"I normally wouldn't make a house call like this but I'm concerned for your son," Sikayun murmured as the two men stood outside the Main Household at the stroke of midnight, in a few hours Naruto would be moving into said Main House. 

"I'm guessing this has to with Naruto," Shikaku said with a tired yawn but his eyes were sharp and focused. 

"He has eyes of an experienced shinobi, now I'm not trying to place him under suspicion but I saw it, that cold look when you've got a target in sight. I'm just saying we might have a Choji situation on our hands."

"But you've said it yourself he doesn't have reflexes of a shinobi, his story checks out, we even have photos there is no way he can be a shinobi. Those pictures go all the way back to after he ran away."

"I know, I know but there is the possibility that he was taken in by Kumo, some children over there start their double lives at that age. Developing themselves as someone innocent, an alias if you will, and then send them into other villages for reconnaissance," Shikayun said in a quiet voice. 

"You've seen how Kumo reacted when it came to Choji's Soulmate they purposely placed her indirect fire. No one no matter how loyal they are to their village can hurt their soulmate and seeing as Naruto has your son on his neck I doubt Kumo would do that to him instead of holding him hostage," 

"Are you suggesting he did that to himself?" Shikaku threw a dubious look his way. 

"I'm not saying that but shinobi are trained to deal with pain. Who knows I might be paranoid at this point. I'm just sick and tired, maybe that's why I question everything now. It's just that Choji's situation spooked me and now Shikamaru has his soulmate who's slightly broken because of all this."

"I think you need rest Shikayun you've been strung tighter than a bow at this point," Shikaku placed a gentle hand on the doctor's shoulder. "You don't need to psychoanalyze everything, Naruto isn't a threat and in due time you'll see that as well."

"Thank you Shikaku-sama, I'll be turning in for bed tonight. Naruto will be ready to move in by dawn." 

Shikayun slumped back into the shadows and Shikaku headed back to bed but he couldn't put off what Shikayun had said. As outrageous as it might seem there was a possibility. 

***************

"So this is what outside looks like," Naruto said as he squinted at the sun. For a rare occurrence, it was sunny for once in a long while. Naruto was dressed in a toned-down blue sweatshirt and shorts. His feet were still heavily bandaged so the fabric was a no down there.  Shikamaru was carrying his small amount of personal items because of the whip marks Naruto endured. "I haven't seen the sun in so long." 

"How long were you trapped in your room?" Shikamaru was on edge to be asking this but he wanted to know. 

"I think I stopped counting after a week, just hearing my parents scream made me want to pass out and I did," Naruto had a forlorn look on his face but he wasn't tearing up anymore. "I think I can accept that they're gone now, it hurts but they don't have to suffer anymore living in the dilapidated world," He took a deep breath before taking Shikamaru's hand. 

Shikamaru was surprised at the tight grip but curled his hand around Naruto's. "Let's go home Naruto."

"Lead the way," Naruto looked down at him as they made their way through the clan grounds. He could see members of the clan eying him. Calculating his danger levels, seeing if he was worthy to be their future leader's partner, and wondering why he looked so battered. "I'm guessing they've been made aware of how I was found," 

"Yes since the war we've been screening everyone who is a refugee. You however are my Soulmate, you'd be staying with me so they'd have to know your backstory," Shikamaru said nervously as he cowered under Naruto's eyes. 

Naruto hummed tilting his head. "I guess this beats having them come up and ask annoying questions," Was the response he got in return before he turned his eyes away to face forward. 

When they made it to the Shikamaru's home it was empty signaling that Yoshino and Shikaku had heeded Shikamaru's request. He wanted to give Naruto the full tour on his own and didn't want to make him uncomfortable right off the bat by meeting his parents so suddenly. "They're a cute couple," Naruto said which startled Shikamaru who had been taking his shoes off. Naruto had already taken off his and was now looking at a photo of Yoshino and Shikaku on their wedding day. "I wonder if you'll be as cute as your mom on our wedding day," Naruto murmured, Shikamaru blushed as he stared at him in awe. 

"Wait I thought," Shikamaru started but Naruto stopped him by getting back to full height. 

"I hate shinobi but I can't exactly hate my soulmate. It might take a while but I do want to try a relationship with you. The universe placed us together for some reason. Let's try to find out why," Naruto gave him a small smile that made Shikamaru jumped in his arms. 

Naruto's strong arms held him up and Shikamaru realized he was dangling in his arms. He laughed at the absurdity and for the first time in years he felt so happy, the same happiness Ino felt when she finally could go home and spend time with Sai, the happiness Choji felt when his soulmate chose him over her previous village. He was finally experiencing that happiness. 

"Thank you, thank you Naruto," Shikamaru said in his neck, Naruto only held him tighter and encourage him to hook his legs around his waist. Shikamaru followed his guide and locked him tightly. Naruto took a seat on the sofa and allowed Shikamaru to practically purr in his ear from the elation he felt.  

Having Soulmate marks was just the first of many things regarding Soulmates. One Soulmate would be the Submissive, the one who relied on emotional stability. Then the Dominant, the one who would provide for the Submissive's needs. It's never clear who plays which role as when the pair meet the bonds start forming based on how they react to different scenarios. So though Shikamaru might be purring now a trait for a Submissive person that doesn't mean he is a submissive they were both developing slowly. But in the end, they would take on a role.