Game of Shadows by Adrian King1

Chapter 12

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto nor The Gamer. I own nothing, really.

Chapter 12

A few days later, Ino gave me the message that her parents accepted me as a part-time worker at their shop. Moreover, they were nice enough to let me start after the mid-year exams at the Academy. Not that I needed them to do so, I was pretty sure I could ace the tests without actual preparation besides the theory tests. It was still nice though.

"Are you ready, guys?" Chouji asked with a smile. It was plain to see that he was nervous though. I returned the gesture confidently.

"All ready, let's ace this. Well... except for Naruto." I said jokingly.

"Oi!" The blonde protested annoyed and I chuckled. He really had put effort on the theory part though. Granted, I had tutored him through the whole thing during the months we had been friends, so, he had an easier time than he would have had in canon. Or... this universe's version of canon. I was kind of surprised I didn't get a teaching skill or something of the sort though.

"Do you have to be so loud all the time." Shikamaru poked his ear with a scowl.

"Naruto wouldn't be himself otherwise." Shino pushed his glasses up. They both were trying very hard not to stare at Naruto as he started a conversation with Chouji and we walked calmly behind them towards the class. It was good to see the blond Jinchuriki being his usual self.

"Ready for the Taijutsu test?" Shikamaru asked turned towards me and I grinned at him.

"Yeah, nobody is going to be able to tell me that my win was cheap or luck." I said resolutely. Iruka-sensei had told us one week earlier that the Taijutsu test would be against the one closest to our rank. As first place, I would fight against Sasuke and if I was honest with myself. I was looking forward to it. I had improved a lot since our spar, he probably had too, and I really wanted to see how I stood against him now.

"I believe you have a good chance. Why? Because I've seen your improvement." Shino commented. "I wonder if I'll be able to take the third place."

"Against Kiba? You better, otherwise we'll have to gang up on you until you improve." I joked but he nodded seriously making me sweat drop. He sometimes missed our-

"And I suppose we'll have to do accordingly if you lose." He countered and my jaw almost dropped before I snorted. Shino was a sneaky bastard when he wanted to be... and also when he didn't.

"Right, of course." We both ignored the mutters about 'training maniacs' from beside us with practiced ease. Even if we were joking, Shikamaru really didn't like the mention of training outside of when we were actually training.

"Do your best, Shika!" We heard Yoshino from the entrance, the young Nara groaned in annoyance while I just smirked at him. Parents coming to the academy to see their children tests going on seemed to be a tradition of sorts. Especially for those that came from clans.

"If you complain, I'm gonna kick your ass." I warned without letting anything show on my face. Shikamaru's mouth clicked shut at my words before nodding in understanding.

"Right, sorry."

"It's not me the one you have to worry about." I reminded him. I didn't have a family. I had made peace with that before I even died in my last life. Naruto on the other hand...

"Sometimes it's difficult to remember." Shino said in a strange bout of empathy. He was just full of surprises today. "We shall try harder to do so."

[}-o-{]

"Aw man, my head hurts." Naruto complained as we went outside after the theory part of the exam and all of us rolled our eyes.

"Seriously," I chided. "It's not that difficult."