Chapter Four: A Victory

As soon as I walked in my house I immediately shifted emotions from slight fear to total ecstasy and texted all my friends, you know what I just did? I punched the bastard in the face! Shikamaru was the first to text back with a slightly proud tone to his message, Choji seemed to be more excited at my success, and Kiba seemed concerned about the details more than anything else.

In the end they all ended up congratulating me, and Shikamaru invited us all over to his house to celebrate. It was a rare occasion to all hang out together in the same household, but when it happens things always get crazy.

It should be fun.

Sasuke avoided me the next day; I didn't see him around once the entire time and trust me I was looking. I didn't care, I was just happy I could focus on my victory party.

I ended up going home with Shikamaru because everyone else had to go home and do chores. I love that Iruka spoils me so much. Shika lives in a nice house, two stories. The front door opened up to the living room, which had a small opening to the Kitchen through an always open doorway next to the couch. On the other side of the couch the stairs were placed awkwardly. Believe it or not that's all I've ever seen of downstairs. Upstairs all I've seen is the hallway, Shika's room, and the bathroom that's it. But his house it always pretty freaking sweet and I always enjoy myself.

Only, Shikamaru was forcing me to help him clean as punishment.

"Oh crap!" He exclaimed suddenly, I pulled my head out from under the bed to look at him. "What?"

"I'm short on cash, I need at least 25 bucks to get more of my supply, everything is running low and it's not like I can just go anywhere for it." Shikamaru explained, recounting his money. I wonder how things ended up this way, in middle school he seemed like the type who would never go near that kind of stuff but obviously that didn't turn out to be true.

Things change I guess.

We finished with the cleaning and went downstairs so that Shikamaru could finish his chores of folding laundry, something I was never to discuss outside of the house because in Shikamaru's view it was kind of a "woman's job". With the risk of losing my man card, I decided it was best not to tell him that I do all aspects of laundry at my house, and he will never know.

"Well it's not so bad." I commented following him downstairs as I tried to reassure him about the whole laundry situation. "It could be fun if you didn't turn everything into a drag."

"Oh yes Naruto, I always enjoy the lovely experience of touching my Mother's underwear, not to mention my Fathers oh those are the best." Shikamaru replied, his voice dripping with sarcastic venom.

"Does the whole sarcasm thing work out for you in life Shika?" I asked bitterly, he shrugged while he started to pull apart his living room couch looking for change. I guess we are not doing laundry right at his second.

"Well my parents don't take me seriously even when I'm telling the truth. Watch." He stood up and leaned into the open kitchen doorway next to the couch, "Hey mom, can I have ten bucks?"

"For what?" questioned her hands on her hips as she turned away from the waiting dishes in the sink. Why is it that every adult I run into is in the kitchen? Is it just my timing or do they live in there?

"I need it to buy some drugs, I'm short on cash and I need more in my supply." He answered with a shrug, "Please mom!"

"Shikamaru you really need to stop making those sorts of jokes!" His mom nagged, reaching into her purse on the kitchen table and pulling out twenty to give to him "I want change."

I stared in disbelief as he pocketed the money and smirked at me, "Well at least I never have to lie." There was a convenient ring of the doorbell at that moment, three times in a row, Shikamaru stalked towards the door carefully peering out to see who it was. But we both already knew it was Kiba because he always pushes the doorbell 3 times in a row no matter what, it's like a habit for him.

Finally Shikamaru opened the door, only part way though, he held it closed with his hand as he leaned on the frame blocking the way in. "Let me in Shithead."

"My house my rules, dumbass." Shikamaru replied, still blocking the door, "What's the magic password."

"Oh no, we are not doing that again!" Kiba groaned, pushing the door a bit but Shika held on pushing Kiba back physically with one foot, "…Fine…."

"Come on, say it." Shikamaru encouraged with a smug tone, "And do the pledge."

"For the amount of time I am in Shikamaru's house I will act as his bitch and not start any unnecessary shit." Kiba started reciting, sounding more reluctant to continue with Shikamaru's requests, "And the password is…..I lick balls, and I love it."

Apparently satisfied, Shikamaru opened the door all the way to let Kiba in, who instantly walked toward me. "What happened to the couch?"

"Shikamaru." I answered, knowing just what to say to answer the next question of what for, "He was short on cash."

"Oh." Kiba said in an even unhappier tone than it was before. "Of course, stupid….Oh hey, !"

Mrs. Nara was standing right in the kitchens open door way, she looked at Kiba up and down before making a "humph" noise and returning to the kitchen. Considering how much she likes me, I've always wondered what it was about Kiba that made her dislike him. Kiba frowned before Shikamaru interrupted the situation, "Both of you can wait in my room, I have chores I have to do still."

He just didn't want Kiba to see him doing laundry.

Choji arrived not long after that, and then the rest of the time was surprisingly comfortable. Shikamaru and Kiba fought less, Choji and I didn't have to feel awkward, we spent the afternoon playing games, cussing each other out and believe it or not holding burping contests, which sadly I completely lost in.

But it was a good enough time; close to the experience normal teenage boys have at my age….I think?

When I made it hope Iruka was already gone and left a note saying he wouldn't be home until later tomorrow so he made me some breakfast to heat up in the morning. He really does treat me like a kid.

I went to bed in peace, having no idea what tomorrow would bring, just like everyone else.

The next day as I was on my way to my table carrying my favorite lunch with a smiling face I spotted one angry Uchiha in the distance. Sasuke walked up to me in his usual blur, his fist coming at me in full swing. I didn't have the ability to dodge, so instead I had to watch in terror as it made contact with my face causing me to land on the ground with a hard thud. All the food on my tray getting everywhere almost like a repeat of last year. I should have known this was coming, but hell; it was worth it to get in a punch.

By the time I stood up again other things were in progress.

I watched as Shikamaru shoved Sasuke away, showing more strength then I knew he had when Sasuke hit the table a few feet behind him. Apparently Sasuke wasn't expecting the amount of strength either as a surprised look flashed on his face before dissolving into a stone faced look. Choji stood behind Shika, standing straight showing his true height as to intimidate him. I looked at our table to see Kiba standing up, but staying where he was and frowning at the situation.

Sasuke walked away, with a pointed look at Kiba. I took off the jacket that was protecting me, some juice got on the side of my pants, but it was nothing noticeable so I ignored it. We sat back down at our lunch table, my face was a little sore but I could ignore it; I reached over to hug Shika in his seat, "Have I ever told you that I love you!"

"Nice to know his mission to get in your pants is going oh-so-very well." Kiba commented, purposely eating the chip in his hand loudly. Shika glared, "Well it's true. Tell me are you really just his friend or are there problems at home between you and the hand? Getting tired of stroking?"

I really didn't need to visualize that.

"The hand and I are doing better than ever." Shika replied with a slight glare, I know he's mad if he said something that perverted, "I am his friend only; I don't have an interest like that in him. How can you be so freaking defensive of that ass? Are you really his friend Kiba?"

Kiba's face shifted into expressionless, I frowned immediately at the sight. "Unfortunately…I'm both of their friends." It's always been a bit difficult for Kiba to be friends with the two of us, sometimes it puts him in awkward positions and he either ends up fighting with me or Sasuke. Which is probably going to happen today, even though in my opinion Kiba didn't really do anything wrong but the bastard is sensitive.

Later that day Kiba was sporting a black eye.

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