New Friends

"Alright class, it's time to lunch, remember to come back after," said Sensei as the children started to walk out.

"Lets go sit under the tree we were standing at this morning," said Rei as she got up.

"Yeah," said Shikamaru as he got up. "That's a good place to take a nap."

The two walked to the tree and sat down. After a few minutes of random talk, Shikamaru laid down.

"Rei-chan," said Ami, as she went up to Rei. "This is my friend I told you about, Usagi-chan."

"Hello! I'm Usagi Tenshi!" said a girl with a smile as she looked at the two. She had long blond hair that she had in pigtails and violet eyes. She wore a light blue shirt with short sleeves. She had on white shorts that went to her knees and blue ninja shoes.

"My name is Rei Kumori, and this is my friend Shikamaru Nara," said Rei as she pointed at the Shikamaru who seemed to be sleeping. He was laying on his back with his hands behind his head.

"Hi Shikamaru-kun, my name is Ami Sora," said Ami with a smile to the boy. He opened his eyes to look at Ami and just nodded.

"Is it okay if we eat with you two?" asked Usagi.

"Sure," said Shikamaru as he sat up to eat. He opened his lunch box and started eating. The two girls sat down and opened their lunches.

"So, are we all friends now?" asked Rei as she munched on her lunch, she tilted her head to the left, looking like a puppy.

"Yes!" said Usagi with a great big smile as she opened her lunch box to begin eating.

"Okay, just checking," said Rei as she went back to eating.

'What kind of question is that?' thought Ami with a sweat drop.

'What a drag,' thought Shikamaru as he ate.

"Anyway, what do you guys think about the Academy so far?" asked Ami with a smile as she opened her lunch box and began to start eating.

"Boring," said Shikamaru and Rei.

"Exciting," said Usagi.

'Well, we know that Rei and Shikamaru will get along, but I'm not sure about Usagi,' thought Ai with a more pronounced sweat drop.

"What do you think?" asked Rei.

"I think it's interesting," said Ami with a grin.

The children continued to eat and talk to each other with Shikamaru eventually just falling asleep.

"What's going on over there?" asked Rei, causing the other two girls to look where she was pointing.

The noticed a heavier looking boy being picked on by some of the other children. He had brown hair that was spiky, dark colored eyes, and red swirls on his cheek. He wore a green sweater that had a lighter color for its top and dark blue pants with regular ninja sandals.

"Are they picking on him?" asked Rei, with a frown.

"How cruel," said Ami.

"I can go get a Sensei," said Usagi as she moved to get up, only to be stopped by Shikamaru walking past her, shocking the other three as they thought he was asleep.

The girls watched as Shikamaru walked up to the group and talk directly to the boy, he then turned back and walked to the girls, the boy following him.

"This is Choji Akimichi," said Shikamaru as he went back to his place beside Rei and laid down. "Choji, they aren't troublesome."

'What does that mean?' thought the three girls.

"Hi, I'm Choji," said Choji, shyly.

"I'm Usagi Tenshi!" said Usagi, not missing a beat. "I don't know why those boys were picking on you, but you can hang out with us from now on! You're our friends!"

"I'm Ami Sora," said Ami as she smiled Choji, causing his smile to grow at how nice the two girls were being.

"Rei Kumori," said Rei as she patted the spot on the side Shikamaru wasn't on. "Sit, Eat."

"Right!" said Choji with a smile as he sat next to Rei and started to eat.

"Why were they picking on you?" asked Usagi after a few minutes. Choji frowned as the other two girls looked at him. Shikamaru shifted his head toward the direction of his friend.

"They say I'm stupid and that I won't be a good ninja," said Choji as he looked down. "They also said I'm fat and eat too much."

"It shouldn't matter. You're an Akimichi, right? Doesn't your jutsus focus on body mass? Also, not everyone is really smart. I think you're smart for not saying anything back to them," said Rei in a matter of fact voice.

"I agree. They're not worth worrying about," said Shikamaru as he sat up.

"Yeah! Forget them!" said Usagi with a smile.

"Yeah!" said Ami. Choji looked at them in shock and started to tear up.

"Thanks guys," he told them as he wiped his tears away. The other four smiled at him.

"Well, we'll have to go in soon, it's best to start going in now," said Ami as she stood up and grabbed her lunch box.

"What a drag," said Shikamaru as he got up. 'If I get up now, they won't nag at me.'

"Come on Choji-kun, you can sit with me and Shika-kun," said Rei as she got up.

"Right," said Choji with a smile, getting up to fallow the other four.

The five walked together with Usagi and Ami speaking to Choji about random foods while Rei and Shikamaru just looked on with smiles.

When they got into the classroom, Rei sat down in the last row in the middle desk, Shikamaru sat to her right and Choji to his right. Ami sat in front of Rei while Usagi sat in front of Shikamaru.

'Today is a good day,' thought the children with smiles on their faces.

"Alright students! Today we will talk about," started the Sensei as the children began to sit down.

~After School~

"Well, I'll see you guys tomorrow. I have to help my Oba-chan today," said Ami as they walked out of the building.

"Yeah, my Oka-chan wants me to go shopping with her," said Usagi as the group walked to the gate.

"My dad is taking me out to eat," said Choji with a smile.

"Shikamaru, I'm supposed to meet my parents at your house," said Rei as she looked at her lazy friend.

"What a drag," said Shikamaru as he looked up.

The group stopped at the gate and smiled at each other.

"See you guys tomorrow!" said Ami as she took off.

"Bye," said Choji as he walked to his parents.

"Later," said Shikamaru as he and Rei walked to his father.

"So how was your day today?" asked Shikaku awkwardly.

"We made some more friends," said Rei with a smile. "Do you know when Oka-san and Oto-san will come for me?"

"Not really. I know they had some quick missions to do today so they shouldn't be that long, but they left you a bag of stuff in case you have to spend the night," said Shikaku as he walked a slow pace back home.

'Are all Nara's this laidback?' thought Rei with a sweat drop. She then turned to her friend who was walking the same as his father. 'Yup.'

"What a drag," said Shikamaru.

The three walked in silence back to the Nara compound. Once they got there, Shikaku went to his study to finish a report while the children went to the forest next to the Nara compound.

The two children walked for a while till they got to an opening. Rei was about to continue walking, but Shikamaru stopped her.

"What?" asked Rei, confused.

"Shh," said Shikamaru as he looked forward. Rei looked forward to see why Shikamaru had stopped her. She gasped in shock.

In front of the children was a fawn, a baby deer.

"Cute," said Rei as she looked at it in wonder.

"Come on, lets see if we can get close," said Shikamaru as he took her hand and started to walk carefully to the fawn.

They were slowly getting closer when they noticed a doe and a stag show up.

"Shika, I don't think that's safe," said Rei, scared.

"We just have to show that we're good people," said Shikamaru as he stopped and waited for the Deer to notice them.

The stag looked at them. The doe pushed her fawn toward them. The fawn slowly walked up to them, curious and scared.

"Put your hands out," said Shikamaru as he dug throw his pant pockets. Rei did as he asked and was surprised when he seemed to put some kind of food in her hands. "I always carry some in case I see any deer."

"Cool," said Rei in awe as the fawn went up to her and started to eat from her hands. Shikamaru then put some food in his hand and put it out for the doe and stag. The two slowly came up to the children and started to eat the food as well.

"They're really nice. And I like to come out and feed them every once and a while," said Shikamaru after the deer started to leave.

"That's so cool," said Rei as she looked at him with a smile. He smiled back.

"Yeah, my dad showed me all this when I was three."

The two went to lay down under the tree. They talked about school and how Shikamaru had meet Choji. They talked about how scary Shikamaru thought his mom was, making Rei laugh but agree with him.

"It's getting late. We should go back for dinner," said Rei as she got up. She stretched out a hand for Shikamaru to take. He sighed.

"I'm fine," said Shikamaru. Then a growl was heard in the clearing. Shikamaru's face turned pink while Rei laughed, bringing her hand to hold her stomach.

"So you're okay?" said Rei as she put her hand out again to help him up. He just glared at her.

"What a drag," said Shikamaru as he grabbed her hand and stood up. He then sighed. "Let's go already before Oka-san comes and gets us."

Rei just laughed at him as she let go of his hand and turned to walk. He just sighed and walked next to him.

~After Dinner~

"Rei! Let's go home!" said Keiko as she and Yusuke made it to the Nara compound.

"Coming," said Rei as she got up from where she was sitting next to Shikamaru as he played a game of Shogi with his father. "By Shika-kun, I'll see you tomorrow. Bye Shikaku-san."

"Bye, Rei-chan," said the two males as they looked at the board.

'I feel ignored but at the same time I shouldn't be that surprised,' thought Rei with a sweat drop as she turned to walk out of the room.

"So how was your day today?" asked Yusuke as he and his family walked out of the house and began to walk toward their home.

"Well, I made so more friends today," started Rei as she began to tell her parents about what had happened during the day as well as how she and Shikamaru found some deer.

"Well, if you come here often, they'll remember you and think you are a Nara," said Yusuke with a laugh.

"I'm happy that your making more friends. Maybe they might be on your team when you graduate," said Keiko with a laugh as they continued to walk.

'Today was definitely a good day. I know that these people will be in my life for a long time. I need to make sure to get strong for my special people,' thought Rei.

"What's wrong Rei?" asked Keiko as she looked at her daughter who looked extremely concentrated.

"Can I start training soon? I want to be able to protect everyone," asked Rei as she looked at her parents.

"Of course! We can start tomorrow after school. Remember, we won't go easy on you," said Yusuke with a smile as he ruffled his daughter's hair.

"I know! I can do it!" said Rei with a smile.

"We know you can," said Keiko with a laugh.