Legend says it's shikasaku week. Actually, it began yesterday, but I was unsure if I should even try to participate because I found out about it about three days ago. Sometimes I don't work well under pressure aldkhasf
Title and chapter titles are from Purity Ring - begin again
Day 01: Hidden in the Leaves/Will of Fire
i. look at the fire and think of me
Shikamaru is used to being swept along the mess whenever something big is to happen in Konoha. It's been part of his life since he earned the title of chunin all those years ago, to have responsibilities thrusted into his hands and so many things to take care of that he hardly has time to breathe. Other people are caught in it too, of course, but everyone is so busy with what they've been tasked with that they hardly have time to help one another.
The one person he sees not affected by it all is the current, soon to be retired, Hokage, sitting behind his desk, unfazed by the commotion as usual. Kakashi had never really wanted to don the white robes, but Tsunade wasn't up for it anymore, and the one person she recommended to take her place was too young still. So he shouldered through it, and Shikamaru thinks he's happy to finally be stepping away from the role.
He relies to the Hokage the progress of the preparation, now only hours away from taking place. Dignitaries from other villages have arrived and are waiting for it to begin. The room chosen to host the after party set to happen after the ceremony is ready, the cooks preparing to serve all the guests. The roof of the Hokage Tower is decorated, just as the entire village is. Security has been reinforced, with ANBU patrolling the streets and ninjas from other villages lending a help - most of them from Suna and Kumo, places that extended their hands in support after the tragic end of the Fourth Shinobi War.
Kakashi nods along, listening despite the usual disinterest in his eyes that skim a document in his hand, but don't register any of the printed words. "And where is she?"
It takes Shikamaru little time to understand what he means, but it takes him a handful of seconds to catch the slight tremor in the Hokage's voice. He's apprehensive. He had been too worried for her once, and the feeling lingers to this day. "The graveyard, I suppose."
It's a place he'd visited a lot in the past, back before the invasion and Konoha's destruction, lighting incense and cigarettes alike in Asuma's grave, sitting there quietly and letting the silence do the talking. Now his grave is symbolic, his body long lost after the strike, but fresh graves with brand new corpses are occupying some of the space. Two in particular catch most people's attention, though only one gets many gifts and flowers.
"Of course," Kakashi agrees. Tension in his shoulders seeps away and he sighs, rubbing his fingers over his tired eyes. His concern is nearly palpable, and there hasn't been a day Shikamaru hasn't witnessed his worried gaze flitting over the form of his student since they returned from the battlefield. "I won't be too far, but you'll take care of her. Won't you?"
Shikamaru nods. Even if he weren't caught in the whirlwind since the beginning, he would. It's his duty as-
"And try not to distract her too much," Kakashi saves his teasing tones and remarks for rare, few occasions. This looks like one of those. "She will have a lot of work to do." He sweeps his hand at the piled documents lined neatly on his desk.
Shikamaru rolls his eyes half-heartedly, sighs heavily, but there's a slight smile tugging at his lips. "Of course, sir."
Kakashi seems content, eyes crinkling in a smile hidden behind his mask, and plants his hands on the tabletop like he needs the assistance to stand up from his chair. "I'll leave to prepare for the ceremony. Has Tsunade arrived yet?" He leaves once he receives the confirmation, and Shikamaru is left to tidy up the office before preparing as well.
Outside, everyone is dressed in white. Celebrating the rise of a new Hokage is as important to them as seasonal festivals and holidays. There are as many food stalls and music playing now as there are in hanamis, and the throng of people wandering the streets makes it hard for him to move. Somehow, he finds some of the people he's been looking for. Yamato and Sai are on their way to the Hokage Tower, and Ino is sitting behind the counter of the flower shop dabbing her face with a soiled tissue. Tenten and Hinata are there, too, preparing to go to the celebration together. He's not surprised by that. The four of them have grown into an incredibly tight group since the aftermath.
Only an hour remains now, enough time for him to go home, shower and get himself into a new change of clothes. But first, there's somewhere he needs to go, and the farther away he gets from the Hokage Tower and main streets, the less crowded it becomes.
The graveyard is mostly empty. Here, he can listen to his own thoughts, and the quietness of the space gives his ears a rest from the talking from all the inhabitants of Konoha and visitors. His steps on the grass are almost too loud in the peaceful atmosphere, and the agitation that has been powering him through the day ebbs away, gives space to his usual ease. The slight slouch of his shoulders is back and his gait is slow, languid as he walks to the twin graves in the center of the area.
Predictably, she's here, kneeling on the grass before them, in the space in between. The grave to the right has too many flowers arrangements on top to count, too many incenses burning, many offerings lined around it. The one to the left is bare save from a simple arrangement of white blossoms, obviously hers.
He comes to stand beside her, but says nothing, hands deep in his pockets. She doesn't look up at him either, hands in her lap, gaze to the grass. It takes a while before she reaches out to touch both graves and rises to stand, finally turning to him. Her face is dry, but still his thumb sweeps under her bottom lashes, and she smiles.
"They'd be proud of you." The only answer he gets is a tiny sniff from her, and he accompanies her halfway to her house before they split, only to meet again later.
Few people are allowed on top of the Hokage Tower in moments like this. It makes security a tad more difficult, but everyone agrees she can use some support now. Yamato and Sai, Ino and their friends, and her parents are all down on the street as close to the Tower as possible. Tsunade is here on the roof, and Gaara is present too, as the Kazegake would have been present were it his first true friend in her place. Well, they grew close after a shared loss, and his title as leader grants him a nice little spot to watch it from up close.
She comes up from the stairway, fidgeting anxiously, but smiling to accept Tsunade's praises and Gaara's words. Kakashi waits until she disentangles from them and takes a few deep breaths, and finally he steps closer to the railing, a hush falling over the people below.
"Now, we're starting the Seventh Hokage Inauguration Ceremony. It will be hosted by me, the Sixth Hokage, Hatake Kakashi. I would like to thank you all for coming." From where he stands, Shikamaru can see him tightening the grip on the white hat. "As you know, I used to have a student that wanted to be a Hokage more than anything. It was his driving force, his passion. He wasn't a very good ninja in the beginning, but I had the opportunity to watch him grow."
A few chuckles sound among the people, and even Shikamaru lets himself smile at the memory of a clumsy student that never got a basic jutsu right, but somehow became one of the strongest ninja of his generation. He casts a look at the trio across from him, sees in their eyes as they recall moments long past.
"Sadly, he never got to fulfil his dream. The Fourth Shinobi War took so much from us. It took away husbands and wives, partners, siblings, parents, relatives, friends, found family. It took from me two students. It took from the original Team 7 half of its integrants." Kakashi pauses to center himself and take a look at his student, standing between the Kazekage and the Fifth. "But I get to see one of my students become Hokage regardless. She grew up to be a strong, capable ninja, an incredibly skilled medic, trained by the Fifth Hokage herself, and I couldn't be prouder to pass on the title to her."
He turns sideways, stretches his hand in her direction, and she walks up to take it.
"Everyone, meet Haruno Sakura, my student, my successor."
She's crying. He can't see her face from a distance, but by now Shikamaru knows her enough to be able to read the quiver of her shoulders. Kakashi is rubbing her back soothingly, the hat now perched on her head, and she's waving at the people as they cheer her on. She is the best choice, been around Hokages for most of her life to know how politics work, is liked by most of the population for the works she does at the hospital. She's got a bit of a temper, but she's perfect for the job, and the red words on a white backdrop fits her nicely.
Sakura had a bit of a speech done and she goes through only half of it before she has to stop. Below, most of their friends are in tears. Losing Naruto had affected them all too much, left the village with someone more to mourn. They had all thought he'd become undefeatable after wining so many battles, until he was whisked away from them. Accepting Tsunade's suggestion to become Hokage had been her way of honoring her lost teammates.
They head to the large room where they will celebrate shortly after, their friends already there waiting for them. Rock Lee and Kiba sweep her up on their shoulders and chant her name with everyone else as the others clap enthusiastically. Yamato is allowed to congratulate her first, then Sai, and then Ino is barreling through the others and clinging to her like a monkey, the other girls close behind.
Shikamaru watches from the sidelines, nursing a drink and waiting for the right moment to congratulate her. Their eyes meet from time to time, but never linger too long. Kakashi gives him sidelong glances, and he brushes the Sixth away, only half listening to the conversation of the older adults.
Finally, as the hours wear on and it's dark enough for the fireworks, their friends make their way up to the roof, most of them a little too tipsy, but all smiling and laughing. Shikamaru intercepts her then, stopping her before she can follow them outside, pressing her to the wall in the stairway and slotting their lips together, like a perfect fit.
"Congratulations," he whispers before leaning down once again for another brief kiss, then pulls away to let her go before anyone notices them missing.
She smiles at him, cheeks flushed and pretty, takes him by the hand until they reach the roof and have to separate. It's a bit of a secret, known only by a few chosen adults that had been around to witness her mourning from so close, and someday they will disclose it to their friends.
Sakura looks back at him and urges him to lean beside her on the railing, and he watches the fireworks reflecting in her eyes.
So this is a concept I've been working on and off for too long, and I've mentioned it before. It's inspired by a piece of fanart I can't seem to find again, of Sakura visiting Naruto's and Sasuke's graves dressed as Hokage. And I thought - why not? I imagine they're around 25 here. A bit unrealistic, but uh, it's an anime about ninja and tailed beasts and lots of weird stuff, so this is nothing lmao
This is a race against time to post everything, so we'll see how this goes.