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Shikamaru stared out the window, his arms crossed over his chest as he watched Hinata and Naruto walk through the market. He turned away from the window and huffed, his expression dim.
Shikaku looked up from the book he was reading to see his son pouting. He placed his book down and looked at him quizzically.
“Shika? You alright?” Shikamaru jolted before stiffening and nodding. Shikaku raised an eyebrow and observed his son.
Stiff posture, clenched fists, sour expression, hunched shoulders… oh dear God.
Shikaku stood up from the chair he was sitting on and walked toward Shikamaru before stopping.
“Who is it?” Shikamaru looked up at Shikaku in confusion. Shikaku only repeated the question.
“What do you mean?” He asked, sighing and getting ready to turn away.
“You’re in love, but they like someone else?” Shikamaru froze and looked back at his father. He had a look for understanding on his face.
“Happens to the best of us, son.” Shikamaru was stuck on how he managed to find out. He was very secretive about certain feelings, including love.
“In case you were wondering, you were painfully obvious. The longing stares, twitching hands, staying up late, training more? You want to impress her?” Shikamaru almost chuckled at the pronoun.
“Uhh, dad, it’s…” He looked away bashfully, “It’s a guy.”
Shikaku looked a bit surprised but indifferent nonetheless.
“Ah, so you’re after an unfortunate ladies man?” Shikamaru deflated at the grim reminder. Goddamn Naruto for being so damn attractive to everyone around him.
“It’s not just girls either, Sasuke’s been glaring at anyone going near Naruto, Neji’s spent more time outside of training with him, Lee keeps challenging Naruto to random ass things then takes him for food, and Kiba’s been making Akamaru wander the streets to find Naruto.” Shikaku raised his eyebrows. God, he is really in a mess.
“The Uchiha kid, Hyuuga kid, Lee, and Inuzuka?” Shikaku doesn’t question the fact that it’s Naruto, but he nearly faints at the thought. He wishes Naruto good luck.
“It’s also Gaara, Hinata, and Sakura. Also Shino, Kankuro, Ino, and Temari but not as much.” Damn could this kid bring people to his feet!
“Well, you’ll just have to train harder and spend more time with Naruto than, Shika.” He looks at his father in shock while Shikaku grins.
“Us Nara’s don’t like losing, and luckily, we usually don’t.” Shikamaru grins with his father.
“SHIKAMARU! COME GET THE LIST!” He groans from his spot in bed and only sinks further in. It’s silent for a moment, silent enough for Shikamaru to nearly slip into sleep.
“IF YOU DON’T GET UP AND GET THE FOOD THAN NARUTO’S NOT COMING OVER!” He springs out of bed and shuffled on his jacket while internally cursing his father’s inability to keep a secret from his mother. Now the whole damn clan knew about his crush.
He opened the door to his room and started down the hall. While the senseis to the Genin teams didn’t necessarily know that Shikamaru had a crush on the blonde, they did know that most of the Genin had a crush on Naruto. But they didn’t know that he was included in that bunch.
Okay, maybe they did know he was part of the bunch. He would see the jounin walking past the training field before smirking at him and waving with their fingers before giggling.
He groaned at the memory and continued walking through the market. He saw Hinata and Naruto talking before the blonde says something that makes Hinata sigh before nodding. Hinata walks off and Shikamaru smiles. One less competitor, possibly?
Naruto then turns and his eyes bounce around his surrounding and Shikamaru is faced with the brief realization that Naruto might see him—
“Hey Shikamaru!” The Nara goes impossibly red.