With the war over and done with, the nin easily rebuilt the village with the help of the citizens. It was looking better than ever and Naruto was on top of it all. Literally. The war survivors cheered for Kurama's human host who did them all a huge favor. The war simply would’ve been decided without Naruto a while ago.
But to Naruto, it felt the same. Sure he got the acknowledgement from the people who looked down on him the most. In all honesty, something was missing. Soon after the war ended relationships had started. His best friend tied the knot with his former crush from many years ago. It was one couple after another and Naruto was feeling left out. Though he kept it to himself, something he’s been accustomed to. He’d usually get over the feeling with his usual at Ichiraku’s. But sometimes it didn’t work.
He was not aware that one person knew of his odd behavior. Someone who thinks a lot was taken back by the fact nobody got their hands on the hero of the war. An unknown force tugged on the sides of his lips one he viewed Naruto eating his favorite dish. Shikamaru decided that it was his turn to take the unclaimed prize. Though he knew it would go slow. He approached the Blond and he received a familiar smile full of sorrow, one he’s seen many times in the past.
It was unknown to everybody, but Shikamaru’s parents and Choji, about his liking towards the jinchuriki. He was very perplexed about these feelings at first. His mother continuously comforting him informing her son that it was completely normal. His father finding the whole situation amusing thinking his son would make a big deal out of it. He knew that a certain platinum blonde had her eye out for him. How he would fix that? He’d let her down, though that didn’t stop her from going back home with the feeling of a broken heart. Shikamaru said his catchphrase many times in his head, ‘what a drag’ or ‘so troublesome’.
Shikamaru barely even talked during the time they were at Ichiraku’s. Naruto seemed to reel the whole conversation, mostly because it all came out on its own. Even he didn’t know why he was saying these things. Shikamaru was clearly the right person for the job though. After that night their friendship blossomed once more. About a few months later Shikamaru was not acting like himself at all. Naruto was wary. He wanted to ask him what the problem was but Shikamaru always shrugged it off and asked about what was going on.
“ You always ask me that Shika, “ Naruto sighed as he rolled on the Nara’s bed. They had moved in together seeing as their friendship was going to last a long time. Shikamaru was a little opposed to it but Naruto insisted. The only problem was, he didn’t know if He could Handle Naruto’s smile. Or his laugh. Or his love for ramen even at this age. Naruto was truly adorable in his eyes.
He heard Naruto grumbled as he messed up the sheets. Shika sighed as he got up to fix Naruto and his sheets. He grabbed one end and aired it out, successfully making Naruto hover in the air just for a split second. Once Naruto landed on the bed once more he let his face land in the soft bed.
“ Help me make up my bed.” Shika asked. Naruto reluctantly got up and reached for the sheet. As if Shika called it, Naruto had started to jump but he was caught in a black shadow. Naruto chuckled as he and Shika made up his bed. “ Now, Let’s play Go.”
“ But I’m no good at those games.” Naruto barely yelled. Shika knew this much all too well. Naruto was smart but he didn’t know how to apply his knowledge. Which amused him to the slightest degree. He’d ask Naruto to play these games merely to entertain his heart.
“ Don’t worry about that, I’ll talk you through.” Shika said as he walked over to the board that was located on a balcony. They both agreed to live in an apartment because 1: too much space would be troublesome, 2: Naruto was used to small spaces. And this place was large enough for the both of them to have their own separate rooms and have some friends over every once in awhile.
Soon enough they were playing a somewhat good game. Naruto had no Idea what he was doing but he was doing just fine, according the the shadow nin. Naruto always second guessed himself even though sometimes his first guess would have been beneficial. This was one of the things that amused the bored looking genius. Naruto began to squirm after a good hour or so, which meant he was done playing. Shika put the game up so they could finish it some other time.
If anyone ever watched where Shikamaru went, they’d see Naruto as well. They went everywhere together. The store, the forest, the park, even a hill. Some would say they were inseparable. Either way, they had been in the house way too long and they were both suffering from it. So they decided to train, well, Naruto did. And he convinced Shika to spar with him. On some occasions, some of their friends would be free to spar with the two, or just Naruto. Despite the amount of moving he did Shika was always tired after sparring with Naruto. It’s like he pulls the energy out of the people around him. Though it amused him nonetheless.
‘Troublesome,’
Somehow Shika got the hyperactive number one knucklehead ninja to go cloud watching. Though he had trouble sitting still and Shika commenting on it and saying that it was troublesome. Surprisingly he had calmed down during the time they were there and the two had started comparing cloud shapes. Every time they fell into this cycle, Naruto would be the first to fall asleep. And Shikamaru would carry him back not wanting to wake the sleeping blond. The thought that Naruto does this on purpose always passes through shikamaru’s thing brain. The walk back home is always amusing. For some reason someone they know is always on the path. And they always end up stopping them just to talk. It’s not that he’s angry or anything, it just be nice if the people who stop them offer to carry Naruto back the their decently sized home. But they never do.
Anyway, they get back home and he places Naruto in his own bed because his room is closer. It’d be too troublesome to walk just a bit more steps. To place him in Naruto’s newly invested in bed. Yeah, too troublesome…
As Naruto slept in his bed Shikamaru grew restless. The relationship between him and Naruto was going to slow, but speeding things up would be too troublesome. Naruto still has a lot of things bothering him. Hints, the way he acted this morning. Shikamaru loved the blond idiot. A lot. And still nobody knows. So he tries to help Naruto, he makes sure he’s always smiling. He makes sure he’s away from the Uchiha. Naruto and Shika easily came to the conclusion about Sasuke not being good for him. This was good for them. He knew he had to use his brain make the adorable blond to fall for him. Or maybe…
Naruto woke up. His glaze first landed on the ponytail that always seemed to be in. The same rubberband. The same face. The same thoughts. ‘I wonder how long his hair actually is.’ ‘ would he be angry if I pulled the rubber band out?’ ‘ Why did he agree to let me, of all people, to live with him?’
‘Was it okay to love him?’
“ Hey, Shika.”
Shikamaru saw Naruto walking towards him as if he were still asleep, at least that’s what it looked like. Shika moved away from the board a bit so nothing would happen to all the pieces. Right now he had no idea what was going on, this was very unpredicted fortunately for Shika, it was amusing. Naruto pushed Shika down on his back. The carpet soft enough for Shika not to complain. Naruto was now on top of Shikamaru, well, he was. The shadow nin carefully switched their places, now Naruto was being nestled by the soft carpet. But he had a goal and Shika could see it in his eyes.
Naruto reached his hands up and brushed the same bored looking face then it traveled up to his hair. He pulled and successfully took his hair down. Medium length hair now encased the visage of a not so bored face. Naruto’s face bore a victorious smile. Shikamaru looked at his favorite blond and felt a tug at the ends of his lips. The lazy nin felt a hands tangle in his hair only to get pulled down by his face. His lips were captured by face he’s come to adore. Shikamaru couldn’t be happier. So much emotion was poured into this one kiss, he was already feeling the satisfaction. He didn’t want to separate from those pink lips he’s craved for so long. But unless he wanted to continue breathing they had to separate. But he made sure that he held that kiss for as long as he could.
Naruto looked up into Shikamaru’s eyes filled with trust and love. Shika stared down with a pleased smile. His eyes glazed over Naruto’s. First his eyes, who were now wide awake. Then his cheeks, who had an evident and proud red tinge to them. And lastly his lips, who were probably sore from the excessive make out session. He leaned back down and captured Naruto’s lips once more, but this time lifting the blond up to carry him to bed. Hands tangled in his dark hair that was released for the first time other than himself. He held on tighter to Naruto and started trailing kisses on his jawline and neck, leaving a mark here and there. The kisses tingled on his skin and his breath hitched once Shika started marking his skin. Naruto then felt wetness roll down the side of his neck.
“ Sh-Shika, why are you-” He was silenced by another kiss, he just couldn’t have enough. A tear dripped down Naruto’s cheek.
“Fuck,” Shika stuttered out. “ I never thought it would come this easily, Naruto. I thought I had to work harder, help you fix everything, do anything just to make you happy. I thought I had ways to go, but you… you..” Naruto stared wide eyed at the shadow nin who he’d come to love. This whole time of Shikamaru’s advice and company really helped him overcome many things. But it was the fact that Shikamaru actually listened to what he said, listened to his problems. That was the real game changer. Naruto was very happy that Shikamaru had come that night. Who knows, would he still even be alive after everything that happened if he hadn’t shown up at his favorite ramen shop?
“ I’m just so happy, it truly is troublesome.” Shika chuckled as he laid on Naruto, not really caring if he crushes him or not. He just wanted to touch him. The feeling of Naruto right there, skin on skin contact, made him feel safe. It was right in many ways. “ I’ve loved you for a long time, Uzumaki. Longer than you’d imagine.” He moved up so he faced Naruto.
“ I love you too, Nara.”