Chapter Text
The morning sun filtered through the canopy that cast long, dappled shadows across the Konoha training grounds. Weathered wooden targets bristling with kunais, frayed practice ropes coiled like snakes in the dirt—unused, and the metallic scent of cold steel still lingers in the air.
Soft thuds send a cluster of wild grasshoppers scurrying into the high grass as an orange figure emerged from the treeline in panic.
“I’m late! I’m late!!” a familiar voice echoed across the clearing and immediately drew a sharp glare from the pink-haired kunoichi waiting by the center post. “Shikamaru, shit- sorry! I overslept!”
“Naruto!” Sakura snapped, “You’re turning into Kakashi-sensei with these excuses!!”
Naruto winced, sheepishly scratching the back of his head as he closed the distance.
“Ah, hahaha... sorry, sorry! I was busy cleaning my apartment and my energy was drained…..Wait-” he blinked, finally processing her presence. “Sakura? What’cha doing here? Thought it was just gonna be me and Shikamaru practicing for today.”
He glanced past her toward the base of a massive oak tree. There lay Shikamaru sprawled in the shade, fingers laced behind his head as one leg crossed lazily over the other. He looked so peaceful and completely unbothered by their presence.
Especially with Naruto’s shoutings.
The girl exhaled a sigh, then planted her hands on her hips. “I’m here to monitor your progress. Tsunade wants to see how much you can improve in a short time.”
The blonde gave a nod as he stretched his body. "You sure you don't wanna join in? Heheh, afraid you won't keep up ain’t cha?”
"Pusshhh Please, taunting me is no use. I’m already fast enough to leave you in the dust and strong enough to put you through a wall," Sakura countered and held up her fisted hand. She then let out a smug huff that made Naruto’s face scrunch into an exaggerated pout.
Naruto crossed his arms, murmured, "Talks big for someone who spends half her time jumping people out of nowhere…”
“WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU SAY?!!”
"EEEK?!!- Nothing- I said nothing!" The Uzumaki yelped, nearly tripping over his own sandals as he scrambled back.
"I'll let it slide this once," she threatened, "But if you don't wake Shikamaru right now, I’m going to stop wasting my time hanging around your sorry ass and go back to the hospital. Move!"
"So cruel, Sakura…..." Naruto whined, though the protest was paper thin.
It was just a normal argument between them. To others, it looked like they were about to fight to death. But… yeah, for them, it was just a simple clash between bestfriends–or sibling dynamics if you wanna call it.
Every time Sakura’s temper flared into a shout, it slowly softened into an amused, private smile the moment Naruto looked away.
And Naruto, for all his grumbling, always let out a genuine laugh.
He turned his body away as he trudged toward the base of the oak tree. The grass was long, untouched by today's training, and it cushioned his steps until he was standing directly over the sleeping strategist.
He slowly crouched and squinted his eyes.
His sparring partner, Shikamaru—hadn’t moved an inch. His chest rose and fell in a slow motion with his hands still cradled behind his head.
The sunlight was filtered through the canopy above, shifting patterns of light across his face which softened the usually sharp, tired lines around his eyes.
He looks calm, Naruto thought.
Dang, he really can sleep anytime and everywhere he wants, huh?
“Ooiii, Shikamaru… oi, wake up,” he nudged.
But there’s no response to his call.
“Since when did he fall asleep, Sakura?”
“Since when he realized you were late," She explained shortly, "When I arrived after him, he knew that you gonna be late and suddenly went limp to fucking sleep.”
Naruto let out a bark of a laugh.
Typical Shikamaru.
He then scanned the forest floor, eyes lighting up when he noticed a fallen stick. He swept it up, weighing it in his hand like a kunai.
“Remember when we were in ninja school and he had already broken the genjutsu first but pretended to sleep?”
“Yeah. He’s an idiot. I was about to kill him if he didn't wake up.”
“Let the boy rest, Sakura!”
“Well he wasn't doing anything!”
The memory brought a smile to Naruto’s face as he leaned over. The tip of the stick hovering for a second before he decided to poke Shikamaru’s cheek as the skin gave way under the wood, squishing slightly to the side.
And yet, Shikamaru remained limp.
“Oh my Kami.. He’s hopeless!!..” Sakura spoke up.
“Kukuku~ I have an idea!”
Naruto knelt closer, carefully positioning the stick as his hand moved slowly toward Shikamaru’s face, hovering for a second before inching closer…
Closer…..
The tip of the stick aimed right under his nose.
Sakura covered her mouth, eyes glinting with amusement.
“Do it, do it!” She encourages.
Suddenly, a hand wrapped around his wrist. A gentle touch halting him mid-motion before he could push the stick any further.
Naruto and Sakrua froze.
The boy before him lazily cracked one eye open. His gaze slid from Naruto’s face to the stick, then back at him again.
Silence.
They quietly stared at each other as Naruto caught red-handed. His grin slowly turned sheepish while Shikamaru looked… unimpressed, overall not surprised. It seems like he expected this already.
“…Really?” Shikamaru murmured, voice rough with sleep.
Naruto huffed, “well good morning for you too!”
Shikamaru’s grip loosened but he didn’t let go as he raised one of his eyebrow, “..You’re late.”
The boy before him shrugged. “Blame my apartement.”
“You’re the one who left it messy.”
“Hey! I told you I was in a rush, okay?!”
“Hm…” Shikamaru let out a lazy yawn, rising to his feet with his hands tucked into his pockets. “You ready?”
Naruto didn’t even need to think about it. He was always ready. He’d been training his jutsu since last night, pushing himself far past the point of exhaustion and that's also one of the reasons why he was late.
Granny Tsunade had always said his reflexes were one of his weaknesses. So last night before he took a nap, he had created a shadow clone, pouring half of his chakra into it so it could act independently as it has a mind of its own. He’d given it a simple instruction to attack him without his original self realizing when it would happen.
But- oh well, turns out Naruto had been caught off guard seven times in ten rounds.
SEVEN OUT OF TEN!!!
Thus he couldn't afford to be careless like that. He can’t let his chakra run wild, exhausting himself and leaving openings for his enemies.
Oh, and also he protested everytime his clone managed to hit him.
He even lost to his clone-self. Wow, amazing.
“Alright, you two, stand facing each other.” Sakura clapped her hands, stepping back to give them space as Naruto and Shikamaru moved into their position.
“Shikamaru,” she continued, “I want you to try to catch Naruto’s shadow as fast as you can. Paralyze him if you manage it. Lady Tsunade wants you to take this spar seriously, ‘kay? We all know you’re smart as hell but you need to work on your speed. Stop being lazy or you gonna kiss my fist.”
Shikamaru sighed under his breath.
He rarely pushed his shadow techniques to their limit during training. It was too much of a drag. While most of the time, he could outmaneuver his sparring partners with strategy alone, ending things without wasting extra effort.
That was until he failed to catch Sakura when Lady Tsunade paired them up a month ago.
“…Yeah, yeah,” he muttered, defeated.
“And Naruto,” Sakura added, turning to him as she tossed something his way. Naruto caught it with curiosity.
It’s a permanent black marker.
“This will be your Rasengan since we don’t want to risk Shikamaru getting hurt. Your goal is to mark him anywhere you can… preferably his face, got it?”
Shikamaru’s eyes widened in horror. “What?! Hey—wait a second, I didn’t agree to this?!”
Of course he hadn’t. The marker Sakura had given Naruto was permanent.
Naruto, meanwhile, only grinned (Too excited for Shikamaru’s liking.)
“Oh I’m going to have lotsa fun!!” He gripped the marker.
“Oh no you don’t!”
“Ready?” Sakura held a small pebble between her fingers, her gaze flicking between the two.
The moment she let go, time seemed to slow down.
Both men tracked the pebble as it fell: waiting patiently…
..until it hit the ground.
“Go!”
-
“WOAH?!”
Naruto barely twisted out of the way as Shikamaru’s shadow shot forward, faster than usual and more aggressive. It snapped across the ground forcing Naruto to spring onto a nearby branch.
“Since when did your shadow get this fast?!” Naruto shrieked, leaping with funny poses as it chased after him. His feet barely touched the bark before he pushed off, darting from branch to branch.
Just as he thought he got the chance—just as he thought close enough…
Another shadow lunged from behind.
“OH FUCK?! WHAT THE HELL?!!” Naruto yelped, “HEY- THAT’S CHEATING!”
“It’s called strategy,” Shikamaru shot back. Below, his hands were locked in position, fingers trembling slightly as he forced more reach, more speed out of his jutsu. Sweat slid down his temple as his fingers began to cram.
This was already a pain.
But there was no way… No way, he was letting Naruto anywhere near his face with that marker. Not after the Hokage Monument incident. He still remembered how fast Naruto had vandalized all those stone faces like it was nothing.
If that idiot got even one clean hit-
“Oi, don’t run away!” Naruto shouted, suddenly dropping from the branches.
“Who’s running?” Shikamaru mutters as he notices the boy’s gonna land right on the edge of his shadow.
Got you.
The shadow snapped upward but only for Naruto to vanish in a puff of smoke.
“…what the- a clone?”
“Haha!! Too slow!” Shikamaru’s head jerked up as Naruto was already above him, arm stretched out, marker uncapped and ready to attack.
“Oh, this is gonna look GREAT on your face!!”
“Oh no the hell you won’t!!”
Shikamaru forced his shadow to spike upward, intercepting midair. But Naruto twisted his body at the last second as his jacket snapped with the motion not even aiming to land. Instead, a burst of chakra flared beneath his feet, propelling him sideways in a sharp, unnatural angle.
“Gotcha!”
He came in fast from Shikamaru’s blind spot, marker already uncapped in his grip. Shikamaru clicked his tongue, dragging his shadow across the ground in a swift curve. It split in two, no, one line snapping toward Naruto’s feet, the other rising behind him like a wall, cutting off his escape.
Naruto’s grin widened as he clapped his hands and three clones burst into existence midair, scattering in different directions.
The shadows manage to catch two of them immediately, poofing them into smoke.
But the real Naruto had already dropped low, sliding across the ground at full speed as he ducks under the last stretch of shadow.
Guess last night's train didn't go in vain, huh?
Shikamaru’s eyes sharpened as Naruto closed the distance, arm rearing back with that stupid, excited grin again.
But The Nara only smirked as his other hidden shadow was coming from Naruto’s under.
“Got you,” Shikamaru muttered, breathing tight from the strain.
The nin didn’t struggle. Instead, he tilted his head slightly in a teasing way.
“…You sure?”
Shikamaru frowned, he has a bad feeling about this.
Then the body in front of him burst into smoke.
His eyes widened. Of course, it’s another clone. What a cheap trick from the number one unpredictable ninja.
“RASEN-MARKER!!”
The real Naruto dropped from above, having hidden himself high in the canopy all along. He came down fast as gravity did the rest of the work, his stretched arm aimed straight for Shikamaru, marker in fingers.
Shikamaru barely had time to shift before Naruto’s hand swiped across his face.
“?!!”
Then the kyubii’s feet landed a few feet away, skidding slightly as he straightened, arm still extended in triumph.
Shikamaru can only stand.
A bold black streak now curved along his jaw, just shy of his lips.
For a moment, there was nothing but silence.
“…You aimed for my face,” Shikamaru said.
Naruto beamed, obviously proud of himself. “And I improved the angle too. If you take a look at yourself in the mirror, I just wrote ‘lazy’ on your face!!”
“You had time to wrote that?!”
Behind them, the female kunoichi had already turned away with her shoulders shaking as she tried, no, failed not to laugh.
“BAHAHAHAH!!”
Naruto planted a big, big smile as he twirled the marker between his fingers, grin widening.
“I’ve practiced last night! How was it?!”
Shikamaru shrugged, “eh, not bad.” Then he turned to Sakura, “Sakura, is the spar still continuing or are we done?”
“It’s up to both of you!” She answered lightly.
“Okay cool, because–” Shikamaru then has his eyes on Naruto, “I’m not done, by the way.”
“Huh?”
Shikamaru’s shadow exploded outward across the ground, faster and wider than before.
“Run.”
Naruto barely made it three steps before the shadow surged forward and caught him. It snapped around his feet first. Tight. before climbing up his body in an instant, locking him in place mid-motion. His arms froze where they were, markers still clutched between his fingers with his entire body going rigid as Shikamaru’s jutsu took hold.
“…Ah.”
Naruto blinked.
Then he tried to move.
“NOOOOOO!!!!”
Shikamaru breathed rapidly, shoulders rising and falling as he straightened. Fingers still locked in position. Sweat clung to his temple, but there was a satisfaction in his gaze now.
“Got you,” he muttered.
Naruto’s grin twitched. “You’re just lucky I didn’t notice!”
“What did Sakura say about enemies not gonna wait or something, yesterday?”
“Mmmngghh…!!”
Shikamaru stepped forward at his own pace, shadow still firmly connected. As he got closer, his eyes flicked to the marker still in Naruto’s hand.
“…You’ve been having fun, huh?”
Naruto suddenly felt a shift of unease. His face turns pale when the marker is getting closer to his face.
“Hey… wait, Shikamaru, let’s talk about this alright? Ahaha….”
Too late.
Shikamaru’s fingers moved while Naruto’s arm followed.
“No no no!! H-HEY!!”
Lazily, Naruto’s own hand lifted the marker as it was inching closer to his face.
“We’re even.” Shikamaru said, voice calm despite the clear exhaustion in it.
“SAKURA- NO, HELP ME!!!”
She shrugged it off. “Fair is fair Naruto, stop being a baby.”
“NOOOOOOOO!!!” Naruto struggled, but the jutsu held firm. His hand reached his cheek and dragged thick lines across it.
‘Dork’
Shikamaru released the jutsu right after, his shadow snapping back as he finally let his hands drop with a tired sigh. When Naruto stumbled forward, he immediately reached for his face.
“WHAT DID YOU WROTE?!”
Shikamaru glanced at him, “Dunno, but it looks good on you.”
Naruto stared at him in disbelief.
“...We’re not done, right Shika?” Then slowly, his expression shifted.
Oh no.
Before Shikamaru could react, Naruto bolted forward again, marker raised high.
“ROUND THREE!!”
“…You’re kidding me.”
And just like that, Sakura sighed in defeat.
-
The field had gone quiet after the spar, the dust settling back into the grass like nothing had happened. The kunoichi had already left, muttering something about reporting to Tsunade and not wanting to deal with “idiots who draw on each other mid-training.”
And there are only 2 ninjas left.
“Two,” he said between snickers, crouching down beside Shikamaru. “I got two ‘lazies’ on your face! Does that mean I’m faster than you?”
Shikamaru didn’t move from where he was sprawled on the grass. Just like the usual, his arm tucked behind his head while the other rested loosely at his side. His eyes were half-lidded, clearly sleepy and exhausted after what they both went through.
It was fun, nonetheless.
“You still lack of surroundings, ” he said, though there was no real bite to it.
Naruto leaned closer with his hand holding up a small cloth. “Still got you twice! anyway, Hold still, I’ll wipe it off before someone else sees-?
“Like you weren’t the one who wrote it,”
“...BEFORE someone else sees and makes fun of you.” Naruto rolled his eyes, but his laughter quieted down as he reached out. The cloth brushed gently against Shikamaru’s cheek. “Geez, just let me help ya!”
Shikamaru’s gaze shifted then, not to the sky anymore.
But to the younger nin.
Up close, Naruto’s face was bright, soft, gentle. Those whisker marks stood out more than anything, especially with how close he’d gotten. His brows were still slightly furrowed from concentration with lips pressed together as he tried not to smear the ink further.
‘it’s cute’ he thought.
No wonder Hinata likes him. He’s a ray of sunshine, always positive and full of smiles.
Even Naruto smells like the burning sun and the sea.
Everytime Shikamaru’s near him, that boy always manages to calm his mind.
Shikamaru didn’t say anything when Naruto leaned in a little more, steadying himself with one hand near Shikamaru’s shoulder. Their faces ended up closer than either of them seemed to notice. Though at first, close enough that Naruto’s breath brushed lightly against Shikamaru’s skin.
“…You’re staring,” Naruto muttered, not looking away from his work..
“Mhm…”
“That’s creepy.”
“Am I?” Shikamaru perked up, voice gentle.
Naruto finally paused with cloth still resting against Shikamaru’s cheek.
Then he glanced at him properly this time as their eyes met.
“Oh- Uhm,, Yeah?” Naruto said, quieter now.
But he didn’t pull away.
Shikamaru’s gaze lingered as it traced over Naruto’s face: the whisker marks, the way his eyes narrowed slightly when he focused, the faint warmth still clinging to his skin from the spar, the blue sparkling eyes, then his lips–
And yet…
The Nara blinked, “…You missed a spot,” Shikamaru said lazily.
Naruto tilted his head. “Huh? How did you know? Wait let me check-”
Before he could move to check, Shikamaru lifted his hand and caught Naruto’s wrist lightly, guiding it just a little to the side. The movement brought them even closer for a brief second. Naruto’s breath hitched, surprised with the sudden movements..
“There,” Shikamaru whispered..
“…Oh.”
Naruto swallowed, then quickly wiped the remaining ink, a bit less steady than before.
“There. Done. You’re welcome.”
Shikamaru let go of his wrist without comment, his hand dropping back to the grass like nothing had happened. Naruto stayed there longer than necessary before leaning back, scratching the back of his neck.
“Man… you’re weird sometimes..”
Shikamaru closed his eyes again, the faintest hint of a smirk tugging at his lips.
“Yeah,” he agreed. “But you didn’t seem to mind.”
As they enjoy each other's presences, a familiar voice is heard following with heavy steps near the training area.
“Naruto. Stop playing around.” The voice called that makes both of them turn at the same time. A figure stood a few steps away: Sasuke, wearing his green vest with his headband resting neatly against his forehead, hands tucked into his pockets.
The Kyuubi boy lightined up with excitement. “Sasuke!” he called, jumping to his feet without hesitation. He jogged over to him, a wide grin planted on his face.
“Whatcha’ doing here?”
“Sakura told me to pick you guys. Sun’s coming down.”
“Aawww thanks! You do care about us, after all!!”
Shikamaru slowly pushed himself up from the grass. As Naruto spoke, The Uchiha didn’t look at Naruto for long. Instead, his gaze moved past him, landing on Shikamaru.
Neither of them spoke.
Meanwhile, Naruto kept going, rambling excitedly, not realizing that just a few steps behind him, his two best friends were locked in silent stares.