(Note: I do not own Naruto, its characters or anything of the sort. This is just a Fanfiction)
The summer's warmth gave rise to autumn's beauty; only to have the winter mistress cover the world in a veil of purity and stillness. In time though, the icy veil was lifted and spring once again returned to the village of Konoha. The streets lay laden with the puddles from the spring rains and the air was thick and heavy. The village was quiet as the morning sun crept across the skyline, blanketing the village in a brilliant flash of golden light.
A long shadow glided along the sunbathed streets toward the Hokage's Office; for Shikamaru he loved mornings…it was the only time he could actually get anything done without being interrupted. He walked up the long winding steps of the Hokage's Office toward the roof…his private office. Shikamaru couldn't stand the thought of an enclosed room with no windows or chance to just watch the clouds. Tsunade-sama had argued numerous times that her Chief Tactician and Foreign Advisor should have a proper office, but she soon learned to it was pointless trying to convince him once he had made up his mind.
Sitting down with his legs crossed, Shikamaru breathed slowly and began to concentrate; bringing his hands into his routine thinking pose. He systematically went through each topic that had to be delt with during the day, all events and reports, and finally came up with the perfect defensive design of the new gateway he had been struggling over for the past week. Shikamaru let out a long exhale and detached his hands from one another, while opening his eyes to the Konoha skyline. No matter how many times he had come up here in the past year he had never gotten used to how beautiful the village looked when all was quite and peaceful.
"You don't have to hide anymore, you can come out now", said Shikamaru.
He had not batted an eyelash nor turned his head, yet he had been aware of the ANBU messenger hiding close behind him for the past 10 minutes. The messenger came behind Shikamaru and dropped to one knee.
"My apologies, Hokage-sama wishes to speak with you in her office when you are finished."
"Thank you."
With that, the ANBU messenger disappeared in a puff of smoke. Shikamaru slowly rose to his feet and walked to the Hokage's Office. He arrived in front of the door and went to knock when:
"Come in"
"How does she always do that?", wondered Shikamaru.
He opened the door and walked inside to see the Hokage already sorting through a large mountain of paperwork, and her ever faithful assistant Shizune stacking more documents on top.
"Enough paperwork already, I can hardly see behind all this! Shikamaru…"
"Hai, Hokage-sama."
"Why were you so late coming back from your previous mission in the Land of Grass?"
"I had to stay behind to conclude the diplomatic proceedings and I didn't want my other shinobi that could be used for other missions staying behind when they would be of more use elsewhere."
"I understand that; however, I don't understand why you insist on lying to me on why a two day journey took you four days to get back."
"The proceedings took a little longer than I previously thought."
"Hmm…No doubt a visit to Sunagakure along the way though…Am I right?"
Shikamaru continuted to stand erect and didn't answer the Hokage's question. His cheeks began to blush a bit, and he felt embarrased at being found out.
"No matter, I have a new assignment I need you to handle."
"Hai."
"As you know, your plan for a Konohamure embassy in each of the Five Main Countries was recently passed by the council here and I've sent all the people you asked to be apart of it to their respective countries…all but one. Your choice for Sunagakure was not up to par, and I cannot let someone with such insufficient experience and knowledge become the ambassador for our greatest ally.
"But, he's been the upmost authority on the Wind Country for the past 15 years…"
"And that's exactly why I couldn't let him go."
The Hokage sat behind her desk with a content smirk on her face.
"I'm naming you the official Ambassador to Sunagakure until such a time as a suitable replacement can be found. The Kazekage himself has requested that you fill the position, so my hands are tied."
After a silent pause and smile, Shikamaru looked at the Hokage as said:
"Thank you Hokage-sama."