Set sort of AU because of the timelines and may interfere with the original timeline and plot. Will be posting in chapters so some may take longer than others and also so that I can have time to receive feedback for what you guys would appreciate reading. This is my first fic and I wrote it YEARS ago so I hope it isn't too terrible. I'm not going to list the pairings.
Of course I do not own Naruto or anything affiliated with the series except this story.
Chapter One
'What a drag. I mean I'm glad I made Chuunin and all, but I never thought it'd be this much of a hassle this soon.' Shikamaru thought as he prepared his things for the week-long mission ahead. Shikamaru had been chosen to be a lead on a mission to carry peace documents to Suna. It wasn't like it was a necessary four-man mission, but they didn't even have four men to even make a team. I guess that's just the way they do things. Complicated. 'On top of that, I'll be dealing with Naruto and Kiba fighting about every little thing along the way.' Shikamaru wasn't the type to volunteer for missions but Lady Tsunade said there was "nobody else qualified", which only meant that nobody else could handle Kiba and Naruto's constant fighting. It had become worse since the preliminaries and nobody understood why. Naruto winning had honestly just been a fluke. "Shikamaru you're already late! Lady Tsunade was expecting you ten minutes ago!" Shikamaru's mother called from the kitchen. "She knows he's going to be late if she knows that boy at all," Shikaku rebutted, amused at his wife's ability to believe their son's habits would ever change. With that, Shikamaru grabbed his things and headed out the door to meet with Tsunade to retrieve his team and the treaty.
"WHY DO I HAVE TO WORK WITH THAT GUY?!" Naruto was already yelling and protesting bright and early this morning about being on a squad with Kiba. Great. "Because you two are the only gennin left right now and you should have a four person squad, but with Akamaru and your ability to make limitless shadow clones, I'm willing to overlook it this time!" 'Not to mention the nine-tailed fox. He heals rapidly and has more chakra than most Jonin'. Tsunade was getting especially frustrated with Naruto's inability to work with Kiba since the preliminaries. It was another one of the reasons they were chosen to work on the same team. They needed to work out their apparent differences so that they could one day become effective leaders. If Naruto truly wanted to be Hokage someday, he would have to learn to have a love for the whole village because they were all his family. Even Kiba.
"THIS IS THE DUMBEST MISSION EVER OLD LADY! GUARDING SOME STUPID PIECE OF PAPER?!" Naruto proclaimed infuriated. Why couldn't he have went with Lee and Sakura? They were going on an A-rank mission with Gai-sensei and Kakashi-sensei. "Naruto, have Iruka and Kakashi's teachings completely escaped that thick skull of yours? You are not above any mission. That being said, this is more important than you think and you have already wasted enough time arguing."
Shikamaru took the opportunity to ask Tsunade about the specific details of their mission and why exactly they had been given a week. "There may be some people who don't exactly agree with this treaty and will try to cause friction between the two villages. You will have to prepare for that. Then, of course, just general delays," she shot Naruto and Kiba looks. On that note, Shikamaru grabbed the treaty and they all left for the village exit. 'Kiba was surprisingly quiet during that meeting. Even with Naruto's big mouth' Tsunade pondered. Shikamaru had noticed the same thing. 'Well this is going to make for an interesting week'.
By the time they were supposed to reach the next village, nothing was open for room and lodge, so they had to set up camp for the first night. "Alright, so one of us has to watch while the other two sleep I guess," Kiba said. "Actually, we can probably take shifts. That way, we can all get at least a few hours in," Shikamaru stated matter-of-factly. "I think we should let the puppy stand watch! I mean it's not like its a big deal," Naruto argued. At this, Akamaru growled and it seemed like Kiba did too. "AKAMARU IS JUST AS MUCH A PART OF THIS TEAM AS WE ARE, NARUTO! STOP BEING SUCH A DAMN PRICK!" Kiba was infuriated by Naruto's remark. Especially lately. He felt like Naruto was being exceedingly demeaning and he did not like it nor did he understand it. Kiba had even stopped teasing him and doubting him the way he used to. Shikamaru chimed in with his opinion, "Naruto, while you may have a point, Kiba's right. Even Lady Tsunade made it clear that was the reason we were even able to do this mission without a fourth person. I think we should take a vote on it right now and before you ask, Naruto, yes Akamaru's vote counts."
"HUH?! YOU MEAN THAT PUPPY GETS TO HAVE A SAY EVEN THOUGH HE CAN'T SAY ANYTHING?! YOU'VE GOTTA BE KIDDING ME!" Naruto was appalled at this but Shikamaru explained, "He's part of the team and he's also one being volunteered to take watch--without getting a say." Shikamaru used Naruto's words against him, which was something that Naruto couldn't stand. It happens so often, yet he could never figure out how to keep his words from trapping him. Of course Shikamaru would take advantage of that.
"I'll take the first watch," Kiba said. Something in his voice was different. "Thanks Kiba! See you guys in the morning!" Naruto beamed, but Shikamaru was a little bit concerned. Kiba had been acting off the whole day. "Are you sure Kiba? I mean I can switch halfway through the night if you start feeling tried," Shikamaru stated. "I'm really not tired Shik. Besides, Akamaru's gonna be here with me," Kiba reassured him and Akamaru barked in agreement.
Shikamaru entered their tent. 'Of course Naruto is already asleep. If you barely have any thoughts in your head, it should be easy.' Just then, Naruto started to snore and Shikamaru's ears twitched. 'Good grief. This is going to be a long night.' Of course, he wasn't just thinking about Naruto and his snoring. No, his mind had wondered full-circle to the reason he didn't want to accept the mission in the first place. 'That girl. Temari. Every time we cross paths, she has something especially annoying to say. Always a drag to get around her, but I guess I can't really avoid it.' He got up and folded his blankets and moved his things. He didn't want Naruto to take them over before he got back. Naruto had a bad habit of sleeping all over the bed.
Outside, Kiba had been in his own head. 'I'm not acting weird, am I? I mean, I don't think I am.' Kiba had recalled a few weeks back when he and Naruto were hanging out at a hot spring. It was practically empty until they were deciding to leave. The only problem was that there was two of them and they happened to be only given one towel. That sparked an argument. "Naruto, I don't know how to say this, but out of the three of us you are the most easily distracted. Even Akamaru's more disciplined than you are! So excuse me if I think you leaving to get me anything while I'm naked is a bad idea." Kiba had a point, though. If there was a ramen shop in sight, Naruto would have forgotten all about Kiba. "Plus, if you make a complaint, your temper is worse than mine," Kiba laughed.
"OH YEAH?! Well how do I know you and the mutt here will even come back?! You might have planned this the whole time just to get back at me for the preliminaries!"
Kiba's eye twitched with frustration. He genuinely was trying to make an effort. Asuma-sensei had asked him to try and be better friends with Naruto for the sanity of everyone in the village. Plus Lady Hokage suggested that they would benefit from training together. However, Naruto wasn't exactly cooperating. Kiba then cracked a smile. "Fine. If it makes you feel better, I'll leave Akamaru here with you. You know I won't leave him behind," Kiba then turned to Naruto with a feral grin, "That way, you aren't out here by yourself. You know, since you're vulnerable and all." Naruto crossed his arms infuriated by Kiba and Kiba laughed menacingly.
When Kiba returned, he was carrying Naruto's clothes along with a fresh towel. "Wow! Thanks Kiba! I really thought you were trying to pull one over on me!" Naruto couldn't quite understand why he thought this, because Kiba had shown no signs of being anything other than friendly towards him. 'Wait a minute. Maybe that's it! maybe he's pretending to be friendly so that when I let my guard down, he'll strike!' Naruto thought to himself as he wrapped his towel around his waist. Then he noticed that Kiba had also brought back his clothes. Did he expect him to change out in the open? 'This pervert! That's it! I'm gonna show him!'
"Hey Kiba," Naruto called. Just before Kiba looked up from Akamaru, Naruto transformed with his 'sexy jutsu'. Kiba's eyes met with a naked female Naruto. This was the same trick Naruto used to prank Iruka-sensei in class and that pervert Ebisu. Although, Kiba had seen this trick before, so it seemed that the outcome wouldn't be the same. He still covered his face with his hands to hide the shock.
"Naruto what the hell do you think you are doing?!"
"You have been acting weird the past couple weeks and don't think I haven't figured out why!"
"Excuse me?" Kiba asked, genuinely clueless because as far as he's concerned, he had done everything Asuma-sensei had asked.
"This whole nice-guy thing! It's not gonna work! I'm not gonna let you trick me just so you can get me back!"
"Naruto. You barely beat me in the preliminaries! Let it go! And as for the nice-guy thing, Asuma-sensei said we needed to get along better," Kiba had an expression that said he was fed-up. Naruto was an idiot and they would never get along. Akamaru barked. There were people on their way to the hot spring they were in. "Hurry up and get dressed, Naruto! People are coming," Kiba stressed to him. Which only made Naruto ask, "Why the hell did you bring my clothes out here in the first place?! They have bathrooms!"
"Because I didn't want to be here all day. The bathrooms were completely full and people were lined up outside them waiting to use the showers and change."
Kiba froze when he noticed Naruto wasn't wearing any underwear. 'Great. That image is going to be burned into my skull forever now.'
Since that day Kiba hasn't been around Naruto as much and if he has been, it was brief and it was extremely uncomfortable. Kiba had a few dreams about Naruto. Nothing weird, but it was out of the ordinary that he would dream about him. Normally, he would dream about Ino or sometimes he had dreams about his missions. Usually it is whatever is on his mind the night before. He did think about what Naruto had said about his acting weird.
Shikamaru then emerged from the tent and interrupted Kiba's thoughts.
"Still awake, huh, Shikamaru?" Kiba had been no stranger to Naruto's sleeping habits. His snoring was the absolute worst but combined with his sleep positions. It's a wonder he didn't need his own tent. That kid takes over everyone's room. Hopefully, this was just a one-time thing and by tomorrow night, they will make it to a hotel or something.
"Yeah. Naruto started snoring when I first when in there. By the time he stopped, it was the turning that done me in." Kiba laughed heartily at that and replied, "It could be worse. I mean at least he wears pajamas. I was on an overnight mission with Lee; turns out that, and taking a shower are the two times he doesn't wear that ridiculous jumpsuit. Unfortunately he happens to wear the same thing in both situations," Kiba's eyes squinted and he pursed his lips as he tried to shake the memory out of his head. Shikamaru chuckled. "That's not the only reason I couldn't sleep, though."
"Oh? What's up Shikamaru?" Kiba asked him, slightly concerned. Nothing really bothered the lazy kid and he never had a hard-time sleeping, so naturally, that's cause for some concern.
"It's that sand ninja girl. She just gets under my skin is all. I don't really know why, but every time I see her, it's a real drag."
Kiba turned to Shikamaru with a suspicious grin. "Uh oh! I think someone has a crush on someone," Kiba teased. Shikamaru wasn't phased. Maybe it was the lack of sleep. Either way, the conversation ended there and the subject changed to mission tactics.
About an hour later, Shikamaru noticed Kiba starting to nod off. 'I knew he didn't sleep enough last night. I could tell when we were in the meeting this morning with Lady Tsunade.' He woke Kiba up and told him to go rest. They didn't need two sleep-deprived ninja slowing them down tomorrow. Kiba didn't try to protest.
Kiba, half asleep, crawled into the tent. The first thing that he noticed was that like he predicted, Naruto was sprawled over the middle of the tent floor. After he got out of his normal clothes, came the second thing he noticed. Naruto was sprawled on top of Kiba's bags. Great. Luckily Shikamaru's things were convenient enough for Kiba without having to deal with Naruto waking up. What Kiba had failed to realize was, not only was Naruto spread over the middle section of their sleeping area, but he had turned so much in his sleep that he was sleeping atop the blanket he had been using to cover up with. Kiba didn't take long to fall asleep somewhat comfortably. For a cool night, he was surprisingly cozy.