I Do Not Own Naruto
Chapter 3
Temari stared at the lover in her bed and sighed. She did trust him, that was part of her problem. Never before had she trusted someone like she did Shikamaru, it surpassed her entrusting her life and heart in his hands, he held her loyalty and she dreaded the thought of someone exploiting that.
"I do," she answered calmly as she picked up a robe and pulled it around herself. Since the end of the war she would admit that hers' and Shikamaru's relationship truly surpassed village loyalties and politics; no matter how political their relationship could become. It had superseded every boundary she had put around her heart, and since the beginning she was pretty sure she had been stuck on him, and only him. But they would never and could never be; she was the daughter of the late Kazekage, the sister to the current Kazekage, he was the head of a prominent clan of Konoha, they would never be more than what they were now. "However, I am not naïve enough to believe that what we have will supersede our duties and responsibilities to our people."
"It is for our people that we belong together," Shikamaru stated as he caught her hand. "I am working on a proposal."
"Shikamaru," she started.
"Not just for you and I," he said. "Though that is a selfish factor in my proposal," he omitted. "The peace we have created is tenuous, it is still very fragile and the foundation for it, while strong might not continue to the next generation. Children will not know what we know, believe they know best, forget the tragedies of our generation and the Fourth Great Shinobi War will start. However, I have a proposal that if marriage alliances are made, prominent matches of each village met, then there is hope to further sow the seeds of peace for the next generation."
"That's… Shikamaru, this practice has been band since the Warring States Era," she stated.
"I'm aware. And I've researched it closely," he said as he seemed to develop an interest in her hand. Temari didn't dissuade his interest.
The idea did hold merit, for in the past Clan alliances were always sturdy; for a generation or two, and these matches were made in the best interests of the people. And a sharing of culture as Clans welcomed the brides or bridegooms into their midst. It would be an opportunity to mix blood and bring about changes in the villages. But it was also a dangerous proposal for some would utilize the time to implant spies, sow the seeds of distrust. It was a precarious idea.
And yet, on her selfish heart, it held appeal if she could actually make a political match that would be her equal. Temari had been evading her Elders for so long about marriage because none of the potential matches interested her. It was as if the Elders could not find a man to be her equal, instead they presented brainless studs who could no doubt fuck her brains out but couldn't hold a conversation for a minute. Shikamaru was a man she was attracted to and who matched her in wits, ideals, and expectations.
"What are you proposing; exactly?" she asked.
His dark eyes flicked up to her as a lazy smile pulled on his lips. "Konoha has many ancient and old Clans with deep political pull within our community, no doubt Suna has shinobi Clans like that as well, as would the other nations. There are also many heroes in Konoha, and there are not many married young heroes, and I have researched that the same could be said for the other nations. Perhaps matches to be had would open opportunities for new blood in the villages, with fresh perspectives, and familial ties between shinobi clans alike," he said.
"That is clever, and appealing, but it sounds suspiciously like a cattle market," she stated.
"It is," he answered. "Have a member Kuni be a match maker to ensure impartial results, that would be true matches. Have the called upon clans, and war heroes fill out information to make the best matches. Have the Shinobi Union create a clause for compensation to the families, and custody rights for the children to be, and create a time when the shinobi would all gather to memorialize the War. It would be a lesson."
"Force children, and warriors to remember a brutal war they would rather not dwell on? That would probably cause more to commit suicide than willingly come to the marriage arrangement."
"The memorializing of the War is important," Shikamaru said softly.
"Why do you say that? I know I would rather forget it, never dwell upon it, and continue with my life, and I know many feel as I do."
Shikamaru was silent for a long time as he traced her fingers and stared at their hands before he pushed himself up in bed. Temari saw a somber tone overtake him as he looked her in the eye then.
"Temari, how much do you know about Ino-Shika-Chō?" he asked her softly.
Temari stared back at him as she racked her brain. All she knew; truly knew, was that the three clans; Akimichi, Nara and Yamanaka were close; generations close. Ino referred to Chōji and Shikamaru as her brothers, and they referred to her as their sister in turn. It was clear that with the Ame festival secrets they were unbelievably close; it wasn't just the Heads of the Clans either. She had rarely witnessed a Nara without an Akimichi or Yamanaka close to them, so the relationship ran deep within the Clans. And this relationship; she was relatively certain she had heard it referred to as generations deep.
"Not much, just that there is a unique bond between your Clans," she admitted.
Shikamaru nodded slowly and then his eyes looked sharp as he leaned back against her headboard.
"Sixteen generations of Nara, Akimichi and Yamanaka have worked to keep the alliance of Ino-Shika-Chō."
Her mouth fell open at that.
Shikamaru smiled a bit at her reaction as he studied her face and he took a deep breath. "We have always been shinobi, since the start of shinobi, but out alliance was not created in a time of shinobi. Merely farmers, hunters, and gatherers. Our Clans had settle in that valley separately," he said.
"Now, the legend has it, we did not get alone. However, there was a mutual decision for peace in the mountains the three Clans inhabited; there were no borders between the Clans as the mutual toleration was endured. The discovery of jutsu's that the families used is long since lost to history, we dare not think of when we even created such abilities.
"We predate the Uchiha and Hyūga and Senju's arrival in the valley. The only other clan that I know to come after us is the Sarutobi Clan," he said softly.
"I do not know what possessed our Clans, but a war came, some warlord of unknown importance came to claim our lands, a great warrior he was called to be, and the tentative truce between the Akimichi, Nara, and Yamanaka soon fell as this warlord attacked."
"It wasn't an Uchiha was it?" Temari frowned.
"Actually know, my family can date when the Senju, Uchiha, and Hyūga came to the valley, but they were not our tormentors." He said softly. "The slaughter of so many of our Clansmen has the remaining three Clans come together, with the aid of the Sarutobi Clan."
"Why is the Sarutobi Clan not in your alliance?" she demanded then.
"If you stopped interrupting I could continue."
Temari's cheeks reddened at that. He smiled a bit.
"Now, I do not know how many generations before had lived upon our land in harmony, but I know when we came together. The Sarutobi had been slaughtered in their homes by the warlord and there were few of them left, they called upon their neighbors for aid. The Nara, Akimichi, and Yamanka came, to assist, now, only a member of Ino-Shika-Chō know how our union was founded, but the foundation that was formed was unwavering as the Clans came together and our secrets were learned, and the battle waged against that warlord has cemented generations of our unions.
"We predate Konoha, we predate our homeland, and our union will be standing after the fall of the villages; I fully believe that."
"Why though?"
"Because, Temari, we remember. We remember, the memorializing of our triumph and our losses force us to remember why we lean on each other, why it is our duty to protect the next generation, to raise the next generation and instill the unwavering values which has made our union flourish. The Nara, Akimichi, and Yamanaka Clans union predated the Uchiha and the Senju, and if they had asked us how to create a lasting foundation for peace we'd have told them."
"You believe peace is possible?" Temari asked softly. Her lashes were fluttering a bit as she looked at their hands now.
"I believe sixteen generations predates the foundations of our villages, all of our villages," he murmured. "And we will continue our union," he said. "Ino, Chōji and I will bear the next generation, and we will raise them together, tell our stories together, we will teach them together, for our strength is in our union and we do not believe otherwise. I hope that with all I know of peace from our Clans, that with your help we can teach the world true peace."
"And you expect me to believe that in sixteen generations you lot have never throttled each other?" she mused.
"Oh no, we have, but we stand as one, Temari. The shinobi world has never done that, until the Fourth Great Shinobi War, I would like it if we could keep ourselves standing as one," Shikamaru said. "Marriage is a good union and a solid foundation for sowing the seeds. But the children from these unions, they would be able to learn true peace," he said. "We are not doing this for ourselves, we're doing it for the children."
"And what if I want to marry you for the sake of marrying you?"
"I would love to," he smiled. He loved her, he did, he knew that to the core of his person. Shikamaru didn't know when he had fallen in love with her, but he had, and he didn't want to marry anyone other than her. Temari was his equal, his match, and damn did she scare the hell out of him.
"Really?" Temari asked skeptically.
"In the words of the wisest man I knew 'If she doesn't scare the hell out of you she isn't the one for you', and you scare the hell out of me Temari."
"Then let us draw up a proposal, speak to my brother, your Hokage and let us figure this out."
"Good," he said as he leaned forward to kiss her lightly. He wanted to marry her, he wanted have a life with Temari, a life which they could build true peace and have happiness. The War seemed to have drained the world of happiness, even as it recovered slowly.
"I will be your nagging wife though," she warned.
"I am looking forward to that."
"And if you do something stupid, like trying to die on the moon again, I will kill you and bury your damn body in the middle of the desert where no one will ever find you," she warned.
"Good to know," he drawled out.
"Good." She stood. "I'm going to get a shower, then I will be having dinner with my brothers, you're free to join me," she smiled.
"We should conserve water," he decided as her robe slid down her body again and a coy smile tugged on her lips.
"I meant for dinner."
"What a drag," he groaned. He didn't want to be interrogated by her brothers! Still, he walked after her and caught her waist as they walked into the freezing shower.
I am not here for any other reason than to finish MY stories. I will not accept PMs or cyber bullying here on ff and if you should feel inclined to act in such manner I will ignore you or block you. I will not be involved with the Naruto fandom again, I am merely here to write.
Other than that, I Hope You Enjoy Until the Day I Act.
