He took a deep breath and raised his fist to knock on the door. He paused, having to will his hand to make contact with the wood. With a sigh of defeat, he knocked, listening as someone walked closer to the door. When the door was flung open he caught a whiff of flowery perfume. He met the wide green eyes of the woman standing before him. He had been so busy with missions and his cousin had been busy looking after the deer that he hadn't had the time to realise he had grown taller than his cousin. Shikamaru couldn't help but smirk when Airi scowled up at him.

"So not fair. You used to be a shrimp." Airi crossed her arms.

"I grew out of it. Unfortunately for you, you'll be a shrimp for the rest of your life." Shikamaru grinned, leaning on the doorway. "Sooo, can we talk?"

"Sure, come in." Airi turned, playing with one of her curls as she went. When they reached her kitchen she turned, biting her lip. "This is about Eiji's petition, isn't it? Is Uncle Shikaku thinking about saying no?"

"Calm down, Airi, breath. Dad is just teaching me how to take over so he wants me to do the leg work. He hasn't made a decision yet."

"So, you're here to talk to Eiji? Cause he still lives in his own place. He can't move in here until we're married." At Shikamaru's frown, Airi sighed. "Because this is the Nara Estate! Turns out you need to get the Head of the Nara Clan to approve someone moving into the estate. So, whoever you want to shack up with will be allowed in. I think it's so the Clan can meet your partner."

Shikamaru sighed. "Clan politics are a headache."

"Just so you know I plan to become best buddies with your girlfriend, when you finally have one, and embarrass you to no end and find out all your secrets." Airi stuck her tongue out at him.

"And I'll tell Eiji stories about you from when you were younger."

"Eiji already knows what I was like when I was younger. You have no stories that will embarrass me."

Shikamaru smirked, his arms crossed over his chest. "I never said they would be true stories." When Airi huffed at him he decided to move on. "So, I was hoping you could tell me how you and your fiancé met."

"Oh, that's easy. It's thanks to you."

An eyebrow arched at his disbelieve. "Explain."

"You remember your first mission as leader? Well I went into the hospital to see if you were alright. I had only heard that there were at least two in critical condition but didn't know who. When I went looking for you I found Eiji. He told me that Uncle Shikaku had just asked about you too and that you were in his patient's room. He showed me to their room, Naruto's it was, and we saw you two sleeping next to each other. So cute. I asked him how you and Naruto were and admittedly was a little distressed and he offered me a glass of water and explained that you were fine and that your friend was going to heal. He also assured me that Choji was going to be alright. It was only after about two hours of him calming me down and letting me fret and cry that I found out he had been off work for that whole time. He had been working for about sixteen hours and was tired but didn't say anything. He asked me out for a late dinner and walked me home after that. I came in to see if Choji was alright the next day and saw him again and he asked me out on a real date. Been together ever since."

"So that's how you two met." Shikamaru cleared his throat, tightening his arms over his chest.

"You really think you can bypass the fact that I saw you sleeping next you someone?" Airi asked with a grin.

"I was hoping, yes."

"No way! Eiji left Naruto's folder open on his coffee table the other day. I've seen her medical file and a picture of what she looks like without her binds. Who knew you liked busty woman, Shikamaru, such a naughty boy."

"Naruto and I haven't done anything if that's what you're wondering. She doesn't even know about my feelings."

Airi wore a gleeful smile, one Shikamaru knew too well. She had something, something to lord over him and make him squirm. Last time he had seen that smile she had busted him after he had broken one of his mother's trinkets, gifts from his father during his travelling through the villages. She had held it over him even after he had gotten if fixed. The only way to escape from her hold was to admit to his mother what he had done. She forgave him, thankfully, but Airi had tortured him for two weeks for it.

Deciding that wasn't going to happen this time he scoffed. "Go ahead, tell her I love her, I dare you."

"Oh, sweet, idiotic, darling Shikamaru," Airi sung, "that's not what I have over you."

"Then what is it?"

"Not telling. That'll spoil the fun."

Shikamaru grunted before rolling his eyes. "Whatever."

"Does your sweet Naruto know about the Nara men's habit?" At Shikamaru's raised eyebrow Airi chuckled. "The grunting like a Stag? I've always wondered, and Ryota won't tell me, do you guys grunt softly when pursuing a mate like Stags do?" At her cousin's frown and shake of his head she laughed. "But you haven't said what Naruto would think of you grunting in frustration like that?"

"Probably nothing since when she's frustrated she growls like a fox." Shikamaru smiled when Airi gave a laugh. "Well I'm off to dig up more dirt on your fiancé."

"Good luck with that. He's one of the good ones."

Shikamaru smiled as he gave his cousin a hug. "I'm glad to hear it."

"And Shikamaru," Airi added as she showed him out. "Remember that people tell their secrets to their doctors, especially when said doctor is their friend."

Before he could ask her what she meant she closed the door on him, her laugh ringing through the wood.

/ / / / / /

He was walking across the courtyard of the Estate, wondering where Ryota might be when Naruto appeared out of nowhere. He smiled, instantly reaching out for her, for any form of contact with the ball of energy before him. However, instead of moving into the touch, she shied away, her eyes slits as she smiled at him.

"Old Granny wanted me to give you this." She held out a scroll for him, making sure their fingers didn't brush as he took it.

"Thanks. Hey, do you think you could help me locate my cousin? I don't know if you've met him but if you could that would be a great help." He put the scroll in his pouch for later, wanting to finish his task for the day.

"Yeah, I can. Family has similar chakras." Naruto closed her eyes, concentrating. "There's a girl over there," she pointed in the direction of Airi's house, "and a boy in the forest with Brefew."

"That would be Ryota, thanks." He paused. "Did you want to come with me?" He held out his hand. "You can see Brefew."

Naruto hesitated for only a moment before sighing and slipping her hand into his and leading him into the forest. After a short walk it wasn't hard to spot the large form of Brefew, lounging on the forest floor. Shikamaru was relieved to see that his cousin was nowhere near Hidan's burial place. There was no way he was letting Naruto set foot near that man, even if he had no hope of getting out.

Ryota looked up from where he sat on a fallen log as they drew near. He frowned at Naruto before looking at Shikamaru questioningly. In response Shikamaru simply gave a slight nod. Ryota then shifted his gaze to Shikamaru's and Naruto's conjoined hands. However, his cousin did not ask for answers as he simply observed the blonde.

"Wow, I would not have pegged you for a Nara if your chakra didn't fit one," Naruto stated, patting Brefew's snout when he nudged her free hand.

Shikamaru looked at his cousin, holding back a bark of laugher. Ryota had inherited all the looks of his mother. Whilst his twin sister had the black hair of the Nara clan, Ryota had his mother's curly, light brown hair, and the same green eyes as his sister and mother. He was the same height as Shikamaru, even being three years older, but had much broader shoulders.

Ryota grinned. "Looking at Shikamaru, I take that as a complement."

Naruto scoffed before noticing what laid before the older Nara. "Are they baby deer?"

"Fawns," Shikamaru corrected gently.

"Can I touch them?" Naruto whispered, looking fascinated as she watched one of the fawns suckle from the bottle in Ryota's hand.

"Brefew might not like that," Ryota warned.

Shikamaru looked at Brefew, who had moved closer to Naruto. "I think it'll be fine. Come on." He let go of Naruto's hand, putting his arm around her waist and grabbing her hand with his other hand. Slowly, he guided Naruto's hand towards the closest one, a pure black buck. As Naruto's hand neared the buck Brefew lifted his head. The stag took a look at Naruto, and the way she was being shielded and guided by Shikamaru and put his head back down. The little buck responded to Naruto's touch instantly.

"Huh, seems like they both like you. Do you want to feed him?" Ryota held out a bottle full of milk.

"Yeah!" Naruto took the bottle as the buck climbed onto her lap. She tested the milks temperature before putting the teat of the bottle against the buck's mouth. "What's his name?"

"Hasn't got one yet. We're pretty sure he'll be the leader of the deer when Brefew passes though. Wouldn't surprise me if he ended up bigger than Brefew too."

As they spoke Brefew had rose to his feet, walking closer to Naruto and dropped to the ground behind her so that his side rested against her back. The ground shook as he landed.

"That's hard to believe," Naruto whistled, eyeing the giant stag behind her.

"Do you have any ideas for the name, Naruto?" Shikamaru asked, ignoring as his cousin sucked air through his teeth.

Naruto thought over the question, ignoring how the two Nara men were staring hard at each other. "How about Fie?"

Shikamaru thought over the name, testing it on his tongue as his cousin continued to stare at him. "Fie, I like it."

"Fie, what do you think?" Naruto asked the buck in her lap. Fie stopped drinking long enough to nuzzle Naruto's arm. "I'll take that as a yes."

"You got to name a Nara buck, the future leader no less," Ryota stated in a forcibly neutral voice. "You must feel honoured."

"I do." Naruto didn't budge when Shikamaru sat next to her and started patting Fie.

"So what brought you into the forest in the first place?"

"I came to ask you about Eiji. Dad wants me to gather the information on him for his petition."

"He's a nice guy. Not sure he could look after Airi in a fight but she can do that herself. At least he can patch up her injuries. He makes her happy. He's good with kids, always talking about this one patient of his. Apparently he's been looking after her since she was seven or something."

"Yow," Naruto piped up with a two fingered wave.

"That patient is you?" Shikamaru asked, feeling stupid the moment he had said it. He knew Naruto had had hand selected Healers since she left the orphanage at age seven, and that Eiji was her Healer.

"Yep. I met him the day of my attack. He nearly passed out when he saw me and then ranted for about twenty minutes. Kin, who is the oldest healer I have, had to patch me up. Eiji said he refused to touch me while he was angry because I didn't deserve a negative touch."

Shikamaru paused. "So he has never touched you when angry or upset?"

"Nope. When I um…" she touched her chest where Sasuke's chidori had hit her. "He had to excuse himself from the room. He came back an hour later and apologised but he just couldn't stomach what Sasuke had done to me. He hasn't been able to say his name without anger ever since."

"See, an honourable man. Though he still annoys me," Ryota stated.

"Me too." Shikamaru smiled at his cousin whose face was still hard from Naruto choosing Fie's name.

"Why does Eiji annoy you two?" Naruto asked, putting the empty bottle down and stroking the now dozing buck.

"It's not so much Eiji as the fact that Airi is getting married," Shikamaru tried to explain. "Then again, it shouldn't shock us. Airi had the least to loss."

At the blonde's confusion Ryota gave her a soft smile, obviously not having any negative feelings towards the girl. "See when we were young, Airi and I ten and Shikamaru seven, we all swore none of us would get married until the other two were ready to marry as well. We all knew that if one of us was to get married either Shikamaru or I, whoever was still unmarried, would be harassed by our mothers to hurry up. With Airi being the one to marry that means both of us men will have to deal with our mothers."

"That wasn't a very smart deal though." Naruto frowned at both the Naras. "Eiji wasn't in on the deal. What was Airi going to say when Eiji proposed? 'No thanks, I made a promise to my brother and cousin that we'd be single together'. And even if they simply had a long engagement you would still have the same problems off your mothers."

"You have a good point, Good Sir/Madam," Ryota admitted, tipping his nonexistent hat to Naruto who laughed.

"I'm guessing Airi told you Naruto is a girl," Shikamaru voiced.

"Sort of. I knew that the Jinchurikki was a girl and I thought this was Naruto, which she confirmed when I talked of Eiji's patient."

"You are not doing a good job of hiding your gender lately." Shikamaru nudged Naruto, nearly stirring Fie from his sleep.

"I'm more just not denying it now. If someone asks me or insinuates that I am a girl I will admit it but I won't go out correcting them. I figure this is the easiest and most natural way for people to find out and accept it."

Shikamaru couldn't help but agree with the wisdom of her choice. After looking after the three fawns for a bit longer the two Nara males and the Uzumaki left the forest. Just before Shikamaru was to cross the tree line back into the estate Ryota grabbed his arm glaring at him. They let Naruto walk ahead of them, off to lunch with Iruka-Sensei before Ryota spoke.

"What the hell were you thinking?"

"Give it a rest!" Shikamaru spat back.

"No, you can't just ask someone to name the next leader of the deer. You know who is meant to name him!"

"And we just call him what until then? Buck?"

"Yes! It was the same with Brefew, and with Toru before him. It's been the same for generations. I've been looking after the buck carefully since his birth for the day he would be named."

"I think you mean Fie. And it is my decision to have Naruto name him."

Ryota grunted. "Once the head Stag has been named they can never be renamed, you know that!"

"Good." Shikamaru pulled his arm out of his cousin's grasp with a grunt of his own. "Because he's name is Fie."

Their conflict had caught the eye of their fathers who both walked up with studying gazes in their matching eyes. The brothers looked closer to twins than Ryota and Airi did.

"Ryota, what is the meaning of this?" Uncle Satoru asked sternly.

"Why don't you tell them, Shikamaru?" Ryota hissed.

"The new buck's name is Fie."

"Oh," Shikaku breathed. "You named him."

"Yeah, he broke tradition."

"It's his right," commented Uncle Satoru, putting a hand on his son's shoulder. "And you shouldn't speak to him like that."

"It's his choice to spit on tradition? Just cause he's heir?"

"Ryota," Shikaku sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Stop disrespecting the heir before I have to punish you. The tradition isn't always upheld. Our grandfather three times removed was only five when the new buck was born. They decided it was idiotic to wait."

"Is that how the Clan ended up with a head Stag named Toogie?" Shikamaru sniggered.

"Yes. It wasn't the wisest decision to have a five year old to pick the name. At least Fie is a suitable name. Though I am surprised you didn't wait until the appropriate time." Uncle Satoru gave his son a hard look.

"Well it wasn't like it was Shikamaru who named the buck," Ryota taunted.

Both fathers turned their gaze onto Shikamaru who straightened his back.

"It hardly matters," Shikamaru tried to cover with confidence. "He's name is now Fie."

"But who gave him that name?" Shikaku asked with a small groan.

Meeting his father's gaze with a level one of his own Shikamaru lifted his chin. "Naruto did. I asked him to."

Shikaku and Uncle Satoru both sucked air through their teeth before sharing a look.

"Why would you do that?" Uncle Satoru asked with shock. "You're going to regret that."

"If he does that will be his own burden to bear. Fie is still a fitting name." Shikaku grasped Shikamaru's shoulder hard, guiding him towards the house. When they were away from the other two Nara men he hissed into his son's ear. "Never do something like that again."

"I don't regret it!" Shikamaru snapped, trying to shake off his father's grasp.

"Not right now. And I hope you never will, but if you keep doing things like this it will send a message to the Clan that you don't care for tradition. And you will send a message to Naruto if she ever finds out."

"How is the second one a bad thing?"

"Because she might see it as you shoving these family traditions onto her because you don't care about them or her. I highly doubt it will send the message you want it too."

Shikamaru sighed as they reached the porch. "I wasn't thinking like that when I asked her. It's just that she loves the deer, and Brefew likes Naruto more than he likes you or me, and the buck just took to her. I knew she would pick the right name. I can't really explain it."

Shikaku paused. "I understand. But did Naruto 'name' the buck, or suggest a name?"

"I asked her if she had any suggestions."

"Excellent. If anyone finds out and has a problem, we simply tell them Naruto named a suggestion and the buck took to it the moment he heard it."

"That's exactly what happened." Shikamaru frowned, feeling hallow.

Shikaku smiled. "Technically that's how it always happens. It took eleven names before Brefew took to the name he did. However, only we heirs know that. Was it the first name Naruto said?" At Shikamaru's nod his father looked impressed. "Let Naruto name your future children."

"DAD!"

"That's punishment for what you did. Now, I took the time to set up a meeting with Eiji for you. He's busy at the hospital for the next three days. But he will be here on Wednesday at 11am. You can use my office."

"Fun," Shikamaru muttered, stomping into the house. At least the day had been productive when it came to finding out what kind of man Eiji was.

Hope you all like. R and R.