"I think I better stay here."

Naruto wasn't crazy enough to take Temari to the gates. She'd just hit Shikamaru and he was the most formal person he knew when it came to women. He knew that if he took her to the gates, that by the time they got there, he'd be dead or worse. So he told her he'd rather just stay where he was.

"FINE Naruto! Well I guess there AREN'T any decent men in this village!" Temari then left both and stomped towards the gates on her own.

"What a drag," was all that Shikamaru said.

"I don't even know why you hang out with her," Naruto commented.

"She's subtle like a rhino, scarier than my mom, but she's a good person overall."

"Well that's your **** wish then."

Shikamaru just nodded his head and asked, "So where you headed Naruto?"

"I'm going to check with Tsunade to see if there are any side missions I could do today."

Shikamaru waved his hands and explained, "Today's missions are a real drag Naruto. There are exceptionally boring. I was just there when Temari showed up and told Tsunade she was leaving. Tsunade was about to assign me some sort of mission about a local cat when I offered to take Temari to the gates."

Taking Temari over a mission meant that the missions were REALLY bad. Even though Shikamaru was still very lazy from time-to-time, he still knew the difference between decent missions and boring ones.

"I don't know. Maybe a new mission has come up. One with plenty of action and excitement where I can really show off my training," Naruto said as he pumped his fist and held his bicep.

"No clue my friend, but I guess it's worth a try. I'm going to head home so I'll catch you later." Shikamaru walked away with a wave. Naruto waved back and walked toward the Hokage Tower as he wondered what he was going to do next. He wondered if he should still go to the Hokage Tower and talk to Tsunade. But before he could decide, he saw Kurenai sitting under a tree, looking unhappy. Something made him want to talk to her, but then his stomach grumbled. The thought of ramen ALWAYS sounded like a good idea to him. He wasn't sure what to do, whether he should talk to Kurenai, go get some ramen or go inside the tower.