Characters: Shikaku, Shikamaru
Summary: Shikaku's reaction when he discovers that Shikamaru is Gaara's proxy general. Spoilers for 516.
Pairings: None
Author's Note: One wonders how Shikamaru's parents reacted to the news.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.


"So if the Kazekage is also to be the general of the entire army as well as his division's general, he'll need a proxy."

"You're right there, Shikaku."

Shikaku stares expectantly at Tsunade, and when she shows no sign of elaborating, he presses, "So who has Kazekage-sama appointed to be his proxy, Tsunade-sama?"

Tsunade twitches a wry smile at him. "You should like this one, Shikaku. Gaara's picked your son to be his proxy."

The first thought that comes to Shikaku's mind is not that of pride, nor even the want to make some sarcastic but approving remark on his son's appointment. There's none of that at all. In reality, the first thing to come to Shikaku's mind is a distinctly dubious feeling.

Shikamaru, Shikaku hopes, will acquit himself as an adult in the capacity he has chosen to take on—because Gaara wouldn't have forced anyone to become his proxy, and Shikaku knows that if Shikamaru hadn't accepted it, Gaara likely would have turned to his sister.

Is he ready?

Shikaku can't answer that question. It pains him to admit it, but he really doesn't know his son very well. Oh yes, he knows him well from an intellectual standpoint. He knows Shikamaru inside and out from the standpoint of his mind; he knows the exact heights and limits of his son's intelligence. But the level of Shikamaru's emotional maturity is harder to pinpoint, because his father has so distanced himself from his son—it's not wise or logical to become deeply emotionally involved with someone who could die at any time, even if you love them and would die for them without a second thought. At times Shikamaru seems his father's equal in maturity, and at others he's little more than a small child. Maybe it's just a teenager's mood swings talking.

Gaara has seen something in him at some point in the past that makes him think that he would be a good proxy for him in his dealings with the army. The Kazekage, at least, thinks that Shikamaru is capable of making the decisions that could help lead to the victory or the loss of the war.

The Kazekage is himself a child. Shikaku has tended to call Gaara's judgment into question over this in the past (much to his sister's ire whenever she was in the room during sessions), and frankly, he knows that he's not the only one. But Gaara has lately not been acting quite like the child most of the world tends to believe him to be, and Shikaku isn't sure that someone who's had to put up with the Shukaku as Gaara did could ever be a child. Gaara has emerged as a level-headed, rational, even charismatic adult, and he has proven himself to be capable.

Maybe Shikamaru's ready too. If Gaara is considered ready to be the general of the entire shinobi army, then maybe Shikamaru's ready to be his proxy.

If the Kazekage thinks highly enough of Nara Shikamaru to appoint him as his proxy, then who is his father to object?

Shikaku can only hope that his son is ready. He can only that Shikamaru is ready, as his father.

You can either act like an adult or a little kid, Shikamaru. You can't do both.

Yeah, most likely he's ready. That said, Shikaku decides he can be proud now, as a slow, lazy smirk of a smile spreads across his face.

Shikaku becomes aware of amber eyes gazing expectantly on his face. "Well?" Tsunade prods, plainly waiting for his response.

"Good for him," Shikaku nods in approval, allowing the slightest gleam of pride to sparkle in his eyes. "Good for Shikamaru."