Hello! I have not written a story since I do not know when. I have a loose idea on how I see this story in my head and just hope that I can produce something entertaining throughout this quarantine period of life. This will be multiple chapters as well.
I will state that all characters obviously do not belong to me.
This is 100% Alternative Universe and some characters might be out of character in the future.
Please feel free to PM me with any ideas or advice on this story and don't forget to review if you feel like it!
Chapter One: A Prohibition Night
"Why did we have to move here on a Friday?" Kankuro groaned in the black SUV transporting him and his siblings to their new home in the city of Konoha.
His older sister answered back with a question, "Weren't you always the one dying to travel on the weekend?"
The brown haired boy folded his arms across his chest before huffing out, "That was before when it was just a work trip. Who doesn't want to get into a little fun before working."
"You act as if this entire trip isn't regarding work. You know we aren't just here for fun and games Kankuro, we seriously have to make Gaara's dream into a reality." Temari retorted before turning to face the car window. Outside of the car displayed a plethora of buildings grouped together all in varying heights. The city of Konoha was a stark contrast of their homeland Suna. Although Suna has a bustling metropolitan like the city of Konoha, the three siblings lived far away from their homelands central city. Their late mother, Karura, preferred the more rural parts of Suna. Although all of their families dealings were in the Suna metropolitan or in other cities, their father honored their mothers wishes. Despite her passing, their father, Rasa, still resides in the rural area. She always noted that her father still kept their original home despite having so many other properties around the world. It seems as if her and her brothers have been constantly fighting an uphill battle after their mother passed. Their father seemed to have turned cold upon her passing, resulting in an uncomfortable mix of distance and tension between the children and their father. Temari was still shocked at her father allowing them to move out to Konoha in order for Gaara to further his alternative energy research. Their father took pride in several of their families business venture, however, monopolizing the oil industry seemed to be his pride and joy. Oil was lucrative and necessary for today's society so having his prodigy interested in a market that was bound to be his competitor was treacherous. Rasa compromised with his son allowing him to continue his research in Konoha as he agrees that Rasa receives a certain percentage of the endeavor. Before this truce Temari and Kankuro were both caught in the crossfire of their father and little brother. While they adored their brother and his aspirations they did not want to be scorned by their father even further either.
Before too long the black SUV came to a halt at what seemed like one of the tallest buildings in the Central city of Konoha. An enthusiastic blonde boy sporting a pale orange button up waved outside of the vehicle. The driver got out to open the door to escort the siblings from inside of the SUV.
"Hey guys! Welcome to Konoha!" The blonde widely grinned before embracing the youngest sibling. "It feels like it's been forever huh?" Naruto commented before releasing Gaara and patting the other two siblings on their backs.
Gaara's soft yet raspy voice resounded, "That is correct. It is nice to see you again Naruto."
"We were here like last week dude! I just hope all of our furniture has made it here. I'd hate for Crow to see his new home completely barren." Kankuro comfortably held his black cat.
Naruto led the siblings into the building past the doormen and concierge to the elevator which whisked the four of them up to the 30th floor. The trio were pleased to see the furniture they had selected all perfectly placed in each room. Their penthouse comprised of three floors in total. The siblings divided up each floor to themselves. Temari resided on the 30th floor, Kankuro on the 31st and Gaara on the 33rd. The blonde gestured to various different aspects of the home as he led the Sand Siblings through their new home. Upon completion of the final tour he asked if they needed assistance with anything else to which they shook their heads.
"Well if you do need anything in the future you know how to reach me. Don't be shy either, I want you guys to feel comfortable in your new home!" Naruto then interjected, "Oh! I almost forgot! My friend Kiba Inuzuka and his family are hosting this animal charity event. It's a roaring 20s theme. 'Pawhibition: Roaring 20s' I think is what they're calling it." The energetic blonde noticed the long pause after he stated that and decided to add, "Ya' know, the girls wearing those tassel like dresses!"
Kankuro questioned, "Right.. We got decent education, we're aware of the era but what does it have to do with us?"
Naruto's eyes widened as he realized he didn't even ask them, "I meant to invite you guys! I guess I got caught up in the theme I forgot to add the most important part in!" He sheepishly smiled as he rubbed the back of his neck.
The siblings glanced over at each other as if using telepathic abilities they came to a consensus. "Yeah I'm sure we can rummage some outfits for the party. Just send us the information for the event and we'll be sure to pop in." Temari concluded.
Later that evening Shikamaru and Choji were meeting up at Ino's home to go to the Inuzuka's event together. Like usual the Yamanaka Heiress was not quite ready upon the boy's arrival. Shikamaru plopped down on one of Ino's baby pink velvet chaises in her room as Choji sat on the edge of her canopy bed munching on a bag of classic original flavor potato chips watching the TV ahead. A low hum of jazz played in the background as the platinum blonde was clasping earrings on. Shikamaru stared in a daze at the girl wearing a bob shaped platinum blonde wig. He reflected on their bizarre relationship. Shikamaru felt as though he was always waiting on Ino. Not just physically as he was right now but emotionally. The three of them grew up exceptionally close, Ino could be a sweet girl when she wanted but was particularly sweeter when they were younger. Ino was socially desirable, although she was not quite as interested in politics as all three of their fathers were, Shikamaru growing up would often imagine him with her along his side at this age. Instead the girl was fixated on fame and networking with celebrities to launch off her acting career. Their friend Sakura happened to do well as an actress.
'Sakura cannot be the stem of her crazy hunger for fame,' the Nara thought to himself as he stretched out on the chaise.
Then what suddenly changed? Was she always so vain growing up? Ino has always been a "Daddy's Girl" and has cared about her appearance to a normal girl extent. He focused more on the girl now, 'Okay maybe the spray tans have gotten a bit out of hand.' Everything about their relationships should have produced a stereotypical, loving and happy couple. They shared their first kiss with one another, attended the same schools, had mutual friends and yet they never have seemed to stay in a relationships. They have tried before in middle school along with high school too, both resulting in mutual break ups. Shikamaru just wanted a normal cookie cutter lifestyle.
'At least with a relatively normal love life I would have one less thing to worry about instead of being stuck in these troublesome stuffy suits debating between other men and women in stuffy suits' the dark brown haired male thought as he tugged at the forest green tie around his neck to loosen it. Before he realized it Ino smacked his hand. "Quit before you mess it up! You look decent for once,' the blonde teased now donned in rather large jewels and a pale powder dress layered with tassels that hit her mid thigh.
"How do I look boys?" She asked while twisting her hips to shake the tassels along her dress.
Choji began, "Great—," "Late. Now can we go?" Shikamaru interrupted as he rose onto his feet.
The trio finally left for the event together.
The Inuzuka's 'Pawhibition: Roaring 20's' event was decorated to the nines. All guests attended seemed to adhere to the event theme. The women were dressed in looser dresses as the men had on slim fitting suits. Tables draped with white cloths bared assortments of fresh flowers as waiters held trays full of champagne glasses. The table cloths were not the only things draped in the party. Ino's slim body was draped alongside Shikamaru's arm as they approached the rest of their friends.
"My youthful friends are a couple again!" The joyous Lee greeted the pair.
"I, myself, am youthful. Shika here, not so much. Couple— Not so much either," it rolled off her tongue effortlessly.
Lee did not press on the matter and chatted along with the rest of their friends. Lee caught everyone up on him and Gai's 50th gym now opening up as Sakura and Ino trotted off with champagne flutes in each hand. Shikamaru observed each of his friends chatting with one another. The group was as diverse as they could come. Shikamaru, Ino and Choji all came from family households deep in politics. Although Shikamaru internally was not sure of his pursuit of politics as his best friend Choji was. The Akimichi's prided themselves in their philanthropic hobbies outside of politics. The dark brown male knew his counterpart enjoyed giving back to the community more than politics. When it came to their blonde companion though she seemed caught up in her strive for fame. He glanced across the room to see Ino surrounded by Sakura, TenTen and Hinata. While Sakura was more accomplished in her acting, Ino was still trying to climb her way to the top. His midnight brown eyes scanned over to TenTen next. She certainly was the most fit out of the group of girls, her job required it that is. TenTen joined their group of friends while hiring Lee as her personal trainer for an upcoming stunt double movie scene. She was an accomplished actress in her own rights as well. The Hyuga Heiress then came into view. The Hyuga's are practically tech moguls gathering and retrieving data to sell to their clients. 'Probably explains how analytical Neji can be,' the Nara thought to himself.
"Great, you guys made it!" Naruto's voice projected across the room breaking Shikamaru's internal thoughts and causing him to look over in the direction Naruto seemed to now be facing. A trio was approaching him and his friends. There stood two males and a female. Shikamaru took in the complete look of the trio. One male with brown hair stood above the rest, the other male stood between the two. The male with abnormally red hair and dark circles around his eyes stood shorter than his two companions. The female with sandy blonde hair spoke to Naruto first, "Geeze Naruto, just put the whole room's attention on us why don't you?" Her comment seemed to make the Uzumaki chuckle. "We don't use our inside voices here in Konoha, you better get used to it!" he proclaimed then continued, "these are the Sabaku's, Gaara, Kankuro and Temari" he gestured to each one respectively. "I just sold them their new home here in Konoha," he stated with a foxy grin plastered on his face.
"Another home here?" Sasuke questioned the siblings.
"You know them already Sasuke?" Naruto was shocked at his best friend's wide range of networking. Naruto snapped his head towards the trio stating, "You guys must have some sort of stock portfolio with the Uchiha's!" Sasuke elbowed his good friend in the side before blurting, "Don't you know anything about client confidentiality? It doesn't matter how I know them."
Gaara broke up the bickering of the two, "It's a pleasure to meet you all."
"Oh my! Where are my manners?! My name is Rock Lee, co-founder of the Hurricane Gym franchise!" Lee begun the introductions followed by the rest of the group stating their names and places of work. Amongst the chattering Shikamaru seemed to slip away to the bar.
"One Old Fashioned please," two individuals stated at the same time to the bartender. Shikamaru turned to be met with a pool of turquoise eyes, enchanting him like an oasis. The owner of the dazzling eyes happened to be the girl he met from earlier. The Nara seemed skeptical about seeing her up-close, nothing about her before seemed to have this strong effect, it was as if he was seeing everything in high definition. Her dusty blonde hair was curled and strategically pinned to one side, cascading just past her shoulders and showcasing the extravagant neckline of the dress constructed of gemstones. Unlike the other female guests at the party her black dress clung onto her frame just tight enough to present the curvy outline of her figure.
"You know an Old Fashioned is usually meant for dapper men to consume at the bar, not women," Shikamaru informed the girl as the bartender made their identical drinks.
"Who say's I'm not a dapper gentlemen?" The blonde's lips formed into a devious smirk as she sauntered up closer to the male.
"Clearly you're not," Shikamaru firmly stated while ripping his gaze off her intoxicating gaze and redirecting his energy to the drinks now in front of them both.
Temari's hands delicately wrapped themselves around the short glass before swirling the brown liquid. She proceeded to take what seemed like a much needed swig before retorting, "It's simply a state of mind for me."
Shikamaru thoughtfully pondered what she meant which seemed to be indicated on his face. She then explained, "Being raised in the oil industry roughens the edges on a person, male or female." The Nara seemed to understand a bit better as he sipped on his own glass now. The now chatty woman added, "I see as a stuffy politician you like to babysit your drinks." She took another deep swig after her observation of the male.
"I'm just not the type to rush good things," he cooly commented back.
The two seemed to go back and forth for a while like this. Playfully teasing one another as the night continued on. Shikamaru took this time to analyze the girl more. She had a natural tan to her, she was the tannest of her two brothers. He had to refrain from asking whether she was really related to her youngest brother due to the drastic contrast of their complexions. Her sun kissed skin was what Ino seemed to try to recreate around the summer time with her spray tans. Temari also had more of a shape to her than Ino, her waist was very much so visibly smaller than her hips and bust. She seemed to exude seduction while still having an ethereal aura. Although Shikamaru was very perceptive she did not disclose much information throughout their bantering aside from knowledge known from the public. The male seemed to gather enough to know that her and her brothers moved to Konoha working on some type of project for her father. He also knew that the Uzumaki's have sold many properties to her family so going with the Uzumaki's again buying another home was a no brainer. Just as their new set of drinks arrived the loud sound of glasses breaking resonated throughout the room. The pair at the bar directed their attention to the sound instinctively.
"I-I'm not the one needing to be cut off, YOU'RE the one needing to be cut off. K-Kiba where the hell did you hire this guy from? He's trying to cut Sakura and I off from drinks like what the fuck!" Ino slurred from across the room, stumbling towards Kiba whilst her and Sakura managed to keep their balance with the use of each other.
"Yeah KIBA, where the flying fuck did you get this guy from? Does he not know who we ARE? Cutting us off like that.." Sakura grumbled agreeing with her friend. Kiba seemed to desperately look over at Choji and then managed to see Shikamaru at the other bar in the room.
Shikamaru let out a deep sigh before shooting back his new drink then reached across Temari grabbing her new drink as well and proceeded to swallow it in a few gulps. "Looks like my friend is causing a scene, better go." He deadpanned while staring at the now disheveled platinum blonde across the room.
"Hey Pal, you owe me a drink now!" Temari playfully glared at the male now retreating from the bar.
"Yeah, yeah, I owe you!" Shikamaru stated while taking one last glance at the Suna native and then made his away to his friend Ino.
Choji accompanied Shikamaru standing on the other side of Ino to stabilize her. They took each arm and wrapped it around their necks while shooting apologetic looks at the guest. Kiba helped escort Sakura out with Ino. Finally, the InoShikaCho trio made it to their chauffeur and got Ino comfortably in the vehicle. All that remained on Shikamaru's mind was the intriguing girl from Suna who he had the pleasure of speaking with at the bar. Shikamaru's eyes peeled away from the window to stare in disdain at the now passed out platinum blonde friend. 'I hope I get to chat with her again'