Temari no Suna sat on her knees on a plush purple cushion in one of the rooms in Akimichi Choza's house. She wore a pair of loose black pants and a nice purple kimono top, an outfit that was comfortable but gave a semi-professional appearance - much like the tone of this meeting.
To her left, Sai of Konohagakure, Yamanaka Ino's fiancé, knelt on a yellow cushion, back straight, body tense; he was dressed in his usual black outfit, minus the tantō he usually carried on his back. Temari had also left her fan back at Shikamaru's house. On her right, clad in similar black pants and a dark red haori over a gray T-shirt, was Karui no Kumo, Akimichi Choji's fiancé. She was lying with her legs tucked to the side, a hand balancing her weight on the dark wooden floor. The red-haired kunoichi seemed the most relaxed out of the three of them, probably because she had spent the most time in this house.
Across from the three 20-somethings sat their host, Akimichi Choza, Choji's father and the 15th head of the Akimichi clan. He was dressed in a light yellow kimono. Between them sat a spread of food - because no visit to the Akimichi clan compound was complete without a feast, though it was a couple hours later than the usual lunchtime - consisting of rice balls wrapped in nori, grilled meat, steaming bowls of soup and ramen, sushi rolls, sticks of dango, platters of fruit, salads, and cupcakes. The scents mingled together to create an appetizing aroma. Temari had eaten some sushi and dango, while Karui had enjoyed the strips of grilled meat. Sai at first had tried to decline any food, but after Choza's repeated urging, he'd taken a few pieces of fruit.
Choza set his third bowl of ramen down on the floor with a small clunk, exclaiming, "Ah!" with satisfaction. He wiped his face with a napkin and then smiled broadly at his guests.
"Well!" he exclaimed. "Thank-you again for coming! Please, eat, whatever and however much you want!" Choza waited a few moments, but when nobody moved, he nodded and said, "Well, yes, that's fine. Feel free to take some later. But I suppose it's best if we get down to business, hmm? I'm sure all you love birds have places you'd rather be."
Karui shrugged and said lazily, "This place has the best food in Konoha. Nowhere else I'd like to be. Choji can meet me here, and it's his house after all, ain't it?"
Choza gave another hearty laugh. "My, my, right you are, Karui! You're going to fit right in!" Then he coughed into his fist, and composed himself. Though he smiled at them, his tone was serious as he said,
"Well, as all three of you know by now, the Akimichi, Yamanaka, and Nara clans have a strong bond with one another, dating to long before the founding of Konoha and the other Hidden Villages. It is a bond that every member is tasked with honoring and respecting, but most especially the clan heads, the leaders. Currently, that is myself, Ino-chan, and Shikamaru-kun." He paused, lost in thought for a moment, or perhaps memories, thinking of his deceased best friends, the previous Yamanaka and Nara clan heads. Temari had only met Nara Shikaku a couple times, and had never made Yamanaka Inoichi's acquaintance, but she knew all about their critical service and sacrifice in the Fourth Great Shinobi War. She'd also been around the 16th Ino-Shika-Cho trio long enough to have heard a number of stories about the men from their children.
Choza recovered himself and continued, "And while, as a father, I am incredibly proud and pleased that my son and his closest friends have found love, and are closer to creating families of their own" his smile softened as he gazed at them, "it is also my duty as the head of the Akimichi clan to formally decide if my fellow clan leaders, and my heir, have chosen rightly in selecting their future spouses."
Temari tilted her head to the side, considering his words. "What exactly do you mean by that, Choza-san? How will you decide?"
When Shikamaru heard that Choza had invited her, Sai, and Karui to his house, he had groaned and explained the purpose for the surprise invitation. Technically, the Ino-Shika-Cho clan heirs needed the approval of the clan head to marry, and the opinions of the other leaders were also critical. Though Shikamaru was the official leader of the Nara clan, it was imperative that he receive the blessing of the Yamanaka and Akimichi clan heads - in this case Ino and Choza - as well.
"I'm sorry in advance," Shikamaru had said. "It's just some tradition - nothing super important. I mean, it does matter, but it's not like Choza-ji-san is going to disapprove of you, and I promise, even if for some reason he does, I'm still going to marry you."
Temari had laughed and kissed his cheek. "Good to know," she'd said. "And I don't mind. You had to go before the Suna council for me, this seems like fair turnabout." After Temari had announced her engagement to Shikamaru to the council, they'd demanded an audience with him. While some topics were reasonable, like going over his mission and war record, asking about his future career plans, and whether he'd consider moving to Suna, they'd also asked bizarre things like what his mother's pregnancy cravings had been and which cardinal direction his bed faced.
Back in the present, Choza turned to Temari, a twinkle in his eye. "Oh, nothing too difficult, Temari-san. I'm just going to ask each of you some questions, and you'll answer. Nothing to it."
"If this affects all three clans," asked Sai, "then shouldn't Ino and Shikamaru be here as well?"
Choza laughed, the deep, booming sound reverberating throughout the room. "Oh, my, Sai! Do you really think either of them would disapprove of you, their friends' betrothed? This far into the game? No, I'd rather it just be the four of us. Easier that way, don't you think?"
Sai didn't reply, just nodded to acknowledge Choza's answer. The older man looked over all of them, before his head swiveled towards Karui.
"Well, let's start with you, my own dear daughter-in-law-to-be."
Karui sat up straighter on the cushion. "I'm ready," she said.
The smile disappeared from Choza's face, as he adopted a look of professionalism. "Very well. As you know, your fiancé Choji is both my son and heir, the future leader of the Akimichi clan. And while I pray he won't have to take up that role for a while yet, it is still something you must be aware of. Are you prepared to support him in providing for the clan, sometimes even at the expense of your own priorities?"
Karui was quiet for a moment, head tilted back, thinking. Finally she looked Choza in the eye. "Back home," she began, "you know, in Kumo, we don't care much for clans. The traditions, the trappings, the emphasis on bloodlines and kekkei genkei. Where I'm from, blood doesn't matter. If you consider yourselves family, then you are.
"But, that said, family is important to us. It's everything. And I know, for Choji, that he cares about his clan, his family. He wants to do right by them, he wants to protect them and provide for them." She paused, breathed in deeply and released it. "And I care about Choji. I love him. And I will do everything I can to help him provide for his family. His family is my family. And that means everything to me."
Choza regarded her silently for a while, before giving a quick nod. "Well said, Karui. Well said, indeed. And since you brought it up, since you are from Kumogakure, are you alright with moving here to Konoha?"
Karui nodded. "I expect to still visit a lot - I'm not cutting my ties to my homeland completely - but, yes, I am willing to move here with Choji and the Akimichi clan and raise our family here."
"And you, Temari-san? You're in a similar situation," Choza observed, turning to the Suna kunoichi. "Are you willing to move to Konoha with Shikamaru?"
"We've talked about it, Shikamaru and I," Temari answered, gaze steady with Choza. "And similar to Karui - I'm prepared to settle down here in Konoha. But I'll still visit with my brothers and I plan to show any future children their family's other homeland."
"Fair enough. But how has Suna taken the news of your engagement and your plans to move? Will this in any way reflect badly on Konoha, Shikamaru, or the Nara clan in the eyes of Sunagakure? You're the daughter and sister of two Kazekage, the Suna ambassador, as well as a celebrated war hero," Choza said, a note of caution in his voice.
Temari sighed. She'd already heard these arguments from the Suna council and elders, and they were just as annoying from Choza as they'd been from the others. Feeling like a broken record, she answered, "Shikamaru is also a war hero, and an incredible strategist and a skilled shinobi. He and his clan are well respected in Konoha, and by many in Sunagakure. I...understand your reservations, but Shikamaru and I love each other, and we're not going to let politics stand in our way. We'll face these obstacles together."
She clenched her jaw at the end, tense, daring Choza to challenge her. He looked back at her calmly, absorbing her words. "Very glad to hear it," he said, before facing Sai. "And now you, Sai. I assume moving into the Yamanaka clan compound wouldn't be much of a difficulty for you?"
"Of course not," Sai answered. "I'll be where Ino is, wherever that is."
Choza nodded slowly. "Good, good. But being married to the Yamanaka leader is quite the job. The clan is in charge of many things regarding the security of the village - surveillance, interrogation, border control, things like that - not to mention the Yamanaka flower shop. And that one might be the most important!" Choza chuckled at that, but when Sai stayed quiet, he continued, "But I just want you to understand what you're getting into. And, forgive me for saying so, but given your background, are you ready to join as large a clan and family as the Yamanaka? Who also consider the Akimichi and Nara as extended family?"
Sai closed his eyes, composing his thoughts. Finally he opened them and began haltingly, in a quiet voice,
"My friends in Konoha...they've taught me about relationships. About friendships, and all the warmth and good things that go into them. But even then, I've had hard times...slip-ups, when I was back in the darkness..."
Temari watched him as he paused, remembering the mission Shikamaru had led to rescue Sai and expose the dangerous plot of Gengo, a charismatic and skilled terrorist from the Land of Silence, a year and a half ago. According to Shikamaru, that's when Ino and Sai became close.
Sai continued, "And Ino...she healed me. She showed me another way to love. And I want to be with her, no matter what I have to do. And to be a member of her clan, her family...it would be everything I'm sure I don't deserve but would love to have. I'd be honored if they accepted me, as Ino has."
Choza nodded in acknowledgement. He crossed his arms and closed his eyes, looking down in thought. Temari, Karui, and Sai waited in anxious silence, staring at the Akimichi clan head. Beyond the room, birds chirped, and a few people passed by, exchanging conversation a few laughs; inside the room, however, the tension grew the longer Choza sat there. Temari longed to say something, but she'd been in diplomacy and politics long enough to know you had to wait some things out.
Finally Choza looked up and, once more, smiled broadly at them. "Well! Karui-san, Temari-san, Sai-san, as the 15th head of the Akimichi clan, I am thrilled to announce that you have earned my blessing for your upcoming nuptials! I am so pleased for your three and Choji-kun, Ino-chan, and Shikamaru-kun! Welcome to the family!"
A weight that Temari didn't know she had lifted off her shoulders, and she gave a small laugh. Karui cried "A'right!" while Sai bowed low to the ground.
"Thank-you so much, Choza-san," he said, voice laced with relief. Temari also bowed, but not as low.
Choza waved his hand dismissively. "Come now, my boy, don't be like that! The formal part is over! Call me Choza - ooh, or even Choza-ji-san, like Ino-chan does."
"Then should I call you tou-san?" Karui asked in amusement.
"Yes! That's a wonderful idea!" Choza answered, beaming at her. Then a strange look passed over his face, and he held up a hand. "Wait! I have one last very important question!"
Temari, Sai, and Karui glanced at each other, bewildered and a little anxious, before focusing back on Choza. The Akimichi clan head pointed to the cupcake plate, which somehow only had one cupcake left, though Temari couldn't remember anyone eating them.
"Is anyone going to take that?"
...
Konoha Cemetery
Akimichi Choza stood before Konohagakure's Memorial Stone, the monument that listed the names of all those who had perished in service to the village. Naturally, his friends Shikaku's and Inoichi's names were inscribed there, along with many of their comrades from over the years and others who had fallen in the Fourth Great Shinobi War. Earlier today Choza had visited his parents' graves, as well as Shikaku's and Inoichi's, but they were buried in different plots throughout the cemetery. Choza liked to visit his loved ones individually at times, but by coming to the Memorial Stone, he felt like he was visiting his two best friends at the same time.
"Hello again, boys," he started. A soft breeze ruffled his hair and clothes, and made the leaves rustle. The fading sunlight cast a golden glow on the trees that surrounded the cemetery. "I'm sure you've heard it all from everyone else - Yoshino and Suisen, if no one else - but our kids...they're getting married! All three of them! Can you believe it?"
Choza closed his eyes, basking in the silence. "I talked to Temari, Sai, and Karui today - did the whole, 'are you good enough for the clan' talk with them. Mmm, remember when it was us presenting the girls to our parents? Inoyoshi-oji was pretty tough on them, wasn't he?" The wind blew again, causing some bells somewhere to chime sweetly. Choza took it as a good sign.
"Well, anyway, I approved them all. I'm happy for them. I know you're looking after them, too."
Choza then imagined his friends on either side of him, trying to hear what they might be saying to him.
"Hmmph, well, nobody is good enough for my Ino-chan...but I guess that Sai character is alright," Inoichi would say, arms crossed, a pout on his face.
"Haha, Shikamaru's found himself a feisty one, hasn't he? I always knew it. He's a Nara man through and through," Shikaku would laugh, much too pleased at the thought of his son's future marital troubles that would not be troubles at all.
As Choza stood there by the graves of those he loved and had lost and would see again, past memories and dreams for the future mingled in his heart. His son was getting married. The next generation was starting to rebuild the world.
He couldn't wait to see what the future would bring.
