"Shikamaru! I was talking to... myself! Tch, it's not your business anyways." She refused to meet his eyes. What if he thought she was crazy? He was one of the only kids who allowed her to hang around.

Shikamaru sighs. "It's troublesome but I am curious. It's not like I have anyone to tell. It'd be too troublesome." He was honestly curious. Had she somehow obtained a communication device or something?

Naruto fidgets before saying quietly, "I was talking to Voice-san." She ignored the warning from Voice-san. Shikamaru was a friend right? And you were supposed to be able to trust friends.

Shikamaru quirks a brow. "And who is Voice-san?"

"He uh, he is this voice in my head. He helps me when I'm in trouble, or if I'm feeling too lonely. I am trying to find out his name. He is keeping it secret though." She was rambling. Her throat was beginning to hurt from making her voice boyish.

Shikamaru looks thoughtful. "Have you seen him?" Maybe 'he' had Multiple Personality Disorder?

"Almost. One time when he took me to him I saw a flash of orange and red, but that's all." It was a pretty orange too...

"Troublesome." Shikamaru didn't know what to make of it. His blonde friend was becoming Interesting.

Naruto giggled, which caused Shikamaru to look surprised. Boys usually don't giggle. He sighed again.

The next two months were uneventful, and Naruto had gained the reputation of being near impossible to hit. She had realized though, that she needed a job, so she could provide for her child when they were born. Shikamaru hadn't confronted her since that day, and no one had been talking about Naruto and voices, so she knew he was trustworthy. At least in that respect.

Back to needing a job... she lived in the Red Light district and knew what went down there. The safest job was a barmaid in one of the strip clubs. She had just recently learned the Henge and decided to transform into a adult pregnant lady.

She made the handseal and poof! She was now a tall woman with skin like porcelain, crimson hair that flowed to her knees. Her eyes were a deep violet, and she had freckles dotting her face. She wore a sky blue sundress, with a white lace cardigan. She wore simple flats and had a silver bracelet on her wrist.

She went down the street from her apartment, where the biggest club in the district was. She walked in and applied. She was given a uniform, which was extremely revealing. She placed under family, with child, and her uniform was modified to be slightly less revealing, for which she was grateful.

She started late and worked long into the night, often sleeping in class. Her grades began to drop, and she had to find an even baggier jacket to hide her six months along stomach. Her adult henge had taken on the name Rin and went to the hospital for monthly checkups.

She was walking home from work when she saw Shikamaru sleeping in the entrance of an alley. He seemed to have fallen asleep leaning against the wall, and must have slid down. Worried, she went over and shook him awake. "Hey. Hey kid, wake up." His eyes opened blearily. He sat up rubbing his eyes.

"Yeah?" The woman in front of him was pretty, and he idly wondered why she was in the Red Light District.

"What are you doing here? The Red Light district is unsafe for kids!"

"I was sent to get my father from the bar... I got lost." He didn't come much, his father usually home by now.

Rin sighed. Of course. "Come on, you can stay at my place and leave in the morning." She helped him up, and he finally noticed her extending stomach. Knowing about hormonal pregnant ladies and their tempers, Shikamaru just sighed and followed Rin.

"I'm Rin by the way."

They arrived at Rin's house and she unlocked the door, letting them in. "You can have my bed."

"No. You should sleep in your own bed. I can take the couch." Rin sighed as Voice agreed. "Alright."

The night was uneventful until Shikamaru woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of whimpers and small cries. Worried for the kind pregnant lady he quietly opened the door, shocked to see not Rin, But Naruto. Who had an extended stomach and was shifting restlessly in her sleep.

"No..." she whimpered.

Horrified realization shot through Shikamaru. Naruto was a girl, a pregnant girl, and it likely wasn't willing. And she was having a nightmare of it.

He walked over and shook her. "Naruto. Wake up!" Her eyes flew open and for a moment they were crimson, before fading back to blue. She saw Shikamaru and latched on to him, sobbing. He awkwardly rubbed her back, trying to help her calm down. "Shh Naruto. He isn't here. You are fine." Shikamaru didn't know who he was, but he said it in hopes to provide some comfort.

"I know Shika. I know. But I hate not knowing who he is. Voice-san knows. He says he will tell me soon." She knew he wouldn't. Not unless it was absolutely necessary. Shikamaru held Naruto in his arms as her grip loosened and she fell back into a comfortable slumber.

Shikamaru's eyelids grew heavy, and he too fell asleep, arms holding Naruto secure against his chest.

They woke to sunlight streaming through the window and hitting their faces. Shikamaru groaned and buried his face deeper into his pillow. His pillow sighed, which should have signaled that something wasn't right, but he was too busy trying to sleep.

"Uhhhh, Shikamaru? I gotta use the bathroom."......... And he shot up like he was on fire, blushing deeply. Naruto shot him a strange look, before going to the bathroom. He had slept with a girl. Not slept slept but still. 

When she came back out Shikamaru had gotten his blush under control. Naruto henged back into Rin, and walked out the door, Shikamaru behind her.

Shikamaru decided to start. "I have some questions." He hoped she wouldn't mind.

"Be wary of what you ask." Rin warns, implying that no one knows that she was Naruto. Shikamaru nods.

"How long have you been pregnant Rin-san?"

"Since March, so about six and a half months."

"Should you be living alone?" He was genuinely worried.

"Thank you for your concern, but I am fine for now. I do plan on moving when I get enough money." Her voice grows tired.

"Where do you work?" Shikamaru asks curiously.

"I work at the Hidden Koi. I'm a barmaid." And what a joyride that job is. Serving drunks and getting groped in return. The manager had kicked the few he caught in the act though and paid Rin extra sometimes.

Shikamarus face fell, worry taking over his features. "Is that safe?"

"I'm fine. The boss is kind and protective."

"Okay. We're here." They had arrived at the Nara compound. A woman with dark hair came running out anger on her face. "Shikamaru Nara! Where have you been!?" Shikamaru flinched and Rin stepped up. She bowed, showing her respect.

"Nara-sama, I apologize. I found Shikamaru-kun in the Red Light district. He had gotten lost, so I offered to let him stay at my apartment." She bowed again, unable to bend fully due to her swollen stomach.

Yoshino immediately smiled. "Thank you!" Then she saw Rin's stomach. "How far are you? Oh, where are my manners! I'm Yoshino Nara."

"I'm Rin. I'm six and a half months along." Shikamaru marveled at how he could hardly tell Rin was Naruto.

"Whose the Father?" Rin's face crumpled her gaze clouding. Shikamaru placed his hand on her arm and she snapped out of it. Yoshino looked on in worry. "Rin-san? Are you okay?"

She smiled wanly, "I am fine Shikamaru-kun. And to answer your question Yoshino-san, I don't know who the father is. The baby wasn't exactly...planned." Comprehension dawns on Yoshino's face and she envelops Rin in a hug. "I'm sorry." She says. Rin smiles. "It's okay." She was done crying over it.

She pulls away. "I must be going. I have a checkup today."

She waves goodbye and sets off to her apartment, and upon arriving, released the henge and changed into her jumpsuit. She leapt across the rooftops, making sure not to slip wary of her stomach being injured.

"Watch out!"