I don't own Naruto.
Across Time
Chapter 5
Love and Hate
Nine year old Shikamaru and his father Shikaku were hiding out with the deer from Shikamaru's mother and Shikaku's wife. She was beyond angry because both of them skipped out on their chores for cloud watching. So Nara Yoshino was on a cleaning frenzy and both knew that if either entered the house, hell would be unleashed upon their souls. Soon she will definitely come looking for them to help get ready for her parents that were coming over that night for dinner. Shikaku sighed while Shikamaru looked bored.
"Hey, Otou-san, how did you wind up marry that violent lady that is my Okaa-chan," asked Shikamaru, not realizing he would be asking similar question three years later that concerns women and their smiles.
"Ah that's a long, boring story son. I'll tell you when you're older," said Shikaku. He sighed again as his only son fell asleep and he heard his wife on a rampage. She will eventually find him, she always does. Once upon a time ago, Shikaku never thought he would ever marry such an angry, violent woman like Yoshino. But for some reason he could not have seen his life through without her by his side.
"Hah, I found you," growled Yoshino, looking imposing scaring the deer. "Now, Shikamaru wake up! Shikaku, why are you teaching your son to be a lazy man like you? You both know that my parents are visiting tonight and everything has to be perfect or my mother will bitch at me." Shikaku picked up his son and began walking back towards the house with Yoshino not far behind, yelling.
"Relax, woman, your parents come over once a month to check up on us and they are never happy," said Shikaku.
"But Shikaku, my father hates you and my mother still thinks of me as a child," said Yoshino, practically whining.
"Troublesome," said Shikaku. That evening, Yoshino's parents came over. Her father and mother were not ninja and disapproved of their daughter's career as a kunoichi and her relationship with Shikaku, who was quite infamous being apart of the Ino-Shika-Chou group. Her father complained that Shikaku should get a civilian job. Her mother complained about Yoshino's homemaker skills and denounced her work as a kunoichi. They both worried that Shikamaru would someday have no parents and that he should come to stay with them for a while. Shikamaru just sat there, watching his mother try to appease her parents and her father just nod off.
"And I can't believe that you actually let Shikamaru stay over the Akimichi or Yamanaka's when you both are on missions," said Yoshino's mother, her high pitched voice grating Yoshino, Shikaku and Shikamaru's nerves. Chouza and Inoichi's wives were not kunoichi so they always were glad to let Shikamaru stay over when necessary.
"Shikaku, man, we've been called by Hokage-sama," yelled Inoichi, loudly from outside the house. Shikaku sighed, his teammates always showed up at the right time or perhaps the wrong time. He got up and let Inoichi inside. "We're needed down in Interrogation."
"Please tell me the Council members did not order Anko to be interrogated again," said Shikaku. Anko has been in the interrogation department at least once a week. The Council of the Sandaime Hokage has yet to trust the former apprentice of Orochimaru, one of the Sannin. Various shinobi and kunoichi vouch for Anko, constantly, but apparently that is not enough for them.
"Yep and they also got a certain someone's former teammate too," said Inoichi. Shikaku sighed.
"Sorry Yoshino, I've—"
"What are you waiting for? Get going," snapped Yoshino. She will never let him skip out on his shinobi duties. Shikaku grinned lazily at his wife and ruffled his son's hair. He left with Inoichi. Yoshino made Shikamaru go upstairs to his room after giving his grandparents a hug.
"You actually let him leave," stated her mother.
"You should've married a normal man," said her father, gruffly.
"Who is Anko? Don't tell me he is cheating on you," asked her mother.
"Maybe with that Inoichi fellow, both seem gay," said her father, snorting.
"Okaa-san, Otou-san, I think it is time for you two to get home," said Yoshino, forcing a smile. After she somehow got her parents out of the house, she sat on the couch tired. Shikamaru came downstairs and sat next to her.
"Okaa-chan, why do Obaa-san and Ojii-san hate Otou-san," asked Shikamaru, yawning. "And why do they complain about the job of a shinobi. You guys are protecting us who can't defend ourselves."
"They're difficult to understand," said Yoshino. Her parents were always so critical of everything she ever did. She will never be like them and let Shikamaru be with who he wanted to be with and do whatever he wanted to do with is life (as long as he was not lazing around all the time like his father).
"Do you hate Otou-san," asked Shikamaru. He was a smart boy but he was a bit dense when it came to his parents' feelings for each other.
"Of course not, why would you ask something so ridiculous," asked Yoshino, surprised at her son.
"Cause you're always yelling at him," said Shikamaru, matter-of-factly.
"I love him and I love you," said Yoshino. "It's just something he makes me so mad with his laziness!" She laughed and Shikamaru half-grinned. "Now, go up to bed before you fall asleep on the couch again."
"Yes, Okaa-chan," said Shikamaru. Yoshino watched her son drag himself up to his room. She had to get to the dishes done before she went up to bed herself. Dealing with her parents always made her so tired and emotionally drained.
After the dishes were washed and the leftovers from dinner were put away, she went upstairs and put her pajamas on. She thought about Shikamaru's earlier question. Did it seem like she hated her husband because of all her nagging? She only nagged him because that was how she showed him he cared. Well, maybe I could yell less.
"What's wrong with you," asked Shikaku, entering the room. He looked annoyed, probably from the interrogations.
"Nothing, what is going on," asked Yoshino.
"Same old stuff, they don't trust Anko and Zeno's girl," said Shikaku. "Anko was set home to her apartment, and Zeno's girl is still being talked to by Hokage-sama."
"Those poor girls," said Yoshino, sighing. She also has been called in to help with the interrogation of those girls. Both were completely loyal to Konohagakure no Sato and nothing else.
"So did your parents leave without a fuss," asked Shikaku. Yoshino nodded, tiredly, getting into bed. "Why do you look like Shikamaru asked you some weird astute questions?"
"You know I love you right," mumbled Yoshino.
"Yes, I know," said Shikaku, getting into bed next to her. "I love you too, so is that what was bothering you? Shikamaru asked you if you love me."
"You know I only nag you because I care," said Yoshino.
"Mmhm," muttered Shikaku. "Stop worrying and go to sleep." He put his arms around her. She nodded, blushing still like a teenage girl. "You're so troublesome."
"I love you too," said Yoshino, giggling.
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