Author's Note:
Before We start this chapter, especially with it being a special one, I would like to remind everyone that most of my content is non-canon. I just wanted to bring this up to keep people from being confused. I've gotten a few questions about some of my content and its order, so I just wanted to give a quick reminder for everyone. Thanks for the continuous support! Love you guys!
Reviewer Shout-out: I-Love-Trunks1 & Ookima
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Chapter 62: A Weasel and A Deer
Normal P.O.V.
After the group returns to The Hidden Leaf, they meet Tsunade and Jiraiya in the private hospital wing where she observes Sasuke's eyes and Sakura and Karin's handy work.
"I say you two did an excellent job with whatever operation was performed. Now, we just need to see how Sasuke's eyes heal over the next few days before testing them out," she smiles.
"I thought you only wanted me to rest them on the travel back to the village?" Sasuke asks.
"Yes, but since we now know that there are more severe consequences the more power you wield in those eyes of yours, the more careful we must be. With that being said, I will also require you to remain within this room until I have deemed you ready to enter the battlefield again. While you guys were gone, I was told that Madara and Obito are on the move no and are likely to be starting the Fourth Shinobi War sooner than we anticipated. We must start preparing now,"
"Right!" everyone shouts.
"Good. Sakura, Karin, you both are free to go home and rest for the day. Shizune and I will be monitoring him from here. I'll see you both bright and early tomorrow,"
"Yes, Milady," both nod before exiting the room.
"So, did this Tobi say anything while you guys were there?" she asks as she sits in a nearby chair.
"Not too much. We did discover that he's hoarding all of the Sharingan activated eyes of the slaughter Uchiha clan, including Itachi's, inside of a cave though," Shikamaru shrugs with his hands in his pockets.
"Excuse me?" The Slug Queen says with an eyebrow lifted.
"Yeah about that," Naruto starts while nervously scratching his ears, "When we entered a cave at the Mountain Graveyard, he showed us a wall where he is keeping the eyes of the Uchiha clansman who activated their Sharingan before Itachi slaughtered them,"
"That's disturbing. But just how in the hell did he get them?" Jiraiya asks.
"He said that he retrieved them off of Danzo's corpse," Sasuke blatantly answers.
"Well, that explains why we couldn't find the old man after you two killed him," Jiraiya sighs.
Tsunade smacks her hand over her face before rubbing it in frustration, "Any more surprising news I should know about?"
"We did do some light interrogating about why he's working for Madara and Obito," Kakashi speaks, "However, it didn't really get us far. All he said was that he was indebted to them for something that couldn't be monetarily paid but that he wasn't their servant,"
"Why is it that most of these people want to speak in riddles," she sighs while leaning back in her chair.
"I think we still might have a shot with him though,"
"Naruto, forever the optimist," Shikamaru sighs with a smile.
"No, I'm serious! He may be working for the bad guys, but he also said that he's not their servant. That means that we might still have a chance to change his heart and mind,"
"Or he could be using your kindness as a weakness to kill you, dobe,"
"I'm serious Sasuke. He asked us to usher in a world full of love and peace because he can't. That means deep down inside somewhere, he still has some ray of hope. Maybe I can reach it somehow,"
"Well, if anyone can do it, you can. That's for sure," Shikamaru smiles with his hand on Naruto's shoulder, "Are we finished here? I would like a nap and some food after all of this troublesome business,"
"Yes. You all are dismissed. I must report to the other Kages anyway. I'll be back Sasuke, but Shizune will be here to watch over you in a moment after she finishes her rounds," Tsunade says as she stands up and pushes her chair in.
"I'll stay with you until she comes in too. After that, I'll run to our apartment, shower, and change, grab some food and clothes for us too,"
"Naruto, you don't have to stay~. Nevermind. I'll have one of the nurses to make a bed for you. Come on ya Old Toad. Let's get this meeting over with,"
"Right behind you, my Slug Queen,"
As Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Shikamaru exited the room, Naruto tries to help Sasuke get comfortable until he's pushed away.
"You know, you two remind me of me and my old teammate,"
"Your old teammate?! You mean from when you were a Genin?!" Naruto yells in excitement, causing Kakashi to nod, "What were you like?! Tell us! Tell us! Tell us!"
"Oh, you wouldn't want to hear any of my old stories from when I was a Genin,"
"Actually, yes we do," Sasuke smirks.
"Fine, fine. But promise you won't tell anyone else or laugh," both Sasuke and Naruto nod. Kakashi sighs as he sits in a nearby chair with his arms and legs crossing, "Now, where do I start?"
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Having left the hospital and his comrades behind, Shikamaru makes his way back to his apartment. Just as he gets ready to get his keys out, he senses a familiar presence behind the door. With a smirk, Shikamaru slowly opens the door to see a feisty blond-haired, weasel woman reading a scroll on his couch.
"Ya know, when I agreed to give you a key to my apartment, I didn't mean for you to use it anytime you want," he says while closing the door.
"Then what's the point of me having it? Besides, someone must make sure you're not dead in here. It's not like you can take care of yourself since you moved out of your parents' house," she smirks as she puts her scroll down before getting up to greet him with a quick kiss on the lips, "Welcome home by the way,"
"Thanks. What are you doing here anyway?"
"Since when did I need a reason to visit my long-distance boyfriend? We have been together since after I saved you and your team from that Sasuke Retrieval mission after all,"
"Oh haha. You're funny today. I take it Gaara and Kankuro don't need you right now and you wanted to bother me?" he asks as he walks into the kitchen to find some food.
"Something like that. I already made your food. I figured you were gone on a mission and would be hungry when you returned,"
"You know me so well," Shika's smirk widens as he picks up the wrapped-up plate and sits at the kitchen table.
"So, what was the mission?" Temari asks as she sits at the table across from him.
"Can't really say. One of those top-secret missions,"
"Hn. Fair point. Answer me this… what do you think about this war?"
"What about it?"
"I don't know. I mean, sure we've been in battles and fights before, but nothing like this. A full out war. The Five Nations against, what two guys and their army? Am I the only one who thinks that's insane?"
Her comment makes him stop eating. Shikamaru straightens his back as he wipes his mouth and looks her in the eyes with a serious expression, "Are you afraid?"
"No," she blushes, "Ok yeah I am. But how could you not? Shika, we've never experienced something as big as this. A lot of people are going to die. It shouldn't be that big of a deal, because it's only these two guys and their army. But that's what makes this scarier. I've been helping and talking with Gaara as we prepare our people for this war. It's… too much sometimes. I had a little girl tell me she didn't want her father to die in the war and cried and begged me to protect him for her. How could I look her in the face and make that kind of promise to a kid? I couldn't. I just told her that I would do my best and that Gaara, Kankuro, the Five Hokages, and I will do everything we can to protect everyone. That seemed to do the trick, but I felt like a liar. She isn't the only one who has those fears, especially with the war fast approaching. I'm scared Shika. I'm so scared of losing everyone. Gaara, Kankuro, my friends, you… I… I can't lose any of you… I'm not strong enough… I'm just not…"
Tears are streaming down her red cheeks as she clenches her fists. Shikamaru gets up to hold her shaking body steady from behind as he soothes her.
"Hey, hey, hey. It's going to be ok. Don't think about stuff like that right now. Think about right now. You're safe right now. You're here right now. I've got you. I always have you. I'm not going anywhere. I'm going to always try and protect you. It's ok. Breathe. Stay with me,"
He holds and gently rocks her as she calms down. As she catches her breath, she reaches up to grip his strong arms and leans further into him.
"Thank you, for always being here. I hate to say it, but I'd don't know what I'd do without you,"
"Be a more troublesome woman than you are," he jokes.
"Shut it, you moron," she slightly laughs with a light hit. He leaves long enough to grab her a tissue for her nose and eyes before sitting back in his chair, "You know Shikamaru, I've been thinking~"
"That's dangerous for me,"
"What do you want for us?"
"See. This is what I'm talking about. Dangerous. Is that what you want to do today? Fight?"
"I'm being serious! We just talked about how dangerous this war is. One of us could… ya know. And we've been together for almost four years now. Shouldn't we have a talk about where our relationship is going?"
"Temari, you know I love you,"
"And I love you,"
"Ok, so what more do you want from me? We visit each other as much as we can, which is hard considering the distance even with the Instant Teleportation method. We have keys to each other's apartments. We know we love each other. We have each other. What more do you want from me? To move in together? A marriage proposal?"
"I don't know! Is that even what you want?!"
"I want you! That's all I want. All I need in this world is you by my side and I'm fine," she blushes at his statement, "In case you haven't figured it out yet, I'm a simple man with simple desires. I have never wanted anything in this world, except you and I have that. So, to me, I have everything I need. But, if you need something else from me, then say it and I can try to give it to you. Your happiness matters to me. And don't think I haven't thought about the consequences of this war. I don't want to lose you either, but if it happens… at least I know you and I love each other. If you want more to happen, then we can talk about it after the war, ok? Can we wait until then?"
She's taken aback by his words. It's exceedingly rare that Shikamaru is expressive, especially this expressive. Seeing this side of him brings about warmth within Temari's heart that spreads through her entire body. Her fair cheeks glow a brighter shade of red and reach the tips of her white and brown pointed ears. Suddenly, a pair of rough, strong hands cup hers in the middle of the table and bring her back to reality. Across from her, she sees a light blush dust fair cheeks and proud antlers stand on top of the head of her usually passive, alpha mate.
Swallowing the fluttering feeling in her chest, Temari nods her head slowly, "Ok. We can do that,"
"Ok then. After the war, we'll have a conversation about everything you want from me and where we're going in our relationship. For now, we enjoy each other until we can't anymore,"
Both nod a final time before Shikamaru continues to eat the rest of his food. The rest of the time is spent eating and sitting in silence until they ready for bed. That night, both bathe and settle into Shikamaru's queen-sized mattress with each other's arms wrapped around each other. The blanket of their quiet intimacy soothing their anxieties away for the night and into the morning. And like Shikamaru said, the couple continues to enjoy the other's company without the war putting too much of a damper on their current moments.
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To Be Continued…
