Broken Promises

Author's Note: I've got Chapter 5 started already. It was started before this one, before I had to fill in the gaps between the last chapter and this one. Also origenaly I had planned some Neji/Sasuke to be thrown in but Neji has decided he does not want any of Sasuke past, present or future.
Pairing: Sasuke/Naruto; Sasuke/Sakura; Naruto/Shika; Naruto/Gaara & Various parings as the mood strikes.
** ALL MISTAKES ARE MY OWN. SORRY IN DAVANCE! **

Chapter 4 – Healing


Sasuke insisted on being released within the hour and managed to get home before that hour was up. Going right for the knob be cursed. “Please be in there. Please be here.” He pulled his key out and unlocked the door and the glint of the silver key on his black counter top caught his eye immediately. Refusing to believe what it meant Sasuke moved through their home at lightning speed. He fell to his knees. The bed was bare with the sheets crumpled in the corner and the shoe rack by the door was devoid of Naruto’s shoes, the most damning was the laundry where their cloths hung, there wasn’t a scrap of orange left. He wanted to scream. He wanted to cry. He needed to but nothing came out because this time the loss of everything he loved was his own fault.

The tear fell and Naruto blinked, than the second fell, he couldn’t stop them. “Naruto, what happened?” Shikamaru was looking for injury, trying to see what was wrong as his mind raced a mile a minute. Then it hit him the Uchiha was nowhere in sight, the two were never apart from each other. From there it took seconds to put the pieces in place. Sasuke and Sakura had returned last night. The Snot had been injured from a surprise attack. Sakura had been unable to look Tsunde or him in the eye when she’d debriefed the Hokage and her chief strategist on the attack and possible new threat. The final piece was what he did see, a devastated Naruto, crying at his door, with a single duffle bag.

The Nara didn’t think twice before pulling his friend into a tight hug. Silently vowing to kill Sasuke Uchiha, Shikamaru tugged Naruto into his home grabbing the bag and closing the door. He threw the bag into the guest room and lead Naruto to his living room. The two settled onto the cushy sofa, sinking into it he just held his friend who was now sobbing.

Over the next two weeks the Shadow nin hid Naruto, telling those who asked the truth and refusing to let Tsunade send Naruto out on missions while he was like this.

“He’s too likely to be reckless and hurt himself.” Shikamaru was holding his own against Tsunade, his usually lazy tone gone replaced instead by a strong insistent growl but not raised and without any anger coloring it.

“Naruto is best when he’s working. He needs to get back out there, to take his mind off of things. He’s not stupid enough to commit suicide.” The blond growled standing now.

Shaking his head and sighing as if he were talking to a stupid child. “Perhaps not consciously but he might get distracted by an opponent and let his guard down to another, react too slow, or just close his eyes at the wrong time. Hokage-sama, he left Sasuke because the bastard had sex with Sakura. His lover and closest friend… his teammates betrayed him.” Calculated eyes fell on her. “Considering his childhood and current circumstances I think it best to give him some time off. The things he lives for, nearly sacrificed his life for more than once because his life was worth exchanging for theirs, the people he loved most who he truly believed loved him as much have betrayed him. They’ve only reaffirmed all those things he had literally beaten into him as a child by the same village he protects.”

“Fine Nara but this won’t be allowed to go on forever.” She sat down stunned and furious all at the same time, her heart clenching at the low blow Shikamaru had used, the abuse Naruto suffered at the hands of angry and scared villagers still ate at her conscience since Iruka had filled her in, per her request about the blond ball of never ending joy and energy. She wanted so bad not to believe him, Sakura was a girl she would trust with her own life and the idea of her student hurting her Gaki was beyond her and Sasuke was obviously and deeply in love with Naruto. The social retard had been since they were young and long before her little blond brat had gotten a clue.

Shikamaru exited and saw the stunned faces of Tenten and Lee while Neji wore a calm mask. Shikamaru looked the Jounin in the eye and was satisfied with the deadly intent he saw there. Nodding to Neji he walked away. Ambling home to check on Naruto and be sure the blond had eaten today. It had taken two days to get Naruto to eat anything. Now he ate without argument but usually only when reminded. Entering the Nara lands he passed various homes all small and spaced as to not eat up too much space and still allow the individual family off shoots privacy. The shadow nin stopped when he saw a familure black haired man at his door pounding.
Without thinking twice he captured Sasuke’s shadow stilling the other man. “What the fuck are you doing on Nara lands Uchiha?”

“I heard Naruto was here. I came to speak to him.” Sasuke was shaking in fury at the jutsu that held him captive.

“Well you are not welcome here. If Naruto wanted to speak to you, he’d probably have answered the door you were trying to break in.” Shikamaru released Sasuke but his voice was low deadly. “Now get off my property and don’t come back. You are not welcome here. If Naruto wants to talk to you then he will come to you. Until then leave him the hell alone.”

Turning immediately Sasuke scowled at the brown haired ninja. Growling he moved across the space between them. “He is MY lover, Nara. You can’t keep him hostage.” He was moments away from throwing a punch when shadows crept up his arms and held his wrist captive.

“I think you were asked to leave. I’m pretty sure it was made clear you were not welcome on these lands. You can leave quietly or I can make you leave.” Shikaku Nara was leaning on a door frame of his own home. They’d build Shikamaru’s near enough for safety and far enough for privacy. If he hadn’t heard the beating on the door stop and then his son’s violent tone he might not had bothered to check at all. What he’d seen had made him furious. Damn Uchiha’s never could keep from making trouble as far as he was concerned.

He considered fighting the older Nara but knew it would only get him in more trouble than this fight was currently worth. Fighting Shikamaru was fighting with a brother, getting into it with the head of the Jounin was stupid. Sasuke closed his eyes and nodded, “Just tell Naruto I was here. That I want to speak with him.”

“Yeah, I’ll do that. Now get the fuck off our land.” The lazy tone was back this time with a sarcastic hint when he claimed he’d pass Sasuke’s message onto Naruto. Only when the raven haired man had gone did Shikamaru head for his home. He didn’t explain and his father didn’t ask, he was grateful for the temporary reprieve but he knew there was one of those shogi games with his farther coming up. The kind he really hated because he always lost those games.

Two months had passed since Sasuke or Sakura had a real chance to speak to Naruto and being alone with him was downright impossible. The other Rookie teams had taken to almost guarding the blond when he was in the village. It seemed Shikamaru was always with him and if not then Neji or Kiba were keeping him busy. When he wasn’t with someone and Sasuke or Sakura tried to speak to him then people always appeared needing him, every one of their peers was at Naruto’s aid and once even Iruka-sensei had gotten involved and taken Naruto off to help at the academy. Finally they stopped trying to approach the Uzumaki both deciding they’d get their chance on missions.

That plan too was thwarted. It seemed every team that went out asked for Naruto to join them, leaving a member of their own team behind incase team Kakashi needed a fourth member. If they did go on missions the addition rarely spoke to either Sasuke or Sakura. Shino had been the first male left behind and it had helped make the decision that from then on only Lee or Choji would stay, because Shino had let his insects eat holes into all of the items Sakura and Sasuke had brought along. When Tsunade had demanded to know why he’d allowed such a thing during the team debrief the unflappable Shino turned to look at the black haired and then pink haired ninja saying in a menacing tone that he figured they would keep one another warm.

Sasuke had visibly flinched and looked away. Sakura’s eyes widened and she shot a look to her sensei shocked when Tsunade was glaring at the pair of them instead of Shino. They had been trying to keep their bad behavior secret. The peers in the graduating class liked to handle issues between them internally rarely involving others. She knew Tsunade’s knowledge of the situation meant it had definitely escalated. Kakashi’s brow twitched as he started putting pieces together. Once dismissed he shook his head at his own team and sighed he didn’t say a word but the obvious disappointment was visible in his single eye. Then he walked away from them leaving them once more alone.

Another month came and went and finally Kakashi eased up on them. While he did not understand, approve, nor was he ready to forget what they had done. He understood it was important for their team dynamic to come back together. They had a mission and Kakashi had decided to insist his missing teammate be returned to where he belonged. Things needed to be worked out even if it was an agreement to work together and nothing more ever came of it but a simple truce.

Standing before Lady Tsunande with Sasuke and Sakura to his left and right he crossed his arms. “I’m sorry Lady Tsunade it’s my team and swapping out teammates like we’re a revolving door is creating a chaotic dynamic. We need Naruto back.” As if to drive his point home her added. “We are the team with the highest success rate. We’re even requested for high rank missions.”

Her fingers laced together and the Sanin’s brow twitched. Pursing her lips Tsunade nodded and smirked. “You know, you all make a good point.” When she saw the three of them visibly relax, her smile became cat like. “I’ll find you a fourth member for a temporary long term replacement. I’ll have them ready for you before you leave in the morning.”

“But, but that is NOT what I meant Hokage-sama. Excuse me but I requested Naruto back.” Kakashi was grinding his teeth. Enough was enough everyone was ruling things with their hearts and not their heads. He of all people understood the desire to do so, but he of all people knew what that would lead to and the answer was always weakness and death. They meant well but in the end this behavior was going to cost lives and one of those would likely be Naruto’s.

“Naruto is not available. He’s requested an extended leave upon completing a mission for the Kazekage. And per our treaty he has a right to request the help of our ninja, he requested Naruto.” Now her smile was almost shark like. “I agreed because Naruto has been doing almost nonstop missions for three months now and it was agreed he needed some time to unwind. Where he spends his leave is his decision.” Her words were clipped but there was no doubt that any arguments would not be tolerated. Her decision was final.

Sasuke’s hands fisted at his sides when he heard Gaara had requested Naruto. Of course the Little Monster had, before Sasuke and Naruto had come to near blows and confessed everything to one another, Gaara and Naruto had been ‘enjoying each other’s company’ every time they were in the vicinity of one another. Friends with Benefits, the blond had called it one afternoon when Sasuke and he were taking a break from sparing. It seemed he and Gaara used it as a way to relax, as one more thing they had in common and another way to spend time together. Naruto had said it as if it made perfect sense but hearing about it had made Sasuke’s blood boil and he had broken Naruto’s arm by accident as their training escalated and his mind distracted him with the idea of Naruto being like that with Gaara. He was fairly sure word of what had happened had reached the Sand and thus the little red headed freak. Meaning he wanted to pick up with the blond where he’d left off. The Uchiha was fairly certain he was going to completely lose it. Now he wished he’d won that damn fight at the waterfall so long ago. Life with Orochimaru would have to have been better than the current painful existence he was living.

Shikamaru was not pouting. He couldn’t be bothered to pout, at least not externally. He watched as Naruto gathered the things he’d need for an extended stay in the Village Hidden in the Sand. They’d quickly gotten into a routine once Naruto had started going on missions again. Shikamaru had started to enjoy having Naruto around. They’d eat, watch movies or play video games. Naruto insisted Shikamaru do at least one thing every day that required him not to think. Which is where games with no story or purpose had been purchased by the fox faced man. Racing a car in a circle around a track had at first bothered Shikamaru, there was no point. You we’re getting anywhere, the track was one big stupid circle and Naruto seemed to delight in pushing him off the track or making his car hit other cars which resulted in making his car blow up. It was completely mindless and one of the Nara’s favorite games.

Sighing again he looked at Naruto. The blond was still healing but he was getting better and his smiles were genuine now. While it had taken them a while each of the other teams and shown up to show Naruto that he was loved and respected by more than his own insular team. While they all tended to stay to their own, Naruto had learned that the teams still mingled and enjoyed company of one another. They got together once a week at someone’s home, all those not on missions would attend. His team was the only team that never showed. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura had seemed to only need or desire to socialize regularly with one another. So one by one they came in their own way to show Naruto he had friends, lots of friends who all loved him. Kiba was a regular fixture around the young Nara’s home. Both he and Naruto would snack on junk food until Naruto was ready to be sick while watching perverted anime or karate movies.

Neji had taken to sparring with Naruto using the other shinobi’s particular talents to sharpen and hone his own. Naruto was a force of nature and he forced Neji to his limits regularly. Naruto had understood Neji’s method of making friends, sparing followed by the purchase of cold sake` which would be taken under a shady tree and enjoyed usually in silence.

The girls mostly Ino and Tenten would come over, dragging HInata along and watch the most gruesome horror movies, some of which had Shikamaru sick at his stomach and more than once had Naruto covering his face with a pillow. This usually had Shikamaru grinning at the blond man and Ino teasing him about being a scardy cat. Tenten still couldn’t believe he was able to face down Gaara, Akatski and Lady Hokage but a little horror movie made him hide.

Last couple of weeks things had started to change and the lazy ninja found himself more than comfortable with it. If he was honest things had started to change for him three weeks into Naruto staying with him. He’d grown tired of laying there listening to Naruto cry in his sleep. He knew the Kyuubi container was asleep because when he was awake Naruto never let Shikamaru hear or see him cry after that first day. Finally he couldn’t take it anymore, convincing himself he was doing it so he could get a good night’s sleep Shikamaru slipped into the guest room and into bed with Naruto hugging him tight. It took some time but Naruto relaxed and the crying eased.

Neither spoke about it in the morning and the next night when the crying started Shikamaru slid back into the guest bed. Four nights of getting up and into bed with Naruto, Shikamaru had enough and was leaning on his bedroom door as Naruto headed for the guest room and he sighed. “Why don’t you just start off in here? My bed is bigger.” Leaving his door open he crawled into his bed and clicked the light off. After about twenty minutes the door closed and he felt the bed dip as the blond slid in.

After dinner they’d lay on the sofa watching a program they both enjoyed, Shikamaru’s head on the fluffy left arm while Naruto’s head was on the right. He’d once commented that Shikamaru’s home was comfy not cluttered or stuffy but there was a soft earthy feeling to it and it reminded him of the cloud watcher in every way, especially the fluffy white leather sofa that even looked like a cloud. They lay there one evening when Naruto started ticking Shikamaru’s feet making the brunette twitch each time the finger ran up the underside.

“Cut it out.” He’d glared without heat. The tanned finger ran up the arch of the other one. “Hey! Knock it off before I knock you out.” Brown eyes pinned Naruto warningly.

Naruto snorted. “I can take you any day.” The lithe man was up and over Naruto in moments.

He pinned the blond smirking. “I don’t think so.”

“For such a lazy ass you sure can move quick.” Naruto grinned before rolling them off the couch wrestling with the man who’d offered him a home and opened his eyes to the friends he’d taken for granted and underappreciated. “Give up?” The whiskered boy growled with a wild grin.

The Nara genius was very grateful at that moment for his lack of coffee table. Pinned once more panting and looking up at the bright blue eyes and his heart started beating faster, “Yes.” Shikamaru swallowed. The usually bright blue eyes darkened for a moment and leaned down to kiss his friend. Pulling back he looked into Shikamaru’s eyes waiting to be thrown off and possibly having to really defend himself. Instead his head was pulled back down for a crushing kiss. They lay on the floor kissing and occasionally grinding against one another. Finally they separated and Naruto blinked. That night he’d slept in his own bed and didn’t cry in his sleep.

He’d worried all day at work and training that he’d return to his home and find Naruto packed up and gone. In the hopes of Naruto being there and as a way of apologizing for the incident the night before Shikamaru had stopped and picked up some ramen from Naruto’s favorite spot. When he entered Naruto grinned and held up the beer he’d purchased, then sniffed and his eyes went wide with joy. Relaxing at the behavior and sight Shikamaru entered the kitchen and handed Naruto his bowl and took one for himself. They each had a beer and settled into the sofa to eat in front of the TV. Dinner dishes were cleaned and put away and when Naruto returned Shikamaru had stretched out of the sofa in his normal way. The blond had frowned and tugged the other man forward and climbed behind him throwing an arm over the thinner frame. Pink lips turned up in a smile and the brunette relaxed into the warm body behind him.

After that Naruto returned to his bed. They’d watch TV spooned together and sleep entangled in one another. But neither was ready for more than that and the stolen kisses or full on make out sessions that would occur, even the petting was light. Now he was watching Naruto pack for an extended mission/stay in the Sand village. Naruto pulled his pack on and grabbed his sandals. “I’m coming back, Shika.” He told the other shinobi. “I need to talk to Gaara, clear my head, and make sure he doesn’t try to come here and Sand Coffin the Bastard.”

As far as the Nara was concerned Uchiha deserved it. “Yeah yeah, don’t make Tsunade send us out to bring your ass back here.” Naruto had rolled his eyes and pressed a quick kiss to Shikamaru’s lips, smiling a little then left after donning his sandals. He took to the trees unaware his team would be in the Hokage’s office the next morning fighting to get him back.