DISCLAIMER NOTICE: I do not own Naruto or any characters from the show.

Shikamaru leaned against his windowsill and stared at the past Hokages' faces imbedded into the mountain. He lifted his head to look at the building clouds in the sky.

"This is such a drag. After Tsunada-sama gives me a mission, then I get appointed as an academe instructor, I get held off a mission JUST because I need to help the children?"

Thunder started to rumble from the distance. 'Guess I better get washed up so that monster of a woman doesn't make such a big deal. This is so troublesome.'

Shikamaru lazily pushed himself off the wall with the slightest effort. 'Hm, my body won't move.' His arms dropped to his sides as he decided to cooperate.

"SHIKAMARU!"

"Hmph, great, now she's being stubborn."

"YOU ARE JUST LIKE YOUR FATHER! GET OVER HERE!" This brought a laugh from him. "WHAT IS SO FUNNY?!"

When he got to the table, he stared at his father. His father finally caught notice. "What?"

"Why did you have to marry such a troublesome woman?"

"To cook, clean, and because I loved her."

Shikamaru smirked at the last exclamation. "Love? What good comes of love?"

Temari flipped the eggs that were on the pan.

"GAARA-SAMA! KANKURO-SAN! GET UP!" A cold voice replied behind her.

"I don't sleep."

"Oh, yeah, sorry Gaara-sama, I forgot." Gaara left with a bitter glare on his face and a loud slam of the door.

Kankuro came in, looking tired. "Did you already insult him out the door?"
"Just shut-up, Kankuro-san. It was a mistake that he made. 'Get up' doesn't necessarily mean 'Wake up'".

"Then WHY did you apologize?"

Temari realized her stupid mistake and shoved his plate in his arms. "Just eat."

"Um, by the way, last night, Gaara-sama came in my room to say that he had a mission ready for you. Just you. You need to stop by his office."

"Whatever." Temari muttered.

"Your-welcome!" Kankuro replied as she slammed the door.

"Well, they have one thing in common, slamming the door."

Sakura walked down the muddy street. She twirled her umbrella and imagined how nice it would be tomorrow. "Ahh…Flowers everywhere after a good storm." She giggled. 'I'm having childish daydreams'. She started to hum her favorite song.

"COME ON GAI-SENSEI! LET YOUR SPRING-TIME YOUTHFULLNESS SHOUT OUT!"

Sakura stopped. 'That HAD to be Lee-san.'

"Sakura-san! How are you on this gorgeous day? You look like a cherry-blossom!" Sakura nearly gagged. 'Ugh, could his complements get any more cheesier?'

"But, Lee-san, It's raining!" Sakura shouted back. She chuckled. He zipped past her, jogging on his hands. Gai-sensei trailed behind him, panting. "Maybe-I trained him-to much." He commented passing her.

"Come on Gai-sensei, Lee-san always pushes it!" she said giggling. "GAI-SENSEI! LET US SPREAD OUR YOUTH THROUGHTOUT THE VILLAGE!"

Sakura laughed some more and watched them speed off.

Gaara stared at the sand spreading across the landscape. 'All this is yours now…'

"Gaara-sama, your sister is here to receive her mission." Said a frightened-looking sand-ninja. Gaara narrowed his eyes. "Get that pathetic look off you face and send her in."

"Y-yes sir!" he ran out. Gaara despised that look on people's faces when they were around him. The door creaked open.

"Gaara-sama, you really should get this place cleaned up." Said his sister, Temari. She looked around with a disgusted look on her face. Then she looked at him. She made a face. "Shouldn't you be in your KazeKage uniform?"

He just glared. "Oookay!" Temari said.

"Temari. I have a mission for you. Go to Kohona and get-" he twitched. "-Shikamaru-san and a med-ninja, with a low level of experience." He knew Shikamaru and Temari had a 'thing' for each other. He saw it on their faces when they last left Kohona.

Temari's face lit up. "R-really?" she squeaked. "Yes. Now go." Temari skipped out the door. 'I never want to see her do that again.'