Painfully Aware with So Much to Learn

Chapter Seventeen: Homecoming

A lazy mid-teenage Nara opened his eyes at the sound of his mother's death threats. He grumbled out a tired "I'm coming, troublesome woman" before dragging himself out of bed, still tired from the night before. He was training more than he ever had before, seeing as Naruto would be coming back to Konoha the next day. He couldn't help but want to look good to see Naruto again, to put his mind at ease.

"Please eat more, you're gonna get sick" the words he had said echoed in my mind. He wanted to look better than he had, back when he was pale and gloomy and scrawny. His long memory remembering every concerned glance the blonde gave him.

He got dressed in his normal pants and a navy long sleeve before looking to his chunin vest. He slipped the vest on and tied his headband around his arm before glancing at the mirror in his closet. He looked older, he had even started growing some peach fuzz on his chin that he had deemed too troublesome to shave off. He tied his ratty hair into a ponytail and went downstairs to see his 'toublesome mother' humming in the kitchen.

"I made omlettes!" She sang, grabbing plates to set the table. The Nara was about to help her when there was suddenly a frantic knock on the door. Shikamaru went to the door only to be met with the Hyuga heiress panting on my doorstep.

Shika POV

"N-N..aruto-kun's c-comi..ng t-today!" She stuttered through pants and my heart soared. He was coming early! I quickly told my mother I would be skipping breakfast before heading out before she could argue. I walked to the gate with Hinata only to be met with Iruka trying to settle down Konohamaru and his friends, as well as Kiba and Shino. I knew full well that team Gai was on a mission so these were pretty much the only people who would show up so short notice, but I didn't mind the thought of being more alone with Naruto when he came back.

I then got to thinking about Naruto's team. Kakashi was out on a mission for the last week and wouldn't be back for another few days 'that's weeks in Kakashi time' I thought to myself. But Haruno was a bigger issue. I noticed that every time Naruto has been brought up in group conversation she would change the subject, but she was a troublesome woman so that could mean any number of things. I just hoped she didn't hate Naru, for his sake, I know that Sasuke tore him apart in both senses of the word. I wanted Naruto to be happy when he got back. All the thinking and worrying gave me a headache, so I did what I've always done.

I found a nice grassy area near the gate and lied down, looking up at the sky. Sometimes I envied clouds, how free they were to just drift along. But now I know I would never want to be a cloud. Why be in the heavens when my heaven is on earth? Probably still in that tacky orange jumpsuit he's so attached to, coming back home to Konoha so he can work to get the acceptance he already so deserves.

I remember when I first met Naruto, a dorky kid running from chunin three times his size because of a prank he pulled. Now I know why he was like that and it was such a drag. I hate that people blamed a child for something the kyuubi did.

I stared at the clouds and thought about Naruto. I must have dozed off at one point because I woke up to frantic yelling and waving. I sat up and walked over to the group to see two figures hidden in the shadows of the nearby forest. I squinted to see a large man with white hair and a red outfit that I recognized as Jiraiya. My gaze turned to the figure next to him and my eyes went wide. There was Naruto, his haircut now had side parts that made him closer resemble the fourth. He had brick orange pants over dark grey sandals and a sleeveless black turtleneck with mesh undershirt sleeves going down to his elbows, a blue gem necklace sat over the black cloth and the contrast made it look like it almost glowed. He was taller now but not too tall, and the majority of the baby fat on his face had receded. You could tell he had trained hard whilst he was away, he walked taller than before.

Sky blue eyes wandered from the gate and met mine, lighting up as if he had seen the greatest thing ever. I had to hold my chest to stop the palpitations and I barely noticed he had started running. That was until he ran right up and tackled me.

"Shika!" He yelled, looking up at me with a signature foxy grin. I was in a daze. He had lit up looking at me and the first thing he did once back in Konoha was tackle me specifically. Suddenly the air around my face was much colder looking at the blonde on top of me.

He eventually got off of me much to my inner dismay, going to greet everyone else. As he got up I noticed something.

Tattoos of seals were all over his inner forearms, I didn't know much of seals but I was sure you couldn't put them directly on your skin.

Once he was standing, he helped me up. He turned to look at Iruka who was crying again and put his hands behind his head like he usually does. But just before his hands covered his neck I saw another seal there. I assume he has become a seal master if he's covered in seals.

Another thing I noticed was a tiny ponytail that his finger subtly fidgeted with while he spoke with his former teacher. One thing was for certain though.

Naruto had gotten powerful.

The way he stood slightly taller, spoke slightly clearer and strangely he stood completely still while people were talking to him. He wasn't squirming and shifting and looking for the nearest exit wherever he was. He was calm, like in the forest with the foxes when he felt safe.

I had to admit, I was a bit jealous that he wasn't talking with me, but I knew that Iruka is practically his family so it was understandable.

And I was definitely liking the new pants.

*ahem*
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I kinda stole Naruto's outfit from another fanfic I wrote part of a while ago so if I post a Kakanaru some time in the future where he wheres a similar outfit it's because I'm not great with fashion or anything. Also I'm multishipper trash and have like 7 different partially completed fanfics in my google drive and I keep getting inspiration for the ones that people dont actually read lol. Anyways, thank you so much for reading and for supporting, you guys are awesome and maybe comment if u want me to post a different one of my fanfics? They all include Naruto because reasons. Thank you for reading and I'm sorry the end card is long again!
~Gracie