A/N: thanks for all the reviews.
Normal
"Talk"
Think
Technique/Inner Character
Demon Talk
Demon Think
I do not own Naruto or any Naruto characters, nor do I own any one-piece references or characters that are mentioned in this story. I do own any OC's displayed unless I say otherwise.
BEGIN
Everything had gone wrong. It was only a simple spy 'mission' to determine how the 'dobe' got all that power. And it all went wrong; if Shikamaru hadn't been running for his life he might have been laughing at his situation.
"I can't go on Shikamaru" Chouji yelled from behind. Shikamaru triggered a trap, rocks pelted at them faster than Sasuke could throw a Kunai, Shikamaru seeing this quickly used Kagemane and connected to Chouji, he jumped and thus so did Chouji avoiding the rocks, what he didn't count on was Chouji hitting another trap. Large logs came rushing towards Chouji, so Chouji ran towards Shikamaru hoping to out run them. Shikamaru seeing this runs too. Left, right, jumping and ducking they dodged the numerous logs.
As they turned a corner Chouji saw another log heading to Shikamaru, but Shikamaru couldn't see it, it was too fast and in his blind spot. In a moment of unrivalled heroism he pushed Shikamaru out of harms way and jumped over the log, spinning sideways he dodged another, using an enlarged fist he smashed an additional log heading to Shikamaru and landed on a different one, twisting he steered the log so it would impact the final log, and then jumping just as they collided landing in front of Shikamaru, they ran, after 5 steps Chouji fell into a trap, landing into a ditch, Shikamaru stoped and reach to his friend,
"Chouji climb on, we have got to get you out of here." Chouji shook he head sadly, Shikamaru stared in disbelief, why now?
"I can't Shikamaru, I would only slow you down, and I'm not a fast runner. You have to get out of here, or you will be caught. I will try to hold him off" Shikamaru smiled at his friend's bravery. Tears welling up in his eyes he started to run,
"I will not forget you Chouji," he yelled as he ran away. Dodging traps and hidden surprises every few seconds, he ran as though his life depended on it. As he reached the last corner everything went black.
EARLIER THAT DAY
Talk of the academy was how the 'dead last' or Naruto had defied logic and beaten one the best Taijutsu users at his own game. Everyone was trying to determine when and how he got this power, one such person was Shikamaru. Everything he had done had gone against all the parameters he had set around the dobe. Naruto had defied logic. Gone from the worst Taijutsu student to one of the best in one day. He already knew the reason why he was bad was because he didn't practise the academy style. But he could at least have been better, and then there was also the matter of the style Naruto used itself. It was like nothing he had ever seen. He just had to know the answers.
Chouji was munching on his favourite flavour of crispy chips as he walked with Shikamaru around the training ground. Chouji knew something was on Shikamaru's mind, but he was certain Shikamaru would let him know when he was ready. Slowly they walked towards Chouji's cousins Barbeque Restaurant.
"I here you're cousins Restaurant has hired a new hand" Chouji smiled, yes. Although he doesn't know who it is, the family has benefited because of it.
"I know, they haven't told me who it is yet, but they did say he was the best cook they had ever had the pleasure of working with." Shikamaru added it himself,
'Sounds like someone else I know… it couldn't be'
After Chouji and Shikamaru had seated a waiter walked over to the table in which they were seated.
"How may I help you?" the waiter asked, as she handed both of them a menu,
"Chouji I didn't know this place was so formal" Chouji laughs at Shikamaru's statement.
"It's a restaurant, so of cause its going to be formal" Shikamaru muttered under his breath 'how troublesome', after picking there meals they began to talk,
"Hey Chouji, what did you think about Naruto's Taijutsu style?" Chouji placed himself into a thinking posture,
"It was different, he didn't use his hands, and all of his attacks used his feet. It seems like a waste, but he was fast. Obviously such a style builds up your leg strength, thus your speed" Shikamaru nodded his head in agreement. It was then that the meal arrived,
"That was quick" Chouji observed,
"Not even the best cook I know can cook this quick, man this cook must be good" Shikamaru eat a mouth full, suddenly stares fluttered around the food, and a bright light appeared behind Shikamaru,
"This, this, this is BRILLIANT" both Chouji and Shikamaru eat as fast as they could, eating as fast as possible,
"SECONDS" they yelled in unison.
Loud shouts and arguments where brought to the attention of the cook, so he decided to see what the fuss was,
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN WE CAN'T HAVE SECONDS?" the yell echoed around the restaurant, Naruto paused, that voice sounded familiar,
"I DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR STUPID POLCY, I'M AN AKIMICHI, I NEED THE FOOD" that voice was definitely familiar, the made him even more curious,
"SO WHAT IF I DONT HAVE THE MONEY, MY FAMILY OWNS THE BUSINESS" This was really Naruto interested,
"I DON'T CARE ABOUT MY TROUBLESOME ATTITUDE SHIKAMARU, THAT WAS THE BEST FOOD I'VE EVER TASTED, AND I WANT MORE!"
"Chouji" Naruto muttered under his breath, quickly he made another meal and walked over to there table, Chouji and the waiter stopped fighting as soon as the smell of food drifted to the table,
"Chouji, Shikamaru what are you doing here?" Shikamaru looked over to the cook, "Naruto! What are you doing here?" Naruto smiled,
"I work here, I'm the cook", Shikamaru looked at Naruto like he had grown a second head,
"You cooked that nice food?" Chouji exclaimed surprised,
"Of cause, it all makes sense. Yes, looking at your build, you are a fighting cook!" Naruto smiled,
"I kind of said that as soon as I fought Kiba, pity I didn't win" Shikamaru smiled, "so, you still draw with one of the best Taijutsu users in the class" Naruto scratched the back of his head and laughed at the praise.
After leaving the restaurant, Shikamaru and Chouji began walking to their usual cloud-watching/chip-eating place. Shikamaru was pondering to himself
"How strong is Naruto? What sort of training did he go through to get that far, ah it's too troublesome, but troublesome things tend to interest me. Not that I'll ever admit that." Shikamaru sighed aloud,
"How troublesome" Chouji looked at Shikamaru with a face that demanded answers.
"I'm trying to ignore the whole 'Naruto is better' issue, but it has to many unknown factors, if it's anything I hate its unknown factors. After Naruto finishes work I'm going to follow him to see if I can uncover anything, you can come if you want" Chouji nodded his head in agreement.
Preparation was quick but thorough, first they covered themselves in nothing but black clothing, even putting a black mask on to hide their identities should they be discovered. Next they packed basic ninja equipment, so what if it isn't official, practice never hurt. They followed in the shadows behind Naruto following his every move after work. First he went to Ichiraku Ramen and had food, the helped them out a bit with the meals, obviously his first loyalty would always be that simple ramen stand, then again they had accepted him when it mattered. Following that Naruto went and visited Iruka, while that was not weird by itself, it was what he was doing that was strange; Iruka was teaching Naruto how to read. Shikamaru was confused, didn't Naruto know how to read it wasn't taught at the academy, but parents always helped their kids at home to learn.
Once Naruto had left there he began walking to the training ground, once Shikamaru and Chouji had followed him out of Iruka's sight, Iruka smiled, it would take more than that to fool a chuunin, Iruka easily recognised their chakra signatures. Iruka hoped that they would become friends with Naruto, so that they might help each other. Naruto with loneliness, Chouji with self-confidence and Shikamaru with motivation, together they could help each other grow strong.
Jumping from tree to tree, hiding in the shadows when Naruto so much as turned around for any reason, causing distractions when needed they followed him into the nearest training ground, it was littered with wooden posts and dummies. Chouji carefully moved to the left while Shikamaru moved to the right. They both hid perfectly watching Naruto begin his stretches. Once Naruto had finished his stretches he started kicking the nearest post with his left leg, 100 times. Then he began kicking the post with his right leg 100 times. Next he began a series of combos, and then practiced some of the more painful moves. Shikamaru inched forward to see what Naruto had grabbed out of his bag, it was a large scroll, Shikamaru couldn't see it, but Chouji might, he moved to where Chouji should have been, he signalled him to look at see if he can read what is on the scroll. Chouji signalled an affirmative.
Chouji focused on the scroll, he saw that it was a technique scroll; he couldn't see much else except the diagrams. He recognised the move Naruto used to counter Kiba's Tsuuga.
"So that's the technique scroll," he mentally added that to the 'tell-Shikamaru-later' section of his brain. He saw Shikamaru inch forward to see if he could get a better look, he paled. He was about to fall off, he desperately signalled Shikamaru to step back, but Shikamaru took no notice.
Shikamaru was in fact trying to get a better look at the bottom of the scroll, he saw a blood seal of some kind, but you had to write your name in blood, 'summoning?' he though to himself as he inched forward missing Chouji's frantic signalling. As he inched forward another inch, he lost his footing. Plummeting to the ground he hit with a BANG! Naruto turned around and saw Shikamaru, although at the time he didn't know that it was Shikamaru. Chouji panicked, running he grabbed Shikamaru and ran, unfortunately he ran towards the set up traps some of the genin set up for practice. Naruto looked shocked,
"Do I know them? I'd better rescue them before they get injured" With that he ran off.
THE PRESENT
When Shikamaru finally came to, he pretended to be asleep, and using his 'superb' ninja skills saw if anyone was around, unfortunately his ninja skills where not up to par yet as Naruto saw him look around the room,
"You up now? That was a nasty trap you fell into" Shikamaru rubbed his head, as he noted it was rapped up in a bandage and still crusty from blood. Wait blood, what sort of trap did he fall into? He looked around the room and saw Chouji eating more of that delicious food near him, Shikamaru decided he'd better apologise
"I'm sorry we spied on you, we" but before he could continue Naruto interrupted,
"While I'm hurt you had to spy on me to figure out my secretes instead of just asking. I'll let it go, just ask next time ok?" Shikamaru sighed in relief, that went well, he was afraid he would get mad like any normal person would, fortunately we all know Naruto is far from normal.
Life continued as normal at the academy, except now Shikamaru, Chouji and Kiba were often seen around Naruto, doing whatever they do. That will be discussed and revealed another time. Not far from the location of Naruto and the gang, a timid Hyuuga Hinata watched as she admired the strength of Naruto,
'You even managed to get some friends, I'm happy for you Naruto, now if only I could find the courage to befriend you as well, but for now I will watch" Else ware away from the Academy, and elderly old man watched today's happenings with glee,
"You have come far Naruto, Minato would be proud"
FINISH
A/N Hope you all enjoyed that chapter; it was updated so that it seems better and more organised.
NEXT TIME: Naruto learns some new techniques from Iruka and learns that he can't do the bunshin, much to his disappointment. And Hinata works herself into the ground trying to gain the courage to become friends with Naruto.
Please Review and honesty is appreciated. Thanks, The great David