I may be scattered
A little shattered
What does it matter?
No one has a fit like I do
I'm the only one that's fits you

Whispering to pass the time
Whisper for the days gone by
Whisper with the voice inside of you

Disenchanting Lullaby - Foo Fighters

'This' means Shikamaru's third person thoughts (--), it means though, but I'm typing it all weird

'Speech"

sorry if this chapter isn't too good at the moment. But I promise to get another, better one out soon!

Grammer isn't good but it's mine. Naruto isn't.

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Perhaps it was the way that he noticed everything. Despite how obviously lazy he was- he did catch everything around him in a fairly detailed way. The most annoying thing about team seven, well at least the most obvious thing had to be Haruno, Sakura's crush on the all around perfect boy Uchiha, Sasuke.

Now, Shikamaru wasn't going to say anything out loud for several reasons. One; it would cause unnecessary trouble and second, it would be just plain bothersome.

While he looked up at the clouds, Shikamaru's mind revolved around the almost bothersome thoughts of the past. Not his past- no, that would be just plain bothersome. But about one Uzimaki, Naruto's past.

When they were training in the academy; Naruto was dead last. In everyone's eyes at least.

But Shikamaru knew something was beyond that when he first met the blond. He didn't delve into it them, thinking it was bothersome then too. But now that the blond was forever gone and he had spare time. His mind wouldn't just rest.

When Shikamaru first met Naruto, his first thoughts were 'how bothersome', it didn't take long for Naruto to prove two things, one- he was bothersome and two, he was smarter then most gave him credit for.

Naruto had been and was until late, a bouncing ball of vivid energy. He never stopped moving. Shikamaru thought lazily about how he got tired from just hanging around Naruto.

But perhaps that's why he was so hyper.

That sudden thought crossed Shikamaru's mind and he lazily turned the thought over and over in his minds eye until he got a firm trail of thought. Naruto never really had friends until Chouji and I had befriended him. No one had wanted to be around the vessel. Chouji was the first to notice the blond, Chouji himself was an outcast and he had a large heart despite his sometimes rude manner. After Chouji accepted him, I took the time to notice the blond. Not that I hadn't before. But during those first days of talking, I really got to know the blond.

He didn't say anything like 'Hey, want to tell me about yourself?', that would have been way out of his way. He didn't do much more then what was the absolute minimum. Why should he for his superiors, let alone Naruto.

Pushing away thoughts about solely Naruto, Shikamaru focused on the whole team of group 7.

Sasuke, the perfect boy. He had the looks, the power, the wealth… everything but a family. Where as Naruto had virtually nothing to call his own. They were opposites in personality and materialistic things- but the absolute same in everything else.

Then there was that troublesome Haruno girl. She had a comfortable life, but made it painful to be around when she started obsessing over said perfect Uchiha.

That's perhaps one of the faults in that group: Team Seven.

Shikamaru propped his head up with the palm of his hand so he could switch his view of the lazy clouds to the slowly rolling meadow. The wind was slight, but the tall grass swayed slowly. It was nearly as good of a sight as the sky in Shikamaru's eyes.

Going back to his thoughts, a small frown adorned Shikamaru's face.

The pink haired girl, Sakura tended to disregard all thoughts- even in battle, Shikamaru was told when Sasuke was injured or something happened to him. Naruto had saved her life in countless ways, and Sakura had even placed her thanks in Sasuke who had been injured at said time or mission.

That made Shikamaru mad slightly, the fact that Sakura was so obsessed with Sasuke had it had caused Naruto to nearly kill himself during their first retrieval mission on the Uchiha heir.

'I promise to bring him back, don't you worry' or something like that. That was the promise Naruto made to her when she had cried in front of him on that bridge.

Now, Shikamaru knew that Naruto had fallen out of love with Haruno, Sakura. Naruto had told him privately during a spring day some months ago. But that didn't stop Naruto from caring.

Shikamaru thought about that day lazily, who would of expected Naruto to say such a thing?

---------fLaShBaCk TiMe!------------------

"Do you think it's wrong of me to not love Sakura, Shikamaru?"

Shikamaru looked up from the Shogi game placed out between the two. While Naruto couldn't pass a test to save his life, he could play a fairly decent game of Japanese chess. Doesn't mean he ever beat Shikamaru though.

"Hmm."

Shikamaru moved a piece forward and leaned back. His chin was in the palm of his hand.

"I mean, after all… It's me, others expect me to love her."

Shikamaru watched as Naruto moved a piece. He reached forward and check mated Naruto. Naruto groaned loudly but started to set the pieces up again.

Naruto, thinking the conversation was over, stayed silent surprisingly. When two more games passed and the sun was setting, Naruto stood and told Shikamaru a good game, and good night.

"Naruto."

Naruto looked over his shoulder with a raised eyebrow.

"Don't be what your not. It's troublesome." that simple sentence brought a smile to Naruto's face and he shouted 'Good night!' before zipping off back to his home. Shikamaru shook his head and stood up, stuffing his hands in his pocket he walked back inside to his waiting mother and father.

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Shikamaru tapped his hand on the ground, his eyes darting over the landscape in natural ninja fashion to make sure no one would- could ambush or surprise him.

Naruto was the Kyuubi. In any way, it didn't surprise Shikamaru actually. He had known for years now, watching the clues and hearing the weird way people: such as Jiraiya-sama, the third, Tsunade-hime, Kakashi and others had spoken of others around him and other nin. Like it was some great secret they feared would be found out.

Not only the weird way people spoke, but the way Naruto had acted during specific times. During the Chuunin exams, against Neji. The chakra he brought out at the end, wasn't his and wasn't human.

It had taken five minutes in one of the history tomes to find out why Naruto and others acted as such. The great attack upon Konoha by the Kyuubi had never been ended in the books, it did say the fourth died, but not how the fourth died. And the date, it was the day Naruto was born.

Shikamaru sighed silently, turning to look back at the sky, Naruto was the Kyuubi and Shikamaru had known for years. It didn't mean that he told anyone, nor that he cared. With or without knowing, that changed nothing about Naruto.

Shikamaru knew that's what the third had feared. That's why no one spoke of the Kyuubi openly, it was for Naruto. So he could have a chance at friends, without the hate others would obviously bestow upon him if they knew he held the Kyuubi in his stomach.

That was rather troublesome in Shikamaru's eyes. If other's could except Naruto for who he was, and not judge for holding something in him he couldn't control nor take away, then those people were shallow.

Shikamaru sighed and shut his eyes, deciding to take a nap while the sun was out shining.

Naruto, you may be gone now…

Shikamaru moved to his side where he was more comfortable.

but I'll never forget you, friend…

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Just a small one in Shikamaru's POV. I've been watching Naruto and I personally don't like the way Sakura acts at some times. I got all the episodes…. It's depressing later on.

Well, I hope you like this chapter. It isn't much, but I'm going to do something different with the next chapter. It seems like this story needs some action or angst in the least.