Hello! I wanted to give a quick moment to thank everyone for their reviews for this story! It really means a lot that people are invested in my story! I am having a lot of fun writing it!

I was going to make this chapter longer, I have actually had this part done for a little while, but I wanted to do some actual research, but haven't had the time to sit down and really get the meat of it typed out. I know the outcome, but I still need a little more time to write it out. I will be slightly busy, and need more time on the second part, so I decided to update now!

I did get a few comments about my grammar/editing, someone also suggested a beta-reader... If anyone has any tips on any kind of beta-reader or anything like that please let me know. I read my stories over and over again before posting, but I have a hard time editing my own work. So I am sorry that some of my work might have mistakes. It's not my intention and I really try to catch everything! Sometimes it slips through the cracks!

I will do my best to update soon! Thank you all again for your support 3

A Single Act of Kindness

Friends

"So, what happened yesterday Sakura?"

The pink hair girl glanced up from her scroll, eyes widening slightly to see Ino, Ami, Fuki and Kasumi circling around her.

She had to admit, it was kind of intimidating to see everyone looking at her like this. Like she had some kind of new gossip and they were dying to know what it was. They weren't looking at her with any kind of ill-will- not at all- but the intent was there, and Sakura could pick up on that.

She just wasn't use to the attention.

"What do you mean?" Sakura laid down her scroll, looking at each one of them.

She knew what they wanted to know.

Ino huffed at her, shaking her head, "Sakura, you really are an idiot aren't you?"

"Ino-pig…" Sakura growled out her name, slamming her hands against the table and standing up so she would be eye leveled with the girl. A few people glanced their way, but with class starting in the next ten minutes and hardly anyone was paying attention to them.

"What, do you think because you get some alone time with Sasuke-kun that he is gonna fall in love with you or something?"

That got her, Sakura hated herself but she could feel her cheeks flush as Ino had guessed correctly. What was so wrong with that? Sakura has always made it clear that she was in love with Sasuke-kun, everyone knows it.

Of course she was going to try to win his heart, if she could do it without…

"It's not going to work…" Ino pulled herself away from the glare, folding her arms. Ino was always slightly taller than her, it never felt like their height were that far apart from one another…

… Yet, Sakura always felt like she was looking up to Ino.

She hated that.

"… Do you really think you can change Sasuke-kun's mind about you after one day?"

"It worked with Naruto…" Sakura mumbled, glancing slightly away. Ino had a way to make her feel like a total idiot.

"No it didn't," Ino challenged, "That fool had to work for it. Their relationship didn't happen overnight. It's still not perfect."

"They don't even eat with each other during lunch break," Ami pointed out, "Plus lately they don't even sit next to each other since Shikamaru-kun and Choji-kun stole their spot."

"Right," Ino nodded, "So that's why we have to work as a team to drive them apart even further. You can't think Sasuke-kun is going to love you by the end of the week, because that's not going to happen. Plus, duh... That guy likes you Sakura… You really think you have a chance with Sasuke-kun as long as he's in the way?"

Sakura hated to admit it, but Ino-pig was right. Sasuke-kun in such a cool guy, and wouldn't be the kind of person to stab a friend in the back. Even if that friend was Naruto of all people.

"So, did you find anything out about them?" Kasumi asked.

Sakura had to think about it. Their whole dentition Sakura barely paid attention to Naruto, and the whole time she was talking to Sasuke-kun and he didn't really talk to her back… He said her name at the end of the day, and Sasuke-kun has never said her name before. She wanted to live in the memory forever, of having her name be touched by Sasuke-kun's lips (it was her surname and although no one really went by their surnames in school, it didn't matter because it just meant that Sasuke-kun knew what her name was, and that was enough)… It was magical and heavenly and Sakura felt so much closer to him!

For a moment Sakura forgot the girls were waiting for an answer, and when Ino cleared her throat Sakura had to shake the daydream out of her head. Right now, she had to think about Sasuke-kun and Naruto.

"Well…" Sakura placed a hand on her chin, "Sasuke-kun really listens to Naruto. That idiot made us do more work last night then Iruka-sensei asked us to do, which was really annoying because he was making us pull weeds forever yesterday."

"Oh, I noticed it looked a lot nicer this morning," Fuki said, "All the weeds around the building are gone, it looks a lot cleaner!"

"You guys were pulling weeds?" Ami asked.

"Yeah, Naruto made this whole big deal about pulling out all the roots so they wouldn't regrow or something."

"Well, that's just common sense," Ino rolled her eyes, "Even someone like Naruto would know to take out the whole thing so the seeds don't spread. Even though, there is like no promise that some seeds would still spread. There are like, a billion other steps you have to do to make sure they don't grow back."

Sakura took a moment to blink at Ino and her knowledge about weeds, before realizing that her family also owns a flower shop, so it would make sense she knew that kind of stuff, "I mean, of course you'd know that, Ino-pig. It's what your family does."

"Yeah, I didn't know that," Ami and the rest of the girls nodded.

"He went around and poured vinegar around the building," Sakura added, "He said he had to do that so they wouldn't grow back. He made such a big fuss about it that Iruka-sensei went out and bought it for him."

Ino blinked at this, "He knew to do that? Did he mix it with water and soap?"

Sakura shrugged, "I dunno. He said you were supposed to add more stuff to it, but that the vinegar alone should at least help. I was talking to Sasuke-kun and cleaning up so I wasn't really paying attention to him."

"So he knows some weird stuff about plants, so what?" Fuki rolled her eyes, "What does any of that have to do with Sasuke-kun?"

"No, this is something," Ino nodded, "I've seen Naruto at my shop sometimes. My Mom doesn't like him so when he does come around its normally when she isn't there. I just thought he was doing some kind of dumb prank or something… But, I guess he actually knows how to garden..."

"That's so weird!" Ami giggled, "And so girly! Gardening is for girls!"

"That's just a stupid thing to say," Ino bit back, "My Dad always watches the shop when me or my mom can't be there! Plus he is always the one building our green houses and helping with the gardens so we have flowers to sell."

"Oh… I didn't think about that… Sorry Ino." Ami lowered her head.

"So how is Naruto knowing how to take care of plants going to help us drive him apart from Sasuke-kun?" Sakura asked.

"Any information is good information," Ino stated, "Just… Sakura, find out all you can and let us know. Even if it's something small… Think of this as your first Shinobi mission!"

Sakura nodded at this, "I will," as she felt a surge of pride overflow her. She was going to find out all she could about Sasuke-kun and Naruto.

She hated it, but she had to work with the girls. It was the only way she could get Naruto out of the picture, and eventually win Sasuke-kun's heart.

She'd do anything for Sasuke-kun.

Naruto made his way outside during his lunch break with a scroll securely in his hand. He's read the Clone jutsu scroll multiple times, but for some reason he just couldn't figure it out. He felt his chakra radiating inside of him, and he was able to feel it when he transformed in to his Sexy jutsu (which was still a secret and he hadn't had a chance to real test it in front of the adults, he was missing that piece of "sexiness" still, the woman's curves were still in all the wrong places, but he was getting better at it and he'd get it in just a matter of time). So, why was he able to pick up the Sexy jutsu with ease, but unable to perform the Clone jutsu? It made no sense.

Deciding the spend his whole break figuring this out in the back of the Academy, Naruto started to make his way outside. He was about to open the door when he heard footsteps approaching him.

"Hey Naruto!"

The blonde felt himself tense at his name being called, but tried his best to ease himself as he turned around.

Shikamaru looked slightly out of breath, as if he was running to catch up with him. He was holding a bag in his hand as he gasped for a breath.

"You walk so fast and I had to run to get to you, you're such a bother." Shikamaru teased, smiling as he sucked in another breath.

Naruto didn't know how to respond, "Sorry… I didn't know you wanted to talk to me."

Ever since he ran away from them at lunch, Shikamaru and Choji didn't approach him again. He still sat with them in class- for some reason they were always beating Sasuke and him to the their seats, so they always were separated during class- it didn't bother Naruto really… It was a little lonely but nothing he couldn't handle. Shikamaru or Choji didn't really talk to him, but their conversations always seemed loud enough for him to overhear.

Not that he would ever interrupt their conversation like that.

Naruto knew he was a lot of things, but rude was never one of them.

Shikamaru sighed, seeming to catch his breath, as he straightened his back. He gave the blonde a long, pointed glare that Naruto couldn't look away from. Even though Naruto only had brief interactions with Shikamaru, he knew the boy was smart and blunt… But, Shikamaru was never mean to him. He may have just left him alone in the past, but his classmate never seemed to give him a hard time like the others did.

Still, Shikamaru use to glare at him like all the others. Though his eyes have laxed in the past few days, remembering the way they use to look always would remain in the back of Naruto's mind.

Shikamaru seemed to pick up on that, "Can we talk?"

Naruto only blinked for a moment, in his head he was tracking back to all the interactions they had recently. Did Naruto do something wrong? Did he want to talk to him about the other day when he ran away? He knew he was being impolite then, and it was the only thing he could think he did wrong, "If it's about the other day-"

"- It is." Shikamaru stated plainly.

Naruto felt his face flushed, embarrassed. Thoughts of Shikamaru wanting to yell at him entered his mind. Of course the one time someone wanted to spend their time at lunch with him and he had to blow it like an idiot.

He was doing everything wrong.

He felt his head lower, "I… I'm sorry…"

Shikamaru took a moment before he responded, Naruto didn't even want to look up. He didn't want to see the look in Shikamaru's face.

"Oh man, Naruto… I… Can we talk outside about it? I don't think you want people overhearing us…"

Naruto stilled at that very moment.

Shikamaru didn't seem like the kind of guy who'd want to fight him... He didn't seem like a guy who would do anything to him, if Naruto really wanted to think about it… Yet, there was still that feeling inside of him that thought otherwise.

Naruto was rude to Shikamaru and Choji the other day. He did run away when they offered the smallest kindness to him.

Of course Shikamaru would be mad at him…

"Okay," Naruto opened the door for Shikamaru, deciding to let him lead the way to wherever he wanted them to talk.

If Shikamaru did want to beat Naruto up, he'd let him.

He deserved it.

There is a reason why Shikamaru doesn't have that many friends.

It might not be what people think.

Sure, Shikamaru is easy going.

He's smart.

He tells the truth.

Really, those are the best qualities to have in a friend; if Shikamaru thinks about it. If he had to gauge a friendship he would base it on those three things, because if Shikamaru is anything, he's lazy, and dealing with people who are not easy going, smart, or tell the truth are going to be more of a pain then they are worth.

Choji is the first person he has truly got to know who is all three of these traits. Most of Choji's problems involve food, and if the only problem in one's life is that they are hungry, then its an easy life. Plus Choji is funny- so that's just an added bonus.

If he had to admit it- which he rather not -then he would admit that he is friends with Ino. Their families, as well as Choji's, have known each other forever. The three of them have known each other forever as well. So, having her count as a friend is the easier thing to do.

Is Ino easy going? Hell no. That girl centers herself around drama. It's annoying.

Is Ino smart? Yes, he can admit that she is. Not only is she smart with their education, but she has street smarts. Ino can talk her way into getting anything she wants, she can pick up on common sense (which, dealing with most of the people in his life, this is a big deal), and she can pick up on jutsus pretty quickly. Her Clan is a respectful one, and Shikamaru can admire that.

Does Ino tell the truth? She does, but she can be such a bitch about it that he can hardly stand it.

Other than those two, that's it. He doesn't need any more friends and he doesn't care about being popular or anything like that. People have tried to approach him, to act nice and be friends, but Shikamaru can size people up quickly, and determine that they are not worth the hassle.

Yet, ever since he starting paying attention to it, Shikamaru can't stop thinking about it.

Who is Naruto Uzumaki?

As far as he has ever been told, Naruto has been trouble.

He's a pest.

Stupid.

An idiot.

He even heard Choji's dad call him a demon once.

So, naturally if people his whole life didn't like someone, then, he would be inclined to hate them too. He even knows his own mother doesn't like Naruto, though she has never actually said anything to him about it, but he has seen the way she reacts when others talk about him.

Everyone talks about Naruto.

But, what Shikamaru has started realized is that no one ever says what they mean when they do talk crap about him. It's all just meaningless talk.

No one really explains why they think Naruto is all these horrible things. He just is, and everyone just accepts it.

Shikamaru can pay attention to things, he can read people pretty easily. He might still be a kid, but Shikamaru can overlook bias opinions and state the facts.

Naruto is just a kid.

Who, yeah can be pretty annoying sometimes (not lately though), he's slow as hell (that kid can't get anything right during their lessons), and he gets in trouble a lot (Shikamaru can admit that his pranks are more often than not- hilarious).

But, any reason to call him a pest, or stupid, or a demon?

No, no reason at all.

Lately, if anything, Naruto just seems to be lonely.

It's more trouble than it's worth, Shikamaru can feel it, but damnit if he isn't his father's kid through and through; and he knows Shikaku Nara would never allow this kind of behavior to happen around one of his peers without stepping in.

They walk in silence, as Naruto lets Shikamaru let him lead them somewhere. Shikamaru doesn't really have anywhere he is trying to go, just far enough so no one sees them.

They away from the Academy and towards the forest. There is a gate that is suppose to stop them from leaving the property, but there is a hole in the gate that is easy to duck down and walk out of. No one really thinks to patch up the fence, and none their senseis seem to care that it's there. Naruto follows a few paces back as they enter into the forest.

Shikamaru doesn't go far, just enough that he knows that no one will notice them here as he turns around and faces Naruto.

Shikamaru can't look at Naruto. He decides to look at the ground, kicking the dirt from under his feet. Shikamaru is really bad at stuff like this, so he tries to pick his words carefully, "I just wanted to apologize to you about the other day."

"A-A-Apologize?" Naruto asks.

"Yeah, I was being an idiot..." Shikamaru shrugs, he looks up then to see Naruto staring at him with wide, surprising eyes. Naruto's eye are filled with confusion as he looks at Shikamaru like his absorbing everything around him.

It catches him off guard.

Shikamaru realizes that his words mean something here, that Naruto is listening to him and taking this conversation seriously. Not a lot of kids their age know the power of words, Shikamaru knows this, because everyone throws words around so casually that they don't understand that words can mean something, that words have power.

They have the power to hurt…

But, also the power to make things right.

"I upset you the other day, didn't I? When…" Shikamaru pauses, he didn't really know much about the blonde's situation, but it was obvious, "... When I was talking about my mom?"

Naruto flushed, clearly embarrassed by the question, but there was no denying on what made Naruto was upset that day… Everything had been fine until Shikamaru ran his big mouth and made Naruto uncomfortable. Here he was talking trash about his mother when Naruto didn't even have one.

Shikamaru may not have the best relationship with his mother, he might find her to be annoying, up-tight, and too hard on his father… But he still loves her just the same, wouldn't trade her for anything in the world. He'd be lost without her, although he would never admit that out loud or anything.

It took a moment, but Naruto finally gave him a single nod to his question. Of course he would be upset.

"My mom can be bother, but, I do love her…" Shikamaru wants to clarify this, "But, when I was complaining about her the other day, I hope you didn't think... Well… Like I was rubbing it in your face or something? It kind of just slipped my mind that, well…"

"That I don't got one?" Naruto finished for him.

This was too much work, Shikamaru felt his face flush slightly, "...Yeah… That."

There was an awkward pause between them. Shikamaru realized he was super bad at this, and almost wishes he brought Choji along as a buffer. Choji would be able to make this whole thing less… Uncomfortable. His best friend was always able to add a bit of cushion to his bluntness.

The whole reason that he didn't bring Choji is because he knew he needed to do this alone. It would mean more if Shikamaru did it alone, since he knew he was the one who ruined their meal that day.

Shikamaru wanted to apologize right away, but in the last few days none of the times he could have apologized had felt right.

Today felt like the day, and plus it made him observe something about Naruto that he had a feeling that even Sasuke didn't know.

Shikamaru takes a few steps forward, until he was at arm's length with Naruto. He made sure to look Naruto in the eye, to show the sincerity of his apology, "I'm sorry I made you sad, Naruto."

"Wow, Shikamaru… No, um, you don't… need ta feel bad..." Naruto turns red, waving his arms in front of him, "It's… I mean… You don't gotta say sorry for anything. I was the one who was rude that day, ya know."

"No you weren't being rude, I was the one being rude." Shikamaru wants to make this clear, "Naruto, it wasn't right of me to make you feel bad. I was really trying to get to know you that day and I ruined it by being a pain."

Shikamaru could see Naruto trying to say something, but between his stumbling of words and his embarrassment Shikamaru can't understand anything he is trying to say.

Shikamaru holds up the bag in front of him, "Let me make it up to you by sharing my lunch with you. My mom always makes extras and I've noticed that you don't really eat during break so-"

Before Shikamaru could finish, Naruto bursts into tears.

Naruto is sobbing.

He isn't sure if he had ever cried this hard before, and he tries his best to stop himself from acting like a crybaby, but the tears are running down his face and he has no idea how to stop it.

It feels like too much, no one, and Naruto is pretty sure no one ever has came up to him with so much sincerity in their voice and apologizing for something they did against him.

Naruto was expecting to get yelled at. He was expecting to get in a fight. He was prepared for the name calling and the bruises but he was not prepared for this.

He feels Shikamaru reach for him but out of instinct he pulls away, dropping the scroll he had in his hands as he lowered his head and rubs his eyes against his sleeve. It was hard to see his classmate through the haziness of his tears, "S-S-Sorry-y," Naruto said through his sleeve, his hair falling forward and in his face as he uses his free hand to push his hair back, "I-I-I don't… I-I-I-I…." Naruto doesn't know what to say. He tries to remain composed but it's really hard when he feels like his heart was being squeezed out of his chest, "I-I'm-I-"

"It's okay…" Shikamaru answers, and Naruto could feel how uncomfortable he sounds. Of course Shikamaru is uncomfortable, Naruto is being overly dramatic like Sasuke always told him he was.

Naruto takes a few deep breaths, rubbing the rest of the tears out of his eyes. When his vision was clears, he sees that Shikamaru is looking away slightly, as if he is trying to give the blonde some privacy.

"Sorry…" Naruto mumbles, feeling his emotions are now under control.

Shikamaru looks over, instantly relaxing when he noticed the tears stopped, "It's okay."

Naruto smiles, it's awkward and clumsy but he wants to let Shikamaru know that he is okay, that he really, truly, most definitely appreciated this conversation.

Shikamaru sits down, setting the bag in front of him he pulls out two bento boxes. Wordlessly, Shikamaru takes one full box and holds it out for Naruto.

Naruto follows his lead, sitting down in front of Shikamaru and very carefully reaches out for the bento box. When he opens the box he peers inside to find fried chicken with tamagoyaki, broccoli, tomato, sautéed spinach, and onigiri rice balls. Everything was so neatly placed inside of the box, each food having their own little section so he could pick and choose what he wants to eat.

Naruto has never had a meal like this, something so well thought out and prepared. It's so caring. All his life, Naruto's meals had been for convenience, whatever was more affordable or what he could make himself. He could never make anything like this, he could never prepare something so perfect and with such care that it was like eating something out of a fairy tale.

He didn't really know for sure, but something in Naruto told him if he had a mom, she'd prepare a meal for him just like this one.

Something that could only be prepared by a mother's love.

Not that Sasuke would ever tell anyone, but he noticed that the fat kid was eating alone on his lunch break.

He never bothered to pay attention to him before, well, not until recently when the Nara started to get on his nerves. Now, those two were on his radiator, and Sasuke didn't know what to make of that. The fat one always seemed to be nervous around him, avoiding Sasuke like he was the plague.

Good. He didn't want anything to do with the pair, maybe if this one kept his distance then the Nara would as well and things could go back to normal.

Their sensei had told the class to meet outside for some sparring today, which, Sasuke was always a fan of. Although his classmates weren't much of a challenge for him, the practice was good and he secretly enjoyed the praise he got for it.

Not, that he would ever admit that or anything.

When the rest of the class started to make their way outside to the training grounds, Sasuke followed, not really paying attention to his surroundings as he aimlessly gathered around with the rest of his class.

Not everyone was there at the training grounds, knowing that class was starting in a few minutes, Sasuke unintentionally started to scan the area for Naruto. He knew that Naruto liked to spend his lunches away from the classroom, either working on some extra training or doing… well, Sasuke didn't know but he just assumed he spent that time alone.

So, when the blonde was walking back towards the group with the Nara of all people, Sasuke couldn't help but the narrow his eyes at it.

When did those two become friends?

Naruto spotted him, grinning widely and waving at his direction. He said something to Nara- they were too far away for Sasuke to pick up on the conversation -before Naruto ran towards him.

"Hey Sasuke!" Naruto seemed like he was in a great mood, which, was unusual while he was on school grounds.

Sasuke's eyes glanced over to the Nara, who was conversing with his friend before looking back at Naruto, "Hey."

Naruto seemed to pick up on something, following his gaze, it took a moment before he made a comment, "Shikamaru and I had lunch together."

"Why?"

"Well, um…" Naruto did his normal thing when he didn't want to talk, he'd close his eyes and run his fingers though the back of his hair, "It's kind of… we had a…"

"I don't really care," Sasuke didn't need to hear an explanation from Naruto. It didn't matter what the blonde did on his own time.

"Geez, you don't gotta be a butt about it, ya know."

Sasuke choose not to dignify that comment with a response.

They had their set arrangements. They meet after school to train. Sure, sometimes Sasuke would hang out with the blonde and did consider him a… friend… But, just because they spent time together didn't mean that he had to know the ends and outs of Naruto's life.

Naruto was allowed to have his own life and own friends even if it was with Nara.

It shouldn't bother Sasuke.

… It did.

"Alright class," Iruka made his way to the front of the class, "Everyone quite down and gather around," their sensei paused as the students quieted down and gathered in a circle around him, "It's time for our Traditional Shinobi Sparring," the students around them chatted quietly, but the energy was filled with excitement, most students enjoyed this part of class as well, "Remember, our sparring is only with Taijutsu. I know a few of you know some ninjutsu, but we will not be using it during this class. Also, all fighting ends when there is a clear winner. If you are knocked out of the circle or you are on the ground. Although we are sparring, none of you are authorized to hurt your opponent. Everyone understand?"

The class gave a collective sound of agreement.

"Alright, so let me see who I have going first," Iruka looks down at his notebook before coming with a decision, "Alright, Shikamaru, make your way to the center."

"Ugh, fine." The Nara responded, sticking his hands into his pockets and making his way towards Iruka.

The class started to step away to clear space for the spar. Sasuke felt Naruto back up behind him, but, something in Sasuke stayed. Iruka was still flipping through his notes, most likely trying to figure out who to pair the Nara with.

Sasuke didn't really think about it, instead he stepped forward, "I'll spar against him."

Sasuke could hear the class behind him; the girls were always cheering for him, and some of the guys made some comments behind him but Sasuke choose to ignore them all. It was pretty clear what they were all saying, every single one of them giving this spar to him.

The Nara was smart however, Sasuke knew that.

They had never been matched up before in the past, but he was a Nara after all, in the past he had heard his father speak highly of them.

So, he knew he had to be smart about this fight as well.

"Alright, great!" Iruka smiled down at the both of them, "I think this is a great match up."

When Sasuke did look at the Nara, he gave his a quizzical look, an eyebrow raised in clear confusion. Sasuke knew why he had this look, Sasuke never volunteered to be paired up with someone before.

There was something he had to prove.

And there was really only one way to do it.