does it ever stop hurting?"

Taking a deep breath, he thought over his answer. "Yes, and no. I loved my grandma. She died when I was ten. At first it hurt a lot, then a little. Now I can talk about her, think about her, without it hurting, but at times it still hurts. When I think about Airi being married, and how grandma missed that, or that I'm going to be Head soon and I don't have her here to talk to. Things like that still hurt but for the most part it's easier to breath."

With a sigh, Naruto pushed the picture into Shikamaru's hands. "Keep it."

"Are you sure?"

"If you want it, yeah."

"I want it. Lord Jiraiya was right, you are beautiful, and you can see it well in this picture." He looked over when he heard Naruto gasp. In her hands she held a book open to the first page. "What's wrong?"

"This book… I think my dad owned it." Her blue eyes clouded over with tears as she shakily showed Shikamaru the page she looked at. "Look."

To my biggest fan of the book I cherish most,

I am honoured that you are naming your little girl after the main character. I have no doubt Naruto will grow up to be strong, honourable, and beautiful. I can't wait to meet her and watch her turn into that amazing person. You're going to be a fantastic father, congratulations.

Jiraiya.

Naruto turned the book over, reading the description on the back. "Oh, good, it's not a pervy book. I think it was the first book that he wrote too." She sniffled. "I can't believe I have something that belonged to my father. I always wondered if my parents wanted me, had they lived. I think they might have. That's all I've ever wanted to know. Pervy-Sage told me that one day, someone will tell me their names; he had made sure of it. He made it out like it was for my safety, and I decided to trust him on it. But I was always to afraid to ask the one thing I wanted to know."

"Now you know." Shikamaru wrapped his arm around Naruto's shoulders, pulling her close. "And you know where you got your name from. Your father's favourite book."

"Yeah, one Pervy-Sage wrote… maybe I should read this and then contemplate changing my name."

Shikamaru gave a snort as he heard the front door open and close. Naruto cocked her head to the side, like an animal. He had noticed over time that she did that when she was sensing people.

"Your parents are home."

"Mum, can Naruto stay for dinner?" Shikamaru asked, not looking away from Naruto.

"Yes," came the response.

"So you're staying for dinner." Shikamaru kissed the top of her head.

"I noticed."

/ / / / / /

Shikamaru led Naruto onto the porch. When the front door was closed he pulled her close, one hand grasped in hers and the other cupping her jaw.

"You do know that anyone in your clan can see us, right?" Naruto commented softly.

"Let them. You can keep the boxes here until you get back. But I'm going to need my hair elastic back."

"Nope."

"I'm serious, it's my last one."

"To bad. I'm keeping it." Naruto grinned.

"Troublesome woman. What time are you leaving tomorrow?"

"Seven in the morning."

"I'll have to come and say goodbye. But for now I should walk you home."

"No. Don't. I don't want to say goodbye. And if you come to see me off… well, tonight is a good night, and I want this to be how we say 'see you soon'. Cause, I am going to work my butt off and then you will have to buy me ramen when I get home. So, can we just leave it like this?"

"Hmm. With one minor change." He pulled her close, kissing her deeply.

When Shikamaru pulled back he found Naruto smiling up at him. "I have to go. But thanks for today, and for getting all that stuff from Pervy-Sage's." She turned to walk off the porch.

"And don't forget, the moment you get back, we have a date." He smirked when Naruto's footsteps faltered and she half turned back to him, her face pink.

"Um, yeah, it's a… um."

"Date?"

"Yeah, a date. I should go." Naruto cleared her throat before running off.

Hope you all like. I am off to bed.

R and R.