Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. Masashi Kishimoto does.

This is my first story! Please Review

What if Naruto was a secret genius? What if he was friends with Shikamaru? What if Kakashi and Itachi trained them, and they all cared for each other?

"Where there is light, there must be shadow, where there is shadow there must be light. There is no shadow without light and no light without shadow..."

-Haruki Murakami

Chapter 1: The Meeting

A young child kicked at the ground and mumbled, "This is so troublesome!"

The tall man next to him shrugged and scratched his head sheepishly. "Your kaa-san made me promise to be out of the house for a few hours."

The boy looked up and stared at his tou-san. "You mean you escaped her wrath by using me as an excuse."

"Well, not exactly. You see-"

The boy directed his gaze towards the playground he was supposed to be playing on, not paying attention at all to the person speaking to him. Narrowing his eyes, he could see a spot of orange inside the concrete tube.

"Oi Shikamaru! Are you listening to me? So troublesome."

Leaning in closer, Shikamaru could almost glimpse a wisp of yellow as well. He has just started to go forwards when suddenly-

"Shika-chan! What are you looking at?"

"Che!" His dad had locked his arms around his shoulders and yanked him down. "So troublesome."

"Hai..."

"..."

"..."

"How about we just tell your kaa-san that we went to the park and never say anything about this anymore?"

"But I think I see her over there..."

"What! Hehehe. Hello Yoshino. Did I mention that you're positively glowing today?"

"Shikaku," said a pleasant looking women.

"Yes honey?"

And in a sickeningly sweet voice Shikamaru's kaa-san said, "You are dead. And Shikamaru?"

"I was just heading over to the playground kaa-san!" And as he walked fast (he did not run because he did have his pride) towards the concrete tunnel. "Troublesome woman."

"What did you say Shikamaru!"

"...Nothing kaa-san." Shikamaru turned and ran for the tunnel. He heard a gasp and the sound of scuffling. He crawled in and was rewarded with the sight of sky-blue eyes staring shocked at his face. The blue eyed child curled up. Shikamaru sighed and muttered, "Troublesome." The blue eyed child started shivering.

"My name is Shikamaru. What's yours?"

"My-my n-name is Na-naruto. You wo-won't hu-hurt m-me ri-right? Not l-like all the o-others?"

"Of course not. That's too troublesome."

"Pro-promise?"

"I, Nara Shikamaru, promise to never hurt-What's your full name?"

"Uzu-uzumaki Na-naruto."

"I, Nara Shikamaru, promise to protect Uzumaki Naruto from all the people who hurt him."

"W-why?"

"Che. So troublesome. I can see that you're just faking the stutter."

"Fine. Why are you going to help me?"

"It would be too troublesome if I left you here and my kaa-san found out. So troublesome."

"I guess I can trust you. Let me reintroduce myself. I'm Uzumaki Naruto and I'm going to be Hokage! Dattebayo!"

"Che. You're so loud. I'm Nara Shikamaru. I plan to marry a regular girl who isn't too ugly and not too pretty. Have two children, first a girl, then a boy. Retire after my daughter is married and my son becomes a successful ninja, and spend the rest of my life playing shōgi or Go. Then die of old age before my wife."

"...That's really detailed."

"..."

"..."

"So friends?"

"As long as it's not too troublesome"

"It's a promise then."

Sorry if Shikamaru, Naruto, Shikaku, and Yoshino seemed too OC! First story ever. Hope you enjoyed it!

Please Review!