I don't own Naruto! Hey everyone! Just thought I'd go ahead and tell you that this is just backstory. This gives a little background into Shikamaru and Naruto and how their team started. I know that I haven't really stressed their teamwork yet, but I plan to in the future. Enjoy!
Chapter 11: How It Began
Shikamaru wasn't too happy at all. He was a jonin, yet he had been assigned a mission with an ANBU. He had no idea who the ANBU was, but he probably wouldn't like him. To think that Tsunade would send him on an S-rank mission with an ANBU! What was she thinking? Shikamaru didn't even go on A-rank missions anymore. He preferred to stay in his nice quiet village and stare at the clouds, but of course the village didn't agree with that. He sighed. Hopefully it wouldn't last too long. He only had to investigate the attempted assassination of the daimyo.
They left the next day, and the journey was quiet. Whoever this man was, codenamed "Fox," he didn't talk much. Only when they had reached the daimyo's castle did he speak.
"You can do the talking here, Shikamaru. I prefer not to deal with these types."
Shikamaru agreed, but what else could he do? He was a jonin, while this man was an ANBU. He was the leader. If he gave an order, Shikamaru had to accept. They entered the gate and met the daimyo's guards. They led them to the daimyo, where the two were informed of the mission.
The two of them were to work together to find out if the would-be assassin, now a prisoner, was working alone, and if not, they were to eliminate the threat. After telling them as much, the daimyo waved them off. Shikamaru could understand why the ANBU didn't want to talk to him.
The ANBU took point on the actual investigation. He interrogated the prisoner, from whom they learned that there was one more accomplice, and led the way to the hideout. They arrived at the hideout a couple of days later. The criminal was still in the hideout when they got there. The ANBU put together a plan and led Shikamaru into the compound.
The plan was good. When they reached the criminal, the ANBU would go alone. Shikamaru would wait until he was needed. The ANBU explained that Shikamaru was to use his Shadow Possession Jutsu after only a couple of minutes. Shikamaru was surprised that the ANBU already knew about his abilities. Even though he was a jonin, the ANBU could not have seen his files because he was a high level ninja in the village. The problem for Shikamaru was not the idea of using the jutsu, but how he was to use it. He would be unable to see what he had to attack. He would have to navigate the room without seeing the target, obstacles, or the ANBU, but the ANBU seemed to just know he could do it. Who was this guy?
The plan was executed perfectly. The target and the ANBU had a quick discussion, and Shikamaru hit him with the jutsu. They carried the man out of the small building and back toward the daimyo's castle. Midway, however, he managed to escape, wounding Shikamaru in the process. He had grabbed one of Shikamaru's kunai and had stabbed him in the shoulder. The wound wasn't serious, but it did grab Shikamaru's attention. Shikamaru dropped to his knee, clutching his wounded shoulder. At this point, the criminal was about to attack again. The knife plunged toward Shikamaru, when a strong hand grabbed the wrist of the assailant. Shikamaru looked up to see the ANBU holding the attacker's wrist. The attacker threw a punch at the ANBU, which cracked his mask. The mask fell from his face, revealing his identity to Shikamaru.
"Naruto?"
"What's up?" said Naruto, smiling.
The attacker came at Naruto now, but Naruto punched him in the gut, only to have him disappear.
"Substitution," said Naruto. Then, a cloud of smoke filled the area.
"He's going to attack," said Naruto.
As if on cue, the man stabbed for Shikamaru, but Naruto punched him in the face, dropping him to the ground. They arrested him once more and set off for the castle.
When they arrived, the daimyo didn't seem very happy at all.
"You were to deal with the threat, not bring him here."
"I didn't feel like killing him," replied Naruto.
"Well I guess your village won't get paid."
"Listen to me!" shouted Naruto, startling the daimyo and his guards. "You will pay the village, and you will get over yourself, or I'll unleash a beast on your country that will make the Nine-Tails look like a walk in the park."
"You dare threaten me?"
Naruto remained silent, but the look in his eye spoke volumes. 'Try me!'
The daimyo did something Shikamaru never thought he'd see. He cried. A thirty-eight year-old man was crying because Naruto had just threatened him. This would be the start of a great friendship.