Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

Chapter Two: The Village

Hinata, Kiba, Shino as well as some of the other rookies were walking back to the village after a mission with the Feudal Lord. They were talking amongst themselves. Lee was talking to Sakura about the Genin team he will be receiving once they graduate. Kiba, Hinata and Shino had become the best reconnaissance team in the village. Sai had become and ANBU but would go on missions with Sakura as a Jonin every now and then. Ino was talking with Choji about the latest news at the hospital, while Tenten was talking with Tsunade and Shizune about the mission they had just completed. It was rare for the rookies (although they weren't rookies any more) to be together like this especially if they were able to talk with Tsunade and Shizune, so they would take the moment to catch up with each other.

It had been a total of two and a half years since Shikamaru and Naruto had left. Although no one would admit it, they were starting to worry about those two. No one had heard from them.

"Oh! I totally forgot to mention!" Tsunade stopped in her tracks, making everyone else stop as well, "since you are all here, its perfect! I received a message from the Kazekage last week," Tsunade continued.

"About what, Tsunade-sama?" Sakura asked walking up to Tsunade.

"He said that Naruto and Shikamaru had visited him. He wasn't completely sure but he believes they are heading this direction," Tsunade smiled at the group.

"Really?" Sakura smiled.

"And you kept this from us why?" Kiba raised an eyebrow at her.

"I had to deal with the Feudal Lord about something very important, Kiba! It slipped my mind!" Tsunade almost yelled shaking her fist.

"Sorry, sorry," Kiba put up both hands as a sign of defeat backing away slowly.

"So they maybe here any day now!" Tenten smiled.

"Yes, although we have been gone for a week now, so they may already be at the village," Shino spoke.

"That's right! Lets run back to the village!" Lee shouted.

"Lets not Lee," Tenten shaking her head.

The group started back to the village, once the south gate of the village came into view, they say two familiar men standing there, facing each other and slightly away from them.

One man had long, shaggy, bright blonde hair. He was wearing a Konoha flack jacket with a black sleeves and black pants. He also had a scroll on his back below the backpack he was carrying. The other man with black hair in a high ponytail that made him look like a pineapple, had almost the same outfit on (minus the scroll) but he was wearing fish net around his ankles and wrists. They were both standing there with their hands in their pockets and seem to be in a deem conversation about something.

A Few Weeks Earlier

"Kazekage-sama, two men are here to see you. They claim they are your friends," a women spoke as she poked her head into the office of the Kazekage.

"What do they look like?" the red hair Kazekage asked. Gaara was sitting at his desk with his siblings standing behind him, Kankuro on the left and Temari on the right.

"Well, they look like leaf shinobi. One has shaggy, blonde hair and the other black hair pulled back," the lady responded.

Naruto and Shikamaru. All three thought at once.

"Send them in," Gaara smiled at the lady.

"Hai," the lady said as she disappeared.

A few moments later, Naruto and Shikamaru walked into Gaara's office. Temari blushed when she saw Shikamaru, but the brunette didn't even notice.

"Gaara-sama!" Naruto smiled as he walked over to the desk, "Temari-san and Kankuro-san."

"Naruto, what do I owe this pleasure?" Gaara smiled.

"Being as political as always, are we Gaara?" Naruto smirked.

"Of course, its my job," Gaara returned.

"Well, Shika and I were in a small village in the land of the rivers and thought we should stop by," Naruto smiled sitting on the edge of desk. Shikamaru was standing back with his hands in his pockets, as he knows how Temari feels.

"We haven't seen you in over two years, Naruto," Kankuro said as he crossed his arms.

"Yes, you have seen me more than my own village, Kankuro," Naruto said sarcastically.

"Seriously?" Temari asked, more directed at Shikamaru.

"Yes, we haven't been to our village since before we came here last. But Naruto said he wanted to see you again Gaara, so here we are," Shikamaru yawned.

"Why is that?" Kankuro asked.

"We have been traveling. I thought I told you that last time?" Naruto questioned.

"Yes, you did. So is there anything in particular you wanted to see me about?" Gaara questioned, "I am the Kazekage. I don't have much time."

"Right, well there is nothing in particular…" Naruto started.

"Yes there is," Shikamaru said glaring at Naruto and crossing his arms.

"Do I have to tell them?" Naruto whined.

"Yes, you do, Naruto," Shikamaru said as he was still glaring at Naruto.

"Fine," Naruto huffed.

"What is it?" Gaara asked raising and eyebrow at the interaction between the two men.

"Well…" Naruto started.

"Was that so hard?" Shikamaru said walking out of the sand village as he nudges Naruto's should with his own.

"No…" Naruto mumbled.

"Exactly…" Shikamaru said putting his hands in his pockets.

"He took very easily. Almost like he already knew," Naruto wondered aloud.

"Heh, Temari didn't. She was about to jump out of her skin," Shikamaru huffed, "Troublesome."

Naruto laughed at the memory of Temari's face when he told them.

"Your right. I hope everyone else takes it like Gaara did," Naruto thought out loud.

Shikamaru nodded in response as he was secretly hoping Naruto would tell everyone else as well.

Several days later, Shikamaru and Naruto found themselves about 3 hours from the village they had not seen for almost three years.

"Shika?"

"Hmm?"

"Should we wait before we tell them? Or should we tell them when we get there?"

"I don't know. I haven't thought about it."

"Maybe its best if we wait…."

"Maybe"

The blonde and the brunette walked in silence until they reached a very familiar gate. They both stopped with their hands in their pockets as they looked up at the gate. Shikamaru looked back down at the same time Naruto did.

"So? When do you want to tell them?" Shikamaru asked.

"I don't know. What do you think?" Naruto responded shaking his head.

"The sooner the better," Shikamaru stated as he smiled, "I don't want to hide this."

"You're right. But…" Naruto returned the smile.

The group of rookies stood back as they watched the two men speak with each other. What ever they are talking about seemed to be very important. Naruto looked almost depressed while Shikamaru looked like he was trying to cheer him up and explain something.

"Is that…?" Tenten started.

"Yeah, its them," Tsunade said crossing her arms.

"Naruto! Shikamaru!" Sakura yelled as she waved to them.

Both men looked up, shocked. Naruto looked almost horrified. Shikamaru smirked and said something to Naruto, which made him calm down and smile. Both men looked back and waved. It was the first time the rookies had seen their faces in almost 3 years. Naruto and Shikamaru had both matured greatly.

Naruto looks more and more like the 4th everyday.

Naruto's hair had grown quiet a bit. His bangs were a lot longer but the left side was longer than the right. Naruto was also taller then Shikamaru. Shikamaru's hair was no longer in on pony tail, the bottom half was hanging down

"Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked as he saw the pink hair ninja trotting towards them.

"Of course! Who else?" Sakura said as she hugged him.

The rest of the ninja walked up behind her.

"Wow…." Naruto said looking around at his comrades in front of him.

"What?" Kiba asked narrowing his eyes at him.

"You all look…" Shikamaru started not knowing how to finished that sentence.

"…old" Naruto finished for him.

Tsunade's jaw dropped and she hit Naruto on the head.

"I am not old," She exclaimed.

Shikamaru sighed, "We haven't been back for more than an hour and you already got Tsunade to hit you."

Naruto stood up and rubbed the back of his head.

"But, you do all look more mature," Shikamaru said.

"I'll say! Look at you two!" Tenten smiled as she held out both arms.

Naruto's face went to a bored expression almost reflecting the brunettes.

"Shikamaru's rubbing off on you, Naruto," Kiba smirked.

"Huh?" Naruto glanced his way, "how so?"

"You have his expression," Sakura laughed.

Naruto laughed and rubbed the back of his head, "I guess that's what I get for hanging out wit him for too long huh?"

Everyone laughed, except Shikamaru.

"Oi, Naruto. Don't we have something to do?" Shikamaru asked.

Naruto glanced his way almost forgetting what he was talking about, "oh that's right."

"We have someone we need to meet," Shikamaru explain to the others, "how about we meet at the BBQ? Say around 7ish?"

"Sure, we will meet you there," Ino nodded.

Naruto and Shikamaru turned and walked into the village with the other following. After a while they each went their own direction. Naruto and Shikamaru walked to Naruto's old apartment, while the others went to the Hokage's tower.

Naruto and Shikamaru went to the apartment, once inside they placed their bags on the center table. Naruto walked over to the bed and laid on his back, put his hands behind his head and closed his eyes. A moment later he felt the bed shift, Shikamaru had laid beside him.

"That was a lame excused, Shika," Naruto laughed.

"I know, but it did the trick," Shikamaru said while keeping his eyes closed.

The two men laid there for a while exhausted from their trip. It was around six thirty or so, Naruto sat up and yawned.

"We need to get to the BBQ soon," Naruto said as he leaned over the almost asleep Shikamaru.

"I know," Shikamaru reached up and played with Naruto's hair.

Shikamaru then put his hand behind the blonde's head and started to push down, pushing Naruto's face to Shikamaru's. Their lips met in a sweet kiss. Naruto pulled back and smiled at his lazy genius. The blonde rolled over and got off the bed. Shikamaru sat up and stretched.

"I wish we didn't have to explain this, Shika," Naruto said pulling on his vest he had taken off earlier.

"I know, but we told the Kazekage," Shikamaru shrugged, then got off the bed and put his arms around his troublesome blonde, "Its going to be fine. If our friends truly care for us, they will be happy for us."

"I know…" Naruto eyes widen as he remembered something, "uh… you have to tell your parents."

Naruto turned around in Shikamaru's arms and put his hands on the brunette's waist. Shikamaru closed his eyes as he was dreading telling his parents.

"This was so easier when we were traveling," Shikamaru shook his head.

Naruto played with the hair that wasn't in Shikamaru's ponytail, "we aren't staying long, and you know that."

Shikamaru nodded then glanced at the clock on the wall. It was time to go. Shikamaru grabbed Naruto's face and pulled it to his for one last kiss before they headed out the door to the BBQ.

So here's the next chapter! I am in the middle of writing the next one! Let me know what you think!