Chronicles of the Lazy-ass Ninja!

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Chapter 6: End of the lazy days

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Disclaimer: I'm not Kishimoto, so… yeah that's about it.

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After the events of the last days, Shikamaru found that the days passed by abnormally fast. At first he had thought by some miracle that Iruka's class had become less boring. He came to the conclusion that it was something else when he inevitably fell into a deep slumber every time he tried to pay attention for more then five minutes. By looking around somewhat he found the answer written on the students' faces: It was stress. Everybody had started to worry about the upcoming exam, especially Naruto. So far, the blonde wondered how he was to accomplish being anything more than a dropout, as still couldn't do well in school. As much as he wanted to memorize the lessons, or concentrate, or perform a certain jutsu, it just couldn't work. Still, his resolve did not waver. His goal to become Hokage was huge; it was only normal that huge efforts were needed to achieve it.

Shikamaru was eyeing him from time to time when he wasn't sleeping in class. He didn't know why, but he really wanted Naruto to succeed. Was it the fact he wanted to be Hokage more than anyone else? The young genius didn't fool himself long: the only things he was interested in were things that could distract him. He probably thought that Naruto was good distraction; troublesome, but curiously amusing. Thinking like that wasn't going to help him though, and since helping him was in the list of "troublesome things", he quickly shrugged the thought away to return to his original train of thoughts. Stress seemed a plausible answer for the sudden notion of time passing faster that usual, but he couldn't comprehend what he was stressed about. Maybe he actually wanted to pass the exams for once. For that however, he would have to study hard and make a minimum of effort… Oh well, suddenly the aspect of another year at the academy didn't sound bad at all.

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Naruto sighed as he walked towards the familiar green hills. The graduation exam was coming soon, and it looked like he would fail it again. Luckily, this wasn't a written exam. All he had to do was to perform the task they'd want him to perform. Naruto proceeded to review what he had learned so far. Well, my henge is alright. A sly smile appeared on his face. Hehehe... wait until they set their eyes on the new version I invented. I guess the only other jutsu they could ask for... I don't want to think about it...

When he got to Shikamaru's cloud watching spot, he found him... reading? Could Shikamaru really be studying for the exam? Well, that was kind of normal afterall; everybody was making efforts in order to become a ninja. Shikamaru's atitude didn't change at all though; maybe he was simply catching up after class. That didn't sound like him at all though. He had to be sure. He leaned closer to read the letters. He didn't hear about any justu called "shogi" before. Wait a second, wasn't that the game he had played with those girls before!?

- What are you doing, idiot!?

- Shut up, idiot. Can't you see I'm reading?

- I can see that! Why aren't you studying!?

- Meh, too troublesome.

Shikamaru was given an angry look and Naruto walked off... right into Choji, almost bumping into him. After the Choji greeted his best friend, the two blonds sat down to talk. At first, it didn't really matter to the young genius, because they weren't interfering with his reading. As he put down his book to go back to cloud gazing however, he heard his named mentioned two or three times. He was curious, but he didn't mind; he knew that nothing that involved Naruto could stay secret for long. In fact, moments later, Naruto got up and walked straight to him, followed by Choji. He crouched next to Shikamaru, eyeing him until it became unbearable. To Naruto's surprise, it took a while, Shikamaru being very stubborn. Finally, he gave up, exasperated.

- What do you want Naruto?

- Do you want to be a ninja or not?

- Yeah... Your point?

- The graduation exam is coming soon.

- …So?

- So!? You'd better do something, dattebayo!

- Tch!

- Oi! Don't "tch" me, you bastard!

- Why should I listen to you, of all the people?

- What?

- You're the dead last of our class. If this keeps up, you won't even pass the graduation exam either; so why the heck should I listen to you?

Naruto tried to argue back, but couldn't. Shikamaru was right. How could he make all the people of Konoha acknowledge as a hokage if he couldn't even become a ninja? He lowered his head for about ten seconds, then quickly barked back, full of energy.

- So what? If this keeps up, I won't be the only one to fail!

- Humph! Let's make a deal then idiot. We both have to pass the genin exam.

- Cool with me! ...But what happens if I don't win?

- If you don't win… I'll never acknowledge you… as anything.

Both Choji and Naruto closely looked at him, to see if he was joking. He wasn't. Still searching the clouds, Shikamaru had a resolute expression on his face. Naruto slowly began to understand; the lazy bum still wasn't his friend. For that, he would have to become a genin. It was harsh; he actually thought he had made new friends. That only reinforced the determination he had to pass this exam. He stood up, with more determination in his face.

- Alright, I will! And if I do, you'll have to at least put some sort of effort from now on.

- Right, like that'll ever happen.

- Oh, it will, unless you'd want a certain someone's mother to know about something.

- You… you can't!

- You're right Naruto said slyly. I couldn't. But I bet he could.

- Choji!

- Ah. Sorry Shikamaru, I pretty curious about what a serious you is about to do. Besides, from now on we'll be doing dangerous stuff we have to be ready.

He knew both of them were right, that didn't erase the uneasiness he had at the prospect of him actually having to study and work.

- Bah, Fine, Whatever, he finally said. Don't you have some studying to do?

Naruto took that as his cue and walked away. Shikamaru guessed that he wouldn't see the goofy kid around here at least until the graduation exam. If he felt somewhat guilty about it, he didn't admit it to himself. Taking care of other people's busyness meant trouble, he learned that. He simply tried to push the feeling away. Glancing over, he saw Choji looking at him with concern.

- What now?

- Don't you think that you were a little too hard on him?

- Please Choji, don't you start. It'll be fine as long as he passes the test, right?

The chubby blond thought about it for a while before nodding.

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Nobody knew how it happened, but it was a special year at the Konoha academy: everybody passed the exam. When all the graduates had entered the class for the last time, no one could tell which event surprised them the most: was it the fact that kiba and Choji had managed to get decent grades at the end? It could have been that even the dead last had received his Hitai-Ate. But the shocker that no one anticipated – even Shikamaru – was probably when Naruto made his way in the class with his brand new forehead protector when he didn't even participate in the graduation ceremony. Everybody and there mother thought he failed his exam. Even when Choji asked Shikamaru how it was possible, the super I.Q. genius had no answer to give. The only thing he did notice was that Naruto was somehow different. Somehow, between these last two days, Shikamaru felt like the blond dobe had grown.

Nobody would ever know what Naruto had to endure to receive his Hitai-Ate. Only he would remember the pain, the betrayal, the rage, but also the joy, the tears, the friendship. A lot happened that night, and he thought it would be wise not to mention about his new jutsu for the moment. The fact that it was forbidden and that it had almost cost him everything was reason enough to keep it a secret, but he knew that he had learned something important, something that defined him, something that would be helpful for the rest of his days. Today he was proud and ready to face any challenge.

Shikamaru eyed Naruto for a while then stared blankly at the chalkboard. The only reason he could come up for Naruto's graduation was simple: it had to be a miracle. Somehow, that didn't even surprise him. The dead last was the first one to figure out on his own about him. The only other people who knew were Choji, because he had told him, and Sakura, through an unfortunate series of events. Now a second wonder; one would be tempted to think that Naruto was a miracle worker. He didn't care though because he was genuinely glad for him, which was a feat for the lazy newly promoted genin: he never felt something for others with the exception of Choji. He realized something more important though, and a bittersweet smile appeared on his lips: I guess my lazy days are over.

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A/N: I'll try to update more often. As usual reviews would be much appreciated.

BTW: There will be more action starting the next couple of chapters.