Hey guys, I'm back.

Here is the latest chapter of this story.

Special thanks to my beta ABitterPill.

Chapter 3: Strange Friends

"For years, I prayed that something would unite the shinobi world. Then the xenomorphs came. I don't pray anymore because it seems Kami has a sick sense of humour."

- Senjuu Hirashima (1st Hokage).

0o0o0o

After they woke Naruto up they walked him out of the Main Hive with very little fuss. Shibi had sent an emissary to inform the Hokage about what happened. He was there is record time.

The Sandaime showed up at Shibi's house with dishevelled robes and bags under his eyes. The Aburame welcomed him in and asked him to have a seat, which the Hokage reluctantly took. After a brief but urgent series of enquiries as to the health of the Shibi's relatives and after firm assurances that no one was hurt and nothing was missing, the old kage seemed to finally relax a little. "I am very sorry about what happened." The Sandaime bowed slightly. "I can assure you that Konoha is very embarrassed."

"Not as embarrassed as the Aburame, I assure you." Shibi bowed in return. "For our security to be overcome by an eight year old boy is quite a blow to our reputation."

The Sandaime narrowed his eyes slightly. "You and I both know that he is far from being an average eight year old boy."

Shibi paused slightly before commenting, "No, I suppose he is not."

"Regardless, he seemed unusually calm." Shin commented. "I thought I would have to have him bound and gagged."

"Still, breaking and entering?" The Hokage slowly placed his hands on his forehead in frustration. "I swear…that boy is going to be the end of me."

The topic of Naruto popped up in council meetings every now and then. Generally he violently attacked someone or there was an incident where he got hurt and his blood got on someone. In both cases someone was injured and xeno inflicted wounds rarely healed the way you wanted them to.

Most of the incidents seemed to occur over trivial things, such as being taunted by kids, slighted by a shop owner, he cut himself during kunai practice, or a simple sparring exercise that got out of control. Others were disturbingly more serious, such as an occasional drunkard decided to try and assault him.

There was even one instance when a small mob of people who lost families to a xeno infestation tried to put him down. Naruto in every case got hurt but not as badly as those who attacked him. This was due in no small part to the fact that the blonde never backed down from a fight even when he knew he would lose.

It was xeno aggression at its finest. Which is why although there were problems in his younger days, many people realised that it was best not to provoke the jinchuuriki of the Queen Mother.

Yet neither Shibi nor the Sandaime were ignorant of the fact that out of all the incidents that had occurred, trespassing and breaking and entering were a first.

"What was he doing when you found him?"

"Sleeping next to a Katawari Hive mound." Shibi spoke calmly. "He was not causing any damage, he was just there."

"Correct me if I am wrong," the Sandaime asked, "but don't non-Aburame stand a significant risk of being harmed by the kikkai in the Main Hive."

"You are correct." Shibi nodded. "Unbound kikkai can react violently to non-Aburame."

The Hokage paused with a confused look on his face. "Then why did nothing happen?"

Shibi remained silent; the answer to that question still eluded him. "Father, any theories?"

"Best guess…" Shin paused. "Most likely mutual respect."

"Respect?" The Hokage raised a brow.

"A queen recognises another queen." Shin clarified. "It's only natural."

"Kikkai can sense the queen?" Shin might as well have told him that the Aburame actually use lizards instead of insects.

"It is the only logical possibility." Shin commented. "Kikkai attack regardless of what damage you can do. Acid blood would not even faze them."

The Hokage frowned and closed his eyes again. Once he opened them, he had a business look in his eyes. "Do you want to press charges?"

Shibi recognised the worry in the Sandaime's voice. The Council members knew what the Hokage did and how he helped Danzo with the sealing. Regret weighed heavily upon the minds of the elderly Hokage. Aburame Shibi respected that Hiruzen was willing to do whatever he could to help the boy, but not to the point where he would bully people into compliance.

"I have had consulted with my father," Shibi gestured to the Hive Gatekeeper, "as well as other members in the clan. Due to the lack of damage, and due to the fact that nothing was taken, we are not interested in pressing charges at this time."

"You are more lenient on him than I would have been." Shin huffed. "I would have had that boy flogged." Sarutobi flinched at the statement. Shibi secretly thanked his training for keeping him from revealing his embarrassment.

"He is just a child, father." Shibi spoke calmly. "A mentally unwell child. He cannot be held responsible for the instincts of the xeno telling him what to do."

"Are you sure?" Sarutobi asked.

"Yes." The Aburame Leader nodded. "This is subject to change of course after a total count of our inventory. Provided that nothing is missing, our answer will not be altered."

Shibi noticed a change in Hiruzen's posture, as if a huge weight lifted of the Hokage's chest despite his best attempts to hide it. "I insist that any resultant medical attention or damage is paid for by Konoha."

What he really meant is that he will pay for it. Shibi thought to himself. The clan leader knew that if he checked the budget and costs for the end of this financial year, their bills will be mysteriously absent from the books. "Thank you Hokage-sama but that is unnecessary at this time."

"Well if you don't mind, I need to take the boy home." Sarutobi got back to his feet and bowed. "Thank you for your time Aburame-dono."

"And thank you for yours." Shibi returned the bow. "I apologise for getting you up in the middle of the night."

"That's why I am here." Sarutobi chuckled. "Provide me with a successor and I'll gladly step down."

Shibi made a mental note about the offhand compliment for future reference but did not comment further. They parted to a side room and they saw Naruto sitting in a chair flanked by four Aburame who made subtle eye contact behind their glasses. He looked strangely complacent.

"Naruto." The Hokage ordered. "It's time to go home."

Naruto turned his gaze to the old man and his eyes immediately softened. Rather than anger or rage there was sadness and guilt. Nonetheless he did appear happy to see the old man.

"Hello Sandaime." Naruto smiled softly.

"Hello Naruto." The Sandaime smiled weakly. Deep down he wondered how Naruto was going to look after himself after he was gone. "I think it is time we left."

"But Sandaime," Naruto pouted, "I want to go back in the chamber. I liked it there."

Several Aburame looked completely caught off guard. He wants to go back? Behind his spectacles Shin rolled his eyes, the kid is insane.

"Naruto, forget it." Sandaime's stern voice seemed to render the blonde silent. "You are coming with me now." Naruto looked ready for an argument but he quickly nodded in submission and leapt to the Hokage's side. The old man smiled apologetically to the Aburame before taking his hand and walking him out.

"Wait…" Shibi spoke, much to his surprise. "I have a question for Naruto."

The Hokage paused midstep and turned to face the Clan Leader. Naruto peered from behind the old man with a quizzical frown.

"Naruto," Shibi spoke, "why do you want to go back to the chamber?"

Naruto looked at him with some suspicion before finally answering. "I heard their music. They sang to me."

"Music?" Shin raised a brow. "What music? Who sang to you?"

"The kikkai queens. They sang to me." Naruto smiled, reminiscing in a daydream. "It was the most beautiful thing I have ever heard. It made me happy."

"Interesting." Shin sounded genuinely intrigued, a thought shared by many of the Aburame who were present. Shibi glanced at his father from behind his glasses, both of them looked equally dumbfounded. "Thank you, Naruto."

The Hokage took the opportunity to say farewell and take Naruto out of there before the Aburame changed their minds. Only the Aburame did not change their minds. If anything they were fascinated. A boy, a non-Aburame child heard the queens sing to him?

"You think he is lying?" Shin turned to his son.

"My kikkai did not detect a shift in chakra or electrical activity." Shibi spoke wryly. "That means he is telling the truth."

"That or he thinks he is telling the truth." Shin interrupted.

"There is that possibility." Shibi acknowledged. "If he is lying, then he has reached a level of deception most shinobi will never be able to achieve in their lifetime."

"Fascinating…" Shin muttered under his breath, unaware his opinion was equally shared amongst his family. "Something to dwell upon later I'm sure. For now I have one question: who was the nightwatchman for tonight?"

Shibi felt his spine tingle, his hive buzzing in slight panic.

"Ummm…" a voice called out. "It was me, sir." The voice belonged to one Aburame Sankot, it figured the first on scene would be the actual guard for the Main Hive.

"Ahh…" Aburame Shin readjusted his glasses by corner, a casual movement to a layman, a sign of imminent danger for the experienced. "Let's have a little chat about security procedures."

Sankot's back stiffened under his obscuring clothes. "Yes, sir." The young Aburame began the arduous journey of following the former clan leader like a condemned man on death row.

0o0o0o

"Naruto you have done some foolish things but tonight took the cake." The Sandaime muttered. "Trespassing? Breaking and entering? Are you out of your mind?"

"Sandaime I'm sorry." Naruto pleaded. "I had to go in there. Come with me, I can show you."

Naruto tugged at the old man's hand who quickly rounded on him. "Naruto there is no singing!"

"Yes there is!" Naruto yelled with equal volume. "Don't believe me, I can show you!"

Sarutobi was not interested in having screaming match with an eight year old in the middle of the night, especially in the middle of the Aburame Clan compound. He paused slightly and stared into Naruto's eyes; Naruto may be aggressive and twitchy, but he has never lied.

The raw emotion he displayed and his insistence on going back to the very place he broke in indicated that either the story is true or he was completely out of his mind. Precedent ruled out the latter. At least for the time being. The Hokage took in a deep breath and sighed. "You really heard singing?"

"Yes." Naruto seemed almost relieved. "I swear to you Sandaime, they sang to me. I never heard anything like it."

"Must have been if you were willing to break into a clan compound...which is a felony by the way." The Sandaime mused.

"Oh yes." Naruto smiled. "It was more amazing than I could have imagined."

"Imagined?"

"The Aburame sing to me too." Naruto nodded eagerly. "I just thought that listening to the source would be even better. And it was."

The Sandaime blinked in confusion. "The Aburame…sing to you as well?"

"Yeah." Naruto nodded. "That is why I was fine going with them. They meant me no harm. Why? Can't you hear it?"

Sarutobi wondered how he was going to explain this. It seemed too vivid to be a delusion. Could this be a xeno trait? It was a distinct possibility, none of the previous jinchuuriki had close contact with Aburame. "I think this is something only you possess Naruto."

"You can't hear it?" Naruto's eyes widened. "I'm not crazy, Sandaime."

"I believe you." Sandaime smiled ruffling the boy's hair. "Regardless, I don't care what you heard. You don't run around breaking into people's houses. They could have hurt you, regardless of what singing you heard. Is that understood?"

Naruto frowned a little but nonetheless nodded in agreement. "Yes Sandaime."

The old man looked at the disappointed boy and felt rotten that he made him so different. Even the kyuubi jinchuuriki had a chance of leading a normal life, but hosts for the Queen Mother…

"Well it is too late to go to back to bed now." The Sandaime patted him on the shoulder. "What do you say we have an early breakfast? It's on me. You can skip school, but just this once."

"Awesome!" Naruto's face lit up in joy. "Barbeque?"

"A bit too early for barbeque." The Hokage chuckled. Naruto pouted a little attempting to amplify his blue eyes. "Okay, but you will have vegetables to go with it."

"Ugh…I hate vegetables." Naruto blanched. "Fine."

"Oh and I noticed that you did not say sorry to Aburame Shibi." The Hokage said sternly. "I expect you to give an apology to him by the end of the week."

"I will." Naruto sounded more confident. "I promise."

"Okay." The Hokage led the young boy around the village. "Now let's see, where is the nearest barbeque place…"

0o0o0o

Aburame Shin was so infuriated (and contrary to popular belief Aburame do get angry) he spent all night and most of the morning metaphorically tearing the nightwatchman Aburame Sankot, a structurally superfluous new backside. Shibi actually felt sorry for the young Aburame and wanted to intercede, but the Clan Leader was not so foolish as to draw his father's attention when he was in such a foul mood. By the time the Hive Gatekeeper was finished, Sankot was on the literal verge of tears.

But there was meaning behind the Hive Gatekeeper's less than pleasant 'chat', he managed to uncover much about how Naruto entered the Central Chamber undetected through a grate hidden under the second flood air conditioning. The flaw was quickly rectified in a matter of hours.

Life in the Aburame compound returned to normal soon after. Shino had to return to school, something she dreaded.

"Hey Cockroach!" Shino resisted the urge to sigh. Anticipating verbal abuse from Ami and her friends was a tiresome and erratic activity. Shino narrowed down the time frame to anytime during Academy hours.

"As I said before, my name is not Cockroach." Shino responded with as much bland enthusiasm as any other Aburame. However, it was underneath the surface that mattered, and right now Shino partially resented having to attend the Academy.

It was not hate. Hate was a very strong word, and children throw out strong words when they do not mean to. It was just that Shino being a girl, naturally meant hanging out with other girls. As girls fell within the broad category of children, they can be cruel.

"Oh really?" Ami grinned. "Could have fooled me. Those bug like eyes, that ugly shell covering."

"I think you are referring to my sunglasses and what I can only assume is my jacket. I will admit the colour does draw some parallel with the species blattella asahinai but…" Shino silently cursed herself for rambling, the girls were laughing. This always happens.

"Okay Cockroach." Ami said between giggles. "I can accept that, but what about the antenna on your head?" Shino reflexively touched her thick dark brown hair. She always liked her hair and always struggled to keep it clean and neat. Shino felt embarrassed to say that emotional barb actually hurt.

"Why don't you leave her alone?" The voice made it clear it was not a suggestion. They turned to the source and saw a boy with blonde hair and blue eyes. Shino recognised him as Naruto. This was a surprise on many levels, when Shino was receiving her almost daily (sometimes hourly) dose of Ami no one came to her aid. Shino never expected help in the first place, but if she did, Naruto was the furthest one from her mind.

"Well, well." Ami's grin faded slightly but was nonetheless apparent. "Look what the cat dragged in. What are you doing here?"

"The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. You're a thug just like your brother." Naruto grunted. "Your brother was put in the hospital less than two days ago and the first thing you do is bully someone."

"Why are you back? Don't you know nobody wants you here after what you did to Sasuke-kun?" Ami dismissed him. "This is none of your business freak." Several onlookers, Sasuke included, flinched at the taunt. It was not the smartest move one could make, and Ami realised it almost a second too late.

"It wasn't a few seconds ago." Naruto growled, snapping his salivating jowls. "It is now. What say we take this to somewhere private? Perhaps I can pass on the same lessons I gave to Aki."

"You'll get expelled." Ami's smile vanished completely replaced with a notable frown, even fear. "This time for good, my father has connections. Heck you might even get caged like the filthy xeno you are."

Something boiled underneath the blonde's eyes; something violent and malicious. The other Academy graduates stepped back, although horrified at the possibility of another fight yet morbidly intrigued as to how it will turn out. But if Naruto could take on Academy Graduates, an average student like Makoto Ami would end up as mincemeat.

"I may get expelled. I might even go to prison. But I will become a ninja one way or the other, it will just take longer." Naruto grinned baring sharp teeth. "But if I claw your face, that is forever. No medical jutsu will take that away, father's connections or not."

Ami wanted to tell him to shove it, but then again, this was Naruto. He attacked regardless of consequence and if one drop of blood got on her, if he spat on her…. "Fine. Whatever. You two freaks deserve each other." Ami walked off with her friends in step, but everyone noticed how her pace was quicker than before.

"I have been looking for a chance to fight her for a while but she is crafty." Naruto grunted and wiped the drool on a towel he kept in his back pouch. "Are you okay?"

Shino blinked several times beneath her glasses before responding. "I'm fine."

"If they bother you again," Naruto glared at the girls who were almost out of sight, "let me know, I would be only too happy to assist."

"How did you know I required assistance?" Shino's interest was piqued.

"You were not very happy with their treatment." Naruto tone sounded very certain.

Shino raised her eyebrows in surprised. "How did you know that?"

"I…" Naruto squinted his eyes in concentration, "I just do."

"Well, regardless you were correct." Shino nodded slightly. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Naruto smirked. "What is their problem anyway?"

"People think nothing can faze and Aburame, so people try and provoke an emotional response." Shino spoke quietly. She felt uncomfortable talking to someone who was not family. Shino accurately guessed that this was the longest social conversation she had ever had with someone outside of her clan.

"I am curious why you did not make them go away." Naruto raised a brow. "I am sure your kikkai would be helpful."

"It is bad form to attack someone with kikkai over something so trivial." Shino recited the mantra set down by her father. "It's a sign of bad character."

"Huh…" Naruto frowned. "But your situation would improve over the long term. No one would pick on you."

"People are nervous around those of the Aburame clan in general." Shino turned slightly to observe that some students were looking at them yet at the same time trying not to. "Most people don't talk to me as it is."

"Well I am not most people." Shino readjusted her gaze to the blonde. "I didn't quite catch your name, Aburame Shino is it?"

"Correct." Shino responded curtly.

Judging from Naruto's grin, he did not seem to take offence. "My name is-"

"You are Uzumaki Naruto, you are in my class. You are also the one who broke into the Aburame compound." Shino immediately regretted saying it. Naruto flinched as if withdrawing from a hot poker. "I'm sorry, I-"

"Don't be." Naruto rubbed his head in embarrassment. "It was a dumb thing to do, but it was a good idea at the time."

Shino did not think it appropriate to ask, but curiosity got the better of her. "Why?"

"The kikkai." Naruto smiled.

"You like insects?" Shino sounded genuinely surprised, and strangely amused. It was rare to find someone outside of Aburame with an interest in insects, much less their kikkai. Naruto thought about it for a moment before stepping a little closer to her, trying to keep the conversation private from prying ears.

"Not precisely. I liked the queens." Naruto whispered. "They sang to me."

"Queens don't sing." Shino responded. "Kikkai might chirp or vibrate but they don't sing."

"Yours did." Naruto gestured to a spot at the centre Shino's abdomen. "That was how I knew you were upset."

Shino blinked in surprise, Naruto pointed out exactly where her queen was residing just a few inches left of her heart. "My queen?"

"Yep." Naruto grinned. "They tell me when you are happy or sad."

Huh. Shino, one of the brightest students in her year was lost for words. This is one of those times she really wished she had more experience with interacting with people her own age. Thankfully, the bell rang which meant the end of recess. "I believe we have to head back to class."

"Nuts." Naruto had a look of disappointment on his face. "Ah well, back to the grindstone. Well I guess I will see you in class."

"Mn." Shino had to come up with a standard response that was not monosyllabic, it made her sound bored or dismissive. "Yes, you will." Not great, but better.

0o0o0o

After class, Naruto immediately fell into step with her, although Shino was surprised and a little bit put off, she did not object to his presence. She heard about the one called Uzumaki Naruto, but after a few moments speaking to him all those theories and stories seemed debunked.

"Ugh, the Academy is so confusing." Naruto muttered. "Sometimes it is so easy, other times I feel like I am bashing my head against a wall."

"It is meant to be hard." Shino responded glancing at him from her peripheral.

"But who cares about the trajectory of kunai with a forty meter per second wind shift?" Naruto sounded exasperated. "Who is going to bring a sine/cosine worksheet, a ruler and a calculator on a mission? Who has time for that?!"

Shino actually felt a smile appear on her lips. Naruto was funny in a strange sort of way. "I think it is a training tool so our minds can subconsciously throw more accurate kunai or shuriken."

"Just throw the thing and if you miss throw another one only better!" Naruto acted like the whole world has gone crazy. "What happens if you have no kunai or shuriken and you have to resort to a stick or something?"

"I think the point of the exercise is so you only need to throw one and not have to resort to 'a stick or something'." Shino's eyes briefly widened, that might have been her first attempt at humour.

"Ha!" Naruto laughed. "I'll give you that one."

So is this what it is like to have a normal conversation with someone? Granted it was not like having a conversation with other girls who talked about flowers, hair and Sasuke (and his fluffy hair). Still it felt strangely normal. Shino's thoughts were interrupted by something growling, that something turned out to be Naruto's stomach.

"Ugh...I'm starving." Naruto rolled his eyes. "Did you want to get something to eat?"

Shino paused briefly; invited out to eat, that was unexpected. Shino always stuck to a timetable but she was not obligated to follow it, and she was hungry. "What did you have in mind?"

"I'm feeling ramen." Naruto grinned. "Though anywhere that serves meat is good with me."

"Well Ramen Ichiraku is not far from here." Shino pointed to a direction on the right.

"You read my mind, Shino." Naruto grinned and ran down the street. "It's my treat! Come on, I'm starving!"

What strange person…yet incredibly funny. Shino thought as she ran after him, a small smile still on her face.

0o0o0o

"Ahhhhhh... can't find better ramen in town." Naruto patted his full belly.

"That implies you have tried other places." The old man joked. "Have you been seeing my competition?"

"Perish the thought." Naruto smiled. "Ichiraku is the only one for me."

"It's nice when the customers show their love for us." Ayame laughed. "Even more so when they bring a new customer."

Shino's mind drew a blank and merely nodded in acknowledgement. "The meal was lovely."

"So Aburame huh?" The old man smiled. "Have not had a member of the clan for many years."

"We don't eat out much." Shino muttered sinking her face further into her high collared jacket.

"You should." Ichikaru nodded and began to move to another customer. Shino turned her head briefly to Naruto. "He's a nice man."

"Yeah." Naruto smiled. "One of the few decent folks in the village. He always honours his word, he even gave me the occasional free meal when I was in a bad slump."

"Slump?"

"There were bad times." Naruto frowned as he recalled his earlier days. "Mugged on occasion, store owners would not sell me food, one instance my house was set on fire."

"Really?" Shino's mouth hung partially open in shock. "That's horrible."

"Yeah." Naruto nodded sadly. "Anyway there was a period of about a week where I had no food, no home and no money. The old man provided me with ramen three times a day for free. I never forgot that."

Ayame who was obviously listening in on their conversation chipped in. "Oh please Naruto," she smiled, "we did what anyone else should have done. Besides you paid us back."

"It still means a lot to me." Naruto smiled weakly as he reached for his purse. After paying the bill (plus a surprisingly generous tip) they left. The sun was beginning to set and the sky turned a distinct orange, after several seconds of silence Naruto finally spoke.

"I noticed, you did not finish all of your meal." Naruto raised a brow. "You didn't like it?"

"No it was nice." Shino assured him. "It's just meat is not my primary source of nourishment."

"It's not?" Naruto looked surprised.

"No." Shino clarified. "Kikkai are primarily herbivores. That means, apart from chakra, they eat mostly plants and fruit."

"Really?" Naruto sounded incredulous. "I'm a carnivore all the way. I will take meat over greens any day."

"That can't be good for your health."

"You sound like the Sandaime." Naruto huffed out something between a laugh and a sigh. "By the way, how can kikkai eat fruit and vegetables and consume human chakra?"

"Ah," Shino recalled her lessons taught to her by her father, "chakra is the same regardless of its source. There may be different kinds of chakra, almost akin to different flavours, but all of it is edible."

"Then why eat anything else?"

"A kikkai beetle needs to eat, regardless of whether it is being used or not." Shino held up a finger to make a point, "Aburame have two options, allow the kikkai to rely on their chakra for sustenance," a second finger sprung up, "or we provide them with temporary alternative forms of nourishment."

"Fair enough." Naruto nodded. "And your hive does not mind either?"

"Actually they do." Shino sounded almost excited, this was the first time someone had shown this much interest in what she can do. "If we eat alternative forms of nourishment, our link with the hive becomes diluted. We can't control them as well as we should and it could lead to mutual rejection of the bond."

"Yeesh…" Naruto seemed squeamish. "That sounds like bad news. So I assume the bond is between yourself and the queen?" Shino nodded. "Then where do all the kikkai factor in? Do you ask the queen what to do and she delegates or can you control them directly?"

Shino launched into lengthy explanations about the Aburame/Hive relationship. Rather than confusion, Naruto seemed even more interested. Asking about the hive dynamics, do the queens adopt a personality of the host or vice versa? When orders are made, is it as an executive decision or bi-partisan agreement? Very fascinating questions all of them, and these topics branched into various areas of entomology and inter species interactions. As the saying goes, time flies when they are having fun and before they knew it Naruto walked her home. He stopped short of the actual boundary of the Aburame Clan area.

"Well Shino, I got to go." Naruto smiled. "But I'll see you tomorrow okay?"

"Tomorrow?" Shino wondered if this was a once off thing but apparently the blonde had other ideas. "Sure. I'll see you then."

Naruto waved as he began heading off to his own place across town. Shino trudged back to her house with a more uplifting step. Generally the Academy ended with her sulking and wishing she could just be trained by the family, but today was different.

Dare I say that I made a friend? An actual friend? Shino wondered.

She opened the door to her house and was greeted by her mother Mako. "You're late Shino." Her voice did not indicate she was cross, merely worried. "Are you okay?"

"I'm okay mother." Shino nodded. "I just had dinner with a friend."

"A friend?" All evidence to the contrary, Mako was actually thrilled. Aburame always had trouble making friends outside the clan.

"I think so." Shino readjusted her glasses. "We ate and talked for long time. He even got Ami and her friends to leave me alone."

"Really?" Mako raised a brow. "That is fantastic, sounds like a nice friend. What is his name?"

Shino was actually worried how her parents would take the news. "Uzumaki Naruto."

Mako looked almost frozen in place. Underneath the black glasses, her mother's mind was churning a mile a minute. "Indeed." She spoke slowly. "Well, that is nice." He voice was carefully neutral, even by Aburame standards, but nonetheless there was a hint of…something….

"You don't approve?" Shino raised a brow.

"My approval is withheld until I get to know him." Mako waved off her daughter's concern. "If he stopped those three girls from hurting your feelings then he has good standing with me. However, I suggest that you don't tell your father as yet."

"I see." Shino was tense, but this conversation played out far better than she expected. "Well if you don't mind mother I need to prepare for class tomorrow."

"Very well, Shino. Go and study." Mako placed a kiss atop of her daughter's head. "If you are stuck please let me know."

"Thank you, mother. I will." Shino slowly walked down the hall of the house to her bedroom.

Mako sighed briefly as she thought to herself. 'An interesting turn of events to be sure, but what will the future hold now?' Shibi may be the head of the Aburame Clan, but Mako was the head of this house and she thought it best to leave her husband out of this at least until tomorrow. Shino may fall within the category of 'being lonely' but she was not so desperate for friendship that she wouldbe willing to compromise her own emotional growth. We shall see what happens tomorrow…

0o0o0o

Tomorrow came quicker than expected.

The sun shone through the Aburame clan compound, the air filled with the distinct earthly smell of freshly cut grass and planted soil. Aburame houses were inherently quiet. There was no boisterous gatherings like within the Akimichi or Inuzuka clans; everything was simple and down to earth.

So rather than a cooked breakfast with lots of food, Aburame Shibi and his wife Mako sat down in a quiet dining table eating basic nutrients; fruits and vegetables.

Aburame Shibi was an early riser, an inherent trait of the shinobi profession. However, that did not necessarily mean he was awake, his mind was still comfortably back in bed. Being clan leader meant certain privileges; if he wanted to sit in his dining room table with a mug of coffee in front of him in blinking silence then that is what he would do.

This would normally happen until his daughter said goodbye on her way out.

Normally.

Knock, knock.

The clock on the wall told the clan leader it was 8:00am precisely.

Shibi blinked, glancing at his wife who in turn glanced back. One would wonder how that was possible considering both were wearing sunglasses. But when you live in a clan full of people who rarely show their eyes, you tend to know when you are being watched.

Shibi placed the steaming hot brew of life on the dining table and robotically walked to the door. He tugged on the handle to meet the source of the noise.

The Aburame Leader's mind jolted awake when he saw Uzumaki Naruto standing idly and looking a little nervous.

"Good morning Aburame-sama." Naruto bowed.

"…good morning Naruto." Shibi nodded in return. The Clan Leader's mind quickly ticked wondering why Naruto would be on his doorstep.

"Ummm…" Naruto tried to smile, but whether it be jumpiness of just lack of social graces it came off as a primal grin. "How are you?"

"I am well." Shibi played along. "Yourself?"

"I'm okay." Naruto gulped. "I…"

"Shibi, are you okay?" Mako approached the door and peaked over her husband's shoulder. "Oh….hello Naruto."

"Hello Aburame-san." Naruto bowed again. "Sorry to bother you this morning…"

"…Nonsense. It's a pleasant surprise." Mako nodded. "Please come in."

Shibi blinked in surprise, but nonetheless acquiesced stepping away to allow entry. Naruto gingerly stepped through the doorway. The silence was sickeningly awkward. Naruto looked like he wanted to say something but he could not spit it out.

Mako took pity on the boy and started the conversation first. "I never got the opportunity to thank you for looking after Shino yesterday."

Shibi half turned, raising an eyebrow in confusion.

"Do you recall the children that were giving Shino trouble at school? Makoto Ami?" Mako explained. "Naruto, stopped them from troubling her."

"I…see." Shibi thought Shino was pleased last night…and why she seemed less anxious to go to school. Aburame have always had trouble fitting in, Shino had it worse than others. The Clan Leader was pleased, but his tension did not subside. That still did not explain why Uzumaki Naruto was there.

"Are you here to see Shino?"

"No…yes." Naruto puzzled, trying to form his thoughts into words. "Yes, but that is not the only reason." Naruto took a deep breath and looked into Shibi's masked eyes. "I…I'm sorry for breaking into the Main Hive compound and causing you so much concern. I didn't…I'm sorry."

Ah, an apology. Shibi's shoulders lightened; it made sense now, but it was still unexpected. "Apology accepted, Naruto." Naruto's posture sagged slightly and his smile became distinctly more human.

"At the same time I should be thanking you." Shibi adjusted his glasses. "Shino has had great difficulty at school because of Makoto Ami. I am grateful you have relieved her of the predicament. I trust it was resolved peacefully?"

Naruto ever the clever one took the weight of the Aburame's words and understood his meaning. "There were words exchanged," Naruto stiffened slightly, "…but there was no physical violence."

Ah, so threat of violence then. Shibi mused, sure he was none too pleased that Shino might have been caught up in one of Naruto's 'incidents' but still….

"I am pleased to hear that." Shibi nodded again only this time it was a half bow. "Thank you Naruto."

"My pleasure Aburame-sama." Naruto bowed in turn. While Shibi was unaware of what took place, his wife was more sensitive to the situation. As Shibi's tension and concern eased so too did Naruto's, she had seen disciplined children and their actions. Naruto's behaviour seemed linked to her husbands. It was quite fascinating.

"Mother, Father I am heading off to the Academy." They turned to see Shino descending the staircase, pausing at the sight of their guest. "Oh…hello Naruto." Shino was dressed in the same bland clothing as her parents, making her look like a miniature clone. The Aburame Leader took private amusement watching people discern who Shino's appearance took after.

"Hi Shino." Naruto smiled sheepishly. "I…thought I would meet you on the way to school."

Shino was a smart girl; there was more to Naruto's explanation. She could sense his awkwardness like a dark cloud. At the same time a brief glance at her parents and the neutrality of their eyebrows was enough to convey all was right.

"Well," Mako gestured outside, "you both better get to it. Otherwise you will be late."

Shino took the hint and headed out. "Goodbye Mother, Father. I'll see you in the afternoon."

"Goodbye Shino, have a nice day." Shibi turned to Naruto. "You have a nice day too Naruto. Thank you for your visit."

"Thank you Aburame-sama, Aburame-san." Naruto bowed, following Shino outside. It was only when Aburame Shibi closed the door behind them did he sigh. "You knew."

"Yes." Mako answered. "I decided to allow further interaction before I informed you. I did not expect Naruto to act so soon."

"Clearly." The Clan Leader mused. "That was…unexpected."

"Was it unpleasant?"

"No." Shibi shook his head. "Just unexpected."

"The apology?" Mako titled her head.

"Marginally. I was referring to Shino's….friendship with Naruto." Shibi clarified. "I did not anticipate that, especially in such a short amount of time."

"You clearly have forgotten childhood; the basis of friendship could be founded on nothing more than liking the same colour." Mako placed a hand on her husband's shoulder.

"Hmm." The Clan Leader ignored the jibe. "I do recall our interactions commencing when I spilt tea on you."

"Then you know that friendship occurs in the most unexpected of occasions." Mako's tone betrayed the amusement of their first encounter in their teenage years.

"I acquiesce the point." Aburame Shibi joined his wife once again, wondering how this was going to play out if at all. This day turned out for the stranger, and he had not even finish his morning coffee yet.

0o0o0o

A/N: There you go. Hope you enjoyed it. I thought it was appropriate for a little slice of life chapter.

Next chapter or the one after will be a timeskip to the beginning of 'traditional' Naruto somewhere around 12 to 13 years of age.

Read and Review as always.