IT'S WORTH THE TROUBLES
By ardenilia
Disclaimer: Masashi Kishimoto-sensei owns Uzumaki Naruto & Company. I'm just a newbie, have much to learn and owns an average life.
Author's Note: This is the not the first fic I've written, but yet the first one I've posted on So, minna-san, please be kind and I'm looking forward to receive constructive criticisms and ideas, and no flames please! I'm emotionally incapable of receiving any heartless remarks. - Hope you'd give this multiple chapters story a shot….alrite?
Summary: Both of them did not expect this. More over Shikamaru. What's Temari gotta do? This one, not even Dai Kamaitachi No Jutsu could handle…
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Part 1 : At The Beginning
"Welcome back, everyone. And, well done on the mission," exclaimed the Sixth in a very deep, serious tone. "I hope to hear a good report of this mission. After all, it's an S-Rank."
His gaze was fixed towards the three Jounins in front of him. His eyes landed on the first one, who happened to be a member of his family. Oh, reverse that, he became a member of this guy's family. With the bloodline limit of Byakugan, Hyuuga Neji was indeed one of the most fearsome shinobi in Konoha.
Then, the blue sky orbs moved to the direction of obviously, the tallest one between the four of them in the room. He had a quite interesting history with this guy. They fought against each other during their first Chuunin exam, some time before the attempt of invasion towards Konoha. With his well-built features and the trademark tattoo of the Inuzuka Clan on his cheeks, Kiba had been known as one of the Jounins with great techniques involving beasts.
And finally, he settled on the third one. He was blessed with a lean and strong masculine features and not forgetting the smug expression on his face. Heck, this guy is the first one of their class to be promoted to Chuunin. Despite of his laziness, he's one exceptional ninja. Gifted with an IQ of above 200, Nara Shikamaru had inherited his father's skills and glory of the shadow controlling clan. And, the Hokage himself had been on the latter's first mission as a Chuunin; the Uchiha Sasuke's retrieval mission.
He sighed. 'This brings back old memories'. But, Uzumaki Naruto couldn't help but feel proud of what they have achieved in their lives. They had been friends ever since their days as Genins.
"Err…thank you, Hokage-sama" Kiba said, with a serious expression on his face.
Dead silence.
And it goes for the next 25 seconds…
Suddenly, the blonde haired Hokage raised his hands up in the air and said, "Time out! I can't do this anymore." With that, he broke into his trademark grin.
"Chill out, you guys can't be THAT serious with me", exclaimed Naruto. Obviously, he's into the 'ole-good-Naruto mode that we all know. Loud-mouthed, not-so-serious and always with a smile on his face.
"Well, you're now the Hokage," blurt a very confused Kiba, but nevertheless with a grin on his face.
With that, everyone broke into laughter; even the stoic looking Neji couldn't hide the hints of amusement on his face.
"You should have seen the look on your face. It's so hilarious."
"Oh, you're so gonna get it" Kiba said as he lunged towards the laughing Naruto, hands ready to strangle his neck. But, Shikamaru quickly grabbed hold of the brown haired Jounin on both shoulders.
"Jeez, you guys haven't changed at all. This is so troublesome." Sighed Shikamaru as he pose a glance at Neji, who is now smiling with his arms crossed.
"Grow up Naruto. And to think that you're going to be a father soon." Kiba said.
"So?"
"I hope my future nephew won't grow a retard like his father" Neji said, while he patted Naruto at the back, in a very sympathetic look.
"Oi, who are you calling a retard?" Naruto glared at Neji.
And then Kiba butt in, "I felt sorry for Hinata."
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An audible sound of water flowing from the kitchen was heard, as two children were running down the hallway of the Nara residence. Temari had finished washing the dishes when she heard one of the children's loud piercing shriek.
"Would you keep it down both of you!" Now, it's her piercing loud voice was heard. She made a few steps past the hallway towards the front door when a small girl, with golden locks tied into two ponytails ran into her, she nearly stumbled backwards but she quickly grabbed a hold on the child.
"Hikaru, what did I told you about running down the hallway?" Temari asked her 5 years old daughter. Her forehead wrinkled with annoyance.
"But mommy," Hikaru looked up to look at her mother, with a very sad expression on her face. "You told me that I should look after Kusanagi-chan. He said he's boring. We're playing tag."
And then, a dark plum-haired boy, a bit shorter than Hikaru appeared. Noticing that Hikaru was in their mother's arms, he said "Mommy. You're messing up the fun. Now, I'm still gonna be 'it'."
Temari's eyebrows furrowed. "Well, who said you could play tag inside the house? You're going to break something or even worse, hurt yourself."
Kusanagi sulked while Hikaru blinked her innocent doe-eyes, in an attempt to escape from Temari's lecture.
"Hikaru, you're the older sister, you should set a good example for your brother." She said towards her daughter. Then, she looked at her youngest son, who is still pouting his lips. "Kusanagi, I don't think it's appropriate for you to run around when you should be lying on bed at the first place. I can't believe that you're the same boy I dragged to the hospital this morning."
"I'm not sick anymore, mommy. I can't just stay on the bed. It's too troublesome."
'He's so like his father' Temari made a silent comparison.
"Why can't we go to Kenji's house? Aunt Tenten can look after us." The chirpy 4 year old suggested.
Temari knew that he's referring to Neji and Tenten's son who was the same age as he is. That boy had indeed become her son's best friend. And, it was very kind of Tenten in offering to baby sit the kids when she's out for a mission. And…realizing that she's getting distracted she quickly crossed her arms, "No. And Kusanagi, you're not going to get me distracted again this time."
Kusanagi narrowed his eyes. He put on his trademark scowl, just like his dad used to do when he was young. He hoped so much that Temari would fall for it, like she always did.
Temari sighed. 'Okay, this calls for a pep-talk.'
"Listen, both of you" She spoke in a softer and gentle tone. "It's not like I could have most of my weekdays off from a mission. And when I do, I hoped to spend a nice, quality and quiet time with my family. I'm sorry if I raised my tone before but, all this shouting, screaming and sometimes misbehaving makes me angry because I'm tired and I really want to try my best to do everything for you." Temari bent down on her knees as both kids, stepped towards her opening arms.
As she embraced them, both of them whispered in each of her ears saying, "We're sorry mommy." Temari gave them both a kiss on the top of their heads. "It's alright."
"Now, I think there's something else you could do to help me since you're feeling better already" She ruffled Kusanagi's hair, emitting a giggle from the cheeky boy. "Why don't you help me feed the fishes in the pond?"
"Alright!" exclaimed both of them in unison.
"Be careful not to get very near or you might fall" She call out as the two kids ran towards the pond which happens to be a few feet away from where she is standing.
'If Kankurou sees this he's probably laughing his head off.' Truth to be told, for the ones close to her, seeing the once fearsome Temari of the Sand had been outwitted by her own kids is totally an amusing picture. Laughing to herself, she quickly tried to wipe off a mental vision of her brother Kankurou grinning while saying, "I told you. Your days as the cranky, bossy and stuck-up human are outnumbered."
Yup, Kankurou was right. As she posed a glimpse towards her children, she knew that she could never be thankful enough for having both of them in her life. Both of them were an exact replica of each parent. Hikaru had the same strawberry blond hair as she does, with deep turquoise eyes and a cheeky expression on her face. She looked so much like her when she was little.
She remembered after a few weeks Hikaru was born, the first sentence that came out from Kankurou's mouth when he first saw his niece is, "Oh no. Another Temari in the family." And for that, he was rewarded with a large bump on his head. Compliments to the nearest flower vase of course.
"Baka. It's my baby. Of course she looks like me." She replied in a very amused tone as she looked at the beautiful baby girl in her arms.
"Ehem…" Shikamaru cleared his throat. "I think that I do have a share in her parenthood even though you're the one who carried her for nine months." He said with a smug expression on his face.
Dead silence. Everyone sweat-dropped.
He didn't realize that he'd pushed his wife's buttons until Kankurou crept up to him and slowly said, "I think you better run, man. Now, she's really getting mad."
Everyone broke into laughter as Shikamaru was trying hard to avoid a flying vase that headed straight to him.
"Jeez, women are so troublesome. I still don't understand you women, even when I'm married to one."
Then out of the blue, Neji sighed. "And, he's still haven't realize that he, being the only male in the family had been outnumbered."
Temari couldn't help but laughed at the reminiscence of her first born.
"What's so funny mommy?" She looked up to see Kusanagi's grinning face. "Nothing" She shook her head and just stare at her son as he threw some breadcrumbs into the pond.
Kusanagi had the same hair as his father, the same eyes, nose and lips. Well, except that his hair is still short, she couldn't tie it up like his dad.
No doubt, at the tender age of 2, Kusanagi had showed potentials of a genius. A child prodigy, as Naruto would say it. She remembered during the last dinner party at her house, believe it or not, the little boy managed to outsmart the Hokage himself at Shogi.
"What! I lost?" Howled a horrified Naruto, as he strained his eyes on the board.
"Haha…you did." Shikamaru said, with a smirk on his face. He was proud of his son who was sitting on his lap.
"It's not fair. You helped Kusanagi-chan."
"No, I did not. He did it by himself. Did I help him Kiba?" He asked Kiba who had been the audience before.
Kiba shrugged. "Hey, I'm not into this one. But, the kid beat you, Naruto. Fair and square."
"What! I can't believe I lose to a 4 year old." Naruto cried. "Very well then, I shall make you my apprentice"
"Ie…no you don't. Get your own son to be your apprentice."
"But…but, Hinata's only 3 months pregnant"
"Well, wait for the next 6 months then." Shikamaru argued with Naruto, before doing a high-five with Kiba and Kusanagi.
The women just broke into laughter upon seeing their husbands' antique.
It was great having friends like them. Temari herself did not believe that she had become close with the kunoichis of her batch like Sakura, Ino, the ever timid Hinata and the weapons mistress Tenten, who she fought during her first Chuunin exam preliminaries. Anyway, she was so glad that she becomes a part of Konoha. And all of that because of the Fifth Hokage's kindness in proposing an alliance between Sand and Konoha. And it all too thanks to her husband. Never believe all the verbal arguments, friendly sparring, misunderstandings and unintended flirting could lead to marriage.
And…suddenly, a pain shot through her head as she felt a throbbing deep inside. She closed her eyes as she grabbed hold of a nearby pillar. Her hands instinctively went to massage her temples. 'My head hurts like hell. Am I that tired?'
The next thing she knew, she felt like her stomach is twisted into knots and she ran quickly inside and threw up everything she had before for lunch into the kitchen sink.
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End Of Chapter 1
To Be Continued….
A/N: Please tell me what you think, okay? And, oh yeah, give a chance to ShikaTema loving.
Ja!
Love,
ardenilia
