It's been so long since I've written a fanfiction omg. I wanted to write this though because I recently remembered my Hinata Hyuga roleplaying days on Tumblr... specifically this roleplay I did with a Shikamaru (which ended up being one of my favorites).

Dedicated to deer-nara-shikamaru. If you ever see this, this is hyuga-hinata. Thanks for being an awesome roleplay buddy.

Note: Story takes place after Naruto Shippuden episode 1.

Side note: I haven't watched Naruto in a while so sorry if Hinata and Shikamaru are ooc.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Naruto franchise.


It was a beautiful day out in the Hidden Leaf Village, especially for Hinata Hyuga who couldn't stop thinking about how her ultimate crush came up to her and said...

"Hinata! Just shut up and come with me!"

It's been two and a half years since Naruto Uzumaki left Konoha to train with legendary Sannin, Jiraiya. Now that they were both back, Hinata couldn't help but imagine the many opportunities she'll have to interact with Naruto. That is, if she doesn't turn red and faint on the spot which ended up happening when she and her teammates ran into him the other day. She couldn't help it though. At this point in her life, Hinata was beginning to wonder whether her feelings were more than just major interest... Walking through the Konoha market street, she abruptly stops when she feels her face turn hot in embarrassment. The market was bustling with people but every time the thought of Naruto came into her mind, she couldn't help but react. Covering her face with her hands, Hinata then realized what a mistake that was when she felt someone walk into her from behind. "Oh! I'm sorry. I didn't mean..." Taking her hands off her face, she turned around to look at the individual who walked right into her. She was relieved to see a familiar face standing before her. "Shikamaru-kun!"

Shikamaru Nara looked back at the person who blocked off his path. He was too busy looking around to even notice that the person in front of him stopped walking. Realizing that it was just Hinata, he couldn't help but grin. Shikamaru always found this shy Hyuga-clan member to be interesting, especially when it came to her infatuation with Naruto. He just couldn't help but wonder why she would be in love with such an idiot. Almost everyone in their graduating class knew about Hinata's crush towards Naruto… except Naruto himself. Shikamaru chuckled at the thought.

A slightly confused look spread across Hinata's face when she saw Shikamaru grin then chuckle out of nowhere. Although they were both from the same academy class, she barely talked to the Team 10 member. The only thing she really knew about him was his use of Shadow techniques. "Um... Shikamaru-kun?"

"Sorry Hinata. I'm just surprised to see you," he admitted. "What are you doing here in the market place by yourself? I saw Kiba, Shino, and Akamaru earlier and they told me that they were getting ready for a mission. Since you're all in the same team, I thought you'd be out with them as well."

Hinata smiled at the mention of her teammates. Although their personalities tended to clash at times, she still highly respected them regardless. "Well you see..."

"Let me guess, you wanted to stay behind now that Naruto is back."

Hinata blushed, her face turning hot once again after cooling down a few moments ago. "Wh-What? No! I-I didn't stay behind just for him..."

"I'm just teasing you," Shikamaru winked. Whenever he saw an opportunity, he took it. Hopefully it didn't fluster the Hyuga too much. He yawned, realizing that he usually took a nap during this time of day. "Well I'd love to chat more but I have some other things I need to do," Shikamaru lied. He turned back around and began walking before Hinata could say anything else. "See you around."

"Bye Shikamaru-kun," Hinata called out, realizing that he was already too far out to hear her response. As she watched his figure turn smaller the farther he walked, she took an involuntary step forward when she felt something under her foot. "What...?" Lifting her foot off the ground, Hinata observed the object only to catch her by surprise. "Cigarettes?" She picked up the pack off the ground, wondering whether it was Shikamaru's or some random person who may have dropped it a long time ago. Clenching it in her hand, Hinata contemplated to herself before heading off in the same direction she saw Shikamaru's figure minimize in the distance.

-x-

Shikamaru sighed when he saw that his usual nap spot was being occupied by an entire family. "Tsk. How troublesome," he muttered under his breath as he watched a bunch of children running around the area.

As much as he'd love to have his nap, he also felt a small sense of satisfaction when he noticed how happy this family was spending quality time together. The spot was also perfect because it was located in front of the Hokage Rock. As he continued to watch, he didn't notice that someone was creeping up behind him until he felt a light tap on his shoulder. Startled out of his daze, he peered over and saw a pack of cigarettes right in front of him.

"Hello again Shikamaru-kun," Hinata greeted, holding the cigarettes closer to his face. "I don't mean to bother you... but um, I think you dropped these back at the market."

Shikamaru first looked at Hinata before looking at the pack of cigarettes she was holding just centimeters away from his face. He didn't even notice they were gone. Feeling his back pocket where he last put them, he then took the pack from Hinata's hand and nodded to her in thanks. "I'm surprised. Aren't you going to ask me if I smoke?"

Hinata looked back at Shikamaru, wondering what he was even doing prior to this moment. She shook her head. "No... Or well, it's not something I'd really question..."

Shikamaru sighed. He was hoping for a more straightforward answer. "Well, I don't. It's Asuma's. I took it from him because I hate it when he smokes. Heh. I wonder though..." Pulling out one of the cigarettes from the pack, he put it in-between his fingers. With his unoccupied hand, he reached into his vest jacket pocket where he kept a lighter. Igniting a flame, Shikamaru brought the cigarette to his mouth. "Want one?"

"No thank you..." Hinata replied, watching as Shikamaru lit up the cigarette. In a matter of seconds, he puffed out a cloud of smoke. A series of coughs came right after. "Are you alright Shikamaru-kun?" she asked, a look of worry coming across her face.

"Y-Yeah..." Shikamaru responded in between coughs. Taking the cigarette, he looked at it once more before throwing it on the ground and crushing it with his shoe. "This is why I hate these things. Terrible." Taking a deep breath, he then looked over at Hinata who still had a worried look on her face. Despite not knowing much about her, it was nice to see that she cared. "Anyways, are you hungry? The dango shop's nearby if you want to come with."

Hinata looked at him in surprise. Not only because he completely disregarded how he hacked up a cigarette a few seconds ago but the fact that she never once spent one on one time with a boy… let alone Shikamaru. Maybe except her father or Neji or her team members but... She always hoped Naruto would be her first. Hinata began to twiddle her fingers. "Are you sure? I mean... You don't have any other plans?"

She's nervous. Shikamaru realized, noticing the way she was fidgeting. He began to rub his head. "Nope. Ino and Choji are busy today and I don't have any plans with anyone else."

"Um... I'm not sure..." Although a part of her wanted to say yes, Hinata was still hesitant about hanging out with a guy other than Naruto. She made a strong effort not to make eye contact with him.

Shikamaru laughed. He had to admit, he never realized how funny it was when Hinata got all shy. Funny... but also cute. "Well if you really don't want to, I'm not going to force you."

Finally finding the courage, Hinata looked up to meet Shikamaru eye to eye. Her face turned slightly red at that. As much as she wanted Naruto to be the first boy she spent time with, she really didn't want to reject Shikamaru's offer. "Okay..."

When Hinata finally decided to go with him, Shikamaru gave her a small smile. He then waved his hand in a manner to follow him.

-x-

Hinata took one long look at the dango in her hand before biting off a piece. Never in her life did she imagine this ever happening... with Shikamaru to be exact. Recalling the last time she was here, Hinata took the time to savor her food. She then snuck a glance at Shikamaru who was staring right at her. She looked down at the table as soon as she noticed, a small blush appearing across her face.

Well this is awkward, Shikamaru thought as he took his own dango and bit into it. Then again, I was the one who invited her in the first place. Seeing how Hinata's attention was still fixated on the table, he decided that it was time to break the ice between them. "So Hinata, when exactly are you going on your mission?"

Hinata slowly looked back up at Shikamaru. "Tomorrow..." she replied. "I remember you saying that you saw Kiba-kun and Shino-kun earlier and you were wondering why I wasn't with them. I just wanted to spend some time to myself. That's all..."

Shikamaru nodded, taking another bite off his dango. Compared to Hinata, he was already close to finishing his entire stick. "Well good luck. I've been pretty busy planning the Chunin Exams so I haven't gone on a mission for a while now. It's honestly been pretty boring. Most of the time, I'm just eating... thanks to Choji."

A small smile appeared across Hinata's face. "I see..."

"Yeah. Hopefully the Chunin Exams go by quickly so I can go on some missions again. I have a strong feeling that Naruto is going to ask me to help him find Sasuke though..."

At the mention of Sasuke's name, the smile on Hinata's face disappeared. Wanting the best for Naruto, it always saddened her to see how defeated he got when it came to Sasuke.

Shikamaru quickly noticed the change in Hinata's mood. "Tell me Hinata, why do you like Naruto?"

Hinata's face instantly turns red at the mention of her interest towards Naruto. She looks over at Shikamaru who was now eyeing her with curiosity. "O-Oh! Well..." Hinata took a moment to calm herself before continuing. "When we were younger, there was a time when I was being bullied by three older boys. Naruto... h-he was nearby and he intervened in my defense. I never forgot what he did..."

"Sounds like Naruto alright," Shikamaru remarked. He couldn't help but notice the shift in Hinata's facial features as it went from embarrassment to complete admiration towards Naruto. Ever since they were young, Shikamaru always saw Naruto as more than what many of the village people made him out to be. It was really nice to hear that he wasn't the only one who did. Then again, Hinata always came across as a genuinely nice person. "If you don't mind me asking, do you sometimes feel like Naruto?"

A confused look came across Hinata's face. "What do you mean?"

Shikamaru thought about it for a moment before continuing. "Do you feel like an outsider? In your own family that is. I still remember your fight during the Chunin Exams with Neji..." Shikamaru began to scratch his own head in frustration as soon as he realized what he was asking. What was I thinking? he thought as he waited to see if Hinata would respond.

Hinata knew Shikamaru regretted asking this question just from the look on his face. As much as she didn't want to recall that moment in history, she was happy to hear that Naruto and her team weren't the only ones concerned for her well-being. "After the Chunin Exams, it was difficult... Not just between me and Neji-nii but with my father as well." Noticing how Shikamaru's complete attention was upon her, she decided to go on. "It's been hard... but I've been pushing through..."

With Naruto as your main fuel source, Shikamaru wanted to finish for her but decided not to. Despite going through so much, Hinata's long-lasting will to prove herself not just to her family but to Naruto as well has led her to become the person he was speaking to now. "You know, you really are interesting..."

"Wh-What?" Fully aware of what Shikamaru had said, a blush appeared across her face once again.

Shikamaru stood from the table. "Come with me. I want you to see something.

-x-

"Weren't we just here Shikamaru-kun?" As Hinata took in her surroundings, she was aware that this was the exact same place she found Shikamaru when she gave him Asuma's cigarette pack.

"Yeah. But the specific spot I wanted to go to earlier was occupied," Shikamaru replied, making his way over to where his designated nap place was.

"Oh! That's why you were staring at those children."

"If you put it like that, you make me sound like a creep."

Hinata chuckled. As she was following Shikamaru to the place he wanted to show her, she soon realized that the spot had an amazing view of the Hokage Rock. Walking up this small hill that Shikamaru was now on top of, Hinata looked around and realized how close the Hokage House was from where they were at. "I've never been here before..."

"That's because no one knows about it. Well, except for that one family I guess." Making sure that no one else was around, Shikamaru sat down on the hill. He patted his hand on the spot next to him, indicating for Hinata to sit there.

Hinata took the spot right next to Shikamaru, scooting a bit when she realized their close proximity. Looking up at the faces of all the Hokages, she couldn't help but think of Naruto. I wonder what he's doing now…

Shikamaru let out a sigh of relief. He was glad that he didn't have to miss out on his daily laid-back time at this particular spot. It was different though now that it wasn't just him chilling on this minuscule hill. Looking up at the sky where he watched the sun slowly start to set, Shikamaru laid back down on the ground. "Hinata. Lay back down. You'll get a better view of the sky in this position."

Even though Hinata wasn't actually looking at the sky, she followed Shikamaru and laid back down on the ground. He wasn't wrong. A smile came across her face as she quietly laid there, watching as the sun was slowly sinking in the horizon and the clouds were drifting away. "The clouds..."

"There are many different kinds of clouds but the transparent ones are the most evident. Surprisingly enough," Shikamaru pointed out. "Honestly, I think the transparent ones are a lot like you. There's a reason why you can see them clearly... so that you can enjoy the light that shines through them." He then directs his attention so that he's no longer looking at the transparent clouds in the sky but at Hinata, the transparent cloud next to him.

"Transparent clouds?..." Looking up more intently at the sky, Hinata tries to locate one of those transparent clouds even though the light was beginning to fade. Luckily, she spotted one despite it slowly beginning to disperse. Hinata gazed up at that cloud, admiring how the remaining light in the sky was shining through it. "Wow... it looks really beautiful..."

"Yeah. It's pretty amazing." Although it seemed as if he was talking about the clouds, he was actually talking about Hinata. Moving so that their bodies were right next to each other, Shikamaru leans in close to her face with the intent of kissing her. If I kiss her, it'll lead to other things... He then stops halfway and stares at her. I don't even know if I should...

Feeling Shikamaru's presence drawing closer to her, Hinata turns to look at him... only to see him leaning in close and trying to kiss her. Wh-What?! H-He's trying to kiss me?! Shocked, Hinata starts to move herself away until she notices him stopping halfway. Completely flustered by the situation, she places her hands against her cheeks which were now hotter than ever before.

Shikamaru bows his head in shame. He laughs a little before getting up from his position. "I'll walk you home," he tells her, waiting to see if she'll even come with him after what just happened. She really is saving herself.

Without responding, Hinata gets up from the ground and starts heading in the direction to where her house was without him. Although it didn't happen, she was still utterly surprised that Shikamaru tried to kiss her. Her face still red as ever, Hinata tries to calm herself down while making an effort not to look back.

Watching Hinata who was now walking away without him, Shikamaru wondered whether he should catch up with her... but decides not to. He begins to walk in the opposite direction, but stops. "Geez..." Turning back around, he catches up to her. "Hinata," he starts, completely aware that she was trying to avoid eye contact with him. "I'm only here to make sure you get home safely. Okay?"

She had a feeling he would go back to her despite what just happened moments ago. Not able to fully look at him, Hinata kept her focus on the path in front of her. "Alright..." The two continued to walk with each other in complete silence. It wasn't until they finally reached her place when she spoke. "You know Shikamaru-kun, I'm not mad at you or anything... It's just that I was really surprised..."

And here I thought she would avoid me after what happened. "It's okay. You wouldn't have liked what would come after anyway."

"Come after?..."

Shikamaru couldn't help but smile. "Don't worry about it."


Thanks for reading!

tsuginomai