The Right Choice

Sorry for the mix up I uploaded chapter 4 before chapter 3. I've corrected it now. Enjoy


This story is completely finished. I am just going through and doing some final proofreading, but I will be uploading at least once daily. There are over ten chapters and the story is a little over 45,000 words. I've never actually posted a story of mine before, and I'm a little nervous so be kind. If there's a lot of bad feedback from this one I probably won't post any more of my stories in the future, but no matter what I will have this one posted in completion hopefully by the end of next week. I hope you enjoy it, I usually write for my own pleasure, but this one I enjoyed so much I thought it might be nice to share. Please let me know if you like it, I am hoping for at least ten good reviews once I finish. I know it's a high goal considering most people are lurkers (me included), but I would appreciate knowing that at least a few people enjoyed it. Thanks, and enjoy!

WARNING: Naruto is in several other pairings before he gets to Shino. The story works through a failed relationship and a comfort relationship before we get there so don't freak out when Naruto doesn't jump straight into Shino's arms. It will happen, but like the description said this is the story of their struggle to come together so just wait for it.

Chapter 3

Missions were Shino’s only form of escape. He had demanded the Hokage assign him as many as possible, and she had done so reluctantly. He knew she worried about him, but he didn’t have the courage to confide in her like most of the others did because of how close she was to Naruto. It had been a year now since he’d seen Naruto, and the loneliness was still there, but he was learning to use it to strengthen his resolve.

The Hokage often bragged about how well Naruto was doing in his position as Ambassador, especially to the Elders who had always been wary of giving any kind of position of value to Naruto. They had over the years started to hold him in higher regard, but they would never see him the way people that knew him personally did. He would be Hokage someday though, and they were starting to accept it despite the fact that he was the last Jinchuriki.

He was standing in the Hokage’s office about to turn in his mission report when he realized that a very familiar chakra was moving quickly toward this location. He had stopped hearing anything that was said after that, and when Tsunade finally noticed that she didn’t have his attention, she cleared her throat angrily to pull him back.

Shino just smirked at the anger on her face. She wouldn’t even remember what she was angry about in a moment. Shino wasn’t the type to ruin Naruto’s fun most of the time, but he had a reputation to keep, and so when he felt the blonde just outside the open window of the office he had to say something otherwise Naruto would think he had finally accomplished his goal.

“I apologize for not paying attention Hokage Sama, but I was a bit distracted by Naruto’s chakra entering the village. He’s just outside your window now though, so you have my full attention again.” Shino knew what was next and he had been dreaming of this moment for months.

“SHINO! How could you ruin my surprise?” Naruto leapt through the window and glared at him but there was no fire behind it.

“I couldn’t let you think you’d succeeded in sneaking up on me could I?” Shino met those eyes challengingly, and felt a shiver run down his spine when Naruto acknowledged it with one raised eyebrow.

It was all over the next second though because the Hokage grabbed Naruto up and tried to hug him to death. Her voice boomed throughout the building and several shinobi came running through the door expecting the worst only to find a purple Naruto in her arms.

The tension in the room relaxed and Shino was finally starting to see what Shikamaru was talking about. Naruto truly was a Genius. He had dug so deep in to this woman’s heart that she would probably die for him. They broke apart and after Naruto regained his breath they began speaking so quickly that the words all blended together and Shino couldn’t understand half of what was said though it had a rhythm to it. It was like a song when the words and the music come together. They were beautiful. Shino felt that familiar surge of jealousy run through him, but then he remembered that Tsunade wasn’t as young as she looked.

Shizune soon joined in the impossible conversation and the noise level went up so dramatically that Shino couldn’t see how any of them were actually able to understand anything that was being said. He didn’t much care though. Just being in the room with Naruto after so long was amazing. He shown like a beacon on the darkest of nights and Shino felt that overwhelming heat rush through him. He hadn’t even realized that he’d been living in the dark, but it was always hard to tell it was dark with Aburame eyes.

As the conversation lost a bit of its excitement Shino could make out some of the details. Naruto had quit his Ambassadorship. Tsunade was furious, but she couldn’t seem to hold on to it because she was so excited to see him. Shizune kept asking questions about the state of things when he left Suna, and Naruto asked what seemed to be a never ending line of questions about each of his friends in the village. No one was really getting any answers because they all seemed to be too concerned with what they wanted to know to answer anyone else.

Tsunade insisted over and over again that he needed to go back and fix things but Naruto insisted that what was done was done, and there was no going back. Shino felt a weight lift off his heart at the unstated cause. He had ended his relationship with Gaara. It was obvious if you were looking and he was definitely looking. He had a lot of thinking to do so Shino decided to leave his report and make his exit when Naruto noticed him again.

“Shino! Since no one here is willing to fill me in on what’s going on will you please tell me.” Shino didn’t have any idea what it was that Naruto was wanting him to say but the sudden attention he was given made his heart pound thunderously in his chest.

“What exactly do you want to know?” Shino asked, Tsunade seemed reluctant to add anything on the subject and he suddenly understood why.

“Sasuke was sighted several times in the last six months and I want to know who is searching for him and where they are. This is my mission and I want to be caught up on all the intelligence so I can head out. Just tell me what you’ve heard.” Naruto was pleading with him and Shino could deny him nothing when he was in this state, but he honestly hadn’t known that Sasuke had been seen or anything about a mission either.

“I didn’t even know he’d been spotted, and I don’t think anyone else has either. As far as who is dealing with the mission, it isn’t any of us.”

As he spoke he watched Tsunade’s reaction. It wasn’t good. She looked guilty, and he had a feeling he knew why. Shizune ended up being the one to explain it though. “Yes, he has been spotted, but no one has been sent after him. The information was supposed to be confidential, and I don’t know how you got a hold of it, but we aren’t actively working toward bringing him back right now. He’s with Madara, and as far as we can tell the situation is too dangerous. As long as they keep their distance we won’t interfere.

“Sasuke can take care of himself. He’s sent a packet of information to us, a sort of mission report. He explained how Orochimaru is for all intents and purposes, dead and so is Itachi. The situation with Itachi has changed though. From the information received it seems Sasuke was able to speak extensively with Itachi before he died. If what he said was true, the massacre of the Uchiha clan was a sacrifice Itachi had to make to protect the rest of the village from destruction at the hands of Madara. He also gave information on a secret mission that Itachi was on just before the massacre. A mission given to him by the third himself, and was confirmed in his confidential files. So we are considering the information to be sound.

“We have very little information on Madara accept what is written in the histories, and there is too high a risk with trying to deal with such a powerful and unknown enemy to make retrieval of Sasuke possible. Right now the most important thing is to be prepared for the possibility that Madara might try again to destroy the village. Training has doubled over the last year and with the losses over the last few years we have worked tirelessly to correct the damage. Jounin numbers are as high as they’ve ever been, and the Anbu squads are stronger than they were even before the last attack from Madara.

“It seems from what Sasuke was able to tell us, it was Madara that sent the Kyuubi to attack Konoha the first time. There have been several incidents since the time of the first Hokage that seem to all be linked to Madara in one way or another. He is a dangerous enemy and seems to have the time to be patient. We will continue to prepare and train and not let another attack catch us by surprise.

“This is why our friendship with Suna is so important. I hope that you didn’t cause in irreparable damage when you left. We will need their help and cooperation if something were to happen. Shino has been instrumental in his tireless efforts to gather information as well as several others from the Aburame clan and we have scouts throughout the country keeping tabs on possible locations that they could be hiding, but for now, we train and we wait.”

Shino had no idea that all the information he had gathered had fit together in such a way, but it all made sense now, especially how the intel that he had been given had been just enough to complete the mission, not leaving any room for speculation. The missions he’d gone on were to gather information on a strange chakra signature around the Fire Country. It wasn’t enough to piece together before but now that he knew that Sasuke was involved it made sense. The places he had reported back on that had signs of this dark chakra must have been where the scouts were now. He had been tracking Madara without any knowledge of it. This made him a bit angry, but since he’d never had much difficulty on any of the missions he settled on mild irritation from being left out of the loop.

Naruto on the other hand was furious. “I don’t care how dangerous he is, I’m going after Sasuke. If you don’t help me then I’ll do it myself.” He went to the window, but before he could get through Tsunade had him by his robe, and hauled him back away.

“You will stay right here, brat, until I decided what will happen and then you will do what I say. I’ve catered to your whims to many times and you always come back to me in pieces and I’m the one that has to put you back together. We are planning this with our heads not running in blindly following our heart. I know he’s important to you, but he’s suffering an identity crisis right now and after all that’s happened the best thing to do is let him come to us. We have been in contact with him several times and traded information through Sai’s birds about some of Madara’s plans, but he doesn’t give Sasuke much information, and Sasuke is having trouble with loyalty.

“He’s angry about finding out that he lost his entire family for the sake of Konoha. He’s torn between anger toward Konoha for forcing his brother to destroy his own clan, anger at Itachi for forcing him to sacrifice so much for the sake of the village, and anger at himself for killing his brother when his only crime was protecting Konoha. He’s confused and frustrated, and coming home right now will not only leave him without the answers he needs but the answers we need as well. I will not let you screw all that up just to bring back your best friend.

“You will not leave this village until I have had a chance to smooth things over with Gaara, and then if you’re lucky I’ll let you go on C rank missions. For now, rest, train, eat ramen, visit friends and pull yourself together. I don’t know what happened in Suna but it’s obvious that you are irrational and emotional right now. I won’t condone you going out there to die.”

Naruto was now brooding. He hated being grounded, but he needed his freedom on this one. He couldn’t just run off without permission. Tsunade would only send hunters out to bring him back, and she knew he wouldn’t risk hurting them so he would just end up right back here again.

“Fine baa chan. I’ll stay on one condition. I’m given all the information you have right now and if any new information comes in I’m to be informed immediately.”

Tsunade narrowed her eyes at his impudence, but nodded once in agreement. The situation quieted then and Naruto left the room with Shizune to look over all the new information. Shino was ready to leave at this point. Actually he was desperate to escape, but it seemed Tsunade had something more for him. When the door closed behind Naruto she turned to him appraisingly.

“I need you to take on a new mission. It will involve staying in the village for an extended amount of time, but it’s time you took a rest. I want you to follow Naruto for me and report any suspicious behavior. When he comes down from all this excitement and adrenaline he’s going to crash and it will be bad. Watch him and report to me.”

This was out of the question. Shino couldn’t think of anything to say, but he knew that his feelings for Naruto would compromise him in a mission like this. He wouldn’t be able to maintain objectivity and he knew it.

“I can’t accept this mission Hokage sama.”

She was shocked at first because Shino had never declined a mission. He was going to have to give her a damn good reason otherwise she’d have to force him, and she hated forcing one of her most talented shinobi into anything, but Naruto was that important to her. “Why?” She asked calmly. She would give him a chance to explain himself before jumping to conclusions.

“It’s personal. I’d rather not discuss it.”

“That’s just not a good enough reason. You are friends with him so being close shouldn’t be uncomfortable for you, and it will give him some comfort to have someone around that isn’t in and out with missions. He’ll need someone talk to right now.”

Shino knew that that was the exact reason why he couldn’t accept. He would never forgive himself if he screwed this up because he pushed to hard to fast. “I just can’t. It’s unethical for me to spy on him especially when he’s emotionally fragile.”

And with that he knew he’d said too much. Tsunade sat down heavily in her chair and looked at him as if she’d never seen him before. “You’re in love with him.” There was a long pause where she thought this over, and then her eyes lit up sadistically. Shino had the feeling this had just become an impossible situation.

“How did…” Shino mumbled but Tsunade didn’t let him finish.

“It’s obvious if you know to look for it. I thought for so long that you didn’t like him when you were younger. The two of you were like polar opposites, but when he came back I noticed a change, that when he was around you seemed to gravitate toward him. I assumed it was the same for you as it was for everyone else. He is so charismatic that it didn’t seem unusual, but now that I think about it you were different. You were more fluid around him than anyone else, as if you naturally took all your cues from him. It shows if you know the signs.

“This is perfect. He’s just broken off his relationship with Gaara. With you he can feel good about being in a relationship instead of guilty. You’re perfect for him. You understand him but you’re not so emotionally stunted that you need him to take care of you. His relationship with Gaara was unhealthy at the best of times. Gaara hasn’t had enough experience with relationships of any kind to be rational about it. He’s used to making demands and having those demands met. He literally tortured every Ambassador I appointed for a year before I sent Naruto. I told him every time he requested Naruto that he wasn’t old enough to be appointed to the position, but he wouldn’t stop.

“It was inconvenient for Naruto to come back when he did with the state of things, but being with Gaara was never going to work. Naruto needs someone to love him not obsess over him. I have been grooming him as my replacement for years. He belongs here, and he knew he would have to come back sooner or later so when he fell for Gaara, love became its own form of heartbreak. He needs to learn that being in love doesn’t have to hurt.”

Shino felt nauseous at the thought of using the way he felt about Naruto to spy on him. It went against everything he believed about love, and he was even more determined to refuse now, but he knew that she wouldn’t allow it so he decided to offer a compromise.

“I won’t manipulate him like that and I won’t pursue him when he’s so recently ended his relationship. If you insist then I will observe his movements and inform you if he shows any sign of leaving the village. Other than that I will not interfere. I will not betray his trust for anyone, not even you.” Shino bowed respectfully to the Hokage hoping that she would accept his terms. Her sigh indicated to him that she was willing to give in, but he knew there would at least be a bit more bargaining before she would agree. That was just her style.

“You’re right. I won’t interfere for now, but I can’t say that indefinitely. I can’t imagine anyone better for him Shino. I will ask you to do one more thing for me on this mission though. I need you to listen to any conversations that he has privately with Sakura. This I won’t budge on. They will at some point try to do something on their own and I need to make sure that none of their plans come to fruition. The rest is up to you.”

Shino agreed quickly so that the Hokage couldn’t add any more stipulations on to his mission, and left the office. He sent a female kikaichu under the door of Shizune’s office to find Naruto before he left the building. Home was as good a place to think as any so he headed off toward the clan complex. He dragged his feet as he went thinking about Naruto, and how if things worked out well he could be with him in a matter of months. It was sheer luck that he’d been in the Hokage’s office when he arrived, and Shino let himself gloat privately at being the first to see him after a year of being away. It had turned out to be a very good day all things considered, and he was determined to enjoy it alone and in peace. After all he had much to plan and little time to do it.

All the information for this fiction was either taken from actual episodes, manga, or one of several Naruto information sites. Please let me know if you have any questions or comments on any of the info I use, I'm trying to stay in line with the actual story as I can. Thanks.

To my reviewers: Thanks so much for taking the time. I appreciate your comments more than you could ever know. I've only uploaded three chapters and I'm already halfway to meeting my goal. Thanks.

To Rianestorm, thanks for coming out of your lurking, it's nice to know someone is reading everything instead of just the fiction, and that you took the time to let me know you liked it.

To Msuzumaki, I understand what you're talking about, but I just can't see Shika as shy or quiet. I've known several people in my life that I would definitely consider genius and all of them were very talkative and shared a lot of qualities with Shikamaru. The one thing that they all seemed to have in common though that I tried to put into him was that they always had a hard time censoring what they said. I've rewatched and reread a lot of Shikamaru and this is truly how I see him, blunt and detailed. I hope that explains my thought process on how I wrote his character. Thanks so much for both comments.

To Sessha, I understand, and I agree that I don't like reading about them when they are actually kids, but I love imagining how they'll be when they grow up. I especially love Naruto. I think that he will mature well and still keep that childlike innocence that makes people fall in love with him. Thanks for the review.

To devious, I hope you are still enjoying the story, and thanks for letting me know you like it.