HEY GUYS AND GIRLS. THIS IS JUST A SIDE STORY THAT I AM TRYING TO TYPE AND I THOUGHT I WOULD POST IT AND HEAR WHAT YOU GUYS AND GIRLS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT IT. I DON'T KNOW IF I SHOULD CONTINUE WITH IT BUT THIS WAS JUST PLAYING OVER AND OVER IN MY HEAD. IF YOU WANT TO GIVE ANY IDEAS OR WANT ME TO CONTINUE THEN MAYBE MESSAGE ME. IF YOU HATE IT THEN YOU CAN TELL ME AS WELL. I DON'T MIND. THIS STORY DOES SEEM A LITTLE SAD AND DEPRESSING AT FIRST AND IT DOESN'T REALLY GET ANY BETTER SO GOODLUCK.

DISCLAIMER: NARUTO IS NOT MINE. I PREFER SHIKAMARU ANYWAY SO IF IT WAS MINE THEN I WOULD CHANGE THE NAME TO SHIKAMARU SHIPPUDEN!

HAPPY READING:)

He found himself there again. The land without life. The silent, calm surroundings only being brought to life by a single unbreakable flame. Yet there he was, standing amongst the lifelessness getting lost in old memories. The only comfort he had in the peaceful world.

"I hate you guys." He sighed as he said those words. Tears seemed to find their way down tired face. He took his right hand out of his pocket and wiped away the tears hoping that his sadness would be wiped away with it. His arm hung limply beside his side as he lowered his head allowing his tears to drip off his face onto the wind blown grass.

"Back again Shikamaru." He quickly regained his senses and furiously wiped his tears away hoping that she didn't see them.

"Yeah." He stood up straight and turned to the familiar sensei. Kurenai, his sensei's girlfriend. Former sensei that is. She had an array flowers in her hands as usual which always amused Shikamaru. He saw her bending to place the flowers in front of the tombstone but he immediately stopped her.
"Let me." She smiled at him then handed the flowers over to him. He didn't think she couldn't do it but he didn't want her doing anything that lead to her falling and risk complicating her pregnancy. Asuma did tell him to look after his child in his absence and he was damn sure going to do it to the best of his ability. He gently laid the flowers down then went back to his position next to the kunoichi.

"He hated flowers."

"I know." He recalled all the missions with his sensei and remembered how he always tried to change the topic when Ino began talking about different flowers. He got poisoned once and refused to believe Ino when she told him that one of the plants and flowers in the area could cure him. Needless to say they needed him so that had to wait until he passed out until Ino could treat him.

"He always complained that there were too many flower pots at our apartment and I always complained about his smoking especially when I found out that I was pregnant."

"I think he started stressing more after that because his smoking increased rather than decreased."

"You should've seen him at home then. I hardly had a bump in my stomach and he began making sure that I eat enough vegetables and rested a lot." Their light chuckles began lightening the mood around them.

"My mom said that my dad was the opposite. When she told him that she was pregnant then he just replied with an 'oh okay' as if it was normal news. I'm pretty sure he got his ass handed to him after that."

"Your dad wasn't that bad towards the end. He was a lot like you are with me now. Made sure your mom had her regular check ups and didn't make her do any strenuous activities. I think telling any guy that you're pregnant triggers something in them and they start treating you like some valuable object."

"My dad's trigger must've been jammed for a while then." Their laughter silently filled the peaceful place.

"Your mom tells me that you have been spending a lot of time here." He could tell that she was worried about him. He hardly spoke to anyone after the war two months ago. Instead of hanging out with his friends, he decided to spend his time here amongst the dead. Instead of talking to anyone, he let his thoughts wander around here.
"Shikamaru, it's time to move on." There are the words that everyone keeps telling him. How can he move on? He lost his sensei. Asuma wasn't just his sensei, he was like a big brother. He was his guardian. A couple of months after that he lost his father in the war. He lost his father. How can anyone move on after that?

"I can't." He looked down at the grass beneath him refusing to make eye contact with the kunoichi that was probably looking at him with great interest but a sincere look on her face. "When Asuma died, I went to go kill Hidan. I didn't get closure but I was able to move on. My father dies in the middle of the war and everyone around me just acts like it's normal and I have to continue like everything is fine. Now they want me to take his place and move on. I am not Asuma and I am not my father. I can't be them. I just can't." Tears streamed down his face now. He couldn't hold it in anymore. He just let it out. All his pain and agony released on the spot.

"Did Asuma explain who 'The King' really is?" He nodded his head in agreement too afraid to voice his answer. "My little girl isn't going to grow up with a father. It isn't her fault and it isn't my fault and it isn't your fault. We might be in a time of peace but the world is still unfair. Bad things happen to good people. Your father and Asuma were good people but they knew that every time they step outside this village then they would be willing to die to protect 'The King'. They couldn't do it by themselves. They needed people to help them. They knew that someday they wouldn't come back alive just like we know that which is why they prepared for it. They put everything they had in one place so that if they don't return then they won't leave this village without giving something back to it."

"What did they give back to the village?"

"You. Asuma is not going to know his daughter but you were always like a son to him. He taught you everything he knew. In the end, he saw you as his equal and not as his underling. Your father groomed you into the man you are today. You might not think that but he did. You never knew this but your father had a meeting with Lady Tsunade before the war started and told her that he was stepping down so that you can take his place. He didn't discuss it with anyone because he knew that you were ready. You were his pride even if he didn't want you to think that. Just like you, my daughter is not going to have a father or a teacher yet but Asuma trusted you enough to look after her and now I am trusting you enough to take care of her should anything happen to me."

"Don't talk like that." He was honestly scared now. Kurenai was telling him things he wasn't ready to hear. He didn't want to hear it. He knew she was telling the truth but he couldn't deny that he was scared. He was afraid to let anyone down. He was afraid of losing anyone else. He was afraid that he wasn't ready.

"Shikamaru look at me." He reluctantly pulled his gaze towards Kurenai's as she placed her hand on his shoulder. "You're ready. You will never be able to move on right now and you will never be the same. Losing one person you cared about is hard enough but losing two people is even worse. There's nothing anyone can say that will make you feel better but only you can take the first step to continue living. Asuma and your father trained you as best as they could so now it's your turn to carry on their legacy. It's your turn to lead and not follow anymore. It's your turn to protect 'The King'."

Kurenai was right. He couldn't feel sorry for himself forever. He was the leader of his clan now. It was time he started acting like it. Everyone will continue comparing him to his father but he can't follow in his father's footsteps anymore. He will have to make his own.

"I will try my best."

"That's all I can ask for. You won't be alone you know. You have all your friends still. They might all still be mourning the loss of their comrades and Neji but they've moved on as well."

"We're all split up now though. Choji is in ANBU with Sai, Tenten, Lee, Kiba and Shino. Sakura is making the impossible happen. She's like an icon now and so is Naruto. Ino took over her father's role with interrogation unit and Hinata is training with her sister. I think Hinata wants Hanabi to lead their clan."

"What are you going to do then?"

"I don't know. Kakashi asked me to be his assistant and advisor since he became the Hokage so maybe I will accept his offer. I don't think I should go out on missions right now anyway so it's better if I just get put behind a desk and work."

"At least you won't be coming here that much then." She had a victorious smile on her smile as she said those words. That was probably her goal from the beginning and Shikamaru played right into her hands. He really was off his game.
"I'm heading to my last check up so do you want to come with?"

"Is something wrong?" Alarm set in for him. If something happened to Kurenai or her baby then he was definitely going to crazy.

"Relax, I'm fine and the baby is fine. I'm just going for my monthly check up." Relief washed over him. If this is what it was like to be a parent then he really wasn't cut out for it. "It seems like you inherited some of your sensei's stupidity as well. Every time I told him I was going for a check up then he thought that something was wrong."

"Isn't that why you go for the check ups because something is wrong?"

"Sometimes you go make sure that everything is right. You don't have to go every month like me but Asuma wanted me to and I guess it makes me feel safer."

"Looks like Asuma still gets to boss you around even when he's not here anymore."

"I've seen how you eat dinner at home. Your father still controls the way you eat even though you are the head of your clan now." She wasn't lying. Shikamaru could still hear his father's voice inside his head reminding him how to do things properly. It was annoying but Shikamaru didn't want that voice to go away any time soon.

"Like you said, it makes me feel safer." She came him a comforting smile then motioned for him to walk with her.

They silently exited the cemetery and began walking down the lively streets of Konoha. Shikamaru tried convincing Kurenai to take the streets with less crowded people for her own safety but she just flashed him a smile and told him that it would be alright. He wanted to believe her but his mind raced with the possibilities of what could happen to a pregnant lady walking down a crowded street. He should have more faith in her but he had seen too many bad things happen right in front of him that he couldn't help but be on high alert. He was relieved when they finally got to less crowded streets and could see the hospital in the distance. His mind then registered the distance they had just walked. It wasn't that long but for a pregnant lady it was long enough.

"I swear, if you try to convince me to stop and rest or do something else then I will beat you up right here while I am still pregnant." Kurenai threatened him.

"I wasn't going to say anything." He nervously tried to smile as he tried to figure out how she read his mind. They continued walking then finally made it to the entrance of the hospital.

"No wheelchair." Kurenai stared him down before he could protest to anything.

"Troublesome woman." He sighed then put his hands in his pockets and continued. He followed Kurenai because she clearly knew where she was going. She didn't even go to the front desk to check herself in or anything. She just want straight ahead.

"Sakura-chan." Kurenai happily greeted the young kunoichi. Sakura wore the standard medical attire for the hospital but her pink hair still stood out prominently. He was sure that he would recognise her pink hair in a sea of people.

"Good morning Kurenai-sensei." Sakura returned the greeting as Shikamaru closed the door behind him then sauntered over to the windowsill.

"Sorry I am a little late. Your friend over there couldn't stop worrying about me so we had to make regular stops along the way." Kurenai sneakily smirked at Shikamaru who ignored it and looked out at the perfect blue sky littered with puffs of white clouds.

"Pregnant women are just the same like regular women." Sakura told him.

"Except that they're carrying a precious life in their womb." Shikamaru didn't normally retaliate when he was being challenged like this but he cared about Kurenai and her child and he didn't want anything to happen to them.

"Don't underestimate a mother's womb. You would have to use a huge amount of force if you want to penetrate it with a kunai." Sakura definitely wasn't going to back down either. He knew Sakura was a strong woman in all sense of the word. She wasn't always like that though. He knew her since she was young when she and Ino used to hangout. When they saw Choji and Shikamaru hanging around and doing nothing then they would drag them to go play with them. They often got in trouble but they never stopped hanging out together.
When they entered the academy then they started drifting apart. They boys hung out with the boys and the girls hung out with the girls. After classes they would still try and hangout together but it was different than before. Once they became genin and Sakura was placed in a different team then they Choji and Shikamaru would only see her when they were in the village or when Sakura and Ino hung out together but he never forgot her. She was... interesting.

"There's a reason why they tell pregnant women that they should rest a lot." Shikamaru continued looking up at the sky as he spoke. Sakura and Kurenai didn't seem to mind as Sakura began doing her check up.

"Mainly for their backs not to get sore so that they don't put any extra pressure on their hearts. You try carrying a baby in your womb for nine months." He couldn't help but smile as he heard Kurenai and Sakura let out a couple of laughs. He understood Sakura's humour better than most. Her intelligence was greater than most and he liked that she could challenge him on a more intense level but both of them knew that when it came down to it, Shikamaru would most probably be right. But that didn't stop Sakura from trying to get the lazy ninja's tongue twisted.

"Troublesome women." Shikamaru lazily let out then gave her some peace and quiet to focus in while she examined Kurenai. He felt much more anxious than usual. He knew he shouldn't but he couldn't help it. He found himself wishing he was a religious person. He even envied Hidan's religiousness at that moment. If only Shikamaru could lay his anxiety down at the foot of a god and pray that Kurenai's child is alright. He would be willing to dig Hidan up and ask him to teach him how to be half as religious as he was if Kurenai's child wasn't in perfect health.

"All clear Kurenai. You and your baby are as healthy as possible. You should be able to meet her in about 4 weeks if everything goes smoothly." Sakura's words washed over him with relief. He fought himself not to go over to Sakura and kiss her right now for quelling his anxiety.

"That's great news Sakura. Thank you." Kurenai didn't do the same as she stood up and gave Sakura a hug.

"There are some precautions that you have to take now. It's your last month so I advise you to get lots of rest and continue taking those pills that I gave you and stay away from the unhealthy food. Asuma isn't here to back me up anymore so I am giving that job to Shikamaru." Shikamaru immediately turned his attention to the two females.

"Why me? I wasn't even supposed to be here today."

"Well you are so you get to take care of Kurenai until the baby comes."

"He basically does that already." That was true as well. Ever since he came back from the war, he checked in with Kurenai every morning and every night before she went to bed. She tried getting rid of him but he just showed the next day and the next until she gave in. She even gave him Asuma's key to the apartment so that she didn't have to get out of bed every time he came to check up on her.

"Looks the lazy ninja is lazy no more." Sakura's immediately made him shoot her a glare which led to both women laughing.

"Don't you have some patients to kill?"

"They are perfectly capable of killing themselves but I can start with you."

"It's not my time yet but you'll be the first one I tell when it is my time."

"I look forward to it then." This time he smiled as she shot him her smile as well. He liked Sakura. Not romantically so much but he needed her around. She somehow got him. She knew when to push him and when to pull back. They were on the same wavelength you could say.

"If you two need the room then I can wait outside." Kurenai couldn't help but smirk at the two of them. It was as if she was seeing something that they weren't.

"Sakura there is something I need your help with." Lady Tsunade came into the room reading a scroll oblivious to everyone else in the room except Sakura.

"Good morning Lady Tsunade." Shikamaru greeted the former Hokage with a bow. She finally looked up and saw Kurenai sitting on the bed and Shikamaru standing by the window.

"Is everything okay?" Lady Tsunade asked looking a bit confused.

"Everything is perfect. Shikamaru came with me for my check up." Kurenai happily answered the older woman then slowly pushed herself off the bed.

"Anything to worry about?"

"Nope. Everything is on track. The baby should be here in about a month."

"Are you ready for the baby?"

"I am. Asuma did most of the work so Shikamaru and I just finished everything he set up for her. His daughter is going to be safe just like her daddy wanted." Kurenai instinctively put her hands on her protruding stomach.

"How are you holding up Shikamaru?" Lady Tsunade immediately turned her attention to him and examined him from head to toe.

"I've been better."

"Have you been sleeping?" He didn't know how Lady Tsunade could tell that he hadn't been getting enough sleep but somehow she knew.

"I've been sleeping enough."

"No you haven't."

"Is something bothering you Shikamaru?" Kurenai asked him but he could hear the concern in her voice now and he didn't like it. She had enough to worry about on her own so she didn't need to be worrying about him as well.

"Nothing is bothering me. I just can't seem to do anything so I am not tired enough to sleep properly I guess." That was the truth. He spent his days going to clan meetings or just visiting the cemetery. He didn't want to do anything else.

"Well get yourself together. The village needs you." Lady Tsunade told him.

"Yes ma'am." He immediately bowed out of habit.

"We should be going. Thank you again Sakura-chan." Shikamaru followed behind Kurenai as they walked to the door.

"Will I be seeing you tonight Shikamaru?" Sakura asked him before he reached the door. He didn't know what to say. He was confused mainly. He didn't plan on seeing Sakura or anyone else tonight. His plan was like every other night; have dinner with his mother, go to Kurenai's house to check on her, go home and get in bed and hopefully fall asleep.

"What's happening tonight?" He hoped he didn't sound stupid asking that question.

"Our friends are coming over to my house tonight to spend some time together. It's the first night in a long time that all of us will be here in the village at the same time. I asked Lee to tell you yesterday since Ino and Choji are only supposed to come back this morning." He hadn't seen Lee yesterday. Come to think of it, he hadn't seen Lee this week yet.

"I sent Lee and Tenten to go fetch some medical herbs outside the village yesterday. They should probably be back soon though." Lady Tsunade informed them.

"He will definitely be there tonight." Kurenai told Sakura.

"Thanks and can you tell Choji and Ino if you see them please?" Sakura asked him. He nodded in agreement then exited the room with Kurenai. They began making their way out of the hospital.

"Why didn't you tell me that you weren't sleeping?" He knew that Kurenai was going to begin questioning him about it and she definitely wasn't going to back down until she heard the truth.

"I didn't want you to worry about me. You need to take care of yourself."

"How can I not worry about you?"

"Isn't that my mom's job?" He jokingly asked but Kurenai immediately hit his head.

"I told you before that you were like Asuma's son so that makes you my family as well. If you have a problem and you can't talk to your mom about it then you can come to me." Kurenai really was like his mother. Hell, Kurenai, his mother, Ino's mother and Choji's mother became best friends after the war. He could literally go to any one of them with any problem he had and they would help him.

"I'm fine. I'm going to talk to Kakashi about being his assistant and advisor or whatever he wants me to do so I will get back to work and hopefully get into my usual routine again." That's what he hoped for. Whether or not it will happen is out of his control.

"Good. Don't scare me like this again."

"I will try and look after myself better and you will look after yourself better then as well."

"I already do look after myself. I'm craving ramen though."

"I think you've been hanging out with Naruto too much."

"I actually haven't seen Naruto around. Where is he?"

"Studying hopefully. He needs to study if he wants to become hokage. He has the strength."

"And you have the brain power to help him."

"I will be next to him if he becomes hokage but this is something he has to do on his own. There's no shortcut to becoming hokage."

"Do you really think he will be able to do it?" He knew that many people had their doubts about him becoming hokage so he had practise answering that question already. Everyone thought he was joking when he was younger and said that he wanted to become hokage. He even thought that Naruto was joking at one point but he saw how hard Naruto worked to become a genin so he believed that Naruto could do it and he wasn't the only one that believed.
Hinata could see how hard he was trying and believed in him as well. They were from the exact opposite worlds but somehow they were drawn to each other even if he didn't want to show it. After the war they had grown closer though. Neji believed in Naruto and told him so before he died so Naruto had all of our support but not everyone wanted to nine tails jinchuriki as their hokage.

"I do. I believe in him."

"You seem sure that he can do it."

"If he doesn't then Sakura will beat him up."

"Talking about Sakura..." Kurenai grinned as she looked at him and he immediately knew why. "You two seem to have this connection you know." There it was.

"We're friends. We have been since before the academy days."

"I knew Asuma my whole life as well and look how we turned out. Well besides him dying." He couldn't help but laugh as Kurenai laughed as well. He was surprised by how comfortable she was talking about his death. He wasn't able to do it and he didn't think he would ever be able to but he was glad that she could.

"Asuma always loved you. Sakura is in love with Sasuke."

"I know love and I know that Sakura was in love with Sasuke but there is no love between them anymore." He suspected that much. After the war Sasuke and Naruto fought and got their arms blown off, idiots. Lady Tsunade built them arms but Sasuke didn't want one so he left the village again despite Sakura offering to go with him this time. After that it was like Sakura became more open. She wasn't pining over him anymore so she was free to do whatever she wanted to do.

"Love doesn't disappear."

"Obviously not. Sasuke and Sakura will still have that bond between each other but they're not in love with each other. I don't think Sasuke ever was anyway. You and Sakura get along perfectly though. Your banter is clearly more than just your everyday banter."

"There's nothing going on between us."

"Keep telling yourself that Shikamaru."

"Just focus on keeping you and your baby safe." Shikamaru let his frustration get the better of him as a light blush appeared on his face. Kurenai chuckled to herself as she watched the lazy ninja.

They continued on their way to her apartment and Shikamaru made sure that she was okay and comfortable, even though it was her own home. He then made his way to the Hokage's office taking the long way around hoping that he wouldn't bump into any of his friends. He got to the building without any delays and Shizune let him into the office.

"Hokage-san." Shikamaru immediately bowed when Kakashi looked up at him. His desk was filled with folders and paperwork just like Lady Tsunade's was and probably the other previous Hokage's as well.

"It's nice to see you again Shikamaru. How are you holding up?" He could tell that Kakashi was being sincere. Kakashi really changed after the war and after he became hokage. He became more... human. Not that he wasn't human before but he wasn't as openly caring as he was now. He became softer in a way but he would definitely not tell him that because he was sure that Kakashi could beat him with both hands tied behind his back.

"I'm good."

"That's good to hear. Do you need something?"

"I wanted to know if the position as your advisor was still available for me." His right eyebrow immediately jumped up but Shikamaru would bet that he was smiling under his mask.

"Are you sure that you're ready to begin working again?"

"Not immediately but maybe I could start working in a couple of days. A desk job is more than enough for now. I don't think I am able to go on missions right now."

"I understand. I look forward to working with you again Shikamaru."

"I look forward to working with you as well Hokage-san."