I don't own Naruto.

Chapter 1: Reflection

"Hey, screwup."

"Like I already told Sakura, leave me alone."

"Heh, what's that look for?"

"Why? Why, Sasuke?" Naruto remembered asking, trembling, sniveling away like a baby. Tears had been streaming down his face, snot dribbling out of his nose.

"What's wrong with you?!"

Naruto distinctively recalled the look in that sole, disgusting yellow eye of his. The black markings crawled up his neck, over the nape of his shoulder, curling horrifically around to his cheek.

"What's wrong with me is none of your business."

The coldness in his tone shook him. Sasuke could never be called a flower child. Even before that snake's mark had been inflicted on him. But Sasuke never took that tone with him.

That yellow eye haunted him.

Face practically covered by medical wrapping, Naruto's normally cerulean gaze blackened. His fingers curled into the rough bed sheets. They grit under his squeezing grasp.

"I have my own path. I have no obligation to you, Konohagakure, or anyone. Let me make this clear. I am done playing around with you lot. Go home."

Blood trickled out from his palms, staining the pale white sheets.

"Choji, Neji, Kiba, Shikamaru… and Bushy Brows, they all risked their lives for you!"

"And?"

"Does that mean nothing to you?! They're our friends! Does Konoha mean nothing to you?!" he remembered thundering as he leaped to Madara's head, toppling Sasuke over, pounding his face in. Naruto was panting by the time he was done. Then, Sasuke spat. All of that for a drop of blood.

"They are your friends, not mine. I have no need for such things. Did playing around with my so-called comrades make me any stronger?" Sasuke had the gall to ask. "I am going to Orochimaru."

"Orochimaru killed the Sandaime! He was behind the invasion! Do you think he's gonna just give you power for free?!"

"He already has."

"Dolt! He wants you for a host body! You might not be able to come back! You'll be killed! Do you think I'm just gonna let you go?!"

"It doesn't matter. As long as I achieve my goal, that's enough. He can have my body, for all I care, as long as Itachi lays dead at my feet. If you're going to stand in the way, then I have no choice but to go through you."

"You can't do this! I'll take you back by force if I have to!"

Sasuke chortled. He recalled their brief clash on the rooftop. "Come to think of it… we were interrupted last time." The Uchiha hauled Naruto up by his baggy jumpsuit.

"That wasn't my choice."

"Who cares what you want."

Naruto's teeth gnawed at his bottom lip. He tore the bandages off his mouth with them and angrily spat them out. Yeah, who cared what he wanted? He certainly didn't.

Neji and Choji were both still in intensive care. Kiba and Akamaru underwent severe medical treatment as well. They clashed with foreign shinobi—some woefully out of their league.

His fight against Kimimaro came to mind. If it could be called that. Kimimaro tore through him like a red-hot knife through butter. Even while tapping into the Kyubi's chakra, he was outmatched. Hundreds of Kage Bunshin, all using a shard of Kyubi chakra, and yet he hadn't inflicted a single injury on him. There was something about Kimimaro that unnerved him. He was almost their age and yet he toyed with them all. Kimimaro would have killed Gaara had he not died due to a mysterious illness. Which only served to instill more apprehension regarding him. Kimimaro was on the verge of death and nearly slew him and Gaara with ease.

"Did that wake you up?" Naruto shouted after delivering a brutal kick into Sasuke's side. He barrel rolled into Madara's head, shattering the left eye.

"Yeah. I've been wide awake… to who I am for a while, even while trying to be like you all—dreaming about a future that isn't going to come. That's why I left—that's why I seek power! My dream isn't in the future. It is rooted only in the past."

Sasuke nailed Naruto into the ocean. The blond emerged, standing above the water's surface now.

"So, it's for real now, huh?"

"Yeah, it's for real. I intend to kill you, Naruto."

And he said it so calmly too. Naruto hated that calmness. No matter the situation, Sasuke was always calm. Clear-headed, a mind of a natural strategist. A genius, or so Kakashi-sensei called him. Naruto was inclined to agree with the title. Sasuke was a genius. He learned everything effortlessly—that Sharingan of his only enhanced his learning capabilities. Without the Kyubi, Sasuke would have been, far in a way, more powerful than him.

"You mean… I'm nothing to you at all?!" Naruto hated the sound of his heartbreak. "All we've been through, that means nothing to you?"

"It's not insignificant to me. You're my closest friend," Sasuke placidly replied.

"I'm your friend? Then why? Why do all of this? Damn it, Sasuke! Answer me!"

"That is why. You are my friend. That's why I must kill you."

"That makes no sense. You would really kill me, Sasuke?"

Naruto's shoulder throbbed. Agony filled his entire being. He clutched his arm, head hung in despair. Tears ran down his cheeks, staining his bandages. Tremors shook him.

This… nothing hurts more than this. Naruto gripped his shoulder harder. He was not talking about physical pain. All he felt was pain. The heart that beat inside his chest ached, and his chest pulsed in torment. Naruto could see still discern the frying ache that split through his shoulder and exit through his back. This excruciating headache made him want to bash his head against a wall—anything to make it stop.

When he fought Sasuke, his mind was riddled with incessant thoughts. He tried to make the case that the curse mark was what caused him to shove his hand into his chest. Naruto relived the dispute a thousand times since he regained consciousness. If he hadn't moved, Sasuke would have killed him. He barely had time to shift two, maybe three centimeters to the side. The Chidori would have pierced his heart if he didn't react swift enough.

Naruto wasn't sure how he survived. He knew what the technique could do. Kakashi's Raikiri, Naruto managed to see it in action once. What it did to a human body horrified him. However, he never considered that he would be on the receiving end of it, and he was past making excuses for Sasuke. The Uchiha tried to kill him and left the rest of them to die against the Sound Four.

"It's not insignificant to me. You're my closest friend."

None of that mattered now. Sasuke committed treason. Just like the snake he coveted so fervently.

Orochimaru, Naruto hissed the name even in thought.

Sasuke was always like this. He might have befriended him, but Sasuke always had dreams to enact vengeance against his brother. Well before they ended up on the same team. Naruto understood; he went as far as to offer his support in his endeavor. He sympathized with his friend. That's what made this so much worse. Instead of accepting his help, Sasuke chose to subvert Konohagakure and shove a lightning blade through his heart.

Why did I bother in the first place? The bitter question traitorously entered his mind. Sasuke was not the man he considered him to be. He thought maybe, he could change Sasuke's mind. Somehow, change him, save him from his hatred. Now, he acknowledged how irrational that was.

You can't save someone who doesn't want to be saved. Sasuke demonstrated that perfectly.

"My dream isn't in the future. It is rooted only in the past."

Sasuke never valued him, Sakura, or Kakashi. He only cared about what he could gain from them. Sasuke all but said so himself. All he was to him was a rival to drive him to greater heights. When he met Gaara, Naruto's role in that dissolved. Sasuke no longer strived to better himself, according to Naruto, but Gaara. His fellow Jinchuriki was monstrously strong—much stronger than him.

Naruto couldn't imagine that Sasuke viewed Kakashi any different. He probably only saw Kakashi as a tool for him to learn more jutsu.

Sasuke succeeded in that too.

The odious pain in his arm furthered.

The Chidori…

Just like Sasuke succeeded in everything else. Everything Sasuke did, he was great at, and it always pissed him off. But back at the Academy, he wanted to be just like him. He was his idol, and he compelled him to get stronger.

Lot of good that got him.

"Why do you waste so much effort on me?"

"Because for me, you were part of my family," Naruto replied.

Were, he recalled his phrasing. Even back then, when they were still fighting, Naruto knew whatever bond they had was severed. Not all wounds healed. Their bond—that was dead. Forever.

"How pathetic, Naruto. Losing to those untrained eyes." He memorized the feeling of Kyubi's breath as he stared at those evil red eyes. "You are nothing without my power, are you? Weak, pathetically weak." The beast boomed with laughter. "Ha! I will give you my power once again. Remember that if you survive."

The beast was correct, as much as he loathed to admit it.

What was he without its chakra? Sasuke would have annihilated him if it weren't for its chakra. But that could be said for everything else. Fighting Haku in that dome of ice, Orochimaru in the Forest of Death, Gaara, and finally Sasuke. Each of his noteworthy fights were won because of the Kyubi's chakra. Some of those he hadn't even won, just barely survived. Orochimaru, Gaara and Sasuke came to mind.

Without Sasuke to strive toward or the Kyubi's chakra, who was he really, and was he worth a damn? Could he really become Hokage if he couldn't even save his best friend from falling into darkness? The Hokage was the strongest shinobi in the village, the smartest and wisest one among thousands. How was he supposed to become Hokage when he wasn't even the top-three of his generation?

Sasuke was stronger than him, Lee and Neji both were as well. Shikamaru and Shino were brighter, and Lee was braver than he could ever hope to be. So how was he supposed to be Hokage when he couldn't even be compared to them?

Take away the Kyubi's chakra, that Rasengan, and what are you? That dream you have isn't yours. The only reason you desire to be Hokage is for the village to accept you!

Naruto bared his teeth, and his hands trembled as he balled them even harder.

Those clothes? You only wear them 'cause that's all the old bastard who runs the store will sell ya! He knows how much of a moron you look like in it and gets a laugh every time he sees ya in it! Everything you do is for everyone else. Do you even have an original thought in your head? Or are you so busy chasing after everyone's approval that you can't even have actual ambitions?

At least Sasuke has aspirations that make sense. His brother killed his family, wiped out his clan. It's only fitting to see vengeance, but you… you don't even have the nerve to think for yourself! You believe that if you somehow please everyone, they'll forget about what you are.

A growl threatened to spill out from his mouth.

You disgust me. Instead of training or taking being a shinobi seriously, you waste your time chasing after that pinkette. Maybe you should have died at the Valley of the End. At least it'll be less painful than the death you'll occur in the future.

"Nurse," Naruto's raspy voice alerted the woman that just entered his room.

"Yes?"

"My shoulder hurts. Can you get me something for the pain?"

The nurse frowned, peeling back a page on her clipboard. "That's odd. You should not be feeling pain. It says here your nerve endings were fried. You should not be feeling pain at all in that area—"

"It's not your arm, is it?!" He bellowed, startling her. Her clipboard clattered to the tiled floor. He looked down, then up at her before shamefully closing his eyes. "I'm sorry. Can you just give me something for the pain, please?"

Outside, Shikamaru heaved a sigh as soon as he entered this hospital wing. He slanted on the wall and remembered the promise he had made.

Choji Akimichi and Neji Hyuga were in critical condition. Kiba Inuzuka had several severe injuries that would take a few weeks of rehab, just like Akamaru would take weeks before he could walk again. Rock Lee fought to the best of his abilities despite being injured. He would take months to recover as he worsened his condition. The excitable genin was eager to jump back into the fight, despite having been still hurt from his previous battle with Gaara in the chunin exams.

The only one to return from the mission with minor injuries was him.

What a leader he was. Shikamaru snorted dismissively. What a leader he was…

He deliberated on his failure as he waited outside the emergency ward for a word on Choji's condition and did his best to ignore the sand kunoichi sitting on the opposite desk.

"No point in driving yourself crazy, you know," Temari said after watching him fiddle with his fingers nervously. "Don't you remember your psychological training? With every mission comes sacrifice."

"Training and reality are two separate things, you know," Shikamaru answered frowningly. "I thought I knew about missions. I thought I knew what it meant to be a shinobi. But after my first mission as a squad leader, only one thing is clear. I am not cut out to be a shinobi."

He stood and drove away from the ward, desiring to check in on Kiba. "Honestly, you men with your fragile egos. What? Are you afraid you might get hurt?" He ignored her biting words and disregarded the bitter truth in them.

"A girl insults and disrespects you like that, and you walk away." His father's beguiled voice made him linger, but he didn't bother to turn back. He was frightened of finding disappointed eyes staring at him.

"Exchanging insults is what girls do. I do not want to bother myself with such things."

"You are no man, are you?" He stiffened at his father's stern words. "As far as I can see, you are nothing but a coward. You think just because you quit, the missions will stop?"

"You friends and comrades will be sent out on mission whether you are with them or not." His fists clenched in his pockets, and he glowered at his feet. "If not you, then under someone else. They will be sent out. They will face the same risks and dangers. Some might not even make it back."

His father persisted mercilessly. "How would it feel when you think that they could have made it if you were there to help them? When you're attending their funeral, knowing you could have done something? You have a chance to reflect on your mistakes and learn from them. Use your failures to make yourself a better leader, Shikamaru."

"You won't help your friends by running away. Try to make yourself stronger for their sake and yours. The choice is simple. You are either a leader or a coward. So, which are you?"

A leader or a coward. Who am I? Shikamaru interrogated himself. He didn't get the chance to answer as the door of the emergency ward opened, and Lady Hokage stepped out, looking relieved.

"Choji Akimichi's situation is peculiar," she proclaimed and proceeded to sit on the bench. "The antidote seems to have worked, but it's untested. We don't know if there are potential side-effects to this cure. I barely managed to get concent from Choji's mother and father in time. The Nara clan's medical encyclopedia is an invaluable treasure. I cannot imagine the work your clan put into it. It's very impressive and is the only reason your teammate is breathing right now." Tsunade told Shikaku, who answered with a short, relieved 'thank you'.

"However, we believe he is in a coma. It's unclear whether or not his comatose state is a result of the treatment, or the chakra pills."

Shikamaru flinched in shame.

Soon after, Shizune conveyed the news of Neji Hyuga's stabilized condition. Shikamaru's eyes stung with tears when he heard that Neji was out of the woods.

"Shikamaru Nara. Your mission was a failure." Tsunade turned her attention to the newly promoted chunin. Ashamed, he stared at his feet, and his shoulders trembled. "But I am glad that everyone's alive. That is the most important thing."

Tears fell down his cheeks as he struggled to regain his composure. "Next time, the mission will go perfectly."

Lady Hokage nodded.

"You know, I've been thinking. Will you hear me out?" Shikamaru asked as they trekked the long, pale-white hallways of the hospital. Bleak and unimaginative. Just like him.

"What is it?" The Hokage didn't mean for it to sound rude, but it just came out that way. If the Nara noticed her disrespect, he didn't show it.

"Well, it depends on the mission and the members at hand… I mean, there are a lot of variables to juggle, but however small a team is, it should always include a medic shinobi. In my opinion."

Lady Hokage was quiet for a moment. "I know. I agree," she replied eventually. "In fact, I suggested it long ago. I wrote a report on the survival and success rate of a small cell. They demand a different skill set from a standard shinobi, I mean. Utilizing the chakra takes a light and precise hand, an enormous amount of expertise, adeptness at the practical application, and patience. Not a lot of thirteen-year-olds possess such delicate qualities.

"Which is why medical shinobi are not trained that young. But I should have sent an older medical shinobi anyway. That is my mistake."

Shikamaru had been dismissive. "The fault lies with me. I was the mission leader. I should have requested a medic to accompany us. I…"

"You didn't expect to run into resistance."

"An oversight on my part," Shikamaru admitted without preamble. "One that I will not make again."

"I know," Lady Hokage replied. "It's why I promoted you to chunin. You and your father are a lot alike. I knew him back in the day."

"You did?"

"Yeah," she drawled. An incredibly unprofessional gesture. The Sandaime would never do such a thing. The Nara was beginning to realize there was nothing usual about the Godaime. "He was lazy, unmotivated, and lacked the drive to take anything seriously. Then war broke out, and Shikaku lost his brother. In a matter of two years, he went from a lazy chunin to a brilliant jonin who had the Sandaime's ear."

"Hard times…" Shikamaru murmured.

"What was that?"

"Nothing. It's just something my father said. "Hard times produce strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men, and weak men cause hard times." It's a cycle. Those that believe in fate think it is a never-ending cycle."

"And you, Shikamaru?"

He stared up at her hazel eyes as they walked. "I don't want to be a weak man… I wish to become someone who will lead his comrades faultlessly."

"It's an admirable goal," she praised. "But no one is without fault. I know that more than most. You're still just a kid, and you've only just begun to grasp the realities of this world. A lot of cute little genin think being a shinobi is all about theatrics and heroism. There's a reason why only ten percent of genin serve for more than four years. Once they see what being a shinobi is about, they retire. Of course, there is the ten percent."

Shikamaru hummed. He was seconds from joining the other ninety percent.

"Nevertheless, I think you're among the ten percent, Shikamaru. Not even a year out of the Academy and already a chunin. That only happens a few times a year, even when Konohagakure was speedily pumping out shinobi during the Third World War. You've got potential. Don't squander it."

"I don't intend to."

"Good. Now, go see Naruto. He's probably begging to talk to someone right about now."

"Have you been to see him?"

"Yes, but only because I had to operate on him personally."

Shikamaru's eyes swelled. "Operate?"

"There was severe internal damage done in his battle against Sasuke. He may lose sensation in his right arm. I've done what I can, the damage was extensive. Neji and Choji were the not only ones with life-threatening injuries." Lady Hokage's tone made it clear that was the only answer he would get.

Shikamaru wisely dropped the matter. Bidding a respectful leave, he left to do as he was ordered.

Sighing again, he knocked on the door once. Giving ample reaction time, he opened the door, letting himself in. He found Naruto resting in the hospital bed, lounging back, glaring at the ceiling. Shikamaru winced, noting that Naruto's condition was worse than he expected.

"How are you, Naruto?"

He was quiet for a disturbingly long time. Shikamaru thought he might've not heard him. Finally, he opened his mouth, and Naruto spoke.

"Like hammered shit."

A wry grin found his lips. "You look it," he remarked. The blond only briefly smiled. Shikamaru was beginning to realize the worst damage inflicted was not the kind he could see tangibly. Much like himself, Naruto was likely doubting himself. "Everyone survived. I thought you should know, troublesome blond."

"I already knew," he said. "Granny… the Hokage… she explained everything."

Shikamaru sat on a free area on his bed, solemn. "Neji, he's…"

"He's not all right, is he?"

Hearing the pessimism in his voice told ratified what he assumed.

"He's still in critical condition. He's got a hole in the size of a glass in his chest. Choji is better off, but not by much. Physically, that is. The antidote Lady Hokage administered is working, but the doctors are questioning his overall condition. His brain is only showing minimal activity. They think he's in a coma."

Naruto pinced his eyes shut. Shikamaru listened to the shuttering breath that leave his friend's body.

"Everyone else?"

"Superficial injuries. Kiba has a few broken ribs. Lee was already injured when he arrived. He set his recovery back a few months at the bare minimum."

Naruto scowled at the dreary, chipped ceiling. "I should have seen it coming." The Nara lazily grunted in confusion. "Sasuke's betrayal, I should have seen it coming. I think some part of me knew it would end up like this. I was just too weak to see it."

"You've been thinking," he observed. "I have to. Not much to do around here but think."

"I should have seen it coming…" Naruto said again, and Shikamaru shook his head.

"And I shouldn't have been put in charge of that mission in the first place." Then, for the first time, Naruto met his gaze.

"You did fine—"

"Two of my men are hospitalized. My best friend is in a coma. Several other shinobi—foreign shinobi— had to intervene, and the mission was still a failure."

"The worst part is you aren't worse off like them."

Shikamaru hmphed. "When did you get so smart?"

"When did you get so talkative?" he countered.

Another grunt. "Guess we both came out of this a little different." For some reason, Shikamaru sensed he just made the understatement of the year.

"What now?"

"Sasuke has been branded a missing-nin," he responded. Naruto listened, unsympathetic. "He'll be added to the next week's iteration of the Bingo Book. Local and international."

"Good."

Shikamaru blinked. "He'll be pursued by hunter-nin, independent bounty hunters, and ANBU from other villages."

"Then hopefully they'll have better luck than we did."

"That's surprisingly callous of you," he observed. "I'm impressed and saddened."

Naruto snorted at his statement.

"What do you want from me, Shikamaru?" he questioned, perhaps too aggressively. The boy bit his tongue, slumping down even further into his bed. "He betrayed the village, joined Orochimaru—the man responsible for murdering the Sandaime. His buddies nearly killed Neji and Choji. I saw Sasuke as a brother. I'd kill for him—I'd take a kunai for him. There was nothing I wouldn't do for him. Now…"

"You don't have to convince me. God knows I've made mistakes. I know what you want, Naruto, and I won't do it." The blond snapped his stare back at him. "I won't judge you. I think I'm the last person in this hospital that should."

"I could have avoided all this if I just—"

"You may have seen this coming, but it wouldn't have made a difference."

"What?"

"Troublesome blond." Usually, he wouldn't take the time to explain. It would be too exasperating. But for Naruto, he'd make an exception. "Even if you did anticipate Sasuke's betrayal and could do something about it, nothing would have changed. What would you really have done differently? Would you have killed him before he left with those Otogakure shinobi?"

He went to reply, but Shikamaru skirted over him.

"You would have been arrested, charged, and surely convicted of murdering the last loyal Uchiha of Konohagakure," he stated dispassionately. "Despite how you're feeling now, you wouldn't kill him before he commits the crime. It's not your style. That leaves us with your most recent battle. If Sasuke managed to defeat you, then you wouldn't have been able to kill him anyway. The results of these events would have played out the same."

Naruto offered the Nara a baleful look. "You're too damn smart, you know that?"

"It ain't all it's cracked up to be," he yawned. "Being smart, everyone looks at you for answers. I wish they wouldn't."

"Chances are, you chose the wrong profession then," Naruto remarked humorlessly. Chunin were supposed to lead genin on the battlefield. Shikamaru jeered playfully and languidly at the same time.

"Ever since I got this vest, my life has been nothing but troublesome. Dad's been up my ass for me to be more motivated. Mom's not any better. Then…" Shikamaru led off, hesitant to reference their latest circumstances. Naruto caught on, giving him a hmph in return.

"You became chunin after forfeiting your match, you lazy ass. If those old coots on the council thought you deserved it, you clearly did," said Naruto. "You're the smartest person I know, Shika."

"When can I expect you to join me? Being the only chunin in our class is exhausting."

"When and where are the next chunin exams being held?"

Shikamaru did not even have to think about his answer. "Sunagakure. Although, with Suna's recent invasion of our village, there is a chance their privileges for hosting the chunin exams will get revoked." The genius made a face. "I hate politics. They're so—"

"Troublesome, yeah, I get it. There's a reason I would never hang out with you back in the Academy even when I had no one else. I swear, every other sentence, it's "Troublesome this, troublesome that." Don't you have any other excuses?"

"I do, but those would be even more troublesome to use." Shikamaru allowed his amusement to shine as he erected some form of emotion out of Naruto. He was growing worried that his fight against Sasuke enacted a greater toll than initially anticipated.

"I'll try my shot at the chunin exams in Suna, then," he decided. "If Orochimaru hadn't butted in, I might have actually become chunin."

"You and I remember those exams differently. It was Gaara that prevented the exams from continuing. I can't imagine they would have continued after a Jinchuriki loses control." Strangely, Naruto's scowl deepened.

"How long have you known?"

Shikamaru snorted lightly. "You're more perceptive than I gave you credit for," he said. He assumed that comment would fly over Naruto's head. "Your match against Neji. That swirling, powerful chakra you used against him was abnormal. I am no sensory ninja, but I could feel that chakra wasn't yours. During my fight with that Suna girl, I forfeited because I knew I would have no chance against you. There was simply no point in continuing."

"You could have won against Temari and then forfeited before we fought."

"Yeah," he drolled. "But it would have been too—"

"Shikamaru, I swear to God," he threatened. "Do you think everyone else will be there?"

Shikamaru shrugged. "There is a chance, but I doubt it. They would have to travel to Suna, and after the invasion, the ordeal with the Uchiha, I do not think they'll have the motivation to make the journey, much less compete."

"Huh," he mumbled, puzzled. "I didn't think about it like that, Shika."

"Not surprising. I'm pretty sure your thought process is limited to your dreams of becoming Hokage and punching someone else in the face."

"Maybe before, Shika. Not now."

Now, that shocked him. "You're interested in becoming Hokage anymore?"

"I don't know." He anxiously tapped his fingers on the bed. "I've been thinking a lot, lamenting past decisions. Becoming Hokage is a goal I've always had. I'm just not sure I am worthy of it." Naruto peered out at the Hokage Mountain. Those stone eyes stared back at him, impassive and unchanging as always. "All of those guys are legends. I know pretty much everything about each of them. The Shodaime reigned in each of the nine Biju alone and created Konohagakure from the ground up.

"The Nidaime was responsible for refining a lot of what the Shodaime started and was the greatest suiton user Konoha history. He even created Kage Bunshin no Jutsu. And the Sandaime was regarded as the God of Shinobi! The Yondaime defeated the Kyubi and was a hero in the Third Shinobi World War. So how can I hold a candle against any of them? I'm the kid who couldn't even create a lousy clone and failed to graduate three times."

"I think you should stop comparing yourself to them. I mean, you're right. They're much more powerful than you. The legacy they left behind is undeniable. I read those history books too, Naruto. I'm sure they weren't without their faults. You shouldn't hold them up on a pedestal."

"I'm not saying they're perfect, but… the Sandaime was trained by Tobirama Senju himself! And the Yondaime was trained by a Sannin!"

"Weren't you taught a few things by Lord Jiraiya?" Shikamaru yawned again.

"Pervy-sage is more interested in peeping in bathhouses than he is in teaching me. I pretty much taught myself the Rasengan."

"What about that giant toad you summoned against the One-Tail?"

That made Naruto break. "He threw me down a damn ravine, and I nearly died." Shikamaru winced. "Yeah, Pervy-sage is a great shinobi and all, but every time I train with him, I nearly die. First with the ravine, then I follow him to bring Granny-Hokage back to the village. Do you know that I nearly got killed by Orochimaru—again?!"

"Again?" Shikamaru inquired.

"Yeah, remember the Forest of Death? When Orochimaru gave Sasuke that magical hickey? I was swallowed by one of his snakes."

"I hear suffering builds character."

Naruto coughed in exasperation. "Then I suppose there's a reason why you forfeited your match after all."

"Screw you, blondie. I get what you're implying." Shikamaru stood from the bed, stretching, releasing an exhausted yawn. "Anyway, I've got stuff to do."

"Boring chunin responsibilities?" Naruto asked teasingly.

"Something like that." He flipped his hand back in a wave as he retreated out of his room. "See ya, Naruto."

"Hey, Shika!" he called out before the Nara could fully leave. "Thank you for visiting. You've given me a lot to think about."

Shikamaru showed his playful side by lackadaisically bowing. "A pleasure to serve, Uzumaki-sama." He heard saw Naruto flip him off as the door closed.

Chuckling, he stuffed his hands into his pockets and laggardly wandered the hallways.

Inside, Naruto sighed, encumbered by perturbing thoughts. His conversation with Shikamaru confirmed some matters and also invited new doubts for him to ponder on. Ultimately, Naruto decided to close his eyes for a while. Talking with Shikamaru took more out of him than he'd like to admit. He hated feeling weak, but he hated feeling tired and unmotivated more.

Naruto was asleep before his head struck the pillow.

Okay, so to make a few things clear, this starts right after the Sasuke Retrieval arc. Most of the things are the same, but some are different. I won't spoil anything. You all will just have to see in future chapters.

This story was made from the idea and general consensus that people don't handle betrayal very well. You're not gonna forgive your friend if he suddenly just shoots you with a gun irl, and tries to kill you. Nor are you going to forgive him for joining the man that killed your grandfather. Naruto, realistically, should have trust issues due to the ostracization he faced as a child. When that trust is betrayed, those with trust issues rarely trust again after that. It takes a long time for a wound like that to heal, if it ever does.

This is a Naruto that gets a severe wake up call, and decides to take being a shinobi seriously.

This story will attempt to minimize plot armor, sort of like Game of Thrones/ASOIAF. Decisions will have meaning in this story. Actions will have consequences. If you are a fan of plot convivence, plot demanding power amps, and characters surviving scenarios that should leave them dead, this is not the fic for you.

There will also be some plot development for characters I think that brushed aside in Shippuden. So be on the look out for that.