Sun and Shadow

Chapter 4

Hiruzen contemplated quietly as he wondered if he should change the teams. Shikaku sighed and decided to speak up.

"Just put Naruto on Team 8 and move the Aburame to 7," He said tiredly, this was cutting into his afternoon nap. "Shino will be able to keep Sasuke in his place and Sakura will listen because she will feel inferior to having two boys over powering her presence. She'll buckle down."

"As for Naruto?" Sarutobi inquired.

"He has the ability to calm Kiba and coax Hinata to break her shell," Shikaku went to the door. "Now I have a wife and a nap to go to,"

Back at the academy Iruka had stepped out as he sensed a ninja from The Third's guard squad outside. He relayed the changes and stepped back in. 

"Naruto, Shino your trading places, seems Lord Hokage agrees with your breakdown of the squads." Iruka said with a smile. "Please wait here for your sensei, they will be arriving shortly,"

With concluding that meeting he disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

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Asuma and Kurenai arrived together calling for their squads leaving team 7 in the dust. When they were parting Naruto slapped Shikamaru before running off. Shikamaru sighed they were still playing ninja tag. 

"I'll get you before dinner," Shikamaru sighed before catching up with his team.

Team 8 arrived at Training Ground 12 and sat on the ground along with their sensei. Kurenai looked at her team and she knew they would exceed her expectations.

"Alright introductions. I'm Kurenai Yuhi, My specialty is genjutsu. I like to read and train, I dislike lack of organization and others you will come to find out. Your turn Hinata," Kurenai said sweetly.

Hinata blushed put calmed down long enough to talk. "Umm my name is Hinata Hyuga, I specialize in close range taijutsu, and my clan's techniques. I like training, my little sister and cold treats. I dislike aggressive people and my aspiration is to become a stromger shinobi,"

"Kiba how about you,"

Ackamaru barked on top of his Master's head. "Kiba Inuzuka, I like Ackamaru, meat and training in my clans techniques. I dislike being wet and insects. My dreams..........never thought about it."

"Naruto,"

Naruto grinned sprawling on his back. "Naruto Uzumaki-Namikaze-Nara. Man what a mouthful, anyways I like training, the Nara clan and my Best friend. I dislike the villagers and anyone who finds joy in causing others pain. My dream, to become Hokage and have Shikamaru as my advisor."

Kurenai smiled and laid beside him, he cause an aura that made you feel completely relaxed. Kiba and Hinata soon joined and Team 8 were laying side by side with the peaceful day flowing by.

"Naruto you're the strategist on our team, Hinata you are our defense and Kiba you're the offense. Tomorrow we start training here at 9. Don't be late," Kurenai said slowly as she fell asleep. Naruto snickered a bit.

'Kit you should stop letting out that vibe,' Kurama yawned inside his mind scape. Naruto only smiled before he fell asleep too, Team 8 sleeping in the forest. It will become their new bonding activity.

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"Shikamaru your turn," Asuma said pulling out another cigarette. Shikamaru sighed.

"Man, what a drag," He said dragging the words out of his mouth. "Shikamaru Nara, likes sleeping, Naruto, Chouji, my family and clan. I dislike anyone that hurts or offends Naruto, anything that threatens my clan." He finished with a yawn before collapsing on his back to could watch.

"With introductions out of the way, we start missions and training tomorrow at 10," Asuma puffed out his toxic smoke. "Team 10 you are dismissed,"

Shikamaru disappeared as soon as Asuma-sensei said the magic words. He could already sense where Naruto was. He jumped from branch to branch with a new burst of energy. He swung himself into the training ground to see Team 8 sleeping, he smirked Naruto really should stop using his chakra to mellow out people. It was his way to diffuse tension, and damn it was effective. He looked at Naruto's relaxed expression and slapped his cheek softly.

"Ugh, Shika not now," Naruto said his voice drowned in sleep. Shikamaru rolled his eyes and patted his cheek till he was completely awake.

"You do realize your it right?" Shikamaru teased before jumping into the nearby by trees. Naruto flew up and threw a kunai after him. He woke up his teammates seeing as it was nearly night time. He jumped after Shikamaru and the chase was on.

They zipped through the forest and out into the village. Naruto was hopping room roof to roof so fast he crashed into Shikamaru who landed on the Academy roof. Shikamaru stumbled off the railing and landed with a thud along with Naruto's body on top of him. They panted and Naruto broke out into giggles.

"Shika you always know how to bring me to life," Naruto looked down at him, trying to catch his breath. Shikamaru was the same mess but he smiled at Naruto. The sun was setting so it glowed against his sun-kissed skin.

'Has Naruto always been this beautiful?' Shikamaru wondered as he gazed at his best friend. Naruto tilted his head as Shikamaru stared in a dazed.

'Shikamaru are you in mental training now,' Naruto shrugged and curled up on his chest. Soon they made it home for dinner. Naruto dominated the conversation as usual with telling Shikaku and Yoshino about the exams and team selections. Shikamaru also chipped in by complaining on how Ino and Sakura were behaving. 

Overall it was a good time. The boys cleaned up and headed to Naruto's room. They slept in Naruto's room because it was bare except the large futon that covered more than half the floor and Shikamaru's room was filled with their training gear and outfits etc. It was just how they worked.

They linked hands under the cover while they gazed at each other. As usual Shikamaru fell asleep first leaving Naruto to just watch his peaceful face.

"Sometimes I think this is a dream," Naruto mumbled on the brink of sleep. As if hearing him Shikamaru pulled him closer. 

Kurama sighed at the two most blind seeing people he has ever met, granted they're a little oblivious to this kind of thing but with time things can develop.

"These two are such bothers,"