Shikamaru Nara was called many things. He was a genius, lazy, a decent friend. However, a stalker was definitely not one of them. No one would think that the lazy genius would bother to stalk someone. No that wasn't part of the boy's normal personality, but sometimes becoming a stalker just happens. Now despite his indifferent attitude, Shika was a very curious person he kept his all of his senses open and took note of every detail.

He easily took note that Sasuke was in love with and stalked Naruto, and he was fine with it as long as Sasuke didn't try and take it to far and end up hurting Naruto. Same with Hinata who was stalking the blonde too, although it wasn't his concern. But when he saw Itachi following Naruto without Sasuke around alarms went off in his head. So instead of making his way to his special cloud watching spot, he took off following Itachi, He wouldn't let a friend get hurt.

Shikamaru throughout the day was never quite sure if Itachi knew he was there or not, but followed under the assumption that the Uchiha prodigy knew. Though it bothered the genius as to why the elder brother stalked the blonde boy that day. He followed the two into the onsen, and he couldn't keep his eyes off of Naruto even though he needed to watch Itachi, and had to stop his bloody nose before he followed them to the hotsprings trying to shake his mind off of Naruto's naked image.

In the shadows on top of the wall that separated the males and females he watched and listened. He kept steady in position necessary to catch the Uchiha in his Shadow possession jutsu. He watched carefully, and knew he slipped up when he heard about the blonde Sunshine's problems with the villagers and his chakra flared angrily, before he got it back under control. The Genius' guess about the weasel knowing he was being followed turn out to be correct when the two left the Hot springs.

Itachi spoke first and turned to face Shikamaru "Your very good at keeping in the shadows Nara, Not much of a surprise seeing as its your clans specialty."

"How long Have you known?" Shikamaru wouldn't even bother to pretend that he hadn't just stalked them, Itachi wasn't one to be messed with, Shikamaru knew he had no chance against the man in front of him.

"I knew who it was since we got to the Uchiha complex."

"So you knew someone was following you from the start, It figures." Shika thought that meant he had to train harder. "Why were you following Naruto? Why didn't you bother yourself with me? it couldn't have been pleasant knowing I was there watching even if I could've been easily dealt with."

"Naruto can be easily lost from sight despite his loud self, and, I have to admit you were not very noticeable. And once I found out who was stalking us, I could easily slip that fact to back of my mind, and focus on Naruto-kun."

Shika wanted to say something else but had to focus the matter at hand was Naruto's stalking.

"Why stalk Naruto? I find it hard to believe it would be a mission, I've seen Kakashi-sensei hang around Naruto more than necessary."

Now that information shocked Itachi, even he found it hard to notice the man even when the guy was in the room.

"I wanted to see why my brother was in love with him."

"You mean the answer wasn't obvious, or did you think there's something wrong with it being Naruto?" The Nara kept his voice down but anger radiated from it.

"No there's nothing wrong with it being Naruto."

"I still don't understand why you went out of your way to stalk Naruto, The reasons why Sasuke loves him should be obvious, Well at least to someone like you."

"Because I didn't see Naruto as anything other than a little child before tonight, NOW if you're finished with your interrogation I'd like to start mine. Do you love him as well?"

That one question would be one of the few questions the genius would ever have to truly think about in his life. He paused for a minute to think about it. "I don't think I'm in love with him, but I do know that I love him like a friend."

"Hmph. You're not to tell anyone about this night." Shika raised an eyebrow at that.

"Why would I?"

With that the Anbu captain left into the night. Shikamaru shook his head and also left, but something was off about the whole thing even though Shika really did not think Itachi was lying, there was something. Damn he'd have to keep his eye out for Naruto. He couldn't just let this encounter go if only Naruto would open his eyes, now that was a thought. Why not alert the blonde? Shikamaru once again shook his head, no the boy would freak out and probably think Shika was trying to trick him. Besides he wasn't quite sure that Sasuke would take that when the idiot started asking questions. He wasn't sure if either boy was ready for such a thing. Besides Itachi was right at seeing Naruto as a child, the boy was not ready for takes on love if he was still talking about crushing on Sakura. No, Naruto definitely wouldn't take to knowing a boy was in love with him. Especially, not if that boy was his most hated rival.

Damn Shika knew that being a ninja would be troublesome and bring him more problems. If only Naruto wasn't so damn clueless and lovable.

For the next while Shikamaru made point to look out for Naruto. Shikamaru would need just as much therapy as Naruto when this whole this boiled over. Shikamaru didn't know it but this whole thing would leave him with finding someone of his own.