A/N Warning: Yo yo! Hello my fellow Naruto haters! Just to be clear this is NOT a bashing fic. I always thought Shikamaru, was kind of unwise for a person with an iq of 200. Yea sure maybe battle iq, but over all wisdom, he shouldn't have had a smaller part. A few changes from the series.

Naruto will have more common sense. Orochimaru and shikamaru will have much bigger parts than in the series. I don't know if I'm going to change the teams yet, but who knows. Naruto will definitely have a larger skill set than before. Hopefully this will be a slow paced fic. I'm thinking 2 to 3 chapters will involve the Academy.

Shikamaru will slap some sense into Naruto who I always thought was a bit arrogant in the first series, and although he was hated, doesn't mean he might not have gotten more appeal when he DIDNT vandalize the monument dedicated to their idols.

Anyways so I don't take up your time although I doubt that you're actually reading this right now, without further ado enjoy the show ladies and gentlemen.

As far as Naruto Uzumaki was concerned, he was a genius. And 90% of the villagers would laugh their heads off if they even heard an utter about him being in the top 10 of his classroom.

All this time, Naruto has been obsessed with a certain loud mouth, pink haired girl in his class. So on his way to school that day he had a brilliant idea.

For a change of scenery he decided to leave out early (I know shocking). He usually walked by without anyone noticing him, so that left a lot of time to observe his surroundings.

The cool morning air was a nice change, and he found it peaceful. Owners setting up shop early, and mostly older people who had the tolerance to wake up early.

But two particular people would change by his entire life, unknowingly. One scene that he just happened to overhear.

"I tried apologizing and everything! She didn't even want the flowers I sent to her home!" Said a civilian man who was probably in his twenties, chatting to his neighbor at the fruit stand to his left.

The man he was talking to was in his 40s at least and responded with something that would be the first of dominoes to fall for the young man.

"Obviously meet her in person! Apologizing in person will definitely let her know that you mean it, and you're truly sincere!" The rest of what he said was actually interesting, leading the man to find his girlfriend already with another dude.

Because of the bad advice given to him, the 20s something man would lower all his prices and move his stand across from his neighbor, causing the start of rivalry for generations and generations to come.

But we're focusing on the little blonde in front of them, who suddenly had a menacing and devious grin on his face.

The boy had already tuned the shopkeepers out and was on his way to his crush, Sakura Haruno! "She'll definitely fall for me if I show up to her house with flowers! That way she can know my love for her is way more realer than that teme! Dattebayo!

Sakura had a routine schedule. Wake up, eat breakfast, which consisted of Salad with two tomatoes, in tribute to her future lover, and celery on the side with a glass of water. She did her hair and skin routine, after showering and brushing her teeth, and headed out for the day.

Her routine went flawlessly and was supposed to always be followed no matter what. So imagine her surprised when she opened her door to leave out and saw the complete opposite of her Sasuke-Kun.

About to knock on her door, was a clueless looking Naruto, in hand some flowers. Using the hand that was about to knock he put it behind his head and sheepishly grinned. He handed her the flowers!

"Hey Sakura-Chan! I wanted to give you flowers, but they're nowhere as beautiful as you. He-he!"

Sakura didn't know what to think. Naruto didn't have a single romantic bone in his entire body before. Now he shows up with flowers? Could he have actually matured?

"Your foreheads pretty cute too!"

Sakura was blushing like a tomato now! She had always been super insecure about her forehead. Getting complimented about it was strange to say the least, and definitely a surprised.

A voice in her head whispered "Sasuke has never given us flowers..."

"Now Sakura-chan! Would you like to get Ichiraku ramen after class? Of course after showing that stuck-up Sasuke of course!"

There it was...Sakura was so tired of him!

"Urgh! Why do you always do this? Grow up Naruto! We aren't kids anymore and I don't like you! Can't you just move on? Are you slow or something?! Why can't you get it through your thick skull that NOBODY likes you! Leave. Now."

She pulled her arm back, and for a second he thought she was going to hit him with the flowers. Instead she just threw them into his chest, causing him to stumble back.

For the first time he had fear in his eyes. Confusion. Sakura was about to knock him right on the head until.. She cocked back her fist, only to stop halfway. She huffed and turned to the academy.

"You aren't even worth it."

For the first time Naruto was absent that entire day.

Iruka sighed at the bell ringing, signifying Naruto being late for class. He got into his routine for the day, which consisted of yelling until they were silent. This semester was going to be different and Iruka had high hopes for Naruto. He really felt let down. He guessed they would have a talk soon enough.

A blonde Yamanaka walked up to Sakura, who had just entered the class, late for the first time. "So forehead?"

She smirked at Sakura. She had given Naruto the best advice this morning. This would definitely get Sakura away from Sasuke-kun!

Sakura however looked confused. "What do you mean 'So' Ino-pig?"

"You were late...that means my advice for Naruto paid off right? He finally got you to go on a date with him, huh?"

"Advice...wait that was why Naruto came to my house this morning?!"

The purple wearing kunoichi-in-training shrugged. "Uh yea. He came this morning on my shift asking for flowers. Did he chicken out or something? That Baka! The one time I try to be nice-"

The Yamanakas' words went in and out of Sakuras ears as she went into deep thought.

'So he asked Ino for help huh? Now I just feel bad for treating him like that this morning... he did try.'

Two voices spoke in her head one saying 'he needed to hear it anyway,' and the other saying, 'Sasuke never gave us flowers.'

Instead of dwelling on it Sakura turned with fire in her eyes towards Ino.

"I should have know. You were trying to distract me! Well it won't work CHA! Me and Sasuke-Kim are meant to be together! True love always prevails."

By the end of the day only one person gave another thought about Naruto besides Iruka. And immediately after the though, he grumbled, "Troublesome."

Naruto walked into Yamanaka flowers, a somber look on his face. It was just after school so Naruto was surprised to see, instead of his fellow blonde, the bored looking face of Shikamaru.

"Hey! Lazy-boy! Why isn't Ino here?"

Shikamaru only grunted and sat up, though his eyelids remained low and uninterested.

"She forced me to stay here and watch her shift as a favor for not telling about me skipping last class. Such a drag."

Naruto only nodded. Slowly. Then he remembered why he came here... He looks at the flowers in his hands and immediately frowns.

The thought of Sakura made him upset by remembering the events of this morning. He really needed to take his mind from off of her.

He smirked. "Hey Shikamaru! Wanna go and get some ramen?"

Shikamaru let out an annoyed exhale. "I just told you I have to watch the shop for Ino...Not to mention the fact you're annoying as well..."

Naruto instead of being sad like earlier snarled. "Lemme guess, cuz I'm not cool like Sasuke huh?! I'm tired of being treated like I'm less than him! We're nothing alike so stop comparing me to that bastard!"

Shikamaru knew he would regret this but, "You're just like him, it's almost scary how you can't notice."

"No way am I like that Teme!" Naruto barked.

"Anger issues, stuck up and you act like the world revolves around you. I dont dislike you for no reason. You're just a troublesome asshole."

He closed his eyes peacefully no longer worried about the blonde. You both have no regard for anyone opinions or emotions. You don't care amhow people think of you, and you're extremely judgmental."

Naruto was about to protest, until what Shikamaru said really stuck him. 'Am I really like him? No way right?But I'm cool! And nice andI actually give people the time of day!'

Then a voice inside his mind whispered, 'Are you? Or are you arrogant and ignore everyone around you. Iruka the only one who hasn't given up hope only you and you'replanning on pranking him."

"People like Sasuke, because he's mysterious and actually works towards his goals. You just yell about being Hokage and continue to disregard any type of education you're provided. It's honestly annoying, but who am I to judge. Now are you going to give me the reason you're here, or do you just want to yell loudly about ramen and the Hokages?"

Shikamaru occasionally had outbursts of bluntness like this, but usually at home.

It only happened when he actually cared about the topic, and let him know he needed a nap. Enthusiasm gets you killed.

Shikamaru opened his eyes to find Naruto's fist coming toward him. Instead of a full forced punch slamming him through the wall, based off of what he'd previously seen of Naruto's strength, he could feel the blonde grabbing him by the collar.

"What the hell is your problem huh? You don't know anything! You look at me the same way everyone else does...Tch! You're one to talk! You've barely spoke to me the last two years. Who are you to go around making fun of peoples dreams when you sit on your ass all day, you jackass!"

Shikamaru, feeling a bit heated, turned his nose up and started glaring back at him.

"Well at least I'm honest about it! Honestly you're delusional. You act like a complete jerk to everyone who doesn't bend down to worship you. Then you preach about becoming the best ninja in the village! Ha!"

The laugh was obviously fake and sounded more like a snort than an expression of humor.

"Talk about sitting on your ass! You're such a hypocrite! Everything you've ever done that's worthwhile, is in your day dreams, fantasizing about Sakura and a Hat you scream about all day. You have no respect, no skill, no smarts, and you act even worse than Sasuke."

Naruto growled, teeth meeting teeth, as he balled his fist that wasn't holding the lazy-boy by the collar. Shikamaru, only glared harder. "Do it, lash out and prove me right. "

Naruto had had enough. He brought his fist up and cocked it back, about to launch it. Just then Shikamaru came out of his grumpy state and realized what he had gotten himself into.

'Wait! What am I doing?! Nononono!"

He winced, his eyes closed as if it would help at all with lessening the pain until he heard,

"What in the hell are you two doing?!"

He opened his eyes to see Naruto's attention no longer on him. Shikamaru turned his head to see what he was looking at.

Coming from the back of the shop, carrying a bag from the most expensive clothing store in Konoha, a very displeased looking Yamanaka was glaring at the two of them.

"I leave you the store for one second! Were you two seriously fighting?"

Shikamaru looked back at Naruto who's anger had went back down to a glare. Naruto pushed him away with his left hand, essentially letting go of his hold on the Nara.

Although his anger hadn't completely diminish, because the Shikamaru was pushed off balance, causing him to stumble into Ino who managed to catch him. The right hand that was about to punch jim still had the flowers in it.

Naruto stared at them, the stems worn because of how hard his grip was.

Surprisingly enough, Shikamaru was no stranger to being punched with flowers, considering he was friends with Ino and his mother owned a very well taken care of garden.

"What happened with you two?" Ino demanded, although her tone had a bit more of a 'concerned' tone than a violent one. Her eyes still held a certain look of fear though. Not scared, but a form that was watered down with confusion.

Those eyes looked all too familiar to Naruto. Suddenly, his eyes turned sad and confused.

"Why?!" He managed to growl out.

"What are you even talk-"

"Why does everyone look at me like that?! I'm not some lost cause! I will show you how good I am! And you'll all regret not realizing it sooner! Both of you!"

Naruto would make them like him. They would all apologize one day, and say 'you're definitely one of us Naruto! Sorry for treating you like a monster!'

Shikamaru only looked away with a grumpy face and shame. What was going on with him? He had never said anything remotely close to his outburst, so why now? And why with Naruto?

Naruto shook his head violently, and jetted out of the store leaving a very confused Ino and a very conflicted Shikamaru...

"Shika...what happened?" She genuinely sounded upset. Shikamaru only looked at the door that closed just a few seconds ago. He didn't know either. And oddly, he didn't feel fine with not knowing why either...

Post. Wanna give a special shout out to Lord Bz who helped me with ideas to revise the first chapter. Didn't do full grammar/ spelling check cuz I didn't have time.