Naruto walked towards the school hands in his pockets, hat tipped to block out the sun. Shikamaru walked beside him, hands clasped under his high pony tail.
"You don't need to follow me everywhere." Naruto shouted back at Sasuke who trailed behind them.
"I didn't want to but Sakura asked me because you ran out last time." Sasuke bit back a he pulled at his blue long sleeves.
"Well, I don't exactly do well in these kinds of things." Naruto sighed as they walked into the school.
Iruka had asked Naruto to come and talk to his class. It was something that he had wanted to avoid as much as he could, but he guessed he had to do it some time.
Shikamaru banged on the door to the classroom as Naruto started to fidget. He could handle fighting in a war, the akatsuki and most other things. But talking to a class of children? No.
Shikamaru wrapped his arm around Naruto and pulled him closer. "You will be fine." He whispered in his ear.
Iruka opened the door and his face brightened. "Hokage, Shikamaru and even Sasuke. I am surprised to see all three of you." He stepped aside and Shikamaru walked in first the rest following suit.
"Iruka how many times do I have to tell you it's Naruto to you." Naruto walked in and smiled to all the all the children in the class.
"Class the Hokage was nice enough to come and talk to us, even though he is very busy." Iruka told the class.
"Yeah finishing the fourths paperwork and getting beat up by Sakura." Shikamaru laughed as he sat down on the teachers chair.
"Shut it Shika. Now me being the sixth Hokage and everything has not improved my speaking skills. So just ask me questions and I will answer as truthfully as I can an if anything good comes to mind I will tell use." Naruto told the children as he sat on the desk and Sasuke posted himself on the windowsill.
Hands shot up in the air and Iruka picked people at random.
"What where you like at our age?" A small blond girl asked. Shikamaru laughed as he leaded back in his chair, Sasuke snorted and Iruka visibly paled.
Naruto rubbed the back of his head and laughed a little. "Well I didn't really have much friends, so I used to be the town trouble maker. Iruka taught me in school and I never used to listen to I thing he said. Even though I with I did cause I had to relearn most of it later in life. Also I loved painting the town when I was in a bad mood. I even covered the thirds carving completely in paint. Then there was the shadow clone justu that I was hopeless at."
Naruto looked up waiting for another person to be picked when someone shouted. "My dad says the thing you were known for was the endless amount of shadow closes you could produce."
"That is true. Actually someone in my first chunin exams someone made the same statement and I told him that I only earned that through hard work, because I wasn't a genius like him but I was a failure. I failed the graduation exam three times because I stank at shadow clones." Naruto thought about the first time he had fought Neji and a sad smile crossed his face.
Shikamaru noticed and sat beside the blond a hand on his shoulder. "You really did stink at it. Actually to be honest when you walked into class with the headband, that Iruka had gave you, on no one could believe it." Shika let out a small laugh and Naruto leaned closer to his friend for support.
The children kept asking him questions about when he was younger and what was it like being Hokage. Until one boy asked "Is it true you are the Sage of six paths?"
Everyone seemed to freeze and look in Naruto's direction even Sasuke, like the question was forbidden. Naruto just laughed.
"Well if I am honest I don't think I am. I was told this when I was dead really and how is that right?" Then he let out a random laugh and put his hand to his stomach. "But they seem to disagree."
"Who are they?"
"One Tail is Shukaku, Two Tails is Matatabi, Three Tails is Isobu, Four Tails is Son Goku, Five Tails is Kokuou, Six Tails is Saiken, Seven Tails is Choumei, And Nine Tails is Kurama" Naruto listed them like he was listing family members.
"Who is the eight tails and where is he?"
"Eight Tails is Gyuuki he is with Killer Bee in the land of lightning." Naruto told them still smiling like an idiot.
"That is nothing to smile about dope. He could be used as a weapon." Sasuke grunted from the window his eyes trained on where Shikamaru's arm was still wrapped around Naruto.
"Teme shut up. Bee isn't like that and the reason I let them be together is cause they are close and I ain't one to try and ruin a bond. Actually I am the one usually trying to keep them in tact." Naruto said in low tones and Sasuke flinched at the comment directed at him.
"Well sorry to say class but I better get the Hokage home he has an important visitor tomorrow." Shikamaru said while pulling Naruto to his feet.
Naruto's face brightened considerably. "Gaara will be here tomorrow? Is Temari and Kunkuro with him?"
Shikamaru sighed. "Yes the Kasekage will be here tomorrow. Yes his brother and sister will be with him. Before you ask, I don't really know why they are coming but me and Sakura have a feeling Gaara just wants to see you." Shikamaru sighed again. "But first we need to get through today. You have to meet with Sai, Yamato and Kakashi to train. Sasuke you are to come with us. Then you have training with your team and Konohamaru. Then to finish off the day you need to do some paperwork."
Naruto sighed as Shika relayed his schedule. Then Shikamaru stopped and turned back to the blond.
"Oh and one more thing tonight we are all going to have barbecue, even Sasuke and the girls." Then Shikamaru walked on waving. "Well I am off now, I will pick you up after your team training Naruto." Then he disappeared from sight.
Sasuke and Naruto walked in silence for awhile.
"You and Shikamaru are very touchy." Sasuke stated not letting any emotion slip into his voice.
Naruto smiled. "Yeah he has helped me through a lot. I guess he finds it a way to get me to listen." Naruto stole a glance at the raven haired boy. He seemed to be thinking deeply about something. "You still act as if you don't care what they think of you."
"That is cause I don't." Sasuke turned to Naruto. "Do you think they will really accept me back, the betrayer of the leaf?" Sasuke started to advance on Naruto.
"Yeah I think they should accept you a war hero back into the village. I know I do, I could have easily needed up just like you if I hadn't had Iruka or anyone else there for me. I could have even ended up like what Gaara was before, except I doubt anyone would have stopped me." Naruto got an expression that Sasuke had never seen on the blond before.
As Sasuke looked at the blond some of his anger seemed to soften. "Dope I doubt you have the brain power to become like me or how Gaara used to be." He gave a small smile to try and reassure the man next to him.
"You are probably right about that. Would have be caught the first hour I left the village, if anyone would have came after me." Naruto spoke but his mind didn't seem to be present.
"Naruto?" Sasuke asked a little guilty for setting him into this mood. Suddenly Naruto's eyes came back to focus.
"Oh sorry for being all depressing Sasuke. You shouldn't have to hear what would have been. Now lets go train." Naruto shouted with a stupid grin on his face, but Sasuke could see that it was forced.
Naruto was like a zombie by the time Shikamaru had came to get him from his office.
"Naruto you don't need to come. Out of us all I am sure you have a valid excuse, you are Hokage now you know." Shikamaru said looking over to his friend, who looked like he would collapse any minute, with sympathy.
"No Shika I want to go. I haven't hung out with you all since I became the sixth. Ha I remember I used to have energy to spare all the time, now I look as bad as the old man." Naruto laughed while rubbing his blond hair.
Shika flung his arm around the blond and pulled him so they were walking with their hips attached. "I am sure once you are used to it you will go back to being over energetic and I will be the lazy one once again."
They walked into the barbecue, last ones to arrive. "Sorry we are late Naruto even had to bring homework!" Shikamaru shouted while pulling the sighing blond closer he let out a deep throated laugh.
Shikamaru felt eyes burning holes into him as he kept a hold of the blond, at first he thought it was Sakura because she had became over protective of Naruto lately. But he saw he chatting away to Ino about babies.
"Naruto!" Ino shouted and encouraged him over. But the tired blond refused and walked over to a table, Shikamaru still walking with his arm around him. "Naruto Uzumaki are you refusing to talk to me cause I tried to strip you last week?" Ino demanded and stomped over to their table.
"No Ino it is not because of that, even though I would hate for it to happen again. I just have some work to do and then I will eat away with use till your hearts content." Naruto explained as he pulled out some paperwork.
Shikamaru looked between the two in shock. He knew that Ino always shouted about one day having blond babies with Naruto but he thought it was a joke but with what he just heard he didn't know what to think anymore and Sakura voiced his thoughts.
"What you actually did that I thought you were kidding about the babies and trying to rape him."
"Nope when I was working last week she came to the office and locked the door on me. Then she demanded we make love so she could get the children's hair colour right. Even after me telling her they could end up with the same hair colour as Gaara cause of the Uzumaki blood, she started too pull my clothes off. This is where I thank god that Konohamaru decided he wanted to have a fight with me and burst in." Naruto told them as he worked away.
"Ha about the only action you get." Kiba shouted with a booming laugh.
"Well of course that's the only action he gets from a girl he is gay." A drunk Tenten shouted across the bar and everyone froze. All the girls knew of course but the boys, excluding Shikamaru and Shino hadn't heard the news yet.
"What Naruto gay? Ha what you smoking Tenten? He has been chasing Sakura for years." Kiba tried to defend his friend.
Naruto released a sigh. "No it's true. I'm gay." He told them all casually while still working away at his paperwork.
"Yeah. Why do you think Shikamaru is all touchy with him? He's been trying to get him into bed for weeks." Ino told the group.
"If that was my motive I would just ask. I am too lazy to do it the hard way. Naruto what to sleep with me tonight I even have ramen for breakfast." Shikamaru said leaning in closer to the blond so his breath was on Naruto's cheek.
"Yeah why not just let me finish this and I we will go." Naruto answered a small smile crossing his face. Everyone burst out laughing at their banter. But Shikamaru could feel someone not laughing, and he turned round to see Sasuke sitting staring at him and the blond.
'How interesting, this might actually be fun.' Shikamaru thought.
"So Naruto what did you bring to work on?" Choji asked looking genuinely interested.
Naruto frowned and looked down at his paper. "It is the Huga clans branch family curse mark. I promised someone that if I became Hokage I would change the Huga's." and even though Naruto put a smile back on his face most people knew he was seriously sad.
"So you are actually attempting to fix that?" Hinata spoke up from her seat next to Kiba.
"Yes I am. I even got permission from your dad to get some records and, if I find a way, to remove it. I have a feeling I have the answer almost but this last part is putting me in a bind. But if I don't get it right it could kill someone." Naruto explained to the doubtful girl.
"Let me see that." Sasuke said in a cocky tone as if he would find all the answers with just one look. Shika smiled to himself because there was just about no one that could understand the simple bits but Naruto and seal experts, never mind the part he was stuck on.
Naruto handed over the sheet he was looking at and everyone could see Sasuke's eyes turn from cocky to confused.
"I have no clue what this is even saying." Sasuke put down the paper and looked at Naruto. "Are you sure you didn't pick up a ancient letter sheet?"
Naruto let out a huff. "No it is the right one. This sheet is how the seal was originally made. No one alive today actually knows how it works and no one can understand this, which is the only record. I have figured out most of it but the last line. I have even come up with several ways to remove the seal, but if I choose the wrong way it could kill someone."
"Why would it kill them?" Sai asked. Everyone was now at their table looking at Naruto's work.
"Well you know that the branch family seal destroyed their eyes when they die. If one of these solutions are wrong it will trigger a reaction from the seal either killing the person, because it has never been used on a live person, or permanently blinding them. Either way is not something I want to risk so every test is on hold until I can figure this last bit out."
"Wow Naruto you really are smart. What happened to the Naruto we used to know, who could hardly even make a shadow clone never mind figure out how to remove a seal no one else has been able too." Sakura asked still amazed at the progress he had made in two months.
"I didn't become Hokage just because I hold eight tailed beasts you know."
The rest of the night passed without much more excitement. Naruto fell sleep on Shikamaru's shoulder after trying to solve the last part if the seal for hours. Shikamaru could feel that Sasuke was shooting daggers at him with every chance he could, if he wasn't dragged into conversation.
Shika had began to unconsciously stroke Naruto's blond hair when Sai asked, "Is it true you want in Naruto's pants?" All conversation seemed to stop and everyone looked at Shikamaru waiting for an answer.
"Right just so this is straight I am not gay I am Bi. To be totally honest I am partly attracted to Naruto," he felt the girls just about to scream, "but he is not interested in me that way. That I know of anyway."
"Then who is he interested in?" Hinata asked leaning in closer trying too keep her voice down so Naruto didn't wake up.
Shikamaru's hand stopped stroking Naruto's hair, but started back up again. "I don't really know. Could be anyone."
Sakura gasped she leaned in closer to the group. "Do you think it is Gaara. I am always finding letters on Naruto's desk from him. Also he is going to be arriving tomorrow, just to see Naruto I think."
"Oh my god you could be right. They have been very close for years. Also every time he comes to the village they never leave each others sides." Tenten shrieked having one of her odd fan girl moments.
Sasuke growled. "With the way use are going on it is like they are secret lovers." Sasuke was struggling to keep his irritated look of his face, but Shika could see his struggle.
"You are so right Sasuke, they could be. Naruto cried like a bitch when Gaara was found dead when he went after him at the akatsuki hideout. Also after the war I walked by the Hokages office and Gaara was arguing that he refused to leave until Naruto was better. He even sent Kunkuro back to the village to keep it under control while he waited for Naruto to wake up." Ino face lighting up with her uncontrollable fan girl-ness.
"And guess where he stayed that whole time?" Sakura didn't give anyone time to answer. "In Naruto's apartment while Temari stayed in their hotel room. He even cleaned it up and Naruto has kept it clean, even with the amount of books he is asking me to get him lately."
Shikamaru laughed. "So it's not only me and Konohamaru he is sending out to get his books. Yeah been in his apartment a few times lately and I noticed that even his books are in alphabetical order of writer."
"When did Naruto become a neat freak?" Choji pondered, missing the only person that was messier than him.
"According to him he isn't. I asked him why they had to be in alphabetical order and he said it was easier to find that way. Then when I went to place a book in that I had bought him he just about bit my head off. He said they where in order of date written as well, he found it easier that way too. To be honest I just about fainted at his neatness of books." Kiba said while leaning back and wrapping an arm around Hinata's waist.
"Oh and have you seen his cupboards? There is only one in his whole apartment stuffed with ramen the rest has normal food." Lee interjected.
"I guess he isn't really the Naruto we used to know." Shino told them in an all knowing tone. "At least now he remembers who I am, and I was one of the first of us to know he was gay."
"Wait who was the first and why?" Sasuke asked suddenly interested in the topic.
"That would be me and because that day he was acting all weird and told me and Shino, who were on a mission with him, that he had something important to tell us. The when we got home he wouldn't even touch his ramen and just blurted that he was gay and that he was sorry that he had tricked us."
Shikamaru educated the group as he thought back to the time Naruto had first came out. "I don't really know why then or why us of all people. Guess he knew that we would be the least to have a reaction and just get over it, which was so wrong because Shino came out his shell and bombarded him with questions. Which made Naruto at ease because unlike some people we believed him straight away."
Sakura banged her hand down on the table and Naruto jumped up now awake, but Sakura continued anyway by shouting. "It's not my fault I didn't believe him. How would you feel if someone who had chased you saying I love you for years and then denies you, when you ask them on a date, saying they are really gay!?"
Naruto looked up and Sakura with sleepy but hurt eyes. "I told you I was sorry." Then he looked round the table at them all. "Nice to know you talk about me while I sleep." Naruto stood up.
"Wait Naruto you don't have to go!" Tenten shouted to him.
"No it's ok I have to go sleep anyway because if I don't get up before Gaara is here tomorrow he will moan that I sleep to much and come to wake me early every morning that he is in the village. If he stays for a while that is. Thanks Shika for letting me drool on you." Naruto waved as he walks out the door.
"That's ok I am used to it I am just that hot!" Shikamaru shouted after the blond and heard a bust of laughter from him.
"OMG he is even going to bed early so he can be the one to meet Gaara in the morning. They are so a couple it must be why he won't have babies with me." Ino squealed as Shika stood to leave.
"Well if they are I might just ask Gaara to share because it is unfair keeping that hot blond to himself. I need to get up with Naruto too so I am off." Shikamaru told them while waving. It was true he wouldn't mind dating Naruto but he had never been so suggestive about it before. He even went as far to lick his lips when he had called Naruto hot, all to get a reaction out of Sasuke and was disappointed when the raven head had his features under control.
He waved bye to his group of friends and turned around one last time to see the raven boy sending him daggers. 'Ha this will be fun.' He thought placing his hands in his pocket and heading for home.