Thank you for the positive reviews! And yeah, I believe that the plot I have in mind is going to be dramatic and chaotic. ShikaHina is an odd pair but I adore them. Also, I kind of like crazy plots… makes it more interesting don't yah think?
Note: Mirai Sarutobi's age is nine or ten years old.
-o-o-o-
Chapter Two
Shikamaru eyed the purple plant that was sitting on top of the table. Based on the pot and how well it was placed, he took it that his wife passed by Ino's flower shop today. Temari doesn't love flowers that much but Ino was a persuasive enough person.
He gave the plant a week.
Temari emerged from the kitchen, carrying a tray of steaming hot stew and a few side dishes. The apron that she was wearing was placed awkwardly around her waist because it was tied into a clumsy not. No matter how Temari was graceful when it comes to weapons like her giant fan, she was the total opposite when it comes to house chores.
She placed the tray with a little force than needed and some of the stew spilled. Shikamaru was fast enough to get out of the way and Temari hissed. "I'm sorry." She hastily plucked a dish cloth from her apron pocket and wiped the spilled contents.
"Smells good." Shikamaru said as the delicious aroma filled his nose. "Did you cook it?"
Temari shook her head. A cuisine like this was just out of her ability. She practiced a lot behind her husband's back but she was just not cut out for cooking. Ever since she was a child, she was very competitive and it pissed her big that one of the most basic house chores was too hard for a seasoned Kunoichi like her. "I bought it."
Shikamaru nodded, not surprised at all. "And the plant?"
"Ino forced it on me."
Again, the Nara clan head was not surprised. Ino was just being Ino. "I am going to attend a dinner party for all the clan heads this week—"
"I am not going." Temari placed a bowl in front of her husband, trying to be careful as she filled it with soup and vegetable chunks. She heard about the said meeting and the Hyuga clan was going to be the one hosting it. Temari told herself that she has nothing against the Hyuga clan but she hated dressing up and all that prim and proper etiquette was making her choke.
"Hinata personally told me to bring you." Shikamaru said, noticing the bitter expression that passed over his wife's face. Temari was a friendly person, even though it was not obvious to some. She was just having issues when it comes to clan meetings because she hated doing girly stuffs like dressing up in a kimono and wearing her hair in a different style aside from her four spiky ponytails.
Shikamaru got to admit that he understood. Those things are troublesome.
"Urgh." Temari scowled. Hinata was one of the nicest people she has the luck to be acquainted and Temari hated turning her down. "Tell them I'm sick."
Shikamaru was silent but he took the bowl that Temari offered him and ate. Being a clan head was not an easy task but his father was a clan head before him and no matter how troublesome, he knew he has to do his best. As he chewed, he noticed that Temari removed the plant off the table.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm going to put it outside the house later. Ino said they will grow in cool places and this is the hottest area in the house."
"Looks like it."
"Yeah. Oh… my brother is arriving tomorrow." Temari said and then regretting that she did. Shikamaru was Naruto's advisor and right hand man so he probably was aware about it. "Oh right… I forgot. You know that of course."
"I do. Is he going to stay in our house?"
"I don't know. Gaara could not leave Suna too long."
-o-
"What took you so long?" Naruto asked as he ushered his wife inside their home. When he looked at the clock, it was already eleven in the evening and he has been waiting for three hours. Hinata looked worn out so he frowned at her. "Hinata… Hanabi asked for your help again didn't she?"
Hinata sat down on the couch as Naruto walked over the fridge and got her some water. "I told you not to wait for me Naruto-kun… You have an early meeting with the Kazekage tomorrow and I don't want you dozing off again like the last time."
"But I can't sleep without you." He passed her the glass of water.
Hinata smiled. "I'm s-sorry. Hanabi was having a hard time being the new clan head and father is not as young as he used to. I have to help my sister. Without Neji-Nii… me and Hanabi has to help each other in leading the clan…"
Naruto sat beside Hinata and rubbed his chin. "I told father that Hanabi is too young to lead the clan at nineteen."
"She's s genius… I believe she can do it."
"Have you eaten?" Naruto asked.
"Yes. And you?"
"Cup noodles—"
Hinata straightened up and gave her husband a sharp look. She told him a thousand times already that no cup noodles during supper. It was not good for the body and never will be. "I told you…"
"I'm sorry… just this one time I promise."
You said that the last time.
The next morning, Hinata woke up early like usual and prepared breakfast even before Naruto was awake. And when he was awake, she helped him bandaged his arm—the new arm that was the replacement for the one that got cut during his fight with Sasuke— and made sure that his clothes were well-ironed and presentable.
Her husband was going to talk about the peace treaties with Suna today so…
"Delicious." Naruto said after eating his fill. When Hinata stopped beside him to get his used plate, he pulled her by the waist and she ended sitting on his lap. His wife made protests so he wrapped her in his embrace for good measure.
"Naruto… y-you need to hurry or you're going to be late."
"Just a minute with my wife." Hinata stopped struggling and sat still. Naruto pressed his face on her back and sighed. His wife always smells so good it was intoxicating. "I have an appointment with Sakura today… well, later."
"You're arm…"
"Yeah."
"I baked cookies yesterday. Why don't you bring Sakura-chan some? She loved the cookies I baked the last time." Hinata said as she remembered how the pink-haired medic fought her way against Choji and his red haired girlfriend in order to get a hand on her cookies.
"Okay… but make sure to leave me some."
"Okay."
When Naruto left for his early meeting, Hinata cleared the table and wiped the sink. Her father offered a few times to assign helpers to help with her house chores but she declined. She likes it when she was the one who does all the housework. Naruto always helps and even if they were both busy sometimes, it was enjoyable.
After making sure that the kitchen was clean and everything was on proper place. Hinata removed her apron and walked out of the house. Outside, she glanced at her herbs and floral garden as she walked passed it. The flowers were in full bloom and the colors unique. It would surely make Ino proud.
Mentally reminding herself to bring Neji's grave sunflowers later, Hinata followed the road that would lead her to training ground thirteen. She told her genin team yesterday to wait for her there and go on with their practice with or without her. Her team consisted of an Aburame, an Inuzuka, and a Hyuga.
It was like her old team all over again.
"Mom."
Hinata saw a ruby eyed girl running towards her. It was a young girl with slightly messed hair and a chakra signature that was identical to the late Sarutobi Asuma. The girl has Shikamaru Nara in tow. "Mirai…Shikamaru." Hinata smiled.
Shikamaru scratched his head. "Hinata…"
"She wanted you to train her again?" Hinata asked the Nara with a knowing look. Mirai can be persuasive sometimes or too eager. It was an attitude developed when she was very young because team Asuma and team Kurenai has her pampered she could almost get away with murder.
The young Sarutobi also calls Hinata 'mom'. It started when Hinata was baby-sitting Mirai and out of nowhere, the young girl started calling her that way—much to Kurenai's delight. Shikamaru also gained the title of 'dad' a few weeks later.
"How a-about the meeting?"
Shikamaru shrugged. "It's Gaara. You know him and Naruto. The peace treaty is just formality."
Mirai grabbed Hinata's hand. "Mom… train with me too…"
"But I have my genin team Mirai-chan…"
"Please."
Shikamaru pulled Mirai by the collar and jerked her back. "Mirai. That's enough."
"Dad." Mirai whined but Shikamaru would not let go. Hinata smiled at the sight because the Nara was acting so fatherly to Asuma's daughter it was nice. Mirai needs a fatherly figure after all, and Kiba or Chouji were far from being one.
They were like naughty uncles who spoil the girl rotten.
"But…"
"Hinata is busy. You already have me to train you." Shikamaru looked upwards and saw that the sky was bright and no signs of coming rain. It was good for training and he could use his shadow jutsus freely too. Unexpectedly, his fingers twitched and an urge to grab a cigarette stick kicked in. Shikamaru looked at Hinata, wondering what she might say if he lightened a cigarette in front of Mirai.
Ino always rants about it so…
Mirai continued to pout and Hinata sighed. "Okay… you can train with me and my team today. I hope you will find them good company Mirai-chan… they are nice."
"Which training field?" Mirai's eyes lightened up.
"Thirteen."
"Oy… Hinata…"
"Yay!" with a victorious whoop and mutterings of thank you, the girl was off like lightning, leaving dust on her wake. Shikamaru shook his head and pocketed his hands, still contemplating if he could light a cigarette without receiving a sermon. Temari would not let him hear the end of it.
"You are letting Mirai have her way again." He told Hinata.
Hinata shrugged. "She's young."
"I received her academy report card. Shino said that she's a ruckus inside the classroom."
"Mirai doesn't have the calm of her mother." Hinata answered with another smile. Shikamaru's eyes were darting between her and his pocket. She saw a cigarette stick sticking out of it. "Ano… smoking is not good for your heath Shikamaru… please be moderate with it."
"Uh…sure." Shikamaru removed his hands away from the cigarette and curled then on the back of his neck.
"I'll b-be going now Shikamaru-kun…"
"You better." The Nara's lips tilted. "Thanks for relieving me of Mirai today."
-o-o-o-
Haruno Sakura curled her fingers around a small glass like orb and watched in wonder as the small white flakes inside rained down on a small ceramic girl. Beside her, Lee waited for her answer patiently with glittering eyes. "Uh… this is beautiful Lee. Where did you get this?"
"Snow Country. They call it snow globes." Lee answered happily as he fingered a red string on his bandaged hands. "Do you think Tenten will like it?"
"I'll be damned if she doesn't"
Lee brightened up more and he flashed Sakura a sparkly grin. "Thank you Sakura-chan! I know I could rely on you with your terrific taste!"
"Well thanks Lee…"
After trying the red ribbon around the snow globe—with Sakura's help—Lee darted out of Sakura's office with a huge smile on his face. It was his and Tenten's anniversary of being in a relationship so he was very excited about the present he bought for the weapon mistress. It was from his last mission's earnings and he was happy that he was able to purchase something beautiful.
Sakura closed the door of her office and returned to her desk, picking a few scraps of gift wrapper on the way. She crumpled the colorful wrapper into a ball and threw it in inside a waste bin. The paper ball hit its mark and Sakura gave a small victorious sound.
It was also at the same time that the door opened.
"Lee is acting weird." Naruto stepped inside the clinic in all of his Hokage glory. The white cloak with the fire designs caught Sakura's eyes so she was not able to say anything for a few seconds until Naruto grinned. "Hey Sakura-chan… you look distracted."
Sakura blinked. "Sorry… I'm still not used at seeing you wearing the Hokage get-up."
"Well… I'm still new to the position so I think it's normal."
"You look good though."
"Gee… thanks!" Naruto scratched his head and for a short moment, Sakura was lost in memories when Naruto was still a young rascal… no… idiot rascal…who did nothing but be in trouble because of his loud mouth. Looking at him now, living his dream, Sakura swelled with pride.
Naruto walked closer and flicked the pink diamond on Sakura's forehead. The Haruno gave an annoyed grimace and crossed her arms. "Stop that. Hows the peace talks going?"
"I'm getting the hand of it. Hey Sakura-chan…I heard Sasuke visited you yesterday. Some guards saw him…"
Sakura's face fell. She looked down and her arms uncrossed themselves to hang limply on her sides. Naruto instantly caught the change of mood and it made him frown. Sasuke was now a roaming nin but he stops at Konoha sometimes, maybe once every six months…
"Yeah… he did alright."
"Did he do something stupid again?" Naruto hated seeing Sakura so down. He wanted her to be happy. Sakura deserves it. "That Teme… I really am going to give him a—"
"He asked me to see his arm… or what used to be his arm."
Naruto stopped from going on his rant and his lips formed into an 'O'. "I see… I thought he did something terrible again…"
Sakura bit her lip.
Naruto raised a fist. "That idiot…"
"No. Actually Naruto… he did the opposite. He did nothing."
"Uh… I don't get it."
Sakura smiled and shook her head. "Never mind about that." She walked to the Hokage and placed a hand on his shoulder. Naruto was way taller so she has to strain in order to do it. Unlike the other nins, she and Naruto acted informally around each other… even though he was now Hokage. It just seems neutral and they were not team seven for nothing.
They have a bond.
Sakura pushed Naruto down on a chair. "Okay… roll your sleeve up and let me see your arm."
"Yes maam."
She gave Naruto a shove on the head. "Don't call me that. It makes me feel like an old lady."
"You are old."
"I'm not."
"You should start a family Sakura-chan…"
Sakura scoffed. "Geez. Thanks for the advice." As she helped Naruto rolled up the sleeve of his white cloak, Sakura could feel the hard muscles underneath. Unconsciously, she wondered how Naruto—a once snotty kid—was able to transform into a handsome, tall, and well-muscled man.
Sometimes Sakura can't help but wonder if she would have been happy if she gave Naruto a chance. "Say Naruto… how's being Hokage? I don't see you often."
"Sorry about that. Being a village Kage is not all free time. I have to do a lot of work."
When the sleeves were rolled, Sakura started removing the bandages. The way the strips of white cloth around Naruto's arm were tied neatly, she took it that it was tied with Hinata's help. "Stretch your arm a bit."Placing the bandages on a tray for later discarding, Sakura started checking the arm.
"How does it look?"
"Pretty good actually."
"Oh."
"Hey Naruto…"
"Hm?"
"I kinda miss bonding with you." In the past, Naruto has all the time for her. Now he has his job and his wife to divide it to and Sakura was feeling left out. She was after all there with Naruto before he became those great things people call him to be.
"Yeah… me too."
-o-o-o-
-crazychan
