The Game of Shoji

How Kiba and Sakura found out that Shikanaru was a thing.

Naruto at a mission with Sakura and Kiba

The enemy sat behind a table in a dark room, and in a slow deep voice, the criminal told the three ninjas, "You three have been formidable opponents. In light of your persistence, I will willingly go with you. The only thing you have to do is beat me in a friendly game of shoji."

"Damn, only if we had Shikamaru here with us, we would be ok," Kiba wined. To which Akamaru yelped in agreement.

"Sakura, I think you should do it. Your the smartest one out of all of us," Kiba continued.

"Stupid dog boy, yes, I know how the pieces move and stuff, but I don't know how to play," Sakura bantered back.

Sakura and Kiba were too busy arguing to notice the blond-haired knucklehead calmly walk towards the table which had a shoji board.

Naruto's voice rang loud as he said three simple words "You go first."

Naruto tuned out Sakura and Kiba's voice, who was yelling at him, asking why he would play shoji if he didn't know much about the game. Naruto also tuned out the enemy who was taunting him with every move he made. Naruto tuned out every noise until he found the memory of him playing shoji for the first time. He thought back to two years ago.

-flashback-
Naruto had spent the night at the Nara estate like he often did, later that day, naruto would have to go to an overnight mission, and neither Shikamaru and naruto were pleased about that. Naruto was sharpening his kunai knives, while Shikamaru was reading a book about diplomacy and foreign relations. It wasn't until Naruto asked Shikamaru if he could teach him to play shoji.

"You want me to teach you to play shoji," Shikamaru repeated.
"yes, please," Naruto pleaded.

Shikamaru stared at the ninja, wearing his shirt, "why in the name of the fourth Hokage, would you want to learn shoji?"

Naruto averted his eyes as he said, "well, its something that you love, and I want to share more of the things you love. Also, we can play together!"

Shikamaru couldn't help to blush at the blond's statement. "Fine, you troublesome blond. You are the only person I'm teaching, so don't go broadcasting to everyone that I showed you how to play. It's too much of a drag to show anyone else, plus I'm only doing this because I love you."

Naruto gleamed at his lover's words, "Shika, I love you too. So now show me how to play."

"Before knowing how the pieces move and everything you need to know your goal, your goal is to protect the king. What's your king? What's your reason for fighting, for living."

Without a second of hesitation, Naruto answered, "Konoha, my friends, you, the people I have lost, and everyone who deserves to be saved. How about you, who's your king?"

"You, because as you look out for everyone, I look out for you." Shikamaru then proceeded to bend down and kiss Naruto on the lips. "Come on, and now you have your goal, you need to learn how the pieces move before you leave for your mission today."

On that mission, the only thing Naruto could think of was of shoji, and the next time they would play together.
-end flashback-

It surprised everyone that the knucklehead, who always had something to say, was quite. Naruto being silent was a sight that scared Sakura, because she didn't know how to react. Kiba did not expect for naruto to understand how to play shoji. However, from watching Shikamaru play all the time, he knew that Naruto was winning, he knew that Naruto had some big plan that was going to shock everyone.