Age 13

…

"You see those trees?" Shikamaru jabbed a thumb over his shoulder. "Run up them."

Kakato scowled and Konohana's brows furrowed in concentration.

It didn't seem like it'd been a year since Team Ten had been formed, but the obvious changes the two genin had undergone served as a reality check. The Uzumaki heiress now stood several inches taller than her teammate, much to Kakato's annoyance, and the telltale signs of subtle curves had begun to form. In contrast, Kakato's body hardened from his ruthless training and roundness of his cheeks began to sharpen. Chairomi even had her own little growth spurt, now coming up to just below Kakato's knees.

Silently, Kakato raised his hand and his sensei groaned, "Yes, Inuzuka?"

"What do we get if we make it to the top?"

Shikamaru's expression fell flat at the dog nin's oh so cocky question and stared incredulously at the boy. "Are you serious?"

The Inuzuka snorted loudly, arms crossing casually behind his head with a signature fanged smile, "I don't know about pinky," Said girl fixed him with a glare, which went ignored, "But, if I'm going to be running up and down a tree all day…"

"You're a pain."

The genin's grinned widened, "And you're an old man, what's new?"

In his daily effort not to kill his pupil, Shikamaru turned to Konohana, who had become the team's own small mediator. She took orders without question and had gained the magical ability to reign in her overbearing partner on most occasions.

Said girl's lips twitched up into a traitorous smirk, "I agree with him for once."

Most occasions. On others she joined him in their persistent mission to drive him into an early retirement.

"You lazy slackers-"

Konohana's snort interrupted him, "You're one to talk. We had to pull you out of a tree the other day because you fell asleep upside down."

"That was a test."

"That's a bunch of bull," The Uzumaki heiress scowled, causing shiver to go through the shadow manipulator. It was almost identical to the Inuzuka's. "You fell asleep and were too lazy to get up off your-"

"Fine! Fine! Winner gets tomorrow off from training." He snarled, pointing stiffly to the two trees, "Now, move it!"

His manipulative, lazy students had the nerve to smirk at each other before they launched themselves at their targets and began their chakra infused climb.

"I liked them better when they fought each other."

…

Watching the rhythmic dance of them climbing, marking their spot, and then flipping back onto the ground became a bore after the first hour. So, Shikamaru took it upon himself to recline against a nice shade tree to watch the show as he chewed on a fresh blade of grass.

Kakato made it to the middle of the tree's length when he began to slide backward on his heels, lashing out with his kunai to mark the bark, and flipped onto his feet with stiffness in his movements.

"Still too stiff. Going to snap his ankle at this rate," The Nara noted to himself and watched the pinkette only make it a quarter of the way up before she had to flip to land onto her feet. Her knees bent more naturally with the movement, than her partner's, but the lack of distance spoke for itself. "Still needs to work on her control."

"Ugh!"

Shikamaru's gaze narrowed at the pain filled grunt and scowled as he saw Kakato land on his ankle awkwardly. He almost scolded him for never listening to him about watching his feet, but decided against it as the female of the team stepped in.

In a graceful arch, the pinkette flipped through the air and landed in a crouch next to her scowling partner. Without even a teasing remark, she pulled out a roll of white medical tape from her pouch and handed it to him calmly.

"Wrap it up and it won't hurt so much when you land." She offered to his confused stare. "Wrap it around your ankle three times and make it tight as you can." Was all she offered before she tossed him the tape and launched herself back up the tree.

Kakato stared at the tape momentarily, then back at the kunoichi. "Stupid."

Shikamaru didn't bother to hide his satisfied smirk.

…

After watching the persistent ritual of the team's practice, Shikamaru allowed his eyes to slide close. The sound of the genins' feet thunking against bark and their labored breathing resounded through his ears, soothing him into a deep slumber. He would've stayed asleep until one of the twerps woke him up if it hadn't been for the new presence that made itself known.

"What do you want, you troublesome woman?"

"Sleeping on the job now?"

With a small grumble in his chest, Shikamaru cracked his eyes open to stare up at his wife. She stood in her traditional jonin garb, the symbol of the sand proudly wrapped around her upper arm, and the symbol of the leaf emblazoned on her forehead. Blonde hair swayed in the breeze as her emerald eyes glinted with humor.

"The brats are fine."

Temari smirked and allowed her gaze to slide over to the two genin, "I can see that. Did you know the one with pink hair stopped when I appeared?"

At that Shikamaru arched an eyebrow, "She noticed you?"

"I wasn't trying hard to hide myself, but she did. The other one didn't even slow down, typical boy." She snorted with a roll of her eyes, "You gonna introduce me? You've trained them for a year and haven't even introduced them to your sweet little wife."

"Sweet little wife," He chuckled, "You already know whose kids they are. It's not hard to figure out and you've been lurking around for a few hours now."

Temari stiffened with a scowl, planting her hands firmly on her hips, "So that's Naruto's brat?"

"Give the lady a prize."

"Shut it, Nara."

"You asked, troublesome woman."

She snorted a laugh, eyes landing back on the clearly hesitating pinkette. She looked almost torn between observing the jonin woman or being obedient in her training. After a few beats, she faithfully returned to the exercise.

"She's got potential," The blonde allowed, "More observant than most."

"The boy is Kiba's."

"Not like the dog and the markings are dead giveaways or anything." She ignored her husband's small scowl, to observe the boy land on his ankle at an off angle. "His maneuvering is crap, but he's got just as much potential as the girl."

The Nara rolled his brown eyes upward to stare at the leaves above him, "You're not telling me anything new. Make yourself useful if you're sticking around and be a fresh set of eyes." He fixed her with a bored stare, "I've been watching them for a year now. You'll probably pick up on something I'm not."

Temari didn't seem to be listening, her trained stare focusing on the two genins' movements, but Shikamaru knew she heard him. Emerald eyes followed the pair, making mental notes, dissecting, and taking in their mannerisms. They were a bit behind the normal genin level.

"That boy will be a good tracker." She admitted, "He's monitoring me like a hawk now that he knows I'm here."

"All Inuzukas are good trackers, Temari," He sighed, "They practically make up the entire tracking team."

"I'm aware of that." She snorted, then brushed the comment off with a shrug, "He'd have potential at assassination."

"His sense of smell-"

"Doesn't matter. His stiff movements are because he doesn't to draw attention to himself."

Shikamaru's eyebrow arched, taking it into consideration, and finally nodded. "Don't see why not."

"The girl," Eyebrows furrowed slightly when the pinkette glanced at her again. "Her reactions are different." It was the only word that seemed to fit. "They're different than what I would expect from a genin."

"She's got aim and observation, the rest is a working progress," The Nara informed with a yawn, "Her ninjutsu has improved after she lessened her hold a bit, but it's still nothing to gawk at."

The way Temari's eyes snapped to him made his eyebrows fly up onto his forehead. "How good is her observation?"

"She noticed you."

The sand nin's forehead scrunched up further, "And her control is too tight? Not too loose?"

"It's a good day if she can make more than one clone."

All emotion was wiped clean of Temari's features as she plugged all the facts together. Shikamaru could practically see her gears churning, chewing on the inside of jaw, and fingers tapping against her thigh.

Finally, after a few beats, she spoke up, "You know what happens when you don't have enough control."

"You're practically a flashing beacon. What of it?"

Temari's gaze followed the girl as she flipped back onto her feet. The click in her brain was almost audible, "Who would have thought?"

"Oi woman, ya gonna tell me your revelation or not?" Shikamaru growled, pushing himself to his feet and crossing his arms over his chest. "I am her sensei."

A smirk curled her lips, "Shikamaru, what types of ninjas have problems controlling their chakra?"

His eyebrows furrowed in thought, going through a mental list of candidates, but kept coming up with a blank. "What are you-"

"Think about it, you moron." Temari sighed, running a palm over her features. "What kind of ninja is observant, has good aim, severe lack of chakra control, and can predict an attack before it strikes."

It hit him like a lightening bolt and judging by the cackling laugh Temari let out, it showed on his face. How had he not connected the dots on this one? "You got to be kidding me."

"Nope," She chuckled, a glint in her green eyes, "She's a sensor ninja."

….

A sensor ninja. It sounded wrong, but he couldn't deny the signature traits that she held. It matched almost perfectly with the profile of a sensor and was backed by her lineage. As he watched the pinkette move, he watched her in a completely different light.

Temari had finally figured out the kid's talent.

"How am I supposed to train that?"

The kunoichi shrugged, "I don't see the big deal. It doesn't change that she needs basic training."

"No," He snapped, earning a scowl in return, "But, I can't teach her that."

"Naruto could train her, granted the runt isn't using senjutsu any time soon, but the principle still holds."

That caused Shikamaru to pause. Slowly, he churned over this possibility, before exhaling slowly. "I don't see that happening." Temari's arched brow prodded him to continue. "Not that Naruto wouldn't jump at the opportunity, but she wouldn't ask."

"Well, why not?"

A groan left the Nara as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Call it a hunch. Given the village's leading expert in making clones is her father and it took her years to make one. It may have started as him being too busy but judging from her lack of progress, it's obvious she's been actively avoiding it."

A loud snort left the blonde.

"You asked. I answered." A shrug rolled off his shoulders.

Temari's lips tightened in response and emerald eyes narrowed. Rhythmically, her fingers rapped against her arm, watching the girl launch back up the tree and flip back off not long after. "I'll teach her."

"What?"

She rolled her eyes and looked at her husband's widened stare, "I'll teach the brat. If she won't accept Naruto's help, I'll teach the little fool."

…..

Konohana glanced with clear confusion between her stoic sensei and his emotionless wife. Her pink brows furrowed. "What's a sensor ninja?"

Temari snorted, "How does that not surprise me?"

Shikamaru grumbled under his breath and turned to his student. "It's a ninja that's basically built to sense other ninjas. Self-explanatory, Uzumaki."

"What does that have to do with-"

"Listen pinky," The blonde kunoichi grunted, hands falling to rest on her hips. "You've got the talent to be a sensor. Now, either you can ignore it and fail, or you can train your skill and actually be a decent ninja."

The girl's blue gaze went back, ever faithfully, to her sensei. She practically radiated helplessness that had Temari scowling and the girl swallowing, "How do I train to be a-"

"I'll be training you." Temari interjected firmly, "If you decide you want to be a sensor, your training will be handed over to me for two years and we'll be training in Suna."

"Two years in Suna?!"

"Or," The blonde quirked a brow, "you could ask your father to train you."

Just as Shikamaru predicted, the pinkette visibly paled and any further protests died in her too dry throat. Silence fell over the trio, the only sound being Kakato's sandals hitting against a nearby tree.

Sometimes Shikamaru hated being right.

"Konohana," Shikamaru sighed. The girl looked hopefully at him, "I can't teach you this." Her expression crumbled, "Either you can seek your father's help or you can accept Temari's offer."

Her teeth gnawed into her bottom lip, glancing up at the expectant blonde's gaze. Blue steeled against the challenging green, "When do we start?"

A small smirk spread on the sand nin's lips, "Huh, kid's gotta backbone after all." Her arms crossed and she grinned, "Be ready to have it broken."

Konohana turned white.

Shikamaru groaned up at the sky.

Kakato's footsteps stopped.

…

"What did you say?" The kunai he had been holding clanged uselessly to the ground. Stunned black eyes looked between the three ninjas, "What. Did. You. Say?"

Shikamaru kept his expression neutral, "You heard me. You and Uzumaki are going to be training separately for two years. She accepted Temari's offer to train her in Suna."

Kakato whirled on said girl, "You're leaving?"

"I'm-"

Whatever she may have said froze on her lips at the absolute look of betrayal that morphed Kakato's features. His fangs gleamed as he snarled, "After everything, you're just going to leave?"

Konohana visibly flinched under the accusation. Over the past year, they had formed an uneasy and wobbly relationship. It'd be lie to call themselves friends, they were a far cry from calling what they had to be friendship, but it'd also be a lie to say that they hadn't begun to depend on each other.

"I-It's not like that."

"Oh, it's not like that?" The venom in his words burned. "How is it not like that?!"

Her fingers twitched, digging into the bright blue fabric of her shirt's hem. She bit the inside of her jaw, "I'm not making any progress doing this every day. I could actually be good at this…"

"Okay, not like you don't have the Hokage and the head medic-nin as parents or anything. Not like you couldn't ask them to train you."

At that, all fidgeting stopped. Blue eyes darkened and narrowed as a scowl marred her lips. He had hit a big nerve and judging by the self-satisfied smirk he was giving her he knew what he did.

"If it's that easy, why isn't Mimi helping you train, Inuzuka. Hm?"

The roar that left the boy was enough to rattle the birds from the trees. If she hadn't been so angry, Konohana may have thought to back away as he closed in on her, but she didn't. No, as his nose brushed hers she growled right back at him, shoving her forehead harshly against his in retaliation. Goosebumps rose in her arm in warning, a warning that she clearly chose to ignore.

His fangs began to grow, "You don't know anything about me, you useless pink haired moron."

"Then don't act like you know anything about me."

With a final deafening snarl that rattled her down to her bones, Kakato disappeared in a whirl of leaves and dust.

…

"Dang, kids nowadays are brutal."

Had been Temari's oh-so helpful advice when Shikamaru left her and Konohana to try and talk some sense into his male pupil. Inconveniently for him, it appeared Kakato had been listening to his lessons on concealment just enough to give him a headache. After several clones and a sloppy trail that was too fresh to be a trick, he found the boy sitting on a high branch, clawing designs into the bark.

With an exasperated sigh, he leapt onto the branch next to his student, "Inuzuka."

Kakato visibly stiffened, not lifting his eyes from the swirl he was currently carving, "Sensei."

Another sigh. Did these kids have to be so dramatic? Was he this dramatic at their age? Shikamaru hoped not.

"You know, it's an honor to have a highly skilled ninja offer to train you."

The boy's shoulders finally deflated, and his incessant clawing ceased. Kakato scratched the back of his neck. "I know."

"But?"

It seemed Kakato had finally learned the virtue of silence, because he chose that moment to demonstrate it.

The Nara drug a hand over his tired features. "She'll come back."

"I don't care what she does." He met his sensei's brown eyes with his black and scowled. "She can stay gone for all I care."

Again, with the dramatics. "Listen, I'm old and it's getting past my bedtime. So can we wrap up this teenage brooding and you tell me what's actually wrong?"

The Inuzuka grunted, curling his hands into tight fists. "Nobody else gets it."

"Gets what?"

"Get what it's like to be the failure. Yeah, sure, everyone else also has ridiculously strong parents. All of you fought and won the war of all wars. But…," Fanged teeth gnawed into his lower lip, "Nobody else…..struggles in their shadows like us. They all broke free and made their own. They're not trapped in this….this cage…"

Ah. So that's what it was all about. "Kakato, you don't see everyone's struggles."

"I know enough." He insisted, "We're not stupid sensei. There's a reason you were stuck with us, and we both know it."

Shikamaru heaved a heavy, exhausted sigh and allowed his back to slump against the trunk of the tree. The stars in the now dark sky twinkled merrily. Out of habit, he began to trace the constellations in his mind, absorbing the emotional weight that the boy decided to show him. A comfortable silence wrapped around the two as the night breeze ruffled the leaves of their tree.

"You're afraid she'll leave you in the cage alone." The Inuzuka bowed his head at his sensei warm words. "But if you'd think about it, you know she won't."

"But, what if-"

"You'd be surprised how stubborn Uzumakis can be when they're determined." A small smile curled his lips. "You could say it rivals even the Inuzukas. And neither of you are failures, you're just kids trying to figure everything out."

At that all the tension finally melted away from the young teen's body. "Think you could teach me some constellations, sensei?"

Shikamaru chuckled. So, like a good sensei, he stayed up several hours past his bedtime to point out strings and strings of stars to his pupil.

…

It was bright and early the next morning that Shikamaru felt the effects of his late-night teaching. It didn't help any that he was under the scrutiny of Naruto and Sakura. They were both clearly shocked as they absorbed the proposal he and Temari had just completed presenting.

Shikamaru was still rubbing the back of his neck and Temari was still smiling that overly sweet, false smile that was purely put on for show. He could've cut the tension in the room with a kunai.

Thankfully, the uneasy silence was broken by Sakura.

"Just to make sure I got this right," She began crisply, pink brow arching as she directed all her attention to the two jonin in front of her, "You," she pointed to Temari, "Want to take my daughter to Suna for two years to train to be a sensor ninja and come back just a week before the Chunin Exams."

Shikamaru flinched, "Well, when you put it like that-"

"Exactly." Temari stepped in. The false smile long gone as she addressed the Hokage's wife. "Two years should be enough to at least build a sturdy foundation for her to work off of."

"Why Suna?"

"I'm more familiar with the terrain and it would give me an upper edge in case word gets out that the Hokage's daughter is out and about." The blonde shrugged.

Sakura's brows remained furrowed, digesting the information. She knew her daughter and knew Temari. So, it was with a sigh that she deflated her tense shoulders and nodded, "I give my consent."

"I don't!" Naruto squawked, "Two years?!"

Green eyes narrowed, "I recall someone else being gone for that long." Naruto was miraculously rendered silent. Sakura smirked, "Besides, do you really think the Kazekage or his sister would allow something to harm her while in his land?"

"But, I could teach-"

"How many times has she come to us for help, Naruto?" The blonde's mouth snapped shut. A sad smile graced her lips as she placed a pale hand on her husband's. "She'll come to us when she's ready. Until then, this is her chance to grow by herself."

Silently, he traced the woodgrain of his desk with his gaze. He wanted to teach her, to show her everything he had learned, and her make it her own. Tan fingers curled under his wife's soft hand. Like every ninja, she was different. She had her own struggles and her own strengths, and he wanted nothing more to be there for her as his senseis had been there for him.

But if she wasn't ready….

"Okay," All eyes met his. His fist loosened and shoulders sagged. "Only two years. That's it."

…..

Konohana's feet swung back and forth, while she twisted in her seat. It was her last trip to Ichiraku's before she departed in the morning with her new sensei. Her anxiety was beginning to eat away at her nerves. She'd never been outside of Konoha, and this would be her first time away from her parents.

Her parents.

All movement ceased. The image of their saddened smiles when they gave her their blessing made her eyes begin to burn and throat thicken. Of course, they gave their blessing. She knew all they wanted was for her to be happy.

But she wasn't fooled. She knew it hurt their feelings, even if they'd never admit it.

Deep down she did want them to teach her, show her everything they'd learned and tried. Share with her all their struggles and help her carry her own. She couldn't have asked for better parents, but…..

Her hands clenched involuntarily.

Eventually, she wanted to learn from them. Eventually. But for right now, she wanted to be more than just their daughter.

All musings halted as a larger figure plopped rather abruptly in the stool next her, jerking her attention to size up her intruder. Imagine her surprise when she came face to face with a certain Inuzuka.

"Sup?"

Her eyebrow twitched and Kakato smirked.

"Sup?" She echoed. "Didn't you just growl at me yesterday?"

A snort left the boy, turning his gaze forward to eye the menu in mild interest. "I growl at you every day. That's nothing new, pinky."

She knew it was new. He knew it too. They had meant to hurt each other.

Shoulders squared and eyes narrowing, she opened her mouth ready to give him a piece of her mind when his black gaze burned into her. "Uzumaki," Her mouth snapped shut. "When are you leaving tomorrow?"

"Just before sun rise," Pink brows remained furrowed as he slid off his stool and shoved his hands into his pockets. "Why?"

"What? I can't see my teammate off?"

Shock washed over her features, "Huh? What? But we-?"

"We always fight. Always will. I'm seeing you off pinky. So don't you be trying to kill me when I show up."

He didn't bother to wait for a retort, and she was too stunned to go after him.

…..

There waiting at the gates under the cover of the still pitch-black sky was Shikamaru, Shikami, Naruto, and Sakura. The four were huddled around the two who would soon be departing.

Shikamaru grunted as he gave his wife a final once over, "Got everything you need?"

Temari didn't bother to hide her snort, jabbing a thumb at her fan strapped across her back. "Think I got it covered."

It'd be a lie to say he hadn't tried to talk her out of all this, but when Temari had her mind set he knew it was wasted effort. For whatever reason that remained unknown to him, she had decided she would teach Konohana. It could've been she wanted to pass on her techniques to someone, since their daughter had taken a shine to his. But that seemed too shallow of a reason for a two-year commitment.

With a defeated sigh, he gave her a short kiss on the lips and grumbled, "Watch your backs."

"Who do you think you're talking to here?" She smirked, but the gleam in her emerald eyes gave away a softness. Her gaze turned to the blonde genin next to him, "Can I get a hug?"

She didn't need to be told twice. The thirteen-year-old lunged forward, throwing her arms around the kunoichi, and hugged her tightly. Temari's smile softened as she rubbed the girl's back, "Keep your dad in line while I'm gone. Train hard and show me what you got when I get back."

Shikami snorted and pulled back enough so her mom could cup her cheek. Temari memorized every detail of her daughter's face. Dirty blonde hair pulled into a bun, medium hued skin, and her father's dark brown eyes.

She placed a small kiss on the girl's forehead, "I'll be back before you know it."

Shikami nodded once, blinking to fight back the tears, before she fixed Konohana with a murderous glare.

The pinkette would've flinched back if her own mother's arms hadn't wrapped around her. She gave the older kunoichi her full attention, taking in Sakura's wobbly smile and watering green eyes, "You'll do great. Do what Temari says and come home to us soon baby girl."

Konohana nodded once, blue eyes stinging with building tears as her mother kissed her forehead. Only then did her dad snatch her up into his arms, holding her off the ground while he squeezed her into his own tight hug. She didn't hesitate to return the embrace and bury her now wet face into Naruto's shoulder.

"I'll be expecting you to give me a run for my money." He murmured and gave her final kiss on the cheek, then set her back on her feet. "Train and train hard. We're proud of you no matter what."

She scrubbed furiously to fight the persistent tears that streamed down her cheeks. "I will dad. I promise."

His thousand-watt smile in return almost made her go back home right then. She wanted to stay there and stay in their arms. In the warmth and safety she grew up in..

"Ready to go?"

Her attention jerked to her new sensei at the gate. Temari's hands settled on her hips and eyebrows raised expectantly.

With a heavy swallow, Konohana nodded. Slowly, she grabbed her pack off the ground and slung it on her shoulders. A deep breath, then another. She could do this. She could do this. It's what she wanted. She wanted this chance and here it was, waiting on her with blonde hair and green eyes.

A final steadying breath left her and she started forward..

"Uzumaki!" She whipped around to come face to face with a panting Kakato and huffing Chairomi hot on his heels. Both looked ruffled and clearly tired as the boy righted himself, groaning, "Geez, tryin' to bolt before I could get here."

Her growl was as automatic as was his eye roll. A small chuckled rumbled his chest, reaching his hand out to her expectantly. Konohana stared at the offered hand in clear confusion. Hesitantly, she grasped his hand and squeezed.

"Come back in one piece, I can't get another partner if you croak."

A cold object pressed into her palm and his fingers curled hers around it carefully. With one final squeeze and a nod, Kakato released her hand and took off without another word. Before Konohana could call after him, both him and ninken were out of sight.

"Come on! I don't have all day!"

With a jolt back to reality, the pinkette leapt after her sensei. A final wave goodbye over her shoulder to her sensei and her parents, and a leap into the forest to follow the blond kunoichi.

…

They'd only just made it out of sight of the village gate when she almost rammed full speed into Temari's back. The blonde whipped around at lightning speed and grabbed Konohana by the shoulders, eyebrows furrowed. A few more beats and her burning green gaze dropped to the pinkette's still closed hand.

A pulse of foreign chakra had her hair on end.

"What are you carrying?!" Before Konohana could blink, the blond already had her hand ripped open and was staring at her palm.

Slowly, her blue gaze dropped to find a small, clear, tear drop shaped charm attached to a silver chain in her grasp. A pulse tingled her fingertips as a familiar buzz grazed over her skin.

"That kid's smarter than I thought," The blonde kunoichi chuckled. Smoothly, she lifted the necklace and looped it around her new student's neck.

"What is it?"

Temari snorted, fastening the silver clip, "He stored a small amount of his chakra into it. It's to hide your chakra signature with his. It's common practice within his clan to fool sensors and some trackers." The sand nin ran her finger over the glass ornament, smirking, "Pretty smart if you ask me."

That was all Temari offered as she turned to resume their long journey. Konohana soon followed suit, fingers reaching up to curl around the charm now resting at the base of her throat.

"Stupid mutt."

Author's Note: I know Temari isn't technically classified as a sensor ninja, but I took some creative liberty for the story to expand on her abilities. Thanks for reading!