I really have no idea how I'm updating this so quickly. Probably because I originally planned on putting up the first two chapters together, but got impatient and posted the first one before this was done. Don't expect me to update so quickly from now on, though, the creative process is hard. That, being said, I'm glad that people seem to like the first chapter, so let's move on to the next. Chapter 2, BEGIN!

Loneliness is Troublesome

Chouji was lonely. It was that simple. He'd been feeling that way a lot recently, although that was kind of expected, seeing as every girl in the village had basically kidnapped his best friend.

Currently, the mass ninja was sitting on a hillside that he had sat on over a thousand times before. He was eating his favorite potato chips and watching the clouds go by. However, the lack of one single element made this usually enjoyable experience almost unbearable. Without Shikamaru, there was no one to share the chips that he loved so much with. No one to debate with over what the clouds looked like. No one to ask questions about the world to, like why Sunagakure was in the middle of the desert, and why Neji always had such a hard time expressing himself.

It wasn't that heneeded Shikamaru nearby all the time anymore. Back when they were younger, the shadow ninja had been Chouji's life support. He had felt like he couldn't exist if Shikamaru wasn't there with him. Between his size and his soft heart, he had been ridiculed almost as much as Naruto had. Shikamaru was the only one that saw him as worthwhile. He thought that the chubby boy's kind heart was a good thing, especially considering the world that they lived in.

"Being a ninja is all about deception," Shikamaru had told his friend once, about a week after they met. Chouji had been wondering why the boy still hung around with him, despite the teasing he had received for it. "You never know if the person standing next to you is an ally or an enemy. It's nice that I don't have to worry about that with you. There aren't enough people in the world as honest and kind as you are."

Of course, he had grown up a bit since those days. Now, he had much more confidence in himself, both as a person and a ninja. He supposed that he had Jirobo to thank for that. As glad as he was that that fatass bastard was dead, the sound ninja had been the first opponent that Chouji had beaten on his own. The fact that he had beaten an opponent of that caliber by himself had given him a major boost of confidence, despite the near-fatal injuries he had suffered. Since then, he had begun training with more vigor, and had been taking on missions separate from his teammates, no longer feeling like he needed them there to succeed. His actually had a very respectable success rate now, and was even beginning to consider applying to become a jonin soon. He felt more confident about his body, too, although that was partially due to the fact that he had filled out above his stomach a little. Hardly anyone called him fat anymore.

Still, just because he didn't need Shikamaru with him at all times didn't mean that he didn't want him there. Shikamaru had always been his best friend, and even put time into his busy (okay, not really busy, but still rather planned out) schedule to help him with his training. And even after all the blood and tears and general hell they had been through together, the two still took the time to do things like stare at the clouds all day like they did as genin.

That, however, had changed, ever since the female population of Konoha had finally decided to give up on Sasuke and started chasing after Shikamaru. Chouji didn't really hate any of them for it. He was too kind and forgiving a person for that. Still, now that it had gotten to the point that Shikamaru couldn't even walk down the street without getting mobbed, the two friends hadn't been able to hang out anymore, and Chouji couldn't help but feel a little left behind. And there were times when some random girl who Chouji didn't know and in all probability had never even spoken two words to Shikamaru before would suddenly appear and ask his the shadow ninja out. When that happened, or whenever Ino and that fan girl from Suna started fighting over Shikamaru, Chouji would find that he had to restrain himself from going right up to them and socking the girls in the jaw. Of course, he hated himself when he thought of it, especially when the girl was Ino—she was his friend, after all, even if she didn't always act like it—but he couldn't help it. He felt like he had to protect what his instincts told him was rightfully his.

Chouji sighed mournfully. Even if he did have a huge crush on his best friend, he was perfectly content with the way things had been up till now. He could live without his lazy friend knowing how he felt about him. Just being able to spend time with Shikamaru would have been enough to satisfy him, but now that had been taken from him.

Chouji was pulled out of his thoughts when he heard a coarse, yet deep voice call out to him from the bottom of the hill. He looked, and found Inuzuka Kiba waving up at him from the foot of the grassy rise, Akamaru following behind his master. He put on a slight smile, and returned the greeting with a friendly, if not tired sounding, "What's up, Kiba?"

The dog ninja calmly walked up the slope and just smiled as he answered. "Eh, nothing much. What are you doing up here by yourself? And where's Shikamaru? You and him are usually attached at the hip."

Chouji's face strained a little. "He's…busy today."

"Ino and Temari again?" Chouji nodded. "Man, I feel bad for him. Poor guy's being hounded all over the village. Even Hana's been looking at him."

"…I know…" Chouji whispered, looking down at the grass below his feet.

Kiba noticed the change immediately, and quickly tried to comfort the large man. "Must be tough for you too, huh? Don't worry, though. I mean, it is Shikamaru after all. He'll probably do something dumb and the girls will leave him alone and move on to Neji or something."

Chouji smiled a little. Kiba wasn't really that good at this sort of thing, but at least he was trying. Now, though, the dog ninja was squatting in front of him, an overly friendly look on his face. Chouji suddenly became on guard. He knew that look. He wants something… Chouji thought for a second, and decided that the direct approach would be best. "Is there something that you want, Kiba?"

"Actually…" Kiba began, blushing a little in embarrassment, "I kinda wanted to ask you to do me a favor."

After a long sigh, Chouji finally responded. "Okay, what's the favor?"

"Well, you see, I kind of have plans today, but the thing is, I can't take Akamaru with me. I've been trying to tire him out all morning, but he's just got too much pent up energy, and I'm already running late. Any chance you can watch him for a while? Please?"

Chouji briefly wondered what Kiba could possibly have to do today that involved leaving Akamaru behind. The two of them had been inseparable since the academy. His first thought was 'date,' but even on those, the large dog often followed behind his master while he talked to whatever girl he was with. Maybe he was headed to a restaurant where there were not pets allowed? No, Kiba always boycotted those.

He stopped wondering, however, when he noticed that the ninja in question was now looking at him with puppy dog eyes. How the hell Kiba could do that with those wild sepia slits he had for eyes was beyond Chouji, but he seemed to be able to pull it off. And it was working. Damn.

"Fine, I'll look after him."

Kiba brightened instantly. "Great!" he exclaimed as he stood up. "Don't worry, he's been running around all morning, so he should be somewhat placid now. I'll pick him up later, about six, okay. Now, be good Akamaru. See you two later!"

And with that, Kiba jumped away, running into the city at top speed, leaving his dog behind. Chouji chuckled a little as Akamaru looked in the direction that his master had taken off in.

"You feeling abandoned, too?" The dog gave a sad whimper at the man's words, and then settled down on the grass next to him. Chouji smiled slightly. It wasn't whom Chouji wished it were, not even the same species, but he had wanted some company. Beggars can't be choosers, after all.

"Hey, you want a chip?"

"Arf!"

A/N: I should probably explain about the "mass ninja" thing, huh? You see, in a lot of Naruto stories (including mine), authors sometimes use their abilities and traits to define them. For example:

Kiba-dog ninja

Shikamaru-shadow ninja

Shino-bug ninja

So, since Chouji's abilities all revolve around him manipulating his body mass, I've coined the phrase "mass ninja" for him. Who knows? Maybe it will catch on.

Anyway, please review so that I know how I did. This is the first time that I've written Chouji, so I'm kind of nervous about it. The next chapter might be a little while, since I'm not sure exactly how I want to write it, and I've been feeling a tad bit narcoleptic lately, but it will come eventually. Until then!