Chapter 8

"So this is our escort right?"

"Yes. Some of the best ninja of Suna. My brother is a little bit overprotective."

"A little?"

"Okay a lot…but at least if we are attacked you won't have to fight."

"You mean we?" She gave him a peculiar look. "You are not leaving my side."

"Now who's being protective?" He laughed and they began their journey.

3 days later: Konoha Gates

As they reached the gates, he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close. She simply giggled and tried to push away which only made him pull harder. Finally she surrendered and walked through the gates of Konoha. The first people he saw were his teammates Ino and Chouji along with his Sensei Asuma. Behind them were his parents and the Hokage. To the left were the rest of the Rookie 9, as they still referred to themselves. Naruto had the widest grin on his face and Sakura looked about ready to punch him. Shino, Kiba and Hinata were just standing there. Hinata fidgeting, Shino staring and Kiba grinning almost as big as Naruto. As he walked through the gate, his parents stepped forward and his mother practically strangled him, sobbing as he just sighed. He had still not let go of Temari but with his other arm, he returned his mother's hug. She finally let go, much to his relief, and then it was his father's turn. Instead of hugging him right away as his mom had, he stood there with a smirk on his face, one that Temari recognized as it was the same one Shikamaru had. Then his father leaned in for a hug but it wasn't a strangling hug like his mother's. It was a short one but with more feeling in it than his mom could ever silently show. His father and he had always been close.

His father backed away and his team walked up. Ino began to cry, Chouji offered him chips and Asuma lit another cigarette. After several moments, Ino jumped and if he didn't let go of Temari's waist, he would have been tackled. He returned her hug and them returned to Temari. Sakura, Naruto, Hinata, Shino and Kiba walked up then and after short greetings, backed away and Tsunade's orders.

"Give him some room to breath everyone! I can tell by looking at him that he isn't fully healed yet…" Shikamaru and Tsunade let out a synchronized sigh and everyone began to laugh. Late like always, Kakashi arrived.

"Sorry I am late for the welcome party but Gai was holding me up with his crazy training techniques. Welcome back Shikamaru."

"Thank you."

"Now go home and get resettled. I have to discuss matters with your parents and Asuma privately."

"Yes. Thank you."