Helloooo~

This was originally a prompt someone had asked on tumblr, some... years... ago? (and I'm afraid I answered a bit beside the point, I discovered I'm actually not good at this, oopsie; but at least I got the right ship? *hides*)
It's just a short, fluffy OS, for those who don't have tumblr and might enjoy it teheheh (. ❛ ᴗ ❛.)

Warning: The 'plot' is completely self-indulgent. If you find that I'm speaking nonsense, just laugh it out, my friendo!

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Far and Beyond

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Naruto stretched her arms up in the sky with a happy grin on her face. "Haaaah, it's been so long since I didn't come here!"

The last time she had set foot in Nami no Kuni was seven years ago, during her first mission outside the village with her team. Today, she was returning on her own accord, to carry out a project that had been on her mind for a while now.

Since the end of the war, Naruto had been planning to create an association for orphans across the nations, with the help of all of Team 7. They had first set up a system in Konoha, since the Orphan System that existed until then was chaotic; both she and Sasuke had paid the price. Sakura took care of the health and medical management, Sasuke traveled and brought new ideas from his observations, and Naruto took care of the maintenance on site by traveling as well. Kakashi initially helped with the administrative side and supervision, but following his election as Hokage – Kakashi-sensei. Hokage! Before her! –, he had handed over the reins to Captain Yamato. As for Sai, he was mainly in charge of the orphanage in Konoha, and managed the finances and agreements with the Hokage.

All in all, her team was doing a real team job now, and she was happy that they could all work together and stay in touch like this.

Of course, she had dragged all of her friends to help out in their own way as well, or to sponsor the association when their situation allowed them to. Kiba frequently brought dogs to the Konoha orphanage to entertain the children, Choji delivered leftover food from his family's restaurants, Ino counselled Sakura in matters of child psychology, and so everyone contributed in their own way.

Now that they were starting to open new facilities outside the Fire Nation, Naruto needed to travel more frequently. Their first contribution being in Nami no Kuni, as it was a country that frequently required help from Konoha, and they had suffered greatly over the past few years; though they were beginning to be independent and regain their wealth.

For this mission, she was in the company of Shikamaru, who was the most competent diplomat she knew and could easily help her comply with the laws between the villages that she had not yet memorized. (It was not without reason that she had chosen him as her advisor; both as a future Hokage and in her everyday life.)

Since they'd had to leave the village quite late due to last minute paperwork she had to work on as the Hokage's apprentice, not only had she not had time to go over what she had intended to cover, but they'd also had to make a stopover halfway between their village and the Land of Waves where they'd be sleeping under the stars.

Settled by a fire, Naruto had pulled out all the documents she had to memorize by the next day, while Shikamaru stargazed, lying beside her.

Well, she wasn't fooling herself, she'd never remember all of it; if she managed to memorize five sentences, no one would be able to reach her level of awesomeness. She only had to retain the main ideas, and in the worst case scenario, she would improvise. Especially since Tazuna and Inari would also be there; she didn't have anything to worry about.

When she began to read through the material at hand, her concentration was at its peak. Plus, the memorization techniques that Kakashi-sensei and Shikamaru had taught her were real helpful!

However, she felt her attention waver rather quickly.

In order to erect a building on foreign land, blah blah blah, agreements to be fulfilled with distant relatives of the orphans, blah blah blah, agreement with nearby villages and homes, blah blah blah… She just wanted to help take care of orphans. Why did they always have to complicate everything? Urgh, politics.

As her brain began to warm up, a cool sensation invaded her body and calmed her thoughts. Glancing at Shikamaru, who had crossed his arms behind his head and wasn't taking his eyes off the sky, she noticed that his shadow had expanded to embrace her.

Over the past year, Naruto had become interested in ninshū, the art of creation that connected chakra users through their spiritual energy. As soon as she had understood how it worked, she had obviously passed on her knowledge to her friends who were interested in such an ancient technique; from a time before the corruption of chakra, according to the Rikudō Sennin.

Shikamaru had been one of the first people to understand how to use ninshū, his Yang affinity making it easy for him. He was now applying it to his shadow, which could feel the presence of living beings around him; and in return, he could make others feel his calm and relaxing presence by encircling them with it.

Being able to connect spiritually opened a whole new palette of sensations for them.

As a result, Shikamaru, who rarely expressed his emotions, had found a new way to make Naruto aware of his feelings, and he used it without restraint whenever he had the opportunity, with subtlety and discretion, in his usual laid-back attitude.

A smile spread across Naruto's face.

They hadn't been dating for very long, but she had always felt comfortable and at peace in his company.

"Don't you think you should review all this stuff with me?" She questioned him as she simulated a pout. Come on, she couldn't be the only one to… to be reading.

"What for?" he asked rhetorically. "You already have your own plans for the orphanage, and if you have any logistic issues, I'll fill in for you."

Naruto clicked her tongue and kicked his leg with her foot. "You know, an implementation in a foreign country's dealt differently from mere political discussions and arrangements." (Her vocabulary had improved tremendously since the beginning of her Hokage training. She sounded like a badass and knowledgeable adult now.) "There's much more to it, -ttebayo!" (Her good old habit was still there, though.)

"I know," he replied as he glanced at her from the corner of his eye.

"…"

What did he mean? What was it with that tone? He didn't…?

"Don't tell me you've reviewed all the documentation before me?"

The small smirk that graced his lips was answer enough.

"No way! When?! You were as busy as me all day long!"

"You took a nap in the morning."

"For thirty minutes!"

"Those were enough."

"You…!"

She couldn't believe him. How did he even find the energy? And the focus?! Ugh, brains. It was beyond her.

"So you've read and understood all of it?"

"Uh-uh."

Naruto put her hand over her heart and the other over her forehead, feigning a sudden headache. "Woah, how can you do that, I'm feeling sick just thinking about all these words."

His smile broadened despite himself, and he shook his head in amusement. "You'll have to get used to it, when you're Hokage."

Naruto blinked at the remark. "Absolutely not." She leaned over him, before putting an arm under his neck and hugging him tightly, to the point where he was mildly disturbed in his sky-watching.

Shikamaru let out a surprised shriek at her action. "Wha- Naruto, you're obstructing the view."

"I'm the most beautiful view you can ever hope to see," she corrected with delight.

He opened his mouth to answer, but knowing what was good for him, he immediately closed it. His lips twitched as he held back an amused smile. Teheheh, he couldn't resist her.

She grinned in response and planted a soft kiss on the corner of his lips. "When I'm Hokage, you'll be doing the paperwork thing. I'll take care of the talk and friendship part."

Shikamaru rolled his eyes and ran his hand through Naruto's hair, laughing at her mannerisms. "I don't think that that's how it's supposed to work."

"But since you're the best advisor, we can rewrite the rules of how stuff is supposed to work," she chirped, resting her head on Shikamaru's shoulder and lying down beside him as she hugged him. "Rules were made by humans anyway. It shouldn't be too troublesome if cooler humans like us changed them for the better once in a while."

He leaned his head closer to hers. "You're not just talking about the Hokage's paperwork, are you?"

A cheery laugh escaped her, and she looked up at him with a huge smile. "Eh, probably not. You're still in, right?"

With her body so close to his, and her ear resting against him, she could sense his heartbeat escalate, and she noticed the soft gaze he was suddenly throwing her way.

She loved it when he looked at her like this. Like… like she was awesome.

"I guess I am."

She knew it.

The more time she spent with Shikamaru, the more she realized that when it truly mattered, he was ready to go far and beyond to help her achieve her goals.

That was another reason why he was the best counselor and partner she could have chosen, after all.