Secrets of the Heart - ShikaNaru

3

Naruto's mind was in a daze the next morning. His head throbbed with the agonizing pain of having drunk too much. Shikamaru should have stopped me. He sighed deeply as he flipped through the mountain of paperwork piled on his desk.

I didn't sign up to be the Hokage just to do office work! He thought, a frown settling onto his lips.

"Shikamaru, help me pleaseee" The blond pleaded, his big blue eyes wide and his tone rhetorical. His fingers were clasped together as if in prayer. Oddly enough, Shikamaru seemed to give in without a word, taking the papers from Naruto's hands with a sigh of understanding.

"Fine," He said, his tone resigned as he began diligently flipping through the notes and absorbing all the information. In the 7th Hokage's eyes, Shikamaru was like an angel sent from above, meticulously refined and flawless.

"Just this once." Shikamaru added, stealing a short glace.

Naruto watched with a gaze full of admiration, his eyes reflecting a longing that seemed to hold a universe of stars. He hoped Shikamaru wouldn't notice his yearning stare. But he had forgotten that years of being a shinobi had honed Shikamaru's perceptiveness to an almost scholarly level—he was more than capable of noticing such an intense gaze.

Yet, he pretended to be unaware; locking eyes with Naruto was dangerous addiction, and it was anything but healthy.

A loud knock on the door saved Shikamaru from the temptation.

"Come in."

"Shikamaru, your special someone is here to see you!" Kakashi chuckled, a hand covering his mouth in a playful, teasing gesture. Shikamaru offered a soft smile, excusing himself as he strode toward the door.

He waved goodbye to Naruto, who stood there with an untouched hand reaching out that craved Shikamaru's embrace.

Naruto frowned as he sank into his seat, crossing his arms, burdened with an unsettling feeling. He couldn't quite understand why he felt a subtle drop in his heart, and it disturbed his solemn soul. 

The blond couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that churned in his gut; he was always awkward around Temari, and it was impossible to figure out why. Luckily, Kakashi was right by the very door. He's an expert at this kind of thing, right?

"What's this? Having trouble?" His gaze traveled to Naruto's expression, which held visible confusion.

"Um, I'm having like this feeling—well, I don't really have the words to describe it, but, um," He was awfully hesitant, even in front of his former sensei. He had a hunch about what was causing this turmoil in his mind, but he refused to acknowledge it; it wasn't fair to Shikamaru if he knew.

To Naruto, it was never too difficult to express his emotions, but when it was so foreign and undescribable, he couldn't get out of the maze of confusion. Naruto's breath hitched in his throat, unable to form proper words.

"..Never mind." He looked away from Kakashi's rather penetrating stare, as if he knew everything. Naruto could never decipher what lay beyond that mask.

Kakashi's impaling gaze lingered a bit longer before he said goodbye, although his voice was laced with a certain darkness that reeked of something unreadable—something that seemed to warn Naruto of an impending truth, yet it remained just out of reach, impossible to decode as Kakashi was ambiguous in nature.

Instead of confronting his feelings, Naruto—and Shikamaru alike—resolved to shut them off in the depths of his heart, where nobody could touch. 

Surely, it's just a misunderstanding. Like a raging storm that'll pass anytime soon. Naruto ruminated in silence.

That seemed to work as his usual, familiar grin returned to his lips, full of joy and aloof. It was as if nothing had happened—like nothing had evoked such confliction in Naruto's emotions.

"Naruto," Shikamaru knocked on the door, carrying yet another pile of papers. Naruto had hoped it might be dessert or some ramen, at the very least. But it never was, and he sighed again.

"Yeah..?" He replied in a mundane, disappointed tone. The spark in his eyes dimmed whenever he was greeted with tasks involving paperwork and all that boring stuff, as he would call it. Naruto could feel himself shrinking behind his desk.

And Shikamaru seemed to catch on to his glowering expression. 

"Guess what?" He leaned against the Hokage's desk, a smirk spreading across his lips. After all those years at the academy, he knew exactly what would excite Naruto.

"What?" A wild fire illuminated in Naruto's crystal-clear eyes, now engrossed with eagerness. 

"We're going on a mission," Shikamaru announced, catching a glimpse of stars in the blond's world. Naurto had been bored all month, and he needed a breather once in a while. The two of them had rarely gone on missions lately, being so tied up with tasks involving the villagers.

"REALLY?" Naruto nearly burst Shikamaru's eardrums. Jumping out of his seat, he hugged Shikamaru tightly, completely forgetting about the insurmountable pile of papers that still needed to be dealt with before they could leave. He was overjoyed, and his feasible, ecstatic grin danced across his face.

His advisor, however, kept his expression neutral, though a faint warmth flickered in his chest from the unexpected closeness.

"What's it about?" His smile never ceased to exist. Shikamaru couldn't help but offer a smile back; it was contagious.

"Well, we have to go to Sunagakure to discuss the approaching festival. You remembered, right?" He shot a look at Naruto, who slowly released his grasp, suddenly nervous.

"Oh, um... yeah of course I would never forget! Haha.." A cold sweat trickled down as his blue eyes met Shikamaru's dark, sharp ones. He let out a soft huff.

"Right.. and I can smell colors," He teased, trying to coax that wide grin back onto his face. Shikamaru was always enlightened when Naruto would smile, especially since those moments seemed to fill the room with a sense of genuine warmth that he'd grown to cherish. 

"Don't worry, though. I've got your back. As always."

And that, for some reason, made Naruto feel ticklish.

As Naruto and Shikamaru prepared for their mission, the office buzzed with activity.

Naruto was still radiating with excitement from the news. "What do we need to pack?" he asked, his mind racing with thoughts of the upcoming trip.

"Just the essentials," Shikamaru replied as he sifted through a checklist.

Naruto nodded eagerly. "Got it! And maybe some extra ramen, just in case."

While they packed, Shikamaru observed Naruto's enthusiasm with a mixture of amusement and melancholy. It was these moments of light-heartedness that made their dynamic special, yet the undercurrent of unresolved feelings remained.

Later, as they walked out of the Hokage's office, Shikamaru could sense Naruto's enthusiasm ebbing into a more subdued anticipation. They discussed the mission details, and Shikamaru couldn't help but notice the tension that seemed to settle between them whenever they made brief contact; a soft brush would incite a jump or two from Naruto and eye contact made the blond redden with a soft hue of pink.

"You okay?" Shikamaru asked, his voice lathered with concern and curiosity.

"Yeah, just thinking,"  Naruto replied, his eyes drifting to the horizon.

As they parted ways, Naruto felt the weight of his emotions pressing down on him. The journey to Sunagakure was more than just a mission; it was a way for him to deepen their connection and perhaps, find some clarity amidst the festival preparations. 

Naruto didn't know what to say. He was burning in anticipation, and yet something in the air made the blond nervous for what could unravel.