Author's Note: Hey! I hope you all liked the last chapter! I don't have much to say at the moment, but for those of you that are confused, I'm sorry, I deleted the old notice chapters, so now you only have actual chapters. Though, just to clear some confusion, on the end of the last chapter, I put out the challenge winner. That story expert wasn't mine. It's Wolfmoon30's as they won the challenge I had put out. I'm sorry if you were all confused. :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto! (Sorry for forgetting this last chapter.)

Last time: ""Alright then," Hiruzen said. "I'll go call Shikamaru, you should go get ready to meet him at Inoichi's office."

Naruto nodded, and he ran and hugged Iruka before hugging his jiji and running out to meet his friend."

Chapter 8: Meeting for Dinner

Naruto smiles as he ran up to Shikamaru.

"Are you ready," the lazy boy asked.

Naruto nodded and they walked into the office.

"Ah, Naruto-kun," Inoichi said as he glanced up from his paperwork. "So nice you to join me."

Naruto bows slightly to the man, and Shikamaru drawled out, "He says it's nice to see you too, Inoichi-san."

Inoichi smiles and the two boys sit in their respective chairs.

"So, how do you like your team so far," the platinum blonde asked.

Naruto opens his drawing pad and the two of the rooms other occupants wait for him to finish. When Naruto is done, he shows them a picture of a blonde fox kit jumping around in a world of golden sunlight as the kit circles a shadow deer.

Inoichi chuckles as Shika blushes slightly.

"So, your extremely happy to have Shika-chan on your team, eh," the psy-nin asked.

Naruto nods furiously.

"What about your other teammate," the man continues to question.

Naruto holds up a picture of an excited puppy.

Inoichi looks to Shikamaru in confusion.

"He's saying that Kiba is on our team, and he acts like an excited puppy," the genious interpreted.

Iniochi chuckles again.

"Ah, I see," he said. "Do you think you'll be able to get along with him?"
Naruto nodded, and Shika said, "Yeah, he invited us to dinner with his family."

"Oh, really," Inoichi asks. "That must be exciting."

Naruto bites his lip in nervousness, and Shikamaru puts his hand on the boy's shoulder. Naruto looks to Shikamaru in thankfulness, and Shika just nods.

"So, Naruto," Inoichi said, changing the subject. "How do you like Ibiki?"

Naruto started to furiously draw a picture and showed them in after about five minutes. The picture featured a large monster that is creeping out of a closet.

Inoichi burst out laughing, and Naruto looks put out while Shikarmaru looks furious.

"I'm sorry," Inoichi said, immediately calming down. "It's not you. It's just, that's a really good description of him. Most grown mean describe him as a nightmare."

Naruto shakes in fear, and Shikamaru rubs his shoulder to comfort him as he give the psy-nin the stink eye.

"Don't worry though," Inoichi continued as he ignored Shikamaru. "He's actually a real teddy bear when you get to know him."

"Really," Shikamaru asks incredulously.

"Yep," Inoichi said. "I've known the man for years."

"Then why were you so surprised when you figured out he was our sensei," Shikamaru asked.

"'Cause of his job," the platinum blonde said. "I didn't think Hokage-sama would let a genin team be an information gather and interrogation squad. It's not like him. Plus, Ibiki-kun is also known as the Mind Rapist for a reason. He might be soft, but he has an extremely hard shell. Do you understand?"

Shikamaru nods and Naruto's eyes look back and forth to his two companions.

"Now Naruto," Inoichi said. "Let's start the exercises again."

For the next half an hour, Inoichi had Naruto draw pictures of his fears, and had him try to talk to him and Shikamaru by having him read word cards. Shikamaru sighed as he saw that Naruto kepts skirting around his social anxiety.

He's not ready, the Nara thought. He's still afraid to talk about it. But, how do we make him realize that there's nothing to fear?

…Inuzuka Compound…

On the other side of the village, a little white puppy scampers around his masters feet as he carries plates to the table.

"Akamaru," Kiba whines. "Stop it! You're going to make me drop the plates!"

The puppy whines, and Kiba sets the plates on the table quickly so he can pick up the whining puppy.

"I'm sorry," Kiba said as he pets the dog's head. "But, we have company coming over, and I want it to be perfect. We got to impress our teammates after all. Plus, we need to make sure Naruto feels comfortable here. He's our pack now, and I don't want him to feel on edge where he should feel like it's his second home, do you understand?"

Akamaru yips in agreement.

"Good boy," Kiba exclaims. "Now be on your best behavior tonight boy."

Akamaru barks his understanding just as the doorbell rings.

"I'll get it," the Inuzuka boy yells as he ran to the door in excitement.

Once Kiba reached the door, he skids and yanks the door open.

"Yo," Shikamaru said and Naruto waves shly from behind the Nara's back.

"Heya," Kiba exclaimed. "Come on in!"

Shikamaru nods and walks into the dog boy's home, Naruto behind him with his hand fisted into his nice chocolate brown kimono.

"Ya know," Kiba said. "You two didn't have to get all dressed up."

"We didn't mind," Shika said and Naruto shook his head.

"Don't you two look lovely," a brash female voice called out.

"Hey mom," Kiba said. "These are my teammates, Nara Shikamaru and Uzumaki Naruto. Guys, this is my mom, Tsume."

"It's nice to meet you, Inuzuka-sama," Shikamaru said as Naruto bowed.

"Oh, none of that," Tsume said. "Call me Tsume."

"As you wish, Tsume-san," Shikamaru said.

"Ah, aren't they cute," another voice called out. "Look at them in their matching kimonos!"

Naruo blushed and hid behind Shikamaru, and the Nara just let out his familiar "troublesome".

"Boys, this is my daughter, Hana," Tsume said. "Hana, these are Kiba-chan's teammates, Naruto-kun and Shikamaru-kun."

"Hey," Hana said with a fanged grin.

At that moment a loud whistling was heard.

"It seems that dinner is ready," Tsume said. "I'll go fetch it. Kiba, why don't you lead your friends to the table? Hana can help me finish setting it out."

Kiba nodded and led his teammates to the table.

"Your mom seems friendly," Shikamaru said.

"She is," Kiba said. "Just don't get her angry, she's not the Clan Head for nothin'."

"That's right kiddo," Tsume said chuckling as she and Hanna carried in all the plates.

The Matriarch sets the plates down and everyone settles down to eat. With a calling of "Itadakimasu!"—and a praying hand gesture from Naruto—everyone starts digging into the food.

"So, Naruto-kun," Tsume asks. "Why are you so quiet? We haven't scared you have we?"

"He has select mutism, mom," Kiba said. "'Cording to Shikamaru, he hasn't spoken since he was five."

The girls' eyes widened at this information.

"And, the only way he communicates is by drawings," Shikamaru told them.

"How did he pass the Academy if he only spoke with pictures," Hana asked curious.

"He actually wrote for homework, but beside that and writing in a journal that he never shows anyone, he only lets us see pictures," Shikamaru clarified.

"Wow," Hana said.

"So, Shika-kun, are you Naruto's official spokesperson," Tsume teased.

Naruto gave a small, shy smile and nodded.

Tsume chuckled at the response.

"How did you two meet," Kiba asked.

The boys smiled in a nostalgic way.

"Well," Shikamaru said. "I was pushed by my troublesome mom to go to the park that day, and I was standing in line to be pick for Ninja Tag…."

The women and Kiba all leaned forward listening to his tale. Every once and a while, Naruto would show pictures of events or representations of his feelings. At the end, however, the Inuzuka were disgusted with the boys who tried to beat up Naruto, and were disappointed that the Akamitchi heir would let an innocent boy be beat just because of prejudice. However, they all laughed when Naruto pulled out the old picture that Naruto had shown to Shikaku, though Shikamaru couldn't help but blush knowing that his friend kept that all these years.

Soon, however, the boys had to leave for their respective homes. They each said their farewells, Shikamaru verbally, and Naruto with a picture.

Once the boys were out of sight, Tsume said, "You've got nice teammates son."

Kiba smiled and said, "Yeah. They're odd in their own ways, but at least they're nice…and they're really smart."

Tsume smiled and ruffled his hair, making him yell in indignation.