Note: I don't usually do this but I saw a Maddy madhatter (is that from Monster High bc I love her) and Sephiroth (Kingdom hearts? with Cloud or something) and it reminded me of those. It's been too long hahaha. There's a tenzo112 too and i dont know why but when I saw your username I kinda smiled because captain tenzo is adorable haha. Captain will come along at some point LOL. THOUGH THANK YOU GUYS FOR REVIEWS AND FOLLOWS AND ALL THAT.

I trashed this so many times because I dunno whether to rush it or nah, and i dunno. I ended up with this.

Fighting back wasn't an option. He was still recuperating from his heavy wounds after Madara managed to knocked both he and Sasuke unconscious. Not to mention, whatever happened in the jutsu left him feeling more sore than ever. And because he knew nothing about Kurama's whereabouts or if he's even with him, he relents.

He stared up ahead, limping and squirming in the tight hold of the wires. Absentmindedly, his eyes glued to the other blond's back. He inwardly sighed. He saw his father fight. He knew he couldn't compete with that without Kurama or even at least half his strength. Not that he was giving up too easily. No. If worse comes to worse, he was breaking out with some mastermind plan Shikamaru planned.

Speaking of, the tactician hadn't bothered with anything and only followed along. There was this calculative expression in his eyes that told him much. It was an ability they worked on for years and he's glad they're somewhat comfortable with it now.

The man meets his eye, his brow arched in response. His round orbs stared sternly at him as if pointedly telling him what he was seeing was definitely what it was.

Naruto responded with a slight crinkling of his nose. He blinked and faced forward, looking around to express his confusion. Genjutsu would be his first guess.

Shikamaru tilted his head forward, subtle but clear to the other.

The blond ended up sighing, understanding that they have done something way off the grid of their plan. It was so off that he first assumed it a genjutsu. Only it's definitely not.

"Whatever you two are planning, drop it."

They both jerked up to the jonin. Surely, he couldn't have eyes at the back of his head, could he? Naruto almost shivered when he turned around, walking backwards.

Instead, they were greeted by a smile.

Naruto missed the squinted look his comrade had aimed at the jonin. He was far too busy scrutinizing the man himself. He knows Minato is strong, hence the Fourth Hokage, but he wasn't sure just how highly skilled he was.

A memory flickered in his mind, followed by another. He smiled. To think, both Jiraiya and Kakashi believed in his strength to surpass this scary man. That ought to be some compliment. No matter how quickly the Fourth's reign ended, he takes pride in the resemblance.

He choked. He quickly dropped on his knees and held his stomach, gasping for air. He clutched the fabric tightly, then fell face first to the ground. He heaved and coughed and his face turned red.

The hot, prickly feeling wanted to crawl from his chest out his face desperately. The torture only revved when his sight blurred. What more, he felt something puncturing his chest and withholding the breath he was gasping for.

The heat crawled to his limbs, engulfing his whole body with it. And when the wind blew by, it only ignited the fiery feeling.

"Sensei!" Obito called, his hand loosened with the wire.

The man was quick to his side, pushing him onto his back and tipped his head up. He beckoned the girl, asking for a quick diagnosis.

Her hands trembled nevertheless hovered over Naruto. Her eyes widened and she began to cup around the thin air, as if desperately searching something. "I, I can't see anything wrong."

Shikamaru was alert by then. He flashed beside Naruto, quickly untangled in the wire which had left the kids gaping. Sure, that was alarming but he was sure Minato knew.

So he ignores the stares and tried to opened Naruto's tightly shut eyes. When the boy chanting feeling hot, he pressed his hand against his forehead. He wasn't burning up. His brows crunched in worry as he tries to check his vitals.

Rin quickly shoved his hands away, mind reeling from the short lessons given to her.

When Naruto hadn't changed and curled in pain, Minato threw him over his shoulder and flashed out of the scene. He returned seconds later to immobilize Shikamaru who didn't put much of a fight.

Naruto knew something happened to him that Shikamaru wasn't explaining. Besides, he wouldn't be trapped in a sealed hospital room for nothing. Being along there, though only for a day, gave him a bit of fright. But rather than worried for himself, he was worried Shikamaru was in danger. He knew Shikamaru could find a way out himself if ever things didn't play in their favor, but he doubts the boy could actually get away completely. Not after alerting the ANBU.

So he's a little relieved to see him in the prison cell. It didn't matter if they were locked up deep in the Intelligence Division or maybe an ANBU secret base of operation. They were long lost with their surroundings so the creepy hellhole was nothing different.

"Why couldn't you tell us?"

Naruto turned from the bars to his friend. He raised a brow. "Tell you what?"

"About Kakashi."

The blond's eyes widened for a fraction before he closed them with a sigh. "It was... weird." Of all things the other wanted to ask, it was about the cyclops.

"With Sasuke or the village?" He inquired.

How Shikamaru found out about Sasuke was beyond him. He doesn't even remember ever uttering about the Sasuke incident after it happened. "How did you even know about Sasuke?"

He turned in time to see the flash of a smug smirk. "It wasn't hard to figure out." He rubbed his nose. "I know that you treasure pretty much everyone, but I've always had an inkling feeling Sasuke was more than that. I don't think you'd chase a friend to the end of either the world or yourself. Besides, I think you'd suit the star-crossed lovers."

His face scrunched into a sour expression. "No. And if it were you, I'd chase after you, too." He reasoned.

"Ah, but you didn't." He grinned.

"Huh?"

"Remember Kakuzu and Hidan?"

"That's unfair, Shika." He whined, leaning back on the stiff bed. "I was told to train."

"Didn't stop you whenever you caught a whiff of Sasuke."

Naruto's brows furrowed. "What, are you jealous? You're my friend too, I'll follow you too!"

Shikamaru didn't falter and chuckled. "No. But if I was interested in the same party, it wouldn't be you."

"What party?"

He rolled his eyes. "If I swung that way."

"Swing what?" He scratched his head.

"If I were gay." He rubbed his face. "I wouldn't go for you."

"Jerk." The blond murmured under his breath, his cheeks reddening. "I'm good looking."

He shrugs the egoistic comment. "If you've told him about Kakashi, he'd probably blow Konoha up." He crinkled his nose. From the beginning, he was never a fan.

The flush on Naruto's skin darkened. "He wouldn't."

"You're blushing?"

"Shut up."

"I didn't think you'd be into that sort of romancing. Maa, it's you. I should have expected it. No wonder Kakashi's aggravated."

Naruto turned to him with a shock. "What?"

"Kakashi." The boy nodded at this. "He's aggravated by Sasuke. I'm surprised you hadn't felt it. The moment Madara disappeared and we retreated, Sasuke and Kakashi started a silent argument over you." He shook his head. "He's a smart man, maybe even more than me, but I guess even he could be idiotic." He sighed heavily, emitting the burdening feeling of it all. "If only you hadn't ignored his advances and chased your mistress."

"He's not my mistress!" Naruto scoffed, quickly grasping who's who. "And I was busy. Kakashi was training me himself." He clenched his hand, almost ready to growl at his friend.

Shikamaru laughed, closing his eyes as he leaned his head back on the wall. "When you're not chasing that brat, you're tending to your boyfriend's wounds. He'd be a better use if the hospital isn't his first stop after a mission."

"He's not my boyfriend." Naruto quietly protested half-heartedly, plopping back to the bed as the chains clanked in order. "And you know it's not his fault. He said it's because his eyes tire him out."

"Then maybe it was better off it didn't heal." Shikamaru pulled on his rubber band that tied his hair and let it fall to his shoulder. He massaged his scalp before lying back down.

"I wasn't going to leave him defenseless."

"Kakashi was a heartless brute before the Sharingan." Naruto shot him a look. "Don't discredit his own abilities."

The blond sighed and settled back, looking up at the dark ceiling. "Maybe, you're right." Naruto turned to his friend who had settled under the covers. "You're not too bad, you know, as a friend."

He didn't know if the other heard but the soft snore quickly answered that. He groaned. Shikamaru only listens to things he wanted to listen, pry whatever he wanted but never exchanging the same. He means well, he knows, but it was still an unfair trade. He sighed and decided sleep was a necessity at the moment.

"I've always known you to be oblivious." Shikamaru commented after Minato had left.

The jonin had just dropped their food then held a short conversation. It's become a routine now for what felt like eternity. But he's not complaining, well, not as much as their first few days.

In the beginning, they were both brought into boxed cellars he'd seen once or twice. He was seated on the restraining chair and was quickly introduced to the concept of Torture and Investigation. He wondered if Ibiki took pleasure in it. He couldn't really think much about it as they slowly and painful tormented him physically to get some answers. He evaded some of them with peculiar quesitons of his own and if he couldn't help it, he took Kakashi's advice and only spoke broad or vague.

It worked for a while until they realized they weren't going anywhere. So they brought a Yamanaka in by maybe several days later. After that day, whatever Inoichi found in their head, permitted a nicer and less hostile treatment.

It was all dandy until he noticed Shikamaru's battered eyes always following Minato's every move. He usually would lay back and relax but after that day, he was almost too wary.

He shrugged it off and entrusted that the man will tell him when needed. So maybe this was it.

"I don't even know how many times you've turned down Hinata's confession." Or not.

"Hinata...? She likes me?" He scratched his head. "Of course she likes me! She likes everyone!"

Shikamaru smiled, only nodding his head to agree. He continued, "To match that oblivion, Kakashi had never been one to be outright direct with his own feelings." He explained as they began eating.

"And you too, ya know. But nobody has a problem with it." Naruto paused before grinning widely. "Except Temari."

He sighed.

"I don't know what Temari saw in you."

"And Kakashi in you."

"I've always thought you had my back." He accused playfully.

He yawned after, smacking his lips before continuing. "Kakashi had you restrained." He casually admitted, transitioning to a topic without preparation.

Naruto looked up from his tray. "What do you mean?"

Shikamaru met his eyes, as if weighing the pros and cons of telling him but he deems in unnecessary after a few ratted points. "When Madara was retreating with the Juubi, he ordered Sai, Aoba and Genma to restrain you immediately."

"Why?" His voice was low and monotonous.

"Konoha works in three-man cells. It keeps away from blindspots for average shinobi. I know Sasuke can see, but his alliance was still on the table that time. Kakashi wasn't going to bargain with your life. You're too important."

The Nara watched the boy process the information, the small shifts magnified.

"I know," the boy started, staring at his tray, "that I wanted to lead the fight for peace. It's my dream. But it doesn't mean that I think I'm more important than others. Kakashi sensei should have believed in me. I would be fine... with it.. if it meant peace."

"You do know that you're an idiot, right?"

Naruto shot him a quizzical look.

"He believes in you. Just like the rest of us do so don't go around wasting away your life when there's us who could do that. It wasn't your job. It was for Neji, for Asuma, for Guy, for all those shinobis who died and all those who lived through it. Your part is something else, something greater and bigger."

"What does that even mean? You know, I'm just as afraid to die as much as the next guy, but that doesn't mean i'm not ready to put my life on the line for you guys. I'll do whatever job if it means saving one or more."

Shikamaru stared at him for a moment before lying back down. "Never mind. Unless we get out of this place, there's no point explaining."

"Shika!" The blond whined, only to be met with silence. Why couldn't a friendlier comrade got stuck with him?

"The thing on your lips... it's healing." Naruto scratched gently on his own, pointing out where the wound is.

Shikamaru turned to him then laid back down. He sighed heavily. The whole thing would be to his liking if only the ceiling showed some clouds. He'd feel much more relaxed and into his nature. He turned to his side and caught Naruto dazedly poking on his lips, fingers brushing against his own wounds.

He flinches.

It must have hurt.

A thought occurred to him. "Have you seen Kakashi without his mask?"

The bright pinkish tint on the boy's cheeks were enough of an answer.

"Hey," Naruto stared at the other for a long time until he turned to meet his eyes begrudgingly. "Have you ever wanted to compete with Choji?"

The Nara had a plastered poker expression as he returned the gaze.

"Really?" Naruto blinked widely, "Never? Why not? I mean, Choji's pretty great, isn't he? You don't think he's good enough?"

The other snorted then turned his back to him, waving his hand dismissively. "Some guys can have a normal friendship or rivalry."

Naruto finally cracked. Shikamaru was surprised it took him this long to burst out. Knowing Naruto, he had expected the outburst in the first few days after the interrogations. Instead, the boy had opted for a few quesitons before talking about some mission he did. So he watched the boy both in amusement and shock.

That one day, Naruto ran to the metal bars and shook it violently as if he could actually manage to move it. But all to futile efforts.

His boisterous calls did move something, at least.

The guards threatened to shut him up but thankfully Minato's blond hair came to the rescue, only there's a short guest tailing him.

"I was wondering how long it would take." Minato smiled from the other side. "Just a couple more days."

Naruto groaned. That didn't tell anything besides something was going to happen to them in two days. The man reached out between the bars and placed his large comforting hands on top of the boy's head.

His eyes widened as he soak into the moment. Frozen on his spot, his eyes searched the other blond for something- or anything. What was happening?

His hand jerked flat to his stomach in a flash when he felt a throbbing heat pulsate.

He hears Shikamaru hum. "I suppose you know already."

"Nothing gets through the Yamanaka. I'm sure you would be familiar to it." The jonin commented, dropping his hand back to his side. "No wonder."

Just like Naruto, the short boy beside Minato followed the conversation with a hung puzzled look. He didn't get to ask, not that he actually would, as Minato started to head out.

He looked back at the prisoners and wondered about them. It was bothering the young Kakashi how easy-going those men had been, especially ones branded as spy, ever since they caught them. He'd expected them begging for their life and not shouting randomly. It was really weird knowing spies never faced the better chances when captured.

He shrugged it off and turned back to his sensei, following his steps.

Though he couldn't ignore the shiver that ran his back when he met the other blond's gaze just before he turned to Minato.

"In two days, we'll be accompanying them to the Hokage." Minato said in a low volume though audible enough for him. He stopped abruptly, surprising Kakashi.

The blond turned around and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I trust you'll do well."

"Is it just us, sensei?"

He nodded. "Don't worry. It won't be much of a hassle unlike last time. Well, hopefully. We'll meet here by dawn."

"Eung." He nodded before disappearing out of sight. He slipped out of the doors and gave the building a once over before leaving. There was a tingle in his stomach. He really hopes it was just the weather getting to him.