Shikamaru sat in his home peacefully enjoying a game of Shogi with his eldest son. Shika lay on her front beside him, happily drawing in her sketchbook. Temari was upstairs tending to their one year-old son. Kankuro was over from Suna for a diplomatic mission and was staying at the Nara home. He was currently in his room.

It was a peaceful evening and soon it would be bedtime for his kids. Shikamaru looked forward to laying down tranquilly even though he was not tired. Naruto had dismissed him early today because of his date with Hinata and his eagerness to go home.

Shikamaru made his final move defeating his son in yet another game when he heard a loud banging on the front door. The banging continued incessantly until he opened the door, annoyed at the unwelcome visitor.

He came face to face with a haggard, out-of-breath Hokage.

"Shikamaru!" Naruto exclaimed looking over Shikamaru's shoulders his eyes darting left and right frantically. "Is he here?!"

"Is who here?" Shikamaru asked exasperated.

"Minato!" Naruto replied urgently. "Is he here? Is he with you?"

"No. Why would he be here?" Shikamaru said matter-of-factly.

Naruto uttered a loud expletive and turned around to gaze at the compound. Agitatedly, he turned back to his Chief Advisor.

"He's missing! I can't find him!" Naruto said in a frustrated tone, running his fingers through his disheveled hair.

"Wait. What do you mean missing?" Shikamaru inquired, curious about his friend's predicament.

"I don't know where he is." Naruto answered hastily, his voice taking on a crushed tone. "WE don't know where he is. He hasn't been home. His caretaker came home alone in the evening saying he could not find him! And we've been searching ever since!"

"Did you search the ramen store? Or one of his friend's houses? May be he went along with someone he knew." A feminine voice called out and the two men turned to come face to face with Temari.

"We've searched everywhere! I used Shadow Clones and searched the entire village. The Hyūgas are helping me out with Byakugan. But he's nowhere to be found!" Naruto answered.

"What about the training grounds? Or the outskirts of the village?" Shikamaru suggested observantly. His mind was already thinking up places a four year-old could disappear to.

"Tried them all. Even Kakashi-sensei is searching with his Ninja dogs. There is no evidence of him leaving the village." Naruto continued, holding his hands imploringly in front of friend. "What do I do? It's already night and we can't find him. Hinata is in hysterics. I'm running out of my mind! Help me, Shikamaru!"

"Where was he when his caretaker lost sight of him?" Shikamaru questioned with urgency.

"At the park." Naruto responded.

"Shika was at the park in the afternoon. May be she met him?" Temari suggested helpfully. "I'll go get her."

Shikamaru invited Naruto in and closed the door behind him while Temari brought out Shika.

"Shika-chan." Naruto addressed the little girl, kneeling so he could be close to her height. "Did you meet Minato at the park today?"

"Minato-kun?" Shika asked in her vivacious voice. "Yes, I did. We played together at the park! Minato-kun also got me flowers! I'll show Uncle Naruto!"

Shika announced happily and disappeared inside the house ignoring Naruto's calls. Shikamaru, on the other hand, stood tensely by the side. He did not like the idea of a boy, even a four year-old boy, giving flowers to his little angel.

Shika returned with the flowers in her hand proudly displaying them to Naruto.

"They are very nice, Shika-chan." Naruto said hurriedly but gently. "Where did Minato go after he gave you flowers?"

"Nowhere." Shika declared cheerfullly. "When Minato-kun gave me flowers, I said thank you, and kissed him like I've seen mommy do when she says thank you to us, and Minato-kun turned so red. He was like a tomato!"

Shikamaru grew deathly still. Then murderous rage coursed through his being. That little brat kissed his little girl! Unforgivable. Earlier, he was planning to help search for Minato because he was worried about the kid. Now, he decided, he would search for the urchin to kill him. Damn the Hokage!

"NARU — " Shikamaru started but was interrupted.

"And after that? What happened after that, Shika-chan?" Naruto urged on.

"Ummmm…." Shika scrunched her face recalling her day. "Uncle Kankuro came! He was angry. But he still said he will play with us!"

"And then?" Naruto had now gripped Shika's shoulders.

"Uncle Kankuro played with us! He let us play with his big dolls!" Shika replied merrily before she complained, "But Minato-kun got to play with the dolls more!"

"And then Shika-chan?" Naruto gripped Shika tighter making her writhe in discomfort.

"Naruto, let her go!" Shikamaru objected, fuming with rage.

"Uncle Kankuro said he will show us a magic trick and told Minato-kun to get in the fat doll. And when Minato-kun was inside the doll, he made the doll disappear! POOF! It was so good!" Shika answered sunnily unaware of the danger around her.

The instant the little girl made the innocent proclamation, the adults in the room grew very silent. Then a loud "Kankuro" rang through the house and a livid woman and an outraged Hokage cloaked in Nine-tails chakra moved to the inside of the house, their combined killer intent strong enough to induce terror in the most fearless hearts.

Shikamaru swiftly picked up his daughter to shield her from any harm. The events so innocuously related by her upset him greatly. He was already planning the penalty for the buffoon for the next time he met him. But more than anything, he was surprised that someone had stepped in to defend his precious princess.

Shikamaru never had a warm relationship with his brothers-in-law. Even after many years of marriage and three kids, he still kept an assortment of weapons next to his bed every time the Suna ninjas came over to visit. So, it was very surprising for him that he and his brothers-in-law held similar ideas when it came to Shika. Shikamaru smirked at his luck; he had just discovered an unexpected friend.

The Nara Clan Head carried his daughter back in to the room they had occupied earlier and resumed his activities which were interrupted by Naruto's arrival. He could hear several yells, screams, and groans from inside the house but he chose to ignore them. Even though he acknowledged the victim as his ally, Shikamaru did not deem it wise to help him right now. Besides, sometimes for the greater good, certain sacrifices were necessary.

As his son arranged the pieces for another Shogi match, he decided to talk to his brother-in-law to put aside their differences and form a much needed alliance. He was a smart man and, while his plan of producing associates was going well, he did not discount the benefit of having the two strongest assassins of Suna by his side. The genius smirked as he moved a piece in response to his son's attack. The Uzumaki brat's actions presented him with a very good opportunity and just for that, Shikamaru conceded that he will not kill the boy — not intentionally.

THE END