One more time
Chapter 10: Formalities
Naruto had been sitting in her apartment quietly huddled in the practically empty space. Most of her things were with Shikamaru and it was too painful to think of getting her things from there for now.
Everything was just so muddled and she really could not handle how out of control this was all getting. Her somber silence was destroyed by three steady knocks on her door. Naruto sighed but stood to move to the door only to be faced with Neji.
It was really unexpected to see him with a determined expression on his face he was practically vibrating with emotion.
"Hinata came by and nearly ripped her dad and our council apart. She told us what they had all been forcing on you." Neji grimaced and looked at the blonde obviously in some type of pain.
"I need to talk with you, this is something you have to hear, may I please come in." Naruto hesitated but nodded letting the man into her home.
Naruto sat tense as Neji eyed her silently from her doorway and she only stood shakily before him. He had arrived at her apartment in the early morning hours amid all the waning hours of the red light district and its antics. Knocking on Naruto's door he only asked to be let in to talk before setting down and gathering his thoughts.
The silence was kind of eating away at the blonde though, though she kept her words to herself. Neji had asked to speak and she would allow him to first gather himself before she tried to interject.
Neji sighed heavily and slowly before looking up and into the eyes of the blonde he truly loved. "I've known you were and are in love with Shikamaru. It was why I never tried to put effort into pursuing you." Neji grimaced and Naruto's heart jumped not really expecting this to be the topic of conversation to come up.
"I don't know what's going on and I don't want you to think I'm actually trying to win your hand despite me knowing the truth." Neji grimaced but held Naruto's gaze.
"I have never seen you hesitate before Uzumaki, not when something matters, and if this is the man you deem worthy. The man I am to step aside for so you may find peace and happiness, what holds you back. You have never been fearful of any path set before you. I admired that about you and that admiration led me to love you. I tire of seeing you in constant sorrow and as your friend first I wish to know why you cannot allow yourself to be happy with him." The blonde was stunned having never expected Neji to be so noble but the pale-eyed man stood stepped into her space and hugged her. It was brotherly, tender but nothing with any expectation.
He stepped back looking at her with concern.
"Neji, I don't know what to say. It's just all so complicated there's so much bullshit politics and clan egos to avoid." Her eyes watered and she realized she must have been a mess of Neji had stumbled into her home to confront her.
"Fight for your happiness, so I may find my own strength to fight for my own. You deserve to do as you will, don't forget you are Naruto Uzumaki, the next Hokage." With that Neji patted Naruto's head and slipped out the door. It was as if he only came to her home to give her a kick in the pants. He wanted her to snap out of her funk like a real friend and support her to chase after what she truly wanted.
Why it took Neji, the silly boy who had loved her and lost his life in the process in her past, for her to buck up.
Maybe she needed someone involved but not close to the situation to tell her she wasn't being herself. She had needed a friend in her past few days, not a lover or a brother or a father figure but someone to set her straight into finding her strength once more.
She didn't need to be coddled she was Naruto Fucking Uzumaki!
First, she sent a few clones off, one to the Uchiha's, one to the Hyuga's, and one to Iruka's. There was to be no more second-guessing. She was over waiting on hopes, she had lived her regrets in her past life and she would not drag those same ones to her grave here.
Then Naruto was in a blaze of action from then onward. She rushed showering swiftly and slipping through her window hair still soaked but dressed in her training outfit and running through the village until she found herself on the Nara land. The guard let her pass watching stunned at the presence of the woman who charged forward as if into battle. She entered the house and was greeted by a gentle Yoshino who turned from cooking to welc0ome her home.
Shikaku looked from the book he was reading but smiled at the blond tipping his head in the direction Shikamaru was in. Naruto greeted them both softly before trudging forward into Shikamaru's study.
He was a mess looking at her with shock and apprehension nearly stumbling over himself to face her. Naruto held her hand up so he wouldn't speak and Shikamaru grimaced and shut his mouth and watched her with pain in his gaze.
"I know we are heavily deviating from our original plan. I know so much seems uncertain and everything is thrown up in the air but I am not someone who's going to look at a shitty situation and lie down. I'm done letting our past decide how we should face our future." Naruto was in such a state she found herself pressed in Shikasmaru's strong warm embrace.
They basked in the warmth and comfort they found in one another. It was truly like coming home.
"Marry me." Naruto flushed immediately asking such a thing but Shikamaru suddenly had his mouth on hers. Warm and gentle, igniting a blaze in her that she never knew she would feel. He poured every ounce of love into the kiss and they pulled apart gasping for breath.
"You are the most knuckleheaded unpredictable shinobi to ever grace the steps of the village. You are the single most stubborn and frustrating person I have ever been around and don't forget troublesome." They both smiled at that comment. "The thought of being without you and living in your constant chaos makes me feel more hollow than a future of unknowns. So I would have no choice but to stay by your side as your husband forever." They both hugged tightly and it was just soft.
Lost in one another gaze they broke apart from a yawn and both turned to Shikaku and Yoshino standing in the doorway.
"Well, now that you two have stopped moping we will need to make plans so you can both marry." The pair jolted and turned to Shikaku who was bored looking leaning against the doorframe.
Yoshino was practically bouncing next to him and bolted forward pulling the blonde into a hug before she menacingly glared at her husband and son.
"We will have a discussion about putting such marriage pressures on a young girl and letting it fall to such extremes later but for now Naruto and I will be off." Shikamaru was a little miffed, he had just gotten her back and now they were being separated.
"What-" He stopped at his mother's cold stared and his father patted his back sympathetically.
"Our clan tradition states Naruto live with the women of the clan until the wedding day. You are the next clan head so it's going to be a spectacle, my boy, we too are tied down to our values. You'll see her at dinner times though or at work but you can guarantee your mom will hog her until then." Shikamaru grumbled about this. He had forgotten about this from his previous marriage but he had been away from Temari on a mission, they had found she was pregnant and he was in a shotgun marriage.
Shikamaru sighed and eyed his father. "How fast can we make this wedding happen?" Shikaku's laugh echoed through the house as Yoshino collected her things and Naruto's for a bit stunning the blonde into compliance.
"Come come we have to go and let the Hokage know about your decision, I can't wait to see Fugaku's defeated face." Naruto was dragged along for the whirlwind.
She thought she would have more time with Shikamaru but word through the clan spread and there was a practical wall of women ready to keep the blonde away from Shikamaru. Naruto huffed and intended to ensure this engagement was short-lived.
On their way to the Hokage's tower, Naruto turned to the giddy Yoshino and cleared her throat getting her future mother in laws attention.
"How fast can we make this wedding happen?" Yoshino only giggled and tugged along the pouting blonde so they could let Lady Hokage know of her decision.
Naruto didn't hesitate when called before Tsunade.
Even though Yoshino was at her side looking to be on cloud nine and she was sure Tsunade knew the answer Naruto still needed to say it out loud.
"I love Shikamaru Nara and will be marrying him." Naruto flushed having admitted that to someone that was like family and sorta her boss rolled into one but the happy soft smile that covered Tsunade's expression spoke volumes and made the blonde finally relax.
"Congratulations Naruto, I wish you both happiness." Tsunade smiled and it was warm and kind and everything Naruto knew to be. "I can't wait to tell Jiraiya he's going to be over the moon for you." Tsunade stood and walked over to her side making the blonde feel so much emotion. She was going to get married and Kakashi, Iruka and Jiraiya will be there.
For some reason, Naruto began to cry but she didn't know why she was crying, she was happy.
Finally really truly happy. That only made her sob harder until she was gently hugged by Tsunade and Yoshino was speaking to her soothingly. Naruto was just so happy and loved.
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