The academy was eerily quiet as the exams were under way. Naruto and Shikamaru sat by each other doing the test with complete ease. They had decided that the practical section of the exam would be done first then the written part. The reason was simple enough, it was mid summer and at the climax off the heat, many were fainting due to heat stroke so they were trying to protect the prospective genin. Naruto scoffed at the exam, it was basically all about the village history, this was taught to Clan heirs. He looked over at Shikamaru who was sleeping, he flipped over his test and rested his head on his lazy friend's head inhaling the scent of the Nara forest.

Shikamaru wasn't sleeping but he did feel contented with the warmth of his energetic friend. He was immensely happy when he caught a whiff of Naruto's scent. When he first got Naruto's scent in his nose Naruto smelt of his own blood. No matter how long he spent scrubbing his friend when they showered together he always had the scent of blood, but now he could smell the deer he always played with when they were done playing. It was what finally lulled him to sleep.

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

The bell rang signalling the end of the exam, the two boys didn't move from their position as they enjoyed the warmth that they had developed. It was only when Iruka-sensei came to their table did they move and immediately go back to snuggling but this time, Shikamaru was laying in Naruto's lap his arms around the blond's waist. Naruto just watched with a yawn as everyone started chatting amongst themselves. 

In the row below him sat the Uchiha who currently had the pleasure of both Ino and Sakura fighting over him, it was really an idiotic move on both girls parts. None of them would be with Sasuke, the thought made him laugh. He laughed so loudly the entire class gave him a confused look as there was nothing funny around them at the moment. When Naruto calmed down he wiped his laughter tears, Sakura glared at him, Sasuke gave him a raised eyebrow and Ino flat out ignored him. 

"What's so funny cha! Tell me," Sakura demanded, Naruto's face went blank as he pulled Shika's hair out of it's tie.

Naruto played with the hair humming a little with a few chuckles slipping out, "Nothing just the ridiculous idea that you and Ino think Sasuke would be with you," He started laughing again. 

"What do you know about!" Ino screeched, Naruto gave her a fake smile.

"It's obivous that you've been skipping the lessons from your clan or tuning out Inoichi-san,"

Shikamaru snorted at the statement. "Ino, you can't marry Sasuke because your already inheriting the Yamanaka clan, Sakura you're from a civilian family that fact alone sets you and Sasuke on different levels. Plus he is the last Uchiha in the village, they are going to do the CRA for him, so they need powerful kunoichi to bring powerful Uchiha brats so the clan can be great,"

Everyone listened as Naruto practically crushed the hopes the girls were carrying for the Uchiha to love one of them. Shikamaru sat up with a yawn tying back his hair. Naruto raised his eyebrow as if challenging them to push back the arguement. But they couldn't because they knew he was right.

"I won't give up," Sakura muttered before raising her voice. "I won't lose!!"

Naruto shook his head in mock disappointment. "Sakura..........how are you supposed to be smartest kunoichi in the room, what has the academy come to. Do what you want, but when you see Sasuke in the future with his harem of wives and children flocking the Uchiha compound don't say I didn't warn you,"

Sakura puffed her cheeks and sat beside Sasuke and Ino took the other side. 'Troublesome,' Shikamaru thought as he watched the scene unfold. He looked at Naruto who rolled his eyes before putting his head in his lap, he ruffled the blond locks before putting his head down over Naruto's face.

"Can you believe her," Naruto grumbled looking up into dark brown eyes that were glazed with sleep residue. Shikamaru hummed looking deeply into bright azure eyes that reminded him of the sky he gazed at often.

"Their downfall, you can't always give the truth when the lies look beautiful," Naruto smiled at the statement.

"Shikamaru since when were you so..............I can't even describe it, so insightful," Naruto said giving him a analyzing look. Shikamaru sighed tiredly before going to sleep. "Sleepy bastard,"

They slept peacefully until Iruka-sensei came back with headbands and the team pairings. He distributed the headbands letting out an annoyed sigh as he came to the two sleeping bestfriends. He placed two black headbands on the table before leaving to continue on. The headbands blended into their attire well. 

Shikamaru wore the green version and Naruto wore the blue version. When Iruka finished distributing the headbands he went back to the front of the classroom. He cleared his throat for the next part of this. 

"For all those that didn't get a headband please leave, you have failed the exam," Students who failed groaned and complained as they headed out of the classroom, saying they'll improve next year. When they had left only nine students remained, the future genin. 

"I will now group you together, afterwards stay here until your sensei's come and collect you," With that being said Iruka began grouping them when he was finished Naruto and Shikamaru were awake. Naruto placed his headband around Shikamaru's neck and Shikamaru tied his to Naruto's waist so it hung on his hip.

"Iruka-sensei I have one question that could turn into couple," Naruto said politely. Iruka smiled and motioned for him to continue. Unknown to everyone except Shikamaru and Naruto they were being watched from the crystal ball.

The future team sensei's looked at all the ones that were left, other high ranking ninjas watched as well including the clan heads. Shikaku smiled as he watched his son and Naruto switch headbands.

"Is this them, they don't look like much," Asuma Sarutobi said as he exhaled his nicotine. Kakashi nodded as he observed his 'team'. He had to agree, they looked like they could be easily failed.

"That's not what I want you to pay attention to, I purposely told Iruka to read out the teams in a specific order to see which one would point out an error or flaw," Hiruzen said looking up at them. They nodded immediately seeing the problem.

Back at the academy Naruto finished tying the headband around Shikamaru. "Why is there a full team of tracker ninja?"

Iruka looked slightly surprised, he didn't expect Naruto to find the flaw, he decided to play dumb as Lord Third wanted more information on the analysis. "Expalain Naruto,"

Naruto sat up straight his posture becoming alert. "What I mean Team 8 is full with tracker ninja. The Huyga, Aburame and Inuzuka clans are world famous for their ability to track anything through insects, hounds and eyes. As such they should've been split among the teams so they can work with others who don't share the similar trait to track,"

Shikamaru decided to chip in further more. "And their personality traits scream disaster. Kiba is head strong he'll go in without a plan and screw the consequences,"

"Hinata is the most level headed person but she lacks self confidence when is comes to voicing her thoughts, plans etc," Naruto continued.

"Shino is smart and will most likely pick up the slack but he can't work with someone who has Kiba's brash personality." Shikamaru finished.

The ninja watching from the crystal ball looked in astonishment as the boys deduced the team if they should ever go on a mission. Shikaku hummed proudly. Hiruzen smiled at him "Shikaku you must be proud to have them in your corner,"

Shikaku gave him a knowning look. "Always they're good for each other, great even I'm glad my son has Naruto and vice versa,"

They paid attention as Naruto started to deduce his own team and Shikamaru's.

"Sakura and Sasuke will never work together with me, it's a plain obivious fact that can't be changed. Sasuke thinks he too good for him and sees me and Sakura as obstacles to get in his way of becoming more powerful." Naruto folded his arms. "Sakura is deeply invested in Sasuke and will follow his lead than follow the sensei's lead. She will be distracted on missions and risk her safety in order to gawk at Sasuke. She has potential but her emotions towards Sasuke will hinder her development as a ninja."

"As for me," Naruto paused as he rubbed his temples. "I'm an all rounder, I can adopt to any situation and find a solution in the event things go side ways, but I'm selfish. I will never put my teammates before me in a life and death situation. And it's not because they hate me, far from it. It's because I know for a fact that if I stick my neck out for them they would rather kill themselves before doing it for me,"

Naruto had a dark look on his face before Shikamaru poked his cheek, he smiled at the gesture before hugging Shikamaru around his neck in a side way hug. "The only persons I'll risk my life for is the Nara clan and my bestfriend no one else,"

Shikamaru wrapped his arms around Naruto returning the hug. "Now onto team 10. It's an obivious way to continue the Ino-Shika-Cho formation, all three clans have been allies since the second shinobi war when the heads of the respected clans were sent on a mission. They saw that they complimented each other's fighting style, since then it's been history. They will work together because they have been growing together so they know each others quirks."

Iruka was stunned at the analysis of the teams, back in the room Hiruzen was slightly surprised at the outcome. Now comes the hard part, how do they shuffle Team 7 and Team8.