Permission To Seek

The Forest 1st Kiss

Four years ago

Shino graduate from the Konaho Academy at age twelve. The Genin stood five-feet ten inches tall, and his peers regard him as weird, withdrawn, dangerous, and strange; few would say this to him directly because he has a reputation for being merciless to those who angered him. He did not mind what his comrades called him; although he reasoned they would be wise to avoid him; especially when he was alone. That happens to be most of the time rarely going anywhere with others, when he was not training with his team. He spent most of his free time researching various insects and plants training alone or together with his Uncle.

While researching bugs, several miles outside the village, he caught sight of Naruto in a clearing surrounded by evidence of extensive training. It was not often he chanced upon the blonde ninja, Naruto was on his knees breathing in an exhausted manner, face dripping with sweat broken tree limbs, kunai, scrolls and shuriken lay scattered about him obviously from the extensive training.

How long had he been here training like this, Shino thought, pushing his dark glasses up his nose; wondering if now was a good time to finally make the connection with Naruto. His heart began a familiar double pace as a warm heat flowed up from his chest to his face. He reached for the foliage blocking him from Naruto’s view. He stopped short as he heard a low sniff. Naruto drew a shuddering breath and sniffed again. Shino froze not sure what to do; he lowered his hand from the foliage. Could it be that Naruto is not as happy as he acts around everyone?

The sounds turned into low sobs and short gasping breaths; in between each was a low mumbling that Shino could not make out. While he watched Naruto crying, he remembered his own pain, loneliness, and silent suffering. Shino had not imaged they had this in common as well.

Naruto put his hands over his face and said in a low shuddering but firm voice, “Kuso! (Shit) Baka! (Idiot) You’re not going to get any stronger like this, baka!” Shino looked more intently at Naruto ‘had he heard those words before?’ He tried to remember, as a feeling of deja-vu passed over him.

Naruto wiped roughly at his face with his forearm and stood on trembling legs. His face looked fierce; determination in every corner of those piercing sapphire eyes. He took a deep breath that was no longer shuddering, and began with a yell to train again; with such intensity that he seemed like a different person than the one who had just broke down in tears.

No longer satisfied with coincidence; Shino actively sought out where Naruto was training, at the end of every mission. He could never be sure if Naruto was back from his mission, so he would do a little investigating around the village. Usually girls lamenting on that Uchiha, would give away the fact that Naruto’s team had returned. When there was less available information, he would send out the Kikai to check if Naruto was in the village. They usually returned informing him that Narutos' presence is intoxicating. This made him even more desirous to learn all he could about the blonde ninja.

Shino could communicate with the Kikai through precise chakra control and a form of telepathy. Shino excelled not only in his control of the Kikai and other natural insects but he also developed the ability to call, at will, the Kikai of other Aburame Clan ninja. It is considered an upper level ninja technique not seen in the Clan since the founders; in other words, he has the ability do disarm any of his fellow clansmen at will; taking control over their Kikai.

A rival Clan had the misfortune to discover this unique ability as they attempted to enter the Hidden Leaf by way of the Aburame territory. Shino impeded their progress; he summoned every Kikai within a fifty-mile radius to attack. Of the sixty ninja that invaded the Aburame territory, three faced interrogation by ANBU but do to their injuries none survived long enough to give a confession. The Elders reported that only a small ban attempted to enter and that most got away. They did not reveal the truth, due to his uncles' intervention they considered any information involving the incident classified.

Shino later explained to his uncle: ‘I found it interesting to watch them suffer and die while I had the power to prolong their life, death or suffering it was very entertaining.’ The old man was happily unnerved; thinking he is becoming more like me everyday; laughing that he would be sure to have Shino relay that enlightenment to the council at the upcoming meeting. His nephew could indeed bring the Aburame Clan the title of Elite one day. The Elders agreed Shino would begin to train privately with the advanced members of the Clan and allowed full access to the hidden techniques. Shino accepted the responsibility in his usual manner, quiet appreciation; after all, they had an agreement.

Shino stared at the Kikai dancing on his wrist; ‘Thank you my friend I am aware of that place.’ The Kikai took flight again buzzed around his head and disappeared from view. His mission complete, Shino felt free to seek out Naruto. He sent the Kikai to search for him; his training areas kept changing, and Shino did not want to waste time looking; he had come to the decision to not hesitate any longer; ‘I will make Uzumaki Naruto mine.’

Looking south of the village he pondered the Blonde Ninja, why does he continue to change locations? Could it be he has noticed my presence? Shino smiled inwardly, intrigued; this is the perfect opportunity to determine how much he has grown. ‘Enough, let’s go.’ He vanished from the tree limb moving with the camouflage of the trees towards Naruto. ‘We will just stay down wind and, conceal ourselves more discreetly for the moment.’ The Kikai hummed in agreement, as Shino touched down on a large redwood fifty yards from the clearing crouched down and eyed Naruto keenly.

Naruto appeared to have been training for some time he looked exhausted. Shino pushed his dark glasses higher on his nose, observing Naruto train; he has gotten so strong, in such a short time, if I am not careful he will exceed me. A warm smile of admiration spread across his face. ‘What an amazing person, Naruto has grown this much all on his own. If he continues to push himself like this, he will definitely become a reliable comrade maybe the greatest Hokage ever.’ Shino continued to admire the golden hair ninja. Naruto produced several dozen Kage Bunshin no Jutsu (Shadow Clone Technique) each clone closed in on the original for the attack.

“So you guys think you can take me down in grater numbers!” Naruto yelled, “HA, come and get it!”

Shino rose from where he crouched, laughing inwardly, thoroughly amazed that Naruto had once again produced so many shadow clones. The first time he saw the clones he nearly fell out of the tree; real bodies, it was an upper level ninja technique and Uzumaki Naruto had mastered it. He became so impressed that he convinced himself that it was destiny that they both possessed such an elevated level of ninja techniques; he and I belong together.

Destroying the last of his clones, Naruto began to laugh in a low satisfied voice breathing deeply and looking happier than Shino had ever seen him without goofing off. A subtle change in his appearance caused Shino to look more attentively at Naruto, fearing the worse. Naruto’s flushed complexion became pale as his face went slack the smile melting away. His eyes fluttered and rolled up into his head as he began to fall backwards.

"Kuso!” (Shit) Shino leaped off the tree, at blinding speed landing precisely behind Naruto catching him deftly in his arms.

“That was very reckless Uzumaki Naruto.” Shino snapped in an impatient tone. “You should…” he stopped speaking because Naruto was already unconscious. His chakra dangerously low; coming to that realization he felt panic stir in his chest.

‘Ochitsuita!’ (Calm down) he thought as he lowered Naruto’s head carefully to the ground and took a closer look at him. Pushing up his glasses as he observed Narutos' vital signs, pale complexion and labored breathing noticing his heart rate dropped by the second. ‘Ochitsuita’, he thought again trying to keep panic out of his heart; Naruto’s body must be fighting to keep his heart beating. Shino reached into his jacket and pulled out his ninja medical pouch; he swallowed hard his mouth had gone dry. However, not just Naruto’s condition had his nerves on end.

The after shadow of Naruto’s warm weight in his arms caused him to quake slightly with excitement. ‘Ochitsuita, allow me to work.' The Kikai ceased their restless humming. ‘I understand my friends; we are close to that special person, but he needs us now, we must be of assistance.’ He crushed a small bag of herbs in his hands, mixing it with chakra into a fine powder. Making a fist around the powder he leaned over Naruto’s slack, pale face; blowing into his fist forcing the powder out the opposite side directly at Naruto, as he took another labored breath.

The powder dusted his shining face, slide up his nose and into his partially open mouth. His breath stuttered a little then he coughed lightly as the powder made its way into his lungs. ‘Good, he’s breathing it in; it will absorb into his skin as well and his chakra should improve greatly. ‘

He pushed his glasses up, to lean in closer as the color began to return to Narutos’ face. ‘Interesting; he is recovering so quickly, the herbs usually take longer.’ Narutos’ labored breathing retuned to normal, as his condition continued to improve. ‘More to him than anyone knows.’ The warm smile returned to his face amazed at Naruto’s beauty. The herbal powder sparkling on his damp cheeks and brow gave him the appearance of an inner glow.

The Kikai began to hum a happy tune once more, now that they could discern Narutos’ condition was improving, they were relishing the closeness. ‘You have become the most precious person to me for some time now Uzumaki Naruto; what I would give to have you acknowledge me.’ His heart beat quickened slightly as he watched Naruto’s lay unconscious, analyzing every corner of his face. Feeling slightly overwhelmed he considered trying to wake him. Reaching out a hand to shake his shoulder Shino was surprised to see that hand trembling to touch Naruto. He slowly pulled the hand back. “What am I doing, why you Naruto, of all people, why do I desire a bond with you?” The words came out low and calm, despite his inner turmoil. Narutos’ complexion looked much better; the unconscious state seemed to have given into a sleep state. Shino breathed a deep sigh of relief; “A few days rest should see you back to normal, but for now I should just take you home.” He concluded, looking Naruto up and down considering the best way to carry him; as he thought, ‘What a nice little package you are Naruto.’ Enjoying his physique.

His mind became distracted as he gazed captivated at Naruto; his mind wandered to hypothetical conversations he had gone over dozens of times in his mind. He began to recite them in a low voice:

~~~"So Naruto, would you like to be friends? I would be honored to train with you."

~~~“And you would say. ‘Wow really Shino, are you strong? Because I’m very strong so it would be excellent training for me.’ And then you would laugh in that loud obnoxious way.”

~~~“I’d say, ‘Well there is one way to find out, why don’t we train sometime and I’ll treat you to Ramon afterwards. As a way of making up for the beating I’m sure to give you.’ Then I would laugh to show how serious I am.”

~~~“Then you would get angry because you hate for people to take you lightly, but you would be glad I thought you a worthy opponent, so you would be happy at the same time you are accepting the challenge, with that evil grin of yours. ‘Oi, Shino, you are going to be sorry you ever said that to me;’ While you glare at me with fake anger.”

Shino hardly noticed he was slowly closing the distance between the sleeping ninja’s face. His recital of mock conversations he would have with Naruto drew him into a vision where Naruto is his best friend. His vision cleared to gaze on the young man who preoccupied his dreams, such a beautiful face; his reason and critical thinking skills faded into a dark portion of his brain, as only desire and longing took control. He continued to close the distance until he was a few inches from Naruto’s full slightly parted lips.

"Why not? I can’t bear this feeling anymore, I must...." He whispered. The eyes behind the dark shades traced over Naruto’s face again, as his heart gave into the compulsion. He placed a trembling hand on Naruto’s somewhat rounded cheek.

“Yes,” he whispered again as his heart banged in his chest, and the Kikai hum urged him to on. “Yes, I will…” he said in a low voice.

Shino pressed his thin lips against Naruto’s full parted mouth, his heart soaring as a moan of relief escaped his throat; visions of multicolored lights flashed before his eyes, mixed with images of the beautiful blue eyed ninja. His lips moved lightly over the sleeping ninja’s mouth; his heart beating so fast he could feel his pulse at the top of his throat. He pulled back an inch to savor the sensation then gently pressed deeper tasting each lip individually releasing another moan of satisfaction. The soft perfection of Naruto’s mouth and warm sensation crawling over his body made him feel light-headed. A long awaited passion wrapped its hands around Shino’s heart as he eased his tongue between the slightly parted lips sucking them tenderly, enjoying the salty sweetness, and desperately longing for more. Naruto let out a low moan and his mouth trembled slightly. For one glorious moment Shino entertained the idea ‘he’s returning the kiss!’ He pulled back to look at Naruto’s face, wanting to see acceptance, and the same desire the beginning of a bond.

That thought followed immediately by logic, which decided this was the most opportune moment to return. ‘What would I do if I awoke to see some stranger with their face plastered against mine?’ He shuddered thinking how much he would enjoy killing them, slowly; he clenched his teeth, trying to regain control, of his emotions. A dark shadow passed over him as he waited for the accusations; however, Naruto did not wake fully, he mumbled a single word.

“Sasuke?” Naruto blinked his eyes wearily and called for his teammate again, “Sasuke?”

His head turned toward the one sitting next to him, their features blurry, he had thought he heard voices, talking to him. Telling him something, that was important; but what they said was eluding his exhausted mind as he tried to focus on the ninja who looked familiar but he did not know; crouched beside him in the clearing.

“Who, you?” Naruto said with effort.

Shino felt as if he were falling off a high precipice watching the ground rushing to meet him, welcoming it. His heart chilled at the mention of that Uchiha’s name. Shino despised Uchiha Sasuke, and he has several fantasies’ involving the Uchiha all ending with Shino being very entertained, he thought vindictively. The bugs inside ceased their happy hum, as a dark familiar heat made its way into his chest heading for his throat.

Naruto was blinking with half open, beautiful eyes. “Who are you?” He repeated again with a little more clarity.

The despair depended inside him. ‘We’ve been in this village all our lives and yet he doesn’t know my name.’ Shino thought his mind slipping into a mixture of emotional overload. ‘No, I don’t want to blame him. After all, I was never very social at the Academy; especially not as outgoing as Naruto who was always at the center of attention, it is the reason why I noticed him. I need to reach out to him so we can possibly make a connection.’ He felt himself beginning to calm. ‘I’m going to cling to that hope desperately, so you will acknowledge me one day.’ He concluded swallowing the despair that was trying to escape.

“I am a friend, Uzumaki Naruto.” He pushed his glasses up and gave him a slight smile. “You train hard but, resting can be considered training too.” He added eyeing him closely wondering if Naruto really did not notice what has just occurred between them.

Naruto blinked as if nothing made any sense. “What..., Who...?” He breathed again blinking his eyes wearily which began to roll out of focus as sleep was pulling him back down.

“Very well, I’ll help you home.” With that, he grabbed one of Naruto’s hands and spun on the spot pulling Naruto up on his back and standing in one swift motion adjusting his weight and grabbing his legs behind the knees. “Uzumaki Naruto, try to hold on as much as you can, I will go slowly and but any assistance you can give me to prevent you from falling would be appreciated.” He said in an amused tone, knowing very well Naruto could not aid in the task. To his surprise, Naruto’s arms tightened around his neck firmly as he muttered incoherently on Shino’s shoulder, his face turned towards Shino his eyes closed.

The feel of Naruto’s warm weight against his back allowed the happiness to bloom inside his heart again as the Kikai started up their happy tune, once more. “Uzumaki Naruto I did not mean that; just rest I will get you home safely; I will never let you fall.” Shino looked up at the sunset, thinking of his uncle the Elder, wistfully, ‘No matter how I try uncle I’m just not good at being funny, not like you. Well, I’ll keep trying;’ allowing the thought of the old man to bring a smile to his face.

He began to walk, taking as much time as he could, enjoying Naruto’s presence. ‘I will forge a bond with you, Uzumaki Naruto, stronger than blood; creating a path directly to your heart so that one day you will acknowledge me, the way I acknowledge you.’