Kit or Fawn?
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D/C: I own nothing.
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"Yin-Kurama Speaking."
"Yang-Kurama Speaking."
'Naruto and Shikamaru's mental link to each other and to their respective Kurama's. Or to emphasize something.'
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Two years… it's been two years since the attack, and it's been very hectic two years. A very slow two years for Shikaku, he watched on as Shikamaru and Naruto played around the grass as he sat on the porch. Yoshino is sitting beside him, completely covered in blankets and sitting on top of a giant fluffy pillow. Winter is slowly approaching, and the weather makes her joints stiff and sore.
Within those two years, Yoshino has been… slowly recovering but it was evident she's never going to be the same person she once was. Even so, Shikaku isn't going to give up on her and no matter how much his heartache, he knows deep down this is the same woman he fell in love with. He could tell by the way she smiles at him and at their son. Or whenever she gets in one of her rages… even if Yoshio is no longer able to verbally express her emotions, her eyes did more than enough to do so. Like right now…
"Sigh… fine." Shikaku grumbled under his breath, he let out a groan as he stood up and walked off the porch towards the boys. In an instant, the toddlers looked up at Shikaku and quickly reached for the other. The Nara Head quirked an eyebrow, this was something the two have been doing since the beginning. Inoichi, after the Yamanaka prodded into the minds of the brats, found out the physical touch allowed them to communicate using the seal. The Yamanaka suspects the Nine-Tails weakened the seal just enough for this to occur, but it doesn't provide any sort of immediate trouble. Something along the lines of Yin-Kurama isn't leaving Shikamaru until he defeats the two-year-old in a game of shogi…. Yeah, Shikaku still doesn't understand what that meant as Inoichi had to quickly drink the headache away and going on about sewers and hollow trees. "Time to bring in the herd."
Naruto let out a squeal of delight and quickly headed towards the forest all the while dragging Shikamaru behind him. Shikaku snorted as he watched his son being dragged around by the Uzumaki, it reminded him of his connection with the kids' mother. Kushina is still living in the Nara's household with them, she has a room on the far side of the home but still close enough for her to get herself to the boy's room without any help. She's still recovering but if her sassy and quick temper were of any indication, the Uzumaki is on the right track for recovery. Hopefully…
"Don't pull to hard, Naruto. You're going to dislocate his arm a-" Shikamaru gave out a short cry. "gain…" Shikaku held back a sigh as he watched Naruto stare down at his friend with wide eyes that displayed the utmost terror. Naruto let go of Shikamaru's now limp arm and could only watch as his friend drop down on the grass with an audible grunt. Shikaku kneeled in front of the boys, he patted Naruto's head to reassure him and then proceeded to have Shikamaru to sit up for him to relocate his arm back into place. "One… two… three."
A short gasp later and Naruto is now tugging Shikamaru by his forest green short through the forest opposed to his arm. Shikaku could only shake his head as he watched the boys run off before he quickly followed.
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Let's go to the park today…
'Let's go to the park… what a horrible idea…' Shikaku thought bitterly as he, Inoichi and Choza watched as parents not even bothering to hide the fact, they are taking their children forcibly and speed walk out of the park. Many of the parents glared at him, but never at the boys. Never at the boys. He would never tolerate that. The boys were being dragged towards the sandbox by Ino with Choji tagging along all the while munching on chips.
At three years old, Naruto and Shikamaru just faced the first act of prejudice against them. This is the first outing out of the Nara compound without fear of villagers of attacking them and mass observation on their respective seals. So far, their seals do show some… cracks, but not enough to cause worry. I wouldn't be so much of a drag if that troublesome Toad Sage would just come to the village and check over the seal properly. Not just skim over it like nothing.
Either way, the sandbox is free, and they have the toys picked up, the boys paid no mind to the other kids who were scurried away by their parents. The three men followed the kids, each of them carrying toys they brought along for the three-year-olds. After handing off certain toys to the kids, Choza, Inoichi, and Shikaku went over to sit on a stone bench that was underneath a large tree.
"They're still not talking yet?" Choza asked as he pulled out a paper parcel that contained dango.
"They could string sounds together but have yet to make words out of it. I'm not worried about it…" Shikaku took a stick of dango when Choza offered. "I'm not home as often as I want to be, and I'm normally not a talker as it is… Kushina talks to them but as of late, she's been doing physical therapy and that cuts her time with the boys. Yoshino is the main one that looks after them when she's not doing the in-home therapy secessions."
"Where the boys have to be quiet…" Inoichi added in, he has put himself in charge to help Yoshino's mental health. There has been a tremendous improvement, but compared to how she was before the attack, it may seem like little, not nothing. Now, she's able to stand for longer periods of time and started cooking again. Small things for now, as Yoshino gets tired easily and her memories of easily known recipes still escape her. "She's teaching them sign-language?"
"Yes, the boys prefer to communicate that way with us." Shikaku chewed on his dango and kept a close eye on the kids. "However… there at nights where I swear, I hear them talking, gibberish or words, I couldn't tell coming from their room. Every time I get close to the room, it goes silent."
"Didn't you once mentioned you didn't start talking until you were four or five?" Choza asked, with an eyebrow raised.
"That's why I'm not worried. For all we know… this could be a result of that, or we coddled them for so long they didn't bother to talk. Kushina is worried that it goes beyond being a Jinchuriki for Naruto…"
"I'll have my sister come over to observe when she has a free day." Inoichi offered.
"Thank you."
"Besides all that… How's Yoshino really? Mikan mentioned she's taken to using a rolling pin around…"
At Shikaku's smirk, Inoichi didn't bother to hide his snort of laughter. "I always knew you were a masochist."
"No comment."
"Does she remember anything?"
"Nothing. She remembers nothing of that night."
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"It's adult night, it's your turn to take care of the kids~"
"It's adult night they say…. Have a good time they say…" Itachi looked down at the five four-year-old's whom he was just put in charge of taking care of. He is used to taking care of Sasuke on his own, but that is one kid. Now he must deal with five of them.
"Ni-chan! Play with me!"
"Let's play, Ninja!"
"I'm hungry."
~Stomach growl~
~Double stomach growl~
"Food it is then."
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Itachi carried Ino over his shoulders as he kept a close eye on the boys who were walking ahead of him. More like Naruto dragging Sasuke and Shikamaru with Choji leading the way to the Raman Shop. The five five-year-old's ignored the stares, (or glares in several cases) that were thrown at Naruto and Shikamaru's way. This caused Itachi to heavily resist the urge to throw his hands into the air and wonder why the villagers are a bunch of idiots. He found out about Shikamaru and Naruto's situation through word and mouth, a drunkard who holds a deep grudge.
Even so, Itachi wonders why bother with law if people make it so obvious about this supposed secret. They might not be able to tell the younger generations just who and what the kids are, but they are more than willing to install hate into them. At least he could take in personal pleasure whenever he saw Shikamaru stare down at anyone that looked at them far more than the norm. It could be noted the young Nara's eyes could easily intimidate or make someone uncomfortable to the point they stand down. At least Naruto isn't paying any mind as Shikamaru appears to be willing to take on the hate and anger.
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"He said what!" Kushina held her son close to her, both carrying identical smiles. "What did you say, Naruto! Say it to mommy~"
"Ramen!" Naruto laughed aloud, his laughter filled the entire home that seemed lighten up the entire atmosphere.
Shikaku didn't bother to hide his snort, of course, Naruto's first word known to everyone is ramen. The Nara's head is currently laying on the sofa in the living with his own son laying on top of him. "Ramen…"
"Shika…"
Shikaku blinked, he looked up to see Yoshino dangling a plush toy deer above Shikamaru's head. He saw his son reaching up towards the toy and seeing that certain sparkle in Yoshino's which reminded him of his wife's… more devious side. "You knew…"
Yoshino only gave him a smirk, before she handed Shikamaru his toy dubbed, Shika, she leaned down and kissed Shikaku's marked cheek.
"Mama…" Shikamaru raised his arms up towards Yoshino, giving her a pout. Yoshino grinned down at her son and leaned down to kiss his forehead.
"Ichiraku!"
"That's my boy, Naruto!"
The Nara family paused their actions to hear in as Kushina gushed on as Naruto repeated the words, "Ichiraku Ramen," again and again.
"Say, Mama, Naruto~ Say, Mama~"
"Ramen!"
To be continued…
R/R.