Chapter Text
This story starts at the beginning of Shippuden. This story somewhat follows canon for the central plot up until a certain point. The only straying storyline at the beginning is that Iruka lowkey adopts Naruto when he's at the academy, bringing him to live with him, and considers Naruto his own pup at this point.
In this AU world, there are only Omegas and Alphas. Both can be dominant and possessive if provoked and can be either gender. Still, alphas always have a dick and omegas, a vagina, and whatever their gender has typically. Omegas and alphas find their designation somewhere in their teenage years. There have been very few omegas who became shinobi, not because of skill but simply because they did not want that life plan. There are a few in this story; and will be introduced with time. An important one to know is Iruka Umino and in the Konaha 12, there are two omegas, Kiba Inuzuka and Hinata Hyuuga.
In this world, alphas and omegas have soulmates and often participate in Polygamy. Soulmates are written along a person's arm, black for alpha names and dark blue for omegas. There are lines along your arm starting at 14, so you can see how many soulmates you have, but not their names. Your names appear on your arm when it's your 16th birthday, but only the names of those who are also 16+; the other names appear on birthdays.
Omega names do not appear on the alpha's wrist until the Omega wills it to be. Then, they can decide when they accept them.
Before Naruto returns to the village, many of the young Alphas started receiving names; Naruto has his complete soulmate list but not the Omega's names.
Chapter One: Return
Naruto signed with relief, seeing the village gates for the first time after being gone so long. The wrapping along his arm itched in anticipation as they approached. He touched the wrapping, tracing the names he knew were underneath. Jiraiya had told him most Shinobi covered their names, so their enemies could not track down their mates. Thinking about his mates in danger because of him made him feel nauseous, and he covered the names immediately. Then, at night, when Jiraiya was asleep, Naruto would uncover them, tracing their names along his arm.
Shino Aburame
Chouji Akimichi
Neji Hyuga
______________
Rock Lee
Gaara (Lol, who knows)
Kankuro (Lol, who knows)
__________________
Shikamaru Nara
Sasuke Uchiha
Naruto always spent a little extra time tracing the last name, hope swelling as he did so. If Sasuke’s name is there, then Naruto's name is on Sasuke's wrist.
His fists clench as he remembers what Jiraiya told him. "Many of those names on your wrist are your friends but remember; many are to be heads of their clan. You might see Sasuke's name and think it means you are destined to get him back, but others might see a rogue ninjas name appear on their child's wrist and feel shame." Naruto had wanted to argue, but instead, he sat in silence and hoped that his friends-one day mates, wouldn't be that way. A slight blush covered his cheeks as he thought about it.
“Hey now, is that who I think it is?” A voice brings him back to the present moment.
“No doubt about it.”
He heard some people near the gate as he entered. He couldn’t stop to wave or say Hi; his heart was pounding too loud in his head. The names had all started appearing when he was away, and the passing of his birthday had meant that his name showed up on their wrists. Excited nerves flowed across his skin; he had mates to come home to.
He hadn't had anyone to come home to for a while before the academy; he remembers the loneliness that swallowed him whole. So, he acted out, trying to get anyone to acknowledge him, even if it was negative. Then Iruka happened. He heard Naruto's unspoken plead, saved Naruto from Mizuki, and took him in. In all ways besides biological, Naruto was Iruka's pup, though he never called him Mom. He wonders what Iruka had been up to while he was away, briefly wondering in the back of his mind if he had accepted his mates yet.
Naruto knew Iruka’s mates and was confused when he found out about Iruka’s hesitancy towards accepting them. They were some of the best people Naruto knew. Then he had overheard two shinobi talking, saying that Iruka did not accept because he didn’t want to burden anyone with a pup that wasn’t theirs. Naruto had been silent for a week before Iruka had gotten him to reveal why he was upset.
“You are not the reason.” Iruka had said with a sigh, “I haven’t accepted yet because I’m just not sure I’m what they need.” Naruto didn’t understand why Iruka thought that, sparing a glance at one of the names on Iruka’s wrist, Kakashi Hatake. Iruka was exactly what Kakashi sensei needed.
“It’s been two and a half years.” Naruto said once they got a bit into town.
“So, it has.” Jiraiya says, sounding happy to be home himself.
Naruto, stopped, dropped his bag, and ran up a pole, leaving a smirking Jiraiya on the ground. “Always rambunctious.”
He gets to the top, looking out at Konoha; he had missed the leaf while away. "Now this takes me back! The village hasn’t changed a bit! I’m home everyone! Naruto Uzumaki has returned to the hidden leaf village!”
"Naruto!" Sakura's voice trailed up to him. "When did you get back to the village, Naruto?"
He jumped down from the pole; the wind rushing through his hair felt freeing. Finally, finally, he was back home and about to see his mates as potentially courting mates for the first time.
“Just now.” Naruto smiled at Sakura; for a while, Naruto had hopped Sakura had been one of his mates, but when Sasuke’s name appeared on his arm, he realized it was him and not her that he’d always been in love with. Looking back on it now, he feels a bit dumb for ever thinking otherwise. “Long time no see, Sakura.”
“Wait a minute, you’ve gotten taller than me, haven’t you?”
“Yeah, I guess I have.”
“So, what do you think, do I seem more like a woman to you now.” To be honest Naruto didn’t even know what that meant. So, he went with the answer he’d want to get if he asked someone if he’d changed.
“Are you kidding,” He gave a thumbs up, “Not really, you haven’t changed at all!” Sakura seemed kind of put out by this. Do people want to be different? Naruto thought she was fine before he left. A sudden thought broke into his head, what if all my mates are different than I remember them now.
Sakura, sensing something was amiss changed the topic. “Are you going to see Lady Tsunade?”
“Oh, yeah.” Naruto answered, though he couldn’t shake the thought. What if they're different? What if they think I’m different? What if they don’t like me anymore.
“Great, me too, I’ll walk with you.” As they start walking Naruto notices Sakura’s covered wrist for the first time, her wrapping pink to match her hair.
“Did you get your names?” Sakura tucks a hair behind her ear, blushing slightly.
“Yeah, I did.”
“Do you want to see mine?” It wasn’t uncommon to show friends or relatives your names but Naruto, after being away, wasn’t sure where Sakura put him on closeness.
"Yeah." She said, "You can see mine too if you want." Naruto smiled; he guessed he was still high up on Sakura's list of friends then. Then, with Jiraiya trailing a bit behind them, Naruto took off his wrapping and revealed his incomplete list of names. Sakura went to trace them, then pulled back as if remembering something.
"You can touch them. You're basically like my sister." Sakura's eyes sparkled with wetness for a moment before being blinked away. She touched his arm and looked closely at the names, though she perhaps knew of these revelations already, as she didn't appear surprised by any of them. Naruto did not know if any of his soulmates loudly announced their mates or not to their friends. Sakura's fingers hover over Sasuke’s name.
“There was a moment I thought I loved him, but now that I know better, I see how wrong I was.”
"Do you think-" Naruto starts but doesn't even know where he's going with the sentence. Sakura knows what he's thinking anyway.
“We can get him back.” She says eye’s confident, locked with his.
“Thanks, Sakura.”
“No worries, little brother,” she winks, laughing before taking her own wrapping off as he puts his back on. “Here.”
Naruto Reads the names.
Tenten (Lol, last name?)
____________________
Ino Yamanaka
Temari (why so many don’t have a last name)
“Temari,” he recognizes the last name, “Looks like we’ll be in-laws then.”
Sakura wraps her arm back up before linking her arm with his. “Are you excited to see them all?”
“Excited and nervous.” He admits.
“Well, they haven’t started courting yet.” She tells him in a gossipy way.
“They haven’t?” He’s a little put off by the news. He had hoped he would be coming back into the village and allowed to sweep them off their feet, though he had no idea how to do that.
“No, I heard from Temari that they decided to wait until something happened,” she hip bumped him as they walked, “Something like the return of one of the alpha’s so said alpha wouldn’t feel left out.”
A blush rose across Naruto's face. Alphas tended to court each other right away to show their omega mates out there that they were worthy of acceptance. Naruto had two blank spaces in blue lines, meaning he had two omega mates. He had a theory about one of them but was totally lost about who the other might be. Nevertheless, he felt incredibly loved that the other alphas decided to wait for him.
He couldn't stop smiling as they walked the rest of the way. Before they knew it, they had made it to the Hokage tower, walked up through the stairs, and were inside the main office.
“It’s been a long time you two.” Tsunade said, “You’re training proved to be fruitful I hope.”
“You think we would have come back without producing any results.” Jiraiya smirked.
“Mission accomplished Granny.” Naruto gave a thumbs up.
“I’m glad to hear it,” Tsunade leaned forward, “Show me what you got kid.”
“What right now?” The office would get messed up with they fought in here.
“I have someone I want you to go up against. I’ve kept him off missions the last few days, so he’d be ready for just this moment. Your opponent will be-” Before Tsunade could finish her sentence, there was a knock on the door. "Come in." She said.
Naruto turned and had to fight the heat that spread across his face and started making its way down his body fast.
“Hey, Shikamaru, Temari, look what the cat dragged in?” Sakura teased.
But Naruto could only focus on how much taller Shikamaru had gotten, leaner he was. He hoped his face wasn’t bright red at this point.
"Naruto?" Shikamaru's eyes opened wider, his laid-back self, exuding an air of excitement for a moment before he remembered where he was and quickly returned to a professional persona. Hearing Shikamaru's voice saying his name made Naruto want to tackle him to the ground and kiss him like a mad man, though Naruto had never kissed anyone before and doubted he'd be good at it. But then again, Shikamaru was always good at everything, so he could probably teach him. Okay, he told himself, I need to stop this line of thinking for now.
“Shikamaru!” He says his name back, his voice sounding far too high-pitched, in his opinion. “Hey, does this mean you’re my opponent?”
“Opponent, what are you talking about, I just came over here to drop off some paperwork.”
“Oh, then, is it?” He looks at Temari.
“I also have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Naruto,” Lady Tsunade finally had pity on him, “You won’t find your opponent in here, he’s out there.” She points to the window. Naruto goes over, bending out to look.
“So, Naruto,” Kakashi sensei says, sitting on the roof, “You went and got all grown up.”
“Kakashi sensei, you haven’t changed a bit!” Naruto jumped out of the window onto the roof Kakashi was sitting on. “Oh, hold on I got something for you, sensei. A little present.”
“No way!” Kakashi says, “Is that really-“
“The first new issue of the make out series in three years.” Naruto says handing the book from his bag over to Kakashi. “Pretty boring if you ask me, but I know you like this stuff.” Sometimes Naruto wonders if he had been spared by Iruka not accepting his mates yet. Based on how much Kakashi liked this book he can imagine he could have been accidently scarred for life by now if Iruka had accepted.
“So, you’re my opponent then?”
“Half right.” Kakashi walked to the window, “Hello, Sakura, long time.”
“Hello. Kakashi Sensei.”
“I’ll be facing you both.”
“Time to prove your training meant something Sakura.” Tsunade said before turning to Naruto. “You too Naruto.”
“So, are you ready?” Kakashi asked, lightly.
“Huh?” Why was everyone trying to fight him in this office.
“You’re right, you need time to rest. We will meet tomorrow.”
“But-” and without being able to say another word Kakashi vanished.
“No doubt he wants time to read that book.” Tsunade said, shaking her head.
“Well, now I regret giving it him.” Naruto pouts, re-entering the room through the window. When Iruka does finally accept his mates, he’s going to have his hands full with Kakashi sensei, let alone the rest of those names along Iruka’s arm.
“Well, it seems that this won’t be happening today.” Tsunade says with a sigh, “You’re all dismissed.”
Sakura, Temari, Shikamaru, and Naruto all leave the tower together, walking back out onto the street. Naruto trying not to stare at Shikamaru, but he found it difficult, “So, what are you doing here, Temari?”
“I’m the delegate from my village for the chunin exams.”
“And I’m her escort.” Shikamaru says, “it’s a drag and don’t ask how it happened. But I’ve been put in charge of organizing the Chunin exams.”
“Speaking of which, what are you going to do, Naruto?”
“What do you mean?” Naruto asked confused.
“What do you think, about the chunin exams. Well, you’re the only one of our years who’s isn’t a chunin. Everyone is but you.”
“Wah,” Naruto looks at them all, “Sakura, you’ve been made a chunin?”
“That’s right.” Sakura says giving a peace sign. “Neji, Kankuro, and Temari have already been named Jonin.” Naruto suddenly felt insignificant. He trained for years but now his mates have moved on to bigger statuses.
“What about Gaara?” Naruto asks, Gaara is the one person who can understand something about Naruto that no one else can, “what’s he?”
Shikamaru pauses, like he doesn’t want to say anything.
Temari smiles proudly “Gaara has been appointed the Kazekage.”
“Wow.” Naruto breaths in deeply. Gaara. He’s come so far. One of Naruto’s future mates is the Kazekage. Naruto turns his head to look at the stone faces on the mountain cliff. “Well, glad to know that when I become Hokage one day, I’ll already know someone.”
Shikamaru smiles fondly at him when he says this, and Naruto’s heart flutters at making him smile at all.
Sakura knowingly, quickly links hands with Temari, "Let's grab dinner." Temari smiles, and both walk off together. Naruto will have to get used to Sakura acting coupley with her girls. "See you later, Nii-San!" Sakura giggled.
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow, looking towards Naruto for an explanation, "It's an inside joke, I think." Naruto rubs the back of his head sheepishly. It struck Naruto then that it was just Shikamaru and him; he glanced back at the fading form of the girls; that's what she was so giddy about.
Naruto's thoughts from earlier came rushing back with a frenzy; he didn't know what to do, what to say, how to act.
“Stop freaking out.” Shikamaru breaks into his thoughts.
“Huh?”
"I said stop freaking out." Shikamaru takes a step closer, so they're only a few inches apart. This close, he can smell Shikamaru's scent, lavender, like those calming scented candles. "Let's get dinner and talk. It's on me."
Naruto can only nod his head, and Shikamaru lets a small smile loose. "Ramen, I assume?"
"I'll never turn down free Ramen," Naruto replies.
They make their way to Ichiraku Ramen. Shikamaru holds open the curtain for him.
"Thanks," Naruto says.
“My pleasure.” He responds, entering behind him.
They eat in mostly companionate silence. Naruto slowly telling Shikamaru about his training. When they exit the restaurant, the sky is getting much darker.
"So, how does it feel to be back," Shikamaru asks as they walk through town.
“Great.” He starts, “a little strange, ya know.”
They walk in silence a bit longer.
"Naruto....we've all had time to see each other in a new light, as more than friends. We don't expect you to jump into anything." It's Shikamaru's turn to look sheepish, anywhere but Naruto's face.
“Sakura told me that you all waited for me.”
"We did." He said, finally looking back into Naruto's eyes, "It wouldn't have felt right. But like I've said, we've all gotten closer, even if we weren't courting. Just knowing, it was inevitable. We won't rush you if you need time to adjust and-"
“And if I don’t need time to adjust?” Shikamaru stops walking, his eyes bore into his, a glint of something Naruto doesn't recognize within them.
"Then we can start courting now," Shikamaru says, stepping into Naruto's personal space again. "And maybe our omega's will accept us afterward."
"Sounds amazing," Naruto says, almost breathless, realizing the street they're in is empty except for them, the sun setting in the sky. "I kind of thought that was a date anyway; you did pay."
Shikamaru's eyes darken, and Naruto realizes what that glint from before was. Oh. Naruto doesn't know what slow vs. fast in courting is, but he's been thinking about this for months. Naruto leans forward, and Shikamaru mirrors him closing the gap between them. Their lips press together softly at first, Naruto unsure what to do. Then Shikamaru's hand comes up to tilt Naruto's head slightly to the side, and he feels something poke his lips, so he opens them. Shikamaru's tongue goes into his mouth, and Naruto lets out a noise he will later try to deny was a squeak.
Naruto feels like he can get addicted to this feeling. He pulls Shikamaru closer by his vest, and Shikamaru hums approvingly. Naruto tries to match everything Shikamaru does, and slowly his hands travel down to rest on Shikamaru's hips. When Shikamaru pulls away, Naruto chases his lips briefly before pulling back with a blush.
"You're a good kisser." Naruto's voice was huskier than he had ever heard it before, and Shikamaru flushes.
“You’re not bad yourself.” He responds.
“I was just trying to copy you.” Naruto breaths out, honestly. Shikamaru smirks.
"So, your first day back is going well then."
"Better than well." Naruto smiles, "So, um, how do I tell everyone that I'm back and we're all, ya know."
"I'll let everyone know, though that probably means Lee will be knocking on your door with flowers when he gets back."
"I'm okay with that. And thanks for letting everyone know; honestly, it might have been a bit overwhelming."
"Yeah, well," Shikamaru clears his throat, "We haven't been courting, but we did decide something important when you were gone."
“Oh?”
"Yeah, we decided when we start courting that I'm head alpha. Neji and Shino are second.”
"I'll be honest, I don't know a ton about all the head alpha stuff or the dynamics between alphas; Iruka has been the only one labeled as family, so I haven't had an alpha to watch or understand. Maybe you can explain all that later?"
"Definitely." He responds, leaning forward to peck me on the lips one more time. "But let's stop here for tonight. You probably need to sleep, and I've got some places to visit now. Plus, Iruka has been periodically watching through the window, waiting for you to come in." Naruto hadn't even been aware they had stopped in front of Iruka's and Naruto's apartment. "I think he will explode soon if you don't go inside and tell him everything."
Naruto smiles, “So I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“You will. I’ll see who else is free.”
"Awesome." With a surge of confidence, Naruto leans in a pecks Shikamaru on the lips as he did to him earlier. "See you then."
They part ways, Naruto making his way down the street and then sprinting up to Iruka's door, finding the key he had somehow not lost in all this time, and quickly opened and shut the door, resting his head against the wood, smiling.
"So, how's my long-lost pup doing today?" Iruka's presence in the entryway makes him jump; he turns around, blushing as Iruka stares at him with a knowing look.
“How much did you see?”
"Not everything." Iruka replies with a small laugh, "I'm not a creeper. So come in; you ate yet?"
"Yeah," Naruto says, "Shikamaru took me out for Ramen."
"Oh?" Iruka smiled.
"Go shower, and then you can come to tell me all about it."
Naruto went to shower, changed and went back into the living room where Iruka had constructed their family nest. They didn't have a large apartment, so it made the most sense. It was a foldout couch with pieces of comfy pillows and fabric surrounding it.
Iruka lay inside grading some papers when Naruto threw himself into the circle. Immediately he felt calmer, his mother's nest and scent making him relax; that's a typical reaction. But now he can't help but think what the nest of his omegas will look like, feel like.
"Okay," Iruka says, putting the papers aside and letting Naruto cuddle next to him, "Tell me everything, pup." And he did.
...
Meanwhile in the Sand: Two suspicious men in black robes with red clouds make their way towards their destination.