Naruto took a moment to look around the rest of the basement, his mind automatically spotting several things in need of repair, important things like the fuse box that the rats had been using bit of wire from to build their nests, the building furnace that looked as if it hadn't run in years, there were several cracks and gaps in the building foundation that need a lot of repair, it was also probably why all the damned chakra rats kept getting in, not to mention the flickering lights overhead that were no doubt suffering both the bad fuse box and the rats. All of them showing to be in poor quality, many of them with a status of 'Non-Functional'. Still, it wasn't stuff Naruto was going to fix, he didn't have a reason to fix up a building that was destined for destruction in a few years anyway. And if he played his cards right and built up his reputation he'd be able to buy a nicer apartment in a year or two.
Naruto packed up his tools and collect the trash from his repairs and left the basement, tossing the trash in the bin outside on his way to turn in the quest with the building manager.
"Okay, it's done you stingy old bastard," snapped Naruto at the old man.
"Good, then you can consider your rent caught up and paid," said Ota. The old man turned and walked away without another word. He really was a rude old bastard.
Naruto went right back out from his apartment building, this time in an effort to find Shikamaru and Chouji. He checked the usual spots the pair tended to hang out at starting with Yakiniku-Q then the Shogi Park and a few of Shikamaru's favorite cloud watching spots before finally deciding to try their clan houses.
"Hi, I'm looking for Shikamaru," said Naruto, looking at one of the clan compound guards just outside the Nara clan gates.
"He's not in," replied the guard, there was no malice in his reply.
"Is he on a mission?"
"I believe he went to see the Akimichi clan heir."
"Thanks," replied Naruto, it was his smoothest conversation with one the Nara clan guards yet. And it made him slightly suspicious given his history with them.
It didn't take long for Naruto to get to Chouji's house. Unlike the Nara clan with their large compound the Akimichi had more of a neighborhood, no gates or walls or guards, they did have a patrol but it was pretty lax.
"Hello Naruto-kun," greeted Chouji's mom. Naruto had met the woman many times by now and was always surprise by just how nice the woman really was, even to him.
"Hello Akimichi-san, are Chouji and Shikamaru here?"
"You just missed them. They were going to meet with Ino-chan and then go train," she replied.
"Thank you," said Naruto, hoping to get away quickly. As nice as the woman was she definitely had the gift of gab, her status even said so.
"How was your big mission? Everything go okay?"
"Yeah, it was awesome. I'll have to tell you all about it sometime soon but right now I'm dying to get in some training with my friends."
"I'm glad to hear that. Now you go have fun with those boys, just try not to get into too much trouble," she said, motioning for him to get moving.
"Right, later then," said Naruto, smiling for the kindly woman.
After that it took Naruto about ten minutes to get to the Yamanaka Flowers. He arrived just in time to see all of team 10, sans sensei, coming out of the shop.
"Yo," greeted Naruto with a smile for his friend.
"Naruto, welcome back," said Chouji first. "How was your trip?"
"In the words of Shikamaru, troublesome," he replied with a grin. "But it was awesome anyway. I'll have to tell you all about it. Where are you guys headed now?"
"Training," answered Shikamaru. "We've been forcing Ino to train with us while you've been gone."
"Who is forcing who?" demanded Ino.
"Fine, Ino demanded we start training with her," explained Shikamaru.
"Mind if I join you guys?" asked Naruto.
Shikamaru smirked. "Sure."
Chouji had his own grin.
Naruto wordlessly formed a team and invited the pair.
"Damn it, Naruto, you got a lot stronger. What the hell kind of mission were you on?" asked Chouji, his grin fading.
"How the hell can you tell?" asked Ino.
"We just can," said Shikamaru. "We've trained together long enough to be able to tell." Ino bought his explanation perfectly.
"There you are, Naruto. I've been looking everywhere for you. Do you know your landlord is a complete asshole?" asked Sakura, walking up to the group.
"Yeah, I'm aware. So what's up? You want to join us for training?"
"Sure," said Sakura.
Naruto invited her to the party.
"She knows?" asked Chouji.
"Figured it out," Sakura answered.
"Sort of figured it out, like you did Shikamaru."
"I get the feeling there is a hidden conversation going on right now that I'm not part of," said Ino, mostly being ignored.
"And?"
"It's kind of awesome," said Sakura.
"Anyway, this should make for a really good group. Sakura-chan has become quite the iryonin," boasted Naruto on his friend's behalf.
"Oh really, forehead has finally shown a little skill huh?" asked Ino.
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