Disclaimer: I don't own naruto

Chapter three

Naruto woke up snuggled in Shika's arms. (The night before they had pushed their two beds together). Naruto stretched waking Shika up. The boys took turns taking showers, then headed down to breakfast after getting dressed. Naruto wore a black t-shirt that molded to him, loose fitting black pants with multiple pockets, black sandals that wrapped around his ankles, and a black sleeved cloak with a blood red nine tailed fox on the back and flames licking the bottom edges. He had his katana strapped to his back, fingerless black gloves with metal plates on the back, and his head band hanging around his neck.

Naruto had also adjusted his genjutsu. Now, more of his real appearance showed. His hair was long and pulled back with bangs on either side of his face and had red streaks in it. He was 5'10" and well muscled. His ears and tails were hidden, but not his eyes, whiskers, claws or canines. Shika was in his normal outfit (A/N- if you don't know what that looks like you are an idiot.)

They both knew that the training was just a test of teamwork. They also knew only an idiot doesn't eat before training. They ate quickly, eggs and toast, before heading out to the training grounds together, holding hands again. Shika's training ground came before Naruto's, so they parted ways there. Before Naruto left he and Shikamaru made out for a few minutes before hearing someone clear their throat. It was Asuma, Shikamaru's sensei. He had arrived early and found them. Asuma had an amused expression. (Asuma is not a homophobe). Naruto and Shikamaru blushed and parted. "Well, I better get going" Naruto told Shika before leaving. Shika nodded and followed Asuma out to the training field.

Naruto headed out to training ground seven where his two teammates were already waiting. Naruto sat down and began meditating to pass the time. He was using a chakra exercise that allowed him to make chakra flow through his body into certain points all throughout his body.

Naruto descended into his mind to where Kyuubi was. "Hey, Kyu-chan, up for a game of shogi? I figure we've got a while to wait."

"Certainly, shall we restart where we left off at the last time we played?"

"Yep"

So the two picked up a shogi game where they left off.

Time Skip – 3 hours later

Kakashi poofed in front of the three to see a brooding Uchiha and a fuming Sakura who screeched "YOU"RE LATE!!!!" as soon as she saw Kakashi as well as a meditating blond. Said meditating blond left his mindscape when he felt Kakashi arrive. He 'came back' just in time to catch Sakura screeching at kakashi causing him to wince at the volume level.

Kakashi eye smiled before saying "I got lost on the road of life".

"YOU"RE LYING!!" Sakura once again screeched.

Kakashi shrugged. "On to the matters at hand. You need to pass a test. See these two bells?" kakashi motioned to his belt. "If you grab one, you pass and you can become shinobi. You don't, it's back to the academy for you. You have until this alarm goes off at noon. Now… GO!"

The three hid themselves, naruto sent out a shadow clone to engage Kakashi in a taijutsu match to distract him, while naruto got the other two to talk to him. He informed them that the point of the test was teamwork. It took a considerable amount of effort to convince the two of them to work with him, but he managed it. Sasuke and sakura distracted Kakashi while naruto grabbed the bells just before the alarm rang. "Very good, the point of the test was teamwork. You all pass. Meet me tomorrow at eight in the morning." Kakashi told them before poofing away.

Each of the three were thinking different things. The Uchiha 'Hmph, of course I would pass. I'm an Uchiha.'

Sakura was thinking 'YYEEEESSSS, THE POWER OF LUUUUVV PREVAILS!!!' While out loud she asked sasuke "Do you want to go out with me?"

To which sasuke replied "No." before quickly leaving the training grounds.

Naruto chuckled to himself over Sakura's behavior. 'At least it's not me' he thought, before to where Shika's team had had their test.

When he got there, Ino, Choji, Shikamaru, and Asuma were still there just sitting around talking. "Hey, can I join you guys?"

The group looked up and Shikamaru smiled and waved him over. When naruto got to the four, Shikamaru, who was leaning up against a boulder, pulled naruto down to sit on his lap. Shika kissed Naruto's cheek and wrapped his arms around his waist. Ino leaned close to Shikamaru to get a better look at Naruto's changed appearance. As soon as Ino got close to Shikamaru, Naruto stiffened, feeling a surge of jealousy so strong it was all he could do not to rip Ino's head off her shoulders. Naruto frowned and realized Shikamaru was looking at him with a puzzled expression. Naruto gave a slight shrug of his shoulders and shook his head. Meaning he'd tell Shikamaru later. Naruto leaned against Shika and, ignoring Ino, called out to Kyuubi in his mind. "Hey Kyu-chan. You there?"

"Yeah, what's wrong?"

Naruto explained what had happened with Ino.

"Ah, I should've warned you. You chose Shikamaru as your mate. It will be difficult to allow others to be near him for a while. You'll want him all to yourself. Don't worry. It's an instinctive reply when a demon mate is chosen. It'll get easier with time."

'No, worries. I'll just need to tell Shikamaru about it when we get home.' Naruto told her before going back to the 'real world'. Shikamaru, noticing that naruto was back with him, said good-bye to his teammates and sensei before leaving with naruto. "So, what happened earlier?" Shika asked Naruto.

"I'll explain when we get home." Was the reply.

"Hmmm…." Shikamaru said. Smiling, "we don't have to be home for another half hour. What do you say we put it to good use?"

"I'd love that" was Naruto's grinning reply.

The two of them made out until they had to sprint home to make it in time for dinner. They just made it in time. Stumbling through the door, tossing shoes off and running to the dinner table as food was just being set down. It was obvious what they had been doing. Their lips were swollen and the two were out of breathe from more than just the short sprint. Mrs. Nara looked at them and grinned. "Cut it a little close didn't you? Now what could have caused it, Hm?" was her teasing comments to the two blushing teens. The two finished dinner quickly amid a bunch of razzing from the two very entertained adults.

When they got to their room Shika closed the door and turned to Naruto. "So what was the deal earlier?" he asked, referring to the training field incident.

"Kyu-chan told me I won't like seeing people get near you. That it is an instinctive reaction when a mate is chosen. Apparently, I'll get over it in time."

Shika nodded in understanding. There was a knock on the window. It was an ANBU. Naruto opened the window and was handed a scroll. As soon as naruto had the scroll, the Anbu member disappeared. Naruto opened the scroll and read what it said. He turned to Shikamaru. "The hokage has a mission for me. I'll be back in time for heat."

Naruto then grabbed all of his gear and headed out to complete the mission.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Time skip: Three Days later~~~~~~~~~~~

A short person with blond hair, wearing the ANBU uniform including a Kitsune mask, stood before the Hokage. "Mission accomplished" the person said before removing his mask to show Naruto's face.

"You made it back just in time" the hokage remarked. "You go into heat tomorrow."

Naruto just shrugged before shunshining to his and Shika's room. He stripped down to his boxer's and slipped into bed next to Shika. "Took you long enough to get back." Was all Shika said as he wound his arms around Naruto and the two fell asleep.

A/N: please don't forget to review. They inspire me! : )