Forget being a Shinobi, Naruto swore he would become an artist. The four year old had to hand it to himself, that was a beautiful piece of work. He had placed paint on his hands and had put his hands and feet on papers and wrote his name, which he now hung on his bed side. It was soo pretty. Ahhhhhh. He grinned happily and washed his hands with soap and smiled. He rubbed the wet sink and heard someone knock at the door. A month hadn't finished so what was going on? He walked out of the sink and looked at the door with a faint expression.

People.

Naruto didn't want to see anyone. He wanted to be on his own. He knew it wasn't anyone who was going to hurt him considering the guy with masks were watching him, but he still didn't want to open the door. Part of him wished he had a kunai or some weapon. He would definitely have to ask for that next month.

Someone knocked again and Naruto felt a sense of crisis. Did he know this person. He tried to concentrate an-

"This is so troublesome" he heard a voice mutter and Naruto's eyed widened as he sensed Shikamaru's warm chakra. He did know this person! Naruto flung the door open and he saw Shikamaru standing there with his usual "I could care less" expression with his hands in his pocket.

Naruto's eyes brightened and Shikamaru tched. "Sooo are you going to let me in or.." he said with a yawn and Naruto nodded carefully. He let Shikamaru in and closed the door as the Nara plopped himself on Naruto's bed and began snoring.

".."

Naruto was stunned. But a small smile reached his face. Okay. He didn't ask how Shikamaru knew his house and took his short ladder and opened the stove. He opened his cookbook and followed the instructions quite easily having had enough practice for weeks.

A few minutes went by, Naruto heard a small tumble and he watched as Shikamaru yawned and took the bowls and plate and set them on the table. Naruto was surprised for a split second and then he shrugged. Shikamaru had made himself home, he clearly didn't consider himself an outsider and it made Naruto felt secure.

They were friends after all.

And he knew that Shikamaru didn't have any bad reasons for being friends with him.

The TV was switched on and the only thing that Naruto felt was peace as his hands poked the meat, checking to see if it was ready.

He set a timer and got down the stove as he sat beside Shikamaru. "How'd you find out where I live?" he asked carefully, his eyes ready to dim even after thinking that Shikamaru was his friend. Maybe Shikamaru was just being nice and he was reaching.

"I asked my dad, he's jonin commander, so I guess that explains something" Shikamaru answered closing his eyes as he leaned on the floor, feeling nostalgic. Being with Naruto always felt like that.

He didn't ask the other what happened, he didn't ask why Naruto was different, he simply yawned and gave him a look.

"I'm sleeping over by the way, Dad will bring my stuff later on and stop overthinking" Shikamaru said after flickering Naruto's forehead.

"Could you blame me though? I have to be careful" Naruto muttered softly and Shikamaru sighed, his eyes shining with curiosity, but he didn't ask. He just knew that people weren't decent to Naruto for no reason, which made his blood violently boil with quite a lot of rage. And it made him feel quite unjust and sad for the blonde, not that other knew.

Although looking at Naruto, Shikamaru was mentally stunned yet happy, Naruto looked better, which felt weird since the blonde was usually a loud and obnoxious person and had now turned quieter and calmer, but nevertheless he did look and feel better.

Although, his spark-

Shikamaru looked away from the blonde. "Hmph, you're so troublesome. I won't ask, but just know we're always be friends. I'm even in your house dumbass, and I don't even feel strange, so stop being soo dramatic" Naruto looked up and gave a small smile.

He turned away and Shikamaru pretended he didn't see the tears that fell on the shorter boy.

Come to think of it. Naruto looked slightly taller and fuller too. It seemed he was eating well. That was good. That was more than good. Shikamaru grimaced, as for why everyone hated Naruto. He would find out and then hopefully it would give Naruto solid peace.

The timer beeped and Naruto took the pots carefully and placed them on the small table. They both smiled, "thank you for the food" and placed the food on their bowls. "I won't be coming out anymore by the way" Naruto said casually and Shikamaru stopped for a moment then nodded.

Then he would have to visit the blonde every weekend. He also wondered if the Hokage who was in charge of Naruto, according to his father make him enroll early. Shikamaru hoped not. He and Choji would enroll when they turned seven. But considering Naruto's special case as his father had said, after Shikamaru had threatened him it was very likely.

Shikamaru wished he had threatened the other more. Even if it was unlike him. It felt right.

"I'll visit you sometimes and I'll even introduce you to my other best friend, his name is Choji, and with how your food tastes, he will love you to the moon" Shikamaru stated as he continued eating. Naruto smiled hesitantly, "just him okay" and Shikamaru nodded at that.

Someone knocked on the door and Shikamaru watched as Naruto stood up. The blonde slightly older. It wasn't the first time Shikamaru saw him like, but it seemed now, it had fully come out. Shikamaru felt troubled and he stopped eating. Something bad had happened, and as much as it had brought some good, it has also brought...this... an older version of Naruto that just...left Shikamaru feeling oddly lost.

He just had to accept it because, with Naruto's life he knew it was for the best. Ignorance would do nothing more than hurt him. But still. Shikamaru should have been there. That feeling was ingraved deep in his heart and it made him realize that he knew that what happened had been physical. He didn't how but Shikamaru knew and it hurt the Nara.

On the door, "yeah these are the brats clothes, can you carry them?" Naruto looked at the bag and gave a deadpan look at Shikaku who chuckled lightly.

Naruto opened the door not as cautious, Shikaku was not a horrible person. He knew that much. But he also, was just like the people from ichiraku. He was just being nice and polite and Naruto didn't need to put him on a pedestal for that.

Shikaku threw the bag on Shikamaru who groaned. "So troublesome" and Naruto couldn't help but note how alike the two were. Shikaku swept one look over Naruto's apartment and waved at the two. "Have fun" and he left whilst Naruto closed the door his eyes a little dim. Shikaku also knew too. It was in his chakra and in his eyes. The guilt. It was faint. But there.

"Your dad, he knows too"

Shikamaru looked up, what?"it's all the adults, they know" and Shikamaru's eyes widened. That was right. Everyone else knew, even his mother and she was just a civilian. Shikamaru found it even more prosperous, if it was a village secret, why did everyone know and Naruto didn't.

Wasn't this a bit cruel?