Chapter Text
Naruto definitely has a good sense for this kind of thing.
Two people walking together…that was a sign.
He often saw Shikamaru walking alongside Temari, whenever the Suna diplomat came to Konoha.
They weren’t holding hands but in his mind’s eye they were. They just couldn’t do it out in the open. It wasn’t professional.
They had so much chemistry too. They were both kind of mean and really really smart so…it only made sense. It was kind of like Pervy Sage’s stupid books. They acted all huffy and weird but they were totally taken with one another. A long distance relationship burdened by appearances had to be tough. Naruto really hoped for the best, for them to beat the odds.
He’s a little puzzled when he sees Shikamaru holding hands with Rock Lee of all people.
Why ? Why were they holding hands? Was this some kind of special training? Did someone lose a bet?
He couldn’t fathom it.
It made no sense.
The brief thought enters his mind: Shikamaru is cheating on Temari.
He shakes the thought away.
No way!
Shikamaru was loyal to a fault. He would never do anything like that and as earlier iterated: he was super smart. No way would he be caught up in weird cheating games with someone wrathful like Temari.
“Oh! Hello Naruto!” Lee greeted, waving with his other hand.
“Sup.” Shikamaru nodded in greeting.
Naruto rested his hands on his hips. “Nothing much…uh what are you two doing?”
Lee and Shikamaru glanced at each other. “Uhh going for a walk?” The genius finally answered like it had been a trick question.
“I can see that! I just mean- what’s- YOU TWO ARE HOLDING HANDS!” He exclaimed, pointing at the offending limbs. “Why are you holding hands?!”
Lee slowly blinked then looked at their hands while Shikamaru glared at Naruto. “The hell you talking about?”
“Don’t act dumb, Shikamaru!”
Lee furrowed his brows then looked at Naruto. “You are not making any sense, Naruto.”
“Not at all,” Shikamaru agreed gruffly.
A beat of uncomfortable silence stretched between them.
Naruto began irritably scratching at his scalp with both hands. “NO! YOU’RE THE ONES NOT MAKIN’ ANY SENSE, Y’KNOW!!! TEMARI IS YOUR GIRLFRIEND-” suddenly the blonde’s mouth snapped shut. “Wait-”
Shikamaru frowned as he mouthed ‘Temari’ in confusion while Lee looked on in concern.
“Naruto?”
He pointed at the two of them. “You- are you guys- doin’ the whole…digamy thing??”
“E-ehh?!”
“Neither of us is dating Temari, idiot,” Shikamaru finally says.
Naruto could see something like a vein pulse on the Nara’s temple.
Ehh????
“Then- then-“
Lee glanced at Shikamaru who just shook their head. “Give him a minute.”
“Why would you two???? Hold? Hands???”
Lee smiled gently. “Because Shikamaru’s hands get cold from poor circulation. I like to keep them warm.”
Naruto paused taking in this explanation. “Oh! Ok!” He giggles to himself. “Here I thought you two were dating or something hehehe…that’s silly! Easy mistake, y’know.”
Lee opened his mouth again but Shikamaru just cleared his throat. “Well, it was nice seeing you but Lee and I got things to do.”
Lee’s eyebrows rose, a bit of pink powdered his cheeks. “We do?”
“Yes,” Shikamaru said simply as he led the older boy along.
Naruto waved at them. “Oh! Okay! Maybe I’ll catch you guys later!”
Much later, while sitting at Ichiraku a lightbulb finally goes off.
“Ehh??? He was only holding one hand! How the hell was he keeping the other hand warm!” Naruto exclaimed after finishing a bite of ramen.
“What are you yammering on about?” Sakura grumbled beside him. She had wanted to not deal with her mother…this was the price.
Naruto turned to Sakura, and began to retell his encounter with Shikamaru and Lee.
Sakura frowned at the end. “I mean…that is kind of weird.” She tilts her head. “But it doesn’t mean anything.”
“No?”
“Well, yeah! Shikamaru is totally smitten with Temari! He gets all quiet and stuff when she’s around!”
“Ohhh…”
“Obviously it’s a sign of respect and infatuation…it’s kind of cute that someone like Shikamaru has a type like Temari.”
Naruto nodded in agreement. “Yeah!”
Ayame had been listening in, looked at her dad but he just silently shook his head.
Well, alright. She’d stay out of it.
“I wonder if Temari knows how Shikamaru feels?” Naruto wondered as he went back to slurping his ramen.
“Someone like Temari probably gets attention all the time so Shikamaru really needs to make an impression!” Sakura said. “Maybe I should ask Ino…we could help him out!”
Naruto chuckled. “Totally. He needs all the help he can get!”