This is a NarutoXShizune "What-if?". I've always been a fan of this pairing too and never got around to writing for it. As you can see, I'm always thinking of things and ideas for stories and have them laying around, but never actually write them. LOL. See, this story has a lot of things that inspired me enough to write the very first chapter for it. This will be Chapter 1. Will I ever write any more chapters? No clue. Enjoy this Naruto X Shizune. Not many of them around unless they are in a harem or just straight up smut or just written really bad. Kinda sad to be honest.

This fic takes place in the timeline of Naruto: The Last movie. So, please remember ages and attire.

Chapter 6: NarutoXShizune What If?

(Technically)Chapter 1: Soul Searching

"Shizune, when are you ever going to find someone to settle down with?"

The question was a strange question to the woman that was sitting on the sofa, casually drinking her tea. She looked at Tsunade before looking at the tea again. Then looked at Tsunade once more, "Heeh?"

Tsunade smirked, "You know, you've been with me for so long that I feel like I've held you back from finding someone suitable to be with. I feel, somewhat guilty over it actually."

"Lady Tsunade," Shizune said nervously, placing her cup down, "I would never blame you! Me finding someone has nothing to do with our adventures or work together. I do have to ask, where did this question come from?"

Tsunade swirled the sake in her saucer mindlessly. A long drawn out sigh filled the room as she looked to the window from her apartment. The nighttime lights trickled between her curtains, "I've been thinking a lot recently. Since the war is over and everyone has been working together, there has been less work and I've had more time to myself; more so since I'm not Hokage anymore," Her gaze fell to the floor, "Time has showed me that we all aren't getting any younger. Getting on up in my years, I've started to understand that being lonely… really hurts."

A frown began to form on the younger woman's face, "Lady Tsunade…"

"You're still a young and beautiful woman," Tsunade said softly with a small smile, "You need to take this time to find someone that you can be happy with."

"But, Lady Tsunade, I'm just fine being with you," Shizune said with a sad frown, "You've… always been someone that I've looked up to. I don't mind if I can't find someone. I'm just happy that I'm able to live my life with the woman that helped me grow up."

Tsunade smiled, "That's… nice to hear."

Shizune smiled in kind to her as she sipped more of her tea. The aura that Tsunade was giving off felt strange from her usual mood. She didn't quite always understand the Senju Princess and today was one of those days.

"I'm going to leave Konoha."

"Huh?" A loud clink sounded on the dish as the younger woman put her cup down. Shizune was surprised by this sudden reveal, "Y-You're leaving? Why?"

Tsunade drank her sake and placed the saucer on the table. Her hand slid off the wooden surface nonchalantly, "I… think it's time for me to see the world some. I won't be living forever, Shizune," Her eyes drifted along the wood grain, but she wasn't paying attention to it, "Don't let the surface fool you. I'm just an old bag of bones on the inside. I want to be able to enjoy what time I have left by traveling and seeing the sights."

"Well, this sounds like a good idea," Shizune said happily, "I've always wanted to see what it was like in the other countries now that everything is over. When are we leaving?"

"I'm going alone."

Shizune's eyes widened from the sudden reveal. Suddenly, the trip didn't seem so exciting anymore, "What!? Lady Tsunade! I want to go with you!"

"I know you do," Tsunade said as she looked to Shizune for the first time in the eyes, "But this is my travel. I want to see these things on my own. But, while I'm gone, there's something else I want you to do for me."

Shizune's head was spinning at the news that seemed to hit so suddenly. She didn't know what to think of all of this. Everything was going fine, up until the last couple of minutes. Why was Tsunade acting this way? What was the problem? Why couldn't she go with her? She fiddled with the hem of her kimono mindlessly, "What is it that you want me to do, Lady Tsunade? While I'm against you going alone, I'll do whatever it is that you want from me until you come back."

Tsunade smiled bigger than the other times that she had smiled. She knew that Shizune would listen to her. The younger woman didn't like the things that Tsunade said sometimes, but she would always do them anyway.

"I want you to find someone who loves you."

"But, Lady Tsunade," Shizune said as she leaned forward, expressions on her face carried a worried note. It was an expression that Shizune often held whenever she was speaking with her, "I told you. I'm fine. I don't need anyone else. Besides, I'm much too busy to worry about love right now anyway."

Tsunade chuckled softly as got up and walked towards the kitchen.

"What's so funny?"

Tsunade paid her no mind as she brought her things into the kitchen. Her saucers and small sake pitcher were completely empty. She put them into the sink and started to wash them.

Shizune quickly got up and went into the kitchen as well, "Don't worry about those. I'll wash them for you. You just relax."

"No, Shizune," Tsunade said as she raised her hand in objection, "I want to do these dishes too. I don't need everyone to wait on me hand and foot. I want to start doing things on my own."

Shizune almost said something, but thought against the idea. Instead of talking about that, she went back to the topic at hand, "Lady Tsunade, while I do appreciate the thought of you looking out for me in my love life, I've never said that I wanted to be in a relationship with anyone."

"Oh, Shizune," Tsunade laughed as she turned to look at her, "Who do you think you're fooling?"

"Pardon?"

"Did you really think that I don't know that much about you?" Tsunade pointed towards her companion, "You read romance novels during your breaks. I've seen the covers multiple times. I know because I myself have read a few in my off chance for free time."

Shizune stood there aghast, but rebutted, "B-But that doesn't mean anything! Anyone could read a romance novel."

Tsunade shook her head, "Yes, they could read one. But you on the other hand, that was the only thing you would ever read during my entire Hokage run. You can't hide anything from me, Shizune."

"But… But-"

"Oh, and who else was it that was talking about having a wonderful relationship with a strong man?" Tsunade smirked as she continued washing her dishes, "Do you know how many times you went on and on about love?"

"That was ten years ago!" Shizune blushed as she looked to the woman as if she was about to run from embarrassment, "I haven't done anything like that since then."

"Well, you're right about that," Tsunade said as she started drying her dishes, "You just got better at hiding it."

Shizune felt embarrassed. Having been caught with the romance novels really stabbed her in the chest. She couldn't believe how much Tsunade actually knew about her hobbies, "Lady Tsunade… I don't have time for love."

"Well, you're about to have time. I'm leaving and I want you to find someone," Tsunade said as she walked up to her, "You need to find someone who will love you like you've always wanted."

"W-Well, what about you?" Shizune asked curiously trying to flip it around, "You've been single this entire time. You've even already talked to Uncle Dan during the war. Why haven't you moved on yet?"

In the span of a moment, Tsunade spun towards Shizune and pressed her hand against the wall, blocking Shizune from moving. The younger woman widened her eyes significantly. The look on Tsunade's face was contorted in rage and also in inebriation. Not a perfect combination, "I shouldn't have to answer that. Why don't you love someone first before you ever say something like that again."

Tsunade clicked her tongue and let off of the wall and started walking to her room. Shizune watched the woman walk away silently.

"Shizune."

After licking her suddenly dry lips, Shizune spoke, "Y-Yes, Lady Tsunade?"

"Go stay with Sakura for now," Tsunade said without any softness that she normally had for her assistant, "I don't want to see you around here."

"Yes, Lady Tsunade."

Tsunade said nothing as she walked to her room and closed the door. Shizune sighed sadly as she realized that she just got kicked out of their shared apartment. Walking to her own room, she took some clothes and began her reluctant walk to Sakura's home. Shizune has stayed with Sakura a handful of times whenever Tsunade would fly off the handle or want to have some privacy. This time was nothing different.

She walked a few blocks and felt the cool night air as it wrapped around her. The stars sparkled high in the sky and the moon shone brightly up ahead. Today was a cooler night than most other nights. It made her sigh as she kept walking forward.

'I feel sorry for Lady Tsunade. I didn't want to leave her because I know that she will be alone again.' Shizune didn't like how Tsunade was forcing her away from her. Contrary to the tough shell that Tsunade has on the outside, on the inside, she was an easily fragile individual. When Shizune first became her apprentice back in the day, she would always look up to Tsunade and thought that she was the strongest lady ever imagined. Getting older, she realized that the tough image was only a façade to hide her pain.

Ever since Dan died, Tsunade has never allowed herself to fully move on from his death. Even as Tsunade witnessed Dan during the Fourth War with his Impure Resurrection form, it was still Dan brought back to life. Seeing Dan that way, must have given Tsunade some form of complacency. She felt happy seeing him again and couldn't move on because she knew in her heart that she would never truly be happy without him.

That thought hurt Shizune as she thought about her mentor's struggles. Maybe Tsunade's journey is her way to move on from his death? Maybe she is trying to move on in her own way? Shizune didn't honestly know what was going through her head. She was only hoping that with whatever Tsunade was thinking, that in the end, she would be happier from it.

Which reminded her, 'What is Lady Tsunade thinking? I've always seen that look on her face, but it was more pronounced than before. It scares me.'

After turning a corner, she came across the apartment that Sakura owned. It was a nice dwelling with plenty of room. Sakura having been paid handsomely during the war, combined with her prowess in the hospital, she was able to afford something worthwhile and decent but modest.

She walked up to her door and knocked. She knew it was late at night and figured that it was bad that she was bothering Sakura so late, but she had to have somewhere to stay. She didn't want to stay in a hotel. A few thumps were heard, followed by a clunking noise and an opening of the door. Sakura peeped out and saw, "Shizune? What are you doing here?"

Shizune awkwardly laughed as she tried to explain herself, "Well, you see, Lady Tsunade wanted to be left alone tonight, so I was wondering if I could stay tonight or the next couple of days, if that's okay with you?"

Sakura smiled, but it wasn't the usual that she would give to her. Being that she's been here before and never had any problems, this time, there was something wrong, "Shizune, I would love for you to come and stay, but… right now… Uhm, Sasuke is here, so…"

Sakura played with her hair somewhat and it dawned on Shizune immediately. She raised her hands defensively, "Oh, that's okay. I'll stay somewhere else. I'm sorry to have bothered you. I know it was last minute."

"I'm very sorry," Sakura said as she bowed a little, "I promise, next time, you can stay as long as you want."

"It's okay," Shizune smiled as she walked away, "Thank you."

After hearing Sakura's door close, Shizune frowned heavily. She didn't think that she would be homeless so late at night. Sakura having Sasuke around, Shizune would have been a third wheel. It would have definitely made things awkward. She didn't want to add any trouble. A thought crossed her mind as she began walking another direction, "I've never asked, but maybe…"

After another 15 minutes, she came upon another doorstep and knocked a handful of times. After waiting for a few moments, the door opened and out stumbled a sleepy short haired blond from the apartment.

"Huh? Shizune? What are you doing here? Is everything okay?" Naruto asked as he yawned tiredly trying to wake the sleep from his eyes.

Shizune only smiled lightly as she fiddled with her outfit mindlessly, "Sorry, Naruto, but… I was wondering if… I could stay over for a day or two. Lady Tsunade kicked me out of the apartment for a while and I don't have anywhere to stay. Do you mind?"

Naruto rubbed his eyes before he looked towards her. He looked seemingly more awake than before as he got used to waking up, "Granny kicked you out of the house, huh? Sure. You can stay here. I have an extra room that I don't use anyway."

Naruto walked inside and Shizune followed behind him quietly. She closed the door and locked it. Taking a look around the apartment, she could see a fully furnished kitchen with a table that held four chairs. There was nothing on the table minus a table cloth. She looked around his living room area and saw a television that was most likely never used, a sofa with a beige tint, a coffee table that held a single vase with flowers in it, a shelf with minor knick-knacks, and a single picture on the wall that looked to be some kind of scenery from a professional painter. Turning to Naruto, she saw him walk down the small hallway and open the door to a room. Suddenly, a shadow clone poofed into existence.

"You'll have to wait a few minutes. The room is messy since I just use it as a storage room."

"That's fine," Shizune replied with a smile and walked towards the couch to sit down. As she watched him walk into his kitchen and pull a juice from the refrigerator, she saw him pour a glass.

"You want one?" Came a loud reply from the kitchen.

Shizune was startled, "Oh, thank you."

Naruto hummed as he took another glass out and poured another one for her. After putting the juice back into the refrigerator, he walked into the living room and sat down beside Shizune, giving her glass to her.

The woman thanked him again as she drank some of her juice and sat it on the coffee table. Her mind was recalling the things that happened between her and Tsunade.

"Don't worry," Naruto said as he smiled towards her, suddenly getting her attention, "Granny is just having one of her mood swings. She will be normal again soon."

Shizune smiled sadly, "Well… I don't think Lady Tsunade is going to change very much from now on."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Shizune replied with a sigh, "Lady Tsunade has come up with an idea to leave the village and explore the world, or so she said. She wants to be on her own and has told me that she doesn't want me to follow her."

Naruto gazed to her in surprise, "She's leaving Konoha? Did she say how long?"

Shizune closed her eyes and shook her head softly, "No, she just said that she wants to leave. I don't know what her plans are, but I think she's trying to move on from my Uncle."

Naruto looked down in thought. It wasn't hard to know who Shizune was talking about. Even Naruto knew that Dan was her lover that she used to have a long time ago and he died. She didn't talk about it a lot. It must have hurt her to keep bringing it up, "Well, I think it will do Granny some good. She needs a break after all of things she's been through."

Shizune glanced to Naruto, amazed, "But Naruto, don't you think that she is going a little too far? Leaving Konoha and everything behind isn't what I would consider a light vacation."

"No, because I believe in Granny," Naruto said while looking up to the ceiling with a smile, "She won't be gone forever. She just needs some time to herself. We all do sometimes, I think."

Shizune looked to her hands that rested in her lap. They were twiddling idly as she thought about what Naruto said, 'Naruto believes in her. I've been beside her this entire time and looked up to her, but… I could-'

"I couldn't even believe in her." Shizune said as she frowned towards Naruto. Her hands clenched on her lap, "Some great apprentice I am. No wonder Sakura surpassed me."

"Hey, don't say that," Naruto said as looked to her strongly, "You're a great medic ninja. You're really strong whenever you put your mind to it. So what, if Sakura can do a couple of things better than you. I bet there are many things you can do better than her."

"That's very sweet, Naruto, but I'm aware of my limits."

"Did you know that Sakura is a terrible cook?" Naruto said with a grin, gaining Shizune's gaze, "I was there because she made me taste test her food. She burns everything she touches. I always ate black crust."

Shizune lightly giggled, "I didn't realize that she couldn't cook. She's offered to make something for me, but I always had my own lunch, so I never took the offer. I'm glad that I didn't now."

Naruto grinned more as he continued, "Yeah, it was awful. I've eaten some of the things you've cooked and you're a hundred times better than her in that."

"Well," Shizune said looking to him with a smile, "Whenever Lady Tsunade and I were on the road, I had to learn how to cook. Lady Tsunade would be too drunk and wouldn't lift a finger. She wouldn't eat otherwise, so I cooked for us often."

"That sounds like her," Naruto said with a chuckle, "But see? You can cook better than Sakura. She can't cook at all."

Shizune smiled sadly, "Thanks, Naruto."

"Do you want to know something else?" Naruto said as he gave her a softer more genuine smile, "Whenever I'm having a problem or need someone to talk to, I'd rather go to you first," His eyesight looked into hers softly giving their full attention, "With Sakura… things are harder to talk to her about. She doesn't understand a lot of the things I say. With you, it's a different story."

Shizune, curious about his sudden reveal to her, had to ask, "What do you mean?"

Naruto looked down to his own hands in thought, "A lot of times throughout the years, Sakura would only think about Sasuke. Even if I was wanting to talk to her about things, somehow Sasuke's name would always slip off of her tongue. She would never talk to me about anything without mentioning Sasuke in some way. Honestly, it hurt a lot."

Shizune felt compassion for the blonde as he kept talking.

"I always thought that maybe it was a temporary thing. Maybe Sakura would eventually see me without the thought of Sasuke. But that… never happened. That's the real reason why my love for Sakura faded over the years."

Shizune's hand gently landed on top of Naruto's, "Naruto… I never knew that. I'm so sorry," Her face became more determined as her eyebrows arched, "What was Sakura thinking? You guys are best friends! She should have more tact and self-awareness. I'm honestly disappointed in her," Her eyes went to his and she could see the surprise on his face, "Naruto, don't you ever feel like you can't talk to me. I'll always be there for you."

Naruto glanced down to her comforting hand and back up to her eyes. She held a strong expression that made Naruto smile softly at her. His shoulders relaxed, "I can say the same thing to you."

They looked at each other in the eyes quietly, not breaking the stare that they had between each other. Suddenly, Naruto reeled back and pulled his hand away, causing the other to realize what was happening. Both of them blushed, Naruto more than Shizune.

"W-Well, Shizune, your room is finished," Naruto said as he stood up. He walked back to his room without much preamble, "Have a good night. I'll see you tomorrow. I'm still tired and all since it's the middle of the night."

"Oh, uh, you too, Naruto. Good night." Shizune said as she fidgeted in her seat. She couldn't believe what just happened.

She grabbed her juice and drank the rest of it before she brought it to the kitchen and placed it in the sink. She went about her nightly routine before she lay comfortably down on the futon that was laid on the floor. Or at least tried to lay down comfortably, but she couldn't get comfortable. Her thoughts raced as she tried to make sense of what she just did.

'What was that earlier?' Shizune asked herself as she laid with the covers drawn. I light blush was spread across her cheeks and no matter what she tried, she couldn't get it to go away, 'Did Naruto and I seriously- Even after everything I told Lady Tsunade.' She pulled the covers over her head as she tried to hide her embarrassment at her sudden revelation 'With Naruto of all people. What is wrong with me?'

She couldn't really get that idea to go away and questioned it into the night as the hours passed.

Naruto sat in his bed with a blush adorned on his cheeks. His eyes looked at the ceiling as he tried to get comfortable, but was finding it hard to do so. That awkward moment between him and Shizune had him questioning things about himself. He sighed as he rolled over. His eyes drifted to a poster on his wall.

Tonight was going to be a long night.

A/N: Here you go. It's the first chapter. I decided to write this in hopes of having a decent intro to a NarutoXShizune fic. Will it ever be completed? Maybe. Maybe not. Depends on my muse and how much free time I have.