It's Worth The Troubles Chapter 6: Veiled Secrets & Emotions, a naruto fanfic

IT'S WORTH THE TROUBLES

By ardenilia

Disclaimer: Masashi Kishimoto-sensei owns Uzumaki Naruto & Company. I'm just an average teenager, trying to achieve great things as many as possible in life.

Author's Note: Special thanks to KpT Ogowa, Jewel Green (a very good friend/writer/listener), t3ddiE0x, Rama chan, fickadik, pookie, ambrose684, LaZyEnErGeTiC, '.Serene Panda." and Sankontessou. You guys are and will always be the best things that ever happened in my life. Thank you for giving me support from the first day I published my first story in Miraculously, this chapter had been finished earlier, so this one is for you guys.

Summary: Both of them did not expect this. More over Shikamaru. What's Temari gotta do? This one, not even Dai Kamaitachi No Jutsu could handle…

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Part 6 : Veiled Secrets & Emotions

It was around 9.00 am that morning when Konoha's representatives were getting ready to take flight to Sunagakure. The other members of the four men team had already arrived at the West Gate of Konoha, all geared up for the mission. Temari could see her team-mates Rock Lee and the grandson of the long departed Third Hokage, Konohamaru who had been a newly-appointed Chuunin stretching out nearby. It seems that the former teacher and student were very excited to embark on the latter's first mission as Chuunin.

"Lee-san, who are we waiting for?" She asked the now-bending Taijutsu master, trying to touch his toes with Konohamaru falling suit. "We're waiting for my former team-mate…"

'His former team-mate? Could it be Neji?' Temari let out a worried sigh. The last thing she wanted to do during this mission is to avoid the range of someone who could perform an x-ray vision, so as to prevent her condition from being discovered by anyone. And to top it off, the bloodline limit has 360 degrees coverage. 'Not good' Temari's heart beat two times faster. There's no way she could avoid Neji's questioning gaze if such things happened.

"Ohayo minna-san…" Came a soft, friendly greeting from behind them. They turned their heads around to see a couple approaching.

"Tenten?"

"Hai…Temari, Lee. Sorry we're late"

"Iie…you're just on time" Lee replied while his hands fixed his backpack while Konohamaru had found a comfortable position on one of the big rocks nearby, waiting agitatedly to take off.

"Neji-kun, remember to make sure that Kenji takes his vitamins every morning and gets his sleep on time. No late night snacks or extra candies for the boy, ok?" Tenten said slowly to her husband as they held each other in a deep embrace.

"Hai…don't worry, koi. I know. This is the 25th time you told me about it. You're starting to get me worried if I let you go today" Neji gave her a warm and reassuring smile as he slowly caressed the cascading veils of her dark brown locks.

Lee cleared his throat. "Sorry Neji, Tenten. I don't want to rob you of your precious moment but we need to keep track of our schedule"

Neji and Tenten broke their embrace on impulse, with an embarrassed expression on their face. "Sorry, Lee" Tenten grinned sheepishly as she glanced at the others and she was quite relieved to find out that everyone doesn't seem to be paying attention. However, unknown to her, Temari felt touched at their exchange before. She couldn't restrain the feeling inside her that had made itself known as jealousy. Yeah…Temari was jealous of the fact that Tenten had Neji to see her off while her own husband was nowhere to be seen.

"Yosh…minna-san. Let's go!" Lee gestured for everyone to collect themselves and ready to start their journey to Sunagakure.

"Lee…Please take good care of the girls" Neji said while standing firm with his arms crossed. "We put their safety in your hands…" His white pearly eyes that were fixed at his wife before had landed on Temari. "Shikamaru and I…" Temari's calm and controlled demeanor dropped suddenly. She clasped and unclasped her fidgeting hands with means to stop herself from bursting that moment, screaming at Neji asking him "Why the hell didn't he come here and told us himself?"

Thankfully, Lee broke her from the path to delving deep into her own disappointment. "Don't worry Neji. You have my word as a ninja. I will protect them with my life and bring them back safely to you guys" Lee gave his nice-guy pose to his former team-mate.

The dark-haired Hyuuga watched at the group as they walked out of the gate. Truthfully, he wasn't that worried about seeing Tenten leaving Konoha for a mission due to the fact that she was in Lee's team. He was more worried about seeing the look on Temari's face after he mentioned her husband's name. From the expression that she gave to him just now, he knew that there was something wrong if not, Temari wouldn't be giving him the slightly upset 'look' that could make anyone cower in fear.

"I just hope that you know what you're doing Shikamaru" He sighed before he turned around to make his leave.

It was only 5 minutes from the gate when the group stumbled upon a figure with Konoha's Jounin vest and high ponytail. Lee posed a glance at Temari who had her head hung low as if she was in a deep thought. "Temari-san, someone's here to see you. We'll wait for you in front"

She looked up to see the said someone leaning against one of the trees on the path side. She couldn't figure out who was that person, but as she saw the unmistakably familiar hairstyle and clothing. Her heart stopped beating for a moment. 'Could it be…did he come to see me?'

When the figure came in clear view, she was slightly disappointed but anyway still glad to find that Nara Shikaku had been the person to see her off that day. The warmth and fatherly love were always present on his face and in his actions whenever Temari and her children were around.

Yoshino and Shikaku were about to start their early breakfast when a loud knock was heard coming from the front door. Both of them paused and looked quizzically at each other. Realizing that it might be a messenger from the Hokage, Yoshino stood up, wiping her hands on the nearest kitchen towel hanging by the wall and went straight to the door.

"Who could it be?" She asked to herself as her hand reached the doorknob.

"Ohayo…mom"

There, standing in front of her was none other than her daughter-in-law. Over the pass 6 years, this is the girl who she grew to love although at first, it was really hard for her to accept the fact that she was once involved with the attempted invasion against Konoha.

"Ohayo Temari-chan" Yoshino greeted her daughter-in-law with a smile on her slightly aged face. Temari was pulled into a deep motherly embrace once she stepped inside the moderately-sized abode of the older Nara. That plain act alone was enough to ease some of the pain that resided within her heart since the past few days.

"My goodness, you looked tired Temari-chan." She asked as they pulled out of the embrace, with her hands resting on both of Temari's shoulders. Temari could only put on a bitter smile in response. "Anyway, we were just about to start breakfast. Come, join us"

"Ohayo…dad" It was quite weird at first for her to say the word 'dad' since her own father had never allowed her and her brothers to address him using any other word except Kazekage-sama. But even this man was someone else's father, his love was never less than a real father would give. May God bless the old man. Of course she meant the living one, not the dead one.

"Hmm…oh, Temari? Have a sit, dear"

She muttered a slow thanks to her father-in-law as she grabbed a seat at the square-shaped rose-wood dinner table. Shakily, her hands moved to find a better position on the table.

"Mom, dad, I really love to stay, but I don't have much time to spend here." She paused, taking in a few breaths. "I accepted a mission from Hokage-sama. I was asked to represent Konoha to the Wind country on a political mission"

A slight frown marred Yoshino's face. "I thought Shikamaru agreed to take most of the missions after you married. You know he shouldn't let you work when you have other responsibilities"

"Oh no…no, mom. It was quite sudden, even he doesn't expect this. Naruto-sama had received the letter from Kazekage-sama only yesterday and he couldn't think of any other person suitable for the mission especially when it concerned the Wind's future" The fingers resting on the table were fidgeting nervously.

Shikaku remained unfazed but he already stopped eating. On the other hand, Yoshino seem disappointed upon coming to the conclusion that her daughter-in-law had to go away on a mission, leaving her family behind.

"I still can't believe that Shikamaru didn't talk to Hokage-sama about somebody else taking your place in return"

Temari wasn't good in defending other people in front of Yoshino. Heck, she can't even save herself for that matter. All she could do is to have an earful of Yoshino's ramblings. Sometimes she doesn't mind it because she knew that's how Yoshino showed that she cared deeply for someone and that is gratifying. But right now, she already had enough things to worry about.

"Dear, we shouldn't get all worked up because of a small matter like this" Shikaku broke out his wife's outburst by placing his hand on her wife's back and rubbing her gently to calm her down. "How do you expect Temari to carry out her half part as a kunoichi if you already making a big fuss over such things?"

Yoshino just scowled in return, while Temari could never be thankful enough to have a father-in-law like Shikaku. For all these years, she thought he would never stand up to her mother-in-law. But right now, he became her savior. Temari's lips formed a small smile to both of them. 'That's how a husband and wife should be. They complement each other' She felt her admiration towards the older couple grew a notch longer.

"Besides, doesn't that mean we could spend the next two weeks with our grandchildren? I think I'd love to have Hikaru and Kusanagi over here. Wouldn't that be nice? Am I right, Temari?"

She blinked incredulously at Shikaku. "I...I was just getting to that, Dad" Damn, now she knew where did her husband got the intelligence from. And to top it off, Shikaku was giving her the usual smile just like on her husband's face when he succeeded in something.

'They're like fire and water. Dad's the water, obviously' She chuckled to herself upon her own analogy of the couple.

Yoshino reluctantly gave in to the situation. "I guess that's something that I can look forward to in the next few weeks. God knows Temari, I need something exciting in my life" She was now smiling at her and it was one genuine smile, filled with hope and promise.

"What…mom, don't you have dad already?"

"That's what I'm trying to tell you" Yoshino laughed as she nudged her husband gently, earning a grunt from him.

The conversation continued for the rest few minutes before Temari took her leave. She was glad that she could be able to enjoy a few moments with the older Naras after the things she went through. If only they realized that during their conversation, Temari had never pronounced her husband's name. Not even once. It was always 'he'. They would certainly know that something's up and she would never have the heart to let them know as yet.

"It seems that idiot son of mine has got other things to do apart from seeing you off" Shikaku stared straight into her eyes, as if he could see right through her feelings. Temari just laughed helplessly. If Shikaku knew what happened between her and his son, this man would never let his son see the last of him.

"Yoshino's at your house right now. She went to pack some of the kids' stuffs" He spoke as his gaze fixed on the opposite route behind her.

On the other hand, her turquoise orbs stared into Shikaku's rough-shaped face, realizing that despite all the scar battles he obtained during one of his many missions, he has a very great heart. "I-don't know who else I could turn to. Even so, I don't know how I could thank you and mom enough for helping me with the kids"

"Iie…it doesn't matter. That's what family does. They help each other"

Temari nodded in agreement. "Thanks again for this morning, dad. You really helped save me back there"

"About mom? Don't worry. I've known her too well. She cared about you, that's why she's been acting like that"

"Well…" There was a pause before she continued. "I think I'll be going now. Send my regards to mom" When Shikaku nodded, she took her leave.

"Temari…"

She looked back to see Shikaku held something in his hands.

"What's this?" She asked as her hands firmly grasped the pendant-like object.

"Yoshino asked me to give this amulet to you. It's been hers ever since before she married into the Nara family and it was from her mother. She thought it's time for her to give it to you as it meant for protection and safety. I don't want to scare you child, but Yoshino felt uncomfortable letting you go on a mission this time. I don't think I'd want to blame it on women's instincts either but, she felt that something's wrong and she doesn't want to tell me about it"

"Iie…don't worry, dad. I'll take care of myself. Besides, I'm not alone in this mission"

"I hope so, Temari. May you and the team come back here safely"

And she nodded calmly, although her insides are churning. She somehow remembered the fact once told by someone to her that motherly instincts are usually right and Yoshino is a mother. "Emm…dad…" She hesitated whether she should ask him what she wanted to know. But knowing she could get a satisfying answer, she let her question out. "If you told someone that you don't like changes but one day, your life took a new turn. What would you do about it?"

Shikaku remain calm despite her surprising question and he pondered for a moment before voicing out his opinion. "It depends on the situation. No one wants a bad change in their lives. But, if your life happened to take a better turn, it was destined to be the best. Sometimes unexpected things happened and you feel like running away. However you should know that every thing happened because of a reason and we should accept them as it is"

The four of them hopped from trees to trees as the crescent moon perched high above the midnight skies. It has indeed been two nights since their departure from Konoha and the constantly moving journey had taken its toll on each member. Finally, Lee halted the team to a secured spot not too far from a flowing river.

"Hai…minna-san. We'll set up a camp here for tonight. Konohamaru and I will take the first watch, while Tenten and Temari-san, you would need to rest and need not worry about standing guard now"

"Lee-sensei…I'm so tired…" Konohamaru burbled as his slumped figure slide down a random medium-sized tree. "Tsk…tsk…" Lee just shook his head in disbelief as he smiled at his student's condition. "Konohamaru, this is your first mission as a Chuunin, certainly I could expect more than this from you"

"Demo…sensei, I really can't help it…" He let out a big yawn. Temari believed she could stuff a whole antelope into the boy's mouth.

"Ko-No-Ha-Ma-Ru, what happened to your own spirit of youth? Have all the flames gave in to the temptations of exhaustion?" Lee looked dramatically "petrified" at his student.

"Sensei…no…lecture…this time. I'm so tired…can't help it" The poor boy looked like he was going to pass out very soon.

'This could go on forever' Tenten sighed while Temari just smirked amusingly upon seeing their banter.

"Lee, I'll take the first watch with you. Let the boy rest first and don't be too hard on him" The dark-brown haired Jounin spoke up with her hands planted firmly on her hips.

Then Temari piped in. "Besides Lee-san, the boy looked like he could 'die' just from hearing your speech right now"

All of them broke into a small laughter with the exception of Konohamaru who had already fell asleep in a very funny style, just like a small child hugging a stuff animal except his stuff animal happened to be a small log. God knows where he managed to get that thing anyway.

'And I thought that this trip's gonna be a boring one' Temari mused to herself as she made her way to the stream to freshen up followed by Tenten from behind.

Meanwhile in Konoha…

Shikamaru went back to an empty and dark house. He sighed as he kicked off his sandals and went towards the stairs, passing by the kitchen in the process. He stopped and stared through the opening, imagining that Temari would be there preparing dinner.

The gloomy atmosphere only brought out a lonely feeling inside him. When he reached his bedroom, he was about to open the door when he found a note sticking on the surface.

Shikamaru,

The kids are with me. So, don't worry about them. DO drop by to check on your kids and I want you to come over and have dinner with us EVERY night. And I mean it.

Love,

Mom

P/s: I took one of your spare keys so I could get into the house and help with the cleaning and laundry. Lord knows Shikamaru, you can't even make the bed on your own to save your life.

His forehead creased in possible 'fear' and 'aggravation'. His mother would never let the slightest chance of annoying him passed by. He opened the door and walked into the dark and shady room, feeling emptier than before as he looked at the bed. He wouldn't bother to turn on the lights or even sleep on the bed. What for? To turn on the lights to find an emptier room or sleeping on the bed without Temari beside him.

That's when he decided to go to the bar with Chouji and spend the night in the company of his buddies, away from the troublesome feelings that started to bug him. He hopped into the shower, changed into fresher clothes and exited the residence without looking back for the second time. He was so eager to get out from the house that he failed to notice a letter with his name engraved perched on top of the nightstand, just at the foot of a picture frame; the frame which displayed his wedding photo.

It was her turn to stand guard for the rest of the night. At first, Temari decided to sit on one of the tree limbs but after calculating the possibilities of falling accidentally to the ground, she decided to stay put on the ground, making full use of the big rocks nearby as a back supporter.

With two days of traveling with the 'Kyodai Sensu' on her back, her priceless giant fan had never seemed so heavy before. She had to suffer the after-effects of carrying such weapon by having a slight ache at her back and her waist. And not to mention the extra 'weights' she had to carry along with her. It's been only three months and she was in her early stages of pregnancy but she could feel the extra vibe she's been having from the inside ever since she received the good news.

She smothered her long dark navy skirt as she settled in a better position against the flat, cold surface. She decided to scout around after checking on Konohamaru who had already resumed Lee's watch post on top of a big tree not very far from the camp site.

As she absorbed her surroundings, she realized that they had cross the Wind country's borders and they still had another half day before they reached Suna. She wondered why was all the traveling didn't even tire her to point of passing out despite her condition.

She kept vigil for any suspicious intruders; while in the same time her mind wandered off to Konoha. She wondered how the kids are coping without her and how is her husband doing at home. She had gotten over the disappointment she felt towards him since she's been worrying about him ever since she left the gates last two days. Guess that's enough to prove that she really loved him and will always do despite the misunderstandings.

'I still haven't got the chance to tell him face to face. Will he accept the babies once he knew about them?' The unanswered questions dissolved slowly into the early morning breeze when the sun's about to rise in the next couple of hours.

Yoshino's sleep was stirred by the faint sound of crying in the middle of the night. Groggily, she looked at her husband who seemed to be awoken at the same time. "It's the kids. They must be having a nightmare" Shikaku muttered under his breath as he turned on the table lamp.

"I'll go and have a look…" Yoshino pushed away the blanket and made her way towards the bedroom door. She went across until she reached the last room between the three doors along the hallway. It was Shikamaru's old room and it was not a foreign thing for her to creep her way to the room almost every single night because her once little boy that time had been having nightmares. It seems that her "little boy's" children had been having some disturbing dreamscapes of their own.

"Ara…What's happening here?" She asked as soon as she opened the door, only to find Hikaru cradling her weeping little brother in her arms in the dimly lit room. The boy's shoulders heaved frantically while holding tightly to his little bear. He was crying so hard that he nearly choked on his own tears.

Hikaru was a little bit better than her younger brother although there were visible traces of tears on her angelic little face. She looked up to Yoshino when her grandmother turned on the bigger lights. "Gr-grand-ma?"

"Hai…what's wrong Hikaru-chan?" Yoshino placed herself beside the kids on the bed, while gathering little Kusanagi in one arm and the other one holding Hikaru in a gentle embrace on impulse. "Kusanagi-chan?" She patiently waited for their tears to subside, but from the looks of it, it's gonna be awhile.

The silhouette of her husband appeared leaning against the doorpost, with a quizzical look on his face.

"Are you hurt?" She asked the little blonde girl while pushing away a few of her bangs and wiped the tear stains on her face. The girl shook her head. "Are you having nightmares?" Again, she shook her head in response.

Yoshino glanced at her husband with a "get-your-butt-here-if-you-want-to-be-useful" look. Shikaku calmly cleared his throat, while in the same time took heed of his wife's meaningful gaze. He plopped himself on one of the settees opposite the bed.

"Hikaru-sweetheart, you know you can tell grandpa and grandma what's been bothering you and your brother?" He asked in a warm, mild tone towards his oldest grandchild.

Hikaru's face which was now buried into Yoshino's chest looked up hesitantly to the slightly grayed man. "We want mommy…" A fresh tear started to trickle down her cheeks.

"Mommy had to go on a mission, sweetheart. She'll be back next week"

"No, mummy wants to leave us…"

"Why did you say that, Hikaru-chan?" One of his eyebrows arched in question.

"Perhaps we should get Shikamaru over here tomorrow…" exclaimed Yoshino to her husband.

"No… we don't want daddy. He made mommy cry and made her left us"

Both of the adults stared into each other with unbelievable looks in their eyes. Shikaku chose to push an impossible notion aside.

"Aaa…it's normal for mom and dad to argue over times, Hikaru-chan. Grandpa and grandma do too, sometimes. But, we would always work it out in the end" He stood up and hold the little girl in his arms. Hikaru delved her little head onto Shikaku's right shoulder, searching for security.

"Daddy was upset. I couldn't sleep, so I went to the room and saw daddy fighting with mommy. I heard mommy said she wants to go back to Suna, but daddy just left. Then, I saw mommy crying on the bed. She said she hate daddy"

"Oh my god, dear…" Yoshino was quite shocked upon hearing the revelation from the 5 year old girl. Her eyes went from looking at Kusanagi; who apparently had cried himself to sleep and to Hikaru. Finally, her dark brown orbs settled on Shikaku. Her husband just shook his head at her while mouthing, "Don't worry. It's just a small fight"

"What do you mean a small fight? This is serious, SHIKAKU!" Came the silent reply.

"Don't worry, Yoshino. I supposed they'll work it out when she gets back" He mouthed back, with a composed manner.

"I have a bad feeling about this, dear…"

"Can't you trust me this time?"

"I don'…"

"Grandpa..."

"Hai…Hikaru-chan?"

"Why did you talk like that with grandma? It's funny" She looked up at her grandfather, with small hints of smile on her lips, eliciting an unperturbed feeling inside the older man. "It's called a 'secret language'. I used it with your grandmother if we want to talk to each other privately"

"Can I learn too?"

His hand ruffled the golden locks framing her face. "Sure, little one. Better still, grandpa could teach you how to climb the trees using chakra, walk on water or learn how to use Kage…"

"SHIKAKU!"

"I guess… you should sleep now" He quickly cowered away from his wife's infamous 'death' glare, emitting a small giggle from the small girl as she tumbled softly onto the bed.

Life with her grandparents was never a dull one.

Yoshino felt extremely relieved upon seeing the smile on her granddaughter's face, indicating that she had forgotten the reason why she had cried before. Even so, she could not push away her motherly instincts which pointed out that there's obviously something wrong going on with her son's marriage. A mother like her could not turn her back against something like this. She wants some answer and she will get it. Straight from her beloved son himself.

End Of Chapter 6

To Be Continued…

Next Chapter…

We will get a glimpse of the Sabakuno family in Sunagakure. Temari's youngest brother is dealing with one of the hardest times in his life until he is forced to make a decision that will test the strength of a woman's heart and love. What would happen when Kankurou found out that he's going to become an uncle once again? What will the rest think once the hidden news was revealed? While in Konoha, Yoshino's expectation was proven to be true. But how did she found out about it and the secret Temari had been hiding all along? Will Shikamaru be saved from his mother's wrath?

A/N : Well, find out in the next few chapters minna! So, R&R! Love you!

Ardenilia's Un-guaranteed Reference To The Some- Japanese-Words-That-She-Tried To-Use-But-Fail-Miserably-In-Doing-So

Taijutsu – hand-to-hand combat

Ohayo – Morning (Good)

Koi- love (a short for koibito lover)

Yosh – All right

Minna- everybody

Kunoici – Female ninja

Hai – Yes

Demo - But

Kyodai Sensu – (I don't exactly know what the word means, but I read somewhere that it was the name of Temari's giant metal fan)

Correct me if I'm wrong, ne? Ja Ne!