Naruto woke up in his bed the daylight making it difficult to go back to sleep, honestly how did Shikamaru fall asleep at any given time? He rolled onto his back and craning his neck up to check the time, gone One in the afternoon. He huffed feeling groggy and then remembered the events of the night. Kakashi took the news well, even said he would stay out of it considering this was between the Nara and the Sand. He also predicted the biggest problem would be the Nara, given the Sand know how much Naruto means to Gaara alone, nevermind the world after his efforts in the war that resulted in everyone who lived to be in his debt. Naruto hated the way that sounded but if it was going to help him he wasn't going to complain. He was sure Temari would agree but he still worried she'd be angry he was swooping in to take her Fiancé. Better have some breakfast, he thought kicking his feet off the bed and standing. Why didn't I just say something earlier? He thought dwelling on the time lost, the pain he'd endured the last two years. He knew he couldn't. He knew this. Re-building, training the physio alone were not good times to start a new relationship. He had to be physically restrained to keep him in the hospital in the beginning. All he wanted to do was find him and yell in his face that he loved him and wanted to have a go at being boyfriends. Thankfully Sakura had kept him in place long enough to realise it wasn't the best time for Shikamaru either. He had lost his father, had become the head of the clan unexpectedly and had funerals to help plan. Sure the elders gave him time before making it official but it was still a lot to take at Seventeen years old. How was the head of a clan being forced into marriage? Naruto wondered then again elders and his mother, he could see it.

As he entered the kitchen he headed to the fridge pulling out some butter and eggs. Omlette it is.

Banging came from the front door as he lifted the pan from the cupboard and Naruto frowned.

"It's open!" He yelled remembering yet again he needs to lock his damned door. So used to his old place always having a broken lock the habit never stuck.

"Naruto!" Kiba yelled and before he reached the kitchen door Akamaru was on his hind legs front paws up and landing on his shoulders

"Hey Akamaru" he smiled scratching the dogs ears and looking over at his master "What's up? You look happy" Naruto summarised and Kiba's face split into a shit eating grin "Okay rephrase, what did you do?"

"I got a date!" He laughed

"Oh yeah?" Naruto asked grinning widely "is it that guy? Oh what's his name... Lumi?"

"Yeah!"

"I find it funny that the first person you come to tell is the guy you lost your virginity too!" Naruto teased

"Fuck you Naruto, you were a complete virgin too" he snorted "but you're also one of my closest friends" he shrugged

"And you can't refrain from too much information when talking to Shino" Naruto pointed out. Poor Shino had been given explicit information on Kiba's sex life since they were sixteen years old, and as a result has refused to listen to Kiba when it came to men. Kiba wasn't completely out of hand though, to this day he'd never revealed anything about their time together.

"Well done! Glad you manned up and asked him out!" Naruto said reaching up to the top of the fridge for the treats he had for Akamaru. Absently feeding the giant dog "when is the date?"

"Ah you'll be on your way to Suna. I'll let you know all the details when you get back. Hopefully we will be a few dates in" he shrugged.

"Kiba, you have a very bright personality, and you're very good at pulling people to you, even if they want to punch you most of the time. You're gonna be just fine" Naruto said sensing his nerves. Akamaru barked and Naruto grinned smushing his face with both hands "exactly!" He agreed hoping it was something encouraging he had said.

"You just woke up?" Kiba asked finally noticing Naruto was in his sweats and a old top with holes.

"Yeah, late night, remember?"

"I'm surprised I'm not hungover" Kiba nodded "but you didn't drink. Wait!" His eyes widened

"I didn't hook up with anyone" Naruto deadpanned

"When was the last time you got laid?" Kiba asked concerned

"You" Naruto shrugged and gave up on food. He didn't have enough to feed him and Kiba. Crossing over to the couch he sat down and Kiba sat on the arm kicking off his shoes to put his feet in the cushions

"Dude, that was like over a year ago"

"I don't like the idea of sleeping around"

"What were we doing?" He scoffed

"You know what I mean. You're familiar, and if we have sex for the sake of it, it's not so bad. I tried but I really couldn't get passed the fact they likely dispised me when we were younger and I didn't want that" he shrugged. He didn't blame anyone, he truly had forgiven the village for his poor treatment. The celebrity status was still wierd for him even years later. But it made his skin crawl to think they would get to fuck him and go when half of them were beating, robbing or bullying him for over half of his life. He knew it would be different if he went on dates and got to know them better but he could never get passed the fact they just weren't Shikamaru. Kiba sighed and sat on the couch properly putting his hand on his shoulder

"I get that" he said and smiled tightly "but you can't just count everyone out. I don't want you being alone"

"I'm not alone" Naruto pouted and was rewarded with a snack across the back of his head.

"You know what I mean!" Kiba muttered

"Truth is..." Naruto looked at his hands and bit his lip "I'm finding it hard to let go of someone. I go on a date and the whole night I'm just heartbroken it's not them and I'm there trying to forget them" he shrugged and Kiba's face fell

"Since- wait when did this happen?" He asked

"When we were kids"

Kiba shot up on his feet

"The hell?!" He roared Naruto looked at him with eyes wide wondering if his confession was worth this reaction. "What the hell were you doing with me?" He asked

"I'm sorry" Naruto frowned. Shit, what a way to say someone didn't mean anything "Kiba you were never a substitute... I me-"

"Oh stop it!" He scoffed and sat back down taking a breath "I meant, why bother with me if you wanted someone else? Guy? Girl?"

Relief flooded Naruto, the last thing he wanted was for Kiba to think he didn't mean anything.

"Guy" he answered and then looked at Kiba "Well, for starters I thought he was straight, secondly, we were both curious, confused and you were braver than me. Waltzing up announcing you think your gay because you'd been thinking about doing things with me and wondered if I'd help you confirm" Naruto smirked and Kiba laughed "you became safe in that sense, you know!"

"Yeah, it was similar for me" Kiba said

"Will you be telling your future boyfriend we were sexually involved? For future reference?"

"You coming out?" Kiba asked raising a brow in surprise

"Maybe" Naruto laughed "at least to our friends anyway, I'll let you know"

"Cool. To answer your question, I don't know yet. Guess we will see"

Akamaru barked and trotted to the door and then there was a knock at the door

"Popular today aren't we?" Kiba asked

"Come in!" Naruto called while punching Kiba in the arm. His cheerful and relaxed mood dissapeared when Shikamaru and Temari walked in.

"Hey guys!" Kiba waved while shouting as if he was across the street instead of the room. Naruto rolled his eyes and clamped his hand over his mouth

"They are right there Kiba!- UGH!" He groaned pulling his hand away as Kiba had grabbed his wirst licked his tongue across Naruto's hand. Pushing on his chest and freeing his wrist Naruto wiped his hands on Kiba's hood.

"I swear Akamaru is more civilised than you!"

Shikamaru and Temari stayed silent watching the scene unfold. Neither looked very impressed. Sensing the change Kiba patted his leg and Akamaru stood at the ready

"Guessing this is to do with wedding business. I'll head off!" Kiba grinned and passed the couple, Akamaru on his heels.

"Bye!" Naruto called as the door closed.

Before Naruto could even think of how to start Temari was across the room and had her arms around him hugging him so tightly he found it hard to breath.

"I wish you had said something!" She said and he saw Shikamaru almost smile. He hugged her back and smiled

"And take away what I thought you both wanted?"

"That's not the point!" She said sitting back holding him at arms length "if I had known I would have blown the elders out of their precious fucking chairs and told them to fuck off!" She sighed and looked to Shikamaru. Was she aware of his feeling before today? "You two" she sighed

Naruto chuckled nervously and scratched the back of his head.

"I wish you would have said something? I'm really angry Gaara agreed to this! You should have said no"

"Gaara wasn't thrilled but it made sense. He apologised he had put me in this position but I can easily have children with someone i want. This was just a better option. I mean Suna has been wanting the Nara powers for years, seemed like a win win, especially knowing Shikamaru didn't care at all if I found someone else privately"

Naruto was stunned, this just showed him how different they truly were.

"You're both idiots" Naruto breathed out and Temari threw her head back and laughed. It always filled Naruto with a sense of love and warmth when she truly laughed, it was beautiful and he can understand why half the men he knew would fall at her feet.

"Yeah. But we're more logical than you" she said lightly shoving his shoulder.

He looked between them and relaxed

"So, am I leaving or causing a fuss?"

"Oh my god I beg you to get fussy!" Temari groaned he looked to Shikamaru

"I'll deal with my mother and elders" Shikamaru said "Gaara might be best left to you"

"I've sent cancellation letters to the important people from the other villages, don't want the other Kage waisting their time" Temari said "but I suggest you go to Suna sooner. So Gaara isn't the last to know"

She stood up a little jump in her step

"I'll leave you two to... talk" she smirked and left the apartment quickly. Shikamaru came over standing in front of Naruto putting his hand to the side of Naruto's head. He leant into the touch and then forward to wrap his arms around the Nara's waist. This was it? The start of a chance. He still wasn't a hundred percent sure it wasn't a dream.

"Are you sure about this?" Shikamaru asked kneeling down to look into Naruto's eyes "going against Gaara? What if it leads to a fight?"

"It won't. Gaara will listen, and he won't want to hurt me"

"You are about to interfere with his village, in a deal for power, this may not be something he can allow" Shikamaru said and Naruto smiled softly up to Shikamaru "You have freed the tailed beasts, kept half of all their chakra what i-"

"Stop" Naruto put his fingers on Shikamaru's lips and shook his head when he was sure he wouldn't interrupt he moved his hand away his thumb pressing lightly on the bottom lip.

"Gaara doesn't care what power I have"

That and Shukaku actually returned to Suna, he said it was because that was his home but Naruto knew he wanted to watch over Gaara and the rest of Suna. Being free made him rather soft.

"And are you sure about... us?" Shikamaru asked "You're not exactly known for understanding love" Shikamaru said "and well do you even know if you like men?"

"I'm dense to other people not myself" Naruto said rolling his eyes. It was rather embarrassing that it took for Hinata to confess and nearly die for him to figure out she had been crushing on him the entire time they'd known each other. Poor woman deserved someone who would worship the ground she walked on. "I've know my sexual preference for a long time. And for your information I prefer men"

Shikamaru relaxed and nodded and Naruto frowned

"Are you sure about this?" He asked

"Of course I am" Shikamaru sighed "I was anxious you weren't. I don't doubt your feelings are real, the panic you had yesterday was proof enough but I was worried you were acting on feelings you didn't understand"

Naruto nodded, he couldn't blame him. But in his defence he'd grown up a lot in the last four years, picked up on things he never used to as a kid. Shikamaru shuffled forward on his knees to get between Naruto's legs his hand moving to the back of the blondes neck. Naruto's heart was beating in his ears as his breath caught in his throat at the anticipation of feeling him again, freely, with no guilt or worry. Shikamaru stopped inches away. Naruto felt the urge to whine at the lack of contact

"Can I kiss you now?" Shikamaru asked half whispering and Naruto nodded quickly.

"Yes" he gasped.