"What are you doing?" Shikamaru asked when he looked over Naruto's shoulder that night. The blonde was avidly filling in Neji's profile, bringing him into a new light. "Did you enjoy your time with him?" 

"Yeah, he was nice if not a bit awkward," Naruto chuckled fondly as he erased loose pencil marks that strayed from the drawing. "He's a proper man but he has his charm and his hair is lovely too." 

"Are you saying my hair isn't lovely?" Shikamaru pouted as he kissed the other's cheek. Naruto however felt the spike in the other's chakra, he smirked. 

"Do you see him bleeding out, him watching us as we get off on the scent of his blood?" Naruto murmured as he waved the pencil over the portrait. Shikamaru shuddered and Naruto leaned back into him. Shikamaru's arms came around to stroke down his chest. "You sick pervert." 

"If anything I'm just a jealous man. Where's my portrait?" 

"Under my bed, it's the first one I made since we first got supplies. Didn't know how to gift it to you." 

Shikamaru bolted from his room and into Naruto's room leaving the blonde to admire the delicate beauty of Neji. He was a gem, too bad Naruto had to shatter it. 'I have no doubt you'd have been someone dependable and trustworthy darling. Sadly I have a mission and the only one I'm saving is currently digging under my bed.' 

A triumphant sound echoed as Shikamaru proudly came back with a canvas covered in silk cloth to preserve it. "You should've just shoved it in my hands." 

"And blush like an academy girl? I'm sure you would've loved that. Sadly I'm not the type." 

"Shut up I love anything you make, even my friends." 

"You're only pacified since I admitted you were the first portrait I made." 

"Can't argue with logic." 

They both chuckled as Shikamaru unveiled a portrait of himself smiling with watercolors splashed around him. He was in casual clothing and even had a small book filled with tactics he wanted to play out in the field. " Naruto it's beautiful,"

"I'm glad you like it. I was always nervous about you seeing it. I thought you wouldn't like it but I'm glad you do."

Naruto wore a small smile on his face and at that moment Shikamaru found him irresistible. He leaned over and kissed him, Naruto reciprocated the kiss as they fell in sync with each other's body. Now that Naruto had admitted he was aware of the Nine-Tails influencing him whenever he was in danger Shikamaru had begun to notice how feral Naruto could be. He could finally put some pieces of the puzzle in his head, how Naruto had natural whiskers, how he could be aggressive without any prompting, and his advanced hearing and the ability to sneak up on others.

The Nine-Tails was doing it all. And Shikamaru was grateful, it kept his soulmate alive. Alive long enough for Shikamaru to swoop in when he was about to give up. He was aware Naruto could've snapped at that moment and unleashed the beast onto everyone. But he came in time. Naruto felt something warm on his cheeks, he pulled back from the kiss to see Shikamaru crying.

"What's wrong baby?"

Shikamaru cupped the other's cheeks and strokes them fondly. Enjoying the slightly rough texture they gave off. "I love you okay?"

Naruto's eyes widened at the confession. 'You can't love this me. I'm not the real me, this is an act. A charade years in the making. You love me because I'm taking on the persona of everything you would love in a soulmate. I tailor-made this for you.' The blonde smiled and pulled the other into his chest as Shikamaru broke down. 'And it worked, it fucking worked. You gullible idiot, I'll take you from this place when I burn it to the ground. You're far too precious.'

"I love you too Shikamaru. I love you too baby."

**********
"Are you sure I can do this? I wouldn't want to annoy you with this," Naruto said as he gently caressed the long brown locks. Neji smiled at him while rocking on his feet.

"You can play in my hair all you want. Besides, I'm injured and it's boring around here," Neji reassured as he sunk on his knees, pulling Naruto with him. They were in Neji's room. Naruto sitting on the edge of his bed while Neji took comfort being on his knees between his legs.

Laid out beside Naruto we're several hair essentials. It's been a while since Naruto did anybody's hair. It was a favorite pastime. He would do it with Shikamaru more often but the other had begun his ninja duties once again. Leaving bonding time with Neji. Naruto started by combing through his hair. Getting a feel for it while trying out different styles.

Neji's hair was silky and it flowed through his hands effortlessly. He deduced that braiding would be the best option for it. He started by parting out several pieces and bunching them together before starting the process. Naruto felt incredibly possessive at the submissive position Neji was in. The Hyuga didn't even express shame when he snuggled into his thigh, just shy of his crotch.

Naruto could feel it, the mounting sexual tension rolling off the other. He guessed Neji must have been strung tight since the last time and it was confirmed when Neji shifted so that his thighs were on either side of his right leg. Bringing his feet right into the obvious erection. Naruto paused his hairstyling and shifted his foot to see if Neji was that bold. The other hid his face away but Naruto could see his ears turning red. "N-Neji? What are you doing?"

Naruto made sure to keep his tone innocent and confused. Shifting his foot as if he was trying to get away but Neji was holding onto him. "Stop moving," Neji growled, Naruto flinched and froze in place as Neji began humping his leg. He blushed and looked away from the once dignified Hyuga who had been reduced to a common whore. Naruto squeaked when Neji touched him but secretly he was enjoying this.

'Come on, just a bit more. I want you to be a brain-dead bitch in heat.' Naruto thought callously as he watched the other's frantic hands unbuckle pants to get his cock out. Sadly he wouldn't get it as his false persona had his body reacting just how Shikamaru's Naruto would.

Neji jolted out of his lust haze when drops of tears landed on his hands that were gripping Naruto's soft cock. He looked up into terrified eyes and he pulled back as Naruto broke down crying softly as he curled in on himself. Disgust rolled through Neji as he looked down at his hands, his hard cock ready for release. Lust clawed at him, demanding he put his hands back on Naruto. Touch him intimately against his wishes, see his tears and drink them.

Neji broke out in a panic attack as his body and mind clashed violently. He curled on the floor, muttering under his breath apologies for the blonde who had now passed out if his limp body was anything to go by. "Look at that, you brought his trauma back. He's going to tell Shikamaru you touched him and Shikamaru will kill you. I don't know what came over me. Please Naruto, forgive me, I swear I only to have your best interests at heart."

Neji muttered this as his vision faded. Naruto listened to his heartbeat mellow out into a steady rhythm signaling his sleeping state. He opened his eyes and glared at the other. "Jesus fuck and it was getting good you fucking bitch. Even though all that you still try to remain a gentleman. No worries, just a night, and you'll be begging me to fuck you."