Permission To Seek

CHAPTER 14 Henge!

[Authors notes: ~Sasuke’s inner thoughts~ ((authors’ clarification))]

Sasuke stood in the trees not far from the Hokage tower waiting for Shino to make an appearance. He did his own brand of investigating; having Hyuga Neji as a best friend paid off by getting him to confirm Hinata is back; so he knew the cockroach had to be back also. Not long after Kakashi entered, the Hokage tower to report in the bug nerd emerged. Shino reached out a hand then started staring at his wrist as if there were a wristwatch that only he could see.

With an evil grin, the raven put his hands together. “Henge!” Naruto jumped down from the tree, “Oi! Shino! Aburame Shino!” He called.

Shino looked up from the baby Kikai he had sent in search of Naruto to see the blonde standing at the tree line nearly a hundred yards away. His heart started beating faster as Naruto waved for him to come. ‘I’ll deal with you guys later.’ He threatened the babies as he ordered them to retreat. The Kikai began to hum softly sensing his excitement but once he had closed the distance the hum turned to a threatening hiss. ‘Silence!’ He thought the blonde ninja bobbed in front of him, looking anxious and beautiful. The Kikai fell quiet at once.

“How was your mission Uzumaki?” His voice lowered and kind very happy to see Naruto again.

“You know I am great!” He grinned stupidly, while snickering. “Oh yeah and I got the chance to make Sasuke look like the idiot he is.” He added with an evil laugh.

Shino leaned toward Naruto staring intently then shifted and glanced back at the Hokage tower. “Well, I have had enough talk about the Uchiha to last me a month are you hungry? I will take you now if you like.”

~What! Talk about me! WTF! What about me cockroach? Lunch? You better be doing some training! ~

“Uzumaki?” Shino eyed him slowly while they walked, he had not said which he preferred, and he was oddly silent Shino presumed Naruto never stopped talking.

“Oh I’m sorry, what do you mean talk about Sasuke someone talk to you about him?” The huge blue eyes full of worry.

“It is not important I would like to talk about you, if that’s ok.” Shino turned his attention to the road heading toward the Ramón shop.

~Bastard! I want to know who said what! ~

“Oh I’m not hungry, can we just get some training and what do want to know about me?” Naruto put his hands behind his head as he walked his eyes shifting around with the same worried look.

“What kind of things do you like to do for fun; outside of training?” Shino smiled at the large blue eyes moving up to the sky thinking.

~How am I supposed to know what he like to do besides eat Ramen and train! ~

“There really isn’t much else I like besides Ramen and training. What do you like besides bugs?”

~I will bet nothing unless it is planning how he is going to kill me! ~

Shino looked up. According to the yaoi book, he needed to find out what kind of things his love interest enjoys and then find ways to introduce those hobbies or events sporadically throughout the courtship. Naruto is not making it easy. He would need to try another approach. “Well, as you would think bugs are my hobby and most of what I do involves the study of different species; however I also like…”

~Is he still talking, how boring can you be? Let us just get some training done! ~

.”….and if you consider the life cycle of …”

~Someone please kill me so I do not need to listen to this cockroach any more! He is driving me crazy! ~

“Uzumaki, are you alright?” Shino had stopped walking; Naruto eyes were strangely out of focus as if he had not taken in a word. He was half tempted to ask Naruto if he had been paying attention but decided against it. He already knew it would take time to win the blondes’ acknowledgement.’

“Oh I’m sorry Shino.” He said scratching the back of his head. “I just got some fighting things on my mind and I can’t think about anything else.”

~Ok bug nerd let us train! ~

“I’m really tired today, my mission was a pain and the Fifth,” he paused thinking about the scolding he just received, and how she would assign a more difficult mission soon; he did not want Naruto to hear him complain. “Well your problem is chakra control; there is no point in learning a new fighting technique unless you have a through understanding of the basics.”

~THE BASICS! DO NOT TELL ME THIS IS ALL FOR TUTORING! ~

“I’m sure I can help you so you won’t have a repeat of the last incident.” He eyed him thoughtfully; Naruto did not get defensive or loud or even vow to cause him physical harm. ‘Does this mean he’s taking my advice seriously?’ He felt his heart overflowing with desire for the golden hair ninja, his face slowly flushed.

~WTF, I do not need help with basics! I exceeded that! Oh, Shit! Naruto is a moron! He definitely needs help with the basics! Now I am stuck doing nothing but a beginner’s lessons! ~

Shino had turned away from him looking towards the north. “Oh wow that would be good if you help me with that.” Naruto said as if he were bored.

“Are you sure Uzumaki?” He kept his face pointedly away willing the blush to fade. ‘It seems obvious that he is not interested in anything but training. This is disappointing to him but he will not admit that I’m just wasting his time.’

~Lucky! I can get out of this and save face, since he is trying to give me an out I will take it! ~

However, things got a little more complicated for the conniving Uchiha. “Naruto!” Kakashi stood just behind them book in hand staring at him with disbelief.

~OH Shit! I hope I can pull this off! ~

Kakashi closed in quickly. Too quickly, Shino scowled at the back of the Jonin blocking Naruto from view and ignoring him completely. “Your back, where is Iruka-sensei I have something for him that the Hokage-sama said I should drop off as soon as possible.” The tone of his voice made it particularly obvious that he is lying. His mind only focused on Iruka, not Naruto’s strange behavior.

Although Kakashi thought, he caught a glimpse of ‘pervert’ in the bright eyes. The words washed the image out of his mind. “Hi Kaka-sensei!” Naruto beamed. “Iruka-sensei said he would go to the school pick up some things that he needed to work on. Then he said he needed to see an old friend in the logging district about something.” Naruto’s eyes bounced around as he spoke as if he was trying to recall many different details. “Last thing he told me is that if I see you tell you he will be home very late.”

“Very late.” Kakashi repeated.

“Very, very, very late; so you will need to speak with him in the morning.” Naruto grinned nervously.

Shino shifted wanting to punch the Jonin in the head for interrupting his date with Naruto. However, Kakashi's reaction to the blonde ninja's words lifted his spirit.

Kakashi dropped his head as if no strength remained in his neck his chin practically hitting his chest. “He won’t be home until very; very; very late. I will need to wait for the morning….” He mumbled as he slouched away, thoroughly disenchanted.

One glance in the blue eyes Shino saw a bright glow of mirth, Naruto’s goofy grin seem more like an evil grin; Shino appreciated it at once. “So he really did not say that?”

~He saw thru that! ~

“Oh no Iruka just told me to make up anything to keep the copy cat away. He is a real pervert always groping the man and making vulgar remarks.” Berating Kakashi his mind wandered. “You know what he did to me once, ((Sasuke not Naruto)) he sat on my back playing with himself. ((Kakashi was only pretending but Sasuke believed it. The white lotion he used intensified the effect.)) Until I gave up the kunai I was holding ((Intended victim Kakashi)). The dirty bastard got the stuff in my hair and everything.” His face flushed at the memory staring after the man he felt permanently wounded him with the incident.

Shino could only blink, his eyebrow twitching. He found it difficult to believe that anyone even a person as perverted as Kakashi would go to that length to obtain a kunai from a child. “I will kill him if you want.” He could not think of anything else to say, believing the incident too vulgar for words. “Did you report this to the Hokage?” The shift in the blue eyes told him no.

~Damn why did I tell him that! Bastard Kakashi! ~

“No, I just wanted to forget about it! Hey can we not talk about this it’s making me sick.” Naruto pouted shaking his head. Actually, Sasuke felt nauseous every time he thought of incident. He privately wanted to castrate the pervert all the more reason to keep the details secret.

~Did he just say he would kill Kakashi? How did Naruto get this person as a friend? ~

Shino put his hand to his mouth deep in his own thoughts. Naruto was acting different from a couple of weeks ago when they made plans. He did not seem as animated as he remembered and he is straightforward abundantly confident. The most unusual thing he noticed is Naruto referred to Iruka without….

“What’s wrong Shino?” Naruto snapped him out of his thoughts.

“I am fine are you ok? That is terrible for a Jonin do something like that with no one you can turn to for help. However, we will not discuss it further; we can move forward and complete some training.” Shino said hoping that might help him salvage their remaining time. He directed Naruto on a different route.

~I think he is getting suspicious or something but; I covered all the bases so I just need to come up with something to fill the gaps he thinks I have! ~

“Oh on this mission I just had we met this weird guy said his name is Kimimaro.”

~I can use this to explain my unease! ~

Shino stopped walking; turning his full attention to Naruto. “What did he do?”

Naruto blanched, he was not expecting that deep a reaction. “Well Sasuke kick my ass right after we got to this Hot Spring Village and Kimimaro patched me up.”

~If I stick with the idiot’s story if he checks it later, it will match! ~

“Is that all?” Shino stared at him intently.

“Well, he threatened Sasuke to not hurt me again; or he’d kill him. I did not tell him to do that he did it on his own. I plan to pay the bastard back myself!” He shot his eyes off to the left of Shino’s glare.

~More than likely the idiot cried like a baby so that is why the freak came after me! ~

“Kimimaro said he would kill Sasuke if he hurt you again?” Shino’s gazed intensely.

“Yeah.” Naruto said getting nervous. “You know him?”

~I had better change the subject!~

“We’ve met.” Looking at Naruto it is understandable that he is not himself; Shino knew Kimimaro to be a selfish man. If he helped Naruto, it is because he must truly have been in very bad shape. “How did Uchiha injure you, in what capacity?” There would be a good reason he would vow to kill.

Naruto’s eyes shifted and blinked as if he did not know what to say. “I don’t want to talk about it; let’s just leave it at that.”

‘He is moody; I’ve never seen this side of him, up close.’ Shino thought, continuing their walk.

They arrived at a training area that Naruto had not used in several months. The small lake has an outcropping waterfall its ledge large enough for four people to stand under the spray comfortably. This is where Shino believed he completely fell for Naruto after his training and a refreshing dip in the lake.

He looked side ways at Naruto, his own face burning from what he had last seen the blonde doing here. Naruto seemed mildly interested walking over near the lake and squatting down and throwing small stones across the water watching them skip several times. Shino joined him sitting directly next to him. Naruto appeared alarmed but then sat on his butt as if he did not mind the closeness.

~Why is he sitting so close? I bet that moron would not mind always trying to hang on me! I had better play it off! ~

“So, is this a special place for you Shino?” Naruto gazed across at the waterfall. “I like this place very secluded, and nice.”

“Yeah, I think so too.” Shino said shortly, attempting to calm his nerves so he could pose an important question. He needed to know if he should continue to try to make a bond. “Uzumaki can I ask you a question, it is personal?”

“That would be two questions right?” The golden hair ninja gazed at Shino with his head cocked to one side while he winked holding up two fingers, very cute.

Shino laughed; inner Sasuke cringed he did not think the wink was that funny and the sound of the bug nerd laughing sent chills down his spine.

“Please excuse me.” Shino sighed fixing his face in the usual blank gaze. He is nervous the wink on Naruto's cute face completely caught him off guard and he felt hopeful that he might actually be on the right path with the blue-eyed ninja. “You are funny.”

“I’ve been told I’m funny looking; or funny in a weird way; funny in the total fool we like to laugh at stupid people way. But as just plain witty funny, never a day in my life besides now.” He looked at Shino again and winked.

This time Shino did not laugh, he smiled warmly leaning a little closer to Naruto. “I do not think those things of you, Uzumaki, not at all.”

~Sasuke cringed and shuddered, oh my god I hope he turns this into chakra control! ~

“My question, my second question is;” he gulped “Do you admire anyone above all others?” A deep blush darkened his cheeks. Shino turned away from the wide blue eyes his heart hammering he tells the Kikai to shut up. Their hissing stops immediately.

~OH NO! OH! NO! OH! NO! I KNEW IT! THE COCKROACH! NO! SOMEBODY! SAVE ME!~

“Well, I’ve always admired Sakura-chan; but over everyone...” He fell silent weighing his words while he noticed Shino’s dark blush grinning sneakily. “Sasuke!”

Shino shifted but did not look at Naruto if anything he tried to turn his face further his eyes burning. He said nothing for several minutes. “Really, Uzumaki? Uchiha Sasuke?”

“I don’t know why, I’ve always had a love hate thing for the guy. That’s why he bugs me so much no pun intended.” He stared over at the waterfall and across the lake missing Shino’s glance, a single tear streaking one side of his face. “Who do you admire the most?” An automatic question in response to the one he had just answered, Sasuke knew the answer, he laughed inwardly.

~Guess he is not going to want to train with the idiot now. Heh heh~

Shino stood putting his hands in his pockets. ‘Why had not I expected that response?’ The wind blew across the grass and the waterfall the lake appeared tranquil. Birds chirped their melodies and with the soft hum of nature surrounding him however, Shino felt sick. “I am sorry Naruto I have not slept in two weeks like I said my mission really tired me out. Also, the Fifth said she would give me a new mission soon so I better try to rest.” He started walking off, unable to force his eyes in Naruto’s direction.

“Oi Shino, when can we train?” Naruto was grinning widely at his back.

“Oh, I’ll let you know.” Shino started again then stopped.

The grin evaporated quickly. Shino did not turn to face him. “The person I admire the most is you Uzumaki.” He left Naruto did not stop him, because he was still six hours away from Konoha.