Enemies

.8

"You guys... I'm really frustrated right now."

"I am too."

"Same with me."

Naruto, Hinata, and Shikamaru are gathered together to further develop their techniques. The trio all sighed in defeat, physically and mentally drained for their non stop work.

Hinata fell forward and landed on the tree she's been beating up, her hands beginning to sting and she yelped quietly.

Shikamaru had his hands signed as he continues trying to use a string of his shadow to pick up a kunai and aim it at the center target perfectly.

Naruto had given up long ago, back leaned against a big boulder as his soul escapes out of his body.

"So many lines... so many swirls, can't handle it anymore!" Naruto yelled out of frustration, flinging his brush towards the scroll and ruffled his hair around.

Hinata crawled over with shaking hands and sat beside Naruto, patting his shoulder to comfort him. "We're all working hard so that's all it matters! Any sort of progress is a good to go in my book."

Shikamaru broke out in sweat as he tried his hardest to concentrate on his task. However, when his shadow misses the hole of the kunai for the 15th time, he releases his sign and dragged his legs over towards the duo.

"Getting on my nerves." he mumbled while sitting himself on the other side of Naruto. He laid his head onto his shoulder and sighed out, then closed his eyes.

Naruto didn't mind much as he glared at the lined covered scroll, a ting of annoyance still lingering in his chest. Hinata took notice of that and picked it up to have a further inspection.

"What exactly are you trying to do Naruto?" she asked, inspecting closely at the drawn ink.

Naruto carefully reached for the book he'd been studying and placed it on his lap. He pointed his finger at the words provided on the page.

"I'm trying to learn how to use electricity but as you can see here, it's a bit on the higher level compared to water and fire as it takes more concentration."

He sighed out in a dramatic way, "Didn't think it was going to drain this much out of me though. Too much brain power for me."

"Don't give up just yet Naruto! Rest a little bit before continuing. Here, have some of my rice ball to help recharge. You too Shikamaru."

Hinata opened up her lunchbox that she prepared for all of them and handed the two one rice ball.

"Waah! You're such an angel Hinata!" Naruto sparkles, taking bites of the rice ball and humming in satisfaction.

Shikamaru thanked her before also taking bites of the food. Hinata nodded to herself, proud to see the boys eating her food so happily. She picked one up and began eating it as well.

The trio sat in a comfortable silence, listening to the birds chirping around them and land animals walking around the area.

Naruto cherishes moments like this, just the three of them together and doing whatever. Laughing, smiling, being frustrated together, everything about them is great.

He smiles to himself as he glances at each side, Hinata on his right while Shikamaru was on his left.

Aren't they just the cutest bunch?

He shoved the small bits of the rice into his mouth, feeling his energy coming back and held onto his ink brush again.

"Yosh! My energy is back and I'm ready to do some electricity! I will succeed this and show it off to Pervy Sage."